Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am writing to you from Bangkok, where I have just concluded the FOBISIA Heads Meeting and I am now joining the FOBISIA Leadership Conference, which runs from Friday afternoon through Sunday. Joining me here are Jane Smith and Suzy Pugh, who have travelled here today to participate in the conference. We will be returning to school on Tuesday morning, eager to share the insights and experiences we’ve gained.
I would like to take a moment to reflect on the BCCK Remembrance Service held last Sunday, 10 November, at the Seoul Anglican Cathedral of St Mary. Our Senior School Choir had the honour of performing at the service, delivering heartfelt renditions of Remember and In Flanders Fields. Attending the event, I was deeply moved by our students’ exceptional performances and their respectful involvement in such a significant ceremony. Their singing represented our College wonderfully, and I am immensely proud to be part of this community. My sincere thanks go all the students who dedicated their time and talents to this meaningful occasion.
Yesterday, 15 of our outstanding Year 12 students delivered their campaign speeches with hopes of becoming a Head Student, for which there are four positions available. Each candidate had two minutes to give their pitch before a packed audience of their Senior School peers. The selection of our Head Students is a significant event in our school calendar, as these leaders play a crucial role in representing the student body and shaping the culture of our community. I look forward to congratulating the successful candidates at the conclusion of the selection process and am confident they will uphold the high standards of leadership that we cherish at Dulwich College Seoul.
I am pleased to share that an interview I gave was published this week in the Chosun Daily. In it, I discussed the crucial role that quality international schools like ours play in attracting foreign direct investment to South Korea. Drawing on my experiences in China and now here, I emphasized how providing excellent education and strong community support is essential for welcoming expatriate families and global talent. I also shared insights into our school’s commitment to fostering global citizenship, sustainability, and a supportive environment for both students and parents.
On Thursday, we had the pleasure of hosting a group of 20 students from the Elementary School affiliated with the Seoul National Education University. The visit is part of an international school exchange program run by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education that matches international schools with local schools. The exchange included two online sessions between SNEU Elementary School students with one of our Year 4 classes where the students asked each other questions and got to know one another. The SNEU Elementary School students are from a special class made up of students who have lived abroad, and they spoke to our students in English. The students were given a warm welcome from our students and staff, picked up a small snack prepared for them upon arrival, toured our campus, sat in class and talked to our students about their learning journey. The exchange will culminate in a joint visit to the British Embassy on 22 November, where students will learn about British history and culture, and tour the historic embassy site together. They will also hear from two inspiring participants of the Empower Programme that we support, who will talk about their journey in finding their passion and purpose.
Earlier this week, we hosted the Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences in the Senior School, which took place all day on Tuesday. The Senior School was bustling with parents, and it was wonderful to see such strong parental involvement. We firmly believe that education is a partnership between the school and parents, and your active engagement is vital in supporting your children’s learning journey. We apologize if you were affected by the unfortunate outage we experienced involving the online consultation system and appreciated your patience as we worked to resolve it.
This week, we hosted Kimba, a poet, musician, and educator from London, for a two-day visit. Kimba worked with students across both our Primary and Senior Schools, leading engaging workshops that delved into the power of writing and performance poetry. His sessions inspired our students to explore their creative abilities and express themselves through words in new and imaginative ways.
Our Director of Music Mark Knights is currently leading a group of our students at the Worldwise Festival of Music in Beijing. This week, the students have participated in rehearsals in preparation for the upcoming gala concert on Saturday and a Rock Band dinner performance tonight. They also found time to visit the Great Wall of China—riding a cable car up, walking along a section of the Wall, and enjoying a toboggan ride back down. I know they are representing Dulwich College Seoul with excellence and enthusiasm. I extend my gratitude to Mr Knights for making this enriching opportunity possible for our students.
The B1 Atrium was also a hive of activity this week, hosting both the Year 2 Morning Mingle and the Friends of Dulwich Social Coffee Morning. It was great to see the community connecting in this way, strengthening the bonds that make our school so special.
Kindness is a cornerstone of our school’s values, and this week our community exemplified this through a wonderful initiative. In recognition of World Kindness Day, the Tacloban Fundraising ECA led a student-driven “Pepero” exchange. Students shared Pepero treats as symbols of appreciation with their friends and peers. The funds raised from this exchange will be donated to Volunteer for Visayans, a charity that supports children in Tacloban, Philippines, by providing essential nutrition and educational resources. It is inspiring to see our students actively promoting kindness and making a positive impact on the lives of others.
Recently, Year 11 student Kunho took 1st prize in the Junior Category (ages 15-25) at the 3rd Steinway Amateur Competition. As part of his award, he will be giving his first ever solo piano recital on Saturday, 30 November at 3pm at Steinway Hall in Seoul. He would like to invite the Dulwich community to come to this special performance. Please check the Whole School section of this update for details on how to RSVP.
With warm regards,
Ms Alison Derbyshire