Dear Primary Families,
New Parents Coffee Morning
Many thanks to our new families who came along to the coffee session today – it was lovely to meet you and hear how your child is settling in.
Ms Rachel, the Flight Attendant, Visits Reception Classes
The Primary PA, Rachel, visited Swans and Herons this week. The Reception classes have created an aeroplane in their class, and as Ms Rachel is a former flight crew for Lufthansa, she was invited to share her experiences so they children could deepen their understanding on life onboard.
EiM Student Leadership Conference
The campus was brimming with students at the latter end of the week with guests from as far away as the UK (Sherfield School) and New Zealand (Green School), as well as our sister-schools in China and Singapore.
Our Year 6 student leaders represented us beautifully by speaking with clarity and thoughtful confidence at the Official Opening Ceremony on Friday. Similarly, the dances performed by all Year 6 were colourful and elegantly performed much to the delight of our guests.
The conference continues until Saturday with students creating strategies to capture the ‘vice’ of their respective communities regarding wellbeing!
ECAs and Private Music Lessons Starting:
Students who signed up for ECAs and for Private Music Lessons will start these classes next week. Please check the kit list for the ECA. Students should attend all ECA classes please with the correct kit.
Reading Helpers Needed!
Our students are committed and determined readers; they love to read to new and interested people. If you have a little time to spare, please offer to be a Reading Helper for 60 minutes a week.
Thank you to all the parents who have signed up this week already to help! Fantastic!
Contact Mrs Smith to sign up for a once-a-week session in Term 2. (All volunteers must have completed the DCSL Safeguarding/Child Protection Training.)
See below for the Tuckshop menu:
Menu for lunches and snacks:
Our students are great eaters and really enjoy the 8-10 separate offerings each lunchtime from salad, meat dishes, rice or pasta, fruit, raw veggies, and vegetarian options too. Find out what’s being served next week below for January 2025.
Weekly Parent Workshops:
Parents Workshops for this year will be held on Thursdays 10am-11am in the Tech Hub (2F) above the Inquiry Hub) unless otherwise stated. The Coffee Shop (B1) will be open from 9.30am. You will be escorted to Tech Hub from the Coffee Shop by the leading teacher prior to the workshop, so please wait in B1 to be escorted upstairs. For our topics for this Term, please find the PDFs here. If you have any suggestions for future workshops, please let us know.
Please click here for the power point slide from this Thursday’s Parent workshop on Counselling and how to help your child learn with confidence
Term 2 Parent Rep Meeting Schedule and Links:
1. Wednesday 22nd January 10.30-11.30
Meeting ID: 423 085 571 354
Passcode: N35Vg3JH
2. Tuesday 25th February 13.30-14.30
Meeting ID: 483 576 900 092
Passcode: m5yC6BL7
3. Friday 21st March 9.00-10.00
Meeting ID: 430 112 143 56
Passcode: MW6Nc6Yy
4. Wednesday 30th April 10.30-11.30
Meeting ID: 494 492 530 614
Passcode: hV9bd23B
5. Friday 30th May 13.00-14.00
Meeting ID: 416 395 358 899
Passcode: og3vN9X6
“Stay and Play” Ducklings event in the MPR – now on TUESDAYS
Ducklings event has restarted on the 9 January. This event takes place in the MPR (1F) on Wednesdays mornings from 8.30am during term time. For DCSL community babies and toddlers aged 0-3 years and their special adult. Please sign-up by emailing Daozia and Liz at daovanhattum@gmail.com and elisabethannbanks@gmail.com. Parents can also turn up on Wednesday mornings at 8.15am.
DCSL Parents Korean Class Information
DCSL Parent Korean Class sign up is open for Term 2 until the end of January.
Please sign up via this link.
Class Type: A0 – Beginner Tue & Thurs 8.30-10.00, A1+ – Late Beginner Tue & Thurs 10.00-11.30
Period: 7 Jan 2025 – 12 June 2025
Fee: 25,000 KRW per hour (Add 10% VAT)
Menu from Quadra:
Find here the menu for January 2025.
Upcoming Dates for your Diary:
Monday 20 Jan – Term 2 ECA Start
Monday 20 Jan – Term 2 Private Music Lessons Start
Monday 20 Jan – Parent Workshop: Child Protection for Parents (Online)
Tuesday 21 Jan – Ducklings “Stay and Play”
Wednesday 22 Jan – Tuck Shop
Wednesday 22 Jan – Parent Rep Meeting (Online)
Thursday 23 Jan – Parent Workshop: Supporting Language Development at Home
Friday 24 Jan – Lunar New Year Assembly
Thursday 23 Jan – Nursery & Reception Trip to Doodle Pop at Sejong Art Centre
Monday 27 – Thursday 30 Jan – Seollal (Lunar New Year) Holiday
Friday 31 Jan – School Holiday
Communications:
As always, if I can assist you with any matters large or small, please get in contact with me at jane.smith@dulwich-seoul.kr
Kind regards
Jane Smith
Lunar New Year Celebration Year 2025
The Lunar New Year (LNY) is an important festival for our Mandarin department, Chinese families, and many Korean and international families.
The Lunar New Year in 2025 welcomes the Year of the Snake, according to the lunar calendar. Celebrated by millions around the world, this is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year. This year, 2025, is the Year of the Snake, which will commence on 29 January 2025 and end on 17 February for 2026. In Chinese astrology, each zodiac year (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig) is associated with one of five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Therefore, since the element of Wood represents 2025, it is called a Wood Snake Year. Wood represents spring, so this year is also called as the Year of Green Snake. The Snake, symbolizing wisdom and transformation, offers opportunities for personal growth and change.
We cordially invite you to a special Lunar New Year assembly on Friday, 24 January, 2025. The assembly will take place in the Gym from 2pm to 3pm and is a wonderful opportunity to experience the Lunar New Year atmosphere and learn about Chinese culture with our students. Please arrive at the Gym by 1.50pm and sit by 2pm in the sections designated for parents and friends. We look forward to celebrating this special event with you all!
PERFORMANCE LIST: We will have various performances from groups of students across the whole school with rhymes, songs, dances, drama, etc. Please find the program list at the end of this article.
NON-UNIFORM: To promote the festival spirit, Friday, 24 January, 2025, is a non-uniform day; we encourage students and staff to wear traditional Chinese or Korean clothes or dress in red clothes for that day. Alternatively, students from other nations that celebrate LNY may wish to wear their traditional attire.
BUSES: If you will attend the assembly and then pick up your child without using the College bus service, please inform the school bus coordinator via the Schools Buddy system before noon on Friday 24 January, 2025.
Happy Lunar New Year of the Snake! Gong Xi Fa Cai! Wishing you a prosperous Year in 2025!
Mandarin Department
Primary School Adventure Residential Updates:
I am writing to share exciting updates regarding the adventure residential trips, where students will experience unique outdoor learning and gain valuable skills in resilience, teamwork, and personal growth.
In partnership with Asia Pacific Adventure, our trusted outdoor education provider based in Hong Kong, we have updated the trip dates to enhance the experience for each year group. Please see the revised schedule below:
- Year 6: February 24 – 28, Hong Kong
- Year 4: April 16 – 18, Chuncheon, Korea
- Year 3: April 16 – 18, Chuncheon, Korea
- Year 2: April 17 – 18, Dulwich College Seoul
We’re delighted to continue working with Asia Pacific Adventure, who ran our September Adventurous Journeys for Year 5 and Year 7 in Korea, as well as the Year 10 program in Mongolia. Their expertise and dedication have made a significant impact on our students’ experiences, and we’re confident that each year group will have a similarly enriching journey. Mr Bonnet and Mr Lovett will soon be heading to Hong Kong to further develop the Year 6 Adventurous Journey. Please keep an eye out for the Year 6 Parent Information session invitation which will take place in December.
We will share more details in the coming weeks, including activity outlines, packing lists, and travel logistics. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to mark.lovett@dulwich-seoul.kr
Thank you for your support in making these experiences possible for our students. We look forward to these incredible adventures!
DCSL Ski Trips
The excitement is building as we gear up for another incredible ski season! After a fantastic time on the slopes last year, we’re thrilled to announce that our ski program will be returning in Term 2. Whether your child is brand new to skiing or a seasoned pro, the program is designed for all skill levels, packed with adventure, fun, and plenty of opportunities for growth.
What makes this day so special is that it’s not just about the skiing—it’s about building a sense of community. Students will bond with classmates, encourage each other, and share in the excitement of learning something new. We’re all about improvement, whether it’s mastering the basics or fine-tuning advanced techniques, and our experienced instructors are dedicated to helping each child take their skills to the next level.
And it’s not just the skiing to look forward to! The day will also include a fantastic buffet lunch, offering a delicious spread to keep everyone energised and ready for more action on the slopes. It’s going to be a day full of memories, camaraderie, and, most importantly, fun!
Ski Levels:
Whether your child is strapping on skis for the first time, or carving turns like a pro, we’ve got the perfect group for them:
- First Timer
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Itinerary:
Here’s what a thrilling day on the mountain looks like:
- 6.30am: Arrive at Dulwich College Seoul, buzzing with excitement.
- 7am: Departure! Onward to a day of snow-filled adventures.
- 9am: Arrive at Ski Park. Time to gear up with clothing, boots, and skis.
- 9.45am: Morning Ski Lesson begins – it’s time to hit the slopes!
- 11.45am: Break time at White Tree Snow School base.
- 12pm: A well-deserved buffet lunch to recharge.
- 1pm: Back for more action with the afternoon lesson!
- 3pm: Return equipment and take a quick break.
- 3.45pm: Time to head back after an amazing day on the slopes.
- 6pm: Arrive at Dulwich College Seoul, tired but exhilarated!
- Please note there will be no school buses available.
Dates:
Mark your calendars – each year group has their own day to shine:
- 5 Feb: Year 4
- 6 Feb: Year 5
- 12 Feb: Year 6
- 13 Feb: Year 3
We can’t wait to see your child embrace the thrill of skiing, build confidence, and make unforgettable memories on the mountain!
Please keep an eye out for further information which will be sent directly to parents in December.
The Ambassador Platform
We’re pleased to share “The Ambassador Platform” with our community—an interactive chatting app that’s been connecting prospective parents with our dedicated community of parents. Our team of parent ambassadors has been doing a great job engaging with potential families, sharing personal experiences, and offering advice to showcase why Dulwich College Seoul is a great choice.
This platform is not only useful for prospective parents but also a helpful resource for our current parents. They can easily start a conversation with our experienced parent ambassadors to get answers to any questions they may have about Dulwich College Seoul’s school life. Click here to start chatting and learn more about our community and the enriching experiences at Dulwich College Seoul for your family!
Stars of the Week
DUCKS1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
