Arusha Campus News – 10 Dec 2025

At Friday’s assembly we said goodbye to Epifania who has been a housekeeper at the school for the last 29 years. Astonishing. She remembers the first days of our Arusha Campus and to commemorate her service I dug out an old image of the Performance Area and library from circa 1998!

Tue 13th Jan – First Day of Semester 2

This is an image of all the people in the Arusha Campus at about the same time. What is interesting is the absence of trees and vegetation around the Rhino Tower.

We closed a week early and yesterday we were able to celebrate 64 years of Tanzanian independence from the tranquility of our homes. The weeks leading up to our premature closure took on a frantic feel as teachers grappled to finish coursework and students did their best to submit assignments.

Our end of 2025 assembly saw the departure of Miss Epifania who is retiring. It allowed us to look back at when she first arrived at the school and prompted me to dig out some old photos of the school. In the light of the recent social strife in the country, its strange how many things in our lives have got significantly better over the passage of time but then some things have become decidedly worse. I shall leave you to ponder on what is better and what is worse. I do know that the school grounds are decidedly better for the jungle of trees and lush vegetation that now surrounds our buildings!

As I write this, I see that Australia is waking up from today to a world of no social media for under-16’s. Food for thought as we embark on family holidays over the December break. I know I relish the prospect of ignoring my notifications and this holiday will be no exception, but then I am not 16!

Have a wonderful holiday.

Phil

The big event of the week and indeed quarter so far was of course The Mousetrap (see the image from a scene, above). The show was spectcularly good and the whole cast, production team and Mr Ronald deserve the biggest pat on the back for their efforts. It was fabulous! If you were unableto see the show then dont despair as we will be having a third show in the new acadeic year. I implore you NOT TO MISS it!!!

Daniel (above) pond dipping at the Sable Square pond with P3

In the PYP we are always encouraging students to listen carefully to information and others. Listening plays an active role in all our learning. Encourage your child to listen and follow multi-step instructions.

Benefits of listening
Improves understanding and communication: Listening helps you grasp the nuances of a message, leading to fewer misinterpretations and misunderstandings. It allows you to respond appropriately and can prevent conflict.

Builds stronger relationships: When you listen attentively, you show respect and empathy, which fosters trust and creates deeper connections with others. This makes people feel valued and understood.

Enhances problem-solving and productivity: Good listeners are better equipped to understand a problem from multiple viewpoints, which leads to more effective solutions. In a professional setting, this can lead to increased productivity and better performance.
Supports personal growth: Listening allows you to learn new information, knowledge and perspectives.

Fosters empathy: Actively listening to others helps you better understand their feelings and perspectives, which is a key component of emotional intelligence.

Increases confidence: Feeling heard and understood can boost a person’s confidence to share their own thoughts and ideas.

Miss Amanda, Head of PYP

Teddy (pictured above) on her way to winning the U11 Girls High Jump at last Friday’s Inter Schools’ Athletics meeting. Well done to everyone who competed with great effort and sportsmanship. 

As we conclude a short but busy quarter, congratulations to all students on completing Semester 1! Here are a few highlights from the last two weeks of school:

M5 students and their parents attended the M5 Transition meeting, where they received important information about the Diploma Programme and future pathways from our Head of DP, Ms Jessica Peterson, and our University and Career Counsellor, Mr Adam Kendis. Students are encouraged to begin considering subject selections and possible career interests as they start planning for university destinations.

This Wednesday, it was wonderful to see our MYP students come together for Inter-House Football and Basketball. See images above. Teams played with great energy and sportsmanship as they competed on the field and court, showcasing strong community spirit.

We also hope many of you had the chance to attend our school production of The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie on Wednesday or Thursday evening. The performances were outstanding – our student actors truly brought the world of Monkswell Manor to life. Although the mystery has been solved, choosing a favourite character remains impossible! A special shout-out to our MYP students Ellen, Greener, Billy S, Aine and Olivia for their exceptional performances. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew, and to director Mryyyyyyyyyy11 Ronald!

Approaches to Learning Skills in the MYP

UWC East Africa, formerly the International School of Moshi, played a key role in developing the MYP in the 1980s and continues to proudly offer this holistic, inquiry-based programme for students aged 11–16. The MYP connects learning across subjects, builds international-mindedness, and develops essential skills through interdisciplinary study and real-world action.

The IB is currently reviewing the MYP, with the Enhanced MYP launching in 2027. Our Arusha campus MYP team has been part of the trial, focusing on Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills in unit planning. ATL skills are a set of essential learning skills – thinking, communication, social, self-management and research – that help students learn how to learn. In the Enhanced MYP, ATL skills will be simplified, making them easier to apply across subjects and supporting metacognition, so students can reflect on their learning and growth.

Subject teachers will continue to intentionally teach and model ATL skills, giving students opportunities to practice and develop them within their subject tasks. However, we believe the best place for students to reflect on their overall ATL skills development is in our mentor programme, where they can actively set goals, monitor their progress and engage in meaningful reflection. Our MYP mentors are currently working to integrate ATL skills into this programme. As a result, ATL skill assessment will no longer appear in subject reports; semester reports, published on December 12, will continue to show achievement through criterion grades, overall grades, subject comments, and an indication of effort.

Dear Parents and Students,

Just a friendly reminder that UWC East Africa – Arusha Campus will be hosting the ISTA Festival from March 20–22, 2026!

This is an amazing chance for students aged 12 to 16 to work alongside peers and professional theatre artists from around the world, right here on our campus. Through performances, workshops, and hands-on activities, students will build confidence, creativity, storytelling skills, and make connections with young people from different cultures.

ISTA festivals have been inspiring students since 1978, and we’re excited to give our students the chance to be part of this incredible experience.

Find out more here:
https://www.istaglobal.org/events/arusha-upper-ms-hs-festival

For questions or to register, please contact:

ronaldbalugiire@uwcea.org

We can’t wait to see our students take part in this exciting global theatre event!

Mr Ronald, Head off Arts

The Dutch Language is available as a Diploma subject and this week the members of the Dutch School were very vocal in their celebration of Sinterklaas in the run up to the 5th December! (see image above) What riotous fun!

As we close Semester 1, we take a moment to reflect on the significant adjustments our DP students have navigated. Our D1 students arrived full of excitement, and understandably a little nervous, ready to begin their new journey at UWCEA Arusha. We are delighted to see how well they have settled in. This cohort has embraced both their academics and the new assessment system with resilience, navigating tests and summatives that challenge them to adapt from whichever school system they previously attended. No matter the background, the IB Diploma is a big step, and it takes time to find one’s rhythm. Reports will be shared later this week (internet permitting), and we hope they are received as valuable feedback, highlighting strengths and areas for growth as we move into the second semester. We encourage students to reflect on the past months and continue to find a good balance. We value many aspects of student life outside of academics and urge students to take the time to join extracurriculars, be risk takers and try something new! Our wide range of activities and events offers so many opportunities, and we urge students to take full advantage of them while they can.

Our D2 students have certainly felt the intensity of this semester as they complete major components of their final IB requirements. With Extended Essays, Internal Assessments, and English IOs nearing completion or completed, they are on the home stretch toward their final exams. This short semester has been demanding, yet our students have approached it with determination, resilience, and mutual support. Many are now receiving university offers or finalising gap year plans—a time full of excitement, as well as inevitable stress and anxiety. With mock exams approaching at the end of January, we remind D2 students to take a breath, step back, and appreciate the time on campus as it flies by. Cherish moments with friends, enjoy the last OP trips, and create memories that will stay with you long after graduation. Mark your calendars:

Graduation is set for May 22nd, and planning is already underway!

Stay safe over the holidays and remember to get your work done, but to also rejuvenate and enjoy those special moments with family and friends.

Miss Jessica, Head of Diploma

Dear Parents, Students, and Staff,

Thank you to everyone who attended The Mousetrap performances on Wednesday and Thursday. Your presence, encouragement, and thoughtful feedback meant a great deal to our cast and crew and we truly appreciate your support!

For those who were unable to attend, we are excited to announce an additional performance in the first week when school resumes, so everyone has the chance to experience this production.

A gentle reminder in the spirit of tradition: please don’t reveal the murderer to anyone who hasn’t seen the show yet. Preserving the suspense is part of the fun!

More details about the date and time will be shared as we approach the start of term. We look forward to welcoming you to another thrilling performance.

Mr Ronald, Head of Arts

Dear Educator,

We are delighted to announce the launch of the Oxford Saïd Global Climate Tech Challenge 2026.

Following the energy and ambition the students and teachers brought to the 2025 edition, this year’s Challenge invites them to go further. Climate innovation is entering a new chapter and we are excited to welcome ideas that use technology to drive meaningful change.

Why take part
For students, the Challenge offers the opportunity to compete for a scholarship to one of our Oxford Saïd Youth Summer Programmes.
For teachers, it provides the chance to win a full scholarship for one of our Executive Education Programmes.

Key dates
• Registrations and entries open: 1 December 2025
• Submission deadline: 30 June 2026

How to register
Please submit your entry through our portal:
https://climate-tech-challenge.evalato.com/

Learn more
Further details, including themes, judging criteria and prize information, can be found on our website:
https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/climate-change-challenge/oxford-said-global-climate-tech-challenge-2026

Oxford Saïd Youth Summer Programmes:
Each summer, we welcome students from across the world to Oxford for our super-curricular programmes, designed to nurture curiosity, critical thinking and leadership. Participants engage with Oxford academics and practitioners, explore future-focused disciplines and receive an official certificate from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, upon successful completion.
In the summer of 2026, we will be delivering three super-curricular programmes:
🔬 Future Climate Innovators – Design real-world solutions to help protect our planet
💡 Future Entrepreneurs – Build and pitch your own start-up idea with support from mentors
🤖 AI and Machine Learning Pioneers – Dive into coding, data, and the future of technology

You can also explore further details about the programmes on our website:
https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/youth-programmes

As the number of places for each programme is very limited, we would strongly encourage your students to apply at the earliest to secure their place.

We request you to kindly share the information with your school and wider network to ensure that as many students and teachers as possible have the chance to participate in this unique opportunity. Your support in spreading the word would help empower more young minds to become climate leaders of tomorrow.
We look forward to the fresh thinking and practical solutions that will shape this year’s cohort.

Warm regards,

The Climate Tech Challenge Team