As we move into the second half of the year some things change and some stay the same. For students in more transitional years like P6, M5 and D2 this semester can be more about change. As you can see below the D2 have their Mock exams in a few weeks and will soon start uploading their internal assessment work to the IB. The Mock exams are really the ultimate in formative assessment. They are an assessment with the sole function of establishing where you are in preparation for the exams. The feedback (not results) is there for teachers and students to assess how to focus for May.
For M5, they are going to be finishing their personal project soon, having their own mocks in March and start looking at choices for next year. At P6 they are starting the PYP Exhibition (PYPX), a fantastic opportunity for students to use what they know to learn more about something that interests them while getting involved.
In addition to all of this we start activities for both primary and secondary next week. The OP trips also start next Friday, GISS is in Arusha on Thursday and Week Without Walls and Project Week are in less than a month. Please remember to keep on top of everything by following the school calendar at www.uwcea.org/calendar/
Parents, I would also ask you to plan ahead and be aware of both the long weekend (February 24-27) and the April Holiday (April 1-16).
Lastly, a special thank you to Volker and his crew for their hard work on the lower pitch to improve the volleyball courts and to Rocktronic for their kind loan of the backhoe to get it done.
Bob Cofer – Head of Campus
Upcoming
Ben’s Corner
Staging a whole school production is a mammoth undertaking. There are so, so many moving parts that must come together to make it a success. There are the obvious roles, the more ‘front of house’ positions, not least the actors, but there are so many other people who must come together in the creation of such a spectacle. There is the lighting, the sound, the choreography, the different scenery, the countless props, the numerous costumes and accessories, the make up, the stage itself, the posters and advertising, the tickets, the programmes and so on to fade.
The whole production team has been working incredibly hard for many weeks, giving up time in the evenings, at weekends and during the holidays. Everyone involved is determined to make the performances the best that they can possibly be and a true reflection of this collective effort and commitment.
At the same time, it is important to make sure it remains as enjoyable and positive a learning experience as possible for all involved, after all, this is the most important aspect of the experience. The learning. Yes, we will all remember the performances (hopefully, favourably) but, for everyone involved, it will be everything that has happened over the preceding months that will become positive memories that will last a lifetime.
We will be staging two performances in K-Hall:
Thursday 2nd February 6:45pm Friday 3rd February 6:45pm
Please make a note of the dates and come along and support what is truly a community endeavour. Tickets will be available from Thursday 19th January in the Front Office.
Remember, “beauty is found within.”
Ben Morley – Deputy Head of Campus
Residential Life
Karibu Sana all,
What a pleasure to welcome back old and new faces into the new year of 2023. I am pleased to announce that almost all of our 200+ residential students have now returned, from PYP through to DP, with only a handful still to arrive. There is always a transition period coming back from holiday and leaving loved ones behind, however, the energy our students have brought back with them has invigorated the staff and residential parents and the campus is filled with laughter and business, as normal, again!
I’d like to take a moment to thank all of our residential parents for opening at all hours of the evenings and mornings throughout the course of this week and our mentors, for helping settle our students into routine, in the evening.
Quarter three is, as stated previously, is filled with activities and I was excited to be able to announce, on Monday, our new Student Government for 2023. I know they will continue the legacy of their previous cohorts and they plan to continue with more engagement between our younger students in PYP and MYP with their older ‘de-facto’ brothers and sisters in DP. I am also excited about their ideas to be more inclusive with the many day students we have at our campus. A special congratulations must be made to Deogracious and Amalia for being nominated Co-Presidents for 2023. I know they will do a brilliant job in guiding their peers and leading the planned initiatives.
It fills me with excitement writing this newsletter knowing that the year ahead will bring so many positive changes in all year levels.
Simon Johnston – Head of Residential Life
Diploma News
The second semester has started well. The vast majority of students are back on campus, and it is good to see that many have come back relaxed. Thanks to the Uja families who had students to stay with them.
In mentor time on Monday students got a chance to talk with their mentor about their report. Hopefully all students are aware of what they need to work on and will meet with teachers to discuss ways to improve.
The mock examination timetable will be shared with D2 students on Monday. The mock exams are a chance for students to check what they know and understand but also to get used to the formality of the system. In the meantime they are working on IAs, EEs and the TOK essay. It is a busy semester. On Thursday we will start making plans for graduation.
The D1 students are back to work and it doesn’t feel like there has been a break. On Wednesday we will introduce them to the Extended Essay which is part of the core of the diploma.
Margaret Brunt – Diploma Coordinator
South Africa Math Olympiads
Registration for South Africa Math Olympiads (SAMO) is open since this week. If you like a little challenge and want a change from the usual worksheets, this is for you! As Tanzania is a SADC country, the fee is only 80 rands, which is less than TZS12,000 or $5.
The first round is online, happening on the 9th of March. If you get 50% answers correct, you qualify for round 2. All in all, there are 3 rounds.
Registration will be through the school. Have a chat with your math teacher and check your email not to miss it.
Julien Munier
MYP News
We have been back for one week, and it is really refreshing to see all our MYP learners “making their usual noise”! After all, they are the heart of this porgramme, and the best evidence of learning in MYP is “noise”! The commotion of learning experiences fell right back into place this week, and our students are “back in the game” stronger than ever, charged with inquiry and moving forward.
Starting a new unit in the MYP is always interesting because the provocation activities give the student agency to explore and express what they already know about a certain idea or concept. The provocations allow and encourage students to experience the world for themselves using open-ended activities or questions without being guided by the teachers. This allows independent thinking and reflection on their interests and the exploration of those interests.
Here’s how some of our units started:
M1: What makes a civilization? Students had to come up with a creative way to present the main characteristics of a civilization.
M5: The Perfect Highschool In pairs, students envisioned their “perfect” high school while exploring:
What it looks like
Where its location is
What it feels like
The rules
The values and mission
The subjects taught
Etc…
I must say, some of the ideas presented were “out of this world”!
More to come and definitely more to share!
Farah Fawaz – MYP Coordinator
Sports Update
Dear Friends,
We’d like to welcome everyone in the UWCEA community back to school. First and foremost, we would like to thank all of the teachers, parents, and members of the community who contributed to the success of last semester’s after-school programs.
We are very eager to begin the primary and secondary clubs on Monday. PYP students have been sent home with a paper slip including their club option. Primary Saturday Football will resume on Saturday, January 20th. Students in secondary school will receive their club selection electronically soon. We are delighted to have a fantastic student-led club program that will foster strong leadership and a sense of community among students.
We are looking forward to another successful after-school program!
Mostafa Rihan – Sports & Activities Coordinator
Outdoor Pursuits
A warm welcome back to all our Moshi Students. All of us at the Outdoor Pursuits departments hope you had restful and enjoyable December break.
Here are the current OP trips heading out in the next few weeks.
20st Jan Plain Level 3 is going to Mkuru
27th Jan Rides Level 2 going to West Kili
27th Jan Peaks Level 3 is going to Usambara
Please have a look at the OP trips calendar to see what we have planned this Semester
Baden Dowie
From the Counselors
University
I am so proud of our students as we all worked very hard over the December break to get college applications and financial aid paperwork submitted on time. There are a few students still applying as a few admission deadlines were on January 15th and a few more in February but things have slowed down considerably.
This quarter in Life Skills courses M4-D1, we will be focused on career and college exploration. This week was Alumni Week, where D1 students had a chance to hear from past students (21′ and 22′ alumni) about their transition to college. D2 students will start a series on Preparing to Transition to College for this semester.
Don’t forget we are also preparing to ask for volunteers for the upcoming Career and Skills Symposium. We will have in-person and virtual sessions as well as day and night sessions for parents, friends of UWC, and alumni to share your insights on how to prepare students in your career field or the skills employers are looking for. Please consider this great opportunity to educate and inform M5-D2 students on March 29th and March 30th of this year. Sign-up link coming soon!
Andrea Kitomary – University Counselor
Socio-Emotional
I trust that everyone had a lovely break filled with joy, delicious and nourishing food, as well as restorative rest and relaxation. I have been back on campus a couple of times over the break, and it certainly is not the same place without students and staff around – so I am happy to see things back in order with a new school term started. Not only have we come back to a new school term, it is also a new year. Have you ever set a new year’s resolution that you actually kept until the end of the year? If the answer is no, you’re not alone. At all.
In fact, research shows that only 10% of people successfully stick to their new year’s resolutions. And multiple psychological studies suggest that new year’s resolutions don’t really work.
This year let’s try something else. The key word is INTENTION…But what is the difference?
A resolution is, more or less, a statement to change something you want to fix about yourself or your lifestyle. As a result, resolutions tend to inspire negative thoughts about your current situation.
An intention is more focused on creating abundance in your life. An intention does not imply something is wrong with the way you currently live, but instead, it motivates you to live even better. While making a resolution can be a powerful tool to meet your New Year goals, it can start to feel like an impossible burden. Resolutions offer little flexibility, which can often set you up for failure and that can have a direct impact on your mental health and wellbeing.
When you set an intention, you approach your goals with more compassion for yourself. As a result, you feel less pressured to create change and more inspired to take action.
Resolutions focus on the negative while intentions focus on the positive
Resolutions spotlight what you lack, intentions highlight what you have
Resolutions are strict, intentions are adaptable
Resolutions don’t work, intentions do work (research suggests)
Some tips on getting started;
Be specific about what you want to manifest. For the starting point, you want to be specific.
Keep it positive.
Write in the present tense.
Keep it short and sweet.
Make it realistic.
Give it a try and remember to be kind with yourself along the way. Happy Intention Setting!
Frida Marealle – Socio-Emotional Counselor
Production T-shirts
The school production of Beauty and the Beast is just around the corner – we have 3 weeks to go! The performances will be on Thursday, 2nd February and Friday, 3rd February at 6.45pm.
All UWCEA community members are welcome to purchase a Production T-shirt which is available in black and grey. The cost of the T-shirt is 12000 Tshillings. Ms. Agnes will collect orders and money for community members in the front office from Monday. Samples of the T-shirts are available in Mr. Morley’s office so that you can choose the size your prefer.
PYP children should fill in the order form that was sent home on Friday and return the form and money to their class teacher. Your child will be measured in class and given the correct size but if you wish to select the size yourself please see the samples in Mr. Morley’s office.
PYP News
The quarter has got off to a happy and productive start. Afternoon clubs start on Monday. The children were given their slips on Friday – please check your child’s schoolbag. Many thanks to all parents, teachers, EAs and students who facilitate this program.
On Friday, the PYP children brought home a letter and order form regarding purchasing a T-shirt for the “Beauty and the Beast” production. The relevant information is also in the article above. We hope that many of the children will purchase these beautiful T-shirts featuring artwork by UWCEA students.
On Monday and Tuesday of the coming week the P6 children will participate in an overnight retreat to start the PYP Exhibition process. This is a milestone in the PYP journey, and we wish the P6s the very best of luck. Mr. Hywel is finalizing the details of a Parent Information Session for the week beginning 23rd January and will share those with you shortly.
On Friday the P4/5 class will be presenting the first Primary Gathering of 2023. Please come along to Rafiki Hall (7:40am start) to watch their performance.
Thursday 2nd – Friday 3rd February – Beauty and the Beast production
Friday, 24th- Monday, 27th February – Long Weekend Holiday
Tuesday, 28th February – Book Week (details to follow – the costume day will most likely be on the Friday)
Saturday, 4th March International Festival (tentative)
Tuesday, 7th March – PYP Swim Gala
Thursday, 16th March – P6 Exhibition
Thursday, 23rd March – Student Led Conferences
1 -16 April – April Holiday
Deborah Mills – PYP Coordinator
EC/P1 Class
We have had a lovely week of settling back into our class and school routines. Thank you to all who sent in photos or items to share from the holidays.
The whole class would love to say thank you to Blair’s grandmother for coming in to read to them in the mornings. They loved the books she read and will not quickly forget the Kiwi bird.
This coming week, we will be beginning our unit of the quarter.
Transdisciplinary Theme: Sharing the Planet
Central Idea: The world is full of living things
Lines of Inquiry:
Defining living vs non-living things
What living things need to survive
How changes affect living things
Ways in which people interact with other living things
We are going to begin Show and Tell this coming Friday. Please check Toddle announcements to find out who’s turn it will be as it will be done in groups. The ones presenting will receive a note in the homework folder on Monday.
Mboka Mwasongwe
P2/3 Class
Ahoy, mateys! You may have heard that we devoted some imagination time this week to the theme of Pirates! I intended for it to be 1 lesson that involved a storybook and some creative writing but the students were so excited that it ended with drawn treasure maps, more creative writing and some lively role play. We’ll move on from the focus but we will make more time for imaginative play in the week ahead.
Our P3 students are kicking off with multiplication while P2 will continue on with fact fluency in addition and subtraction. The whole class has begun a study of shapes and their properties. Our phonics groups will start up again so you will see spelling in with the rest of the home learning. Students are looking forward to clubs beginning on Monday. A slip was sent home on Friday along with the sign-up for Beauty and the Beast t-shirts.
It was a wonderful first week of Q3!
Kacey Buckley
P4/5 Class
The children had lots of news to share when they returned to class last Monday. The break saw the arrival of new siblings, family members visiting, trips to the beach, safaris – it sounds as if an enjoyable time was had by all. Our current Unit of Inquiry concerns how we use our voice and this week we started performing some Readers’ Theatre. In Readers’ Theatre the children “perform” by reading scripts, usually without the use of costumes or props. It gives the children a real reason to read aloud. We have been “performing” some African myths and hope to share some of these with you during our Primary Gathering on Friday, 20th January. This past week, the children used their voices to inform their audience when they shared their Google Slides presentations about natural disasters. Parents will see these presentations during the Student Led Conferences later in the quarter. Next week, we will focus on developing our public speaking skills and, in maths, we will continue with work on division.
Deborah Mills
P6 Class
Happy New Year (that’s the last time I’ll say it!) This Semester promises to be a healthily busy one including our PYP Exhibition, known as the PYPX. On Monday and Tuesday, we will be on our retreat at school and at Kishari House – a school dormitory near campus. The children will start learning about how the Exhibition process works and start developing their ideas too. I know they already have from their home learning.
A big feature of the Exhibition is the independence given to the children to plan and execute their own learning while drawing on the wider learning community around them. We appreciate the part you can play. I will be looking to arrange a parent information session, probably in the week beginning 23rd January. A timeline for the process will be presented and a slideshow for those who can’t attend in person. Everyone will be given an opportunity to ask any questions you may have. It’s been a good first week back with the class and, as assurance that basic skills and content will continue to be covered throughout the PYPX, please see the photo below of a happy group of mathematicians completing a fractions challenge.
