Alliance Girls High School
Encyclopedia
Alliance Girls' High School is a national girls school with boarding facilities located in the small town of Kikuyu
in the Kiambu District
of the Central Province
of Kenya
, 20 km away from the central Nairobi
. It is walking distance from its brother school Alliance High School.
Before independence it was called African Girls High School. It is a school firmly rooted in Christian values with Presbyterian Church of East Africa
being its sponsor. It is located in Kiambu
West district.
The colour yellow represents the Light of the torch, while the green colour depicts the life given by the Light. The white colour speaks of the product of this life. The school uniform is green. Green is life which signifies growth of the school.
The school chapel
, one of the landmarks of the school, is located opposite the Administration block. It is used for services on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. It is also where the school Barazas are held. The school chaplain is Reverend Marion Strain until Reverend Dorcas Kamau took over in 2011.
Learning facilities include;
In the music room students can practice on traditional instruments such as triangle, shakers, drums, xylophone
and chivoti, and modern instruments like recorder, piano
, drum set, guitar
and violin
.
Physical fitness is enhanced through activities like jogging and aerobics
.
The guidance and counseling department holds talks, seminars, and workshops.
A nurse is available to attend to medical cases, in a sanatorium. She is on call 24 hours and so can attend to emergency cases.
The school encourages students’ participation in co-curricular activities like clubs societies and sports. The students give back to the community through activities such as:
in the United States
of America. First priority is given to meritorious students. The students are selected by a panel of teachers. They then fly over during the April holidays. Their 2 months stay is facilitated by a selected family. The students also have better opportunities to study in universities in Kenya and abroad.
Another exchange program with a school in the United Kingdom
, Sir John Leman High School
. Three students from Alliance Girls' and three from Alliance High School plus six students from the Port reitz school in Mombasa
take part in this exchange every three years.
Kikuyu, Kenya
Kikuyu is a town in the Central Province of Kenya. The town is located 20 km northwest of central Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Kikuyu hosts a town council and an administrative division in the Kiambu District....
in the Kiambu District
Kiambu District
Kiambu District is an administrative district in the Central Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kiambu. The district is adjacent to the northern border of Nairobi and has a population of 744,010....
of the Central Province
Central Province (Kenya)
Kenya's Central Province covers an area of 13,191 km² and is located to north of Nairobi and west of Mt. Kenya. The province had 4,383,743 inhabitants according to the 2009 census...
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, 20 km away from the central Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
. It is walking distance from its brother school Alliance High School.
History
The school was founded by the Alliance of Protestant missions in 1948.Before independence it was called African Girls High School. It is a school firmly rooted in Christian values with Presbyterian Church of East Africa
Presbyterian Church of East Africa
Presbyterian Church of East Africa is a Presbyterian denomination headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It was started by missionaries from Scotland, most notable of whom was Dr John Arthur. It has its headquarters in Nairobi South C....
being its sponsor. It is located in Kiambu
Kiambu
Kiambu is a town in Central Province, Kenya. It is located at around , in the elevation of about 1,720 m. It has an urban population of 13,814. It is the capital of the Kiambu District, which bounds the northern border of Nairobi...
West district.
AGHS crest
The crest is composed of a yellow flaming torch superimposed over St. Andrew's Cross on a green background. The initials AGHS are above the crest, while the school motto 'Walk in the light" is underneath, both written in yellow.The colour yellow represents the Light of the torch, while the green colour depicts the life given by the Light. The white colour speaks of the product of this life. The school uniform is green. Green is life which signifies growth of the school.
Principals
- Mrs Jean Wilkinson 1948-1954
- Miss Mary Bruce 1955-1968
- Mrs Joan Waithaka 1969-1984
- Mrs Rebecca Karanja 1985-2002
- Mrs V.M Kituri 2003-2004
- Mrs J.N Mbugua 2004-2008
- Principal - Mrs Dorothy Kamwilu
The school chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, one of the landmarks of the school, is located opposite the Administration block. It is used for services on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. It is also where the school Barazas are held. The school chaplain is Reverend Marion Strain until Reverend Dorcas Kamau took over in 2011.
Notable alumni
- First LadyFirst LadyFirst Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
Lucy KibakiLucy KibakiLucy Muthoni Kibaki is the wife of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, making her the First Lady of Kenya.She is a controversial figure in Kenya, due to her independent persona and her temper.-Biography:... - First woman presidential candidate - Hon. Charity NgiluCharity NgiluCharity Kaluki Ngilu is a Kenyan politician. She was Minister of Health from 2003 until 2007 and was appointed as Minister of Water and Irrigation in April 2008....
- First woman cabinet minister - Hon. Nyiva MwendwaNyiva MwendwaWinfred Nyiva Mwendwa is a Kenyan politician. She was the first Kenyan woman to serve as a cabinet minister.She was educated at Alliance Girls High School. She was elected for the post of Kitui West Constituency MP three times, in 1974 and 1992 representing KANU and in 2002 representing NARC...
- Former assistant minister - Agnes Ndetei
- Former assistant minister - Julia Ojiambo
- First woman permanent secretary - Margaret Githinji
- First woman head of civil service - Dr. Sally Kosgei
- Former permanent secretary to the Habitat- Pamela Mboya, wife of the late Tom MboyaTom MboyaThomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya was a prominent Kenyan politician during Jomo Kenyatta's government. He was founder of the Nairobi People's Congress Party, a key figure in the formation of the Kenya African National Union , and the Minister of Economic Planning and Development at the time of his death...
- First woman judge of High Court and Court of appeal - Lady Justice Effie Owuor
- Justice M. Mugo
- Justice Joyce Khaminwa
- Medical doctors: Dr. Betty Gikonyo and Dr. Florence Manguyu
- Educationists: former Principal Mrs. Rebecca Karanja, Mrs. Mary Okello, Dr. Eddah Gachukia, Prof. Ruth Oniang', Prof. Micere Mugo, Prof. Ciarunji Chesaina, Dr. Rosalind Mutua
- Poet, writer and educator - Micere MugoMicere Githae MugoMicere Githae Mugo is a playwright, author, activist, instructor and poet from Kenya. she is a literary critic and professor of literature in the Department of African American Studies at Syracuse University...
- First woman vice chancellor of a public university Prof. Olive Mugenda of the Kenyatta UniversityKenyatta UniversityKenyatta University, located in Nairobi, Kenya is the second largest public university in the country . The University is located in Kahawa, about from Nairobi's city centre, along the Nairobi-Thika road.- History :...
School life
The school has five streams in each form and the girls are accommodated in ten houses:- ComputerComputerA computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
laboratory - BiologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
laboratories - PhysicsPhysicsPhysics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
laboratories - ChemistryChemistryChemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
laboratories - MusicMusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
room - AgricultureAgricultureAgriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
laboratory - Home science block
- Art room
- Business studies room
- Library
In the music room students can practice on traditional instruments such as triangle, shakers, drums, xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
and chivoti, and modern instruments like recorder, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, drum set, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
.
Physical fitness is enhanced through activities like jogging and aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
.
The guidance and counseling department holds talks, seminars, and workshops.
A nurse is available to attend to medical cases, in a sanatorium. She is on call 24 hours and so can attend to emergency cases.
The school encourages students’ participation in co-curricular activities like clubs societies and sports. The students give back to the community through activities such as:
- Old people visits,
- Hospital visits,
- Sunday school teaching.
School song
The school song was composed by an 'A' level student, Mary Dena in 1985. This was after the poor examination results which depressed AGHS. The song was meant to stimulate and inspire the girls to continue working as a team to revive their lost glory. The school song is usually sung at the beginning and end of every school term as a constant reminder to all gathered of the comradeship at AGHS.School Baraza
This is a forum where the students discuss issues affecting their school-life, mainly involving airing grievances to the school principal. The principal in return addresses the raised issues and gives a report to the students at the next baraza. The baraza serves as a link between the students and the school administration.Exchange Programme
Alliance Girls' High School has an exchange programme with Brooks schoolBrooks School
Brooks School is a private, co-educational, preparatory, secondary school in North Andover, Massachusetts on the shores of Lake Cochichewick.-History:...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of America. First priority is given to meritorious students. The students are selected by a panel of teachers. They then fly over during the April holidays. Their 2 months stay is facilitated by a selected family. The students also have better opportunities to study in universities in Kenya and abroad.
Another exchange program with a school in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Sir John Leman High School
Sir John Leman High School
Sir John Leman High School is currently a mixed-sex, 13-18 comprehensive school serving part of the Waveney region in north Suffolk, England. The school is located on the western edge of the town of Beccles and serves the surrounding area, including Worlingham and parts of Lowestoft...
. Three students from Alliance Girls' and three from Alliance High School plus six students from the Port reitz school in Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
take part in this exchange every three years.