It has been another enriching week in the Senior School. On Sunday, we had the pleasure of hosting the Oxford Debate Competition. Debate sharpens critical thinking, encourages respectful dialogue, and helps students articulate their ideas clearly—all essential skills for life. Events like this support our students in embracing challenge and building confidence in their ability to engage with complex issues. The Middle School students are developing their oracy skills in lessons and enrichment activities, we urge those wanting to develop further to participate in the debate ECA.
This week also marked the final leg of our Adventurous Journeys, with Year 8 students exploring the rich culture and stunning landscapes of Taiwan. This experience not only deepened their understanding of the world’s diversity but also fostered resilience and teamwork as they navigated new challenges. I cannot wait for them to share on the return tonight.
As we reminisce about the excitement of Enrichment Week, we turn our focus to the term ahead. For Years 11 and Year 13, the end of the mock exam period marks an important milestone. Students will receive their results on 6 February, with online mock feedback conversations scheduled for 10 February. These reflections are key to helping students refine their learning strategies as they prepare for their final assessments.
This week, we also welcomed 150 student leaders from across the Dulwich network for the EiM Student Leadership Conference. Our Head Students, supported by outstanding performances from our Year 6 students, delivered a warm welcome to this inspiring group. Across three days, these young leaders engage in learning, reflection, and collaboration, preparing to return to their schools as changemakers.
On Thursday, eight of our Year 7 mathematicians jetted off to Kuala Lumpur to compete in the annual FOBISIA maths competition. Despite a very early start, they are in good spirits and ready to compete!
At the Parent Rep meeting, we reflected on the success of the Adventurous Journeys and discussed ways to enhance communication whilst students are away. We also touched on exciting upcoming events, including the High School Prom on 14 February and the High School Sleepover on 28 February. These events celebrate our students’ sense of belonging and connection, a cornerstone of our community. As well as the ski days on 4 and 11 February, please complete the sign-up form if your child is interested in participating; all levels are welcome.
We are proud to announce the launch of our mentoring programme with Oppidan on 6 February. Year 9 students have been trained to serve as mentors for Year 6 students, fostering a culture of kindness, guidance, and shared growth across year groups. The Year 12 students will be receiving one-to-one mentoring from Oppidan mentors on 19 February.
Finally, thank you to the parents who attended Wednesday’s forum on strengthening digital responsibility in Year 7 and Year 8. Your thoughtful questions and insights help us create a safe and supportive digital environment for our students. This is such a pertinent topic, especially to support our students in understanding the benefits and responsibilities required of digital users. We hope more of you will be able to attend next time. If the timing is an issue, please send feedback to your Parent Reps with suggestions.
For Year 8 parents, the Ignite 25/26 progamme is open. Please check your email next week for the sign-up details. Our Ignite alumni parents and students are always keen to connect.
Have a great week everyone.
Suzanne Pugh
Dates for your Diary
📍 January 2025
- 15–18 January – EiM Student Leadership Conference (Hosted at DCSL)
- 16–19 January – Year 7 FOBISIA Maths Trip (Malaysia)
- 20 January – Term 2 ECAs & Private Music Lessons Begin
- 22 January – Year 7 & 8 Ski Trip
- 24 January – Year 8 European Languages French School Trip
📍 February 2025
- 4 February – Senior School Ski Day Trip (Year 7 & 8)
- 6 February – Year 11 & 13 Mock Certificates Distributed
- 10 February – Year 11 & 13 PTSC & Mock Feedback
- 11 February – Year 9–11 Ski Day Trip
- 12 February – IB Forum: Wine & Cheese Evening
- 14 February – High School Prom
- 19 February – PTSC #2
- 19–24 February – FOBISIA Swimming Invitational (Thailand)
- 24 February – Year 7 Lycée Français School Visit
- 28 February – High School Sleepover
Parent Workshops
- 6 February 2025 | 1:30 PM – Study Skills: Supporting Your Child in Their Learning
RSVP Here - 12 February 2025 | 8:20 AM
Senior School Parent Workshop – The World of Humanities
RSVP Here - 21 February 2025 | 9:20 AM
Senior School Parent Workshop – Drama in Senior School
RSVP Here - 26 February 2025 | 8:20 AM
Senior School Parent Workshop – Science at DCSL
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 17 February 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, 24 January, 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, 24 January, 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
SSAEM Peer Mentoring
The Year 12 and Year 13 students are re-introducing the new SSAEM peer mentoring program for this term!
‘SSAEM’, which roughly translates to ‘tutor’ in Korean vernacular, is designed to help younger students (Year 7 to Year 11) with academics and other things relating to the senior school. It can be a great way to gain insight into IB students’ perspectives on school and also to discuss topics that are more suitable for a mature student body.
Mentees will be joined up as either single sessions (one mentor and one mentee) or double sessions (one mentor and two mentees), depending on the mentees’ choices. Scheduling for meetings will happen individually via email between the mentors and the mentees, which can happen anytime from lunchtime to 4.30pm after school.
For students wishing to become mentees for this term, please fill out this form.
We look forward to seeing more students sign up!
The Year 12 and Year 13 SSAEM mentoring group.
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!