Dear Parents and Guardians,
This week, our Year 5 and Year 6 students delved into their creative talents during our MADD Festival: Journeys, expertly overseen by our Director of Music, Mark Knights. Spanning three days, the MADD Festival featured a diverse range of artistic endeavours in Music, Art and Design, such as performing a commissioned choral piece, composing journey-inspired music, and examining the theme of ‘Journey’ through visual arts. This immersive event offered our young learners a valuable opportunity to hone their skills, collaborate with peers, and explore their creativity.
Next week, I will be visiting the Dulwich College Singapore (DCSG) campus alongside Head of Primary School Jane Smith and Head of Senior School Suzy Pugh, reciprocating the visit we received from their College Leadership Team and Education in Motion (EiM) last month. The purpose of our visit is to engage in our ongoing quality assurance initiative, which allows us to learn from the experiences and practices of our colleagues at DCSG. We are looking forward to this opportunity to further our knowledge and strengthen the bond between our two institutions. Our anticipation is high as we prepare to embark on this valuable learning experience, and we are eager to bring back insights that will enhance our own school community.
Due to the aforementioned Singapore trip, I am regretfully unable to partake in Earth Week, which will represent a celebration of our college community’s exceptional sustainability efforts. Sustainability is a core value of the college and we are excited for a week full of events to celebrate it. Over the course of the week, students will participate in various activities, including plogging along the Han River to promote environmental stewardship. Primary School students will delight in a toy swap, while Senior School and Year 6 students will be involved in a clothes swap, fostering a culture of reusing and recycling. As Earth Week draws to a close, students will have the opportunity to work in our outdoor vegetable garden.
To coincide with Earth Week, we are hosting a Dulwich Talk titled “Transforming Trash into Art: A German in Korea Tackles Plastic Waste.” Our special guest, Konrad Becker, co-founder of Would You Love, will share his vision for a greener future. His company focuses on transforming waste, particularly plastic, into valuable resources by repurposing it into art and furniture. During the talk, Konrad will discuss the meaning behind his company’s name and delve into the rewards and challenges of working towards making a positive impact on our environment. Students from Year 5 to Year 10 will join this talk, and parents are also welcome to attend. The talk will take place in the college auditorium on Wednesday 26 April at 1.30pm.
We also have the Go Wild Dress Up/Non-Uniform Day across the whole school on Tuesday, 25 April. Students may dress up in outfits inspired by nature, such as animals, trees, or simply wear something green. This fun event aims to raise awareness about the importance of our environment, and we kindly request a charitable donation of 2,000 KRW from participants. All proceeds will go towards supporting the vital work of Greenpeace Korea and the World Wildlife Fund.
Save the date for our much-anticipated Founder’s Day on Saturday, 3 June. This day is a celebration of the establishment of our founding school in London by Edward Alleyn over 400 years ago. This year, we are excited to host our first full-scale event since the pandemic. The theme of this Founder’s Day is celebrating 140 years of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and South Korea, in partnership with the British Embassy. The event will feature a variety of food options, refreshing drinks, children’s activities, games, and live music performances on the main stage. We encourage you to bring your own picnic basket to enjoy in the shaded picnic area on the field. We look forward to seeing you there, as we celebrate the vibrant spirit and rich history of our school. More details to follow.
As a reminder, the Friends of Dulwich (FoD) will be hosting a special potluck luncheon on Thursday, April 27, to honour our dedicated teachers, teaching assistants, and staff for Teacher and Staff Appreciation Day 2023. This event is a chance for our community to come together and express our gratitude for the hard work and commitment of our staff, who play a crucial role in the success and well-being of our children. We kindly ask for your support in contributing food donations and volunteering to help run the event. For more details, please refer to the Whole School and FoD sections of this e-update.
In closing, as we progress through this very busy term, I would like to thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Together, we can inspire our students to embrace their creativity, pursue environmental responsibility, and develop a global perspective. I look forward to sharing the insights gained during our visit to Dulwich College Singapore and to witnessing the positive impact of these experiences on our community.
With my best wishes,
Mr Guðmundur Hegner Jónsson