NewsLetter 26 October 2008.pub - Loyola Jesuit College

The lion or lioness is the school’s mascot, and pride (a group of lions/lionesses) refers to the students of Loyola Jesuit College.Vol. 8 Number 3 A Newsletter for Parents 12 October 2008LJC ENTRANCE EXAM 2009The deadline for registration towards next year’s admission into Loyola Jesuit College is 31st December 2008.The online application process began on the 1st of September 2008. Prospective candidates apply through the collegewebsite: www.loyolajesuit.org. The online application form is located at www.loyolajesuit.org/admissions.Prospective students are expected to navigate to this location and complete all the fields on the form displayed.Upon completion and submission of the form online, the system will automatically generate and send an email eachto the candidate, the candidate’s parents and to the Principal of LJC. The email to the parents will contain a link to enablethem view a copy of the completed application form. The system will also simultaneously display a printable version of theform containing all the information the candidate has entered. At this stage, the candidate must print a hard copy of thecompleted application form. The printed form consists of two clearly demarcated sections – the main application form and theexamination admission ticket. The candidate’s passport-sized photographs must be pasted in the boxes provided on the mainform and the examination admission ticket. The completed application form, bearing the passport photographs, should thenbe taken to any of our Selling Centers (listed in this newsletter) for registration. At the Selling Center, candidates will beexpected to pay the prescribed registration fee (N5, 000 for registration within Nigeria; $US100 for East/Southern Africa;$US150 for applications submitted in the United States; GB100 Pounds for the United Kingdom, and 150 Euros for mainlandEurope). After payment of the prescribed fee, the candidate will be issued two labels with a unique Examination Number/Access Code. The labels must be pasted in the spaces marked EXAM NUMBER on the main form and on the examinationadmission ticket. The exam admission ticket should then be separated from the main form along the line specified. The mainform is left with our representative at the selling center, while the candidate retains the examination admission ticket to bepresented on the day of the entrance examination.To download the past questions, the candidate must go towww.loyolajesuit.org/notes.htm to re-register using the Examination Number/Access Code received at the Selling Centre. Itis important that every candidate re-register inputting the Examination Number/Access Code for us to capture the completedata of all the candidates.All the above online information should make perfect sense to our parents and potential Lions and Lionesses.Anyone having difficulty with this application/registration process should contact the college via email, phone or makean appointment to visit the school office. The LJC webmaster can be reached on his direct line: 08059241866.Otherwise, no candidate will be allowed to sit for the entrance examination without a duly registered examinationadmission ticket. Siblings of LJC students should note the above procedure. Best wishes to the siblings of the Pride!

AnnouncementsSS-1 1 ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS (Contd):SS-2 2 ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS (Contd):Technical Drawing: OFILI, Odinmma John- Paul C.Physics:OMEGARA, UchechukwuFurther Mathematics:ARENE, Chukwuemeka ManuelGovernment:IYOHA, Ebehireme Marie -TereseFood and Nutrition:EMODI, Ifeanyi VanessaFine Art:NoneInformation Technology:ARENE, Chukwuemeka ManuelChemistry:OMEGARA, UchechukwuYear-4 Overall Best Student: EMODI, Ifeanyi VanessaHistory:IDEH, Preston OritsetimeyinSS-2 2 ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS 2008:Geography:Literature:OMEGARA, UchechukwuIYOHA, Ebehireme Marie - TereseEnglish Language:IYOHA, Ebehireme Marie-TereseAgric Science:OGUNJOBI, Omotola OmolabiMathematics:EZEANI, William ChinonsoTechnical Drawing:OMEGARA, UchechukwuBiology:EDEM, Ekpoawan IreneFurther Mathematics:ARINZE, Chukwuebuka StephenEconomics:OJINI, Valerie NnekaFood and Nutrition :ANIZOBA, Nkiruka SophieFrench:EDEM, Ekpoawan IreneCRSNWANGWU, Chijioke JamesInformation Technology:ANYIGBO, Nonso KennethHausa Language:OGUNJOBI, Omotola OmolabiYear-5 Overall Best Student: OMEGARA, UchechukwuThe Overall Best Student for the 2007-2008 session, Princess-Jewel Essien, is congratulated by the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria (HisExcellency, Mr. Angel Losada) and the U. S. Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs (Ms. Atim George) at this year’s Academic Award Ceremony.

RAMADAN 2008 FOR LJC MUSLIM STUDENTS: “The ninth month of the lunar calendar stands out as one bearer of multipleblessings from Allah, one Almighty. This period is called Ramadan. It is one month of light in which the Qu’ran, book oflight, was sent down as a guide to humankind on Layla-ul-Qadri, one night of light. As we returned to school from our summerholidays, food was donated by each Muslim student and kept in the school kitchen for ‘Sahur’ and iftar (break- fast and breakingof fast respectively). Everyday, for the duration of the Ramadan, we woke up at 3.00AM and went to the dinning hall for breakfast.Throughout those days of fasting, we reflected, prayed and were exempted from the first three meals (sevenses, breakfastand lunch) of the day. At sundown, which is usually around 6:40PM, the Muslim students join the other students in the dininghall, where we break our fast with the regular school food supplemented by fruits, drinks and biscuits. After the period of fasting,in fulfillment of one of the five pillars of Islam, some of our food is donated toorphanages or less privileged homes. This is known as Zakat-ul-fitr. Fasting is one of the gifts of the Divine to theMuslims. It guides us away from evil and towards the noble ideals of patience, fortitude and perseverance. It is the onesupreme teacher of God-consciousness. For the successful completion of yet another fasting period, we are ever grateful to ourLJC community, especially our Principal, Fr. John-Okoria SJ.” (By Samira Usman SS-3)PSAT/NMSQT: This examination was taken on the 18th of October 2008 by our ninety-three SS-2 students who intend towrite SAT in their SS-3. However, a good number of our parents have not paid the $40 registration (which includes administrativecharges) fee for that exam. Please take note and pay up soon.TOEFL: Registration for TOEFL has begun. Parents should therefore discuss with their children on whether to registerfor this examination or not. The registration fee is $200.SAT EXAMINATIONS: Our SS–3 students have been registered for this examination as follows:[a] November 2008 SAT–1 has 17 students registered.[b] December 2008 SAT–1 has 38 students registered.[c] December 2008 SAT– 2 has two students registered.[d] January 2009 SAT–1 has 14 students registered.[e] January 2009 SAT– 2 has 24 students registered.The only acceptable identification document for these examinations is the international passport. The registration fees includingadministrative charges are as follows: SAT–1 is $120 and SAT–2 is $120.NOTE: Parents of SS-3 students should confirm from their children who have registered for any of the above examinationsand accordingly pay enough money into their children’s accounts. For clarifications on any of these examinations, parentsshould please see Mr. Gabriel Egudu, in the Counselling Department, or Rev. Fr. Abuchi Muoneme SJ in the UniversityAdmissions Office inside the Administrative building.DIGGING IN THE DEN: The shallow trenches dug around the school compound are meant to enclose hundreds of metresof fiber optic cables that will provide a backbone for our internet system. We have until now relied only on a wireless connection.We are confident that our internet system will become solidly reliable after the on-going maintenance operation.We recently spent thousands of dollars on the purchase of a good antivirus software, after our server terminal was attackedby a virus on the week of resumption. We thank our students, staff and parents for their patience and understanding.

LJC PTA EXECUTIVE MEETING: There will be a meetingof the executive body of the LJC Parents-Teachers Associationon Sunday the 16th of November 2008 at 12:00 noon inside theBoard Room of the office of the President of LJC.All our active PTA branches (Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna,Benin, Jos and Warri) should endeavor to be representedat the meeting.VISITING DAY: Parents are welcome to visit with their wardsfrom 11:00 AM (for those attending Mass, otherwise from 1:00PM) until 4:45 PM, and are to leave the compound by 5:00 PMprompt. The picnic should only take place in the designatedarea. Parents must ensure that no food is left with their childrenat the end of their visit. Any student found with any food itemafter 5:00 PM will be punished. Either before or after picnicking,parents are expected to hold a conference with their ward’sClass Teacher. Where necessary, they could also meet with theHouse Master/Mistress or any of our three Guidance Counselors.The Class Teachers will be available from 1PM to 4PM.Parents should encourage their wards to clean up after themselvesat the end of picnic.ANTICIPATING STUDENT TRAVEL FOR CHRISTMASHOLIDAY: Our parents living outside Abuja should now decidewhat means of transport they want their children to use forthis coming holiday. Those intending to travel by air shouldsend the tickets to the school at least two weeks before end ofterm. The ticket should be confirmed. Avoid late flights, as thisposes the risk of night travel to and fro the airport. We will takethe children to the airport in the morning and pick them up atthe Abuja airport on resumption day. Our last vehicle from theairport to the school on resumption leaves there at 4:00PM.Please note, any student who arrives after 4:00PM would haveto take a taxi from the airport to LJC. The fare can be paid tothe taxi driver on arrival at our admin office, since no student isallowed to bring money into LJC. Please, remember, it is theduty of parents to purchase the flight tickets or come pick uptheir wards on vacation. Any parent who abandons a Lion orLJC BOARD MEETING: There will be a meeting of theBoard of Trustees of Loyola Jesuit College on Thursdaythe 4th of December 2008 at 8:30AM. The Board of Governorswill meet on the same day at 10:00 AM. Both meetingswill take place inside the Board Room of the Presidentof Loyola Jesuit College. (The LJC President is also theChairman of the Board of Governors.)ANNUAL MEMORIAL DRAMA 2008 ON HARDGROUND: This year’s annual Loyola Jesuit Collegedrama in memory of our Sixty Angels will take place onthe 7th of December 2008 (note change of date) inside theMemorial Hall at 10:00 AM. The Drama presentation is onHard Ground, a story written by Professor Ahmed Yerima,the General Manager of the National Theatre. The playx-rays how the crisis in the Niger Delta impacts the privatelives of individuals. The central event to mark this year’sanniversary is the launching of a book titled VOICES ANDECHOES OF THE BEREAVED: THE TRAGEDY ON THE10TH OF DECEMBER 2005 (our story about 10/12) aswritten by the schoolmates and relatives of the 60 Angels.According to the Convenor of the Loyola Union (FrankNwokocha) “the book will be an all-time memoir on thelives of our beloved Angels.” Indeed, the members of theLoyola Union (staff and students) have been working hardon the drama and on the book. We look forward to a mostmemorable day of remembrance.SUPPORT THE PLAY: Be a part of the Sixty AngelsMemorial Day commemoration at LJC on Saturday 6 December2008. You can also offer your contributionthrough adverts and messages in the drama brochure: CentreSpread, N150,000; Back Cover, N80,000; Inside BackCover, N70,000; Inside Front Cover, N70,000; Full Page,N50,000; Half Page, N30,000; Quarter Page, N18,000.DO NOT BE LEFT OUT!

FACTS AND FIGURES OF THE LJC ENTRANCE EXAM 20091. Complete the Online Application (For JS-1 Only) Form:www.loyolajesuit.org/admissions (See next page for directions)2. Access to the Online Application Form:1st September 20083. Deadline for Registration of Completed Forms:31st December 20084. The Non-Refundable Registration Fee:N5, 000 (For Registration Within Nigeria)5. The Date for the Entrance Exam:February 7th 20096. Publication of Exam Results:1st March 20097. Exam Results Will be Posted At:All Centreswww.loyolajesuit.org8. Interview of Successful Candidates:TBA9. Publication of Final Acceptance List:GUARDIAN OR THISDAY Newspaperwww.loyolajesuit.org10. Date of Publication of Final Acceptance List:1st of April 2009

FACTS & FIGURES OF LJC ENTRANCE EXAM ‘0911. Examination Centres Within NigeriaA. Loyola Jesuit College, Karu-Karshi Road,Gidan Mangoro, FCT AbujaB. Our Lady of Apostles Private School at St.Agnes, Maryland, LagosC. Our Lady of Apostles School, Yaba, LagosD. Our Lady of Apostles Private School, at St.Mary’s Convent, Broad Street, LagosE. Our Lady of Apostles Private School, AirportRoad, Benin CityF. Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Port HarcourtG. Nativity School, Opposite High Court, MakurdiH. Holy Child College, Marian Hill Road, CalabarI. Kaduna International School, 1 Wurno Road,KadunaJ. St. Louis Primary (Private) School, AirportRoad, KanoK. St. Louis College, Joseph Gomwalk Road, Jos.L. Sacred Heart Primary School, Uwani, EnuguM. Maryhill Private Primary School, Agodi, Ibadan12. Examination Centres Outside NigeriaA. Eastern & Southern Africa: Alex Irechukwu SJ,Arrupe Jesuit College, No. 16 Link Road, MountPleasant, P. O. Box MP 320, Harare, Zimbabwe;Tel: 263-4745903; Fax: 263-4745411, 263-474904;Email:arrupe@zarnet.ac.zwB. UK Centre: Mrs. Anna Sayan, Jesuit Missions, 11Edge Hill, Wimbledon, London, SW19 4LR.(E-mail: anna.sayan@jesuitmissions.org.uk)C. USA Centre: Fr. Pat Ryan SJ, Jesuit Residence,Fordham University, NY 10458, New York.(Email: ryansj@fordham.edu; Tel: +1-646-7028977 )FACTS/FIGURES OF LJC ENTRANCE EXAM ‘09 (Contd.)D. Netherlands Centre: Fr. Jac Lampe, Amaliastraat3, 2514 JC Den Haag.(E-mail: jaclampe@xs4all.nl; Tel: +31627124061)13. Directions for Completing the On-LineApplication FormA. To the ParentPlease ensure that your ward completes all thefields provided on the form. Where informationis not available or applicable, please tell yourchild to enter the code NA in the space provided. Candidates should return the completedform to the desired centre along with the following documents:-A self-addressed envelope with N50 stamp-Photostat copy of birth certificate (Declarationof Age Affidavits are not acceptable)-Two Passport-Sized photographs-For proper identification of your child on theday of the Entrance Examination, please ensurethat you affix his or her most recent passportsizedphotograph in the box provided.B. To the Candidatei) You must complete every field on the OnlineApplication form. If you don't know what toenter in any field, ask your father, mother orguardian. If they do not know, simply enter thecode NA in the space provided.ii) Religion: In this field, please select the name ofyour religious denomination from the dropdownlist. Although Loyola Jesuit College is aCatholic school, your religion does notdetermine your admission.

FACTS AND FIGURES OF THE LJC ENTRANCE EXAM 2009 (CONTD.)iii)Present Class: It is important that we know your present class in yourschool. Please select your present class from the drop-down list. If youare now in secondary school, write down your present JSS class level.iv)School Telephone/Fax Number: In this field, please ensure that youenter the State Exchange Code of the telephone number of your presentschool. If there is no phone in your school, enter the code NA in thespace providedv) Father/Mother Residence Address: In this field, it is important thatyou indicate clearly the street number and name of the town or city inwhich your father's (or mother's) present house is located.Vi)Father/Mother Mailing Address: In this field, please indicate clearlythe postal address, including the name of the town or city in which yourfather/mother can receive mails.vii)Business Address: Indicate the office address and a phone number(including State Exchange Code) where your father, mother or guardiancan be reached quickly. It is important that you indicate whether thenumber(s) you write refer to an office, business or home telephone line.viii)Email Address: In this field, please give your current email address aswell as your parents’. It could be an easier way of contacting you.ix)Choice of Examination Centre: All our current Examination Centres arelisted in the drop-down menu. Please, study this carefully and select yourpreferred Centre in the space provided.X) Best wishes to all the siblings of the Pride!

Academic Year 2008–2009Please verify with each edition of the Newsletter, as somedates will change1ST TERM: SEPTEMBER 7- DECEMBER 20, 2008A & C Classes Visiting Day October 26All Saints Day (All-House Feast Day) November 1B, D & E Classes Visiting Day November 2Second Continuous Assessment November 19-21Annual Loyola Jesuit College Drama (In memory of our 60 Angels) December 7 (All Loyola Parents Invited)Memorial Mass and Procession for the Sixty Angels December 10End of Term Examinations December 12-17End of Term Activities December 17-19First Term Ends: Students leave for vacation December 20Kairos Retreat December 20-23Deadline for Registration of Entrance Exam Forms December 312nd TERM: JANUARY 8 – APRIL 3, 2009Faculty Workshop January 4-7JS-1, JS-3 and SS-3 Resume January 8JS-2, SS-1 and SS-2 Resume January 9First Continuous Assessment February 4-6Entrance Examination February 7A & C Classes Visiting Day February 15Inter-House Sports DayFebruary 21 (All Loyola Parents Invited)B, D & E Classes Visiting Day February 22List of Successful Entrance Exam Candidates published on-line March 1Second Continuous Assessment March 4-6Three Angels Memorial March 14A & C Classes Visiting Day March 15B, D & E Classes Visiting Day March 22Mock SSCE begins March 25-31End of Term Examinations March 25-31Publication of Final Entrance list into LJC April 1End of Term Activities April 1-3Second Term Ends: Students leave April 4Kairos Retreat April 4 to 83rd TERM: APRIL 25 – JULY 20, 2009JS-3 & SS-3 Resume (Extension Classes) April 13JS-1, JS-2, SS-1 and SS-2 Resume April 25Mock JSCE April 27First Continuous Assessment May 6-8A & C Classes Visiting Day May 17B, D & E Classes Visiting Day May 24Children’s Day May 27JSS-3 Leave for VacationPending NECO timetableCultural Day June 12Second Continuous Assessment June 17-19A & C Classes Visiting Day June 28B, D & E Classes Visiting Day July 5End of Term Examinations July 10-16End of Term Activities July 16-18Graduation July 19Third Term Ends: Students leave July 20SS-1 Leadership Program in Jos July 20Registration of new students July 25-26Service Program for SS-2 Students July 30-August 21

FR. JOHN-OKORIA IBHAKEWANLAN SJDEVELOPMENTS IN OUR IT DEPARTMENTThe shallow trenches presently dug around the school compound is only a tip of the iceberg—in a massivetransformation within our IT Department. Besides the 1, 400 meters of fiber optic cables that will provide a backbonefor our internet system, we will maintain and strengthen the old wireless connection. Excessive spams, trojans, wormsand viruses within the network may now be a thing of the past. Should an impossible virus emerge, we now plan onimplementing a comprehensive and independent system of Disaster Recovery. We have acquired 750-GB and 400-GBExternal Hard Drives and will be further purchasing three 500-GB Internal Hard Drives for back up. We have alsoacquired dozens of blank DVDs as backups. We are working on rebuilding our database and website. The externalwebsite is excellent, so may not be changed. There was a temporary problem of activating the admissions portal of thewebsite on the eve of 1st September 2008. The problem was fixed within 48 hours: the website and database had to beredesigned and the pages later redesigned to reflect the re-registration process.Unfortunately, a different struggle continues. We are yet to overcome the aftermath of the virus attack weexperienced soon after resumption. The 32 student computers (too few for our student population) and about 15 for thefaculty (also too few) are still being cleaned out. Thousands of viruses are embedded in them. The server alone hadmore than 500 viruses, while the computer at the desk of the Console in the admin office had 550 viruses at the firstscan. As a temporary measure, Norton antivirus was implemented in the computers for the Principal and the Vice-Principals. We have acquired Kerspasky Enterprises Software for Windows, 10 server licenses and unique licenses for100 workstations. The antivirus is being deployed to all the terminals.We are grateful to one of our Loyola Parents, Mr. Chinedu Asinugo (CEO of Cherish Digital Resources Limited)whose team did the tedious work of reentering the email addresses of all LJC students and staff in the wake of thedevastating virus attack. The tedious task was completed by October 11th 2008. Unfortunately, our UK web-host werenot so helpful nor prompt in pointing our MX Records to the redesigned email system to allow us send and receiveemail. When the virus in our IT infrastructure was sending thousands of spam and virus to our domain/email relay hostin the United Kingdom, they became overwhelmed and cut us off. With our latest investment on antivirus software,they are now insisting on hosting (they are very expensive!) and relaying our email. Our V-SAT system is also stable;we have paid for a dedicated line as opposed to a shared bandwidth.Ultimately, our IT centre is in excellent hands. We remain a Microsoft Academy, one of the few educationalinstitutions in Africa certified to run the Microsoft Curriculum. Hence the Pride get the best in Information Technology.

ODDS ‘N’ EndsMy Fruitful NightmareThe rain shot down like needles of ice. Rachel did not evenborder to look for shelter, because she knew she wouldn’tsucceed. She had been in an orphanage since she was fourand had been surviving on rainwater and dustbin food sincethen. Now she was fourteen, ten good years since the beginningof this nightmare. She had never really fallen sick, andthat rotten food she had eaten in earlier years made her maturedbody stronger.She was the only one on the street. She couldn’t staylike this forever; today is the morning a pastor is intown preaching from a book called the bible.She had never really believed in God but decided togive it a try. Rachel knelt down in the middle of the wetroad and covered her hair. “God I do not believe in you,but I need a miracle from you, encouragement perhaps.”She paused. “Forgive me and send me help, please.”She looked around, the rain still shunting down on her,no sign of help….She decided it was no use, not now, not ever. Slowly,she stood up, gathering the rags which made up herclothes. She walked slowly, fighting the rain whichmercilessly fell on her skin. She felt dejected, angry andinsecure. She hated life and now she hated God, whoeverand wherever he was. She contemplated suicide. Ithad to look like an accident—she was to jump from thebridge into the sea that had beckoned to her for yearsShe heard footsteps behind her and quickened her pace.A man in an overcoat caught up with her. It was thepreacher! They walked along, not uttering a word.Finally, he spoke. “Are you cold?” She nodded vigorously;the tears came out in large drops. He removed hiscoat and gave it to her. She smiled gratefully up at him.They walked silently on. She looked at his face, as hesmiled down at her. Suddenly it made sense. Shehad known God all her Life. He had always beenthere at every corner, beckoning lovingly at her,saving her—like he was doing now. She didn’tneed a miracle; it was right there. They walkedsilently on as two lone figures in the cold rain. Thejoy of being saved kept them warm. By AlegehKamilah & Ike-Njoku Thelma (JSS 3D)WHERE DO I BELONG?Where do I belong...Among the starsOrBeneath the sea,Side by side with the sunOrDrowning in the moonDancing with rosesOr wrestling with thorns...I am searching far and wideBy Bamidele Odusote JS-3BRetorting Without Using Foul Words“I feel so miserable without you; it is almost like havingyou here.” —Stephen Bishop“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullnessin others.” —Samuel Johnson“You have all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices Iadmire.” —Winston Churchill“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I willwaste no time reading it.” —Moses Hadas“There is nothing wrong with you that reincarnation cannotcure.”Please, feel free to share your own insights andreflections with other members of the LoyolaCommunity. Contact the Principal via e-mail:jo@loyolajesuit.org OR jo@jesuits.net