Dear Parents and Guardians,
After months of meticulous planning, Founder’s Day is finally upon us. It’s time to celebrate our heritage as we honour our founder, Edward Alleyn, who established our Founding School in London back in 1619. This year, in partnership with the British Embassy, we mark the historic milestone of 140 years of relations between the UK and South Korea. Founder’s Day is not just a festival—it’s a chance for us to connect, eat delicious food, enjoy live performances from our talented students, and experience a wide range of fun activities. It’s a day that highlights the spirit of friendship and kindness that makes our school community so strong.
We are delighted to welcome our VIP guests, including His Excellency Ambassador Colin Crooks of the British Embassy and David Fitzgerald, EiM Global Education Director, International. Please feel free to say hello and introduce yourself if you see them out and about. They will be judging both competitions so look out for their precise assessments of our students’ entries! We’d like to thank Graham Nelson, Political & Public Affairs Counsellor from the British Embassy and Dulwich parent, who will also be judging the competitions.
Please keep in mind that the health and safety of our students is our top priority. Therefore, we kindly request that adults utilise the designated adult bathrooms, while students use the girls’ and boys’ bathrooms. Additionally, we kindly ask for your cooperation in obtaining permission before capturing images (and posting on online channels) of other people’s children, as we value privacy and respect within our community. Lastly, don’t forget to bring your lanyard as they are required for entry. For more information and the complete event program, please refer to the Whole School section.
Year 6 students performed their ‘Three Day Theatre’ Project today, and even though I wasn’t able to personally attend, I have heard wonderful feedback about our students’ performance. They showed remarkable creativity, ingenuity, and dedication in order to develop several pieces of theatre within an incredibly short timeframe. Learning lines, mastering choreography, and delivering live performances in front of proud parents was undoubtedly a challenging feat. I extend a big congratulations to each and every student who bravely got up on stage!
Graham Nelson of the British Embassy is playing a pivotal role in establishing a Korean branch of the Against Malaria Foundation (AMF). AMF is a dedicated organisation that saves lives by distributing anti-malaria bed nets in impoverished regions. After months of dedicated effort by a small team in the Korea-Britain community, the initiative required 100 signatures from local supporters. It was with great honour that Suzy Pugh and I visited the British Embassy on Wednesday evening to contribute our names and support to this significant milestone.
With the support of our community, we are hopeful that the Korean branch of AMF will soon become a reality, making a lasting impact in the fight against malaria. It is globally recognised as the world’s most impactful charity, and we take immense pride in being part of this meaningful cause.
Tonight I will be attending the British Chamber of Commerce (BCCK) King’s Birthday Dinner at the Grand Hyatt, which we are proud to be sponsoring. It’s our first time celebrating the King’s birthday and I’m sure it will be a memorable occasion. We will have a full table of Dulwich staff, including our special guest David Fitzgerald, so if you happen to see us, please do come and say hello.
With the weather looking to be bright and beautiful, I am filled with anticipation for tomorrow’s Founder’s Day celebration. The stage has gone up and we have been listening to the sounds of students rehearsing for their performances all day. With everyone so eager to turn out to this celebration after its four-year hiatus, I have a feeling it will be one for the record books.
With my best wishes,
Mr Guðmundur Hegner Jónsson