We are well into May with the Diploma graduation just two weeks away. The week after that the M5 have their celebration. Mixed in with all of this we will have some students that will be finishing up their time in Moshi for a host of other reasons. While all of this is happening, we have admissions for new MYP and PYP students and the incoming D1 students have just learned which campus they will be coming to.
Essentially this is a time of transitions and transitions can be both exciting and a bit frightening. This can make our time on campus a bit more emotional than normal and requires us to think a bit more about our relationships in the community. We must also remember while the transition is obvious for those on the move, for those staying in Moshi it also affects them.
So, as we head to these celebrations and transitions embrace the positive aspects but be mindful of those around you and how they are handing the changes.
Please read through the newsletter so you can see what has happened this week and what is happening as we move through May.
Bob Cofer – Head of Campus
Upcoming
Ben’s Corner
M5 and D2 students have spent most of the week holed up in various places across campus sitting their respective exams and I must commend them for their exemplary conduct…so far!
Across the globe, the debate continues about the purpose and value of exams and, following a number of related discussions, I wanted to take this Corner to continue from where I left off last week. As you all know, we are a proud IB World School and, so, are committed to assessing student work as direct evidence of achievement against the stated goals of the IB courses. The assessment procedures measure the extent to which students have mastered advanced academic skills in fulfilling these goals, for example through analysing and presenting information, evaluating and constructing arguments or solving problems creatively. At the same time, basic skills are also assessed, including retaining knowledge, understanding key concepts and applying standard methods.
Like them or loathe them, exams form the basis of the assessment for most courses. This is because of their high levels of objectivity and reliability. They include essays, structured problems, short-response questions, data-response questions, text-response questions, case-study questions and, sometimes, multiple-choice questions.
For some of our students (and some of their teachers!), it is hard to see beyond the next two weeks at the moment where every waking hour is consumed by exams. Of course, we encourage you to keep working hard over the coming days so that the papers you write are a true reflection of your best efforts but remember, the outcome of any exam does not define your intelligence. Keep it up!
Ben Morley – Deputy Head of Campus
Diploma News
We are officially over half way with the D2 exams!
Graduation tickets are available for collection from the front office. We have allocated three tickets for each student, although I know some families are not able to attend the graduation. We are working to have a highlight video, which will be shared a few days after graduation for families who can’t make the ceremony.
The D1 students will also be invited to graduation to support their D2s. In the next few weeks, we will have some information about the incoming D1 students and this is always exciting for our current students as they start to connect with their peers from back home. It feels very circular at this stage as the D1s take over leadership and mentor roles. The D1 students will also get their end of year exam schedules early next week and I know many of them have started IAs already. They also have an upcoming EE deadline, where they are required to submit an outline. This is helpful as it gives them some focus if they plan to work over the long holiday.
Catherine Dowie – DP Coordinator
MYP News
It’s always a bit of a challenge writing these MYP newsletter entries—not because there’s nothing to say, but because we could honestly write pages and pages about what’s happening across the programme (but we wouldn’t want to give Mr. Cofer a formatting nightmare!). Learning in the MYP is never just one thing…it’s vibrant, messy, meaningful, and often surprising. One minute you think you’re doing Math, and suddenly you’re deep in an Art project. You start off analyzing a poem in English and end up composing music. That’s the magic of conceptual learning…it connects dots, crosses disciplines, and helps students make sense of the world around them. And that’s exactly what we’ve seen coming to life across classrooms this week!
M5s eAssessments The first week of M5 eAssessments is complete, and our students have already sat for English, I&S, French, Maths, and Swahili. One of the best moments? A group of M5 boys showed up to their Maths exam in full suits (well… suit jackets, ties, crocs, and pajama pants!) proudly walking in saying, “Who’s scared of the test?” It definitely brought some smiles!
We’re really proud of how hard all the students have been working: coming to evening revision sessions, staying focused, and supporting each other along the way. On to week two of eAssessments and the week of school based final assessments! Keep going M5s, you rock!
M1 Art Our M1 students kicked off their final Visual Arts unit by channeling their inner bakers—only this time, the dough was clay and the pizzas were purely artistic! As a fun and messy provocation, students experimented with shaping, flattening, layering, and texturing clay, learning how to handle the material and build foundational hand-building skills.
While it looked like a pizza party, they were actually getting ready to dive into more complex techniques in the coming weeks. It’s all about creativity, collaboration, and getting their hands dirty…literally! So, pizza anyone?!
M2 Art The M2s are bringing stories to life—one frame at a time! Their stop motion animation projects are officially in motion, combining skills from their origami unit with new ones like storyboarding, sequencing, and camera work. From folding trees and animals to planning out scenes and filming each tiny movement, students are blending creativity with patience and precision. We can’t wait to see the final videos… and I am sure neither can you!
MYP Dates to Remember
May 5th to16th – M5 eAssessments and EOY Exams
May 30th – M5 Ceremony
June 13th, 16th & 17th – Days of Giving Back
June 19th – Classes End
Have a wonderful week ahead! Farah Fawaz – MYP Coordinator
Residential Life
Dear UWCEA Community,
This week, as usual, has been a busy and vibrant one on campus. Our D2 students are deep into their final exams, and we’re incredibly proud of the focus and resilience they’ve shown during this important time. Meanwhile, our M5 students had the opportunity to hear from their D1 peers, who visited their classes to share insights into the Diploma Programme experience. It was a valuable moment of mentorship and helped ease some of the uncertainty as M5s prepare for their own transition.
Shortly after, our M5s dove into their own exam sessions and study blocks—best of luck to all of them!
While the D2s and M5s have been tackling assessments, our D1 students took a much-deserved break through a friendly Life Skills competition. Each class formed a team and demonstrated practical skills such as cooking, car maintenance, plumbing, laundry, and first aid. The energy and enthusiasm were contagious! Congratulations to Mr. Andy’s class, who came out on top and will enjoy a celebratory class dinner soon.
This week, our MYP students also had the privilege of meeting Professor Florida Muro, a specialist in Primary Health Care and Community Health at KCMC. She led a thoughtful session on healthy living, disease prevention, and well-being for young people. We are grateful for her time and expertise, and we know our students gained a great deal from her visit. As we approach the final stretch of the term, we’re looking ahead to several exciting milestones:
M5 Transition Day, where M5 students will shadow D1 classes and spend a night in the Diploma dorms;
Virtual meet-ups with our incoming D1 students, helping build early connections; and
Final preparations for next year’s orientation which is just around the corner.
We’ll be sharing more details on these events soon.
Finally, a reminder for D2 families:
Please complete the travel form by May 15. This helps us finalize transportation arrangements and ensures a smooth and safe departure for all students. If you have any questions or would like to talk through your child’s plans, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Best, Adnan Mackovic – Head of Residential Life
Sports Update
Three of our students, Isaiah, Elijah and Rhea, proudly represented the school at the 17th Tanzania National Club Championship, held from 26 to 27 April 2025 in Dar es Salaam.
We congratulate them on their efforts there and their dedication to get to this level of competition. Well Done.
PYP News
The quarter is now well underway and our new students are settling in well (see the photo of the EC/P1 class above, enjoying a “Show and Tell” session).
MAP test results will be shared with P4 – 6 families by email on Monday morning. The blue line on the graph shows your child’s data and the yellow line shows the global average. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher. We will be happy to meet with you.
P4-6 will visit Arusha campus on Tuesday to see the P6 Exhibition. We will leave as close to 7:00am as possible. We hope to return by 2:00pm but will keep you informed as to our travel progress on the day.
The P4/5 class will go camping in Usa River on Wednesday. The P3 students will head to Simba Farm on Thursday for an overnight camp. Other classes have camps planned for later in the semester, including a day camp for our youngest children. With so many classes leaving campus in the next few weeks, please can everyone check that their contact information and all medical information on Life is up to date. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the OP department for all of the support they give us with the PYP camping trips.
On Friday, 16th May, we have an exciting Primary Gathering planned. The Sustainability Committee will tell us all about the new chickens on campus. Weather permitting, they will take us up to the chicken coops to see the birds. It is likely to be muddy so please remind your child to wear suitable footwear. Parents are very welcome to attend. The venue for the gathering has not been fixed yet. It might be in Karibu Hall or it might be in Mr. Will Taylor’s room, just around the corner from Ben Morley’s office. I will send more information when I have it.
Whilst we are thinking about sustainability, if you have a childminder or dada who supervises your child in the playground outside of school hours, please can you remind them that tissues, napkins, juice boxes and other contaminated items should not go in the paper or plastic bins? Please place theses items in the general waste bin as they cannot be recycled. Thank you for your help.
Deborah Mills – PYP Coordinator
EC/P1 Class
The children loved show-and-tell this week. Everyone brought something special to them, and they were all proud of sharing their information with the rest of the class. The highlight of each show and tell was when they could choose who would say the next question. They also learned how to ask essential questions. We will continue with show and tell next week, but we will make it more challenging this time. Please be on the lookout for the email about this challenge. All the photos taken during show and tell are in our shared album.
We have been learning about surveys and asking many people questions to gather information for our research. Next week, everyone will create their own questions and plan who they will talk to. Once they make their decisions, more information will be shared.
Mboka Mwasongwe
P2/3 Class
It was another great week in P2/3. We took time to reflect on our Jobs unit and tiptoed into our new unit on Tanzania. We will have the chance to learn a lot of geography during this unit so feel free to look at maps together at home. In support of our study of telling time, we had fun making clocks!
This will be a big week for P3 – we are going camping on Thursday! Please be sure to get permission slips and money in by Monday. On Tuesday, the whole class will go to the OP department for a demonstration about how to put up a tent. P3 students will also check out any equipment they need. P2 is naturally curious about their chance to go camping. We will certainly send more info close to time in early June. P2 will have class as usual at school under the supervision of Ms. Durriyah.
Kacey Buckley
P4/5 Class
This week the children have worked on opinion writing. They started the week writing about an animal which they considered to be the best pet and, on Friday, drafted a piece arguing for or against migration. They also learned about a historical migration from Ireland in the late 1840’s, caused by the great potato famine in Ireland. The effects of this migration are well documented so we were able to look at line graphs showing the declining population. The children then constructed their own line graphs. We spent some time varnishing clay pots and making different crafts. Next week we have a busy but fun week planned. On Monday the children will share their cultural presentations. On Tuesday we will visit Arusha campus – please note that we will be leaving as close to 7:00am as possible. On Wednesday we are going to Wild Tracks in USA River for an overnight camp. Friday will be a day of camp reflections and putting the finishing touches to our pen friend letters to a school in the UK.
Deborah Mills
P6 Class
Long live the King!
This week in P6, we continued our inquiry into systems of government, exploring how leadership and decision-making can either promote or limit equal opportunities. Each day, we experienced a different form of governance to help us understand the structures that shape society.
We began by looking at anarchy and what could possibly happen to a society with no rules or leaders. We allowed ten minutes of anarchy in the classroom (Anne and Raphael were covert disrupters)—an exercise that quickly highlighted the effects of a lack of order and authority. The following day, King Sasa and his son Jack took absolute control, modelling a monarchy with unchecked power. Later in the week, we shifted to a model inspired by Ancient Greece. Students formed the Boule (Council) to draft laws and then debated them in the Ekklesia (Assembly), using pebbles to cast their votes. We concluded the lesson with a trial in the Dikasteria (Court), where Niko (played by Milo) was accused of stealing water from a sacred spring. The prosecution team (Gabriella and Luana) and the defense team (Louise and Imanuel) presented strong and thoughtful cases. The Dikasteria voted on the outcome, reflecting the principles of Athenian democracy. These experiences brought abstract concepts to life in ways that were both fun and thought-provoking.
In Maths, we revisited coordinate planes and strengthened our understanding of the x and y axes. We then extended our learning to graphing in all four quadrants. The students embraced this new learning with energy and enthusiasm.
Wishing you a great weekend Natasha Berri
Service in Action
Our KCMC service has been making a huge difference in the lives of the cancer patients in Moshi. Students visit every week to give their time, entertaining and interacting with the patients through music, songs and dances. The smiles on the patients’ faces are incredibly heartwarming. This is a special reciprocating time for both KCMC and UWCEA students because many of these patients do not have regular support from families, so the students’ visit brings joy and a familiar face to many children facing a very challenging situation. One additional story is one of our students, who is a cancer survivor. His story brings hope and encouragement to the Moshi KCMC Cancer patients. Thank you to the UWCEA students for their commitment to this truly impactful interaction.
Baden Dowie- Community Engagement and Service lead
Outdoor Pursuits
It’s hard to believe we are already finalising the last few Outdoor Pursuits trips of the academic year. Next week, our final Plains trip will depart for Monduli, followed by Reefs and Peaks at the start of June.
By the end of the year, the OP team will have organised an incredible 37 trips—averaging nearly one trip every week! This is a remarkable achievement, especially given that Outdoor Pursuits at UWC East Africa is a collaborative programme spanning both campuses. Each trip is offered to students from both Moshi and Arusha campuses, requiring detailed planning around transport, food, tents, park fees, equipment, water, staffing—the list goes on. It’s a true embodiment of our ‘One School – Two Campuses’ philosophy and plays a vital role in building our shared community. Looking ahead, the OP calendar for next year has already been finalised. This week, the team has been updating the trip catalogues with the specific pre-requirements for each trip. The next step is updating the school website, which will be completed before the summer break. This will help both returning and new students plan which trips they’d like to take part in next year.
Last week the Peaks Discovery: KIlomeni, and Plains Adventure: Maromboi went really well. Please read the student reviews below:
Let me start off by saying that Kilomeni was more than just a hike, it was a journey filled with difficulties, beauty and unforgettable moments. Reaching the viewpoint near the top was a highlight, the view was breathtaking. Looking down from that height made us realize the amount of distance we covered was vast, giving us a deep sense of pride and accomplishment as it reminded us that every step we took was worth taking.
The climb was not an easy one, the steep tracks pushed us to our limits at times, but having the guide with us lightning the mood with his humour and encouragement, making the experience more fun even though our legs were in great anguish. We laughed, encouraged each other and took breaks when we needed them -all part of the journey.
The descent, while being easier, was by no means without its own challenges. With loose rocks, and steepening drops. As we continued the descent, we noticed crosses inscribed with Roman numerals that we used as stages along the route. Each one told us how far we’ve come and offered a feeling of advancement.
When we had finally reached the campsite, we were completely exhausted. We slept not too shortly after telling stories of our struggles, falls and laughter amongst each other in our tents as it united us. Ascending Kilemoni wasn’t about the mountain; it was about the experience we had as a group. I’d wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for something real, challenging, and worth it.
Prince (M3)
Maromboi OP trip is a combination of fascinating and varied nature, landscapes like you are watching a National Geographic documentary, and a wide variety of animals, especially birds. Our group was small, which made the 3-day hike very enjoyable, and everything on this trip was made to focus on nature and wildlife exploration.
On the first day, we had a wonderful walk till Lake Burunge, during which we found many elephant footsteps, zebras, and flamingos swimming in the lake. Even though the temperature during the day was not the best, not carrying our backpacks made it feel like a hiking safari. The evenings of the trip were a nice time spent in a small group, listening to stories about nature and not only about it, playing Werewolf and other games next to the bonfire.
The second day was filled with adventures, as we were learning how to count elephant’s height by the footprints and what the difference between leopard and hyena footprints is. The nature of savanna landscapes became even greater, with massive plains full of different animals.
I would like to admit that the last day was the best one. We were walking along Lake Manyara, watching awesome landscapes—I felt like I got into the picture from my geography book about savannas. We saw giraffes, gazelles, warthogs, and wildebeests in their natural habitats.
Overall, the Maromboi OP trip is the best choice if you want to observe wildlife, switch your mind from school duties, just have nice walks, explore and admire the beautiful views of peaceful nature, and spend time with nice people! Highly recommend this trip!
Aleksandrs D1
Sustainability Committee
Big news: more chickens are on the way! Thanks to the incredible support from the kitchen team, this week we’ve had a consistent supply of biomatter to feed our chickens—without spending a single cent! This has taken a lot of coordination and feedback, and we are truly grateful for everyone’s effort. If things stay on track, we’ll be welcoming 20 more laying hens and officially starting egg collection next week! We are looking forward to collaborating more with the kitchen to sustain this.
Special thanks to all the volunteers who have been helping with chicken care. We deeply appreciate you. We hope more people will step up and join us. Helping out even once makes a big difference!
We also have recycling & waste sorting updates!
Thank you very much to everyone who is using the recycling bins correctly!
A quick reminder from M1–M3 Environmental Service: tissues, napkins, juice boxes and other contaminated items should not go in the paper or plastic bins. Please place them in the general waste bin. If we mix them, we will not be able to recycle them. So please be conscious of waste sorting.
We also have new paper and plastic recycling stations that have been set up by the lower DP dorms—check them out!
Please avoid putting light plastics or contaminated waste in the bins. Let’s keep our recycling clean and effective. So far, paper bins have been quite clean, thank you and well done!
