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- Moshi Campus News – 8 Nov 2025Moshi Campus News – 8 November 2025
Contents
• MYP News
• PYP News
• P6 News
In full swing
While we recognize that recent events have affected communities in different ways and that it has been a challenging time for many across the country, it’s encouraging to see life on campus finding its rhythm again. Thank you all for your patience, care, and support over the last two weeks.
On Tuesday and Thursday we had Secondary conferences. While the internet did make this a bit challenging for some connections we were able to have most of the sessions. Thank you to the parents that joined us and we will follow up with those that were not able to make their calls.
Next Friday the D2 students will be issued their semester 1 reports. This is out of line with other classes, but matches their year shortened by exams and supports their recently submitted applications for university.
As you will see below the Primary will be making up Trunk-or-Treat on the 14th. The kids are very excited to hear this. We have plans for the secondary haunted house, but that will be a little bit later to fit in with their busy weekends.
We also have plans to reschedule the OP trips that did not go, please see that section for details. Some sports fixtures were cancelled and we will share new dates with you when we have them.
Also in the newsletter you will see items about our sustainability and service projects, please look at what students are involved in.
Lastly from me, UWC Sports Weekend is coming soon. Schools from around Tanzania will join us from November 21st to the 23rd. Even if you are not competing, please join us on campus to cheer on our teams. It is a fun time all around and a highlight of our school year.
Bob Cofer – Head of Campus
Diploma News
I have been away on a school accreditation visit which is why the DP section is a little short this week. We always encourage our students to look at examples of good essays or mark schemes to help them improve. A school visit is similar: a moment to reflect on all we do well and consider ways to improve. It’s been lovely returning to Moshi and I know there are several D1 students waiting for me to approve subject changes. D1s have been told that after December, subject changes will only be allowed if the teacher recommends the change.
Back at school, the students navigated the return to classes this week. There was some impact on D2 students as they had to finish units and assessments. Their teachers will be working hard to get the reports out by 14 November. These will be available on Life.
Catherine Dowie – Head of Diploma
Dubai Scholars International Math Olympiad
Following up on the DSIMO (Dubai Scholars International Math Olympiad) happening last month, we are proud to announce that Joshua M5 and Mohamed D2 came in 3rd place of their respective age categories. Congratulations to them, and to all students who took part in the competition and represented our school! We hope next year more students will sign up for it.
Julien Munier
MYP News
It feels really good to be back on campus and back to our routine. A big thank you to all parents and guardians for your patience, trust, and continued support over the past few weeks. Your understanding and partnership truly help keep our community strong.
I also want to extend heartfelt appreciation to our students for the way they navigated the recent disruptions with balance, positivity, and maturity. They kept their spirits high, stayed engaged, and continued to represent everything our school stands for: resilience, compassion, and a genuine love for the school community.
It’s wonderful to see the campus lively again, full of energy.
M5 Extended Math
In extended math, M5s have been applying their knowledge about arithmetic and geometric sequence to create models to real-life data and evaluate how good the models were. I’m still marking, but I’ve seen this done about various topics such as bitcoin value, height of adult Dutch males, crime rate in Colombia or number of laptops sold worldwide so far. Bring some more!
MYP 5 Visual Art
Students recently wrapped up their Surrealism Art projects which was themed: Reimagining the Everyday Object. Students have used a variety of mediums in this project ranging from pastels, colored pencil, acrylic paint and watercolors. Their fantastic artworks will be on display during the Evening of the Arts.
M3 Science
Our MYP 3 science students experimented with sound waves using a bass guitar, amplifier, glass bowl, and sand. By placing the bowl in front of the amp, they observed different patterns forming in the sand as the vibrations from different notes interacted with the surface. This hands-on investigation helped students visualize how sound travels through vibrations, turning invisible waves into visible patterns.
MYP Dates to Remember
November 21st to 23rd – Sports Weekend
December 4th – Evening of the Arts
December 8th – End of Year Assembly
December 9th – Independence Day
December 12th – End of Q2Have a great week ahead,
Farah Fawaz – Head of MYPResidential Life
Dear UWCEA Community,
The week behind us has been quite an emotional one, full of unexpected moments and a few lessons in patience. Yet, through it all, our community remained steady, supportive, and wonderfully creative. With the usual distractions out of the way, campus life took on a slower rhythm. It was heartening to see students rediscover the art of conversation, laughter, and simply being together, things that sometimes get lost in the buzz of everyday life.
The week kicked off in vibrant color with Rangoli DP dorm competitions, Diwali presentations, and some truly joyful dancing that lit up our K-Hall. What followed was a flurry of friendly competitions and fun: volleyball and basketball matches, dodgeball showdowns, board games that may have tested a few friendships, a pool party, dorm BBQs, even some peer-support listening training, and to wrap it all up, a bonfire under the stars, complete with guitars and good company.
All in all, it was one of those weeks that reminded us of the strength and warmth of this community.
As we ease back into “normal” routines, the coming days already promise plenty of excitement: First Aid training sessions for all D1s, and the Student Government elections are officially underway, with the Candidate Fair on the 13th and Debates on the 14th. If you’re around, do come by; the energy and enthusiasm are contagious (in the best way possible).
Here’s to a calm, connected, and meaningful week ahead. Enjoy some photos from the week below, additional photos are at the end of the newsletter.
Best,
Adnan Mackovic – Head of Student Life
Kijana
Kipawa
Kiongozi
Kisiwa
Kipepeo
Kilele
Sports Update
This week we were scheduled to compete in both Primary and Secondary swim competitions this week. They have been postponed, and we will update you as soon as we know more.
Please mark your calendar as the UWC Sports Weekend is coming soon. Schools from around Tanzania will join us from November 21st to the 23rd for this competition. Please come see the wide range of sports including, Football, Basketball, Netball, Volleyball, Touch Rugby, Ultimate Frisbee, Tennis and Cross-Country.
Rugby
UWC Rugby
On the 25th October, our UWC u19 Rugby team and staff joined forces to enter the Moshi Memorial Rugby 10’s Tournament held at Chou Cha Ushirika University. Coming straight out of spring vacation we were a bit apprehensive however in true UWCEA spirit we could not let a tournament go by without having signed up and because finding rugby competitions in Moshi is scarce. The tournament had teams from all over Tanzania join. The teams were Arusha Rhinos, Moduli, Ukonga, Moshi Bulls, Moshi Kilimanjaro, Dar eSalaam, and us, the UWCEA Leopards.
We were drawn into a very challenging pool, with our first match against club champions, the Arusha Rhinos. We played brutal defense the whole game, however keeping our heads up. In the second half, we stayed composed, played discipline phases at the ruck and maul and finally got over the line for a try-score against the nation’s champions. Yes! We were so thrilled to get one try against this formidable squad. We lost that game 40-5. Our next game was against the Moshi Bulls, our town rivals. Eager to redeem ourselves from our first match, we played our game and it was great rugby. This match was way more evenly matched and ended in a draw, score 24 – 24.
Well done to the team, to Mr Dowie and Mr Finn and to the organisers of the tournament. We are all contributing to the development of Rugby in Tanzania. Our boys played well.
PYP News
Due to our recent school closure, the EC/P1 class has not had sufficient time to prepare for their Primary Gathering, originally scheduled for Friday, 14th November. As a result, this gathering will not take place on Friday. However, all primary children will have the opportunity to present to you during our Sharing Gathering on Friday, 28th November at 7:40am in Rafiki Hall.
Some of our after-school clubs have also been affected by the recent disruptions. The Taekwondo teacher was unable to travel to Moshi from Arusha last Wednesday, but we are hopeful that Taekwondo will take place next week. Parents will only be charged for sessions that take place, and these will be reflected in your school account.
The SCIS Swim Meet, originally planned for Friday, 7th November, has not yet been rescheduled. We will share the new date as soon as it becomes available.
The Primary Trunk or Treat event has been rescheduled for Friday, 14th November. Children should meet on the paddock at 4:00pm to begin trunk or treating. The event will conclude at 6:15pm, and children should be collected from Room 17 (next to the P4/5 classroom).
Please also note that there will be an Under 9 and Under 11 Football Festival at SCIS on Saturday, 29th November. Change to invitations will be issued through Life. As a result, Saturday football will not take place on campus that day.
There have been some adjustments to the Evening of the Arts scheduled for Thursday, 4th December. In previous years, the later timing of this event made it difficult for our younger students to participate. This year, the primary children will instead enjoy a Morning of the Arts on December 4th at 7:40am in Rafiki Hall. MYP and DP students will still perform in the evening, and PYP children and families are warmly invited to attend as part of the audience.
Another event to add to your calendars is UWC VISION which will take place on Tuesday, 9th December. UWC VISION is based on the popular Eurovision Song Contest, which brings together people from across Europe to enjoy each others’ cultures. The event is being organised by secondary students and they hope to have PYP students, parents and the Moshi community in the audience. Further details, including how the PYP children can sign up to participate as performers, have been shared by email.
Deborah Mills – Head of PYP
EC/P1 News
Last week’s two days and this week’s three days have seen EC/P1 hunt for materials in the classroom.
We explored things made from wood, plastic and metals. We have begun compiling a list of specific properties that we use to identify these materials, including the sound they make when struck, their appearance, and their texture. Next week, we will continue our look at other types of materials. We will visit the school workshops and take home a small project for you to work on with the children.
This week, P1s completed their work on odd and even numbers. They will now begin working on using different strategies for addition. They will work on mental math strategies as well as using manipulatives to solve addition problems. Please use this time to explore this at home, because it helps when there is ample practice.
The picture shared is of the shoe monitors carrying out their work.
Mboka Mwasongwe
P2/3 News
During our Morning Meeting on Wednesday, we took some time to catch up and talk about the unexpected time home. Children were excited to talk about the ways they kept themselves busy – well done, parents! Our short week was busy. We did an experiment that proves that air takes up space. Please ask your child what happened when we taped tissue in a cup and then pushed it into water.
We also worked on writing instructions and then made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the student kitchen! It became obvious that instructions need to be clear- “Put peanut butter on” could result in PB on one’s head instead of the bread! The picture is from our fun with solid, liquid, gas last week when we made IceMen. A few tears were shed when our cold friends melted in the sun!
We are looking forward to having a full week of class. Please remember our specialists that need your help- PE on Monday (hats and water bottles are increasingly important with this weather), Swimming on Tuesday, and Library bags + Home Learning Folders on Friday.
Kacey Buckley
P4/5 News
It was wonderful to return to the classroom after our unexpected break. The children did an excellent job with their home learning, and everyone came prepared with a list of “seeds” for possible personal narratives. They began planning their writing on Friday and will continue this work next week. Our story writing unit will extend into the coming week, as we still have a summative assessment task to complete.
This week, the children continued their work on perimeter and enriched their mathematical vocabulary by going on a perpendicular lines hunt around the school. We finished the week with a swimming lesson in the sunshine. Coach Patrick’s group focused on building stamina by swimming lengths, while Coach Collin’s group learned how to dive. The children were great risktakers, and the atmosphere was filled with encouragement and laughter.
Deborah Mills
P6 News
“What day is it?” has been the prevalent question in class this week, with both students and teachers quite confused due to the Wednesday start. P6 has been travelling alongside Salva in A Long Walk to Water, following his journey through the Akobo Desert and wondering how we would manage without snacks or Wi-Fi.We have also been working on our campaigns, choosing topics we care about and creating questions to gather data on (because what’s a strong opinion without a graph to prove it?). We have been polishing up our slogans for our Pop Art Adverts, discovering that coming up with something short, catchy, and clever isn’t as easy as it sounds. We’re all looking forward to a more normal week next week, even if we aren’t quite as excited about a 5 day school week!
Just a reminder to please encourage your child to brainstorm PYPX topics on our class Padlet.
Elisha Jaffer
Service in Action
Service is important to our school; service is woven into the very fabric of UWCEA, proudly building on the legacy of ISM. This week we had 5 students give up their Friday afternoon and dedicate themselves to building a much-needed product for their community. Having never worked with power tools before, they learnt quickly and confidently to produce 10 x toilet-chair-bucket systems. These chairs will be gifted to many cancer patients and their families during a patient’s treatment at home. Our goal is to support 50 Families.
Sustainability
It is not often that we have over a month of updates, but what a month it has been around our growingly sustainable school. This past week we found ourselves out of our usual rhythm, but many students across campus have truly carried the UWC spirit for building a sustainable future.
It is with great appreciation that we welcomed Marjon from Climate Connections on Thursday. She has been on the road in an old Range Rover Defender with a modern twist, navigating Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and now being welcomed to Tanzania by our community in the electric off-road camper. Her workshop challenged 60 of the M3 to M5 students to explore climate change causes, consequences, stakeholders and solutions over a three hour workshop. Organizing a nexus of the themes before moving onto an escape room challenged them. The workshop is scoped for local university students, but one of our teams of students actually cracked the code and escaped the many impacts of climate change. More updates to come on Marjon’s visit in the next newsletter as she spreads awareness with local schools and NGOs in the Moshi area this week.
The sustainability committee connected with Ms. Trudie Kaniki, service-learning coordinator from HOPAC in Dar es Salaam, and reconnected with Faith Maeda who is the head of TaSCC. With mutual goals and ongoing endeavors, these change agents will be making regular meetings as they implement further Tanzania wide initiatives following the virtual Climate Summit hosted by the sustainability committee early this calendar year. More to come next week from the sustainability committee.
Looking further back, what a month of October it was. Going back to week without walls / catch-up week / project week when some of our wonderful remaining teaching and advancement office staff took over our community recycling and composting systems. Asante sana to the following educators, not all heroes wear capes!
On Friday, the 3rd, P2/3 took responsibility for our compost in a big way! A big shout out to Ms. Zitha and Ms. Kacey who helped them to champion.A big thank you to our staff who stepped up and showed us how it is done as seen below.
Further updates to our recycling in October are seen with our new partners in paper recycling. Mr. Fred came by campus twice this month, taking our paper for circulation back to industry. Mr. Fred is active in contributing to a more circular economy and we are glad to help. Karibuni sana to Fred and his team. Please take care to support them by properly sorting your paper waste and avoiding contamination. Unsure how to do it? Ask!
For both campuses napkins are out of our supply chains. This is not just to address littering, but to take a step away from contributing to the loss of 51,000 trees each day for napkin production. Our gardeners, cleaners and community are thankful as well to see juice boxes removed. Thank you to the Duka for replacing them with delicious juice, served fresh. These were the number one sources of litter around campus and constantly being sorted out of our recycling and compost systems. A tip of the hat to the sustainability committee for broadly taking steps to mitigate impacts positively.
As a UWC, we have taken a step with many other schools, to track and set goals around our ecological footprint. The baseline data is ready for publishing, and this also means that our students are ready to take over the tracking of it. Together, we will be tracking the progress of our goals, which will involve all members of our community in making our ambitions come to fruition.
If you have any questions, curiosities, ideas or concerns I am eager to hear from you at williamtaylor@uwcea.org or sustainabilitymoshi@uwcea.org (sustainability committee). Let’s work together to continue building a more sustainable UWCEA community!
William Taylor (Sustainability Coordinator)
Outdoor Pursuits
It’s been a very busy few weeks for the Outdoor Pursuits (OP) team!
During the October break, we ran our first Kilimanjaro expedition of the year. We had 23 brave students who took on the challenge and most successfully reached the summit, enjoying an unforgettable adventure along the way. You can read a reflection below from Malo (D2), who not only made it to the top but also celebrated his 18th birthday on the mountain – talk about a memorable coming of age!
Barely back from the break, the team jumped straight into the next round of trips. Over the weekend of 25–26 October, we had two groups out exploring Tanzania.The Peaks Exploration group tackled Mount Hanang (Tanzania’s 4th highest peak at 3,420m). It was a stunning, if rather demanding climb, and we’ll be sharing a student review soon!
Meanwhile, the Plains Discovery trip ventured to Monduli, where students experienced the wild beauty of the plains and some truly unforgettable wildlife encounters. Inspired by the experience, Alice (M2) penned the following poem, with a little help from Dianarose (M3):
The Bird in the Sky
A sonnet inspired by the Monduli Plains tripI was so tired – about to die –
Then I saw a bird in the sky.
It blew its wings against the breeze,
It hovered and dived with such ease.
Then I wondered: why complain?
And though it was about to rain
I lifted my head, picked up my pace,
I felt the raindrops brush my face.
The campsite was still far away,
But I felt so inspired that day.
It was the bird that made me see
The power of positivity.
Whenever I think that it’s too hard,
I close my eyes and think of that bird.Unfortunately, our Reefs and Mindfulness trips had to be postponed last weekend. As you can imagine, rescheduling these kinds of adventures is no small feat, but we’re pleased to share the proposed new dates:
- Reefs Exploration – Fish Eagle Point: December 3rd to 7th
- Reefs Adventure – Emayani: November 28th to December 2nd
- Mindfulness – Amani Light: December 7th
These dates will be confirmed and shared with parents and students as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Finally, looking ahead, next weekend promises more excitement with Rides Discovery heading to Simba Farm and Peaks Discovery setting off for Kilomeni. It’s all go in the OP programme – and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
Mr Andy
Peaks Challenge: Kilimanjaro
I had the chance to start my holidays earlier than my classmates! We set off on a Thursday morning, backpacks ready, to conquer the roof of Africa: Mount Kilimanjaro. Even the wait at the park gate couldn’t kill our excitement. The first days were surprisingly chill. The acclimatization day was everyone’s favourite, probably because we didn’t have to carry our big bags for once!
The second night at Horombo Hut was extra special for me: I got a surprise birthday cake for my 18th birthday, delivered by my brother and my mom! Even the Brazilian group following the same route joined in to sing “Happy Birthday.” We ate cake with a stunning view of Moshi by night, definitely my highest birthday celebration.
Another good news: none of us lost our appetite, so we started the next morning full of confidence and carbs, heading to Kibo Hut, the last stop before the final climb. We walked above the clouds, trading the lush forests from the first few days for rocky, dry slopes, and realized: yep, this mountain means business. When Kibo finally appeared, we were thrilled… until we looked up and saw the “wall” we’d have to climb that night. Thankfully, summiting in the dark meant we could only focus on our steps, not the terrifying slope ahead.
Unfortunately, altitude got some of us who had to turn back. The rest of us kept pushing, stopping occasionally for the glamorous activity of throwing up. At Gillman’s Point, the sun finally rose, lighting up the glaciers and the summit in front of us. The view was breathtaking (literally). A few frozen fingers later, we took THE photo at the Kilimanjaro sign. We did it! But it wasn’t over. We still had to go all the way down, back to Kibo, then Horombo, and eventually to the gate. The main motivation? Not the bus to Dar es Salaam that most of us needed to catch… but the thought of finally showering after five long days!
I really want to thank Mr. Isaac and his incredible team of porters and guides. I did my Global Politics IA on their rights thinking their work was tough, but walking with them and seeing their effort firsthand was humbling. They are the true heroes of the mountain.
Malo (D2)
Photos from Residential Life
Dodgeball teams are getting ready
Board games round 1
Some even invented their own games
Badminton and tennis
Volleyball teams
Peer-support training
Bonfire getting started
Pool party warm up
Board games round 2
Basketball games
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