This week almost all of our clubs, activities, sports and service kicked off. Around campus the afternoons were a little more full. Thank you to those that have helped out in these events to provide such a wide array of activities outside of the classroom. You will see that the student government is also getting their events going and the first cultural night is Sunday the 7th. Also on the 7th we have the Uja picnic on the green, please see the Residential section for more information.
Please note in your calendar that this Friday September 5th has been declared a National Holiday so we will not have classes that day.
We will have more events in September including the 24-Hr Run, UWC Day, a blood drive and the next market so keep an eye on the school calendar.
Bob Cofer – Head of Campus
Upcoming Events
24-Hr Run
The 24-Hour Run is back on September 12-13, 2025
Time is flying!
In just a couple of weeks, the track will light up with laughter and the unbeatable buzz of our community running day and night. This year we’re going bigger with more fun, more memories and the same great cause that changes lives.
How to get involved:
Gather your crew of friends, family, roommates, anyone up for the challenge.
Sign up your running team here: 24-Hour Run Sign-Up and let’s start the FUNdraising.
Follow @24hrun_uwcea on Instagram for updates, stories, and inspiration.
“Every lap you run helps someone take their first step into a brighter future.”
Not running?Help during the event!Add your namehere or drop by the Advancement Office to request to join behind-the-scenes teams (At this point, we are only recruiting NEW D1s to the planning team, THANK YOU).
Request for support:
Water blasters and sprayers: We’re collecting as many as possible for our Water Gun Lap. If you have any device that sprays water, please lend it for the time of the event.
Parents support: We’d love for parents to help with food donations for the event. Please connect with the PTA if you would like to contribute a dish.
Diploma News
This week the D2 students have been hard at work practicing their Individual Orals for English A. They are required to explore how a global issue is reflected in the works they have studied. Some of the authors include Ray Bradbury, Koleka Putuma and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie which have been paired with photographs, Black Mirror TV series, advertisements and even comics. This is a powerful task where we reflect on the lessons we learn from literature and what it means to be part of a global community.
Some of the D2 students rushed to meet the Extended Essay draft deadline, while others approached it more smoothly, having completed most of their essay over the break. Some students attended an “EE lockdown” in Rafiki on Saturday to finish up before submitting for feedback.
The D1 students submitted their proposals for Project week. There was an impressive array of projects; well done to those involved! These have now been reviewed and students have been asked clarifying questions. The information will be shared with students on Monday and they will have a chance to pick which project they want to participate in. More details will be shared with parents soon.
In Global Politics, D1s wrapped up their debate on the relative effectiveness of soft vs. hard power, while D2 students argued what was the more difficult type of right to implement universally – positive or negative. The D2s are also diving headfirst into a case study of human rights in Ukraine, putting them in the heart of one of the most fluid political situations in the world. Their insight, maturity and empathy give us daily reminders of the promising future that lies beyond the present global challenges. Thanks to Mr Joey.
Catherine Dowie – Head of Diploma
Residential Life
Dear UWCEA Community,
We’re somehow already heading into Week 4 of school. How did that happen so quickly?
Our new students are gradually finding their rhythm here, while our returning students are already shaking their heads at how fast the deadlines and summatives have crept up. Life in Moshi is slowly taking shape for everyone, in that busy but familiar way.
The weeks ahead promise plenty of excitement. Next weekend, our MUN team heads out, and right on its heels comes one of our biggest community traditions: the 24-Hour Run. This annual event brings us together for a cause close to our hearts, our scholarship fund. On September 12th and 13th, the Moshi campus will be alive with energy, creativity, and endurance: laps around the track, food stalls, music, painting, and even a few brave heads getting shaved. Whether you’re here in Moshi or cheering us on from afar, we’d love your support: come run, eat, laugh, donate, and help us make a difference.
But before we dive into all of that, we’d love to see our Uja Families at the opening picnic on the Green this Sunday, September 7th, from 16:00 to 18:00. It’s a chance to meet, connect, and kick off the program in the best way possible, by sharing food, laughter, and community.
Bring your good vibes, and we’ll bring the picnic blankets.
Best,
Adnan Mackovic – Head of Student Life
MYP News
With another week wrapped up, it’s safe to say the MYP is in full swing! Our M1 students have their feet firmly planted in the programme, navigating new routines, concepts, and expectations like pros. It’s been especially wonderful to see our newcomers finding their rhythm, asking thoughtful questions, and jumping into activities with curiosity and courage.
Across all year levels, classrooms are filled with discussion, collaboration, and inquiry, whether it’s unpacking a character’s journey, exploring scientific models, or working on a first visual draft. Teachers and students are fully engaged in the kind of learning that makes you pause, wonder, and think twice.
And now… after just two full weeks, it’s time for students to enjoy their first well-earned three-day weekend (we know, it’s a tough life!). We hope it brings some rest, snacks, and maybe a little less screen time.
Stay tuned for more classroom stories and highlights next week!
M1- The Creative Process In their Creative Process class, M1 students are diving into color theory and learning how different color schemes can evoke specific emotions. By analyzing a range of album covers, students are developing their visual literacy and reflecting on the connection between design choices and mood. Using a guided worksheet, they’re looking closely at what they see and what they feel, a key part of developing as thoughtful artists and communicators. We can’t wait to see the original album cover designs they’ll create by the end of this unit!
M4 Language and Literature English In Language and Literature, M4 students are exploring Lucky Broken Girl through a lens of context, identity, and reader response. They’re developing their Reader’s Journals using literary signposts, clues in the text that help deepen analysis and spark personal connections. This week, students examined the I Am An Immigrant campaign, as non-literary text, and worked in groups to design advertisements that reflect the experiences of characters in the novel so far. This hands-on activity encouraged them to think about representation, voice, and belonging, while connecting real-world issues to literature. Literary and non-literary inquiry is alive and well in M4!
“As for the M4 English class, we are currently reading Lucky Broken Girl. We are focusing on the various signposts in the book. As a class, we read chapters together, and it is up to us to identify specific signposts. We have recently talked about identity and labels. We learned that assumptions about someone can lead to labels, whether positive or negative, being placed on that person. We also had a lesson where we explored context and what it means. We now understand that one needs context in order to come to the right conclusion. While discussing context, we learned about the different types of context and why it matters in literary work. We find this unit really exciting because we get to read a novel that blends real-life struggles: immigration, injury, growing up with a story of courage, imagination, and healing.” Natasha -M4
MYP Dates to Remember
September 5th – Holiday (Prophet’s Birthday)
September 12th & 13th – 24 Hr Run on Moshi Campus
September 15th to 19th – MYP MAP Testing (M1, M2, M3)
September 29th to October 3rd – Week Without Walls
October 10th – Classes End Q1
October 11th to October 19th – October Break (Inclusive)
October 20th – Q2 Begins
Have a great week ahead, Farah Fawaz – Head of MYP
Outdoor Pursuits
Last weekend, our new MYP students in M1–M3 set off on an exciting trip to the Arusha campus where they had the chance to dive into all things OP! The focus of the weekend was campcraft, giving students a first taste of our Peaks, Plains, Reefs, and Rides programs.
Over the course of the trip, students hiked, snorkelled in the school pool (no sharks spotted, thankfully!), and tackled a mountain bike ride. This introductory camp is designed to familiarise students with the skills and routines they’ll need throughout OP – from carrying and managing their own kit to camping overnight. They also picked up practical skills such as pitching a tent, packing a bag properly, and – perhaps the trickiest of all – working together outside the classroom.
It was a busy and active weekend, but students came back tired, smiling, and with a much clearer idea of which OP adventures they’d like to pursue this year.
A huge thank you to Mr. Bryan and the Arusha OP team for hosting such a fantastic weekend!
This weekend we have 50 students heading out on the Peaks Discovery to North Pare and the Plains Discovery to Makuyuni. For many, these will be their very first OP trips as they begin what promises to be a memorable (and occasionally muddy) journey in Outdoor Pursuits.
PYP News
It was lovely to see so many parents at the Primary Gathering on Friday. P6 performed skits to illustrate the different learner profile attributes and the children enjoyed guessing which profile was being portrayed. The next primary gathering will be led by Ms. Kacey and the Student Voice (our PYP student government – see photo) on September 12th. They will be leading us in a 24 minute run to raise awareness of the UWCEA 24 hour run (the school’s big fundraiser to raise money for scholarships at UWCA).
Clubs
Clubs started this week. Thank you to parents (Munira, Katie and Daniella) and also to our Diploma students (there are too many to name individually) who are running clubs and providing the primary children with so much enjoyment.
Swimming
Swimming classes will start next week for P2 – P6. The EC/P1 class will start swimming in October after the break. Please send your child with their kit on the swimming day. If the children are in school they are expected to swim as it is part of our curriculum. If, for an exceptional reason, you do not wish your child to swim, please send them with a note.
House captains and vice captains
The elections for primary house captains and vice captains took place last week (see photo). Well done to all of our candidates for being such risk takers. The results are as follows:
Kibo: Captains Mackenzie and Parth
Vice Captains Gianna and Benny
Mawenzi: Captains Eric and Alyssa
Vice Captain: Rosalyn
Meru: Captains Luna and Jeremy
Baby group – looking for donations
Mama Rowan (Sarah) is in the very early stages of planning a baby group that will hopefully take place one morning a week on campus (details still to be confirmed). If you have any board books or plastic/wooden toys (no small pieces please) that your own children have outgrown and that can be easily wiped down to keep clean, please leave them on the table in the primary office or bring them to room 16. All donations will be gratefully received.
Primary Involvement in the 24 hour run
An email was sent out through Life on Thursday, giving suggestions as to how the primary children can get involved in the 24 hour run event. A flyer and different sign up sheets have also been shared. We would love to see primary children participating in the event but please accompany your child so that someone is supervising them and keeping them safe. The 24 hour run committee has planned activities for the first 3 hours of the event with the primary children in mind. From 3-4pm there will be a scavenger hunt; parents can join in to help younger children with this. 4 -5pm the primary children are invited to dress up for a costume round with a movie character theme and there will also be Bingo happening at this time. There will be a colouring station, with a small charge, to keep children occupied if necessary whilst their adults complete their laps. Sandwiches, quesadillas, desserts and other food items will be on sale. There will be face painting and henna painting for 5000 Tsh with the money raised going to the scholarship fund.
New Educational Assistant in EC/P1
Ms. Dorcas will be joining the PYP team later next week to support our growing EC/P1 class. Karibu, Dorcas!
This week, we discussed the school community. The children named all the people from the leadership to the gardeners and cooks who form part of our community. They decided to show their appreciation for what they do by creating messages for them. This project began this week and is scheduled to conclude in the coming week. We will share the final product with you once it is complete.
This Thursday’s primary gathering saw three children receive leaves for being principled and balanced. Well done, Malachi, Tilly and Leah. The children are building on their knowledge of learner profiles well, and we thank P6 for sharing more about them in their gathering.
This coming week, we will be welcoming Dorcas, our new Education Assistant, to our class. She will join us on Wednesday. Please help us make her feel welcome as she takes time to get to know all of us and be part of our community.
Mboka Mwasongwe
P2/3 Class
I hope that everyone enjoyed their restful Friday! It was nice for teachers to have the time with our Arusha counterparts at our Inset day. I swapped ideas with the teacher who is doing the Heroes Unit there and we both agreed that it is such a fun, impactful unit for starting the year. Our class enjoyed creating new Superheroes last week and coming up with creative powers and imaginative storylines. We will begin thinking about real-life heroes in the weeks to come though we will continue to write and read about superheroes a bit longer as the interest remains so high. Home Learning will involve parents talking to students about people who have done brave things.
The week ahead will be busy. We will have Library on Monday because of missing it on Friday. Also, on Tuesday, we will begin our PE Swim! Children should bring an extra bag with their swimsuit and towel. Goggles are optional. Students who need to use floaties may bring those along as well. Thank you for your support with our Swim program.
Kacey Buckley
P4/5 Class
This week the children reflected on what sort of learner they are. Do they give up in the face of discouraging comments from others or do they show resilience and keep going? We have discussed that each of us has an inner critic (a negative voice that tells us we cannot succeed) and an inner coach (a positive voice that encourages us and reminds us to keep going). We will explore this idea further next week. The children are working on their mental addition skills and are trying to improve their dexterity with numbers. Next week we will look at rounding numbers. Our self portraits are coming along very nicely – many are finished and will be displayed on the breezeway shortly. I am still looking for volunteers to help with cooking groups. Please let me know if you are able to help.
Deborah Mills
P6 Class
We’ve been so busy this week! We met Archimedes! He attempted to teach us about buoyancy, but we remain rather confused by it, so some experiments are in order. We’ve finally created our Central Idea for this unit – “Ancient Civilizations have Impacted the World Through Time” – while traveling through Mesopotamia, a series of African Empires, and the Maya civilization. We’ve explored fractions, identifying, shading and beginning to simplify them; and have even started using division to help us divide sets of fractions. All this while preparing for our P6 PYP Gathering that we scaled up from practicing on our classroom mat, to the Rafiki Hall Stage.
Oh a reminder to parents – we start swimming next week on Wednesday and finally, a happy belated birthday to Luna and a happy early birthday to Eric!
