International School Moshi Moshi Campus News - 15th March 2009
Dear Parents,
It has been a very busy last week in school. Congratulations to all the students who took part in the Soccer Sevens last weekend. Our girls team was very successful, eventually beating ISM Arusha Campus in the final. The boys also played exceptionally well and were knocked out by the competition's eventual winners. The M3 students put on an interesting and informative Science Fair last Wednesday - congratulations to all for their hard work and especially to Malike Jumbe, Stefan Kammleiter and Sam Macha who achieved the top three places in the Fair. In Friday evening's Variety Show there was a superb varied display of talent from many of our students from primary through to D2 and a good evening was had by all. And finally yesterday's International Day at the swimming pool had a great atmosphere and gave many of us the opportunity to taste a new selection of foods and watch the student performances once more under the light of day. And there's more to come this week with the Primary Swimming Gala on Thursday.
Many thanks to all the students who took part, to the teachers who helped to set up and manage the various events, and to the parents who contributed so much for the International Day. A great community effort!
New Director
We are very pleased to announce that Mr Robert Woods has accepted the position of Director of ISM. He will officially start work on 1st August, although we hope that he will have an opportuntiy to visit ISM next term. Mr Woods had been interviewed along with other candidates by parents, students, teachers and the Board and the offer of the position to him was strongly supported by all groups.
Robert Woods is currently the Headmaster of the International School of Helsinki (ISH) where he has been working and living since 2003. ISH is a school with 320 students aged between 4 and 18 who are following the International Baccalaureate curricula of the PYP, MYP and Diploma. Prior to settling in Helsinki, Mr Woods was the Head of the Schutz American School in Alexandria, Egypt for 4 years, and he previously spent 9 years at the Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Robert Woods will be joining ISM with his wife Amelia. We wish them both all the very best for their transition to Moshi/Arusha.
Primary Student-Led Conferences
There will be no classes for kindrgarten and primary students on Wednesday, 18th March this week. Instead the day will be used for student-led conferences. Students will be expected to accompany their parents to school to present their portfolios during their scheduled times Sign up sheets are posted outside classrooms. Separate arrangements are being made to ensure a schedule of activities for the primary boarding students.
Classes will take place as normal for secondary students.
Primary Swimming Gala
The primary swimming gala will take place at the swimming pool on Thursday, 19th March starting at 10am. All parents are invited to come and watch the children compete. We hope to finish the events by 1:05pm.
Sports trip to Arusha
A number of students will be travelling to Arusha on Tuesday afternoon to compete in sports against Arusha Campus. They will be returning the same evening.
M5 Personal Projects - Presentations
Just over a week ago, the Moshi Campus M5 students presented their personal projects to parents, teachers and the M5 classes from both campuses. This week it will be the turn of the Arusha Campus M5s. The Moshi M5s will travel to Arusha on Thursday, 19th March after the end of classes, they will enjoy a special dinner at a restaurant in Arusha and will stay with Arusha students overnight. On Friday morning they will watch the Arusha M5 presentations and assist in their evaluation, returning to Moshi on Friday afternoon.
Outdoor Pursuits: Mandara Hut
Now that the rainy season is officially here (it hasn't started yet in Moshi!), we are once more able to obtain permits from the National Parks Authority to take students into the national parks. The first OP trip of this season is to Mandara, the first hut on Kilimanjaro - the Mandara hut is a relatively simple Level One trip designed to introduce students to the OP programme. It entails a five hour walk from Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut with a pack, an overnight stay in Mandara Hut and return the next morning. This trip will take place on Saturday 21st - Sunday 22nd March. Details of more OP trips to come are given below.
Kilimanjaro Marathon
Team ISM had nearly 100 participants in the Kilimanjaro Marathon and Fun Run which took place on 1st March. 90 of these were runners and there were a number of volunteer assistants including our current scholarship students. To date TSh 5,290,700/- has been raised for the Scholarship Programme through this fantastic effort.
Special thanks got to:
Aline Kruit. The only Team ISM runner to do the full marathon also raised the most money for the ISM Scholarship Programme. She fundraised on her blog and raised TSh 3,200,000/=. Aline wants to give a special acknowledgement to children of Anna Knops's class in Holland who raised $282 by doing all kinds of work for their parents, neighbours and family like carwashing, gardening etc. Aline wins the i-pod nano.
Mari Skarp (D1). Mari was the top fund-raising student on the Moshi Campus. Mari raised TSh 474,700/= and wins the i-pod shuffle.
Maike Kusserow (P6). Maike was the top fund-raiser in Arusha Campus who raised TSh 250,000/=. She wins the i-pod shuffle.
Congratulations to all involved. If you still have some outstanding pledges, please bring them to the Development Office in school as soon as possible.
Scholarship Students for 2009/10
On Saturday 21st March, we will be interviewing candidates for scholarships to join our IB Diploma programme for 2009-2011. A number of students who performed exceptionally well in the national Form Four examinations have been invited for interview and we hope to be able to award two scholarship places.
Secondary Reports
This term, all secondary students (except D2s) will be receiving interim reports. These will give a brief comment on their performance in each subject together with an estimated achievement grade and an effort grade. The D2 reports will be their final set of reports before the diploma examinations and will contain more detail on their performance. All secondary reports will be issued on Wednesday, 25th March. If your child is in boarding, they will bring their report home at the end of term, but you may also request a digital copy of the report by emailing Keiron White on this on or after 25th March.
Secondary Parent Meetings
All secondary teachers will be available in Karibu Hall from 10:30am to 12 noon on Friday, 27th March. We will be very happy to meet with parents and discuss any issues concerning your child's progress in school. We hope to see many parents on that day. If you are unable to attend on that day and would alternatively like to meet with teachers next term, please contact Colin Beveridge, the Head of Secondary on to arrange a suitable date and appointments.
End of Term Arrangements
Classes will finish on Friday 27th March. Secondary students will be free to leave at 10:15am, and their teachers will be meeting with parents until noon (see above). Primary students will finish classes on that day at 12 noon. Please do not take your child out of school before the end of term, unless it is absolutely necessary, as it makes class teaching very difficult if many students are absent. Parents of boarding students are asked to contact Sunita Somaiya on with details of their child's travel arrangements.
Primary Assemblies
Thank you to Mr. Lee and all the students who participated in last week's International Day assembly. P5/6 took us around the world with songs from the different nationalities in their class. We would also like to thank our Dutch parents and students for getting into the swing of things with an entertaining performance. This week KG will be leading our assembly.
World Maths Day in Primary
We celebrated World Maths Day as a primary school just over a week ago by working in teams at different stations doing a variety of Maths challenges. The most popular activities at the end of the day was the Treasure Hunt and The Magic Bean counting activity. Thank you to the Primary team for another successful school-wide learning experience.
M3 Field Study
The M3 field study trip is scheduled for soon after our break on 21-23 April. The focus of the trip and its location is being revised. The trip will focus on the Arts and the Art department on both campuses is working together to plan a fun and exciting trip. More details on the specific location and activity will be forthcoming soon.
M4 Field Study
As reported earlier, the M4 field study trip has been rescheduled for the week of 1-5 June. Teachers on both campuses are organising a Geography-oriented trip to West Kilimanjaro which should be educational, challenging and exciting. More details will be coming soon as the plans get finalised.
TOEFL tests
The next TOEFL tests to be held in Moshi will be on Saturday, 9th May. However we strongly advise all candidates to register before the end of this term. Students presently in D1 who are not British, US, Canadian or other English-speaking country nationality and who plan to study in the USA and some other countries will usually be asked to take a TOEFL test of English Language. A TOEFL score is an important part of a university application package for many students. D1 students who are not sure whether or not to take the test should consult Mrs Beveridge as soon as possible. Registrations must be done online and details are given on the school website at www.ismoshi.org/SAT.htm. The cost is US$ 150 and payment must be made by credit card. Students who do not have access to a credit card can get assistance to register from school - if this is needed parents are requested to let us know by email on keironw@ismoshi.net that they are willing to cover the $150 charge plus 5% handling fees.
SAT tests
D1 students who are planning to join university or college in the USA are also strongly advised to take SAT tests. We have been providing weekly classes in preparation for these since November. Registration for SAT tests is also online and students who wish to take the next set of tests in Moshi on 6th June should register online by the end of April. Details are given on the school website at www.ismoshi.org/SAT.htm. The same process will apply as in TOEFL (above) for those who need assistance with payment by credit card.
ABRSM Practical Music Exams
We have been advised that these are likely to take place on both campuses in the week beginning 16th May 2009. Further details are yet to be confirmed and we will advise parents once these are known. Students have now all completed their registrations for these exams.
Outdoor Pursuits
The following OP trips are planned for this new season:
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