Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you well as we approach the end of another exciting school year. We have had a busy week filled with celebrations, performances, and important transitions. Here are some highlights:
We welcomed our incoming Head of College, Alison Derbyshire who continued the transition process into her new role for the next Academic Year. She met with students, staff and parents to learn about the school’s strengths, values and future direction. We also welcomed Orla Brady, EiM’s Group Director, Building Construction & Design, who visited us to support our Master Planning process; and Lucien Giordano, Group Director of International Outreach and Alumni Engagement, who facilitated some promising engagement with our alumni and Friends of Dulwich members.
Thank you to all who participated in our recent annual survey. Your feedback is invaluable, and we’ve carefully analysed the results. We’re pleased to report that our parents’ Net Promoter Score jumped to 28.97 from 14 last year and 23 for the EiM group average. We appreciate your trust in us and your unwavering support. Please refer to the Whole School section for a summary of the findings and actions.
Our Summer Fun Day for Year 1 to Year 5 and Senior School (including Year 6) was a resounding success. The sun shone brightly as students enjoyed a variety of activities, games, and treats. It was wonderful to see our students engage in some healthy competition and house spirit.
We had the pleasure of hosting Celebrations of Learning for both Year 3 and Year 6 this week. Our Year 3 students showcased their project work on local ecosystems in the terrace garden, while Year 6 presented their impressive research on imaginary civilizations. The creativity and depth of knowledge displayed by our students were truly remarkable.
Our student musicians have been showcasing their talents with a series of Summer Recitals. From solo performances to ensemble pieces, the quality of music has been exceptional. A special thank you to Mr. Mark Knights and our Music Department for nurturing our students’ musical talents.
Our Senior School students were in deep exploration and discovery mode during their immersive Language & Cultural Experiences trip in Xi’An, visiting the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, brewing their own teas in a Chinese tea ceremony, trying their hand at Chinese calligraphy and painting, exploring Muslim Street and sampling Xi’An specialties like bamboo ice cream, and learning the art of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, to name a few fun things they did.
This week, our students had the opportunity to experience their next year groups during our Move Up Day. This initiative helps ease the transition between academic years and allows students to meet their future teachers and classmates.
We celebrated a significant milestone for our youngest learners with the inaugural Reception Graduation ceremony. It decidedly trumped everything else in the cuteness factor and it was heartwarming to see their proud faces as they received their certificates, marking their readiness for Year 1.
In an exciting endeavour, our school participated in two Guinness World Record attempts last week. While we await official confirmation, the enthusiasm and teamwork displayed by our students were truly record-breaking in spirit!
I had the pleasure of seeing our wonderful group of TAP Ambassadors this week. I can’t thank you enough for being such amazing ambassadors for the College. Your commitment and dedication are much appreciated, and we look forward to continuing working with you next year. Whether you have been with us 6 months or 6 years, I encourage you to seek out this exceptional group of parents here who are always ready to answer your questions about school life and general questions about Korea.
As a reminder, the deadline for submitting requests for photos for our Term 2 portraits is fast approaching. Please ensure you send in your child’s photo by Friday 28 June to be included in this wonderful keepsake of the school year.
As we enter the final stretch of the academic year, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support and partnership. Together, we’re creating a vibrant and nurturing educational environment for our students.
With my best wishes,
Mr. Guðmundur Hegner Jónsson
Head of College