Moshi Campus News – 29 Mar 2025

Congratulations to the P6 students. This week they presented their PYPx exhibition multiple times to different audiences. Thank you to the parents, mentors, teachers and others that supported them on their learning journey.

Thank you as well to everyone that attended the student conferences either in person or virtually this week. It is just one of the ways for you to better understand what is happening in the classrooms.

We are entering a holiday period now. Next week we will miss days for Eid and will inform you about the public holiday as we find out. Next week is as well our last week before the April break. We will return to classes on Tuesday April 22nd.

This week is also a major milestone for our D2 students. Their last class of the year will be on Friday April 4th. When they return, they will be on study week with IB exams starting Monday April 28th. I know many of them will be spending a good portion of their days during the break in preparation for the exams. It is not all bad news for the D2 students however, university acceptances have been coming in through the last few months and the D2 students have been weighing up their different offers. As of now over half of them have committed to universities for next year. Congratulations to the D2 students for all their hard work.

Our Student Government is running an end-of-term assembly Thursday at 10:30am and you are invited to come and join in.

This will be our last newsletter until just before we return so let me wish everyone a safe, happy and restful break.

Bob Cofer – Head of Campus

This week, students from EC to P5 welcomed family members, guardians, friends and teachers to their Student-Led Conferences…SLCs!

“It’s hard to imagine a more high-leverage practice for improving learning than this. It brings the family in as a partner in the child’s growth-instead of being intimidated by facing news from a teacher, the family members are proud to listen to their child present herself with candour and clarity, even when there are challenges” (“Leaders Of Their Own Learning” Rugen, Woodwin & Berger).

Our Primary students shared their Portfolios with enormous pride. They led games and activities that showcased their learning across the curriculum. The students facilitated the meetings from start to finish, confidently and expertly talking through their Units of Inquiry and answering any related questions.

For students, SLCs develop a sense of responsibility and accountability for their own learning and it helps to hone an understanding of what it means to work towards learning targets. At the same time, reviewing Portfolios helps develop a propensity for reflection on personal growth as our young learners begin to take ownership of their learning. SLCs often include an opportunity for both the students and their parents/guardians to record their feedback on what is going well and where there might be opportunities for improvement.

Well done to all the students, teachers, EAs and parents/guardians! P6 will enjoy their SLCs after the holidays as they had other (wonderful!) things to focus on this week!

Ben Morley – Deputy Head of Campus

Thank you to everyone who attended the Student Led Conferences (SLCs) on Tuesday. The children were very excited to share their learning with you. Ben Morley has focused on the purpose and value of SLCs in his section of the newsletter. In the PYP these conferences are one of the highlights of the school year.

Another highlight of the PYP year is the P6 PYP Exhibition (PYPX). This year our nine P6 students entertained and informed us with performances in Kiswahili, French and Music and presented on coral reefs, orang-utans, Ethiopian wolves, mining, gender equality, sugar, racism, invasive and introduced plant species and early literacy. The P6 presenters were passionate and well informed about their topics. They presented to PYP, MYP, DP, parents and community members, the Daycare Centre and visiting students for Kibo Shanty school. Thank you to all teachers, mentors and parents who supported the Exhibition with special thanks to Ms. Natasha and Mr. Emmanuel for overseeing such a wonderful event. P6 – we are so proud of you!

On Friday afternoon we hosted PPA for a football tournament. The mixed girls team played very well, with a strong defence, but ultimately lost 3-1. The 9 and under boys team won 3-0 and the 11 and under team won 4-2. Well done to all of our players.

Next week will be a short week due to the Eid holiday (dates still to be finalised). There is a Primary Gathering led by Mr. Morley on Friday, 4th April – we hope that you will be able to attend at 7:40am in Rafiki Hall.  The school day will finish at the normal time of 12:30pm and classes will then stop for the April break. We look forward to seeing the children back in school on Tuesday, 22nd April.

There will not be any primary afternoon clubs in the final week of this quarter and there is no Saturday football. Clubs will resume in quarter 4 – the starting date is yet to be decided. Coach Pickell will send a sign up link when the schedule has been organised. We need parent support with our clubs next quarter as the Diploma students that normally help us will be busy preparing for and taking exams. Please email me (deborahmills@uwcea.org) or Coach Pickell (joshpickell@uwcea.org) if you are prepared to offer a club.

Important dates for next quarter:

• Friday 30th May – Gathering of Gratitude
• Tuesday 10th June – P6 Student Led Conferences
• Thursday 12th June – P6 leaving ceremony and PYP move up day
• Wednesday 18th June – Fun sports day
• Thursday 19th June – Last day of the quarter

Deborah Mills – PYP Coordinator

This week’s entry speaks for itself! I will keep my introduction short and allow you to explore what is happening in our classrooms and enjoy what the students are up to! I wish you a restful holiday and as always may it be filled with beautiful moments and cherished memories!

M2 Science
This week’s Ecology-themed crossword is brought to you by Gus, Mussa, and Jayden. Great job, team! Check it out below and don’t forget to check for the answers to last week’s puzzle.

M5 I&S
M5 students have been studying a unit on sustainable cities. For their assessment, they had to come up with an app or a piece of smart technology to support sustainability. Students presented their work to each class, and the winners were put forward to ‘Dragon’s Den,’ where they had to pitch their ideas to an audience. Well done to Carlos, Joshua G, Naomi, Rocco, Burnhanuddin, Malveer, and Joshua M for their strong presentations. A big congratulations to Timothy and Zaara, who won with their app ‘Re-rooted,’ which supports refugees by connecting them with services and support in a city. Their app addresses Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.

M4 Language and Literature English
As a culmination of the Unit Lucky broken girl, the students reflected upon the idea of courage and resilience and how there is a “leader” in all of us. As an extension activity, students were divided in groups and identified “Unsung Heroes” in Africa. They presented this research through interviews that were structured around discussing challenges and achievements. Some of the names included Stella Nyanzi (Ugandan human rights advocate, poet and medical anthropologist), Asha Mnkeni (A wildlife ranger in the ancient forests of Udzungwa Mountains National Park in Tanzania) and Esther Mwaikamboo (Tanzania’s first female doctor). This activity helped students in developing empathy and understanding different contexts.

M3 Maths
M3s have been introduced to Pythagoras’ theorem this week. Beyond solving some practice questions, they have been asked to research a proof for the theorem and will present it in class next week. Did you know that there are more different proofs for Pythagoras’ theorem than days in a year? Some are more geometric, some are more algebraic, there is one for everyone, even Ms Farah 🙂 (Thank you Mr. Julien! I will be coming for mine very soon!)

M3 Language and Literature English
This quarter the M3 class has been exploring News Media and developing an understanding of how the way in which an event is presented often shapes its reception. Students have worked to analyze news articles for opinions, bias and perspectives, culminating in a poster and finally a presentation delivered in a newsroom style roleplay. Additionally, earlier in the quarter they looked at the play DNA, a drama about students who conspire together to cover up an accident; considering how their web of deceit and distrust and its unraveling closely mimics the early 2000s and the atmosphere of social distrust often propagated in the media. The aim of this work has been to better position students to read critically and consider the source of news which they consume.

M3 Science Fair Announcement!
Due to the Eid Holiday and upcoming April Break, the M3 Science Fair will now take place on April 23rd, 2025.

MYP Dates to Remember

• April 3rd – End of Quarter Assembly 
• April 5th to 21st – Holiday April 22nd- Classes Resume Q4
• April 23rd – M3 Science Fair
• April 23rd to 25th – M1-M2-M3 MAP Testing
• May 5th to 16th – M5 eAssessments and EOY Exams
• May 30th – M5 Ceremony
• June 13th, 16th & 17th – Days of Giving Back
• June 19th – Last day of school, normal dismissal

Have a wonderful week ahead!
Farah Fawaz – MYP Coordinator

A mindfulness journey to strengthen communication and teamwork!

Our M1 and M2 residential students recently participated in a refreshing one-day mindfulness trip at the TPC club. The trip was designed to enhance their communication and interpersonal skills. Through engaging activities, teamwork challenges, and reflective exercises, students developed greater self-awareness, active listening, and collaboration skills. The experience fostered a deeper sense of connection and well-being, leaving them with valuable strategies for personal and academic growth. Asked about their trip, students shared that they had so much fun and it was a great experience for them. They wished we could organise more of such engaging outings, and it is something we hope to build into our MYP residential life calendar activities. Many thanks to Silvia and Grace, our residential parents who accompanied the students, and to Keziah, our school counsellor, who put together and led the mindfulness activities. Some photos from the day’s team activities.

Thank you to Kim and Patrick

The PYP/MYP residential team would like to extend a heartfelt gratitude to Patrick and Kim who have worked with residential mentors and students for the last 3 months. They have been a great presence and support to the team. We would like to wish them well as they return home to Germany to pursue their dreams.

Asanteni, kwaheri na msafiri salama. Karibuni tena!

This week, the D1 students have attended First Aid workshops, as an extension of our Life Skills classes. The workshops were run by doctors from KCMC hospital and had a special focus on CPR. The students felt that this was valuable and, even those with previous First Aid training, said that they learnt something new. Special thanks to Dr Marieke for organising this.

The D2 students completed their CAS interviews this week. I felt very emotional listening to the students reflect on their time at UWCEA.  Like any school, we are not perfect and we don’t get everything right, but the journey has been incredible. Many students reflected on how much they’ve grown and how grateful they are for this experience, with particular focus on meeting and living with people from different nations and cultures. We have an amazing, dynamic student body and it is a privilege to walk this part of their journey with them. Thanks also to our CAS coordinator, Ms Margaret for guiding the students through CAS.

Last week, we also hosted our D2 Art Exhibition and students showcased their artistic journey over the last two years. It struck me how personal their work is, with many students reflecting on their understanding of home, identity or community. Thanks to Ms Janet for all the hard work that went into the exhibition.

Thank you to the parents who attended Parent-teacher conferences. We are looking forward to the upcoming holiday and know that the students are in much need of rest too.

D2 reports will be published next week.

Catherine Dowie – Diploma Coordinator

On Thursday, the D2 Kiswahili A Literature class shared a meal with their teachers, strengthening bonds, reflecting on their learning journey, celebrating their growth, and wishing each other success in the future. Though many are native Swahili speakers, they discovered that mastering literary analysis, formal writing, and thematic exploration required dedication and collaboration. Rooted in the spirit of ujamaa (togetherness), their learning was enriched through study groups, interactive activities like Bongopoly, and the Vuta N’kuvute film screening, which deepened their historical understanding. By the end of the course, they had expanded their vocabulary, refined their writing, and embraced both personal growth and cultural pride through shared experiences. By Terry N, D2 2025

Our U19 Rugby squad took on the Kilimanjaro Bulls last weekend. Our team, the Leopards, played amazingly well. They played disciplined rugby securing the ruck phases and driving the ball forward, scoring 6 tries in the match. We won the match 36 – 7. Thank you to all the supporters who came out early Saturday morning to support the U19 UWCEA Leopards team.

This morning a group of 7 different U13 Frisbee teams were on campus to play, have fun, and learn more about the game. Despite the overcast sky the teams had a lot of fun on rain soaked pitches.

As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Over the last nine weeks, the P6 children have truly embraced this idea. Through dedication, perseverance, and a deep commitment to their learning, they have worked through an incredible journey that led to an amazing PYP Exhibition.

The Exhibition was more than a presentation; it was a demonstration of agency, inquiry, and action. The P6 children explored topics that mattered to them — gender equality in education, racism, early childhood literacy, mining, introduced plant species, sugar, coral reefs, and the protection of animals like Ethiopian wolves and orangutans. Each inquiry connected to our theme, Sharing the Planet, as they examined their rights and responsibilities, the fair sharing of resources with people and living things, and access to equal opportunities.

For three solid days, P6 presented their learning with passion and confidence. Each performance was delivered with the same energy and focus as the first, showing their resilience and dedication.

One of my favourite words is grit — the ability to push forward with passion and perseverance, to set goals and see them through. The P6 children demonstrated true grit throughout their PYPX journey. They took ownership of their learning, inspired others, and proved that change begins with those who are willing to take action.

As Jane Goodall once said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Our P6s have shown us all what is possible when knowledge meets passion and determination.

Mr Emmanuel and I are so proud of all of you!
Natasha Berri

The P4/5 class enjoyed showing you some of the activities we do in the classroom and sharing their portfolios and slideshows at the Student Led Conferences on Tuesday. Thank you to everyone for making the time to attend this event. If you are unable to access your child’s slideshow, please let me know. On Friday, the children read their similes books to P2/3. We had the opportunity to visit the P6 PYPX and were very impressed. We have started our unit of inquiry:

Central idea: Human migration is a response to challenges, risks and opportunities.

Lines of inquiry:

• The history and geography of migration
• The reasons why people migrate
• Effects of migration on communities, cultures and individuals

We watched the opening of the movie, “Paddington” and considered the push factors, pull factors and challenges of the migration. Mr. Morley read the class the book, “Nobody Chooses To Be A Refugee,” written by Martin (D2) about his own migration experiences. The children will interview a family member or friend about a migration journey as part of their home learning. This interview needs to be returned to school by April 22nd. Next week, the children will inquire into the things people take with them when they migrate.

Deborah Mills

It was another great week in P 2/3. We really enjoyed the time with the Exhibitions on Thursday. Did you know that our class is a terrific audience? They listen well, they ask good questions, and they give nice compliments! This quarter, we’ve seen the M5 projects, the DP Art Show, and now the P6 exhibitions. Each of these visits has left our students chatting about what they will do when it’s their turn! I think there are so many benefits to being at a school that has the full range of ages.

Thanks again for the time together at the conferences. It is a delight to hear children’s enthusiasm as they share their work with parents. I hope you enjoyed seeing their progress.

We are also grateful to Uma. Uma shared a supply of model airplanes with the class which provided us the perfect opportunity to talk about Pilots and other jobs connected to air travel! Another job that we highlighted this week was Artists. We discussed the many ways artists can express their creativity and we had a lovely lesson with plasticine modelling clay.

Don’t forget to send the permission slip back to school for the field trip on Thursday to NEI, Baba Hugo’s vanilla company. We will go for about an hour just before break. We are looking forward to seeing how different jobs come together in one company.

Kacey Buckley

On Thursday, we watched our buddies, P6, present their work at their exhibition tables. We were very proud of them. Some of the students connected deeply with their work. Zavier was fascinated with what his buddy presented. He remained at Raphael’s board, asking many questions about orangutans. Well done, P6 buddies.

Parents, please keep visiting our class album.

This week, we asked, what if we could have an animal that lived in the savannah for a pet? We had many conversations about whether we could keep the animal in our bedroom or outside. Some children did not want to keep any savannah animal as a pet, but wished maybe they could live at the zoo. Some children used their imagination and wished to live with baby elephants and giraffes.

We will watch The Lion King next week to conclude our exploration of savannah animals. We will watch the original version in small increments so that the children are not overwhelmed by any scenes.

Mboka Mwasongwe

We value service in action, we value engaging in the community. Here in Tanzania our UWCEA students engage the community in a variety of ways. In this week’s newsletter I want to acknowledge the amazing work of our Diploma 2 students, for their commitment to UWCEA Moshi Service program. These students navigate real world problems, dealing with resource issues, time constraints and on the ground problem solving. This week marks their final Community engagement sessions. Thank you for putting others first, thank you for digging deep, to give to others who don’t have. Your time and energy has not gone unnoticed.

Service partner groups and UWCEA commitment

We are proud to present a recap of the remarkable efforts by KCMC CAS, a student-led initiative in partnership between KCMC Hospital and UWCEA, dedicated to supporting hospital patients through meaningful service. This academic year has been exceptionally successful, marked by impactful projects that reflect our commitment to the community. We organized two blood drives—one last semester and one this semester—collecting approximately 200 donations, which have the potential to save around 600 lives, as each donation can help three individuals. Additionally, we hosted dance clinics for the children, including a memorable Halloween event last semester, where we brought spooky cheer through dancing and coloring activities featuring pumpkins and ghosts, fostering joy among the young patients.

A successful bake sale enabled us to fund a spectacular Christmas concert at KCMC, complete with toys, dolls, delicious food, and uplifting music for the children. Furthermore, we have consistently delivered food to patients every Friday, achieving over 20 successful deliveries to support their well-being. As we look ahead, KCMC CAS is eager to launch new initiatives in the coming 10 weeks, involving the wider school community to further extend our positive impact and provide comfort and support to patients.

Bill, D1

When I volunteered at the Daycare Center, giving swimming lessons to local staffs’ children, I did not know the profound impact it would have on me. I soon learnt that what we – as UWCEA members – helped to give to these children were not just swimming lessons, but something much more powerful. We gave them a moment where they had someone who could give them all the attention in the world selflessly, just as all the care and support they needed.

This service is not just about teaching “how to swim”, it is about giving children a place where they do not have to rise to any expectations or responsibilities, a place where they can enjoy being children and just appreciate the moment. That is the core of our service, to bring children with one of the mottos of UWC. The sentiment of being there for them, selflessly and fully.

We humbly say that when we manage to see the immediate and genuine smiles that these kids have, we know that there is no other place we should be. We are glad to be followed by our beloved staff members, Mr. Andy, and Mr. David, without whom we could have never made this work, and whose guidance always makes the best out of our service, being with their innovative ideas for games, or their care and touch, reflected in every interaction. We are more than glad to have them with us!
Amador D2

This week is Reefs Week! The OP team has organized three different levels of trips—Discovery, Adventure, and Challenge—split between two sites: Fish Eagle Point (FEP) and Emayani. Each trip lasts five days.

In the Reefs programme, there are three core areas:

1. Developing swimming, snorkelling, and diving skills.
2. Contributing to coral regeneration.
3. Practising coral monitoring (maintenance and data collection).

Whilst the coral regeneration programme is currently in a period of transition, the Challenge trip aims to build on previous brilliant work and explore how the school can continue contributing to this conservation project. Below is a short overview of what students will be completing over the next few days.

Reefs Discovery – FEP
On this trip, activities include beach clean-ups, urchin removal (fish feeding), forest walks, mangrove climbs, mangrove canal snorkelling excursions, open-water snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and tubing.

Students will learn the fundamentals of snorkelling, practice underwater communication (similar to scuba diving), and receive explanations about the Coral Reefs Regeneration Project, as well as the threats faced by marine wildlife in this area.

Reefs Adventure – Emayani
We have partnered with KASA Diving to allow students to gain their PADI certifications. On this trip, students will have the opportunity to earn either their Open Water or Advanced Open Water certification.

The PADI Open Water Certification is the world’s most recognized entry-level scuba diving qualification. It allows students to dive independently with a buddy (without requiring a professional guide) to a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet).

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) certification is the next step after Open Water. It is designed to enhance diving skills, build confidence, and introduce students to different types of diving.

Students will complete five adventure dives, including:

• A deep-water dive (30m)
• Navigation dive
• Fish identification dive
• Peak buoyancy dive
• Drift dive

Reefs Challenge – FEP
Students will participate in the Coral Reefs Regeneration Programme, undertaking a series of service dives to understand the principles of coral bed restoration and help boost the local ecosystem.

Additionally, students will take part in recreational dives, and the school aims to begin developing its own fish identification booklet. The Challenge trip is aimed at upper secondary students, who will also help run and facilitate the Discovery programme—using their knowledge to inspire the next generation of marine conservationists!
 
Last week also saw a Peaks Adventure trip to the Usambara Mountains. Please review the student report below:

Hello, My name is Theodor, and I recently had the opportunity to take part in an OP trip to the Usambara mountains. It was an experience that far exceeded my expectations: I had imagined a simple hike, but I ended up experiencing one of my most enjoyable OP trips to date. We started our journey with the Lorry (our old open windows school bus, not a truck but just as imposing), together with the students at the Arusha campus. The cool mountain breeze and lush green landscape accompanied us to Lushoto.

During our tour of the town, I enjoyed the historical anecdotes and explanations of the local flora of our guide, which added an enriching cultural dimension to the trip. On arrival at the first camp, a light yet increasingly intense rain fell as the theme of mission impossible was playing in my head as we hastily set up our tents and prepared dinner. We were extremely lucky with the weather on the remaining days, blessed with two sunny days during our hike. The next day, we began our ascent to Kigulu Hakwewa. The views from within the Magamba forest were simply spectacular. A visit to an old German cave near our second camp gave us the opportunity to learn more about the local history. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly our climb to the viewpoint to admire the sunset. Sitting with friends, we played cards while watching the light disappear behind the mountains, with members of the staff joining us later on. This moment of shared relaxation strengthened our bond and remains one of the most precious memories of the trip.

The evening continued with an excellent meal prepared by the service group. We then introduced the other participants to a frenzied game of Kemps, a card game that quickly won everyone over. Laughter and friendly competition punctuated the night, under a marvellous starry sky away from any light pollution. On the third day, after a last sight of the awakening Lushoto bathing in the morning sunshine, amidst the clouds cutting through the mountainous terrain, we continued our hike to the summit of Vuli Peak. The diversity of the landscapes and the chance to meet the inhabitants of the forest (we saw many chameleons hehe!) added to the richness of the experience. After a busy day, we returned to the first camp for a final night, again accompanied by epic games of Kemps which seemed to have become the group’s evening ritual.

Theodor, D1

Unfortunately working at a busy and vibrant international school means that inevitably we have teachers leave each year to pursue new adventures. This creates a cycle of new faces for us to get to know. We will say thank you and goodbye to departing staff in a future newsletter. Below is a quick intro to some of the teachers joining (rejoining) us next year. A second set of intros will be out soon.