Moshi Campus News – 31 Oct 2026

Last week two of our D2 students came to me with an idea on how to kick off the fundraising and awareness for this year’s 24-Hour Run. It started in part with what seems now to be traditional shave or save hair campaign, but with the added twist that if they hit a certain target, I would agree to be made up as a clown for the assembly this last Monday. I will let you see the results down below.

This is just one example of many that shows the drive, initiative and commitment of our students. While at times, like this one, it can be a bit silly, the desire to raise funds so that future students have the same opportunity to attend is a great representation of our UWC Values. You can regularly see, at all levels of the school, examples of empathy, compassion and a desire to see things be better. It can start small, for example this week I witnessed the P5 class were having their regular reading sessions with the daycare students. But it builds through regular commitment like the service programs.

So congratulations to Anabella and Ina for hitting their target, however the makeup did not come off as easily as you suggested. And to all of our students, keep up the good work building a better community.

Bob Cofer – Head of Campus and clown apprentice

The 24 Hour Run planning committee has been preparing for the event which will take place from January 15-16, 2027.

Inspired by the spirit of the 24 Hour Run and keen to motivate our community, Ina and Anabela decided to take on their own fundraising challenge in support of the event. They set themselves an ambitious target of raising one million Tanzanian shillings in just four days. If they reached their goal, they would both shave their heads, and Bob Cofer would dress up as a clown. Thanks to their incredible efforts and the generous support of so many members of our community, Ina and Anabela raised an impressive 1.3 million Tanzanian shillings, bringing us one step closer to our $30,000 fundraising goal for the 24 Hour Run. We want to keep the spirit and challenges going, so we encourage you to start forming your teams and looking for those sponsors. We look forward to engaging with all of you in our annual fundraising event.

 

It has been another busy and exciting week in the MYP, with plenty of learning, collaboration, and creativity taking place across our classrooms!

I would like to remind families of the importance of keeping up with students’ learning and progress on Learn. I encourage you to make the most of our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs), which provide a valuable opportunity to connect with teachers, celebrate progress, and discuss areas for continued growth.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Enjoy this week’s stories!

M5 Language Acquisition (Emergent)
In French, students have been developing their communication skills by exploring how to talk about leisure activities and future plans. Using Pinterest as a source of inspiration, they completed a practical task that encouraged them to apply their vocabulary and grammatical understanding in a creative and meaningful context. The activity allowed students to connect their language learning to their personal interests while building confidence in expressing their plans in French.

M5 Music
Our M5 Music students recently brought their Group Performance unit to a close with a performance of the classic song Let It Be by The Beatles. Playing the guitar, ukulele, and piano, students had the opportunity to put their musical skills into practice while developing their ability to collaborate and perform as an ensemble. Throughout the unit, they explored the importance of timing, coordination, active listening, and teamwork, learning how individual contributions come together to create a cohesive musical performance. It was a lovely way to celebrate their progress, creativity, and growing confidence as musicians. Well done, M5!

M5 Individuals & Societies
Our M5 Individuals & Societies students explored the concept of collective memory through an engaging inquiry into the impact of forced removals during South Africa’s apartheid regime. Students were tasked with gathering information about the experiences of communities affected by these policies and bringing their findings back to the classroom to share and discuss. Through this collaborative activity, they explored the social, cultural, and emotional consequences of forced displacement, while considering how historical events shape collective memory, identity, and communities across generations. The activity encouraged students to look beyond historical facts and reflect on the importance of remembering and understanding the experiences of those affected.

MYP Dates to Remember

• November 3rd – Secondary PTCs (Afternoon)
• November 5th – Secondary PTCs (Morning)
• November 20th to 22nd – Sports Weekend
• December 3rd – Evening of the Arts
• December 11th – Classes End (Q2)
• December 12th to January 13th – December Break

Have a beautiful week ahead!
Farah Fawaz – Head of MYP

The students in this year’s Musical Production of Disney’s “High School Musical” have been hard at work learning the songs, choreography and lines from the show.

It has been a great opportunity for them to develop their creativity and teamwork, and for many of them to get out of their comfort zone and try something new.

Behind the scenes, the backstage crew, costume & makeup team and band have also been having a great time preparing for the show.

They are very excited to share what they have learned on opening night, which will be January 20th.

Go Wildcats!

We look forward to meeting DP parents at the parent-teacher conferences this week.

This week, our D1 students began their Extended Essay journey, taking an important first step towards becoming more independent learners and researchers. They shared their initial research proposals, exploring how personal interests can develop into focused academic investigations. Over the coming weeks, students will be matched with supervisors who will guide them to refine their questions, develop research skills and take increasing ownership of their learning. The DSS class was out doing field research, tracking real-world patterns around campus and using Google Scholar this week to locate reliable academic sources. Thanks to Ms Marta, who has taken on the role of EE coordinator.

This is the final week for D2 assessments before we issue reports on November 13th.

Discovering Chagga History and Culture at Eekanubi Caves

On Friday, 30 October, the D1 Kiswahili Ab Initio class visited the Eekanubi underground caves to explore Chagga history, culture and traditions. During the visit, we learnt about the different clans and divisions within the Chagga community, including Kibosho, where Eekanubi Caves are located. We also discovered the cultural significance of the sale plant (msale or mbuoni), explored the history of Chagga leadership and learnt about former chiefs of Kibosho, as well as various traditional practices. Students and staff had the opportunity to see traditional utensils, clay kitchenware, and iron weapons crafted by the Kiria clan. We enjoyed a taste of local hospitality through traditional herbal tea.

The group then explored different sections of the caves, learning about the purpose and arrangement of the various rooms. The visit concluded with a wonderful cultural performance featuring traditional Chagga songs and dances. The Mangi (chief) also welcomed the group and expressed his appreciation for the visit. Students and staff were treated to a delicious traditional Chagga meal, and we each received a certificate to mark the experience.

It was a memorable and enriching experience for everyone. We are grateful to the Eekanubi team for their warm hospitality and for giving us such a wonderful opportunity to learn about and appreciate Chagga culture and heritage.
Asante!
Fin and Teo

French Students Connect with Award-Winning Photographer
Starting in January, our D1 and D2 French students will have the exciting opportunity to explore the work of award-winning French photographer, photojournalist and filmmaker Frédéric Pasquini. Through two special online sessions, Frédéric will share insights into his photography, creative process and the stories behind his images. Students have already begun exploring his work, discussing the stories the photographs tell, the perspectives they offer and how images can communicate ideas and emotions beyond words. We are incredibly grateful to Frédéric for generously volunteering his time and expertise, giving our students a valuable opportunity to engage directly with a contemporary French artist while developing their language skills and deepening their understanding of French culture. Thanks for Ms Nourhane for arranging this.

Catherine Dowie – Head of Diploma

Thank you to the EC class for their lovely presentation in the primary gathering. What great risk takers and communicators they are to perform in front of such a large audience. Please see Ms. Manal’s photo below.

We had a good athletics day on Tuesday. Many thanks to all of our parent helpers and to the PTA for selling such delicious snacks and drinks. The children enjoyed the day. A special mention to the PE team for all of the work they did to prepare for the event.The results were Mawenzi 1st, Kibo 2nd, Meru 3rd.

There is a sign up sheet outside Room 4 (P3/4 classroom) so that parents can sign up to run a stall or a trunk at our dress up carnival on 13th November. We need about 10 tables for this event to be a success. We have one sign up so far so please consider adding your name to the list.

Next Wednesday – Thursday the P6 class will have their PYP Exhibition retreat. Good luck, P6, as you start on your Exhibition journey. We are already looking forward to your presentations in March.

Our swim team attended a swim meet at SCIS on Friday. I don’t have the results yet, but I’ve been told that our competitors demonstrated outstanding effort and sportsmanship throughout the event.

Deborah Mills – Head of PYP

This week was a wonderful week of learning and excitement! The children have been practicing their performance, showing courage and confidence as they prepare to perform on stage.

We also read a book titled Healthy Food, which inspired us to plan and make our own sandwiches. The children shared their ideas, discussed healthy ingredients, and worked together to identify what we would need to prepare them. We then sent our shopping list by email to Mrs. Debbie and the Purchasing Team to request the ingredients.

On Friday, we celebrated our learning by making and enjoying our own healthy sandwiches! It was a lovely hands-on experience that encouraged independence, communication and an appreciation of healthy food choices.

Manal El Dahwish

Thank you to everyone who came to cheer the kids on during sports day. They had a wonderful time, and we saw some speedy runners in the track events. The picture shared is from when we had the three-legged race for parents and students. Thank you, Eijaz and Baba Eijaz, for participating.

In our unit this week, Dr. Daniella taught us about bones, muscles and movement. She answered three of our questions:

• Adannaya: How do we sit?
• Zavier: How do our bones work
• Yara: How do our bodies move?

They learned about the largest and smallest bones in the body, and the names of some bones that help us move, bend, and sit. Please continue the conversations at  home and ask them to share their knowledge with you.

Next week, Dr Daniella will teach us about the heart and how it pumps blood all around the body.

Mboka Mwasongwe

What a week! Tuesday’s sports day was a huge highlight, and it was wonderful to see the children cheering each other on and giving everything their best effort. Thank you to all the families who came to support.

In our unit of inquiry, we have kept exploring how moving to a new place changes people’s lives. We were lucky to have a special visitor, Ms Farah, who came to talk to us about her own journey. The children prepared thoughtful questions about why she moved, what was hard and what helped her settle in, and they listened beautifully. Thank you, Ms Farah! We also looked closely at the family in The Journey and compared their lives before and after they moved. On Friday, the class is creating pages for a Welcome Book for children who are new to our school.

The children have also finished writing their own journey stories, and we are so proud of their imagination and hard work.

In maths, we have been learning to read graphs carefully: using a key in pictograms, reading scales, and finding the range. We also compared tables, pictograms, bar graphs and Venn diagrams to decide which display works best for different questions. In number, P3 have been adding 2-digit numbers by exchanging ten ones for a ten, and P4 have been learning how multiplication and division facts connect.

Our spelling groups have been working on the “wh” pattern and on words with silent letters, like castle and listen.

Congratulations to Ryker, Tamira and Eleni, who are receiving leaves at Friday’s primary gathering!

Sarah Vrontamitis

Next week the P5 class will be learning about an NGO called APOPO that works out of Morogoro. They will be learning about the pouch cheeked rats that sniff out tuberculosis and landmines and will be making connections to our central idea about organisations that protect human rights. In maths they will be learning about lines, angles and 2D shapes. The children will spend some extra time in the IT lab next week to give their keyboarding skills a boost.

Deborah Mills

This week, P6 explored scarcity through a building challenge. Students first had enough materials to meet every need, then repeated the task with fewer supplies. This quickly led to choices, compromises and some lively negotiations! From this, we developed the understanding that scarcity happens when there is not enough to meet every need or want.

Students also began writing introductions for their informational texts and investigating conflicts that arise when people’s needs clash with the needs of nature.

A huge thank you to the PE team for organising Athletics Day. P6 did a fantastic job! Finally, a very happy birthday to Aaryan—we hope you had a brilliant day!

Elisha Jaffer

Outdoor Pursuits: Two Adventures, One Busy Week!

Quarter 2 has got off to a great start, and the OP team is ready for another week of adventure! This week, we have two exciting trips heading into the Tanzanian wilderness. There will be mountains to climb, wildlife to spot and, no doubt, a few tired legs by the time everyone returns!

Peaks Exploration: Mount Hanang
Our first adventure takes us to Mount Hanang, Tanzania’s fourth-highest mountain, after Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and Mount Loolmalasin. This extinct volcano rises to an impressive 3,423 metres above sea level and sits within the beautiful Mount Hanang Nature Forest Reserve, not far from Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks.

The reserve is an important source of water, with several rivers and beautiful lakes surrounded by lush, evergreen montane forest.

If our students are lucky, they may encounter some of the mountain’s wildlife, including velvet monkeys, baboons, bushbucks, duikers and klipspringers. There is even the possibility of spotting hyenas!

Plains Discovery: Monduli
Our second adventure takes us to Monduli, a beautiful area close to our Arusha campus, where students will explore the landscape, learn about conservation and observe wildlife. The area is managed by Maasai communities, offering students a valuable opportunity to learn about traditional Maasai ways of life and the relationship between local communities and their environment.

Students will also have the opportunity to observe the preparation of a traditional goat meal, providing an insight into local food, culture and hospitality. We suspect this part of the trip may generate just as much excitement as the hiking!

The walks offer spectacular views across the Great Rift Valley, with opportunities to spot wildlife such as birds, giraffes and zebras along the way.

We wish both groups a fantastic week of adventure, learning and discovery.

Mr Andy