| | UWC East Africa Arusha Campus Newsletter Friday 21st June 2024 |  | | The PYP students perform ‘The Owl Who was Afraid of the Dark’ en masse in the last week of term. | | | Upcoming dates Mon 12th Aug – First Day of classes 2024/25 | | | Dear Parents |  | | Zuriel, Taichi and Ella show Miss Glory a clean pair of heels in the PYP cross country! | | |  | | | As I write this on a deserted campus I share my colleagues’ feelings (see articles below) that we can look back with satisfaction on a school year of successes. I know that we all do the very best we can and this is all I ask of students and teachers around me. Well done everyone! Since the joy of the PYP Perfromance and the end of year assembly last week, we have been busy! Saying goodbye to leaving teachers and helping them on to aeroplanes with their belongings, paperwork and cats! In addition we have started our latest building project – a new Drama classroom which will be positioned on the front of the existing music block. As I write, the foundations are being poured (see image above) and I am hopeful that we can get the structure completed in time for the start of our new school year. Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year – it means so much and we are very grateful. Have a pleasant holiday with your families and we will see you back on Campus on August 12th! Happy holidays! Phil | | | Meet the new teachers: Nancy Kweka, PYP teacher |  | | Hi Everyone, My name is Nancy and I am thrilled to be joining the PYP team at UWCEA Arusha. My husband, Don, and I have a 2-year-old daughter named Sky and a 17-year-old son named Sol. I am passionate about inspiring lifelong learners and reminding children that learning isn’t confined to their time in school. I grew up in Lae, Papua New Guinea, then lived in Cape Town, South Africa, for several years before moving to Tanzania in 2015. My hobbies include cooking, a recent (and surprising) passion for the NBA, and gardening (mostly sowing and harvesting, unfortunately not so much the in-between care). From the first day I set foot on the campus, I felt such a warm sense of community, and I look forward to joining and sharing in this community with you all. Nancy, P1 Teacher | | | Meet the new teachers: Robert Stevenson, MYP Art and Design, Residential Parent |  | | Hi Everyone, My name is Rob and I will be coming to Tanzania with my wife Hanh (pictured above). I shall be teaching art and design to MYP classes and getting to know the Diploma students in my capacity as a Diploma Residential Parent. I love traveling and meeting new people. I love the outdoors; camping, hiking, motorbike trips, diving, as well as tennis and pickleball. Look forward to meeting you in August. Rob, MYP Art and Design and Residential Parent | | | Meet the new teachers: Emily Otieno, Diploma Physics and Maths |  | | I am an enthusiastic mathematics and physics educator from Kenya, with a teaching license from Kenya and a teaching degree from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. I have both local and international teaching experience. I am passionate about guiding learners through the learning process, bringing up young responsible mathematicians and scientists with the mind of applying the knowledge to solve problems in the world today. I enjoy working with learners and getting to know their interests as I guide them towards achieving their goals using the resources available. I am a firm believer in lifelong learning and the use of every opportunity to learn from people and books. I love athletics and enjoy playing other sports too, although not perfectly. I look forward to learning about different cultures and sharing mine. Emily, Diploma Physics and Mathematics | | | PYP News |  | | The PYP children (above) performed ‘The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark’ in the last week of term. Wow! What another fantastic year! Here are some of the highlights….
Top of the Pops
PYP Play – The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark
Inter House events – athletics, art, swimming and cross country
Class camps P1-school, P2- Amani Lodge, P3/4-Wildtracks, P4/5-Meserani Snake Park, P6-Randolin and Migonbani
P6 PYP Exhibition – Conservation, Arts, Transportation
Units of inquiry celebrations of learning
The organised PYP art room.
Teacher collaboration and work on curriculum planning.
PE and interschool sports events
Student Council organsied events, movie, stations, fort building
Fun and active Sharetimes.
Have a safe and happy holiday. Keep reading! We can’t wait to see what next year brings. Amanda, PYP Co-ordinator | | | P6 to Gran Melia |  | | P6 were rewarded for their efforts this year with a trip to Gran Melia courtesy of Mr Jonny! Here they are (above) enjoying the view from the posh retsaurant on the roof! | | | P1 Party |  | | All the PYP classes enjoyed an end of year party of some sort or another. Here, above, are P1 making the most of the last days of school. | | | From the Residences |  | | Here they are, (pictured above) the last batch of students to leave school, ready to fly back home. Looking back, I cannot believe that it has been a year already since we welcomed these D1 students. It seems like yesterday! But the reality is that the students that arrived a year ago are not the same that are leaving campus today. They have made new friends, learnt from each others and grown to be a better version of themselves. We have had a fantastic year in Residential Life, thanks to two fabulous cohorts of students that embraced our values to the fullest. I am looking forward to seeing you back in August for more shared adventures! Have a lovely holidays! Coralie, Head of Residential Life | | | From the MYP |  | | Tasman opens his time capsule letter earlier this week. Thank you to all students, families and teachers for another great school year! After the house games on Friday we enjoyed some lovely performances and awarded our Semester 2 certificates during Assembly. The sad part was that we said goodbye to some of our MYP students; we wish them the best of luck as they start at their new schools – please stay in touch! We also said goodbye to some of our MYP teachers and MYP admin team: Ms Angela, Ms Christy, Mr Juan, Ms Kaya, Ms Leah, Mr Niels, Mr Olivier – asanteni sana, we wish you all the best with your new adventures! Now it is time for a well deserved break! First day of the new school year is on Monday 12th August. Anoek, MYP Co-ordinator | | | Recycling project at Magereza School with Megan Brown |  | | For my community project, I organized the donation of recycling bins to Magereza. My first step was calling the head of the school to ensure she was okay with our project. She happily accepted, and we began our preparations. We repurposed old oil cans by cutting open the tops to use as recycling bins. I then designed posters and labels for different categories of waste, including plastic, paper, and organic. After creating these and finishing the bins, we transported everything to the school on Monday. We applied the labels, which were printed as stickers to withstand the rain, and placed the bins around the school in groups of three. Once the nine bins were in place, we distributed the posters to the classrooms. This initiative aimed to improve the school’s waste management system, addressing the pollution problem caused by various events on campus. Megan, M4 | | | A year in reflection for the M1 and M2 students |  | | Brimming with excitement, the M1 and M2 students (above) eagerly opened their time capsule letters, titled “Letter for My Future Self.” Written at the beginning of the year, these letters burst with hopes, dreams, aspirations, and a few personal details, such as their height. Now, as the year draws to a close, rereading their letters sparked a profound sense of personal and physical growth as they reflected on their progress over the past months. By revisiting their initial thoughts, they could see how their actions and choices shaped their journeys. This introspection moment marks a wonderful end to the year, and we look forward to continuing to learn and grow together next year. Ms Delphine, Life Skills | | | D1 Students Wrap Up the Year with a Week of Wellness |  | | The D1 residential students completed a week-long wellness program to unwind and recharge after a busy year. Starting Monday to Friday, they participated in various mindful activities, including mindful colouring and walking, stargazing, meditation, games, a bonfire with marshmallows and a dedicated self-care day. These activities provided them with the opportunity to reflect on the year and express gratitude for the journey they have experienced together. Looking back on the year, we recognise the invaluable contribution of every D1 student. Together, we’ve faced challenges, celebrated successes, and fostered a strong sense of community. As we wrap up this DP1 phase, we celebrate our collective strength and eagerly anticipate the new experiences and challenges that await us in D2. It has been a year of adventure, challenges and growth, and we’re inspired by the resilience and commitment to well-being demonstrated by every individual. Each student’s unique contribution has been a lifeline to our collective success, and for that, we are truly grateful. Ms Delphine and the Wellness Team | | | DP Corner |  | | Sadly, this will be my last contribution to the UWCEA Arusha’s newsletter. After 4 years, I am leaving Tanzania for some new adventures back closer to home in Europe. Working in international schools has its advantages and drawbacks. Yes you get to travel, to meet new people, visit new countries, get acquainted with new rules and traditions.The downside is that at some point, you have to say goodbye as you move on to the next post.
I guess this is how many of our Graduates feel as well, as they leave a place they got to know for two years or more for some of them, to start a new phase in their lives. Still, I am taking a bit of Tanzania back with me: that is my cat Tabby, all the way from Iringa, who is going to get to experience life in a city and European winters!! 🙂 I will be supporting the Class of 2024 throughout the release of their results on the 6th July but I want to wish them all the best for the future, whether they embark into university or a gap year.
I know I am leaving the Class of 2025 in good hands: in no time they will be getting their university offers and their own Graduation is just around the corner. It has been a privilege to work at UWCEA Arusha with a team of dedicated friends and colleagues, I will miss you! And I will miss watching the students coming back from their first OP trip exhausted but with sparkles in their eyes, the smell of the first rain, the birds in my garden, the view of Mount Meru’s peak, sundowners at Schwari and Mezabine’s paneer samosas! Nina tumaini tutaonana tena! Nathalie, DP Co-ordinator | | | Counselor’s Corner |  | | Pictured above, Namara ‘25, Ms. Cassandra, Emmanuel ‘23 Essential Skill Building & Transition Time Even though it was the very last class of the school year, the D1 Life Skills session on building leadership skills via understanding conflict resolution, networking, and reflection was an information packed lesson with resources we hope students will continue to use throughout the break and beyond. Last Friday, Namara had a chance to practice when she connected with Emmanuel who just finished his first year at Hood College (Davis UWC Scholar Partner institution). They engaged in conversation that started with their involvement in the United Nations youth program, and will continue when they are able to join forces in Dar Es Salaam during the break. When UWC East Africa alumni are able to ‘swing’ by it is an excellent opportunity for our current students to learn more about their options firsthand. However, since this is not always possible, we are grateful for alumni who have pledged to stay connected and provided their contact information so that DP, and even MYP students, can reach out to them as they explore their post-secondary pursuits. Having just watched a video of Yuk Yi Chan (ISM/UWCEA ‘20 & Northwestern University ‘24 (from my first cohort!)) walk across the stage at graduation, but also remain available to our community as a resource, I prepare to leave excited about the ways this community will continue to grow and support one another. Until I have an opportunity to ‘swing’ back through Arusha, I look forward to remaining a part of this network and celebrating the successes of UWC East Africa alumni around the world for years to come. Kila la heri! Stay Connected and Tuned In Although we have begun what I hope will be a ‘balanced’ break, this is prime time for the Admissions offices at many institutions around the globe. The list below of events is short, but the statement below is important for your planning/engagement purposes… Upcoming College and University Events 15 June/July/August…: 4:45-6:00 PM EAT 15 on the 15th continues with a “Hot Admissions Topic” and a virtual fair with 13 Davis UWC Scholar Partners & two UWC “friends” 9 August: Deadline to register for the August SAT on Moshi campus See information about this and other upcoming tests by visiting www.uwcea.org/tests) **Many more events (and resources) are on the UWCEA Careers website, as well as individual institution websites/social media** Enjoy making the most of the break na kila la heri! Cassandra Ford
College and Career Counselor
cassandraford@uwcea.org | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
