International School Moshi Arusha Campus News - 16th August 2009
From the Director
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year at International School Moshi. As we close our first week of class the new teachers and students on both the Arusha and Moshi campuses seem to be adjusting to rhythm of the daily schedules and Tanzania.
As the new director, I have been working closely with the Senior Management Team (SMT) in order to become familiar with the operations of our school and the challenges faced by our institution as well as those faced by our individual campuses. As we move through these opening weeks I plan to meet with students, professional, support and ancillary staff and of course parents. I am honored to have been offered this opportunity to serve as the Director of International School Moshi and look forward to working with the community in moving the institution forward.
Sincerely,
Robert W. Woods Director
Head of Campus News
Dear Parents,
Primary Polo Shirts
From the start of this term all primary students (kindergarten to P6) are required to wear an ISM Polo shirt when attending classes. These are available in a variety of colours and sizes from the receptionist, Loise, in the main office at a cost of TSh 18,000/20,000/- each. Please ensure that you have sufficient shirts for your child.
We are pleased that our stock is now sufficient to re-introduce this requirement which lapsed in 2008/09 due to poor supply.
Ramadan and Idd el Fittr
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan will begin in about one week's time. We need to be aware that during this time some Muslim students in the school will be fasting.
At the end of Ramadan there is a national holiday of two days - Idd el Fittr - which is declared once the new moon has been sighted. So that ISM families can plan their time well, the school will recognise Monday, 21st September and Tuesday, 22nd September as the Idd holiday and we will hold no classes on those days. We will not change these plans if the government announces different dates for the Idd holiday. There will be classes as normal on Wednesday, 23rd September.
PA Picnics
The Parent Association will be hosting picnics in both Arusha and Moshi to welcome new teachers and families to the community and to provide an opportunity for all to meet socially. The first of these will be on ISM Arusha Campus on Saturday, 22nd August. The second will be at TPC, a short distance south of Moshi, on Saturday, 29th August. Please bring your own food and drinks. Details of times and how to get there will be published soon. We hope that all teachers and families living in Arusha/Moshi will be able to attend one (or both) of these events.
Contact Information
To ensure that our records are up to date we request that parents provide us with accurate contact information. Please complete the form distributed this week and return it to ensure that you are able to receive all school communication and that the school is able to contact you in an emergency.
M1 Camp
The M1 students will have an opportunity to learn some of the skills of camping and hill walking during the M1 Camp on 29 - 30 August.
ABRSM Theory Exams
The next set of music theory examinations will be held in Arusha on 30th September. Parents of students who wish to register must email me directly at
adrianm@ismac.ac.tz before the end of this term on 17th June. Please note that I can only take registrations for upcoming examinations and parents need to
confirm registration for later examinations when they are announced.
School Documents for Parents
There are many school documents available on the school website for parents to view and download:
The restricted documents include ISM Board Policy and Strategic Planning documents, minutes of Parent Association meetings, and Accreditation and Curriculum Authorization documents. All of these are available for ISM parents using the username and password which are available from the Head of Campus. Please do not pass these documents on to others or give the password to those who do not have children in the school.
Dates to remember
Thursday, August 20 - Secondary Parent Information sessions
Saturday, August 22- Welcome to New Teachers (PA)
Saturday, August 29 - M1 campcraft OP trip
Sunday, August 30 - M1 campcraft OP trip
Monday, August 31 - EC Open morning , CCA's commence
Friday, September 4 - U12 football/netball v SCIS @ ISM
Wednesday, September 9 - M5 Leadership Symposium
Thursday, September 10 - M5 Leadership Symposium
Friday, September 11 - M5 Leadership Symposium
Saturday, September 12 - OP Level 1 - Pares
Sunday, September 13 - OP Level 1 - Pares
Thursday, September 17 - U16 football/netball v Braeburn @ ISM
Friday, September 18 - Secondary Sports Day (Moshi)
Monday, September 21 - Idd el Fittr
Tuesday, September 22 - Idd el Fittr
Thursday, September 24 - U10 football/netball @ SCIS
Saturday, September 26 - Interschool Athletics (Arusha)
Wednesday, September 30 - ABRSM theory exams
Saturday, October 3 - U16 football/netball @ Braeburn
Monday, October 5 - World Teacher's Day
Friday, October 9 - End Quarter 1
Wednesday, October 14 - Nyerere Day Holiday
Regards
Adrian Moody Head of Campus
Secondary News
Dear Parents,
New Families in Secondary
We offer a warm welcome to our new students, Natale (M4) and Rishil (M1), in the Secondary School.
Secondary Parent Information Sessions
These are happening on Thursday 20 August from 1445-1730. Theses sessions will introduce parents to teachers who will help you become more familiar with the various subjects being studied in the Secondary School. In addition, there will be overviews of Co-Curricular Activities by Charles Schofield and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) by Steve Brown. A parent workshop on Wednesday 2 September will examine the commonalities between the Primary Years programme (PYP) and the MYP.
Visual Arts
Linda Willms classes want to let you know that M4 and M5 have begun 'Photography to Fine Art' units. M4's work is based on aspects of life in Tanzania and will be on exhibition around the end of the quarter. M5's work is based on local health issues and will be part of the M5 exhibition near the end of the academic year.
Technology
The Technology have a few notes for the start of the year:
Please note that technology is now Design Technology and Information
Technology integrated as one; there are no separate IT and DT classes, rather a balanced flux between them.
please students and families - bring a USB / Flash drive stick to school every day to back up your work and to take work home with you - it will be
rather necessary for most classes
Carl Love is the new Technology teacher, and he welcomes your comments or questions at .
Regards
Éanna O'Boyle Head of Secondary
Sports News
OUTDOOR PURSUITS
Pare Mountains (Equivalent of a 1st Hut Trip) - September 12-13, 2009 - Level 1
The trip is aimed at OLDER STUDENTS that are new to the school who want to get involved in OP. It will be a 2 day trip walking up the Pare Mountains and camping on a ridge at the top before descending down the other side the next day. This is a steep level one trip not suitable for M1s.
Mandara Hut Kilimanjaro - November 1-2, 2009 - Level 1
The trip is aimed at OLDER STUDENTS and M1's that did well on the campcraft trip and want to get involved in OP. It will be a 2 day trip walking up to first hut on the Marangu Route. Spend the night there, then return the next day.
2nd Hut Meru - November 7-9, 2009 - Level 2
This trip involves climbing up to the 2nd hut on Meru, which is a little bit steep, and then up Little Meru 3801m. You must have successfully completed a level 1 trip in order to go on this trip.
Rongi Route Kilimanjaro - November 13 -16, 20 - Level 4
This will be a camping trip on Kilimanjaro. Students MUST have successfully completed a level 3 trip in order to go on this trip. We will ascend up the north side of Kili on the first two days, before coming over the saddle and descending down the Marangu Route. Great views of Kibo and Mawenzi if no rain!
Base of Mawenzi Level 3 - November 20-23, 2009 - Level 3
This is a level 3 trip, which involves the first day climbing to Mandara, the second day climbing to Horombo and the third day going on a day walk up to the base of Mawenzi, before returning to Horombo for the night. You must have successfully completed a level two trip (or are an older student new to ISM and had no problems on level one).
Uhuru Peak - November 25-29, 2009 Level 5
In order to attend this trip you must have successfully completed a level four trip already, preferably Socialist Peak. This 5 day trip is hard and very cold!
Quarter 1 Sports Fixtures
DATE
AGE
EVENT
VENUE
VS.
TIME
Fri. Sep. 4
U12
Football & Netball
ISM Primary Pitch
SCIS
3:15
Thu Sep. 17
U16
Football & Netball
ISM Big Pitch
Braeburn
3:15
Thu Sep. 24
U10
Football & Netball
SCIS
SCIS
3:00
Sat Sep. 26
11-16
Interschool Athletics
ISM Big Pitch
Interschool
8:30
Sat Oct. 3
U16 Football & Netball
Braeburn
Interschool
9:00
Fri Oct 9
Whole school Athletics Morning
Inter house
8:00
Quarter 2 Sports Fixtures
DATE
AGE
EVENT
VENUE
VS.
TIME
Thu. Oct. 29
U12
Football & Netball
Braeburn
Braeburn
3:00
Thu Nov 5
U16
Football & Netball
ISM Big Pitch
SCIS
3:15
Dec 11-13
Moshi Sports Weekend
ISM Moshi
Interschool
Fri-Sun
Fri Dec 18
Whole school swim gala
Pool
Inter house
8:00
SELECTION: Is based on age, commitment to team training and/or appointment by team coach.
UNIFORM: Team members representing ISM must be in ISM PE kit or team uniform as supplied by the team coach.
AGE: Is as of September 1st 2009. For example U12's must be under 12 yearsold as of September 1st 2009.
TIME: Weekday fixtures are on Thursdays from 3:15-4:15pm. When these fixtures are away at another school we leave at 3pm and return by 4:30pm.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (CCAs)
Activities will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30-3:30
Quarter 1 Important Dates:
Wednesday August 19 Quarter 1 Activity List posted and emailed home
Wednesday August 26 Students in Activities List posted
Quarter 1 Activities start Monday August 31 - Wednesday September 30 (5 weeks)
Quarter 2 Activities start Monday November 2 - Wednesday December 3 (5 weeks)
Quarter 3 Activities start Monday February 1 - Wednesday March 3 (5 weeks)
Quarter 4 Activities To Be Announced
Primary News
New Families in Primary
We would like to welcome the following students into our primary classes and look forward to the Banks and Brown family joining us soon.
All our classes are off to a great start. Rooms are filled with smiling faces and work that identifies the members of their class community. Routines have been established and the culture of the class is being agreed to. Students have discussed the learner profiles and the attitudes that we believe in at ISM. In particular students in P5/6N have already re written the attitudes in their own words. Can you match the following definitions with the related attitude! (this activity can be found at the end of the primary news!)
Parent Information Afternoon Meetings
We would like to thank all our parents who attended our parent information afternoons this week. One of many compliments that were made about the program was made by a parent who said "WOW I wish I was back at school learning what these kids are learning now! It is so much more fun and enjoyable, related and meaningful to life!"
Goal Setting Meetings
Students in P3 - 6 will have brought home a goal setting discussion prompt. These are for families to share and complete in readiness for the goals setting meetings that will commence next week. Please make sure you fill in a time slot on the whiteboards out side your childs classroom.
Parent Workshop
Please mark your calendar for Wednesday 2 September: 8.00am. During this time Mr. Brown (MYP Coordinator) and Mrs. Brown (PYP Coordinator) will share with you aspects of the IBO (International Baccalaurette Organisation) Continuim. How the programmes connected and what makes them a truly 'international' curriculum framework.
T Shirts, Polo Shirts, Hats, Library Bags
These are all available from Loise in the office. We hope you have all enjoyed your first week back at ISMAC and are looking forward to the many learning opportunities ahead.
Regards
Betty Brown Head of Primary and PYP Coordinator
Can you match the P5/6 definition with the related attitude?
We help each other and work together with thought and care
We listen to each other and take care of our friends, teachers and our possessions.
We are patient with each other and understand that we are all different
We are eager and excited about learning and trying new things.
We value and enjoy each other and our environment
We are prepared and determined to finish hard work.
We enjoy opporutnities to make something unique and to develop our own ideas and plans.
We have faith in ourselves and our friends and we are sure that we can do the things we need or want to do.
We are willing to do our work alone womertimes and we trust our own abilities.
We like to learn about interesting and unusual things and we are inquisitive to find out more.
We know what is right and wrong and we tell the truth.
We understand how other people are feeling and try to put ourselves in their shoes.
This newsletter has been sent to you from International School Moshi. Please advise me on if your email address changes or if you would like me to add another email address to this mailing list.
