What Make Us Spcecial?
Founded in 2015 we take care of the needy girls due to female mentorship
LOCATION:
St. Elizabeth Mary Girls High School, situated in Kajulu location, Kisumu East Constituency, stands opposite the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in the Mamboleo area of Kisumu City. Distinguished as the sole boarding and day girls secondary school in the entire Kisumu East Constituency, the school holds a significant place in the community.
With a student population of 145, the school fosters a dynamic learning environment. Of these students, 80 are boarders, immersing themselves in the rich academic and social experiences of boarding life, while 65 students choose to attend as day scholars, contributing to the vibrant day school community.
ORIGIN OF THE SCHOOL:
St. Elizabeth Mary Girls High School (STEMGHS) was built by generous donations from BECAUSE OF ELIZABETH FOUNDATION started and registered by Lou Warshot and Mary Warshot of McLane, Virginia USA – the loving parents in memory of their daughter Elizabeth Warshot who died at the tender age of 10 years in 2002.
Because of the love that Mary and Lou Warshot had for their loving daughter Elizabeth, they wanted to immortalize their memory of their loving daughter Elizabeth, they wanted to immortalize their memory of their loving daughter in a girls school in Africa. Both parents decided to sacrifice and to build a school in Kenya for girls who came from humble backgrounds in order to give them a chance to undertake their education and so prepare themselves well in order to meet the challenges of tomorrow in Kenya and throughout the world as well-educated girls.
It was Rev. Cosmas Rhagot – a Catholic priest from Kenya who was studying at the Catholic University of America and staying at St, John, the beloved parish in McLane, Virginia who requested Lou and Mary Warshot to build the school in Kenya and specifically in the archdiocese of Kisumu at the time when Most Rev. Zaccheus Okoth was the Archbishop of Kisumu.
Rev. Cosmas Rhagot introduced Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth, the then Archbishop of Kisumu to Mary and Lou Warshot and impressed upon them that the dream school in memory of Elizabeth be built in the Archdiocese of Kisumu, an invitation which was embraced by Lou and Mary Warshot. They wasted no time in putting their resources together and registered a foundation in memory of their daughter called BECAUSE OF ELIZABETH. This Foundation swung into action and worked hard at fundraising for the proposed St. Elizabeth Mary Girls High School in Kenya.
St. Elizabeth Mary Girls High School was officially opened in January 2015 – with a fresh intake of Form 1 and Form 2 together, and Mr. Francis Kalal was appointed as Head of the new School.
In 2017, Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth appointed Franciscan Sisters of the Good Shepherd to run the boarding section of the school as administrator matron and teachers but appointed Mrs. Pacifica Ogada, a renowned teacher and girl guide to the position of principal, a position she holds to date.
His Grace Archbishop Zacchaeus showed how important this dream was for him and for the Archdiocese of Kisumu. Having a girl’s school within the city of Kisumu was a welcome project. In one of his trips to Rhode Island in the USA, His Grace arranged his itinerary in such a way that it enabled him to stop over in Washington DC to meet Lou and Mary Warshot the parents of Elizabeth.
When Lou and Mary met Archbishop Zaccheaus Okoth they arranged to visit the cemetery where little Elizabeth was laid to rest. His Grace Archbishop Zacchaeus prayed over the grave of Elizabeth Warshot and blessed the grave and both parents. It was a worthy meeting, and both parents were of the same mind that the process of building the school should start. After Archbishop Zacchaeus returned from the states, having received permission from Mary and Lou Warshot that the building of St. Elizabeth Mary Girls High School should commence without any further delay. All drawings were taken to Kisumu Municipality for Approval, and the building of this school commenced; the rest is history.
ADMINISTRATION:
The principal, who has been in office since 2018, has been instrumental in implementing key initiatives to enhance the overall educational experience at St. Elizabeth Mary Girls High School.
Since the principal’s arrival, the school has made significant strides in academic achievements. The first Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination at St. Albert Angira was conducted in December 2018, followed by the second examination in 2019. In 2020, the school continued its commitment to academic excellence by enrolling students and serving as an examination center.
Registered by the Ministry of Education as a girls’ boarding and day secondary school, the institution can accommodate up to 200 students in both boarding and day capacities, aligned with the recommendation for standard classrooms. Currently, the school operates with one stream, utilizing four out of the eight standard classrooms for Form 1 to Form 4 classes.
St. Elizabeth Mary Girls High School is dedicated to providing quality education based on the Kenyan Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The curriculum emphasizes life skills, and the school offers a comprehensive range of subjects to foster holistic development.
The subjects offered include:
- Science coordination subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
- Humanity cluster: Geography, CRE (Christian Religious Education), and History, with CRE being a compulsory subject due to the school’s Catholic foundation.
- Technical and applied cluster: Computer Studies, Business Studies, Home Science, and Agriculture.
The school prioritizes language proficiency, teaching both English and Kiswahili to equip learners with global communication skills. Mathematics is also a key focus, with the school actively participating in mathematics contests against reputable institutions.
In addition to the academic curriculum, the school places emphasis on extracurricular activities. Academic field trips, including visits to Mikai for geography and Ken Gen for sciences and geography, enrich the learning experience. The school actively participates in co-curricular activities, such as music competitions, where they have achieved commendable regional standings.
Promoting leadership skills, the Kenya Girl Guide Association trained three rangers on leadership in 2019. The Young Farmers Club, an integral part of the school, engages in activities such as tree planting. With the goal of planting 10,000 trees within five years, the club has already planted 2000 trees in 2019 and an additional 1300 trees in 2018. The school aligns with the Government of Kenya’s tree planting initiative, encouraging students to plant trees for environmental sustainability.
Sports, including athletics, football, and netball, are actively encouraged, and the school participates in various competitions. Spiritual nourishment is provided through Riwo Parish, where students gather on Sundays under the guidance of the parish priest and curator.
Under the sponsorship of His Grace Emeritus and the school board of directors, St. Elizabeth Mary Girls High School operates seamlessly, ensuring the welfare and security of the girls. The security is further enhanced by a dedicated security firm, supported by the presence of Franciscan Sisters of the Good Shepherd within the school premises, providing mentorship to the girls in all aspects of life. The commitment to holistic development, academic excellence, and spiritual growth continues to drive the school’s success.