Loreto High School, Limuru

Loreto High School is an all-girls' National School located in Karambaini, in the highlands of Limuru, Kiambu County, Central Kenya, approximately 28 km /45 minutes from the capital city, Nairobi, Kenya.

History

On December 4, 1936, Loreto Limuru High School opened its doors to its first students. The school founders were the Sisters of Loreto, who came from Ireland to Kenya in 1921 as Catholic missionaries. The original vision of the school's founders was to educate African girls who, at that time, were denied the right to an academic education.

The pioneers of this school, which today has become one of the leading educational institutions in the country, were sisters S.M. Dolores Stafford, S.M. Theresa Joseph O'Sullivan and S.M. Veronica Bradley. They believed, as did Mary Ward, foundress of the Loreto Sisters in 1609, that through education "Women in time to come would do much". True to this vision, today the school can boast of laying a foundation for visionaries such as Wangari Maathai who won Nobel Peace Prize for protecting the environment.

The first task of the sisters was to prepare the girls to sit for the primary examination. They began with seven girls. However, due to the severe cold and mist, the girls disappeared overnight. Later, the girls returned and in 1938 four girls took the Primary Examination and began their Teacher Training course.

The first secondary class began in 1947. The first two students, Mary Sekunda Wanjiru, and Merioth Wairimu, passed the Senior Cambridge Certificate Examination. This was the beginning of a record of excellence in public examinations, which still continues at this school. Currently, the school is one of the top in the country in extra-curricular activities such as netball, hockey and more. There is also a music festival held at the school.

In 1956, a double stream was admitted. There were between 20 to 26 girls per the class. In 1958, Loreto was categorized as a National School, a status it still holds today. In 1970, Loreto was given permission to start an "A level" art class and in 1981, the school was given "A level" science stream, with a science laboratory. Since then, there has been a rapid expansion of the existing facilities, a gradual replacement of old buildings, and establishment of the new infrastructures. This was possible through the hard work of the Board of Governors, the Parents Teachers' Association, and the support of Ministry of Education.

In 1986, Kenya underwent a new era in the field of secondary education, with the introduction of the 8-4-4 Curriculum in Kenya. In addition to this, Loreto was given another challenge to start a third stream, bringing the number of students to over 500.

In 1996, the school celebrated its 60th anniversary where His Excellency the President graced the occasion as the chief guest.

In 1999, a fourth stream was introduced and in 2002, it became a four-streamed school with 40 students per class.

In 2011, the school introduced a fifth stream. Today, the school has a population of over 800 students, over 45 teaching staff, and over 50 support staff.

Coordinates and altitude

Latitude: -1.1210124, Longitude: 36.6569533, Altitude: 2,227 m metres

Sponsorship and institutionalism

The school is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, a Religious Organization. The School Institution Type is classified as – Ordinary.

Loreto spirit

"Cruci dum spiro fido"- "In the Cross, while I breathe, I trust." "Maria Regina Angelorum" - "Mary, Queen of Angels"

Crest

The Cross symbolises the taking up of our daily cross and following Our Lord through the difficult paths of this world.

The Sacred Heart crowned with the Cross symbolises that love is as strong as death – from this we may draw the strength we need.

The pierced heart of our Queen and Mother symbolises the fact that we can be encouraged by her example and accept that which the Lord has ordained for us.

The anchor of hope keeps us firm and steadfast amidst the storms of life.

Motto

United in Love and Peace

Vision

To be a centre of instilling positive values and attaining high academic standards.

Mission

Provision of Quality Education through holistic growth of the girl-child to nurture women of integrity and intellect who will be agents of positive change.

Academic performance (KCSE)

1991: mean of 7.5, no As
1993: B- mean grade of 8.21, 2 As.
1997: B mean grade of 9.27, 3As
2006: Mean grade above 10 points
2007: Mean grade of above 10 points - This has been the school's best performance to date. It was ranked as the third-best school in Kenya, and best girls' school in the country in the 2007 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations. 2010: mean grade of 10.062.
2011: mean grade of 10.113, 28 As, 50 A-s, 150/177 students got direct admission to public universities

Notable alumni

• Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
• Wanjiku Kabira, academic and author
• Ng'endo Mwangi, first woman physician in Kenya

See also

• Education in Kenya
• List of schools in Kenya

External links

• loretohighschoollimuru.net, the school's official website