Dear Primary Families,
It’s been a very cold start to the new term but the children have been toasty warm indoors as they restart their school learning. We have reduced the length of outdoor playtimes or kept the children indoors depending on the temperature (minus 10 or colder we all stay indoors, for example). Thank you to families who ensured their children had very warm clothing on, a heavy coat and hat, etc for school each day. The cold snap will continue so stay warm this weekend and into next week.
Curriculum Overviews for this Term:
In the Year Group’s Week Ahead email today, you will receive the overview/summary of the curriculum for this term for your child. It provided detailed information on the objectives and areas of study across the core subjects of English, Maths, IC and Mandarin, plus the specialist subjects of Korea Studies, PE, Swimming, Art and Music.
We aim to help parents know ahead of time what their child will be learning about in the next 11 weeks. Each Friday, please read the Week Ahead for a summary of this week’s learning and a more detailed look ahead to the next week.
Student Council Meeting Today:
I met with the Year 1–Year 6 Student Councillors today to get their feedback and ideas to develop the Primary School. It was an action-packed and lively meeting with lots of thoughtful ideas flying around.
Assemblies this Week:
Year 1–Year 4’s Assembly focus was a welcome to the new children and then we looked at the human digestive system and found out why ‘Eating a Rainbow’ was so good for our bodies (as well as offering us great nutrition, our digestive biome LOVES veggies).
Year 5 and Year 6 were invited to the Auditorium to see Year 7’s Play in a Week – a slightly scary tale but one the older Juniors really enjoyed.
EiM Student Leadership Conference Next Week
We are excited to be welcoming over 100 students and staff from EiM family schools to DCSL next Thursday. Students from our sister-school, Sherfield in the UK will join students by the Green School Bali and Dulwich College London visitors for two days of collaboration and learning around student Wellbeing. This is one of three conferences being held at DCSL this term.
Reading Helpers Needed!
Our students are committed and determined readers; they love to read to new and interested people. If you have a little time to spare, please offer to be a Reading Helper for 60 minutes a week.
Thank you to all the parents who have signed up this week already to help! Fantastic!
Contact Mrs Smith to sign up for a once-a-week session in Term 2. (All volunteers must have completed the DCSL Safeguarding/Child Protection Training.)
Menu for lunches and snacks:
Our students are great eaters and really enjoy the 8-10 separate offerings each lunchtime from salad, meat dishes, rice or pasta, fruit, raw veggies, and vegetarian options too. Find out what’s being served next week below for January 2025:
FOBISIA Short Story Competition 2024
Term 1 of this year saw the launch of the FOBISIA Short Story Competition for students in Years 1-6. The theme of the competition this year was “Intercultural awareness”, with the children writing a short story based around an aspect of their culture, or one that they have experienced living in.
Whether it was a particular celebration, sport, food, or item of clothing that encapsulated a particular culture, the children embraced this topic with gusto. The number and quality of entries was testament to the wide variety of cultures that are represented across the Primary school.
The quality of stories this year was probably the highest ever, particularly in Year 3, with the very difficult decision being made to whittle down the stories to 1 winner for each group.
I am pleased to announce that the winners for the competition in school were as follows:
Year 1 – Ahaana V
Year 2 – Amara D
Year 3 – Eleanor K
Year 4 – Siyeon H
Year 5 – Charlotte A
Year 6 – Noel S
All of the winners will go through to the next round of the competition, where they will compete against over 100 other British International schools in Asia that form part of the FOBISIA group.
Keep an eye out for the next English competition coming to you very soon.
“Stay and Play” Ducklings event in the MPR – now on TUESDAYS
Ducklings event has restarted on the 9 January. This event takes place in the MPR (1F) on Wednesdays mornings from 8.30am during term time. For DCSL community babies and toddlers aged 0-3 years and their special adult. Please sign-up by emailing Daozia and Liz at daovanhattum@gmail.com and elisabethannbanks@gmail.com. Parents can also turn up on Wednesday mornings at 8.15am.
DCSL Parents Korean Class Information
DCSL Parent Korean Class sign up is open for Term 2 until the end of January.
Please sign up via this link.
Class Type: A0 – Beginner Tue & Thurs 8.30-10.00, A1+ – Late Beginner Tue & Thurs 10.00-11.30
Period: 7 Jan 2025 – 12 June 2025
Fee: 25,000 KRW per hour (Add 10% VAT)
Menu from Quadra:
Find here the menu for January 2025.
Upcoming Dates for your Diary:
Thursday, 16 January – Parent Workshop: Counselling
Friday, 17 January – New Families Coffee Morning
Friday, 17 January – Year 1 Trip to Doodle Pop at Sejong Art Centre
Monday, 20 January – Term 2 ECA Start
Monday, 20 January – Term 2 Private Music Lessons Start
Monday, 20 January – Parent Workshop: Child Protection for Parents (Online)
Wednesday, 22 January – Parent Rep Meeting (Online)
Thursday, 23 January – Parent Workshop: Supporting Language Development at Home
Thursday, 23 January – Nursery & Reception Trip to Doodle Pop at Sejong Art Centre
Monday, 27 January – School Holiday
Tuesday, 28 January – Thursday, 30 January – Seollal (Lunar New Year) Holiday
Friday, 31 January – CIS/WASC Professional Learning Day (School Holiday)
Communications:
As always, if I can assist you with any matters large or small, please get in contact with me at jane.smith@dulwich-seoul.kr
Kind regards
Jane Smith
Lunar New Year Celebration Year 2025
The Lunar New Year (LNY) is an important festival for our Mandarin department, Chinese families, and many Korean and international families.
The Lunar New Year in 2025 welcomes the Year of the Snake, according to the lunar calendar. Celebrated by millions around the world, this is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year. This year, 2025, is the Year of the Snake, which will commence on 29 January 2025 and end on February 17 for 2026. In Chinese astrology, each zodiac year (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig) is associated with one of five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Therefore, since the element of Wood represents 2025, it is called a Wood Snake Year. Wood represents spring, so this year is also called as the Year of Green Snake. The Snake, symbolizing wisdom and transformation, offers opportunities for personal growth and change.
We cordially invite you to a special Lunar New Year assembly on Friday, January 24, 2025. The assembly will take place in the Gym from 2pm to 3pm and is a wonderful opportunity to experience the Lunar New Year atmosphere and learn about Chinese culture with our students. Please arrive at the Gym by 1.50pm and sit by 2pm in the sections designated for parents and friends. We look forward to celebrating this special event with you all!
PERFORMANCE LIST: We will have various performances from groups of students across the whole school with rhymes, songs, dances, drama, etc. Please find the program list at the end of this article.
NON-UNIFORM: To promote the festival spirit, Friday, January 24, 2025, is a non-uniform day; we encourage students and staff to wear traditional Chinese or Korean clothes or dress in red clothes for that day. Alternatively, students from other nations that celebrate LNY may wish to wear their traditional attire.
BUSES: If you will attend the assembly and then pick up your child without using the College bus service, please inform the school bus coordinator via the Schools Buddy system before noon on Friday 24 January, 2025.
Happy Lunar New Year of the Snake! Gong Xi Fa Cai! Wishing you a prosperous Year in 2025!
Mandarin Department
Primary School Adventure Residential Updates:
I am writing to share exciting updates regarding the adventure residential trips, where students will experience unique outdoor learning and gain valuable skills in resilience, teamwork, and personal growth.
In partnership with Asia Pacific Adventure, our trusted outdoor education provider based in Hong Kong, we have updated the trip dates to enhance the experience for each year group. Please see the revised schedule below:
- Year 6: February 24 – 28, Hong Kong
- Year 4: April 16 – 18, Chuncheon, Korea
- Year 3: April 16 – 18, Chuncheon, Korea
- Year 2: April 17 – 18, Dulwich College Seoul
We’re delighted to continue working with Asia Pacific Adventure, who ran our September Adventurous Journeys for Year 5 and Year 7 in Korea, as well as the Year 10 program in Mongolia. Their expertise and dedication have made a significant impact on our students’ experiences, and we’re confident that each year group will have a similarly enriching journey. Mr Bonnet and Mr Lovett will soon be heading to Hong Kong to further develop the Year 6 Adventurous Journey. Please keep an eye out for the Year 6 Parent Information session invitation which will take place in December.
We will share more details in the coming weeks, including activity outlines, packing lists, and travel logistics. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to mark.lovett@dulwich-seoul.kr
Thank you for your support in making these experiences possible for our students. We look forward to these incredible adventures!
DCSL Ski Trips
The excitement is building as we gear up for another incredible ski season! After a fantastic time on the slopes last year, we’re thrilled to announce that our ski program will be returning in Term 2. Whether your child is brand new to skiing or a seasoned pro, the program is designed for all skill levels, packed with adventure, fun, and plenty of opportunities for growth.
What makes this day so special is that it’s not just about the skiing—it’s about building a sense of community. Students will bond with classmates, encourage each other, and share in the excitement of learning something new. We’re all about improvement, whether it’s mastering the basics or fine-tuning advanced techniques, and our experienced instructors are dedicated to helping each child take their skills to the next level.
And it’s not just the skiing to look forward to! The day will also include a fantastic buffet lunch, offering a delicious spread to keep everyone energised and ready for more action on the slopes. It’s going to be a day full of memories, camaraderie, and, most importantly, fun!
Ski Levels:
Whether your child is strapping on skis for the first time, or carving turns like a pro, we’ve got the perfect group for them:
- First Timer
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Itinerary:
Here’s what a thrilling day on the mountain looks like:
- 6.30am: Arrive at Dulwich College Seoul, buzzing with excitement.
- 7am: Departure! Onward to a day of snow-filled adventures.
- 9am: Arrive at Ski Park. Time to gear up with clothing, boots, and skis.
- 9.45am: Morning Ski Lesson begins – it’s time to hit the slopes!
- 11.45am: Break time at White Tree Snow School base.
- 12pm: A well-deserved buffet lunch to recharge.
- 1pm: Back for more action with the afternoon lesson!
- 3pm: Return equipment and take a quick break.
- 3.45pm: Time to head back after an amazing day on the slopes.
- 6pm: Arrive at Dulwich College Seoul, tired but exhilarated!
- Please note there will be no school buses available.
Dates:
Mark your calendars – each year group has their own day to shine:
- 5 Feb: Year 4
- 6 Feb: Year 5
- 12 Feb: Year 6
- 13 Feb: Year 3
We can’t wait to see your child embrace the thrill of skiing, build confidence, and make unforgettable memories on the mountain!
Please keep an eye out for further information which will be sent directly to parents in December.
The Ambassador Platform
We’re pleased to share “The Ambassador Platform” with our community—an interactive chatting app that’s been connecting prospective parents with our dedicated community of parents. Our team of parent ambassadors has been doing a great job engaging with potential families, sharing personal experiences, and offering advice to showcase why Dulwich College Seoul is a great choice.
This platform is not only useful for prospective parents but also a helpful resource for our current parents. They can easily start a conversation with our experienced parent ambassadors to get answers to any questions they may have about Dulwich College Seoul’s school life. Click here to start chatting and learn more about our community and the enriching experiences at Dulwich College Seoul for your family!
Stars of the Week
DUCKS1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
