By Niccole M. Williams, MME
Edited by Jamea J. Sale, PhD
Photo Credit Gregory Wegst
"Karibuni! Welcome, welcome! We are so glad to have you with us here at St. Anne's."
The new St. Anne's Girls' School principal, Sarah Njeri, beamed as she ushered us into her office. We visited in the same office just shy of a year ago during our first trip to Kenya. As part of our initial planning, Jamea, Greg, and I arranged for the meeting with the her and the newly contracted music teacher, Maurice Chweya, to make teaching plans. Not having met Principal Njeri before, we were excited to see her, as she seemed very enthusiastic in our communications before our arrival. Being proactive about maximizing our collaboration, she suggested that our first meeting be held jointly with Isatia Wycliffe, the principal of Kapkemich Primary/Secondary School.
We met Principal Isatia the year before, and we knew him to be passionate, hands-on, and dedicated to his school's staff, students, and the growing music program. Since our visit, we have been thrilled to see him actively working to implement and progress the music program while sending us updates and videos of students participating in music. He introduced a music club for the school, and a team of seven music teachers did copious research to find continuing education opportunities for themselves to obtain a music certification. Isatia hopes to have a fully developed music staff and a dedicated music room in his school where all students can learn. Seeing him in person again felt like reuniting with an old friend, and we are so happy to be back supporting him and his teachers' efforts.
Gathered around a table in Sarah's office after exchanging hellos, I immediately felt a current of change in the atmosphere. Principals Njeri and Isatia were eager to bring the St. Anne's and Kapkemich Primary/Secondary together to share resources and build a bridge of collaboration for teachers and students participating in music. They hoped that both schools could share instruments and materials and that the implemented curriculum would flow seamlessly for the students who left Kapkemich Primary to begin their four-year journey at St. Anne's. It was decided that we would spend extensive time at the high school the first week, and go to the primary school the following week.
After our meeting, Jamea, Greg, and I spent the next hour working with music teacher Maurice, doing an introductory music lesson and facilitating auditions for Form One singers. Initially, we thought the plan was to observe Maurice teach since it was his first day with the girls; however, he was incredibly gracious to give us the floor after one activity. We ended up working with the girls for the rest of the session. Seeing new students enjoy singing was beautiful, but something else moved my heart, too. Having been a music lover and participant in choirs herself, principal Njeri attended and participated alongside the students in the learning activities and audition process. Over my time in education, I have seen a variety of principals observing classes with postures ranging from dutiful attention to genuine enjoyment while seeing a music lesson in action. Rarely have I seen a principal who joins in the activities and engages with students during a lesson, let alone one who stays for the entire session. Principal Njeri has fully attended every class we have taught thus far and always shows a willingness to learn more about music alongside her students.
Actively participating was not the only thing that surprised us. On day one, after our initial lesson with Form One students, we retired to the office again, where principal Njeri asked us to help her write a school song that could be taught to her students and used as a thank-you to school donors. Agreeing, we initially thought writing lyrics, melody, and harmony would be done over our visit. However, Sarah moved us to action, saying, "Wonderful! Here is some paper. You will start writing the lyrics." Now was the time to write! Not later. We quickly learned that not much could stop Principal Njeri when she had an idea! After a few drafts and collaborative efforts, we had our lyrics written in English and Swahili. Principal Njeri started singing and created a melody. The rest of us improvised and played around with harmonies, creating parts and rhythmic patterns to go with percussion instruments. Two hours later, filled with pure enjoyment of singing together and getting to know one another, the song "Kenyan Girls, Rise Up" was officially born. Yesterday, Principal Njeri presented the song to the choir, and we began teaching it. Words honestly cannot describe the mixed looks of giddiness, gratitude, and sheer happiness that washed over the students' faces.
It is a gift for the St. Anne's Girls' School to have received such a principal as Sarah Njeri. Every student, current and graduated, has praised her, with the most common phrases being, "She actually listens to us and values our opinions," or "She cares about who we are as people, and I wish she had come to us sooner."
While we were undoubtedly impressed by Principal Njeri, it became increasingly evident that her dedication transcends into depths not apparent on the surface level. Wrapping up our second day, we casually asked her whether she was almost done for the day, to which she laughed, saying, "No! I am just getting started!" We learned that in addition to being principal, she was also teaching lessons and acting as the matron on duty due to understaffing. St. Anne's is a boarding school, so her days start at 4am. She prepares to wake the students at 5am so they can get ready for 6am classes. Her day winds down around 10pm when the students have lights out for bed. For now, Sarah resides in a small room as living quarters converted from an old lab space near completion. Even after she is "done" for the day, she may hear a knock at her door at any hour of the night. She ungrudgingly rises to tend to sick students and sort out problems. Once she even acted as a protector when students from a neighboring boy's school went on strike and started throwing rocks and objects at the girl's dormitories.
Yet, every day, Sarah Njeri is smiling and excited about the positive changes that are happening in her school. Every day, she has a new idea. Every day, she is encouraging and loving towards her students. She invites alums to her office for lunch when they help out at the school. She loves collaborating, even accompanying us to Kapkemich Primary on our first visit this year to show her support for their growing music program and offering herself and her school as a resource. She has shown us great kindness and hospitality towards us. She makes it abundantly clear that having music taught in schools is something she deeply values. I truly believe that not only the music program of St. Anne's is benefitting from the presence of principal Sara Njeri but also the whole school and the surrounding community. It's incredible how many dynamic changes can happen and lives can be changed by the heart of a principal.
