Sorry the newsletter is a bit late this week. Many of those that contribute were part of the group that travelled to Arusha for the 24-Hour Run. The Moshi campus sent 175 students, staff and community members to participate in this fundraising effort. This is part of the school’s efforts to raise funding for additional scholarships as part of the Dare 2 Dream program. As this is a matched program, money we raise has twice the impact. If you are interested in still donating, please contact me and I will help you with the process.
The event was a huge success as you can see from some of the pictures below. Many students and staff worked hard on the event and the track was used all 24 hours. Thank you to everyone from both campuses that made this event possible.
There were many dedicated people that ran/walked over 60 Km during the time and four that managed to cover over 80 Km. Congratulations to Pearl, Jonatan, Elias and Damien. To put that in perspective, think two marathons. To keep everyone motivated and awake there was music, games and fun activities mixed throughout the time.
As you can see below, we have many events other than this that have happened recently and more to cover over the following weeks. Please feel free at any point to contact any of us with questions. One important note is that due to the UWC Day, the schedule on Wednesday is slightly different please note the details in the article following.
Bob Cofer – Head of Campus
The Final Lap
Those remaining show off their endurance
A very social atmosphere throughout the day
The view from the partially used sleeping area
A race between 2 of the 80 Km students (all 4 shown)
Upcoming Events
Please remember that this Wednesday September 21st is UWC Day which is always the same day as the UN’s International Day of Peace. This year we will be celebrating with a gathering planned to start at 1:30pm followed by activities to 4pm.
PYP children are invited to stay for the afternoon. If you plan for your child to attend please make sure that you collect them from the classroom promptly at 4pm.
Students, parents, staff and community members are invited to attend school (or the afternoon) dressed in national attire / Blue and White
Who to Contact
Please note that with school fees the best email to use is the feesadmin@uwcea.org. If within 2 working days you do not get a response please contact finance@uwcea.org. For non-fee related student finance questions, please contact accounts_moshi@uwcea.org. Similarly, if within 2 working days you do not get a response please contact finance@uwcea.org.
Ben’s Corner
Next week, the P4-P6 students will complete MAP assessments in Reading, Language and Mathematics and, the following week, our M1-3 students will do the same. MAP assessments are computer adaptive achievement tests. This means the system adjusts the difficulty of the questions in response to a student’s responses so that everyone takes a unique test. The difficulty of each subsequent question is based on how well the student has answered previous questions.
“Test” is such a loaded and, often, divisive word, particularly in schools. At UWCEA, the aim of testing students in this way is to make learning visible. The intention is to measure where students currently are in their knowledge, skills and/or understanding in particular areas and use this data to inform where to take them next in their learning. One of the added benefits of the MAP tests is that they allow teachers to track and consider growth over time and, ultimately, over multiple years. In this way, MAP is a norm-referenced measure of student growth over time.
As educators, by unpacking and understanding evidence of learning across our school, we are able to respond and adapt our practice to improve learning. However, it is important to note that data has no use or meaning beyond that which we accord it. After the students have completed MAP, teachers collaboratively explore, analyse and interpret the data and, hopefully, turn it into actionable insights. In this way, we use the data to help confirm and identify strengths and areas of development for the students.
At the same time, we are mindful that these tests are just one way of ascertaining an idea of a student’s current understanding. Any data collected is triangulated and considered alongside other data, teacher observations, anecdotal records and so forth. It is important to bear in mind that these tests only provide a snapshot of how a child has performed at a particular time on a given day, a useful snapshot certainly, but something that needs to be looked at alongside other data sources and not in isolation.
Ben Morley – Deputy Head of Campus
Diploma News
On Monday in mentor time, we had a session on Tanzanian Culture. The Tanzanian students supported by Mr Anord and Mr Geoffry taught the other students some basic Swahili, about the money, local food and the region. After the presentation and a kahoot they played some traditional games.
On Wednesday we continued with service. This is something all DP students are involved in. Three groups went off campus into Moshi this week to visit local schools or NGOs we work with. Another group went out to plan how they can support clean-up efforts in the local community. Others stayed on campus and planned a blood drive and a session for mentor time. Additionally, we have groups looking at supporting the bee population on campus; expanding the coral reef project; and working with an NGO to provide a big brother, big sister programme. Each group has a teacher who supports them, but the process is student led. They have come up with objectives and organised the structure of the group.
Margaret Brunt – DP Coordinator
MYP News
Visual Arts in the MYP is a practical subject that works towards developing the learners’ creative and artistic skills. The learning journey enables them to create and present their work. They are given the “opportunity to function as artists themselves”. It develops students’ ability to reflect on, evaluate and critique their own work and their development as young artists.
How might students create in visual arts?
apply specific skills to the creation of artwork(s)
use a variety of methods, techniques and practices to create art.
Enjoy the snippets of how wonderfully creative our learners are in our MYP Visual Arts class.
Farah Fawaz – MYP Coordinator
Work and the models
Outdoor Pursuits
In the last few weeks there have been a few trips including UWCEA Middle Years students from Moshi and Arusha headed for their first Camp Craft weekend in Meru forest. For students new to UWCEA this was their first camping experience ever. They learnt how to set up camp, basic camp first aid, knot tying, camp cooking, cleaning and camp safety.
Here’s is a report back from one our M1 students:
“During campcraft, we were on the way to the campsite for the first time. The final road was so bad that we had to change buses. We climbed out of the big yellow lorry and into Arusha’s Landcruiser for safer travel up the hill. The lorry had our camping bags and we were squished in the Arusha’s Landcruiser for the final stretch of the journey. After a few minutes we reached camp and we had to unpack our things and set up our tents. Then we got to know the Arusha campus students and we made new friends.We ate lunch and then we went for a hike to the waterfall. After playing in the water we came back to camp. That evening we ate dinner and played games, we ended the evening with a campfire and then we went to sleep in our tents.
The next day we ate breakfast, packed our bags, took down our tents and went for another hike. The hike was so tiring but so good. Many people said they would not sign up hiking again, but many people said they would.”
Irene
On the same weekend another group of students were hiking just around the hillside. Here is D1 students report back on their Meru Mountain hiking experience.
“From the 3-6th of October a small group of us went climbing Mount Meru, the second highest peak of Tanzania, and all of us summited successfully.
On the first day early in the morning, we drove to Arusha National Park, where we joined the Arusha students and staff. Later that afternoon we hiked for approximately six hours until our first accommodation. The next day the group had to hike another four hours until the second base camp, where we took a short afternoon hike to Little Meru to get used to the altitude. After only a couple of hours of rest, still in the evening we started our way up to the peak of Meru. It was one of my most challenging hiking experiences ever, both in a physical and mental way.
Our group started climbing around midnight: the temperature was extremely cold, with a strong wind that made it challenging to climb on the slippery and steep parts, and we only saw the light of the stars and the moon. The altitude sickness affected us all; some of us had headaches, and some of us simply felt feverish and sick, but we all kept going. Around 6:15am we finally reached the peak, the 4 566 meters above sea level. In the warm light of sunrise, we had an amazing view to Mount Kilimanjaro, hopefully, the next destination for most of us in the group. The following two days we made our way down slowly, even taking some extra hours to see the waterfalls, buffalos and giraffes of Arusha National Park.
The trip was a truly amazing and challenging experience, that I think made us all realize how much are we capable of, and how much beauty in nature are we surrounded with. It made me realize how grateful am I to have the opportunity to be part of these experiences.
I would also like to thank the staff, our amazing teachers, guides, coordinators, porters and rangers who supported us in this, in every minute of the trip. “
– Rebeka
Another trip was the Level 1 Plains trip. This is from one new student:
“On September 10th, a large group of students from both campuses set off on Plains Level 1 trip to Monduli Jui. As soon as we exited the bus, we were coated by the chilly breeze at an elevation of ~1900 meters! We hiked through the landscape for 1:30 hours and had lunch. Carrying on, we kept walking through not-so-plain terrain where there were some ups and downs. Once we arrived at camp, we felt very relieved. We got into groups of 3 – 4 to set up our tents and, once that was complete, we admired the views from the campsite. Absolutely lovely!
After that, we were placed into 4 groups: Preparing dinner, Cleaning up after dinner, Preparing breakfast and Cleaning up after breakfast. For dinner, we made rice, mashed potatoes, vegetable curry, cabbage and grilled goat meat provided by the locals. After the amazing dinner, we sat next to the campfire and made smores and grilled marshmallows. By 9:30pm, everyone was asleep in the tents.
In the morning, we woke up to an excellent sunrise over the mountains, coated by clouds. We made breakfast, packed our tents and headed home. The return walk, which took 3 hours, was packed with beautiful views. This image of the sunrise is going to make everyone who did not go regret their decision.”
Mark (M5)
The last trip to mention was the Level 1B Peaks trip that was for mostly D1 students. This is what two students said about the trip:
“The Peaks level 1B trip to the north pare mountains took place last weekend and many of us decided to throw ourselves into the arms of a new exciting experience. Opinions revolving around the hike differ as some people had a harder time than others did. However, we all agree that the 5km upwards were much tougher than the 8 km of going downhill for the surface got so steep in certain places to the point where I personally felt tension in leg muscles, I never even knew I had. Nevertheless, the struggle was totally worth it; seeing the satisfaction on everyone’s faces as we fell to the ground, feeling this sense of accomplishment. It was such a beautiful experience; the captivating view of Kenya’s plains, meeting new people from the Arusha campus and working harmoniously on group tasks, staying up late to gaze at the mesmerizing moon and the stars through clouds while holding the funniest bonding conversations, literally being in the middle of a cloud, Watching the sun unravel itself to us first thing in the morning as the fresh breeze romances our cold faces. Everything was hypnotizingly beautiful. On a side note, special thanks to our brave peers who scared away the green mamba, a highly venomous snake, those who carried someone else’s bag along with theirs and congratulations to Tina for being the first to reach the peak.”
– Jihene (D1)
“On this weekend, 10th – 11th of September, we climbed The North Pare Mountain, which is 2200 m high, as part of OP Peaks. Walking 5km up the hill for about 3 hours and the next day walking down 8 km was a team effort as we were all in this together. Everyone knew that we could count on each other’s help and support, even if it meant that someone had to carry two backpacks, and even though we all met just a month ago. You may think that our trip was boring. Well, it wasn’t. At about halfway we were face to face with the second deadliest snake in Tanzania – Eastern Green Mamba. It was an exciting and scary experience, and fortunately nobody got hurt. What is more, while walking up those last hundreds of meters, everyone thought that we got lost, as there was no sign of any path. We just kept going up, hoping that it was the right direction to reach the top. For some of us it was a trip of First Times. First time on an OP trip. First time hiking in the mountains. First time in a jungle. First time encountering a snake. First time sleeping in a tent. All those long hours of hiking and freezing at night, were rewarded with not only a feeling of accomplishment but also with the beautiful and unforgettable sunrise above the clouds. It is amazing how those two days were exhausting and extraordinary at the same time and that nobody regrets going on this trip.”
-Anna (D1)
Thank you to all the work people put into making these happen for the students.
Baden Dowie – Experiential Life Coordinator
Residential Life
Another week passes in Residential life, and I am thrilled to hear about students settling and finding solace in their new home.
As many of you know, as a school, we are one of the largest residential schools in the UWC organization and for us to function we must always consider our surroundings, our environment, and our peers. Younger, older and our wider community. Last week I mentioned the initiative revolving around our Diploma and MYP mentoring and this week it has been a huge success. Each evening we have a selection of dedicated Diploma students mentoring in our MYP residences. Answering questions, helping with academics or simply just being a presence. It is these small acts of kindness that create and foster a community of family away from home. In addition to this, I am excited to welcome our new PYP and MYP boarders into our extended family that arrive this weekend. I know our peers will make them feel welcomed in every manner and will officially bring us over 200 residential students on campus. For such a large program to work, we must think holistically and acknowledge our residential parents, mentors, ancillary staff and of course, every student engaged in our program.
For this weekend, we embarked on a logistical feat combining both residential and day students in our 24-hour run fundraiser on the Arusha Campus. Our PYP boarders challenged themselves in a baking competition and next week we have our first semi-formal residential dinner the night before UWC day. If I reflect on our mission statement as being a force to unite people, nations, and culture for a sustainable future I feel humbled to be in the position I am. Continuously, I am inspired by our students from all cultures and backgrounds and impressed by their adversity and resilience. Our generation will enact the change we want in this world that is experiencing so much conflict.
Moving forward, I am now looking ahead to the October break and want to take this moment to remind parents/guardians to consider your plans for the child in your care, as our PYP and MYP dorms close on 7 October and re-open on 16 October. Our Diploma dorms remain open due to the inability for most to return home, but staying on campus will still be supervised, and school rules apply.
Should you have any queries on the break ahead, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Simon Johnston – Head of Residential Life
PYP News
MAP online assessments in Reading, Language and Mathematics will take place for P4 – P6 students next week, beginning on Monday, 19th September. The purpose of the assessment is so that we can measure the children’s growth and identify the next teaching steps. You will receive an email with your child’s results at some point in October. No special preparation is necessary but your child will benefit from a good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast and a nutritious snack. It is recommended that the children have a water bottle in school so that they can keep hydrated.
Preparations for the whole school musical are moving forwards. Some P6 children auditioned for individual roles and their rehearsals will start next week, after school. The rest of the P2 – 6 children will be learning some songs during their music lessons and will not be expected to stay after school for rehearsals.
On Friday, 23rd September 1:30 – 3:45pm, Moshi campus will host a friendly football tournament against Paradise Primary Academy. The following teams will compete: U7 mixed (P1,2,3) U9 Mixed (P4/5) U11 Boys P6 and U11 Girls P6.
Please note that the PYP children are invited to join in with the UWC Day celebrations on Wednesday, 21st September. The activities will begin with an assembly at 1:30pm and will finish at 4:00pm. Children are invited to wear blue and white clothes or national dress to school (or just in the afternoon if they prefer) on this day.
Deborah Mills – PYP Coordinator
EC/P1 Class
One of our strategies for calming down has been to draw. So, this week, everyone received their own sketch book and already we are loving the freedom to illustrate our thoughts. Two mornings of Beethoven and quiet drawing have produced beautiful pictures.
In the coming week, the children will be revisiting their essential agreements and comparing how we use them at school and at home.
EC2 and P1 will be coming home with some math or language talk homework this coming week. Please take the time to talk through the questions and help us build the love for learning.
Mboka Mwasongwe
P2/3 Class
We’ve continued to enjoy our focus on Friendship this week. We spent time role-playing different scenarios that involve social skills. We also talked a lot about emotions and how important it is to know our own feelings and try to understand the feelings of others. Feel free to continue conversations at home about how to share feelings and how to cope with sadness or anger.
We’ll keep looking at 3-digit numbers during Math in the week ahead. We will also be learning about plural nouns that have special rules.
Kacey Buckley
P4/5 Class
This week Tendai celebrated his birthday – many happy returns, Tendai! We were joined by a new student, Gaby, and hope that she will be very happy with us. The children have been busy exploring simple machines. We had a great time visiting Mr. Baden Dowie’s design room and seeing levers, pulleys, screws, wheels and axles, and wedges in action. The highlight of our week was our Primary Gathering presentation on Friday – the children did a great job and I was very proud of them. In maths next week we will continue our work on addition and subtraction and will construct our own simple machines. The children will also take online MAP assessments in reading, language and mathematics which will help me plan for future learning.
Deborah Mills
P6 Class
As our plants unit nears its end, we visited Mr Grob, the DP biology teacher, to see some plant experiments the older students are doing. He explained the germination process that we have observed, by growing our bean seeds in class, step by step. Next, we are transferring our young plants into soil to see if they can problem-solve their way out of a maze in the dark! We’re looking into a possible trip to a farm: watch this space. We started our coding unit, with Ms Grace, this week and continued our maths work with multi-digit numbers. We reviewed our class book, “The Iron Woman”. In PE we continued athletics with high jumping as well as a very well attended swimming session.
Hywel Davies
From the Counselor
Upcoming College and University Events
19 September: 10:10-11:20 am Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and Dartmouth College in Rafiki Hall
22 September – 10 to 11 am and 7:30 to 8:30 pm EAT – Virtual Parent Meeting for all D2 Parents. This session will be recorded, and the link sent to parents. The session repeats in the evening. The same zoom link can be used for both meetings. us02web.zoom.us/j/4095574237 Meeting ID: 409 557 4237
27 & 29 September: UWC Partners College Fair 4-6 pm EAT and 8-10 pm EAT
29 September: University of Calgary 7:30-8:30 pm EAT (virtual presentation)
