While visiting other schools is a great learning opportunity and I always bring something back to think about, it is really great to be back on our campus this week. It was nice to be able to wander back through our classrooms and other spaces and see the learning going on.
Outside of the classes, on Thursday afternoon and evening I visited the different sports practices, play rehearsals, 24-hr run planning and “coffee and politics” groups. The variety of contexts and opportunities for students to work together, while enjoying what they were doing, reflected exactly what we want to achieve as a school. The evening political debate really showcased what we stand for as a UWC, with students feeling confident enough to share their opinions and perspectives while also listening to and acknowledging views that differed from their own.
This week we will be sharing all that we do with the visiting CIS team as they start us on the re-accreditation journey. Through this process we will be picking some goals that fit our context and will help us to grow as a school. They will come back in about 18 months to work with us to review our progress.
Bob Cofer – Head of Campus
It’s Back
I am not the only thing back on campus this week. The lorry which has been a part of the Moshi campus since the 1980s is back on campus. Fresh off its newest facelift, and with considerable work on the major systems, we expect this icon of campus to be taking students on OP trips for at least the next decade. Its first trip out after being back will be taking the M1 students to Lake Eyasi for WWW.
Parents Needed
A friendly reminder, Steve Kotanen and Rick Spradling arrive for the accreditation visit next week. We are excited to share our school community with them. They are meeting with parents virtually and in person. The virtual option is on Monday 21 September from 13:45-14:45 EAT. The on-campus option will be on Thursday 24 September from 7:45-8:45 EAT. Please email shealydominick@uwcea.org to confirm your attendance.
Shealy Dominick – Accreditation Lead on Moshi campus
Upcoming Events
UWC Day
This coming Monday, September 21st we are celebrating UWC Day. This year’s theme is Action for Peace, People, and Planet, and celebrations will run from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
The day begins as a whole school in K-Hall at 10:30am, where we’ll explain the significance of UWC Day and International Peace Day, followed by a whole-school photo. Afterwards we will be screening a documentary and having some powerful testimonials from some of our students. Our PYP students will be working on an art project that we cannot wait to see.
Parents and UJAs are welcome to join us on this day for the documentary, discussions, and speakers. We are encouraging everyone to wear white, green, or blue and bring their country flags for the gathering.
24- Hour Run
Our annual community event, 24 Hour Run, is fast approaching. We have started the preparations with a group of enthusiastic students.
Mark the date in your calendars, January, 15-16, 2027, and start building your team to run for an amazing purpose!
Diploma News
Over the last two weeks I’ve had the opportunity to visit quite a few DP classes. This week was a great reminder of our UWCEA value of holistic, diverse learning!
In D1 Biology, students were getting hands-on with DNA, cutting out strands and working out how the pieces fit together to understand the structure and pairing of DNA. In D2 Kiswahili, students shared their knowledge through plays and presentations — accompanied by plenty of laughter! In Chemistry, the D1s conducted experiments to investigate concentration, while both D1 and D2 Maths students worked on assessments and D1s learnt how to use their calculators!
In English, the D1s connected their study of “The Arrival” to the UWC values, reflecting on their own experiences of arriving at UWCEA and considering how those experiences have shaped their sense of belonging and community.
We also had the opportunity to welcome Dr Howlett, who spoke to students about infectious diseases found in Tanzania and the wider region, including HIV, Ebola and mpox. Students heard where these diseases came from, what we have learned from them, and most importantly, how we can make informed choices to keep ourselves and others safe. A big thank you to Dr Marieke and Dr Howlett for sharing their knowledge and helping our students better understand the world around them.
Project Week is coming!
Next week, our D1 students head off on Project Week. A reminder to parents that permission must be given through LIFE before students can participate.
Project Week is designed to be student-driven. Students have the opportunity to take responsibility for planning, problem-solving and working together, with supervisors available to support them along the way. This week, we will also be placing a strong emphasis on the things that make Project Week successful: good decision-making, looking after one another, responsible behaviour and exemplifying the UWC values.
While the D1s are out exploring, our D2 students will be taking part in Catch Up Week. The focus will be on catching up with outstanding work, making progress on the Extended Essay, and working on university applications.
From lab experiments, performances, assessments, and planning their week away, this week has been a great example of what holistic, diverse learning looks like at UWCEA.
Catherine Dowie – Head of Diploma
Residential Life
Dear UWCEA,
It has been a full two weeks on campus, the kind where the calendar fills up faster than anyone can read it. Politics and Coffee returned, proving once again that our students can disagree passionately, thoughtfully, and still share the last cup of coffee. And our first Cultural Night and Open Mic of the year reminded us how much courage it takes to stand in front of your community and offer something of yourself, and how generously this community receives it.
We closed the week with Compliment Day, when students and staff pin pegs on one another carrying small messages of affirmation. It is a simple tradition, and every year it does something quietly remarkable: people walk a little taller, linger in doorways a little longer, and check their sleeves more often than usual. Few things change the air on campus quite like being told, in writing, that you matter.
This Sunday, continuing the events, join us at 7:00 pm in Makutano for Norwegian Cultural Night. Come curious and come hungry. Finally, a reminder, please take a look at the travel survey and fill it in by October 1, 2026:
● MYP students will need to leave the campus. ● DP students will have the option of staying on campus.
Asante sana, Adnan Mackovic – Head of Student Life
MYP News
I am beginning to suspect that MYP weeks operate on a different measurement of time… because how is it Friday again, and how did we manage to fit all of that in?
There has been plenty of learning, creating, questioning, presenting, researching and figuring things-out-as-we-go happening around campus this week. Some things worked beautifully, some probably required a second attempt, and somewhere along the way we all learned something new which sounds about right! Here are just a few little snapshots from our week in the MYP. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. We’ve earned it!
M1 Integrated Sciences Before our M1 scientists can get properly stuck into experiments, there is one rather important requirement: knowing how to work safely in a science lab!
This week, students put their understanding of laboratory safety, hazards and responsible scientific behaviour to the test by designing their own lab safety posters. Rather than simply memorising a list of rules, they had to think carefully about which rules matter, why they matter, and how to communicate them clearly to someone entering a science lab. Students considered everything from appropriate protective equipment and handling materials safely to moving responsibly around the lab, responding to accidents and understanding why particular precautions are necessary.
The result? A collection of informative and creative posters and, hopefully, a group of students who now know that “but I didn’t know!” is no longer going to work in the science lab!
M5 Integrated Humanities On the 16th and 18th of September, M5 Individuals & Societies students presented group-designed posters exploring major civil rights events from the past.
Throughout the unit, we have been learning about different civil and human rights, how they developed and the events that shaped them. For our summative, each group had the opportunity to research a particular event, work collaboratively to create an informative poster, and then share what we had learned with other groups.
Overall, it was a great activity because we were able to learn about many different civil rights events while also researching, presenting and working collaboratively with one another.”
Asha & Karen, M5
M4 Visual Arts Andy Warhol had Campbell’s Soup. M4 has Chilli Sauce! After investigating how Warhol transformed familiar, everyday objects and popular imagery into iconic Pop Art, M4 students are now putting those ideas into practice. They have selected objects and images recognizable within Tanzania and are experimenting with stencils, repetition, bold colour, contrast and simplification to give the everyday a Pop Art transformation.
The challenge is simple: take something we see all the time and make us look at it differently.
We have a feeling Warhol would approve.
MYP Organization During MYP Organization, we get to learn about a variety of things. Recently, we’ve been learning about research, and we even got to start our own research project about AI.
Our research questions were: “How can students use AI responsibly and appropriately?” and “When does AI become harmful?” We are using what we have learned about research to investigate these questions and find out more about how AI should and shouldn’t be used by students. This is a controversial topic, but we are enjoying learning about this as we don’t really know what we think we know!
Leila and Grady, M2
MYP Dates to Remember
September 21st – UWC Day (Remember to wear blue, green, or white and bring your country flag if you have it!)
September 21st to 25th – CIS Visit
September 28th to October 2nd – MYP Week Without Walls
October 7th – Last Day of Q1 After School
October 8th to 18th – October Break (Inclusive)
October 19th – First Day of Q2
Have a beautiful week ahead! Farah Fawaz – Head of MYP
PYP News
Last Tuesday, 36 of our primary school children took part in the Kennedy House Athletics Meet. The children had a lovely time, and we would like to thank the many parents who accompanied us as chaperones: Daniella R, Katie L, David M, Dorothy D and Julieth S, as well as all the other parents who came along to cheer! Thank you also to the teachers and EAs who made the long drive to Kennedy House and helped to make the day such a success (see photos).
Last weekend, some of our upper PYP students were invited to play alongside MYP students in the U13 football tournament. They have now been invited to join future training sessions and matches the first of which will take place at SCIS on 26th September. Invitations have been issued through Life.
We are very pleased to welcome Ms. Maurine Kileo to the Primary team. She will be working in Ms. Manal’s classroom. Karibu, Maurine!
UWC Day – Monday, 21st September
On Monday, we will celebrate UWC Day. Children are invited to wear blue, white and/or green clothes to school. There will be a whole-school assembly in Karibu Hall at 10:30am, where the meaning of UWC Day will be explained, followed by a whole school photo. The PYP children will then return to their classes and take part in a communal art activity on the theme Action for Peace, Planet and People.
Wednesday to Friday – CIS and MSA Accreditation Visit
From Wednesday to Friday, we will welcome two visitors, Steve Kotanen (CIS) and Rick Spradling (MSA), who will be on campus as part of the CIS and MSA accreditation process. They will meet with staff and some parents, visit classrooms, and talk to some of the children about their experiences in the PYP.
Friday, 25th September – P1/2 Primary Gathering
The P1/2 Primary Gathering will take place in Rafiki Hall at 7:40am. You are warmly invited to attend.
Dates for your diary
Tuesday, 29th September – Swim Meet at Kennedy House
Invitations have been shared through Life. Participants have been selected by Coaches Collin and Patrick based on their performances in swimming classes. Unfortunately, it is not possible for everyone to attend this event, but we will hold our own PYP Swim Gala later in the year, when all children will have the opportunity to participate.
PYP Goal Setting Conferences
All PYP parents have been sent an email regarding the date of the PYP Goal Setting Conferences. Thank you for your patience and understanding whilst the Primary team work on confirming the details of this event. I will have the information ready to share on Monday.
Deborah Mills – Head of PYP
EC Class
This week, we paused to reflect on our last week’s learning journey and revisited the ideas shared by members of our community about what it means to be safe. Inspired by their perspectives and our safety song, the children collaboratively constructed their own definition of safety. Through meaningful conversations, role-play, and real-life scenarios, they shared their ideas, listened to one another, and explored how thoughtful choices can help keep ourselves and others safe in different environments, in the classroom, at home, in the pool and garden, on the roads, and in our everyday lives.
Our phonemic awareness inquiry continued as we investigated the /a/ sound. The children became sound detectives, listening carefully for the sound, sharing words that begin with /a/, and co-constructing a collaborative mind map. They searched for the sound in books, experimented with forming the letter using loose parts and play dough, and represented their thinking and learning on mini whiteboards.
We also revisited The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds and explored the dot-inspired artwork of Yayoi Kusama. Inspired by her use of dots, patterns, and repetition, the learners created their own unique masterpieces. Through this process, they experimented with different artistic possibilities, made intentional choices, and expressed their ideas and creativity through art.
Manal El Dahwish
P1/2 Class
We used this past week to start planning for our primary gathering. Together we have come up with a fun, short skit to share with you this coming Friday. Please join us. The children are excited to share the play with you. They will continue to practise and make some props for the play in the coming week.
We completed our illustration writing unit. The children worked hard to draw pictures that told stories. Once our books are bound, we will share them with you. Next week, we will begin working on writing list books.
About three weeks ago, we had many black caterpillars outside of our classroom and around school. They crawled all over our shoes, and some of them made cocoons near our classroom. It was no surprise when one day, Tilly found a butterfly holding on to its cocoon, drying its wings before flying off. I have shared the picture of what we observed.
Mboka Mwasongwe
P3/4 Class
P3 and 4 have had a busy and exciting week! We enjoyed a trip to Kennedy House for the Athletics Meet, where I was really impressed by the class’s resilience and positive attitude. Everyone gave their best effort in every event and supported one another throughout the day.
In the classroom, we have been working as mathematical investigators to solve the mystery of the missing classroom chocolate! The children worked in teams to solve a series of maths clues and use their problem-solving skills to uncover who took the chocolate.
We have also been hard at work planning a Friendship Picnic for all of our Primary students. Keep an eye on your emails for a letter explaining the day, as well as special invitations from the students themselves.
Next week will be our final week exploring how our experiences, cultures and environments shape the way we grow. We will bring together everything we have learned so far by creating shelters decorated with personal timelines, portraits and details about ourselves.
We will also be presenting our learning during Primary Gathering on 2 October. The children will receive their speaking lines next week so they have time to practise and feel confident before the presentation.
Sarah Vrontamitis
P5 Class
The P5 children have had a busy week of construction, building catapults, buggies and pulleys as part of our inquiry into simple machines. Next week will see the culmination of this unit as the children create posters to demonstrate and share their learning from the past few weeks. In Swahili, the children have also been exploring devices that make work easier (see photos).
In Maths, we have been working on doubling and halving. Next week, we will move on to exploring different addition strategies. In Language, the children have practised correcting run-on sentences by using conjunctions to join ideas correctly. We will continue to develop this skill next week.
Deborah Mills
P6 Class
This week, P6 applied their understanding of volume to scenarios involving multiplication and division. We also continued developing our skills in multiplying multi-digit numbers.
In our Unit of Inquiry, students explored Māori history and how language can change the way stories are told. Our family stories are taking shape, with students drafting the beginnings and middles of their narratives. We are also preparing for our summative task and learning to use Google Docs and video tools. In Art, students have begun creating their final pieces.
Monday is UWC Day—students may wear green, white and blue, or just one or two of these colours. The Kennedy House Swim Gala is on 29 September, so please look out for invitations.
Elisha Jaffer
Service in Action
PYP Games is a service led by the UWCEA MYP 1, 2 & 3 students. Every week student service teams plan and deliver games and crafts activities to entertain the PYP students during their PYP club time. This past two weeks students organized a creative art experience, where students found cardboard trash and recycled the trash into an artwork. Students had a great time expressing themselves with the materials we found and gluing cardboard in an abstract way onto a large piece of cardboard. The week after we took acrylic paint and splashed colours to complete the piece of art. You can find the artwork displayed in the PYP breezeway.
On 8th and 9th September, we held First Aid Workshops for our D1 students, together with doctors from KCMC Hospital.
The workshops focused on practical, essential first-aid skills, including how to respond in an emergency and what to expect when dealing with medical situations. Workshops also included cases specific to Tanzania. D1s had the opportunity to learn directly from medical professionals and gain a better understanding of how first aid and emergency care work in the local context.
The sessions combined hands-on learning with presentations from experienced doctors, helping to build confidence and develop skills that can be valuable both at school and in everyday life.
KCMC and First Aid Service Leaders
Outdoor Pursuits
Adventure Never Takes a Week Off
On Friday, 30 students from both Moshi and Arusha set off for the coast to undertake Reefs: Exploration at Fish Eagle Point. On this trip, students will have the opportunity to take part in a range of activities, including beach clean-ups, urchin removal (fish feeding), forest walks, mangrove climbs, mangrove canal snorkelling, open-water snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and tubing. Along the way, students will learn the fundamentals of snorkelling and practise underwater communication, while developing their confidence and awareness in the marine environment.
Our first Rides trip of the year Last Sunday also saw our first Rides trip of the year. This day trip incorporated a new route to the Kahe Pump Track, with students cycling over 30 km to reach their destination. Once there, they were rewarded with time to explore and cycle around the pump track before making their way back to school.
The iconic yellow lorry gets a makeover! As noted above the lorry first saw service in the 1980s and has transported generations of ISM and, more recently, UWCEA students to all four corners of Tanzania over the years. As one student put it, “You haven’t really done an OP trip until you’ve travelled on the lorry.”
We hope the makeover will allow the lorry to continue supporting many more adventures for years to come. And what better time for a makeover than just before Week Without Walls!
Student Trip Review Two weeks ago, Nazrin had the opportunity to join the Plains: Discovery trip to Makuyuni. Please read her review below.
Makuyuni OP trip was a great opportunity to immerse myself in Tanzania’s wildlife and natural landscapes. Throughout the trip, we experienced peaceful landscapes, exciting walks, and wildlife that turned this trip into a small adventure.
On the first day of the OP, we walked to the campsite, enjoying the surrounding nature. After reaching the campsite, we had the chance to settle in, relax, and watch a lovely sunset. Being surrounded by the peace of nature was especially enjoyable.
The second day started early in the morning, as we set off towards Lake Manyara. The walk was beautiful, with changing landscapes and opportunities to observe the wildlife. When we finally reached the lake, a breathtaking view awaited us. The scenery was very picturesque, and it was one of those moments when you simply want to stop and appreciate where you are.
Along the way, we saw zebras, donkeys, and other animals in their natural surroundings. Seeing them so close to such beautiful landscapes made the experience feel very special. The walk was not only beautiful, but also gave me valuable time for self-reflection.
Overall, the Makuyuni OP trip was an amazing opportunity not only to explore the wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and hiking paths, but also to take time to appreciate the beauty of nature. It was a chance to just slow down and create memories with the people around me. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone who loves discovering the beauty of Tanzania.
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