Dear Parents and Guardians,
My recent trip to Shanghai for the Heads Meeting was a rewarding experience, offering valuable time to connect with other Heads of Colleges in our Dulwich family. These gatherings are always a reminder of the strength of our network, allowing us to share best practices and explore ways to continuously improve the education we provide.
While there, I also had the pleasure of attending the Worldwise Shakespeare Festival, where our students joined those from other Dulwich schools to work with practitioners from the Royal Shakespeare Company to showcase their dramatic talents. Every performance was impressive, but I must say, Dulwich College Seoul’s performance truly stood out – although I may be somewhat biased! A special thanks to our Head of Drama, Mr Readman, for his exceptional work in preparing our students for this unforgettable experience.
This week, we celebrated Diwali, and our Indian community very much went above and beyond to make it a memorable occasion. A huge thank you to the parents who dedicated their time and effort to adorn the school with beautiful decorations, assist with classroom activities, and perform at our assemblies. This year’s celebration was our most impressive yet, and I look forward to continuing—and hopefully expanding—this tradition in the years to come.
Our Primary School Open House on Wednesday this week exceeded all expectations, welcoming over 100 people eager to experience our renowned learning environment firsthand. Visitors were thoroughly engaged as they explored our state-of-the-art facilities, witnessed our innovative curriculum in action, and connected with members of our school community. Our parent and student ambassadors captivated the audience with their presentations, sharing personal stories that perfectly illustrated the exceptional learning community we’ve cultivated here at Dulwich. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received afterwards reinforced what we already know – that our school offers our students a personalised learning journey that’s truly exceptional.
Today marks the beginning of Planet Hack: City Hack 2024, a two-day event hosted on our campus in partnership with Australian National University, EiM, and Planet Hack, focusing on sustainable urban solutions. Led by experts including Dr Sarah Clement, who brings a wealth of knowledge in sustainable development and environmental governance, students will work collaboratively to generate innovative solutions for the cities of tomorrow. We’re excited to see how they tackle these global issues and contribute their ideas to a greener future.
Dr Sarah Clement from Australian National University will also be at our school on Monday, 4 November, to lead a series of engaging activities with students and host a special workshop for parents titled Parent Workshop on Urban Green Spaces. This session will focus on the positive effects of green spaces on children’s development, covering topics like physical health, emotional well-being, and cognitive benefits. The workshop will take place in Auditorium 4F from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, so please join us for this insightful event.
This weekend, we’re thrilled to have multiple teams from both our Primary and Senior Schools representing Dulwich at the Songdo 7s Football Tournament. I’ve been greatly impressed by the skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship demonstrated by our footballers, and I’m confident they’ll represent us with distinction. A special thank you to Coach Martin for all the dedication and effort invested in preparing our teams for this event.
Please note that Friday, 8 November is a designated Professional Learning Day for our staff. There will be no classes on this day as our teachers engage in collaborative professional development to further enhance our educational programs. Regular classes will resume on Monday, 11 November.
As we head into the weekend, I hope you and your families find time for rest and relaxation. The autumn weather has been particularly beautiful lately, making it perfect for outdoor activities and family time. I look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday.
With warm regards,
Ms Alison Derbyshire