Arusha Campus News – 2 Mar 2025

Our students watch the sun rise behind Ol Doinyo Lengai as they take down their tents on the last day of Plains Challenge to Serengeti last week.

Thur 6th Mar – U16 Football and U19 Basketball vs Orkeeswa (a)

Fri 7th-Sun 9th Mar – OP Plains Exploration to Mkuru

Fri 7th Mar – World Book Day

Sat 8th Mar – U9 and U11 Hockey at St Constantine’s School

Fri 14th Mar – NTSAA Primary Swim Gala @ Arusha Campus

Sat 15th Mar – NTSAA Secondary Swim Gala @ Arusha Campus

Mon 17th-Fri 21st Mar – PYP MAP Testing

Mon 24th-Fri 28th Mar – PYP MAP Testing

Sat 22nd Mar – TEDxUWCEA Youth at Arusha Campus

(Above) UWC East Africa Value 7: Opportunities to engage with the culture and nature of East Africa

I was saddened to hear the news this week that one of our former teachers, Peter Atkinson, died last month. I never knew Peter but from the day I published my very first newsletter here at our school, I could count on Peter to respond once he had received it. His words were always encouraging, sometimes critical and often full of advice. I had no idea who he was but it didn’t really matter because he seemed so full of wisdom! When I learned of his death, I spoke to one of Peter’s ex-colleagues and he had this to say about him. ‘Peter was a  charming gentleman, always calm and thoughtful and was well-liked by students. Of joint UK and US nationality, he was a Harvard alumnus. He worked twice for the school – once in the early 80s and he rejoined ISM in 1988 which is when I first met him. At that time he was a History and ToK teacher, was the boarding parent for Kishari, and was the Diploma Coordinator (then called IB Coordinator).

He left the school in 1991 but kept in touch with school events and hosted a number of visiting students in New York where he worked for UNIS. I last saw him at the 50 year reunion in Moshi in 2019.’

I am certain he would have something to say about the recent, much publicised and disastrous demonstration of conflict resolution from some of our global leaders. I think everything has already been said about the debacle but I feel sure Peter would lament the fact that the protagonists really hadn’t tried their best. I don’t think they did.

I am so very sad that this is the first newsletter he won’t read and respond to. If any of our older readers have a photo of Peter I would love to see one.

Thank you.

Phil

Pictures above – PYP celebrating Mother Tongue Day with the DP students

PYP thoroughly enjoyed this year’s Mother Tongue Day celebrations. There was an enormous range of languages presented by our D1 students. The students enjoyed dancing, singing, stories, games and crafts. Mother Tongue Day is usually celebrated on 21 February to spread awareness of linguistic, and cultural diversity, and to promote multilingualism.

P6 class have begun the exhibition journey this week by having their Exhibition Retreat. During this 2 day journey they have looked at the do’s and don’ts of exhibition, collaboration, communication, the ATL skills. and much more. We wish them every success with their PYP Exhibition and we look forward to sharing their learning on Wednesday 7th May.

Amanda, Head of Primary Years Programme

P6 starting their exhibition retreat in the image below

Its not just the OP students who can climb mountains! Here Kiyala and Kajuni show how its done on a family trip up the mountain. Well done guys!

Here are the Diploma students (above) during their Visual arts class engaged in peer-assessment. Students are reflecting on their own and each other’s learning and art-making practice. Feedback and peer-to-peer discussion and collaboration help students develop the critical approaches required to conduct ongoing reviews of their own art-making. These informal conversations and formal critiques help in an improved studio practice providing students with opportunities to reflect on their own and each other’s learning and art-making.

Mr Thomas, Visual Arts

Our campsites were wild, unique and perfect! Here is our Lone Tree Campiste on the first day.

This trip was both challenging and rewarding. It was much more than plains; we did reefs and peaks in our own way 🙂

We experienced geographical areas with different environments. From passing through shifting dunes to climbing the Nasera rock, we walked between groups of giraffes and zebras and observed interesting plants like the whistling thorns. We also visited the Olduvai Gorge Museum and got to see fossils and skulls dating back millions of years ago.

In the last day, we walked through the gorge, facing an unexpected issue of deep water covering the path. Our plan then shifted to a challenging yet fun mixture of swimming, jumping, and climbing to save the electronics from getting wet and to reach the other side safe and sound.

Camping in the last day with the view of Ol Doinyo Lengai and eating chips mayai for dinner prepared by Mr. Frank was the best end for a beautiful five-day trip.

Fares, Syria, D2

Scaling Nasera Rock (above) on the evening of Day Two.

The splendour of Nasera Rock (below), a magnificent ancient monolith that projects out of the Serengeti plains, and a perfect location for a second campsite.

 

The hikers embark on their hike across ‘the Saddle’ as altitude, cold and blisters (!) kick in.

From February 17-22, a group from Arusha joined students, faculty and OP leaders from our Moshi campus as well as guides, porters, and cooks for a 68 km round trip hike up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world and the highest point on the continent of Africa.

Mr Adam, College Counselor

The exhausted climbers (above) negotiate the final circuit of the crater as they near the summit of Uhuru Peak

It was all worth it! The goal is reached (above) as the excited Arusha contingent celebrate at the top.

After six months of hard work, excitement, determination, and invaluable connections, I am beyond proud to present Books To Succeed (BTS) International BTS website https://b2s.international, a registered non-profit dedicated to providing essential books to children in schools across South Sudan.

Our mission is simple but powerful: to help the young generation experience the power of one book for a better future.

I would really appreciate your support as we work to expand our impact. Here are 4 different ways you can help change the lives of the children in South Sudan:

1. Donate. The BTS crowdfunding campaign https://btsinternational.betterworld.org/campaigns/one-book-at-time-one-child-lifetime is live! If you’re in a position to donate, we would be truly grateful.

2. Connect. We are looking for a shipping company that can transport books from Marietta, Georgia or St.Paul, Minnesota to Juba, South Sudan.
3. Share. Please forward this post to anyone and everyone you believe would be interested in helping us make a difference. One book at a time, one child for a lifetime.

I appreciate all your time and support.

Thank you,
Jube Augustino, UWC East Africa alumnus