Unit celebrations at the Tema International School Primary Campus have always been a delightful spectacle of authentic learning and “Ghana Must Go” was at the pinnacle. This celebration was a “wrapped sandwich” where each grade layered their units’ learning within the story of the migrant friends returning home from the diaspora. It was a collaborative experience led by student-directors. There were some teachers as actors on the stage too. It was a resounding success not only because of the magnificent display of talent and confidence of our learners. It was also a success due to the demonstration of learner agency, excellent ATL skills and all the IB Learner Profile attributes which were embedded in transdisciplinarity.

How did we get here? Little by little, the bird builds its nest. That is exactly how this journey unfolded; nothing about this celebration of learning happened by chance. It was built step by step, moment by moment. From the first rehearsal, wading through uncertain lines and the queer movements, leading to the long hours of practice, corrections, and repetition, the students remained consistent. They kept showing up. They learned to listen, to adjust, to support one another, and to stay committed even when it was not easy. They turned mistakes into lessons and pressure into progress.

Confidence gradually replaced doubt as each rehearsal brought them closer to their goal. Students used their free time to gather and rehearse their parts, give and receive peer feedback. It became the norm every snack break to pass the Indian choreography group practicing the Bollywood routines guided by Dyviam in grade 4. Others would meet in the art room and music room to go over their poetry and choir songs religiously.

Students and teachers alike were determined not to diminish the learning outcomes from this performance. Throughout the unit, these students explored ideas, and this celebration of learning is how they chose to communicate that understanding. Through drama, dance, and music, they brought their knowledge to life so that the learning community, could see, feel, and understand what they had learned.

At Tema International School primary campus, we take transdisciplinary learning seriously, and this drama is a clear example of that approach. From the first auditions, through online rehearsals, to finally coming together in person, the process has shaped this production into something meaningful.

More importantly, it has helped the students deepen their understanding of their Unit of Inquiry while fully stepping into their characters.  Through every scene, they are not just acting, but demonstrating what they learned in a way that was clear and engaging. Each movement, line, and expression reflected weeks of inquiry, practice, and reflection. Students learned to communicate ideas creatively and confidently to the audience. This performance also showed the students’ growth not only as performers, but also as thinkers and collaborators.

It was a moment that brought together knowledge, skill, and character in one space. As students took their final bow, they left behind a strong example of what purposeful learning truly looks like.

The success of this performance rests heavily on our main cast, especially students who are marking their final Unit Celebration in the primary school. It was important that they took the stage one last time and gave it their all.

When the applause is loud, you bow, take it in, and exit with pride. That is exactly what the final year students in Primary school have done as they lead us in celebrating their learning journey.

REFLECTION CORNER (MAIN CHARACTERS AND DIRECTORS)

Alfred Anim (Nii Kwei) :

“Portraying Nii Kwei on stage was both challenging and rewarding. I had to step into his mindset, embodying his voice, movements, and emotions so the audience could truly see him come alive. Every gesture and line had to feel authentic, and I worked to balance his strengths and flaws so that he came across as a real, layered person rather than just a role. While acting Nii Kwei, I felt the weight of his emotions and decisions pressing on me. It was almost as if I carried his struggles and joys within myself. At times, I felt his frustration, his hope, and his vulnerability, and those feelings stayed with me even after leaving the stage. It was a powerful experience to connect so deeply with a character and let his emotions flow through me. Now that the performance is finished, I feel a mix of relief, pride, and gratitude. This celebration as a whole was a journey, not just for Nii Kwei, but for everyone involved. It told a story that resonated with the audience, and I could sense their engagement throughout. Looking back, I realize how much teamwork, rehearsal, and passion went into making the production successful, and I’m proud to have been part of it”.

Allen Sarpong (Mustapha)
“This unit celebration has truly been a fun rollercoaster. We started off struggling to learn our lines, but in the end we created a beautiful production of GHANA MUST GOOO. It was challenging to get the cues right and still balance our classwork, but the whole process was exciting and enjoyable. Even though this will be my last time doing a primary production, I will always cherish this day. I’m proud of myself and of everyone who worked together to make this performance possible. After the play, I felt a huge sense of relief and happiness because we did so well. I also hope that the juniors who come after us will continue the tradition and make the next production even better”.

Klenam Gborglah (Nana Owusu)

 “Acting as Nana Owusu, my role carried a sense of wisdom and calm. Preparation meant practicing my lines carefully and thinking about how an old man would speak and carry himself. I had to sacrifice some of my free time to rehearse, but it helped me feel confident when the moment came.

The challenge was making sure I truly sounded and acted like an elder, not just reciting words. I had to slow my speech, add weight to my tone, and show patience in my movements. That was not always easy, but it taught me discipline. Before the performance, I spent a lot of time rehearsing and preparing, which turned out to be both fun and rewarding. Even though I had to give up some of my free time, the effort was worth it because I felt confident and ready when it mattered most. The process had its challenges, but the excitement and joy of the Unit Celebration made everything worthwhile. After the performance, this Unit Celebration turned out to be such a wonderful experience. I had a great time during rehearsals, even though it meant giving up some of my usual free time. All the practice really paid off”.

Christabel Quao (Araba)

This unit celebration, though it was not one of my best it will be my last at the primary school.  I am so proud of myself for being able to work through all the constant pressure of learning the lines, dances, costumes, and scenes.

Through practice, and discipline, I have learnt that if I push through I can do anything and this play GHANA MUST GO was so much fun and full of new information that I would not have learnt if it was not for this. Acting as Araba, I showed myself that I can be my character because as we all know Araba was sassy, spirited, and full of confidence. I can be that too and I am aiming to be better in future.

Danielle Acquaye (Makafui)

This Unit Celebration, I had a lot of fun during rehearsals. At first, it was a bit challenging because I had to sacrifice my playtime and spend more time practicing, but in the end, it was completely worth it. Each rehearsal helped me improve my confidence and understand my role better.

I was really proud of myself for learning all my lines by heart and being able to perform without forgetting anything. It also felt great working together with others and seeing everything come together as a team. The experience taught me the importance of dedication and hard work. If I had the chance, I would definitely do it again because it was such a fun and rewarding experience.

Michal Annan (Drama Director)

“My experience as a director was both fun and challenging. At first, I struggled with being on time and making sure everyone was ready, which made it hard to stay organised. I also had to manage different people and give clear instructions, which wasn’t always easy.

As the role continued, I thought of ways to make my responsibility easier and to stay focused. This helped me improve my leadership and communication skills, and seeing everything come together made the hard work worth it.

I will surely be happy to take up this role again.  As I leave primary school, I hope future student directors will continue to build on this experience and make the PYP Unit Celebration production even better”.

Nana Yaa Adusei (Dance Director)

“Being a dance director hasn’t always been easy, and I have definitely had my struggles along the way. At times, it was hard to manage everyone’s different attitudes, skill levels, and even commitment levels. Some dancers didn’t always take rehearsals seriously, and that made it challenging to keep everything organized and on track. I also struggled with confidence. There were moments when I doubted my ideas or felt like I wasn’t good enough to lead others. Giving corrections or making decisions wasn’t always easy, especially when I didn’t want to seem too strict or unfair. Balancing being a leader and still being friendly with everyone was something I had to learn over time. Another challenge was time and energy. Planning routines, organizing rehearsals, and making sure everything was ready for performances could get stressful, especially when things didn’t go as planned. Sometimes it felt overwhelming, but I had to keep pushing through. Even with all these struggles, they helped me grow. I became stronger, more patient, and more confident in my abilities. Those tough moments taught me how to solve problems, stay focused, and believe in myself more”.

Nana Adwoa (Dance Director):
Role as a director for the ”Ghana Must Go“ play started off as a tough run with auditioning the various roles, like the main character, dance and other special roles required for the play.

It was a tough run through the rehearsals as we needed to ensure every member was confirmed or aligned, and it took a while to get everybody on board fully after a pep talk with our Teacher, Sir Godfred, who ensured that everything went well.

At the end of the day, we were able to choreograph some good dances, like the Amapiano, hip-hop, ritual dance, and the contemporary dance. We also threw in some traditional dances like the Bema, Gome, and Kpanlogo.

The grade 6 class came in with a special traditional dance called the Fume, which is a popular dance emanating from the Volta and Ga traditional areas.
In summary, it was a tough run, but I gained some great leadership experience on it and as Mr. Dennis always says, “it may be tough, but always remember to have fun”.

Victoria Tettey Amlalo (Drama Director):

When I first got selected to be a director, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to start school and be a director. So, I decided to take the initiative to start rehearsals early. When we started school, we started rehearsals early. We planned to make it a memorable one. I couldn’t wait to get my script to start documenting. When, I finally got my script, I was so excited, so I clipped it to my clipboard.

I was so happy to start with my partner, Michal Annan. Firstly we started by planning what to do.
I learnt that with big roles come big responsibilities. So, we need to know what comes in cost. I was to face any challenge that comes my way. I met my crew along the way, Mr. Dennis Dzah, the main director, my partner, Michal Annan and the main characters. It was fun working with them. I believe this is not the best work we have done but it was good. On the day, I managed students and did my work backstage. In the end, this was a good experience and great one at that! I look forward to working with some of these people moving forward.

Enjoy some photos from our gallery.