Arusha Campus News – 18 Jan 2020

BREAKING NEWS – just as I was about to press send on this email, we learned that our Under 19 Girls’ footballers (above) have been crowned NTSAA Champions. Well done to them and their coach Mr Ratsakatika

More often than not I retiurn to school at this time of year having been very lucky to visit a wild part of east or southern Africa and open my Christmas presents within earshot of a lion’s roar or a zebra’s bray. This year is no different apart from the stark realisation that 2020 promises to be a watershed for our environment. The planet’s environment. Put in simple terms, none of us, including UWC East Africa Arusha Campus are quite doing enough to reverse the onslaught to the environment that we have been a part of in the last 50-100 years. We have to do better and my hopes for the year ahead revolve around making a difference to the preservation of the spectacular environment on our doorstep.

Happy New Year

Phil

What an excellent start of the new decade and of semester two we had this week! It was wonderful to see the students and colleagues energized and excited to see each other after the long holidays, with so many shared stories and experiences from around the world.

You might be wondering why the students had a short first week back. Monday saw us teachers and teaching assistants traveling to our Moshi campus for an in-service professional development day. We were therefore able to put the vision of one school in two locations into practice once again, collaborate with colleagues to improve teaching and learning in department meetings, learn more about what it means to be and develop as a UWC and to start preparing for the upcoming re-start of our Council of International Schools school accreditation cycle. 

This week saw a flurry of activity with the CCA fairs and sign-ups for both the primary and secondary students and the D2 mock examinations running January 15-22. We are now working on preparing the secondary student-led conferences for February 13 (no regular classes for M1-D2 that day) and celebrations and activities for Mother Tongue Day scheduled with primary and some secondary students for the morning of February 20. More information will be forthcoming very soon!

Have a wonderful start of 2020,

Ciprian

Welcome back to Quarter 3. Please take note of these important dates for your diary.

Dates for your diary

Tuesday 5th February -100 Days of School

Thursday 20th February – Celebrate World Mother Tongue Day

Monday 2nd March – Book week  

Friday 20th March – Inter house Swimming Gala

Wednesday 25th March – Student Led Conferences

Responsibility

Responsible behavior is made up of six essential elements—honesty, compassion, respect, fairness, accountability, and courage. 

In today’s world we need to encourage our children to be responsible for their actions.

Parents can avoid the pitfalls of over-indulgence, help their children to feel good about themselves and learn to be responsible. … encourage children to give back in some way. assign chores and make sure they get done. set and follow through with consequences.

https://centerforparentingeducation.org/library-of-articles/responsibility-and-chores/developing-responsibility-in-your-children/

Amanda

Before the holiday, P4 students visited Themi Living Garden (pictured above) to observe forms of expression. This place is a gem of a garden/art-walk located in town near Clock Tower. Students were able to look at paintings, signs, notice boards and cards. They made fabulous connections around mood and perspective in connection with our unit inquiring into How We Express Ourselves. It was a lovely way to dive deeper into our unit and the kids had a great time!

Once again, the outstanding opportunity for attending an International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) festival is here! For those new to ISTA, it is a theatre organisation based in the UK which ties in strongly with IB concepts and learning as well as having a goal to connect young people across the world, giving opportunities to increase creativity and problem-solving skills.

This year the Cairo American College in Cairo, Egypt will be hosting a Middle School festival 12-15th March 2020. The age limit for Middle School is 10-14 years old, but minimum class level is M1. It is likely that travel dates would be 11-15th March to include travel to Nairobi International Airport via Riverside Shuttle. Students will board in homestay accommodation with families from the host school. The total cost of the trip is estimated below and includes:

1. ISTA Registration Fees (includes t-shirt)
2. Airport transfers (in Cairo and Riverside Shuttle)
3. Cultural Excursion (Khan el-Khalili Bazaar – the old sprawling souq/market in an old Cairo area)
4. Airfare return from NBO to Cairo International Airport
5. Food/Boarding + 1 night Holiday Inn hotel for arrival 11th March.

Group of 10 students = approximately $1,200
Group of 15 students = approximately $1,100
Group of 20 students = approximately $1,050

These costs are with a maximum of 20 students and 2 chaperone teachers attending. If numbers surpass 20, then more chaperones will be needed and costs may vary.

Potential extra costs may include a small fee to tour the pyramids outside Cairo on 11th March.

Please contact Mr Dixon and Ms Willett if interested by Friday, 20th December to reserve a place on this trip. Final payments will be due by Friday, 17th January.

Thank you!

Tyler Dixon
Head of Arts
Arusha Campus
tylerdixon@uwcea.org

Christy Willet
Head of Language A
Arusha Campus
christywillet@uwcea.org

Ngorongoro to Lake Natron hike as photographed on last year’s trip by Mr Darren

Secondary students received an email onTuesday with a link to Sign-Up Genius so that they can sign-up online if interested in the OP programme. In order to secure a spot on a trip, payment should be made directly at the accounts’ department asap. As there are limited places, priority will be given to students who finalized payment first.

Our trip costs are made up of transport and food costs ; teachers, guides and porters costs, WMA or National Park fees. The differing prices for Tanzanian and expatriate students reflect differing charges from WMA or National Parks. Prices below are in TZ Shillings.

Please find below the list of OP trips for Semester 2.

Due to the popularity of our new OP Water based trips in Semester 1, we are continuing with our water-based programme. Our Water trips take place at the coast in Tanga at Fish Eagle Point campsite. Students will be involved in various water-based activities including sea-kayaking, snorkelling, open water swimming as well as land activities such as a mangrove walk.

The OP Water programme will be developed in three stages: the 1st stage will build students’ confidence in open waters through participation in water-based activities; the 2nd stage will focus on developing specific and more technical skills. The 3rd stage will be linked to scuba-diving through PADI courses, marine conservation whereby students will use their skills towards a service learning project (protecting coral reef, plant/transplant mangroves…).

Gabriel Kalamata is an independent music teacher with many years of experience of teaching music theory/piano. He follows the ABRSM (The Exam Board of Royal School of Music.
Curriculum from the UK whereby students  can learn music theory and practical of piano lessons from grade 1-8.
Piano students can take part of ABRSM exam once a year.
This is not compulsory; Its up to the student’s decision. There are few spaces currently available for piano lessons.

Tuesday 2;30-3;30 pm
Wednesday 2;30-4;30 pm

Contact Gabriel through Main Reception.