Moshi Campus News – 1 Feb 2025

The last few days here in Moshi we have been treated to a couple performances of the production of The Bucket Tree. It was a great show, and my congratulations go out to all those involved. It was a culmination of skills in our student body, staff and community. From the actors and singers on stage and in the choir to the band as well as those behind the scenes who worked on the sounds, lights and props. There are also those that made the costumes, set up the stage and made the tree. It was a fine example of teamwork. For anyone involved, thank you very much, you should be proud of your work. There are some pictures throughout the newsletter of the production.

Starting Monday, the D2 students will start their Mock Exams, these are a great formative assessment process that will help them prepare for the real exams. It will test their knowledge so they have a clearer understanding of where to focus their remaining time. It will also help them get more comfortable with the structure and rhythm of the IB tests.

This month we will be starting up the Farmers’ Market with a new set of student leaders. The first market is planned for February 28th with the others March 28th, April 25th and June 8th.

Please see the calendar for updates on these and all other school events.

Bob Cofer – Head of Campus

Ngoma ni mpigo ya moyo ya maisha!

There is an oft-cited cliché in education that learning is not about the product but about the process, the journey not the destination. This is, perhaps, even more pertinent in an IB education where the focus is on conceptual understanding over content knowledge. In fact, you might also add that teaching is a journey and not a destination as well.

The purpose of learning is not to “arrive” at a particular level of proficiency “on time.” However, so often, we have scheduled tests, assessments or, as was the case this week, a production, which means everything has to come together by a specific point. Anyone who was fortunate enough to secure a much-coveted ticket for this week’s production will, I am sure, have been blown away by the performance. Still, it is important to reiterate this was the culmination of so much work by many people and the true learning was spread out over the preceding weeks.

Put simply, a theatrical production is the process involved in conversion of a dramatic text into a theatrical performance. Of course, this involves a diverse range of art forms from acting, direction, production, lighting, stage props, costume designing, music, backstage support etc. It is a transformation of one art form into another, from text to a, hopefully, enriching and visual experience.

It has been a privilege to be part of something transformative, to see the genuine growth and development of everyone involved over time. To be part of such a supportive, positive and open-minded group was so rewarding. It was ever evolving, responsive and hugely creative and, mostly, such fun.

Everyone involved should be feeling mighty proud right now. This was a true collaboration and a colossal team effort. I hope it has been a joyful and memorable experience for everyone in the cast of thousands. Kudos to all of you.

Ben Morley – Deputy Head of Campus

D1
This week our first-language Spanish students joined the Spanish Ab initio class (the beginners) to give the D1s the opportunity to ask questions, listen, respond and reflect on various topics. It was a wonderful opportunity to put learning into practice as they discussed food, home, likes and dislikes. Thank you Ms Ivannia for creating a real-world application for our D1 students.

We also had Dr William Howlett, an infectious disease specialist, from KCMC join us on campus to talk to the D1s. Dr Howlett first traveled to Africa in 1980 as part of the humanitarian response to severe famine in Uganda. He learnt firsthand how dedicated, trained and competent doctors and nurses were able to positively impact many disadvantaged populations. He has been in Moshi for many years and is well known for his commitment and dedication to improving health in Tanzania. He addressed the Marburg virus and was able to answer many of our students’ questions, including how it differs from COVID. The students said they found it interesting, and were reminded of the importance of taking precautions.

We will look for opportunities for the D2s to attend a similar presentation after mock exams.

D2
Our D2s will begin mock exams next week and we wish them well. Mocks are a good opportunity to see how much they already know and what still needs to be done before finals. The teachers will use this data to influence their teaching over the coming weeks.

Thank you to those who attended our parent zoom this week. I will share the recording in the coming days.

Catherine Dowie – Diploma Coordinator

D1 students have kicked off their university application process with an overview of the range of applications and university options available around the world.  They are starting to add information to their “Student Strengths Form” – a document that will help to guide their conversations and planning with their university advisor – and have begun to schedule their first individual appointments to begin their college guidance process.  A great resource for all D1 students – and parents! – is our University Counseling website.

D2 students continue to receive their decisions from universities, and are starting to make their enrollment decisions.  We look forward to lots of stars being added to our bulletin board in the coming weeks – as I write this, two students just stopped by to add theirs!

As students confirm their enrollment, the next step for many will be applying for a student visa.  We’ll be hosting a virtual session for D2s with representatives from the US Consulate in Dar es Salaam to learn more about the details of the US visa application process, and we encourage all students who might be heading to the US to join that session to learn more.  (Details have been shared by email with D2 students.)

Above all, we are so proud of the work that all of our D2s have put into thinking about their goals and priorities for their next step, researching universities, planning balanced “applying” lists, preparing strong applications, and weighing their options carefully.  Each student has a unique set of goals and priorities, and we love seeing them carve out their own path.

Megan Morris – University Advisor

It’s been another dynamic week on campus! From classrooms to creative spaces, students have been fully immersed in their learning…whether through art, science, language, or beyond. Projects are taking shape, ideas are coming to life, and collaboration is at the heart of it all. It’s inspiring to see the curiosity and engagement that make our school community so vibrant!!

M5 I&S
In the M5 I&S class, we have been learning how cities can be developed while remaining sustainable. We recently began exploring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to achieve a more sustainable world by 2030. Recently, we were assigned the fun task of creating posters. The class is split into two; therefore, within the groups, everyone was assigned to create a poster representing one of the SDGs. The posters were later judged, with the best one from each matchup winning. In the end, the class with the most wins across both classes earned a reward of having pizza!!! – Eunice

M1 Art
This week, the M1s in art have been exploring food-themed drawings as part of our Food, Glorious Food unit. We’ve been learning about the importance of details in drawing and coloring, and how to create depth using different techniques. For our latest task, Fruits and Veggies, we each selected a picture of a fruit or vegetable and created a detailed line drawing on A4 paper. Then, using magazine clippings, newspapers, and colored paper, we added color and shading to bring our drawings to life as collages. Before starting our final piece, we planned our designs in our workbooks, thinking about how to layer and combine colors for a more realistic effect. This project has helped us improve our observation skills and experiment with different materials to make our artwork more expressive! – Atu

MYP Dates to Remember

• February 3rd – EMUN Conference
• February 12th to16th – AISA GISS Conference
• February 20th to 24th – Long Weekend
• February 26th to 28th – M5 Mock Assessments
• March 3rd to 7th – Book Week
• March 8th & 9th – MYPX Setup
• March 10th – MYPX (Personal Project Exhibition)
• March 18th and 21st – M5 French Final Orals
• April 2nd – M3 Science Fair
• April 5th to 21st- Holiday
• April 22nd – Classes Resume Q4

Have a wonderful week ahead!
Farah Fawaz – MYP Coordinator

Dear UWCEA Community,

The past couple of weeks have been buzzing with activity—we’re officially back in full swing!

Last week, we kicked things off with our Welcome Back Assembly, where we celebrated the incredible work of the 2024/25 Student Government and passed the torch to the newly elected 2025/26 team. A highlight of the event was the official opening of the newly renovated Makutano Lounge, a project spearheaded by last year’s Student Government. Their dedication and hard work have given us a fantastic new space to enjoy!

Now that the lounge is open, let’s all do our part to keep it clean and well-maintained, so it remains a vibrant space for years to come.

Meanwhile, our new Student Government has hit the ground running! They’ve already mapped out an exciting Quarter 3, packed with fantastic events. First up: a Movie Marathon this Saturday at 7:00 PM in the Makutano Lounge—open to all day and residential students.

Finally, the highlight of this week was the opening night of the school production, nothing short of incredible! The talent, dedication, and hard work of our students and staff truly shone on stage, delivering a performance that captivated the entire audience. From the powerful storytelling to the stunning voices, every element came together beautifully, making it a night to remember. A huge congratulations to everyone involved—you made magic happen!
Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks! And please don’t forget to fill in the February break travel survey.

Adnan Mackovic – Head of Residential Life

Congratulations to all of the primary children who participated in the production. Over the last week the children had to sit still and really focus during the rehearsals. Their hard work paid off and they gave two very enjoyable performances on Thursday and Friday. The choir did a great job of singing and joining in with the actions and it was lovely to see several primary children with speaking parts as well as Louise in a starring role. Well done to everyone who was involved with the production and special thanks to Ms. Heloise and Ms. Furaha for their work in organising the T-shirts. The children looked great!

After school clubs got off to a good start last week. The rainy weather meant that basketball club and skateboarding club had to have indoor sessions last week but we are hopeful that this week they will be able to get out on the courts.

Please send your child to school with appropriate footwear for running on the day that they have their scheduled swimming lesson. If the weather is cold, swimming is replaced by a regular PE lesson. The children cannot participate in this if they are wearing malapas or Crocs – they need to have running shoes.

Please see below for some important dates for this quarter. Dates are always subject to change so please keep checking the school calendar on the website for the most up to date information.

• 20 – 25 February (inclusive) – long weekend
• 3 – 7 March – Book Week
• 25 March – Student Led Conferences (excluding P6 who will have student led conferences in Q4)
• 26 March – PYP Exhibition during the school day.
• 27 March – PYPX presentation 6pm
• 4 April – last day of classes before the break.
• 22 April – classes start
• 30 May – Gathering of Gratitude (all parents are invited to attend)
• 10 June – P6 Student Led Conferences
• 12 June – PYP move up day and P6 farewell ceremony
• 19 June – Classes end

Deborah Mills – PYP Coordinator

It has been an exciting week in P6 as the children eagerly awaited being part of The Bucket Tree. The whole play was a true collaboration, and the result was something very special. P6’s contribution was awesome, and I couldn’t be prouder of the effort and energy they brought to the production. Here are some of their reflections:

I was most proud at the end because we had just done a whole entire play!! I was a good communicator because I had to show my emotions even more than I do now. I am excited for tonight because my parents are coming to watch me. Anne

I loved being part of the ‘Silence is Golden’ scene. I was a thinker because I had to remember the actions and a good communicator for learning my lines. The play made me feel excited and happy.  Milo

I was proud of myself in the Hopscotch scene when I had to say my lines. I was a risk-taker because I have never had a line in a big show before. I feel so good and excited that I get to do it all again tonight. Jack

I was most proud of myself for singing two solos in front of so many people. I was reflective because I remember listening to myself sing a long time ago and now, I am better because of my practice. I feel great today and I think I will be less nervous tonight. Louise

I loved being part of the Hopscotch dance. I was a risk-taker because this was my first time being part of a UWCEA play. I am feeling very excited at being able to do it again tonight. Raphael

I was a thinker because I had to remember when to stand and what to sing. I was knowledgeable because I had to learn all the songs. I am feeling tired today, but excited for tonight. Gabriella

I loved singing the ‘Silencer’s’ song. I was a risk-taker for signing up and having a go because I wasn’t going to be part of the play at the beginning. I am so happy that I did, and I am very excited for tonight. Sasa

Natasha Berri

Two children (Jiyu and Naomi) in the P4/5 class celebrate Lunar New Year as part of their culture so we have enjoyed learning about that festival this week. Wednesday was the start of the Year of the Snake. Jiyu brought in some delicious rice crackers for us to share and Ms. Katie (Mama Naomi) visited the class to explain some of the traditions with the children and gave everyone a red envelope. As it is the year of the snake, the children painted pictures of a snake coiled around a branch. You can see their work on the breezeway. Another highlight of the week was the arrival of the production T-shirts. The children looked great in them! Please be sure to send your child to school with appropriate footwear for running on Thursdays. If the weather is too cold to swim we will have a regular PE lesson instead. Next week we will start our new unit of inquiry.

Central idea: Body systems are interconnected to support life.

Lines of inquiry:

• Interconnected nature of our body systems
• Consequences of choices people make for their body systems
• Connection between the choices we make and healthy body systems

Deborah Mills

What a special week! It was wonderful to be a part of the school production. The Primary Choir was an integral part of the play. We were all impressed by their enthusiasm, their behavior, their talent! I hope that the production brought joy to your family!

Our focus on water continues. In the weeks ahead, we will look at Water Conservation and Water Pollution. This topic will give us a great opportunity to work on persuasive writing and presenting ideas in the form of a poster. The class is very engaged in the unit so far with great questions and learning.

Kacey Buckley

“Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae led us to many adventures this week. The children learned how to draw a giraffe step by step. P1s and EC2s also created dancing giraffes who danced to a beautifully painted background of rolling hills. P1s researched Giraffe facts from their wonder questions and came up with a list of facts that they shared with the ECs. We had to test one of the facts and Mr. Ben and Mr. Ross volunteered to help us. We found out that a Giraffe is as tall as Mr. Ben, Mr. Ross, Tamira, and Tilly’s doll, Delilah, all in a row. Did you know that a Giraffe’s tongue is purple and can grow to 45cm? I wonder what we will explore next week.

Mboka Mwasongwe

This week, the new heads of the sustainability committee (Andressa, Marta, and Alvis) came together to select the new committee members based on their applications for the year 2025-26.

We are proud to announce the new committee members – Camille, Charity, Ivy, Lily, Nicole, Raymond and Rory!! Congratulations to all of them and we look forward to a sustainable year ahead.

Great job to M4/5 Environmental Service in carrying out the responsibility of compost and recycling duty this week!

We are grateful to the previous members and leaders of the sustainability committee who guided us through a smooth handover. We are very excited to continue the legacy of previous committees and cannot wait to build on and bring new initiatives this year.

This week, the sustainability committee worked hard to collect banana leaves from around the campus. Many members of the DP and MYP environmental service groups (M1 – D2) then dedicated their Wednesday service time to ensuring quality met need, producing over 300 compostable banana leaf plates!

These have been provided and used for food distribution during the school production (The Bucket Tree).

This is an effort to reduce the use of plastic/paper cups, plates and napkins around the campus and move towards a more sustainable practice of using compostable, and materials that can return to nature. Special thanks to Ms. Jamie and Mr. Will who initiated and guided us to make this possible.

Thanks also goes to Mr. David and Mr. Samuel who supported this idea of having this sustainable practice during the school production. Thanks to the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) who carried out our first single use paper and plastic free food distributed event.

So, let’s go on to make more efforts to keep our campus clean and more sustainable!

Alvis (D1)

As you may have seen last week, the OP Team had another brilliant trip last weekend to Mount Meru with 24 students and 4 staff submitting the mighty mountain! Please read Traolach’s review below.

There is no rest for OP team and we have been busy organising the next Peaks Adventure trip which departs on Wednesday 5th February to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The 5-day journey includes hiking through conservation areas with diverse wildlife and beautiful ecosystems in Ngorongoro and Lake Natron. Students will have an opportunity to visit a Maasai village, hike to Mount Loolmalasin (3,682 MASL), then descend to Empakaai Crater Rim and towards Lake Natron. This again will be an incredible trip for students at UWCEA.

Whilst one trip departs, the team are always working a few trips ahead. We aim to give students and parents as much notice for confirmation on trips. Please ensure when signing up for trips, that students are reading the pre-requirements, to avoid disappointment.

Have a great week!

Traolach D2
Let me begin this reflection by saying, I underestimated Mount Meru. Not only in terms of difficulty, but also in terms of the sheer awe it brought to everyone who luckily got the chance to climb this not so gentle giant. This mountain kept on delivering, from the beginning, where we saw giraffes, warthogs, buffalo, and various species of monkeys, and right to the summit with the jaw dropping views. The whole journey was a treat, keeping a smile on your face even through the difficult moments. The community that you feel going up the mountain with your friends is simply heart-warming, and helps you forget about the pain in your legs!

The summit night was definitely the most challenging part of the trip, especially through the earlier hours of the morning. This being said, however, after climbing the face of the mountain with the help of chains, walking up steep slopes for hours, and hoping every minor jagged rock was the summit, we saw it. We turned a corner, the cloud we were in disappeared, revealing both the most stunning sunrise I have ever witnessed, but also the most intimidating mountain face along with it. The views stopped everyone in their tracks, and created an optimistic mood to drive us to the top of the beast looking down at us.

After summiting, the descent was not easy either. I am not sure there was a single person who did not complain about knee pain! Even still, we knew we had done it, and the school bus was waiting for us at the bottom, so no pain was going to stop us. At the end of the day, we left the mountain knowing we had left every ounce of effort we had on it, and with bright smiles on our faces. I highly recommend this trip!