Planet Hack and Dr Sarah Clement visit
We were thrilled this week to welcome Dr. Sarah Clement, Associate Professor at the Fenner School of Environment & Society at Australia National University, who visited our school to share her insights on designing healthier, more sustainable cities with students and parents. Dr. Clement’s engaging talk emphasized the numerous physical and mental health benefits of spending time in nature and green spaces, including improvements in academic performance.
Did you know that just 120 minutes a week in nature—whether in shorter or longer sessions—has been shown to have significant health benefits? Even 30 minutes per week can reduce stress and depression and simply sitting in nature can lower stress levels. Dr. Clement also highlighted that water features amplify these benefits; just gazing at water can have a calming effect!
At lunch time the Eco Warriors and the Planet Hackers were able to meet their expert in person over lunch and ask her questions about her research and Biophilic design work. They found it a rich and rewarding experience.
By the end of the day our students left inspired and excited to explore the green spaces around them, and we hope this experience will encourage them to prioritize time in nature for a healthier and happier life.
No Carbon November
In November, we’re excited to launch the No Carbon November Challenge! This initiative encourages our staff to bring positive climate conversations into their classrooms weekly, weaving climate awareness into everyday learning across all subjects.
The Eco-Warriors in primary will be launching a ‘Walk to School’ initiative, encouraging families to leave their cars at home and choose walking, cycling, or public transport to get to school. They will create posters and present during assemblies to promote this important initiative aimed at improving air quality and making our community more sustainable. We look forward to comparing the data collected before and after this exciting project!
Our senior students will also have the chance to take part through a daily action list, inspiring them to make small, impactful choices that reduce carbon emissions. Together, we’ll explore how personal actions—like “Teaspoons of Change”—can make a difference at personal, community, and global levels. Let’s work together this month to model how small changes can lead to a healthier, more sustainable world.
Planet Hack – written by Social Media Club
On Friday and Saturday, we participated in Planet Hack, a STEM competition hosted by Dulwich College Seoul in collaboration with Dulwich College Beijing, Australian National University and Education in Motion. In this competition, students were challenged to create a biophilic retrofit product addressing the SDGs. Biophilic design is a way of designing buildings to help people feel closer to nature by adding natural elements, nature-inspired details, and comfortable spaces. Over two days, we collaborated to design their own product, tailored for a specific city while also preserving its cultural significance. Congratulations to all participants for their hard work and creativity!
Written by Social Media Club members Grace and Mrudul
Christmas Gift Drive
We are proud and honoured to continue our heart-warming Christmas tradition of donating a gift to a friend living in an orphanage in and around Seoul this year! This year, we are aiming to spread Christmas joy and goodwill to 234 children so please click here to follow the steps and sign up!
Calling All Volunteers: Join Our Intergenerational Cooking Project for CNN’s Call to Earth Day!
We are excited to invite volunteers to participate in an Intergenerational Cooking Project, where grandparents will join Primary and Senior students to cook cherished childhood recipes. This special event will be filmed by CNN in November as part of their Call to Earth day, which focuses on environmental challenges and solutions. This year’s theme, Connected Generations, celebrates the wisdom passed down from older generations and how we can make the world better for future ones. If you or a grandparent you know would like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you!
Please contact Lara Small (lara.small@dulwich-seoul.kr) or Lynsey Gogin (lynsey.gogin@dulwich-seoul.kr) to express interest or for more information.
Kimba: poet coming soon!
In November, we welcome London-based poet and rapper Kimba, who is coming to work with our students in both Primary and Senior School. Kimba promises to be a truly entertaining speaker and an inspiring figure. Parents have the opportunity *right now* to buy a copy of Kimba’s book in advance, so that your child can be sure of coming home with a signed copy. The book of poetry, ‘Write the Wrongs’, is available for just 10,000 KRW on Tongbang Books’ website here.
Winter Bazaar
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
IB Forum for Prospective Parents Only
Prospective parents can join our IB Forum for the opportunity to meet our College Leadership Team and learn about the benefits of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
They will hear from IB students and parent ambassadors about how our supportive community fosters personalised learning journeys. The event will also include a guided tour of our facilities, with a focus on our Senior School Programmes and IB-specific offerings.
Prospective parents can click here to RSVP.
BP Debate competition
Global Citizenship Introductions
We are excited to introduce ourselves as the new Global Citizenship Leads at Dulwich College, Seoul. We are Lynsey Gogin and Lara Small, and we are honoured to join this vibrant community to support and 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:
September 2024
World Peace Day: Engage in discussions and activities that promote global harmony and understanding.
October 2024 and March 2025
Neurodiversity: Share insights and support for individuals with different neurological conditions and learning styles.
November 2024
No Carbon November: encourage individuals and communities to reduce their carbon footprint through sustainable practices, mindful consumption, and environmental awareness.
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)
Call for Submissions
A new student-led journal called Student Pedagogies of Asian America based in the US is calling for submissions from high school and college students worldwide to contribute to its inaugural issue with a theme of Borders. Please note you do not have to identify as Asian American to submit a contribution. Click on the link to read more about submission guidelines.
Background
Student Pedagogies of Asian America was created out of the desire to provide an academic platform for high school and college students to critically and creatively discuss progressive topics that impact family, community, as well as national and global matters. The world of Asian American Studies has largely been solely for adult scholars up until now. Our journal seeks to insert young scholars’ voices in this current void.
Our vision for knowledge production and content about Asian America is one of inclusivity and allyship/solidarity that does not limit Asian America or Asian American conversations to those who identify as Asian American. We want to ground this project on the idea that “Asian America” itself is less of a physical identity and more of a discursive community of diverse, various identities. In that regard, we think conversations on histories, cultures, politics, and identities can be more capacious than how they have been understood in the past. We seek to foster the critical voices of students in education whereby students are agents of their own learning and use their whole selves to produce knowledge. Student pedagogy recognizes the importance of addressing the inequities of power, status, socioeconomics, education, and more.
Dulwich Ducklings
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!