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International School Moshi Arusha Campus News - 8th May 2009 |
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Dear Parents, New Director
We were pleased to have Robert Woods visit us on the Arusha Campus this week. Bob felt very welcomed to Arusha and was pleased to have the opportunity on Wednesday to meet with numerous parents. Bob will be moving to Tanzania in late July and is looking forward to a long relationship with the ISM community.Contact and Emergency Numbers
This is very important. If you change your phone number please inform Loise if you have a new telephone number or new emergency number. If your children are sick and need to go home or if there is an accident we need to be able to reach you or your emergency contact. We have had several situations lately where parents have not been able to be contacted.Swine Flu Update
As you are no doubt aware, information on swine flu is coming in at a rapid pace. Please find below information from USAID as well as from International SOS.1) The circulating H1N1 ("swine flu") virus has been identified by both US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Canadian public health authorities as a virus that contains elements of swine, avian, and human influenza viruses. It is a novel virus to which humans have no prior immunity and WHO has stated that it has pandemic potential. The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu in humans and may include: fever, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. Severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions. Although the virus is commonly referred to as "swine flu" it is important to note that at this time only human-to-human transmission is suspected for confirmed cases. According to WHO, there is no danger in consuming well-cooked pork products and no reason for countries to prohibit the importation of animals or animal products. US Government agencies have been instructed to adopt the term "H1N1 outbreak" when referring to the evolving situation. 2) On April 27, WHO announced an elevation of its pandemic alert from Phase 3 to Phase 4. New definitions for these pandemic alert phases were issued over the weekend: Phase 1: no animal influenza virus has been reported to cause infection in humans Phase 2: an animal influenza virus circulating in domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans and is therefore considered to be a specific potential pandemic threat Phase 3: an animal or animal-human influenza re-assortment virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in humans but has not resulted in human to human transmission sufficient to sustain community level outbreaks Phase 4: human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal reassortment virus able to sustain community-level outbreaks has been verified Phase 5: the same identified virus has caused sustained community-level outbreaks in two countries in one WHO region Phase 6: in addition to the criteria defined in phase 5, the same virus has caused sustained community-level outbreaks in at least one country in another WHO region. 3) In a telcon on 27 April Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO, stated that the situation is serious and there is clear potential for a full-scale pandemic to develop. Further spread of the virus is expected and all countries are at risk. To date, no restrictions on international travel have been recommended by WHO and no special precautions have been urged for screening travelers on either entry or departure from one country to another. [Note: on April 27, CDC issued a travel warning for Mexico.] She emphasized, however, that many information gaps remain and that the situation is evolving rapidly. She urged all WHO Member-states to activate their pandemic preparedness plans, to heighten their surveillance and to send specimens from suspect cases to appropriate laboratories for analysis. A technical experts committee has been meeting regularly in conformance with International Health Regulations and will meet later today or tomorrow to review the evolution of the situation. They will reassess the current level of pandemic alert at that time. In the end, countries will adopt and implement policies that are most appropriate for their context. 4) Please bear in mind that pandemic influenza can occur in several waves, that subsequent waves can be more severe than the first, and that monitoring and increased vigilance regarding the currently circulating H1N1 virus will need to continue for a considerable time. 5) The following websites from WHO, HHS, CDC and SOS are useful: www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en www.pandemicflu.gov www.cdc.gov/swineflu urgent.internationalsos.com/default.aspx Dates to remember
Adrian Moody Head of Campus Secondary NewsDear Parents,Basketball Clinic
Ms. McRae has organised a basketball clinic for students from Peace House as part of the Community & Service CCA she has been running. ISM students will be hosting and helping students from Peace House get their game on this Saturday. Hongera sana to Ms. McRae and all the students involved!OP Level 4 Trip: Socialist Peak
Safari njema to all the climbers heading to the top of Mt. Meru! Your commitment to the rigorous challenge is an inspiration to us all!Planning to Succeed
There's an old proverb, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." We've used this with secondary students as we discuss their preparations for the end of year assessments. It's very important for students to plan their time for revision and study, and to use their time well. Parents can help by assisting your children in planning their time. They've been given a blank weekly study time planner so they can schedule important activities (dinner!) and block out available study times. Blocking out the time now, and starting the revision process now, will help students manage the load of both revision and current homework.Keeping Well Balanced
When doing homework, choosing activities or studying for exams, it's important for all of us to keep well balanced. Students must keep balanced between school work and family & social life, as well as between physical and mental activity. Sometimes the balance may get shifted to one side - during time spent studying for exams, for example. Compensating for this (relaxation during holidays) should come soon after. Even while spending time on one activity, it's important to keep a balance. Studies show that students who take frequent short breaks during study sessions, and use that time for a physical activity to balance out the mental work of study, do better on exams. Similarly, sleep and healthy eating (a balanced diet!) also have strong positive effects on success.Regards John Iglar Head of Secondary Primary NewsDear Parents,Talent Show
Thank you to all our parents who supported our children in sharing their musical talents. Exciting days ahead!EC
As part of their study about telling stories, our Early Childhood class will travel to Umoja next Wednesday 13th May. We know they will enjoy listening and dramatizing stories they hear.P1/2
As part of our PE programme our P1/2's are busy putting their moves and grooves together to present to our parent community towards the end of the term when the whole school will celebrate their own dance demonstrations on Friday 12th June.P3/4
Excitement mounts as planning is fine tuned for the upcoming P3 and P4 EOTC camping experiences to take place in Olasiti in May. P3 - Wednesday May 20 and P4 - Wednesday May 27. Tents are being booked, activities organized, meals planned and pre camp investigations started. More information will be coming home with your children in the coming week.P5/6
Next Wednesday 13th May our P5/6 students will travel to Moshi to view the P6 PYP Exhibition. We will leave school at 8.00am and return by 2.15pm. Students are reminded to bring a packed snack, lunch and drink.On Friday 15th May, 22 students along with Mr. Curley, Ms. Croome, Mr. Samwell Msuka and Mrs. Annette Pierre Nina will travel to Dar es Salam to participate in an inter school Swimming and Football Tournament. We wish them safe travels and good luck and a lot of fun! The remaining students will enjoy an adventure challenge day of bike riding, horse riding and swimming. Warm Regards Betty Brown Head of Primary and PYP Coordinator Quarter 4 Sports Fixtures
Regards Charles Schofield Sports and OP Coordinator | Available on the web...
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. Adrian Moody Head of Arusha Campus International School Moshi inspires individuals to be lifelong learners in a global community.
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