Moshi Campus News – 2 Sep 2023

With the start of clubs, not to mention, the market, sports, service and outdoor pursuits, an assembly and a primary gathering, it really feels like we are fully into the year. Thank you to all the teachers, students and parents that contributed to getting us fully back in motion.

With everything it is easy to miss something that you are interested in, please take the time to read the newsletter and keep up with the school calendar so you can take full advantage of everything on offer.

This week we also had an MYP parent zoom, for those that were unable to attend, please note a link with the recording was emailed to you. Next week we have the zoom for the M5 parents to discuss the eAssessment.

One last thing from me, thank you to all the parents that have been updating student information and contact information on Life. This really helps us to make sure you have the information you need, and students can get fully involved in all programs.

Bob Cofer – Head of Campus

Dear Moshi Community,

Welcome back to another academic year from the Music Department. Private music lessons are available for guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, music theory and music production. Spaces are limited, so we operate on a first-come, first served basis. Lessons cost $10 for 30 minutes and will be charged to student accounts at the end of each Quarter. We also have one or two instruments available for monthly hire. Please contact Mr. Samuel (samuelwilkinson@uwcea.org) for further information about any of the above. Thank you.

There will be a parent meeting on Thursday, 7 Sep at 7.30am in the social centre (“the duka”) to discuss the coming year’s events and how our parent community can support our kids and the school. You can also join us online using this link. Karibuni!

If you are not yet on the PTA what’s app group, message Tara to be added, +255 755 162 677. Parents of boarders- please send suggestions of how we can accommodate you in the school PTA.

This upcoming Sunday, 10 September, you are invited to the 530th Kilimanjaro Dirt Road Hash House Harriers. For the first time, this Hash will be hared by UWC students. Hash runs are a great way for the community to get together and spend some quality time while enjoying a hike through the not-so-touched parts of Moshi. The community in Moshi has been arranging hash runs for 20 years now. While our school has participated in the hash runs with the purpose of not only having a nice time out on Sunday but also engaging more with the community, this time, it’s our turn to host this beautiful event. Be on the lookout for signup forms if you would like to help out! Come and reach out to us (Nayem & Balazs, D2) if you would like to learn more! Get amongst!

In Monday’s Secondary Assembly, the Student Government talked about adding value. They shared the countless committees, activities and events that enrich each and every day across our dynamic campus and beyond. Indeed, this enormous newsletter is compelling evidence of this plethora of happenings. The heart of any thriving school is its sense of community. A vibrant school community not only enhances the educational experience for students, but it also fosters a sense of belonging and support that can have a lasting impact on everyone involved. As members of UWCEA, we all have the opportunity to contribute and make a difference. The question we should ask ourselves is, “Where can I add value?”

This goes way beyond the classroom. It involves actively engaging and finding ways to make the environment more enriching, inclusive and uplifting. Guest speakers, field trips, sports coaches, arts classes, service initiatives, special events (like the 24 Hour Run!), communications, wellbeing and so on. The list is genuinely endless. When we all contribute, we create a positive ripple effect that benefits everyone.

Of course, it is impossible to be involved in everything. We end up spreading ourselves too thinly and soon burn ourselves out. However, I task you all with reflecting on your strengths, interests and passions. Consider the areas where you feel most engaged and where your skills can shine. Alternatively, embrace the IB Learner Profile attribute, Risk-Taker, and step out of your comfort zone to try something new. Remember that every action, no matter how small, has the potential to make a positive difference in the lives of those around you. Let’s all work together to build a school community that we can continue to be so, so proud of.

Ben Morley – Deputy Head of Campus

We started the week with a secondary assembly with lots of information shared about various events happening on campus. It is always amazing to hear how much is going on.

Last weekend some of the members of Student Government helped with the MYP orientation, which was much appreciated. Meanwhile the D1 students were on the Pamoja walk and some D2 students were doing their SAT exams.

This week we had an alumna who has worked as a strategic advisor talk to the D2 Business Management and Economics students.

A large group of DP students are currently in Fish Eagle Point near Tanga on our first Reefs trip of the year.

On Saturday a group of History students will be going on a trip to Kibosho where they will learn about the Magni Sina fortress. Also on Saturday, we have a group of students on the Songambele walk as part of the International Spinal Cord Injury Day awareness.

D2 are working on college applications alongside their academic commitments. They have drafts due in for Theatre and Biology on Tuesday. They have been meeting with their Extended Essay supervisors and started writing their draft. On Thursday we started checking their exam entries making sure we have their personal details and subjects correct. We will also share this with parents in a few weeks.

The D1 students have recovered from their weekend away and are starting to have assessments. It is important to remember that the style and language of IB assessments is often different to what they are used to. A 7 is an exceptional grade and students should not be disappointed if they do not achieve the grades they are used to. We will work with them to understand the expectations and demands of IB DP as they progress through the course.

The D1 students have now come to the end of the period of subject changes just by sending an email. I will send an email to students and parents with the current subjects this weekend. From Monday there is a form that needs to be filled in and signed by all stakeholders and an email is required from parents.

Margaret Brunt – Diploma Coordinator

We are thrilled to announce the Book of Celebrations 2023! This book includes 54 cultural holidays celebrated by people throughout our diverse community. Our motto is to not only know our peers, but to celebrate them and their cultures.

Here is the online copy of the Book of Celebrations. Feel free to check out the physical copies available in the main office, library, and various classrooms. With the rising demand, we plan to print more, so stay tuned! If you would like to share your own cultural holiday or suggest any edits please email: gurtejb24@uwcea.org.

Kind regards,
Gurtej, Deogracious, Megan & Vansh

Dear UWCEA Community,

Another week has flown by, and it feels like we’ve just begun.

Last weekend, Moshi and Arusha D1 students had their Pamoja walk. We were welcomed to the Arusha campus before embarking on our journey. Students were divided into three groups with the goal of reaching the camp by dinner. Groups A and B reached the camp earlier than Group C, which, let’s admit, was because we took our time and savored the views. 😉

As Alexandros, our D1 student from Greece, noted, “The Pamoja walk was extraordinary. Walking endlessly beneath the scorching sun was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We encountered various animals like camels and zebras in the seemingly infinite desert. It served as a fantastic introduction to the OP program, providing a chance to socialize and test our physical abilities. My advice to future D1s: savor every moment.”

This weekend continues to offer a range of activities for our students:

• The First Farmers Market took place on campus Friday.
• M1s are heading on their Campcraft trip, an OP introduction.
• Today sees students joining the Songambele Walk to support wheelchair accessibility in Moshi.
• PYP residential students are off to Maji Moto on Sunday.
• Our Reefs OP Trip is set to return this Sunday.

Stay engaged and enjoy the exciting opportunities coming your way!

Adnan Mackovic – Head of Residential Life

An important part of our support for students is the Ujafamily or link family. Ujamaa is the Kiswahili word for togetherness, hence the term Ujafamily. We are incredibly grateful to everybody who is involved in this. I know the students really appreciate it as well and I love seeing the Ujaparents at graduation with their Ujababies. That these links continue after students have left Tanzania is a testament to how important it is.

We are just starting the process this year and to avoid some of the confusion from last year we would like everyone to fill the form in regardless of whether you are carrying on with the same students.

Please fill in this form. We will contact you before letting students know who their ujafamilies are.  If you know people who might be interested and are not parents, please let us know. Not all ujafamilies have students in the school.

We are planning an informational meeting about this soon.

The Perfect Pencil Case Recipe (Just a little reminder for all of us!)

Ingredients:
1- Pens
2- Pencils
3- An eraser
4- A Ruler

Top it up a notch (if you want to)
5- A pair of scissors
6- A glue stick
7- Highlighters
8- Colorful markers/pencils/crayons
9- Post-it-notes
With these ingredients, your pencil case is a treasure trove of learning and creativity!
Voilà! You’re ready for a magical day of learning!

M5 eAssessments
Last year, we received information that in order for some of our M5 students to receive official recognition and grade equivalence (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania), there must be some form of external validation of results especially when applying for certain universities later on. Having said that, UWC East Africa Moshi Campus is providing the option for M5 students to sit for the MYP eAssessments. This is optional and comes down to the discretion of parents/guardians and the students. Moving forward, a virtual info session will be held on September to discuss that and respond to any queries.

M1- M2- M3 MAP Tests
M1, M2 and M3 students will sit for their first round of MAP Tests for this year.

MYP Dates to Remember:

• September 2nd – M1Camp Craft
• September 6th – Virtual M5 e-Assessments Parents’ Meeting
• September 11th – MYP MAP Tests Start for M1, M2, M3
• September 11th – MYP Assembly
• September 15th- MYP MAP Tests End for M1, M2, M3
• September 21st – UWC Day
• September 29th – 24 Hour Run

Have a great week ahead,

Farah Fawaz – MYP Coordinator

Leopards on the move

Clubs started this week. It seemed like everyone at the school was on the field participating in all the different activities.  There were almost 40 girls playing netball on Thursday.  K-hall has been filled with our very talented girls’ and boys’ basketball teams.  Badminton on Monday had an amazing 30 students.  Let’s continue this active lifestyle, Leopards!

Rugby was powerful at all levels!  The older group of players had a small scrimmage with a community team that came at the end of the session.

Next week D1 and D2 students will be starting their own personal clubs, keep an eye out for their adverts to come and participate.  It is ok to just go and the club leaders will add new students to their rosters.

Congratulations to our U19 Boys Football in having their first friendly match on Friday.

Josh Pickell – Sports & Activity Coordinator

All student swimmers of any age(s) are welcome to train in the Leopard Sharks swim club! This is an opportunity to develop as a swimmer and have fun.

We have some exciting events this semester:

• 19 September – Primary practice NTSAA gala at Kennedy House
• 23-24 September – Tanzania Nationals Open in Dar es Salaam
• 27 October – Primary NTSAA gala at SCIS
• 28 October – Secondary NTSAA gala at SCIS

Please join us:

• Primary training sessions: Mon & Wed 2-3
• Secondary training sessions: Mon, Tues, Wed 4.30-6, Thurs 3-4.30

No fees for this semester! For more information regarding the club, please contact us on: uwcleopardsharks@gmail.com

The first week of clubs has gone well – thank you to everyone who is helping to make our after-school program a success.

Thank you for the effort everyone has made to make sure the PYP children come to school in a UWCEA T-shirt – they are looking great.

Our main fundraising event for scholarships, the 24-Hour Run, is just around the corner! In Friday’s Primary Gathering, the Student Voice reminded us that we can all be part of the fundraising effort and told us about a Spirit Day on September 14th to raise awareness of the event. Look out for more details about this soon. Your child also brought home a new Pledge Form. It is easier for secondary students to get involved with the 24-Hour Run independently but primary children need more support and encouragement. Please encourage your child to participate at his/her level – no amount of money raised is too small. Contributing even 5000 shillings to the scholarship fund, raised by sponsorship from friends and family, will make the PYP children feel that they can make a difference and improve the lives of others through their actions.

We are aware that hats and water bottles sometimes get lost and do not reappear. We are considering ways to tackle this issue. There are many people who pass through our campus – an obvious way to ensure things don’t get mislaid is for the children not to leave them lying around. Items should be put inside the classroom or kept in a zipped bag. The chances of a child being reunited with his/her lost items are increased if that item is clearly named. We will be talking to the children about what action they should take if they find an item of lost property.

Swimming lessons for P2 – P6 will begin next week and the children should bring the appropriate swim kit to school. Please note that children are never forced to swim if the weather is cold.

Deborah Mills – PYP Coordinator

Meet this year’s Primary Student Voice. We come together every Monday to think about ways we can celebrate our community, promote and recognise our school Values and liaise between students and teachers. We have representatives from P3-P6. We have already planned a special event to relaunch the 24 Hour Run in the Primary School. Look out for more information in due course. The Student Voice also collaborates with the Student Government to explore school wide ideas and initiatives.

Learning about Andy Goldsworthy was interesting this week. The children were inspired by his art. They decided to go to the community garden and create their own art. The picture shared is a combination of patterns and a dinosaur, created by Nicholas and Natalia. At the end of the week, they completed a yarn hair craft activity which you can see hanging in our classroom. Next week, we will continue to explore our surroundings and create art where we can.

At the end of the week, they created facial pictures with weaved-in yarn hair. You will be able to see them hanging in the classroom in the coming week.

Mboka Mwasongwe

POW!! What a great week. We enjoyed wearing our Superhero capes on Friday and testing our super strength with activities on the playground. We also made excellent Pop Art in the style of comic books. Our super stories are coming along and we look forward to extending them in the week ahead. We will also be turning our attention to real-life heroes. The Home Learning assignment for the week will need parental involvement, details will be in the Home Learning folder on Monday.

Please remember that SWIMMING starts this week on Tuesday! Students need to bring their swim bag with a swimsuit and towel. Goggles are optional.

Also, help us to do better with library bags on Mondays and running shoes on Thursdays for PE. Students are sad when they realize they’ve forgotten those things at home. Thanks for all of your support.

Kacey Buckley

This past week, Mr. Morley talked to the children about “the power of yet.” As part of our work on developing a growth mindset, he encouraged them to think positively. Don’t say, “I can’t do it,” say “I can’t do it, yet.” Next week the children will make “yetis” in art and craft to remind them of the power of yet. In maths we have continued our work on place value but have also been using protractors to draw angles. For P4 this is something new and for P5 it is useful revision – we will continue with this work next week. We have started our reading groups when 2, 3 or 4 children all share the same book. This gives them an opportunity to ask and answer questions about a text and to make predictions.  We enjoyed preparing for our primary gathering – thank you to everyone who was able to attend. A reminder that swimming starts for P4/5 next Tuesday.

Deborah Mills

The start of Clubs this week was met with great enthusiasm and excitement in P6. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop new skills, make new friends and create some fun memories. 

Through their inquiry, P6 gained a deeper understanding of the history and belief system of the ancient Kingdom of Benin. They discovered how this influenced their rituals, ceremonies, and even their art. As part of our Art lessons over the next few weeks, P6 will be exploring some of the different techniques used by the Benin artisans and will have a go at recreating them.

Next week your child will choose an early civilization to research and investigate what aspects of that civilization have survived today. In Math, we will be looking at the different time zones around the world and using timetables and schedules in real-life situations.

The 24-Hour Run is fast approaching. A new pledge form has been put in your child’s Home Learning Folder, today.

Natasha Berri

Leenster is our last incoming teacher this year and will be leading our Inclusion group when she arrives in two weeks.