Arusha Campus News – 25 Nov 2023

Yannick scores a try on his team’s way to the Open Touch Rugby title at last weekend’s sports weekend.

Sat 25th – Sun 26th November – Arusha Christmas Fair at Arusha Campus

Fri 1st December – School Theatre Production

Sat 2nd December – School Theatre Production

Fri 15th December – Final day of the quarter

Mon 18th-Fri 22nd – TALISS swim training camp for ages 12+/Advanced swimmers/competition level (Contact caitrintrappe@uwcea.org if interested.

Williams, Haitham and Ibra take a breather from their own performances and enjoy the matches unfold.

Manu and Gavin collide in mid air as they thwart a Moshi Leopards attack in the Ultimate Open competition.

Apologies for the fact that there was no newsletter last week. I had a very good excuse. It was Moshi Sports Weekend! And what an event it was. The whole Moshi staff deserve the biggest congratulations for putting on an incredible event in the most trying of conditions. The rain was intense and the muddy pitches threatened to cancel play but instead we had the time of our life. The groundstaff on Moshi Campus worked around the clock, shoveling lorryloads of sand onto the pitches to make them playable. Thank yiou very much to Bob (Head of Moshi Campus) and his team for a splendid weekend. We are very grateful.

It was a time to renew old rivalries……and friendships! This picture right of Mr Isaac (Moshi) with his old student Miss Jessica (Arusha) epitomises the good spirit between campuses!

The newsletter is punctuated with images from the weekend. As you can see, the commitment from the Arusha Rhinos was outstanding and everyone – athletes, coaches, chaperones and drivers played their part. Thank you team!

Its Arusha Fair time at our campus this weekend so enjoy yourselves and apologies for the incovnenience to parents dropping off their children this week. I anticpate slight disruption to car park access on Monday morning but normal service should resume from Monday afternoon.

Have a super weekend!

Phil

Troy executes a free shot in time honoured fashion!

Juliana, Ru, Ella and Carice organised learning activities in PYP as part of the MYP Service as Action.

Making connections in our reading is an essential part of our PYP learning. We all gain a deeper and authentic understanding of our world when we are able to make connections.

When reading with your child try making connections that enable them to relate to a text. Text-to-Self Connection, Text-to-Text Connection, and Text-to-World Connection. https://www.readwritethink.org

Focusing on text-to-self connections:

What does this story remind you of?

Can you relate to the characters in the story?

Does anything in this story remind you of anything in your own life?

Focusing on text-to-text connections:

What does this remind you of in another book you have read?

How is this text similar to other things you have read?

How is this text different from other things you have read?

Focusing on text-to-world connections:

What does this remind you of in the real world?

How are events in this story similar to things that happen in the real world?

Amanda

Eben shows his trademark composure in the Under 16 basketball competition

This week we had Lena the vet (above) visit the Early Childhood class with her dog. The children got to learn a lot about the role of a vet and how to care for their pets.

Silence – our amazing goalkeeper from Zambia – saves the day yet again as he turns a penalty around the post!

P3/4 pond dipping. We found a fish, a frog, snails, crickets, and spiders using the pond.

Valerie makes try scoring look very easy indeed as she touches down at the weekend

The M5 students relax during their M5 on-screen examinations.

This weekk M5 students got a chance to experience what their final MYP exams will look like as they took their Familiarisation on-screen exams in the IT lab.

Anoek

Gaby in control at the scoring end of the netball court!

Despite having the M4-5 separate in two different classes, the French department aims this year for more collaborative works between the classes. Here is a great example of it : the M4-5 class of Miss Coralie had organised a survey around the topic of holidays, and paid a visit to Miss Leah’s students to gather datas, in order to write an article. A fun class where everybody had a chance to practise French in a more informal way. Next collaborative project coming up at the end of this week!

Miss Coralie, Language B

Whatever he plays, football or basketball or whatever, Alvar is just about the strongest and here he is in competition against Moshi.

Dew (D1) lends his inimitable style to his presentation at TEDx UWCEA last weekend

Quarter 2 is yet to slow down for our DP students. Events are taking place each weekend (when not canceled due to the rain!) and assignments, IAs and university applications are indeed piling up. The IB Diploma curriculum is definitely not for the faint-hearted!

The D2 are currently working on their TOK essay. Each student has picked their prompt, and this week, following their first individual meeting with their TOK teacher, the four TOK classes were given the opportunity to interact with each other to discuss their ideas. They also benefited from the ideas that came out of a teachers’ brainstorming session during a collaborative secondary meeting last week: teachers were put in their department and were asked to discuss and tackle each prompt.

In the meantime, the D1 are currently preparing group presentations on the TOK Optional themes, which will also give them a taste of the TOK exhibition, the first assessment in TOK.

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend my first TEDx event to watch and listen to ten of our students (Dhanashree Birajdar, Heena Suleman, Juanita Muigai, Lilian Siegl and Zeynep Dila Avci from Arusha campus; Angel Keziah, Arsine Mkrtchyan, Emily Tacey, Mathieu Dacruz, and Nojus Adote from Moshi campus) confidently take the stage. As Ms Sarah mentioned in her M5 assembly this week, it takes a lot of courage to get up on stage. These students practiced for weeks prior to the event and each speaker was able to captivate their audience during the 10-15 min of their presentation.
Congratulations to Ze and the TEDx team for organising a very successful event!

Here are some comments from some of our TEDx speakers and TEDx team members. 

What an incredible journey we experienced at TEDx UWCEA Youth on November 4th under the dynamic theme of “Building Bridges”! The atmosphere was nothing short of electric as a diverse group of speakers took the stage, each weaving a unique story and perspective. From thought-provoking insights to jaw-dropping experiences, the event was a vibrant celebration of the power of ideas to create connections and understanding. The theme echoed through every talk, performance, and interaction, reminding us that bridges aren’t just physical structures but profound symbols of collaboration and empathy. TEDx UWCEA Youth proved to be a melting pot of innovation, diversity, and shared dreams. As we reflect on this unforgettable day, let’s carry the spirit of building bridges forward, breaking down barriers and embracing the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Thank you to everyone who made this event a resounding success, and here’s to the bridges we continue to build together! 

Ammar Anwarali D2

What an insightful event! Not only did I gain the satisfaction of sharing my experience and knowledge on intersectionality and the health care system, but I was also inspired by the confidence and motivational talks by the other speakers. We all helped each other along the way!

Heena Suleman D1

From being a fan of TED talks to doing one, it was definitely an experience. I loved every bit of the process encompassing from formulating my idea to presenting it. It was interesting dealing with a sensitive concept of ‘mental colonisation’ but I am glad that the audience took some learnings out of it. I am grateful for the opportunity.

Dhanashree D2

Student Voice is a new service group that meets at 4:00 pm on Tuesdays. Student voice is defined by the following principles:
o   Listen,
o   Learn,
o   Act, for the good of the whole.

The purpose of the group is to improve communication and clarify issues for students and staff in a way that is productive (using a VOICE) and not divisive (making NOISE). For example, we would like to bridge the gap between staff and administration AND STUDENTS by clarifying ambiguities and policies.  We are also working to design projects that serve the student body in providing fora to discuss and learn from each other. Very soon, you will be asked to complete a survey asking how the group can build better relationships and understanding within our school community.  Please join us, fill out the survey, and use your voice!

Miss Robin, Counselor

Dear Parents and Guardians,        

One of the key elements that contribute to the positive and respectful atmosphere in our school is our Dress Code. UWCEA has a Dress Code created in conjunction with the students to convey a message of respectability to our community and reflect our standards. We are a school in Tanzania and should be aware of community and cultural expectations regarding student dress both when attending classes and going off campus. In line with our Dress Code, our students are expected to adhere to the following:

●No sagging shorts or trousers
●Shorts, skirts or dresses should reach mid-thigh
●Shirts or dresses can be sleeveless but should cover the torso
●Hoods or hats may not be worn during classes
●Wear shoes appropriate for your day

At the same time, clothes, jewellery, makeup or hairstyles, which may cause offence in the community, should not be worn. In particular, clothes or accessories that advertise alcohol, drugs or cigarettes or contain offensive language or images are not appropriate.

In addition, when taking part in sports or similar activities, students should:

●Wear athletic shorts or yoga/leggings and athletic trainers/tennis shoes. For field sports, it is recommended that students wear football/rugby boots/cleats
●Wear protective gear for certain sports, such as shin pads or gum shields
●Wear a hat and bring a water bottle to P.E. classes
●Wear a one-piece swimsuit (females) or swimming shorts (males) for swimming and, also, bring a towel, goggles and flip flops

Students who are inappropriately dressed may be given alternative clothing to wear or be asked to change. Of course, exemptions to any aspect of the Dress Code can be made on religious or cultural grounds and final decisions regarding appropriateness of clothing rests with the school.

We hope that our Dress Code helps foster a respectful environment by encouraging students to dress in a manner that is respectful to themselves and others. At the same time, we want it to promote equality and inclusion, remaining sensitive to cultural norms and reflecting the diversity of our students.

We hope this reinforces a sense of community and unity among our students and staff and kindly request your support in upholding our Dress Code. Please take the time to review it with your child and ensure they are aware of the guidelines. Your assistance will help us maintain a positive and inclusive environment for everyone, where all students feel safe, valued and empowered to learn.

Thank you for your continued support.

UWCEA Senior Leadership Team

Dew entertains the crowds with his raucous rapping at the closing ceremony.

Gavin is a picture of focus as he leads his team to outright Ultimate tournament victory

Preparing for life after UWC East Africa

NOWvember is almost over! Not only do we continue to celebrate application submissions, we’re also thrilled that our D2s have started receiving offers of admission WITH scholarship package$!. This has been exciting news to share across campus, and serves as a motivator for those who are still preparing application submissions, but now with more enthusiasm knowing that there is a possibility for favorable outcomes. In addition, hearing this news has reinforced the importance of starting the post-secondary planning process in the D1 year, and that has begun in both Diploma Success Skills class and Life Skills.

Recently our D2 students spent time reflecting on what life will look like next year at this time, and the things they are looking forward to as well as what they are nervous about. These reflections led to conversations on a wide array of topics related to how elections and conflicts around the world may impact their global aspirations. Then in DSS they worked in three groups to use NOW to get ahead in their applications, CAS portfolio, and Extended Essay, so that they will bring 2024 ready for all that awaits them on the other side of IBDP. In the D1 DSS and Life Skills classes the students have been introduced to the Maia Learning platform in order to take career assessments and build their Digital Profile, which will assist with developing their post-secondary plan. Both Diploma Programme cohorts are taking steps to effectively plan and prepare for a future that they will be ready for when it is time to leave our campus.

Team Effort

Thank you so much to the families that were able to attend the D1 Parent/Guardian meeting on Tuesday evening. I hope those of you who attended found it to be informative. I am sorry that the internet interrupted the flow of the presentation, but I am so glad that my colleague from Moshi was able to carry on in my absence. If you missed the presentation, the recording and document with resources is not uploaded to the UWCEA Careers website in the “Resources” section under “Past Presentations.”

Below is the link that allows you to request Parent Portal access to your child’s Maia Learning account. Please complete it so that you can be added to the platform and join your child on their post-secondary planning journey. For those of you who have already completed the form, we will set up accounts in December so that you will have time to review with your child (either in person or virtually) over the break.

Maia Learning Parent(Guardian) Access Sign-up Form link: https://forms.gle/SEdKzRSAFdjVacZcA

Although the list below is relatively short, there are many more events published on our website. These are just a sampling, but please see more on the website under “Calendar Overview.”

UPCOMING College and University Events

2 December: 11:00 AM- 1:oo PM EAT Science Po University (France) Open House event (virtual)

5 December: 7:30-8:30 PM EAT Are you a College Bound athlete? Come learn more about the process of playing collegiate sports on a US campus (virtual)

6 December: 7:30-8:30 PM EAT  Bard College Berlin. Studying in Germany and pursuing a degree in the humanities. (virtual)

*TBD December: 7:30-8:30 PM EAT Do you need to create an Art Portfolio for your application? Join us to learn more about how to successfully create a competitive portfolio for admissions consideration. (virtual)

Take care and enjoy your weekend!

Cassandra Ford
College and Career Counselor
cassandraford@uwcea.org

…and this is when Benja put the game to bed!

Haitham leads the charge in the quagmire of Moshi!

Our Director, Anna, (above) addresses the gathering of parenst and teachers at this year’s AGM for the Arusha Parent Teacher Association held this week.