Whole School

2025 School Photographs Schedule – 24 to 27 February 2025

From Monday 24 February to Thursday 27 February, our School Photographer, Family Day Studio, will visit the College for our annual school photographs.

* Year 6 parents, please note that due to the Y6 Adventurous Journey to Hong Kong, Year 6 photographs will take place on Friday 21 March. Year 6 sibling photos will also be taken on this day.

During this time, each student in the College will have their photograph taken individually and with their class/form group. Additionally, you can request photographs of siblings together (please refer to the special instructions below). The photos will be taken in both formal and casual styles, with the photographers stationed in the MPR by the College Foyer. Please be aware that photo slots for individuals, classes, and other groups may be subject to change. We apologise in advance if your child’s session must be rescheduled.

Individual and Class/Form Group Photographs
Each class/form will be assigned a specific time for their individual and class photos. Every child present on their photo day will automatically have their individual photograph taken and be included in a class photo.
 

Optional Extra:
Sibling Photographs (must be booked in advance)
Several time slots are available on each day for sibling photos, but parents must sign up in advance. 

1. For children who arrive at school with their parents on foot or by private car, photo sessions are available before and after school. Parents must book these sessions ahead of time and be there to actively supervise their children during these sessions, which run from 7.30am to 8.15am in the morning and from 3.30pm to 4.30pm in the afternoon. 
2. For children who use the school bus service, sibling photo sessions will take place during the school day. College staff will supervise these sessions.

For ONLY those wanting optional sibling photos: Please sign up at this link for either an early morning slot OR an afternoon slot: https://forms.office.com/r/fq9prWHuh5
The survey link will close at 5pm on Tuesday 20 February.

Student Uniform Requirements and Students’ Appearance
Only students in the correct uniform will be photographed. Parents must ensure their children are dressed accordingly for photo days:

DUCKS (Nursery to Year 2):

1. Winter uniform: navy DCSL trousers and our pale blue long-sleeved polo.
2. Navy socks only (no lace, logos or patterns)
3. Fully black sneakers (no colours or white stripes, including on laces or soles)
4. No leggings, sports gear, coloured band decorations or non-DCSL clothing items
5. Hair neat and tidy
6. No necklaces, hair decorations, bracelets or scarves

Junior School (Year 3 to Year 6): 

1. Full winter uniform and blazer – trousers/skorts and the appropriate long-sleeved top 
2. Navy socks or navy tights only (no lace, logos or patterns)
3. All Juniors with a red Primary tie and top button done up
4. Fully black shoes/sneakers (no colours or white stripes, including on laces or soles)
5. No leggings, coloured band decorations or non-DCSL items
6. Hair neat and tied back if long – no hair decorations
7. No necklaces, scarves or bracelets

Senior School:

‘Best Dressed’

Year 12 – Year 13 usual business attire with jacket

Year 7 – Year 11

1. Best Dressed uniform with blazer – trousers/skorts and the appropriate white shirt 
2. Grey socks, grey or navy blue tights only (no lace, logos or patterns)
3. Striped tie with top button done up
4. Fully black shoes/sneakers
5.  (no colours or white stripes, including on laces or soles)
6. No leggings, coloured band decorations or non-DCSL
7. Years 12 – 13 should be in their usual business attire.

If parents would like their child to bring a hairbrush or comb to neaten their hair before their photograph, they are welcome to do so. Please note that combs and brushes should not be shared between students for health and safety reasons. Teachers will provide children with time to tidy their appearance before the photograph is taken.
 

Purchasing Photographs
Each student will receive a slip containing their name and information on how to order photos. All photographs will be made available for order approximately three to four weeks after the photo session. Families will have the opportunity to review proofs of their child’s photographs on the Family Day Studio website before deciding to place orders for prints, downloads, speciality framing, etc. All orders and payments will be completed through the Family Day Studio website.

While there is no obligation to purchase the photos, many families appreciate the convenience of obtaining high-quality shots of their children, which can be easily shared with relatives abroad and cherished for years to come.
We will contact you again after the photo session with further details on ordering and purchasing the photographs.

Community Forum with the Head of College 

All parents and guardians are warmly invited to attend our upcoming Community Forum, where Head of College Ms Alison Derbyshire will share important updates on our School Strategic Plan, CIS Preliminary Report and Survey, MyDulwich portal, and our 3-Year Masterplan. There will be two sessions—one in person and one online—to make it as convenient as possible for everyone in our community to participate. 

• Offline Session: 
  Tuesday, 25 February, 8.30am–10.00am 
  Auditorium (4F) 

• Online Session: 
  Thursday, 27 February, 6.00pm–7.15pm 
  (Joining instructions will be shared separately.) 

We hope you will take this opportunity to learn about our school’s direction, ask questions, and share your feedback. We look forward to your participation and to continuing our work together in shaping the future of Dulwich College Seoul. 

Visit from Seocho-gu Governor Jeon Seong-soo

We were honoured to have Seocho-gu Governor Jeon Seong-soo, his team as well as officials from our local Banpo-2 dong office visit our campus, where he met with our Head of College and College Leadership Team. During his visit, he shared his experience with foreign schools from his time at the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) earlier in his career, his interest in British education, learned about our various community initiatives, committed to supporting our facilities expansion efforts to grow our community and experienced how our students learn through an extensive tour of our campus.

As a graduate of Seoul National University’s prestigious law school and graduate school, Gov. Jeon is a career civil servant who has served in Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s first SMG administration. In fact, he was in charge of attracting foreign investment and understands the important role foreign schools play in making Korea an attractive foreign investment destination.

Our Head of College Alison Derbyshire introduced the College, stating how it has grown significantly over the years, is currently at its highest ever capacity of students at 99% full, was ranked the #1 IB school in Korea and its graduates have gone on to some of the world’s top universities including Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia, MIT and Julliard.

We are also celebrating a major milestone this year – our 15th anniversary. Fun fact: Gov. Jeon said that the Seocho-gu Governor at the time of the school’s establishment in 2010 is an older colleague from SMG that he knows and highly respects.

Our Head of College shared the many ways our school actively collaborates with the local community, including the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE)-run international student exchange with a local primary school where our Year 4 students jointly visited the British Embassy, learned about British history and culture, and met with Deputy Ambassador Gareth Weir. Gov. Jeon encouraged us to further expand the partnerships with neighboring schools nearby.

Gov. Jeon was delighted to learn about how we reflect our values through our community partnerships such as our students’ volunteering efforts preparing side dishes for a local elderly centre, He stressed that involving students in the local community was a “win-win” for everyone.

The two leaders of the Seocho-gu Office and Dulwich College Seoul agreed about the importance of continuing the local contribution to Seocho-gu community. We discussed ongoing initiatives aimed at further strengthening these community ties, including a joint event with the local churches and schools and the school participating in more local events, such as Sports Day scheduled for May. The Gov. even offered up the use of various district facilities for students’ learning, which we welcomed!

After an introduction to Dulwich College Seoul and an insightful discussion on our history, vision and strengthened partnership moving forward, Gov. Jeon enjoyed a special campus tour led by our Director of Admissions Helen Kim. The Governor showed great interest in our facilities, asking lots of great questions and exploring tiny spaces designed for young students, including the hammock he said he had never seen before in a library (in our award-winning Primary School library dubbed Inquiry Hub), Olympic-size swimming pool, the IB Centre made for and by students as well as our auditorium, where he got a peek at students performing. Upon spotting our famous slide known as the Dulwich Drop, he even took the time to experience the sheer joy of sliding down this corner of our school.

The visit was a wonderful opportunity to deepen our ties with Seocho-gu District, explore future collaborations, and showcase the dynamic, globally minded environment we foster at our school. We invited him and his team (education division) to Founder’s Day scheduled for 14 June, where they will get to see our greater community in action. It was a great pleasure hosting Gov. Jeon, and we look forward to continuing meaningful partnerships that benefit both our students and the wider community!

No Summer School This Year – Alternative Programmes Available 

As we undertake extensive facilities work on campus this summer, we will not be offering a Summer School programme. However, we are pleased to share two exciting external options for families looking to enrich their children’s holiday experience: 

HIF International Summer Adventure Camp 2025 (ages 10-16) 
13–26 July (Core Camp) | 26–31 July (Optional Cultural Extension) 
Hosted at HIF School in the beautiful Engadine Valley in Switzerland, this camp offers language immersion, STEM workshops, cultural exploration, and adventure activities—all supported by a 1:9 staff-to-student ratio. Families will handle their own travel arrangements, and an optional chaperone service may be offered depending on interest. To learn more or register, please contact camp@eimglobal.com. 

Register now by clicking on this link.  

HIF Summer Camp Online Induction Session  

Learn key information about the programme and address any questions you may have.  

5pm Monday, 17 February
 
Join the Teams meeting

Green Camp Bali 

Green Camp Bali provides a range of immersive, nature-focused experiences—from short family retreats to youth camps, and summer programmes. Each one emphasises sustainability, intercultural learning, and hands-on exploration in a unique setting. To learn more about specific camp options, dates, and enrolment, please visit the Green Camp Bali website. 

We hope these alternatives will provide your children with fulfilling educational and cultural experiences this summer. If you have any questions, please contact us in the school office. Thank you for your understanding and support as we improve our facilities for an even better Dulwich experience. 

Call for Volunteers: Global Citizenship Day

We are thrilled to announce that Global Citizenship Day will take place on Wednesday, 23 April, and we invite parents to take part in this celebration of our wonderfully diverse community. We have 46 countries represented at Dulwich College Seoul, and we would love to see as many as possible showcased at the event. Volunteers will set up a stall representing their home country, complete with snacks, decorations, and any other items that capture the essence of your culture. To register your interest in participating, please click here. This event will be held during the school day, and we welcome all parents who are eager to share their unique heritage with our students and staff.

Uniform Shop Closure Notice

The Uniform Shop will be closed from Monday, 17 February, to Thursday, 20 February. We will reopen on Friday, 21 February.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Thank you.

Book Fair – by Social Media Club ECA

From Monday to Thursday, it was the annual book fair for the school community to dive in and pick up books! There were books for all ages and different genres to explore. Students got to buy their favorite books to read and learn from.

As members of the Social Media Club ECA, we went around asking each other which book we bought and why at the book fair.

Exuan chose Three Keys because she read the first book and wanted to continue the story. She thinks it’s interesting and fun to read!

Millie picked Pippa Park Raises Her Game because she likes basketball and enjoys reading fiction.

Terence got Dog Man: Big Jim Begins because it’s funny and hilarious, and he enjoys following the series.

The book fair was a success, and all the students were happy with the books they picked out!

By Millie, Exuan, and Terence from the Social Media Club ECA

Year 6 Student Shines on the Slopes

We are delighted to share the outstanding achievements of Hue in Year 6, who has returned to school after a demanding winter ski training schedule. Despite training in temperatures of -20°C every day, including weekends, Hue’s dedication and perseverance led to a series of impressive results. She secured 5th place in the Technica competition, 3rd place in the Ko-sta competition, and finished in 4th place at the Korea Open Mogul competition—missing 3rd place by a margin of only 0.4 seconds. Hue’s success story even garnered recognition in DongA Newspaper, highlighting her consistent effort and tenacity. We extend our congratulations to Hue on her remarkable achievements and thank her family for sharing this uplifting news with our community.

Join The Great Backyard Bird Count!

Calling All MyDulwich Beta Testers!

We are looking for parent volunteers to help us test the new MyDulwich parent portal before its official launch in March!

Currently in its final stages, this all-in-one platform is designed to streamline communication and enhance your family’s Dulwich experience. As a beta tester, you’ll get early access to the portal, explore its features, and provide valuable feedback to help us refine the system.

We already have a few parent volunteers on board, but we welcome more participants to ensure a smooth and user-friendly experience for everyone.

If you’re interested in joining, please email us at marketing@dulwich-seoul.kr.

Thank you for your support—we appreciate your insights in shaping MyDulwich!

MyDulwich: A New Gateway to Your Child’s Learning Journey

MyDulwich is our new, streamlined parent portal set to replace the current iSAMS Parent Portal in March 2025. Developed in response to parent feedback and adopted across the Dulwich family of schools, MyDulwich aims to enhance your experience by offering simpler navigation, personalised updates, and greater connectivity with your child’s learning.

What Is MyDulwich?

MyDulwich is a one-stop platform where you can view your child’s timetable, access a single, merged school calendar, and receive invitations for events and trips—all in one place. Importantly, it also provides custom updates tailored to each child’s year group, ensuring you see information that’s relevant to your family.

Key Features

• Single Sign-On
  Use your existing iSAMS login to access MyDulwich, SchoolsBuddy, and SeeSaw—all through one secure login.
• Mobile-Friendly
  Enjoy a user-friendly experience on any device, with push notifications for instant updates when using your phone.
• Tailored to Each Child
  MyDulwich only shows information relating to your child’s year group, helping you focus on what truly matters.
• Calendar & Bulletins
  Keep track of important events, academic schedules, and extracurricular activities. You’ll also receive weekly bulletins summarising the latest announcements.
• Customisable Communication
  Adjust your notification settings to control how much—or how little—information you receive, creating a more personalised news feed.

What You’ll Find

• Student Timetables
  Check your child’s timetable to stay informed of their daily classes (homework details will follow in Phase 2).
• Essential Documents
  Access handbooks, curriculum guides, and key policies, plus resources on uniforms, lunch services, buses, and staff directories.
• Weekly Top News
  Instead of an overlong newsletter, we will curate the top stories of the week through the Head of College message on Fridays.
• School Events & Activities
  Learn about upcoming events and sign up for private music lessons, sports programmes, and ECAs—all from the same platform.
• Educational Resources
  Discover links to the digital tools and learning platforms used across our schools.

Next Steps

Leading up to the launch in March, we will send detailed instructions on logging in to MyDulwich via your existing iSAMS credentials. Additionally, we will conduct on-site and online training sessions in February and March to make sure you’re comfortable navigating the portal.

Thank You

We appreciate your patience and support as we introduce this new system. As with any new initiative, there may be a short transition period while we fine-tune the platform. We look forward to making MyDulwich a valuable tool that keeps you informed, engaged, and connected to your child’s educational journey.

HIF International Summer Adventure Camp 2025

We are pleased to introduce the HIF International Summer Adventure Camp 2025, an enriching programme designed to foster academic growth, cultural exploration, and life skills development in the breathtaking Engadine Valley, Switzerland.

Programme Overview

• Dates: 13–26 July 2025 (core camp), with an optional cultural extension (26–31 July) to explore iconic European cities.
• Eligibility: Open to students aged 10–16.
• Capacity: Limited to 60 participants with a 1:9 staff-to-student ratio ensuring dedicated supervision.
• Curriculum: A well-rounded programme featuring language immersion, STEM workshops, cultural activities, and adventure-based learning.
• Fees: CHF 4,500 for the core camp; CHF 1,500 for the optional extension (exclusive to EiM group students). Fees exclude visa applications and flights.

Registration & Next Steps

• More Information & Registration: Click here to register.
• Induction Session: HIF will host an online induction in January to provide further details and answer queries.
• Payment & Contracts: Parents will complete payment directly following contract issuance by HIF.

For further details, please visit the programme brochure and risk assessment reference through the provided links. For inquiries, contact camp@eimglobal.com.

This is a valuable opportunity for students to engage in a transformative summer experience in Switzerland. Spaces are limited—early registration is recommended.

FOBISIA School Newsletter Insert for January 2025

Please click here to read the FOBISIA Newsletter Insert for January 2025.

Save the Date: School Photographs 2025

From Monday, 24 February to Thursday, 27 February 2025, our School Photographer, Family Day Studio, will be visiting the College for our annual school photographs.

Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

Support WISE Conference 2025

Dulwich College Seoul is excited to be hosting the WISE (Women in International Schools Empowerment) Conference 2025 from 21-23 February 2025. WISE is an initiative led by Women, for Women, to empower aspiring and current female educators and professionals working in international schools. Sponsoring the conference is a great opportunity for you to promote your businesses or organizations to 200+ conference participants from across Asia, the Middle East and Europe who want to support and empower each other’s development and success. Or please simply support DCSL, the hosting school!

Please find more information by clicking here or contact Helen Kim (Helen.Kim@dulwich-seoul.kr) to discuss.  

WISE Conference 2025 team

BP Debate competition

Global Citizenship Introductions

We are Lynsey Gogin and Lara Small, Global Citizenship Leads at Dulwich College Seoul, and we are honoured to advance our schools mission to inspire students to grow as global citizens who make a positive difference in the world.

One of our goals is to create meaningful, inclusive experiences that reflect and celebrate our diverse community. To achieve this, we are reaching out to invite enthusiastic volunteers to help mentor individuals and contribute to a variety of initiatives. We believe that your unique perspectives and experiences will greatly enrich our Global Citizenship programs.

Here are some of the key topics and events where we are looking for volunteers throughout the year:

March 2025

Neurodiversity: Share insights and support for individuals with different neurological conditions and learning styles.

February 2025

Black History Month: Help organize and facilitate events that honour and educate about the contributions and experiences of Black individuals.

March 2025

International Women’s Day: Lead conversations and events that celebrate women’s achievements and address gender equity.

April 2025

Earth Week: Contribute ideas and actions to raise awareness about environmental sustainability and our role in protecting our planet.

June 2025

Pride: Support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community through inclusive activities and discussions.

If you are interested in volunteering or have any ideas to contribute, please reach out to us at lynsey.gogin@dulwich-seoul.kr/ lara.small@dulwich-seoul.kr Your involvement will be invaluable in helping us build a more inclusive and engaging environment for everyone.

We look forward to working with you and making a positive impact together!

Warm regards,

Lynsey Gogin and Lara Small (Global Citizen Leads)

An Exciting Opportunity: Barça Academy Camps for Years 6–12 Students

We are excited to share a unique opportunity brought to us by the ESCCK and Barça Academy!

Barça Academy is offering football camps designed for students in Years 6–12, providing them with the incredible chance to train with expert Barça coaches. Participants will not only enhance their football skills but also learn the values and methodologies of FC Barcelona, one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world.

A standout feature of the program is the MVP Award, granted to the best participant in each category. Winners will receive a full scholarship and could even visit FC Barcelona for further training and development.

This is an amazing opportunity for young football enthusiasts to develop their talents and experience world-class training.

Click here to read about the program,

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!