I had someone point out to me that we are almost halfway to the October break already and I was amazed. It seems with the constant activity on campus it is easy to forget about the passing of time.
I will not add much in my introduction other than to say thank you to the parents of the PTA that put together a lovely night last night for not just the school but the greater community. It was nice to see so many people having a good time.
I would also like to thank the OP team. Last weekend they brought together over 170 D1 students for the walk and camp and managed to not only take us through four walks but support the setup of camp and feeding over 200 people smoothly.
My last thank you is to the counselors who helped the D2 students on both campuses connect with admissions officers at universities to get feedback on their essays. This was a fantastic opportunity for our students.
As you read through the newsletter you will see some of what has transpired here as well as what we have coming up. Please make sure you get to see the full newsletter by clicking on the show entire message tab at the bottom.
Bob Cofer – Head of Campus
Upcoming Events
We encourage parents, teachers, alumni, and friends to join the FUN sign up your team TODAY!!! If you are not in Tanzania, don’t worry you can still support from far away, sending an online donation or sponsoring a student in one the teams.
Once your team is ready, it’s time to find supporters—the real MVPs who will help turn your efforts into scholarships for UWCEA students. Think about all the people in your life who might sponsor you for running laps: family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even local businesses. Get creative with how you ask—whether it’s through a personal chat, a heartfelt email, or a social media post, let them know their contribution will make a huge difference. When you get a sponsor: write their name and contact on the pledge form.
There will be a Farmers’ Market also on the 27th so come give blood and support the local community.
PTA Bingo
Thank you to our PTA for the great community bingo last night one of many events they are involved in. There were about 150 that showed to have a great time, socialize, play bingo and listen to Ben’s fantastic jokes. As you can see in the picture Ben had many helpers in the calling of the bingo numbers.
A New Face
Please welcome Furaha Mosha (furahamosha@uwcea.org) who is joining us in the front office.
Since Agnes left this summer to move to Dar, we have been looking for someone to fill this role. Furaha brings with her experience in multiple industries, and we feel will be a great addition to our office and a support to the community. Please join me in welcoming her.
Ben’s Corner
In the DP, the Global Politics (aka GloPo!) course explores fundamental political concepts such as power, equality, sustainability and peace in a range of contexts and at a variety of levels. One of the most important elements is that it allows students to develop an understanding of the local dimensions of political activity, as well as allowing them the opportunity to explore political issues affecting lives within their community, before exploring what this might mean on a national, international or global level.
This week, Dr. Wade organised a plethora of Moshi community members as part of early ‘engagement activities’ to help the students brainstorm and network ideas ahead of Project Week and, ultimately, their Individual Assessments.
The revolving door of famous Moshi faces was a who’s who of our wonderful community, including Afzal Paliwala, Jack Langworthy, Dr. Marieke Dekker, Remmy Adam, Irene Assey, Noella Andreichuk, Aika Mengi, Gabby Mzei, Silvia Junde, Mustafa Madan, Mandy Stein, Hilda Kashasha, René Kleinveld, Dr. Oliver Henke, Dr. Fortunate Shija, Kacey Buckley, Munira Hassuji, Yannick Wiehe, Grace Mushy, Coach T, Rachel Mboya, Timba Kileo, Dr. Dorothy Dow, Juan Guardado, Sepp Riha, Adrian Paul, Margaret Brunt, Dr. Shilpa Tiwari, Dr. Jane Rogathi, Frida Marealle, Dr. Sofia Lopez Salvador, Simon Mtuy, Dhiru Chauhan, Rev. Wilfred Mlay…and, even, Bob Cofer! In fact, I am still a little offended Dr. Wade did not ask me!
Developing international mindedness and an awareness of multiple perspectives is at the heart of GloPo, encouraging dialogue or debate and nurturing the capacity to interpret competing and contestable claims. A huge thank you to each and every one of you for giving up your time and expertise so generously. Let’s hope you have sparked lots of ideas for our students.
Ben Morley – Deputy Head of Campus
DP News
Diploma Parents & Guardians are warmly invited to a UWCEA, Moshi Diploma Parents Zoom on Tuesday 10 September at 4.30pm (TZN time.) The focus of the meeting is “Starting the Year Well”.
Below you’ll find an overview of the topics planned:
Residential: Life in the Residences & Behavioural Expectations
Q&A
This is open to both D1 and D2 parents. We know the timezone might not work for all so will host parent updates quarterly at different times of the day.
The Link to the Zoom has been emailed. If you did not receive the email, please email catherinedowie@uwcea.org for the link. The meeting will be recorded and shared for those unable to attend.
We look forward to seeing you.
Catherine Dowie – DP Coordinator
Global Politics
The D1 Global Politics hosted three days of guest workshops this week. The students are brainstorming topics for their “life in Tanzania” research paper, which combines academic research with real-world experiences. Total, the class hosted forty one different members of the wider Kilimanjaro community. Guests included government officials, health care professionalists, farmers, leaders of local business, a few artists, religious leaders, and academics. The next step for our students is to outline a plan for their “engagement activity” in which they will explore Tanzania in search of answers to their research questions.
Sound + Sound = Silence
In a recent DP2 Physics experiment, students took to the football pitch to explore the fascinating phenomenon of sound wave interference. The experiment, captured in the accompanying photo, shows two speakers placed several meters apart, each emitting a constant note of 256 Hz. Students are seen standing along a line of silence—an area where the sound waves from the two speakers meet and cancel each other out, similar to the technology behind noise-canceling headphones. This is possible because, unlike matter, two sound waves can occupy the same space at the same time and negate each other. A special thanks to Mr. Emmanuel from the Music Department for lending us the equipment and to the DP2 Physics students for their help in carrying it.
Residential Life
Dear UWCEA Community,
It’s been an exciting start to the year, and our students are diving headfirst into campus life! Clubs are kicking off, service sessions are underway, and the energy is fantastic.
On the academic front, our D1 students are already busy planning their Project Week, while the D2s are powering through their language oral mock exams. M5s are hard at work on their personal projects, and the rest of the grades are tackling their first formative and summative assessments of the year.
And just the other night, our MYP students, led by their MYP Reps in Student Government, hosted a Karaoke Night! While the song choices were… let’s just say “interesting,” everyone had an absolute blast.
As we look ahead to the October break, be sure to keep an eye on your inbox! I’ll be sending out a detailed reminder next week with all the important dates and times for departures and arrivals. Plus, you’ll get a Google form to let us know your plans for the break.
Finally, if you have signed up to be part of our Uja Family program, please join us at Rafiki Hall on September 10th for the final info session on expectations and a chance to get to know your Uja students.
Best, Adnan Mackovic – Head of Residential Life
MYP News
Have you ever noticed how maps in movies always lead to something exciting, like hidden treasure or a secret island? One of my favorite adventure and fantasy novels is The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien. Bilbo Baggins famously says, “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” Bilbo was talking about adventure and about how even the smallest step can take us to places we never imagined. In many ways, every day in MYP is a journey like that for our students. They are involved in all types of inquiry-based learning activities that test their strengths and weaknesses, force them to make changes and improve, tackle difficulties and learn new things. Whether it’s tackling a challenge, meeting someone new, or just asking a bold question, every step can open up new possibilities. If you ask me, this is quite legendary!
M1 Science This week, M1s explored types of variables (independent, dependent and controlled) used in science experiments and how to come up with a meaningful scientific research question. They did their first experiment in class and explored various inquiry questions about the density of ink and its effect on the clearness of water. Thank you M1 and Mr. Ramy!
M1 Mentor Time M1 students had a different type of bonding session this past Monday. They used the time to get to know someone from their class that they do not usually “hang out with”. They came had questions that they used as conversation starters and ended up discovering really cool facts about their classmates. Passing by and watching them made me think that this is so inspirational, and everyone should do that every once in a while! Thanks for the inspiration M1!
M5 I&S M5 students have been exploring the idea of civil rights. One of their projects involved researching and presenting information about a historical event depicted in a chosen image. They investigated the people involved, the event’s details, its date and location, its significance, and its relevance to current times. This information was compiled into a poster for presentation, demonstrating their understanding and analytical skills. Thank you M5s, Ms. Rachel and Mr. Andy!
M5 eAssessments We had our first Zoom meeting with M5 parents this past week to discuss eAssessments and respond to questions and queries. The recording of the meeting has been shared with all M5 parents/guardians via email. Please remember that we need to officially register the students by mid-October. Kindly fill out this form once you have had a discussion with the students and come to a decision for the May 2025 eAssessments.
MYP Dates to Remember:
September 9th – MYP and DP World Afro Day Assembly
September 14th – M1 Camp-craft with New M2 and M3 Students (details to follow soon)
September 20th- September 21st – 24-Hr Run
September 21st – UWC Day
September 30th- October 4th – M1, M2, M3 MAP Tests
Have a great week ahead, Farah Fawaz – MYP Coordinator
Outdoor Pursuits
Traditionally, the D1s go for a bonding walk with the new Arushan students, also known as the Pamoja walk. The aim of the trip is for all D1 students to get outdoors, meet their counterparts in Arusha and explore Northern Tanzania whilst being introduced to the fundamentals of outdoor education here at UWCEA.
The 180 strong group were split into four walking groups and led by a local Masai guide to explore the local Mukuru landscape. After a bumpy bus ride, we set off just after lunch excited for the adventure. Dusty and dirty we all arrived safely at camp, though the broad smiles are also to be mentioned. Little brings people more together than a dusty walk-through Maasai land.
What goes for spotted wildlife, consisted mostly of goats, cattle, and the occasional Arushan. However, one group was fortunate and saw both zebras and baboons (in addition to the obligatory goat and cow of course).
Finally, the main event of the night was stargazing around the campfire. I think everyone enjoyed getting a break from the city lights, to actually be able to see the stars. Getting a breather from all school work in a gorgeous environment under a sparkling skyline is a great way to spend a weekend.
Marta – D1
Sports Update
Leopards on the Move!
The students have come out in full force for clubs this first week of activities. On Thursday as I walked around campus, I counted over 140 students between 3-6pm involved in some type of activity from swimming to frisbee. With the perfect weather and a view of Kilimanjaro in the backdrop, it really makes for a great place to be active.
As the students start to get in shape, I would like to take the time to thank the sport team coaches. They volunteered to get on the field with students to build skills, community and pride in UWCEA Moshi. Our coaches are passionate about their teams, and it shows in the well organized and exciting practice session that they run. Great work coaches!
It was great to see so many primary families at the PTA Bingo on Friday. Thank you to the PTA for arranging such a fun event.
The cast for “The Tin Bucket Drum” has been set and rehearsals have started. All PYP children in P2 and above will have the opportunity to perform as part of the chorus. They will learn the songs with Ms. Jamie in music class but do not need to attend any rehearsals at the moment. As the performance dates draw near (30th and 31st January) we will attend some rehearsals within the school day. If the PYP chorus members are required for additional rehearsals we will be told nearer the time.
The PYP classes have chosen their Eco Reps who will liaise with the secondary school Sustainability Committee and help the classes with recycling paper, turning off the lights, emptying the class compost bins and generally encouraging sustainable practices. The Eco Reps are as follows EC/P1 Natalia and Ryker, P2/3 Uma and Lennox, P4/5 Katya and Eliza, and P6 Imanuel and Luana.
On Friday, 13th September, all PYP children are invited to join P2/3 for a friendship picnic. This event is being organised by the P2/3 children and they hope that the PYP children will bring in food to share. Primary parents should have received the following email from Ms. Kacey:
The P2/3 class will be hosting a Friendship Picnic for all of the Primary students next Friday, Sept 13. The goal is promoting a sense of togetherness and community. The picnic will take place during the school day and the children will be back in the classrooms ready for the regular Friday dismissal of 12:30pm. During a class brainstorm about activities for the picnic, a student suggested that we could ask families to send in food from their home culture to share. What a fun idea! If you’d be willing to participate, please send in picnic-appropriate bites on Friday morning. It would be best to avoid foods that will require a fork or spoon. If you can’t send in any picnic related food from your culture but there is something that your child enjoys eating that you would rather send instead, that would be great. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at kaceybuckley@uwcea.org.
Advance notice that on Monday, 30th September, the Moshi P2 – P6 classes are planning to travel to Arusha for an activity day. The purpose of this trip is to foster friendships and build a sense of community between our two primary schools. The children will leave at 7:30am and return by 3:00pm. The children will need to bring a packed lunch. Please ensure your emergency contact details on Life are up to date. More details will follow.
Deborah Mills – PYP Coordinator
EC/P1 Class
This has been a week of reflection. Emotions and our thoughts around them can be quite overwhelming. We spoke about being happy and being scared. We now know how these emotions look on our bodies and how they feel inside. We talked about what to do when we feel afraid and one of the ways that can help is by first identifying why we are so scared and then asking a grown-up for help. So we identified what makes us feel afraid and practiced how to talk about it. Next week, we will look at two more emotions in depth, feeling sad and anger.
For home learning, I will be sending two little booklets that talk about what can make us happy or sad, to help your discussions at home.
In Mathematics, ECs have completed their review of colours. They will now be learning how to sort items using different criteria. These criteria can be by size, colour, shape, and so on. They will work on which criteria to use and why that criterion will be best for sorting those items. P1s are continuing to work on their number sense.
In the picture shared, each child had a chance to lead the warm-up session with their chosen move of the day. We love P.E. time with Mr. T.
Mboka Mwasongwe
P2/3 Class
It was a wonderful week in P2/3. We celebrated Nicholas’s birthday on Friday! Thank you for your support with the at-home Kindness Challenge. We had fun sharing stories about the kind things that we are able to do. Mr. Ben came to our class to read a story about being a good friend. The moral of the story is that “each kind thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world.” Mr. Ben has placed a big tray with water in front of our classroom so that next week we can put in a stone when we’ve done something kind and watch the way that it ripples out.
Please plan on coming to our class Primary Gathering on Friday. We will be sharing more about what we are learning! That day will be busy for our class as we are also hosting a Friendship Picnic in Anna’s garden for all of the Primary children! We will do some baking in small groups in the Student Kitchen to make a treat to share. An email was sent about the opportunity for children to bring in food from home.
We are hoping to start PE Swim on Tuesday so please do send the swim kit again!
Kacey Buckley
P4/5 Class
We have been magnet crazy in P4/5 this week! The children tested different objects in the class to see which ones were attracted to a magnet. They worked with different metal strips to see which metals were attracted to a magnet and which were not. They carried out an investigation with paper clips to see which of our magnets were the strongest. We put forces into action, using pushes and pulls to knead dough and make some delicious iced buns! Earlier in the week we made soup with alphabet pasta (an activity inspired by our read aloud “Martha Blah Blah” by Susan Meddaugh). Next week we will begin our inquiry into simple machines (levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, wedges, screws and inclined planes). In maths we will work on addition and subtraction strategies.
Deborah Mills
P6 Class
P6 has had a super busy week! As part of our current Unit of Inquiry, we’ve been exploring the fascinating ancient Kingdom of Benin. Our class practiced note-taking and summarizing paragraphs, while also learning about academic honesty and the importance of comparing information from multiple sources.
Here’s some of what P6 discovered in their research:
The Benin Kingdom started to develop around 900AD. The original people and founders of the Benin Kingdom were ruled by the Ogiso which meant ‘Kings of the Sky’. The first Ogiso was called Igodo. Anne and Jack
The Benin people were animists, which meant they believed animals and objects had souls and spirits. Imanuel and Luana
Coral and bronze were materials often used in jewellery and artworks in the Benin Kingdom. The red coral beads were valuable and worn only by the Benin Royal family and brides during marriage. Milo and Raphael
The Benin bronze art is an amazing example of African art. A giant bronze statue of the Ruler’s head would be made when they died. The Benin people believed that you could contact the souls of people through the heads they made. Louise and Sasa
In Art, P6 got creative making Benin Bronze Masks (our photo this week) and clay animal tiles. Meanwhile, in Maths, we worked on addition and subtraction strategies, and in Language, we continued working on fluency and comprehension skills in our reading groups.
Natasha Berri
From The Counselors
What words would you use to summarize your experience in the college essay workshop?
D2 University Essay Workshop – This week our D2 students from both campuses had individual meetings on Zoom with representatives from 44 universities in the UK, Switzerland, the US and more. Many of the universities represented were Davis UWC Scholars partner universities. Students met 1:1 with an admissions representative to get feedback on a draft of an essay that will be used to apply to universities. Here are a few reflections that students shared after their meetings:
“She was super kind, giving me both positive and negative feedback in a constructive way. I actually became a bit more confident in my essay and it helped me a lot in improving it. I learned more about how everything in terms of admissions works and why some of my writing may seem confusing to an outsider.”
“This meeting was beneficial as it gave me a rough idea of how the future interviews would go and how to present myself. It was also motivational as the representative was very nice and friendly, making the meeting feel relaxed and smooth. In this process, I learned what admission representatives are looking for and what I could do to keep a good impression and increase the chances of my admission. Overall, I found it encouraging because I was initially tense about how the meeting would go and after having it, I gained confidence in presenting myself well.”
“The rep was extremely nice, and very engaging. There was a lot of opportunity to discuss the essay as well as my supplemental essays. The feedback was also extremely helpful as the information that she gave was not offensive but suggestive. I learned about the University of Richmond as well and it gave me another university to consider in my list as it has a bunch of characteristics that I find intriguing. Overall, the representative made the whole process run smoothly and my university knowledge grew.”
St. Lawrence University Visit to UWCEA – On Wednesday, August 28, Mr. Musa Khalidi, the Executive Director of International Admissions at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York visited both of our campuses. Mr. Khalidi shared so much wisdom with our students – about how to approach the college search, how to ask questions that really matter, the value of a liberal arts education and so much more. St. Lawrence University is one of the Davis UWC Scholars partner universities.
Wellbeing
The UWCEA Moshi Campus Wellbeing Department is here to ensure that students, parents and the community feel seen, listened to and supported while at school. Our room number 18 is located in the heart of the school, opposite the staff lounge and we have an open-door policy. Please swing by to say hi if you get a chance!
New for this school year is that there will be a counselor on site every Saturday between 12-4pm for student support and wellbeing activities.
We’re excited to kick off a new year full of impactful sustainability projects and hope to welcome many climate and environment enthusiasts to our team! We’ve already had a productive meeting with staff to discuss the progress of our recycling system and are actively working on areas for improvement. Building strong communication and relationships with staff is essential to our success.
We’re proud to announce that compost bins have been established in every dorm, with each implementing its own disposal system—Kijana dorm even has a weekly room rotation! Soon, we’ll be expanding to include paper and plastic bins in the dorms as well.
Additionally, the PYP have nominated their Sustainability Heroes to be announced next week! We are incredibly proud of these younger students for taking initiative and showing passion for taking action to improve their environment and positively impact the sustainability of our community. Let’s make this year our greenest yet!
We have been sending recyclable solid waste to the local recycling plant and plan to continue this initiative going forward. After nearly a year of compost collection, we are pleased to observe that waste segregation is improving. We extend our sincere thanks to the UWCEA community for your dedication; your efforts have started to reduce the need for manual separation, and we are proud of the progress we have collectively achieved.
Thank you everyone, Sustainability Committee
Service
Even though many services are just starting out KCMC is already fully on track with collaborating with KCMC on yet another event. On the 4th of September, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of KCMC’s Orthopedics Rehabilitation Unit (ORU), one of the wards with the closest relationship to our school. As Dr. Mariekke Dekker explained to us, we have been delivering their weekly meat portions to this ward for more than 5 years now.
During the celebration, students got to hear an inspiring speech from the hospital’s executive director about the origins of the ORU and the support received from other foundations and sponsors. The service group directly engaged in the celebration by playing instruments, sharing a piece of cake, and playing wheelchair basketball with the patients.
Hanna S (D1)
AISA
UWC East Africa is involved in many organizations around the world. One of these organizations is AISA. AISA (Association of International Schools in Africa) is an organization dedicated to offering professional development and support to international schools across Africa. It plays a vital role in connecting educators, sharing best practices, and providing resources that enhance the learning experiences within our schools.
We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 AISA Conference will be held from 31 October to 03 November 2024. This prestigious event offers an incredible opportunity for our school community at UWCEA to connect with leading experts, educators, and international schools across the continent. As proud members of AISA, this conference will allow our staff to engage in high-level professional development, exchange innovative ideas, and explore new strategies that directly benefit the work we do at UWCEA. The insights gained will help strengthen our commitment to delivering quality education and fostering global mindedness in our students. We have had a few teachers from both campuses attend this conference in past years and will do so again this year.
Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from this exciting event, and let’s continue to make the most of our partnership with AISA!
