As you can see below we have had an exciting week and next week looks to be even more so. We have continued to have new students arrive during the week so welcome to all of you.
Starting Monday the two campuses will have about 350 students from MYP and D1 engaged in various types of experiential learning. For the MYP students this is a weeklong opportunity to learn more about Tanzania, develop and practice skills from their classroom and interact with others in a different setting. This is not a field trip in the traditional sense but should be an experience they actively engage in and stimulates further learning. For the Diploma students this week is more about self-direction and exploring more personal interests. These programs while supported by teachers and community members (thank you very much) are more open ended. One of our values is: “Innovation over perfection within a supportive community where learners are motivated to embrace personal challenge and reflection.” The D1 project week is one embodiment of this value.
Starting February 13th, we will have our CIS/MSA/IB virtual accreditation visit. This will be an interesting experience and the culmination of a year’s worth of self-reflection as a school. As part of this process there will be a number of virtual meetings with staff as well as students and parents. We will need to have three parent sessions for PYP, MYP and DP parents. As we know more concerning the time, we will seek interest. Each session is planned to have 6-10 parents. Also in the visit are virtual class observations. So you may see people like Ben wandering through classes talking to people through a video link on the phone. At the end of this the groups will feed back to us and we will share this with the community.
Bob Cofer – Head of Campus
Upcoming
The TEDx executive team is excited to announce that we’re only 7 weeks away from the event date! After last year’s seamless event, the new team is determined to make this as, if not more, successful and entertaining for the audience. With the guidance of last year’s lead organizer and our two new lead organizers this year, we are motivated to bring dedicated speakers and performers to the stage, move hearts, and spread new ideas. Our theme for this year’s TEDx Youth event is “Faith in the Future”, and we can’t wait to show you what the speakers and performers have in store! They are currently being trained and we are eager for them to hit the stage and bedazzle you like they have us. The team is working tirelessly to make this event a success. March 12th, mark your calendars!
This year, we are making it bigger and better. With new riveting topics and talks that will put you on the edge of your seat but most importantly, to reflect on your beliefs and actions and ask yourself, “Do/Should I have faith in the future?”
Ben’s Corner
Our school is an incredibly complex place with multiple stakeholders and many overlapping and intertwined organisational structures. Sometimes, we may be privy to this complexity and are able to appreciate it from a ‘big picture’ level. At other times, our scope may be understandably limited and we are unaware of the inherent intricacies at play. With so many people, numerous moving parts, countless important facets and, as this newsletter is weekly evidence of, so many things happening at any given time, sometimes we just need to take a step back and acknowledge what we are part of.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much happens across and around our campus. In addition to the ‘regular’ classroom learning and the countless scheduled clubs, activities and service experiences, I wanted to share just a few of the things that I have been part of or, even, stumbled upon since Monday. I have watched doctors helping P5 observe their brains through their retinas; M2 exploring the water cycle with bowls of warm water, cling film and ice cubes; P1 creating their first ever Word documents in the I.C.T. Lab; P3/4 showcasing homemade artefacts in their Class Museum; D1 taking the first tentative steps on their EE journey; M5 running an interactive symposium on financial literacy; M1 helping to build a cob house in Kibosho; P2 exploring a light aircraft in situ at Moshi Airport; the Cooking Club baking delectable brownies; P6 racing their self-made motorised vehicles; a whole school assembly where our new Student Government was introduced; a Primary School garden party to farewell Ms. Sarah; another fabulous Farmers’ Market and so on to fade. I am sure I have missed out countless happenings as well. It really is quite formidable when you think about everything that takes place to support learning and wellbeing at UWCEA.
Let us be grateful that we are part of a community so rich in opportunities and variety, where no two days are the same and there is always something to look forward to, always something else on the horizon.
Ben Morley – Deputy Head of Campus
Diploma News
Preparation has been a key feature for Diploma Students this week. The D1 students prepared for Project Week and D2 students for the mock examinations.
Project week is set to be an amazing experience. On Monday morning some of our students are travelling off around Tanzania, some as far as Lake Manyara or Pangani but others will be based here on campus. They are cleaning beaches, teaching social emotional skills, learning about medical careers, making videos and improving the school environment. These are all student led activities and they have learned a lot in the planning. Each group were able to summarise their plans in assembly and we are looking forward to hearing what they will achieve. They have a supervisor who will check in with them daily and visit them occasionally. They all know to carry a charged phone with credit and know what to do in an emergency.
I am looking forward to hearing about it briefly each day and the details when they return. Good luck to all of them.
The mocks will be a quieter time but still a great learning experience. The formality of exams is not easy, and neither is writing for two hours. However, this is a chance to see how well prepared they are for the final exams in May, not just the knowledge and understanding but the organisation and revision. I am confident the students will be ready, and this will be a good experience. They need to sleep and eat well and take time to destress between exams. There are many people on campus to support them – Project week and MYP week without walls do however mean there are some changes in residential staff. Good luck to all of them.
On Monday we had the final mentor games session and on Thursday a whole school assembly. The outgoing student government received certificates and the incoming one were introduced. D1 students received their Honour Roll certificates.
Margaret Brunt – DP Coordinator
The new Secondary Student Government
From the Counselors
With this picture, I would like to send a message to everyone to welcome and enjoy the well-being journey that you are on. Your well-being is your creation and a little progress each day adds up to big results. Find what works for you and enjoy the ride!
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your own or your child’s social and emotional wellbeing, please reach out.
Third-quarter is when career exploration is targeted for M4 and M5 students. The M4 students are learning about different career pathways and industries. The M5 students are focused on understanding themselves and learning about what are the next steps once a career pathway is chosen. This year UWCEA Moshi Campus will have a Career and Skills Symposium and we need your help to make this a successful event.
The Career and Skills Symposium will be held on Thursday, March 17, 2022, both in-person and online for students. We are looking for ISM/UWC parents, friends, partners, teachers, and community members to volunteer to share about their field of work or general industry practices, skills, and knowledge that students should acquire. Please complete this questionnaire if you are interested in sharing your career field knowledge and skills with our UWCEA students
We are looking for different types of volunteer participation:
Session Speaker: you will give a 20-25 minute presentation on a career/work-related topic of your choosing with 5-10 minutes for questions and answers from students.
15 Minute Networking: you will talk to small groups of students who are interested in your career field. The small group setting will give students more of an opportunity to get their specific questions answered regarding that career. Networking Minutes will last 15 minutes. If you volunteer for this area you will have at least two small groups of students to meet with within a 30-minute interval.
Panel Discussion: you will sit on a panel with others in different industries and be asked questions by a moderator. The moderator will also take questions from the audience members as time allows.
Moderator: you will facilitate question and answer time during sessions and/or panel discussions
MYP students are about to sail off onto exceptional learning journeys in our Week Without Walls starting this Monday. The Week Without Walls is a program through which students engage in local based or international community service opportunities. This takes learning beyond the classroom and helps students embrace their potential to make a difference. It is an integral part of the UWCEA philosophy and our MYP programme. This special week is an opportunity for the students to explore social aspects of learning with their peers from Moshi and Arusha campus through learning experiences during which students are expected to partake in and bring the most exciting discussions to class.
What is happening?
M1 : Lake Eyasi, Karatu, Ngorongoro CA
M2: Pangani school house, Maziwe Island, Tanga
M3: Arusha Cultural Centre, Pamoja
M4: Simba West Kili
M5: Mtu wa Mbu
We can’t wait for the students to share their learning experiences through the transfer of skills and the merging of concepts and subject specific learning objectives in ways that at first do not seem possible. The students will be practicing communication, collaboration, thinking and affective skills to demonstrate learning and have fun. The MYP team wishes the students a beautiful journey!
Farah Fawaz – MYP Coordinator
Service
With the start of the new school year in the local daycare, some of the items like furniture, art and play materials were presented to the students and staff. Some of the money for these items was raised through students’ Personal Projects and PYP Exhibitions.
Thank you to those that have had a hand in these donations, I know that they were well received.
Residential Life
This week’s residential update is written in conjunction with Kavya from M5
Residential life is always eventful for students of all ages, and it can be both challenging and rewarding in so many ways. Part of our focus this year is to integrate our youngest residential students with both our MYP and DP students. This focus is designed to encourage and foster an environment of care, comfort and a real community between students. To support this initiative, our MYP students have started organizing events with the PYP residential students. At least once a week we plan an activity such as baking, movies, or arts and crafts. We hope that through this engagement we can further build bonds between our boarders and make our younger students feel recognized and integrated into our residential family. This week involved arts and crafts on two occasions afterschool and in the weekend approaching we will be hosting a movie night for Kimbilio and service on Sunday. It has been a very special start. Kavya
What was also special about this week was our monthly residential dinner that is entirely student led. We were fortunate to be hosted by Kilele and Kipepeo who had organized the “Alien Invasion” dinner on the green with laughter and serious dancing. I would like to take this moment to thank our amazing staff for supporting their initiatives and for the Diploma students in this dorm for their efforts and organization. It was such a joy to see our PYP, MYP and DP mixing with staff and families dancing away until the sun came down.
I wish everyone an amazing journey next week and good luck to our D2’s for their mock examinations.
Simon Johnston – Head of Residential Life
Sports Update
Self-management We have had a good week of sports and activities. One of the skills for the future- also known in the IB as Approaches To Learning (ATL) skills- is self-management. Self-management also includes the skills to manage time, tasks, state of mind and developing resilience. While academic skills are important, the ability to be prepared to learn and have a gratitude mindset is fundamental for lifelong learning. At UWCEA we have a lot to be grateful for, and our sports and activities program is just one of the things we are thankful about.
Participating in sports and activities is a requirement for all our students. To ensure that attendance is consistent, we will start to implement an attendance check of students going forward. If a student is unable to participate in their assigned activity, they need to let me and the activity leader know ahead of time in order to get approval.
If you are overbooked and would like to be removed from some activities, please email me as soon as possible.
Upcoming fixtures
UWCEA Arusha Charity Basketball Tournament on Friday 11th – Sunday 13th February (3 – 5 pm)
Swim Squad Mini-Swim Meet on Tuesday, 8th February
TALISS Invitational Swim Meet 2022 on the 26th and 27th of February
NTSAA U13 Basketball Tournament at Braeburn on Saturday March 5th
NTSAA Primary Swimming Gala at UWCEA Arusha on Friday March 11th
NTSAA Secondary Swimming Gala at UWCEA Arusha on Saturday March 12th
NTSAA U19 Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament at Braeburn on Saturday 19th March
NTSAA U15 & U13 Boys and Girls Football Tournament at Braeburn on Saturday 19th March
Football Training Football training for U19 girls, U15 boys & girls will start after the Week Without Walls. Please look out for the sign up sheets this weekend.
Gilbert Kaburu – Sports & Activities Coordinator
Pool Information
Pool closed this Sunday
Due to maintenance works, the swimming pool will be closed on Sunday. Apologies for the inconvenience. This maintenance is the required replacement of the filtration medium and should provide us with a clear pool.
Swimming Pool opening hours during the school term
MONDAY 17:45 – 18:30
TUESDAY 07:00 – 08:00 & 16:30 – 18:00
WEDNESDAY 15:00 – 16:30
THURSDAY 07:00 – 08:00 & 16:30 – 18:00
FRIDAY 07:00 – 08:00 & 14:00 – 18:00
SATURDAY & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 14:00 – 18:00
SUNDAY 11:00 – 18:00
Swimming Pool opening hours during the school holidays
MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 10:00 – 18:00
WEEKENDS: 12:00 – 18:00
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: CLOSED
PYP News
Most classes are beginning new units this coming week. Look out for unit letters or emails introducing new units. Ms. Elisha is creating a solar system themed breezeway display as part of the new P2 unit of inquiry and next week will be asking the PYP children to share the words for sun, moon, the different planets, space and stars in their mother tongue. We are hoping to add some more home language books to the school library. Class teachers have written, or will be writing, to families asking for suggestions for book titles, or helpful websites, to support our units of inquiry.
Though we are in our second week without our playground frames, the children have been very flexible. They have created new games and can be found having fun, using more of the area around the old playground. The construction area is taped off but please supervise your children closely outside of the school day.
We had a farewell party for Ms. Sarah on Thursday. The children presented her with a book of nursery rhymes. We hope that she will remember us and her happy times in Tanzania whenever she reads it. The photo shows the Brownie Guides at their last meeting with Ms. Sarah.
Our new P6 teacher, Mr. Hywel Davies, is joining us from Wales. Mr. Hywel has spent many years as a teacher in the UK, as well as 4 years teaching in Japan. Please see his biography below. Karibu, Mr. Davies.
Student Voice hit the town this week to pick up some treats for the PYP! We’re now awaiting your purchases for tickets to the legendary movie afternoons! Tickets available from Ms Elisha for 5000. Popcorn and a drink included!
EC/P1 Class
We would like to thank Mr. Marsh for allowing us to visit the school workshop. The children were able to look at all the different machines used to cut, sand and do various things with wood. Mr. Marsh was able to demonstrate how he uses some of them. He also showed the children some furniture that MYP students are making. The canoe shelf was a hit for the children.
The P1s were interested in the fact that there is man-made wood as well as natural wood. They would now like to try and make their own. This coming week, once we get all the materials we need, we will be aiming to make paper as well as our own wood.
ECs began this week looking at 2D shapes. P1s will be joining them as we all explore how to make different structures with shapes.
Mboka Mwasongwe
P2 Class
It was another busy week in P2. This week we’ve been learning about forces, looking at the relationship between push and pull and forces, as well as contact and non-contact forces. We culminated our learning about forces with experiments using different amounts of push on a toy car, and how ramps of different heights affect how far a car will travel. We were very fortunate to attend a field trip at Moshi Airfield on Wednesday where we got to visit the Bachmann family’s airplane, and met Aat, the guy who built the airplane. We’d like to thank the Bachmann’s, Aat and Mr. Marsh for organising an exciting and informative field trip for the P2 students.
Next week, we will be starting our new unit on the Solar System. Please keep an eye out in your child’s homework folder for more information.
Lastly, the P2 class would like to say farewell to Ms. Sarah and wish her good luck in her future adventures.
Elisha Jaffer
P3/4 Class
A huge thank you to everyone who made it to our Class Museum and played a role in the creation of amazing artifacts. We spent a lot of time working with clay and other materials to design artifacts in class. Everyone was so excited by our project and they were very eager to share their work with parents and teachers.
Another highlight of our week was welcoming a new student again- Sasa! We are up to an even dozen in class now which feels great. Both Sasa and Tendai are settling in well.
Next week, we will kick-off another terrific unit. We are focusing on Exploration. We will use the first few days of the week to reflect on our Rituals unit and also to consider our new Learner Profile attributes: risk-taker and inquirer. We are planning to extend our look at traditions by taking a field trip to Tiago’s home to celebrate Chinese New Year! Information and a permission slip will come home next week.
May I remind you all that hats are highly recommended every day. Our PE session on Badminton was held on the tennis courts last Thursday and children with hats seemed much more comfortable. It was a hot week!
Kacey Buckley
P5 Class
We welcomed a new student in P5 this week. Karibu, Hana! We hope you will be very happy with us. Ms. Lydia celebrated her birthday, Ciara celebrated Australia Day and we had a tea party to say goodbye to Ms. Sarah – it was a week of festivities! On Tuesday Dr. Marieke visited the class with two interns from KCMC. She talked to the children about the brain. Everyone had a turn at using Dr. Marieke’s special torch to look through the pupil (the hole in the centre of the eye) to see the front of the brain. Thank you very much for giving up your time to help us Dr. Marieke. Next week we will bring our inquiry into human body systems to a close and will start our new unit on how we use our voice.
Deborah Mills
P6 Class
I had a great last week with the class. I enjoyed hearing the beginnings of their narratives. Everyone had a great start to their story with details and dialogue. We had fun with division, learning a technique called Creative Long Division. Best of all was the race today between all the vehicles they engineered. It was wonderful to hear how they had to change plans and keep trying to get a vehicle that would move. Two vehicles even proved to be safari ready by being able to travel on the rough ground. We ended the week with ice lollies and watching scenes from The Boy who Harnessed the Wind as well as an interview with Salva Dut. We just finished A Long Walk to Water in class as a read aloud. It was inspiring for everyone to see how these young men from Malawi and Sudan were able to make a difference in their communities. We also had a special visitor in the class this week with my mother being here. She was impressed by their writing skills and car designs. We also got to welcome two new class members this week! It was an eventful and wonderful last week with the class.
