Pine Crest’s National English Honor Society (NEHS) chapter consists of around 120 upper-school students, all engaged in literacy-related activities throughout the year. This year’s newest NEHS opportunity is a partnership with St. Andrew’s School, a boarding school in Turi, Kenya. The initiative is a product of NEHS’ Intercultural Alliance Program, which aims to connect chapters around the world to foster cooperation on literacy projects. The program is founded on the goals of expanding cultural awareness, celebrating diversity, and nurturing cross-cultural collaboration.

St. Andrew’s School and Pine Crest are currently partnered through both NEHS and their school newspapers, Turi Times and PC Paw Print. Two issues of Turi Times (Issue 1 and Issue 2) have been published since October 2024, and each features student highlights, St. Andrew’s School events, teacher interviews, and short literary works written by St. Andrew’s students. PC Paw Print and Turi Times writers have met and discussed the content of their newspapers, connecting through the similarities and differences of their work.

Although young, the Pine Crest/St. Andrew’s School partnership is already thriving. Savanna Osei ‘26 and Jack Cole ‘25 have pen pals in Kenya, and they have formed exciting new connections. When asked why he signed up to be a pen pal, Cole said, “I wanted to learn from someone who has a completely different perspective. Often, we look at things from a very one-dimensional point of view, so being able to connect with someone across the world is a great way to broaden our understanding of global ideas.” Osei and her pen pal, Zuri Gitu, have discussed their favorite books, music, and activities. The two discovered that they are both student-athletes, as Gitu plays tennis and Osei is currently competing in track and field.

Beyond the pen pal program, Pine Crest and St. Andrew’s have also formed a joint book club to engage students with texts that have cultural relevance for both schools. The first meeting took place on March 19, 2025, during the activity period. Students discussed Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists, suggested by a St. Andrew’s NEHS student, and Zora Neale Hurston’s short story “Sweat,” as proposed by Pine Crest attendees. The NEHS scholars met through Zoom and fostered an open discussion of culture and literature.

The Pine Crest and St. Andrew’s partnership is only beginning. Nevertheless, these early initiatives promise more stimulating opportunities in the future. If you have any ideas about activities Pine Crest and St. Andrew’s School should work on next, whether you are in NEHS or not, please contact Mrs. Strong to share.