This week is our last week before we take the mid-semester break. This is a opportunity for students, parents and staff to take a bit of a pause and look back on the start of the year and everything that has gone on so far.
While not having a singular 24 hour activity this weekend we have made up for it in volume. The blood drive, Farmers’ Market, football, basketball, volleyball and 2 OP trips as well as the cultural night means everyone should have something that interests them.
Throughout the newsletter you will see a little about the different events and those coming up. For primary parents please note that the signup email went out already for the conferences on the 2nd. If you have not seen it, please check your spam folder.
This is a long newsletter so please click view entire message so that you get to read the counsellors and sustainability articles.
School and campus events are listed on the website so please do check the calendar regularly so you do not miss a thing.
Bob Cofer – Head of Campus
Upcoming Events
Secondary Spirit Week
Please note spirit week is secondary only.
Ben’s Corner
Last weekend’s 24-Hour Run was an unprecedented success. The event was, of course, about fundraising to create opportunities for others to benefit from a UWCEA education. However, it was also about much more, not least raising collective awareness, connecting with and celebrating the wider Moshi community.
The occasion was indeed a genuine reflection of the very special community we are all lucky to be a part of. The success of the event was a real collective effort with so, so many people pitching it to share ideas and responsibilities, from 2:00pm Friday until 2:00pm Saturday, all through the night, and for many months leading up to the event.
Shared experiences such as this have an enormously positive impact on learning as well, empowering students to become aware and active contributors to the community. One of the underlying tenets of the IB is, after all, promoting the idea of students becoming active citizens, taking action to show understanding, to apply knowledge and skills, to reflect and, often, to make a contribution to a cause or stimulate positive change.
If we genuinely want to empower our students to make a difference in the world, we need to help them personalise the action they take and understand that it is not just a mandate from teachers or parents but a lifelong mindset they develop.
We welcomed teams from across the community, alumni, students of all ages, parents and staff. For me, the 24-Hour Run has become a celebration of how we can all be agents of change. Raising funds for scholarships at UWC remains the projected aim but, hopefully, the impact on our students and our wider community will be long lasting and deeply felt. “It’s not about the mask. It’s what you do that defines you.”
Ben Morley – Deputy Head of Campus
Diploma News
This has been a busy week in classes as assessments have increased for both D1s and D2s. Assessment is a wonderful opportunity to see how much students have learned and what areas still need improvement. Parents can see assessment data on our online platform, Learn.
A few important reminders:
The October break: Students should use the break to catch up on sleep and have some well-deserved time away from school. The D2s, however, will likely need to spend some time working on their Extended Essay draft which is due after the October break. The Extended Essay is a 4000-word response to a research question of their choice. For most students, it is something they are interested in so the task should be fairly enjoyable.
Our reporting semester for D2 students will be finishing at the end of October. We will issue reports in the week of 15 November. This helps us with University applications and will alleviate the students’ workload a little in Semester 2 when many IAs are due. D1 reports will be issued in December.
Parent-teacher conferences will be hosted in October. Please look out for a link to sign up over the next few weeks. This is a great opportunity for parents to meet teachers.
As we look ahead to next quarter, the D1s are preparing for Project Week, (4 November), where many are traveling outside of Moshi, while the D2s will remain on campus for Catch-Up week. All D2 students are expected to be on campus – this is a special opportunity to catch up and to get ahead of their work.
As always, please reach out with any questions. We wish our students well as they enter the last week of the quarter. We can all pat ourselves on the back for a good start to the year!
Catherine Dowie – DP Coordinator
MUN
On Friday, the 13th of September, the Moshi Campus MUN team set off to Arusha to participate in UWCEA MUN. There were different committees in the MUN, such as African Union (AU), Economic and Social council (ECOSOC), United Nations Security Council (UNSC), General Assembly and Crisis committee. Students actively participated in these sessions and many students won awards such as best delegate, honourable mention, outstanding diplomacy and best position paper. Our team, most of them being first-timers, came back from this experience having learnt how the United Nations operates and about important ongoing world affairs.
Azka D1
Residential Life
Dear UWCEA Community,
What an incredible week it has been at UWCEA! Our residential community has been buzzing with energy, growth, and connection. I’m truly impressed with the way our students continue to embrace campus life and work together with such enthusiasm.
One of the standout moments this week was the 24-Hour Run fundraising event. The level of commitment and teamwork on display was nothing short of amazing! Our D2 students showed exceptional leadership, and the D1s stepped up to contribute with full force. This year, our MYP students, especially the M5 group, were more involved than ever. A huge congratulations to everyone for their hard work and success—what a team effort!
Today, our students are keeping the momentum going with a blood donation drive, aiming for 100 donors. As I’m writing this, they’ve already passed the halfway mark! Their dedication to giving back is truly inspiring.
As we wrap up Quarter 1, it’s clear that it’s been an incredibly productive and rewarding time. I can’t wait to see what the next quarter has in store!
Adnan Mackovic – Head of Residential Life
MYP News
As we approach the end of the quarter, MYP students are excited for October Break, and honestly, I do not blame them. They have been deeply engaged in their learning experiences, embracing each opportunity with enthusiasm. Their love for inquiry and discovery is evident through their active participation in classroom activities, which has remained constant throughout the first quarter. Students have been immersed in thought-provoking experiences, from M1s sitting for their first round of summative assessments, to M2s exploring heroes and their journeys while discovering a new joy in reading, M3s starting to think about their Science Fair ideas, M4s exploring the Human Form in Art, and M5s skillfully juggling their Personal Projects alongside the rest of their academics! These experiences have sparked curiosity, fostering a collaborative and inquisitive atmosphere.
M1-M2-M3 MAP Tests M1, M2 and M3 students will sit for their first round of MAP Tests for this year.
M3 Music
The M3 students have been working in the computer lab on their personal digital compositions. Their final project for their unit is to create an original song that showcases one of their musical influences discovered in week 1.
M4 Language and Literature English In our M4 English class, we have come to the end of our unit “Narrative and News”. Students shared very insightful articles about the school’s 24-Hr Run event and used the concept of “perspective” thoroughly. They demonstrated great research skills as they dug deeper into the history and origin of this event, conducted interviews, made observations and gathered facts during the event itself and produced perceptive texts. We are working on a way to share these articles with the community, so stay tuned!
M5 eAssessments This is a friendly reminder to complete the form regarding your child’s participation in the M5 eAssessments in May 2025. The registration deadline is approaching, with the IB’s final cutoff in mid-October. Please keep in mind that late registrations will incur an additional fee beyond the initial exam cost, and the window for late submissions will be limited. If you would like any further clarification before you make your decision, please feel free to contact me.
Have a great week ahead, Farah Fawaz – MYP Coordinator
Outdoor Pursuits
OP Newsletter As we near the end of the Quarter 1, it is fantastic achievement that over 150 students in the senior school have participated and spent at least one night camping as part of OP trip. The OP’s mission statement is to inclusively offer outdoor education as an integral part of UWC East Africa’s educational model. We hope to build upon and continue this as we move into Quarter 2, so please keep getting involved in trips – we have added a couple of extra trips due to popularity!
This weekend we have Rides Discovery to Simba Farm and Peaks Discovery to North Pare, another 40 students off campus and enjoying the outdoors. During the holidays, there are 15 brave students attempting to summit Kilimanjaro. These students have been training hard and we wish them every success in their expedition.
Finally, please read the following reviews of recent OP trips. We hope you enjoy reading them!
The OP Team
M1 – M3 Campcraft review
The Campcraft trip was for me a great opportunity to learn new camping skills, as well as making new friends whom I would have never met.
This unforgettable trip started at Marangu Hotel campsite, where we were joined by Arusha campus, had lunch, pitched our tents and went on a 4 km hike to a nearby waterfall. We were all exhausted, but we were motivated by the refreshing swim at the waterfall. However, when we reached the waterfall, we were in for an unfortunate and unexpected surprise: a venomous snake had had the same idea as us! Thankfully, we were able to swim at our hotel’s swimming pool, before eating dinner and going to bed. The next day, we had another hike with our full bags this time, then we were picked up by the bus and started our ride home.
In conclusion, Campcraft was a very educational if fun experience, and has definitely opened my doors to the OP program.
I would like to acknowledge the teachers and staff who accompanied us on the trip: Mr. Ramy, Mr. Isaac, Mr. Frank, Ms. Hillary, Ms. Caterin and the drivers. They supported us wonderfully and shared their extensive knowledge in such an amazing way!
Tiago M1
Reefs Exploration – Fish Eagle Point
The reefs trip was truly one of my favourite OP experiences. From the moment we arrived, everything felt like an adventure. We kayaked through peaceful mangroves, explored the ocean while snorkelling, and were surrounded by incredible biodiversity. The chance to see such amazing creatures up close was fascinating. But it wasn’t just the activities that made this trip unique. Cooking together with other students and Mr. Salimu was one of the best parts for me. We spent our time laughing, listening to music, and singing while preparing meals. Celebrating birthdays, having evening talks as we cleaned up, and sharing whispers and stories in our tents at night made the trip even more special. And by the end of the trip, we all walked away with a new skill—cleaning calamari! It was a trip filled with laughter, learning, new friendships and all while making unforgettable memories.
Jovana D2
My name is Theodor, and three weeks ago I spent some memorable days at Fish Eagle Point as part of the Outdoor Pursuit programme. This adventure, cradled by sunrises over the Indian Ocean, offered me a real moment of disconnection. The wonderful landscapes, rich biodiversity and perfect beaches seemed like out of a dream, also bringing a real contrast to the daily routine. It was more of a getaway than an intense exploration, but it left a strong impression on me.
One of the most memorable moments was snorkelling in the mangroves. We had the chance to explore this unique ecosystem, swimming between the thick roots and discovering the marine life that thrives in these waters. It was fascinating to see just how complex and fragile nature can be. It’s in those moments that you realise how much we all have an impact on the precious world around us.
Changing my daily habits (shower with buckets, cooking, sleep…) obviously required a little effort but made me realise just how much Moshi has become a second home for me, a place where I feel at ease, how my UWCEA lifestyle became a habit.
The most precious moments of this trip, for me, were those shared around the kitchen. Every evening, we would get together according to our duty groups to prepare dinner. It was an opportunity to share lovely moments, good music, laughter and delicious dishes like this excellent fried calamari. These moments strengthened the bonds not only between the students in Moshi, but also with those from Arusha. Whether it was in the tents, during the diving sessions in pairs, or simply enjoying the beach between activities, I enjoyed every moment spent with my fellow students.
All in all, this adventure allowed me to reconnect with nature, with the other participants and with myself. I’ve relearnt to enjoy the small, simple pleasures, like a real shower after several days in the outdoors and the sand. But above all, I’ve learnt to make the most of the time we spend in the ocean, whether it’s kayaking, snorkelling, or hotdogging. I came home from Fish Eagle Point with profound gratitude to those who shared this adventure with me and the opportunity to experience such intense moments.
Theodor D1
Sports Update
Wednesday all of our MYP and some DP were involved in the athletics day. For the MYP this was an opportunity for students to show how far they have come since the start of the unit. Yesterday we had football friendlies on campus which were a great opportunity to gain experience. Today our basketball teams are traveling to Arusha to play a few games, and we are hosting a mini-tournament on campus for volleyball.
Basketball
The U19 Boys Basketball team defeated the Moshi Community Team on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago. The Moshi Community Team is composed of grown men — ages between 20 and 40 — who play every Saturday morning. The U19 team had not beaten them in over a year, but after a close three quarters, the youngsters prevailed in the final few minutes. A special thanks is owed to the Moshi Community Team, who have helped prepare the U19 Boys for an exciting season.
PYP News
On Friday afternoon (27th September) the P3-6 footballers participated in a friendly tournament against Kibo Shanty, Hope and PPA. The children had the opportunity to showcase their football skills and the sportsmanship was good. One of our mixed age boys teams reached the final which ended in a draw. Thank you to Coach T for organising this event.
Primary clubs have now finished for the quarter. Coach Pickell will send a sign up link for the next quarter’s clubs after the break. Thank you to everyone who supported our after school clubs programme this quarter (see photo). Please email me or joshpickell@uwcea.org if you would like to offer a club in quarter 2.
On Monday, 30th September, the P2-6 children will visit Arusha campus for some fun activities and the opportunity to make some new friends.
The children should wear:
A house shirt
A sun hat (named)
Shoes suitable for running
The children should bring:
A small bag to carry their things (named)
A full reusable water bottle (named)
A healthy snack – no junk food
A healthy packed lunch – no junk food
Sunscreen
Any medications (named, with dosage clearly stated and to be handed to the class teacher)
We look forward to seeing you at the goal setting conference on Wednesday, 2nd October. This is a conference between the child, parent and teacher. Bob Cofer sent instructions by email for signing up on Meet The Teacher. We are in the IB Primary Years section. The sign ups will close at 8am on Tuesday. Please note that there are no classes on Wednesday for PYP.
On Friday, 4th October, the P6 class will be presenting in the primary gathering. You are warmly invited to attend. at 7:40am in Karibu Hall (Rafiki is being used for oral examinations). Friday is “Pyjama Day” and the children are encouraged to wear their PJs to school. In the afternoon (1:10 – 2:45pm) the Student Voice has organised a Pyjama Party and movie. This will take place in room 17 and snacks will be provided.
Advance notice that the optional PYP Halloween celebration will take place on Friday, 1st November. Please keep your eyes open for wrapped candy over the break. This will be collected early in quarter 2 so that it can be handed out to the children on the day. More details of this event will be shared later.
If you have any questions about any of the above, please email me or your child’s homeroom teacher.
Deborah Mills – PYP Coordinator
EC/P1 Class
I hope this week has been one of fun family activities. The shared pictures are of Rowan and Tilly who baked and made family trees this week. Their work will be displayed in our classroom.
We have received almost all the hand outlines. Next week, we will be creating our artwork.
Next week, on Monday, we will tour the school to meet the community. We are hoping to meet as many people as possible and get to know what they do and how they help us in school.
There will be no home learning next week. I am looking forward to meeting you on Wednesday for the goal-setting conferences. Please remember that there will be no school on that day and the children need to come with you for the conferences.
Mboka Mwasongwe
P2/3 Class
Sounds are everywhere! Our class had a wonderful time starting the new unit. We considered the way that sound moves in waves when a vibration is made by a sound source. In order to understand that we had to first think about the molecules in the air and how they bump together. We talked about it, we plucked rubber bands and banged on pots, and we watched a video to help with comprehension. Please ask your children about the experiment we did that involved making rice move with sound waves!
It’s hard to believe that Q1 is wrapping up. As mentioned in the PYP news above, be mindful that there are no clubs after school and that there are no classes on Wednesday. I’m looking forward to the time together with parents and students at the Goal-Setting Conferences. Please don’t forget to send in swimsuits on Tuesday!
Kacey Buckley
P4/5 Class
This week we finished the last of our construction activities. Every child has now made a spinning toy (friction), a catapult (lever), a buggy (inclined plane and wheel and axle) and a pulley. The children will continue working on their posters next week.
All of the class completed MAP online assessments in Reading, Language and Mathematics. Part of the learning experience at this young age is learning how to take an online test, realising the importance of reading each question twice, how to sit quietly for up to an hour, not move around the room and not talk. Another skill is learning how to pace yourself – if you have an hour then it’s not a good idea to complete the test in 30 minutes. The P4/5 children all made a very good effort. The results will be shared shortly and will provide us with a baseline assessment for the start of the year. We will set some learning goals and take a second assessment in April.
On Monday of next week we are off to Arusha to join in with a variety of fun activities and make friends with our counterparts in their primary classes. Everyone has returned the permission slip – thank you. We will leave as close to 7:45 as possible in the hope of arriving before 10:00am.
On Wednesday we will have the 3 way goal setting conferences. I look forward to seeing you to discuss your child’s progress and plan the next steps in their learning.
A special thank you to Marilize Buchanan for taking groups of children cooking each Friday (see photo).
Deborah Mills
P6 Class
It was wonderful to see so many P6 students enjoying themselves while raising money at last weekend’s 24-hour Run.
This week, we completed our MAP testing. I was proud of the positive attitude P6 showed and the way they put in their best effort.
In Maths, we explored Perimeter, applied our understanding of rectangles and squares, and worked on Speedsters. We also worked on our spelling contracts, focusing on our weekly list words.
A special highlight was spending time with our EC/P1 buddies in their play space. We made imaginative cupcakes, played in the sandpit and built structures out of blocks—it was lots of fun for everyone!
Looking ahead to next week, we’ll be traveling to Arusha on Monday for a day filled with games and fun activities. On Wednesday, we have our goal-setting conferences, and on Friday, P6 will lead the Primary Gathering in K-Hall, which we warmly invite you to attend at 7:40 am. To cap off the week, we’ll have a fun Pyjama Day, with a Movie Afternoon starting at 1:10 pm in Room 17.
Natasha Berri
From the Counselors
We had another busy week with multiple university visits. If you are wondering, it is not common for so many universities to come to visit a secondary school. However, UWCEA has a reputation for being a top school with top students and thus we are very fortunate to have universities from all over the world seeking out visits with our students, both in-person and virtually. Here we had a considerable number of D1 and D2 students attend presentations from IE University (Spain) on Monday and Babson College (US) on Tuesday, in addition to the many who joined the virtual session with Oklahoma where many of our alumni are currently studying.
Sustainability Committee
The 24-Hour Run was a huge success! With all the excitement, we know that litter was left behind, but the clean up from all of us at UWCEA made quick work of this issue. 🚯 🚮
In an effort to keep the campus clean during and after the event, the Sustainability Committee set out small metal compost bins 🍏, larger general waste bins and recycling bins ♻️ stationed around the bottom pitch and food stall areas. Thank you to everyone who took some time to read the stickers placed on top of the bins to properly ensure your trash is going in the right bin. We are grateful for everyone who helped keep the campus clean.
Even after 24-hours of commitment, our team was still at work!
Stewardship! Thank you to the M4/5 and DP environmental service groups for their contributions in managing the campus compost and recycling program the previous 2 weeks. Another big thank you to the DP tree planting service group for fulfilling this duty in the past week. Great work from the dedicated community clean-up service continues! Let’s support their efforts and steward good practice and waste reduction together.
Keep an eye out for some exciting upcoming surveys from the whole environmental team. You may have been approached by the M1-3 Environmental Service already! The Sustainability committee is taking it a step further through auditing the waste and energy use within our campus, so it would be great if you could spend some time filling out the surveys and doing your part.
Campus Waste Tracking Starting this Monday, the Sustainability Committee will be working to monitor how we manage waste on campus. With this initiative, we will evaluate different types of waste to understand our waste footprint and take steps to reduce this impact on the environment. ♻️ 👣
We are very excited to start this initiative, and your support is needed! So, stay tuned for more information. Every small action can contribute to a big difference in shaping a more sustainable community!
