Dulwich College Seoul - Back to School (Senior School) 2023-24

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Please find enclosed a quick summary of information to assist you with the start of the new academic year.

All the information is derived from the Parent Handbook, which will be shared at a later date. For ease of reference, we have extracted key information relating to the beginning of the new school year and presented them in this easy-to-navigate ‘Back to School’ guide.

There are different versions of the Parent Handbook for the Primary School and Senior School. Please make sure to read the relevant Handbook(s) whether you are an existing parent or new to the College.

If you require any further details, please do not hesitate to contact the school at (02) 3015 8514 or by email to the Senior School Administrator, Suji Choi at ss.admin@dulwich-seoul.kr

A New Families Orientation Day will be held for new parents and students on Monday 21 August 2023. Further details of this event will be sent to all new parents at a later date. Returning students and parents need not attend.

Yours faithfully,

Suzy Pugh Head of Senior School

Back to School 2023-24

SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR 2023-24

Month Event M T W TH F SAT SUN

14 - 21 August: All Staff Planning (5 Days)

15 August: Independence Day

21 August: New Families Orientation Day

22 August: First Day of School Year

28 - 30 September: Chuseok

(Harvest Moon) Holiday

29 September: Chuseok

2 - 6 October: Autumn Break

3 October: National Foundation Day

9 October: Hangeul (Korean Alphabet)

Proclamation Day 3 November: EiM Professional Learning Day

School Holiday

6 November:

DCSL Professional Learning Day

School Holiday

15 December: Last Day of Term 1

18 December - 5 January: Winter Holiday

25 December: Christmas Day

1 January: New Year's Day

8 January: First Day of Term 2

8 February:

DCSL Professional Learning Day

School Holiday

9 - 11 February: Seollal

(Lunar New Year) Holiday

10 February: Seollal

12 February: Additional Public Holiday

1 March: Independence Movement Day

29 March: Last Day of Term 2

1 - 12 April: Spring Break

10 April: National Congress Election Day

15 April: First Day of Term 3

1 May: Labour Day

5 May: Children's Day

6 May: Additional Public Holiday

15 May: Buddha's Birthday

6 June: Memorial Day

28 June: Last Day of School Year

1 July: Summer Holiday Begins

1. Tutor Group Allocations

All students in the Senior School are allocated to a Tutor Group. As always in a new academic year, some students have left us and we have new students joining the school. In consultation with teachers, we have compiled Tutor Group lists for the new academic year taking into account student numbers, gender, academic ability, English proficiency and social groupings already established in the College. The Assistant Heads, the Head of Additional Educational Needs (AEN) and the Year 7 Tutors have consulted with last year’s Year 6 class teachers to assist them in distributing students moving up from Junior School to Senior School.

With new students still being added to class lists over the summer holidays, we will not finalise Tutor Group lists until Monday 21 August 2023. The parents of newly arriving students will be personally advised of their child’s Form Tutor’s name and the new class lists will be posted in the iSAMS Parent Portal of the College website on the above date. We still expect that more students will be added to the classes after this point, as interest in Dulwich College Seoul remains high.

2. The Start of Term

• Start Time: 8.15am

• Finish Time: 3.30pm

It is recommended that new students arrive at school by 8am on their first day of school. For the first morning only, students will be met in the College Foyer by staff and directed to the Senior School on the fourth and fifth floors of the building, from where they will be guided to their Tutor Groups.

To facilitate a smooth beginning to the term, the first morning includes an Orientation Programme run by Form Tutors which will familiarise all students with the routines, procedures and expectations of the Senior School and the specific requirements for their year group. All students will be issued with a timetable and a planner and details of how to access the school network.

Normal lessons commence after orientation on the first day back in school.

3. Arriving at and Departing from School

On a normal school day, the day starts at 8.15am and students enter the College through the main entrance.

The College premises will not be open to students and parents until 8am each morning (except for the first day). After the first day, your child should arrive at school between 8am and 8.15am and go straight to his/her form room.

Senior School students may leave school after 3.30pm and do not have to wait to be dismissed. Students travelling home on buses will make their way to the relevant buses (see the next section).

Absence Procedures

To ensure our students’ safety, parents are requested to inform school of their child’s absence by 9.30am on the first day of absence. This may be done by:

• Email to Class Teacher/Form Tutor and reception@dulwich-seoul.kr

• Phone call to school at (02) 3015 8500 or 8501

If we have not received an explanation, school administrators will attempt to contact you on the morning of your child’s absence.

4. School Buses

The College Bus Service will begin on Tuesday 22 August 2023.

• If a student is not attending an Extra-Curricular Activity (ECA) after school, they will be dismissed from their class at 3.30pm. Students will make their own way to the buses, where they will be checked by the teachers before the buses depart.

• Additional support will be given to all our new students in the first few days of term to ensure that they ride the correct bus.

• Please inform us of any changes to your child’s bus routine by 12pm noon (for afternoon departures) or 5pm (for the following day’s journeys).

• If you wish to collect your child by car instead of having them travel on the bus, it is essential that you telephone the School Transport Office at (02) 3015 8563, email to buses@dulwichseoul.kr, or send a letter to the Form Tutor.

• Failure to notify the school will cause delays to the bus departure times and prolong the journey for the children.

• If your child becomes sick in the early morning and is unable to attend school, please contact your bus driver or bus monitor directly.

5. New Families Orientation Day

An Orientation Day for new parents and students to the College in the Senior School will be held on Monday 21 August 2023.

As this is a general introduction to the school, existing parents are not required to attend, even if there is another sibling starting at Dulwich College Seoul for the first time.

Further details will be sent to new parents.

6. Parent Information Evenings

A Parent Information Evening for all Senior School parents will be held at 4.30pm on Tuesday 29 August 2023 to outline important aspects of the academic and pastoral programme offered at Dulwich College Seoul.

All parents are invited to attend and it will provide an opportunity to meet with the Leadership Team, Tutors and Senior School teachers. Further details will be sent to parents at the start of term.

7. Daily Routines

Students will be issued their timetables on the first morning.

All students are allocated a locker on the first day of school. Students are expected to keep their bags and belongings in their locker when not in use for lessons. Students are advised to bring a small combination padlock for their locker.

Please find as follows the regular routine for Senior School students:

Senior School - Structure of the Day

8.15am Registration

8.20am - 9.20am Lesson 1

9.20am - 10.20am Lesson 2

10.20am - 10.40am Morning Break

10.40am - 11.40am Lesson 3

11.40am - 12.40pm Lesson 4

12.40pm - 1.30pm Lunch Break

1.30pm - 2.30pm Lesson 5

2.30pm - 3.30pm Lesson 6

Assemblies are a chance to come together and celebrate achievements and successes and take place each Friday afternoon.

8. Activities: ECAs and Enrichment

Senior School activities take place throughout the week after school, on the weekend and on Friday afternoons.

• Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) take place after 3.30pm and on the weekends. ECAs include voluntary arts groups, clubs, adventurous activities and sports squads in which we hope all students will participate. Term 1 ECAs start formally on Monday 11 September 2023, though some sport trials/try-outs will take place before this.

• Enrichment takes place on Friday afternoons after Assembly. Students must select from a range of opportunities based in our values of excellence, community, diversity and sustainability. Over the course of their school career, students should seek a balance of these areas. Some Enrichment activities take place off-site, and may involve a small cost.

The Activities schedule describing all available ECAs and Enrichment activities will be shared early in the term with students and parents.

9. School Lunches

Senior School students eat in the main Dining Hall under the supervision of teachers. They start lunch at the second sitting from 12.40pm onwards. Students choose their own food from a range of vegetarian, local and global dishes and are welcome to return for additional portions if they wish to do so.

If your child has any special dietary needs, please inform your Form Tutor.

10. Uniform

Beginning Tuesday 22 August 2023, students are required to wear full school uniform appropriate for the weather at all times. The uniform is listed on the adjacent page. Students will change into their sports/PE kit whenever they are participating in physical activity.

Senior School students will be expected to wear the Best Dress Uniform, including a blazer, on selected days, regardless of the season. Consistent or blatant disregard of the Uniform Policy will result in the student receiving sanctions, including being sent home.

Please be sure that all items are clearly marked with the student’s name.

General Appearance

• Clothing and general appearance must be clean and presentable.

• Shirts and blouses must be tucked into shorts, trousers or skirts/skorts.

• School shoes must be plain black leather. Shoes, boots or sneakers must be fully black with no coloured soles, laces, strips, tongue, etc.

• Hair must be clean, neat and presentable. Long hair should be tied back for lunch, sports and science.

• Students must not wear jewellery apart from a watch, a small necklace of a religious nature and stud earrings. Stud earrings should not be worn on PE days. If they cannot be removed, they will be covered with tape.

• If students choose to wear make-up, it should be professional and natural; this includes nail polish, false nails and nail extensions. The only exceptions are for a show or performance or when taking part in a Drama lesson where stage make-up is required.

• During the hotter months, students are encouraged to wear a cap/hat for outdoor activities.

Year 7 to Year 11 Uniform Expectations

Year 7 to Year 11 Daily and Best Dress Uniform

Summer Winter/Best Dress Uniform

Tartan kilt, tartan skort, grey trousers or grey shorts

White short-sleeved shirt

Tartan kilt, tartan skort or grey trousers

White long-sleeved shirt

Senior School tie Senior School tie

School sweater, cardigan or blazer (School blazer - Friday assembly and formal occasions)

School sweater, cardigan or blazer (School blazer - Friday assembly and formal occasions)

Grey socks Grey socks, tights or knee-length socks

Black polished shoes, boots or trainers

Navy or hair-coloured hair accessories

Black polished shoes, boots or trainers

Navy or hair-coloured hair accessories

‘Hoodies’ (including Dulwich College Seoul branded trip hoodies) should not be worn as school uniforms during the day. If cold, students should wear their shirt with a College jumper/cardigan and/ or blazer.

Please note the times of specialist lessons and remind your child to pack the appropriate kit for each day at school. We encourage all students to take care of their own personal possessions. Your support at home is greatly appreciated.

There are optional Non-Uniform Days throughout the year. The dates are published in the calendar and in the weekly e-updates. On these days, the students are allowed to wear their own clothes if they make a small donation to charity; we recommend approximately KRW 2,000 - 3,000.

Non-Uniform Days are not fancy dress days. Students may be casually dressed but they should be smart in appearance. Rules regarding make-up and jewellery remain in force on these days.

IB Student Dress Code

The IB Student Dress Code follows a basic rule of dressing in a professional manner. Although students in Year 12 and Year 13 are not required to wear school uniforms, their dress should be smart and appropriate for a working environment. The choice must represent the highest levels of hygiene and cleanliness. As a general rule, students should be dressed so that they can welcome guests to the school or attend a formal interview. Where Year 12 and Year 13 students’ attire falls below these standards, they may be asked to leave school and change.

All IB students must wear a lanyard on the College campus.

Professional Dress Expectations:

• Smart formal trousers, skirt or dress of professional length and cut.

• A variety of tops and colours are acceptable, including smart shirts, blouses, v-neck sweaters, cardigans and jackets; provided necklines are appropriate and discreet; shoulders and midriff are covered; and the fabric is not sheer.

• Clean formal shoes/boots (no casual sandals, flip-flops, UGG-type boots or non-black trainers). They must be of uniform colour − no white areas around the side/base.

• One pair of earrings is permitted.

• Make-up and hairstyles should be professional, whether through colour, style or length.

• All IB students must wear a smart jacket for formal occasions and assemblies.

Attire that is not acceptable:

• No jeans, combat trousers, leggings, sportswear, cords or shorts.

• No casual t-shirts, halter-neck, backless or bra tops.

• Inappropriately short skirts or shorts.

• Clothing that is revealing or excessively tight.

• Clothing that has distasteful images or words.

• Clothing that is styled to explicitly advertise brands or products; clothing with logos or slogans should be discreet and not likely to cause offence.

• No casual sandals, flip-flops, bare feet or training shoes; not multi-coloured.

• Underwear/undergarments should not be visible either through clothing or due to inadequate coverage by outerwear.

PE and House Uniforms

The PE uniform consists of a tracksuit (top and bottom), a PE shirt and shorts. This should be worn for all PE lessons in Year 7 to Year 11. A school hat is a recommended addition to the PE uniform.

Year 12 and Year 13 students may wear their own dark-coloured sports kit for these activities.

It is recommended that students have more than one set of PE uniforms as they are likely to be wearing them several times during the school week.

The House uniform consists of a T-shirt and shorts in the House colours. Senior School students are required to wear House uniforms for all House events and competitions.

11. Items to Bring to School

Senior School students require a pencil case with the following items:

• Standard and coloured pencils

• Pens

• Pencil sharpener

• Eraser

• Glue stick

• Ruler (30 cm), compasses and protractor

• Scientific Calculator

- Casio fx-85ES calculator or its equivalent model for Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 students

- Year 10 and Year 11 students will be advised of what calculator to buy at the start of the academic year in August

- Year 12 and Year 13 students require a Graphical Display Calculator (GDC), and the Maths Department will give advice on make and model

• Water bottle (students can fill this at school)

• Apron for art (aprons are provided, but students may bring their own)

• Combination padlock for the locker

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

All students in the Senior School are required to have a laptop computer, netbook or tablet with a keyboard. The device should be able to access the Internet via the school’s network. Students can use Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft 365 applications.

12. Homework

Homework is an integral part of student learning. It enables students to consolidate, practise and develop the skills they have learnt in class, and prepare them for subsequent lessons. It also allows students the opportunity to gradually develop the confidence and skills to become more independent learners.

The length of time students spend on homework increases as they progress through the Senior School. Further details about homework are provided in the Senior School Parent Handbook and the topic will be addressed during Term 1 Parent Workshops.

Students will receive a homework schedule at the beginning of term.

13. School Events Calendar

School events are published on the online calendar accessed via the iSAMS Parent Portal.

It is therefore important that parents check the calendar on a regular basis and read the weekly e-updates for announcements and upcoming events.

In conclusion:

Please let us reiterate that our staff are always available to provide the highest levels of care and support for your children. This is especially true at the beginning of the new school year. If you have any questions please reach out to your child’s Tutor in the first instance or Head of Year.

New students will undergo a period of induction, offering extra help and advice, during their first few weeks at the school to help them settle into our routines and expectations.

It now remains for us to wish you a wonderful start to the year and we look forward to seeing you all at the College in the coming weeks.

Yours faithfully,

Suzy Pugh Head of Senior School

Gareth Wright Academic Deputy Head of Senior School

Emma Chamberlain Assistant Head of Senior SchoolIB Coordinator and Philosophy

Rebecca Gardner Pastoral Deputy Head of Senior School

John Allen Assistant Head of Senior SchoolStudent Leadership and Enrichment