Arusha Campus News – 27 May 2026

On Friday 22nd May we celebrated the Graduation of the Class of 2026! A super ceremony with a grand attendance. The official photos of the event are yet to be shared so they will be coming your way just as soon as we receive them. In the meantime the image above captures the studets just before the ceremony started.

Wed 10th June – 1.30pm PYP Play ‘The Lorax’

Fri 12th June – Last day of school

M4s relaxing in the sunshine during their English class after another exam

On Friday, our Graduation ceremony for the departing class of 2026 was a lovely occasion. As always, the Arusha weather cast golden evening light on proceedings and everyone looked beautiful in their dresses and suits.

The speeches were thought provoking and inspiring. None more so than the student speech spoken by Ayinza, Rugola and Sylvester. No students have made me prouder than when Sylvester spoke so eloquently about the importance of taking up the responsibility of furthering peace and sustainability ESPECIALLY now they are leaving UWC East Africa. Encouraging words indeed.

And of course the inspiration that was Mama Kata. The bravery in travelling from Peru to our little Perfomance Area in Arusha to thank everyone for touching the life of her beloved daughter Katalina. To step onto stage and receive her daughter’s diploma showed us all that courage, bravery and sheer strength of character can stand up to even the most terrible of tragedies.

Thank you from all of us.

Phil

Thouraiya (P5) practising her research skills.

Dear Parents,

In the primary school research skills are core ATL skills. They empower children to become independent inquirers who can formulate questions, gather and analyze data, and synthesize or present their findings effectively.

Formulating Questions: Moving from simple “what” questions to deeper “how” and “why” conceptual inquiries.

Observing and Planning: Using all senses to notice details and planning steps to find answers.

Gathering and Recording Data: Collecting information from multiple sources and recording it accurately.

Organizing and Interpreting Data: Sorting information, identifying patterns, and drawing conclusions.

Media Literacy and Ethical Use: Checking if a source is reliable and understanding how to use information ethically.

Synthesizing and Presenting: Connecting different pieces of information and sharing them with others.

Miss Amanda, Head of PYP

P6 students enjoyed the M1 taster day on Monday 25 May. The day was designed to give students a glimpse into life in the MYP, with opportunities to experience M1 lessons, explore new subjects and become more familiar with the secondary school environment. Pictured are our current M1 students presenting to the P6 class about the next chapter of their learning journey.

Aidan (M5) gained experience working for the Grumeti Fund (above). See below the article for the other generous organisations that helped support our work experience studentts.

Last week, M5 Students completed yet another “rite of passage” on the journey to the end of their MYP careers: Work Experience. Our cohort of 25 traveled near and far in order to pursue opportunities to learn about a wide variety of professions and get a taste of what life in the working world is like. We had 16 students in Arusha and at 14 different locations, four students in Zanzibar, three in Dar es Salaam, and two in the Serengeti!

From law to engineering, from conservation and technology to aerial photography and horticulture, from community outreach to human rights initiatives and everything in between, the experiences were diverse and meaningful.

M5 reflected on their experiences and prepared presentations to share with students, teachers, and their families. 

Meghan Connelly, Counselor

Happy M5s (above) celebrate after their final exam.

So much news to report from all our MYP classes! From exams and work experience to subject choices and taster days, students across all year levels have been busy.

Between 3–15 May, our M5 students completed their IB on-screen examinations across a range of subjects. These externally assessed exams gave students the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and critical thinking they have developed throughout the MYP. Results will be released by the IB in early August.

Following the exams, the M5 students took part in five days of work experience. This programme aims to encourage young people to take risks in new environments, work independently, interact professionally with adults and gain insight into possible future career paths. This year’s placements were particularly diverse and closely connected to students’ interests, including aerial photography, conservation and anti-poaching, law, computer engineering, human rights, marine conservation and rehabilitative surgery. Please join us on Tuesday 26 May, from 1.20–3pm at the Rhino Tower, where students will share their work experience journeys.

The final event of the school year for our M5 students will be the M5 Ceremony on Friday 29 May at 4.30pm, where we will celebrate their achievements and mark the end of their MYP journey.

The M4 students are currently in the middle of their end-of-year exams. These assessments encourage them to revise content and skills from multiple units and practise demonstrating their knowledge and understanding in an exam setting. This provides valuable preparation for the MYP eAssessments in M5, as well as future DP assessments and examinations. Here, students are pictured relaxing in the sunshine with a book after completing another exam.

On Thursday 22 May, M3 students and their parents attended an information session about subject choices for M4–5. Students learned more about the Arts options available to them, as well as the choice between continuing with French or Swahili. Subject teachers presented the different pathways within their subjects, while Mr Adam Kendis, our university counsellor, spoke about future pathways beyond school and some of the considerations families may begin thinking about as students start the final four years of school.

Students learn best when they can make meaningful connections to the real world. In Ms Katy’s M2 Maths lessons, students have been engaging in fun and practical data collection activities, helping them see how mathematics can be used to investigate, analyse and understand everyday situations. Through collecting and interpreting real-life data, students develop important skills in problem-solving, critical thinking and communication. Pictured are Pierre and Zahra actively gathering data as part of their learning.

Miss Anoek, Head of MYP

Pictured below, Ellen (M3) making cheese under the guidance of Nathalie as part of the M3 Food Design unit

Round 2 of this prestigious worldwide competition is done and dusted and here (above)  we have Anvika, Leana and Zahra who are pleased that they have made it to the next round of the Maths Olympiad

We are Claudia and 13-year-old identical twins, Emily and Isla. Here we are pictured above. Originally from Hilton, South Africa, we have been living in Moshi on the UWC campus and are now excited to be relocating to Arusha.

We have loved our time in East Africa and feel most at home surrounded by nature and the outdoors. I am a working artist with a strong passion for Visual Arts, and I am delighted have the opportunity to join the Arusha Campus. We look forward to getting to know everyone!

The new Arusha PTA Committee was formed last week and here they are above! From left, Isabella, Sue, Takeh, Annie, Martha, Michel and Jazmin. Not pictured are Harkiran, Nancy and Nelly.

Dear UWC Arusha Community,

We are pleased to announce that a new Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Committee for the UWC Arusha campus was elected during the Annual General Meeting on 20th May.

As a reminder, all parents and/or legal guardians of student currently enrolled at UWC Arusha are members of the PTA. We encourage you to take part in activities, suggest new initiative or raise any topic of interest, either directly or through your class representatives.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the outgoing PTA members for their dedication and hard work throughout the years. The newly composed committee looks forward to building on their legacy.

We wish you all a wonderful end of the term, and we hope to see you around campus, especially at the upcoming Car Boot Sale on Saturday, 6 June 2026!

Warm regards,

The PTA Committee

The Arusha Campus U-13 Frisbee Team (pictured above) were the only team of their age in the tournament! However, their involvement was accommodated and they played against senior opposition.

The opposing teams had some handicaps to accommodate the age difference. Our ‘kids’ showed themselves to be worthy opponents to all and sundry. They even beat the mighty Orkeeswa!

Our third Escape Room is open and ready for teams to come and play. Please contact Rob Airdrie: robertairdrie@uwcea.org to make a booking or if you have questions.

• What is an Escape Room? An Escape Room is a fun activity for small groups of people who enjoy immersing themselves in a story and solving puzzles.
• How long does this one take? We estimate most teams will be able to find Goldfang’s Treasure in about 20 minutes.
• Who can play and how many in a team? Teams are recommended to be 4 players. Fewer is not recommended! Anyone can play, though younger children will need someone older to help.
• When can we play? Contact Rob Airdrie for a link to choose a time slot or to arrange a time directly
• How much does it cost? 5000 shillings per player in each team – all of which goes to the UWC Scholarship Fund.