NLCS Jeju Newsletter 22 March 2024

PRINCIPAL’S LETTER

Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Friends of NLCS Jeju

What an exciting, hardworking but exhilarating term this has been for all our students and staff. As always we have much to celebrate as the end of term Celebration Assemblies in both the Junior and Senior Schools demonstrated. This has been a remarkably successful term for the students as both individuals and as team members in such a variety of teams. Well done to all of you!

It has been thrilling to see many of our students really challenging themselves in such a variety of ways and taking risks in their learning. The Enrichment Weeks both Mathematics and Physics weeks really provided opportunities for the students to do this. It was also great fun to see how the mathematics teachers also challenged themselves with their dancing display!

As we come to the end of the term we will also be taking part in our annual Founder’s Day Ceremony, remembering our founder, Frances Mary Buss in London, but also the founding of NLCS Jeju in 2011 and celebrating how far the School has come on since then. We will pay tribute to our Principals and teachers as well as all our students who have contributed to the success of NLCS Jeju since its founding.

As the term draws to a close we wish our graduating students in year 13 success in the upcoming IB Diploma examinations. We also wish our Year 11 students success in their upcoming IGCSE examinations. We recognise that for them and the Senior School students who have annuals next term that the Easter holidays will be spent in revision and wish them well. However remember quality revision brings success and so smart learning and revision with breaks, a healthy lifestyle and sleep is beneficial and bring greater rewards!

We look forward to seeing you all back for a new term in April!

Yours sincerely,

Lynne Oldfield Principal

The Main Event

Here are the biggest stories from around the School this week.

NEW PRINCIPAL ANNOUNCED

The Chair of Governors, Ms. Helen Stone, recently announced that Mr. James Monaghan will be returning to NLCS Jeju as the School’s Principal from August 2024.

Mr Monaghan has over 30 years’ experience in education, working in the UK and overseas. In 2011, after 17 years at Mill Hill School, in North London, he moved to Jeju as a member of the founding team of NLCS Jeju, in the role of Assistant Head, Director of Boarding.

In 2017, Mr Monaghan returned to the North London Collegiate family in Dubai as Vice Principal (Curriculum), taking up the post of Principal in 2019.

Of course, we will all be sad to see Ms. Oldfield leave, but we are all looking forward to welcoming Mr. Monaghan as we know he will continue to drive NLCS Jeju forward.

The Main Event

MATHS ENRICHMENT WEEK

Thank you to our Maths Department, Mathematics Society students and everyone else who was involved in an exciting Enrichment Week. As always, the team managed to create a range of activities that show how maths is used outside the classroom and make it fun and engaging for all.

The week included origami, a COBIS online quiz, lectures, balloon debates, an escape room and golden bell competition. We have captured lots of photos to share with you.

The Main Event

“As the Mathematics Department we want our students to be great problem solvers and change-makers. We want them to be involved in the change with the aim of making the world a peaceful and better place. They are encouraged to transfer their learning to a new context so they can apply their knowledge and skills effectively outside original learning conditions, which is essential to be successful in life.

As the head of the Mathematics Department I cherish working with an incredibly committed, energetic and creative mathematics team who put our students to the centre of their work.

I would like to thank the Mathematics Department and Mathematics Society for their invaluable contributions to this spectacular week”- Ms. Duygu Bulut (Head of Senior School Maths).

Main Event

Maths Department Busking

During the week there was an unexpected treat when some members of the Maths Department put on a performance for us all, such great fun, thank you all!!

MATHS SOCIETY

Here is a great photo of our Maths Society. They work hard to support the Maths Department and to inspire other students. Here is what they thought of the week.

“Within Maths Society, I was able to make various valuable connections with fellow mathematicians and contribute to the School community in the most academic way possible.” - Taehoon (Terry) Kim

“It has been such a huge privilege to be part of the Maths Society for the past 2 years, and especially this year, when I was able to actively participate and even lead some activities during the maths enrichment week. Last week was the pinnacle of my whole experience in the maths society.” - Suhyuk (Jeff) Cho

“I am confident that this year’s Maths Enrichment Week has truly elevated our School to new heights: collaboration with other societies, teacher’s participation and obviously our wonderful corridor stalls.” - Yejun (Derek) Yoo

The Main Event

“Reflecting on the Maths Enrichment Week this year, I’m filled with a sense of pride and gratitude. Being part of the leadership team provided a valuable perspective and opportunity on transforming an idea into an impactful school wide event.” Jean (Jean) Kim

“Often, leading the School’s biggest society feels unreal. In this position used to be the sixth formers in smart suits, the unapproachable maths geeks, the competent chairs who seemed to execute every project flawlessly.” - Chaeen (Emma) Chung

“It was a great opportunity to be a part of the Mathematics Society leadership team and to contribute to such an amazing enrichment week filled with great joy and learning opportunities. The week was packed with creative and rewarding activities”.- June (June) Kim

MATHEMATICS JOURNAL

Take a look at the latest edition of our student-led journal, JPAM.

The Main Event

PHYSICS ENRICHMENT WEEK

This week we have enjoyed a lively corridor, including a physics simulator (how to get less wet in the rain; the cooling effect of fanning yourself), a friction game with bottle caps, an Archimedes Screw demonstration and a lecture from our Head of Physics, Mr. Nick Gillings on ‘Chasing Shadows’.

The boarding students even had an opportunity for stargazing!

Societies tables:

Astrotech Society - Falcon 9 modelling software Engineering Society - Automata and pet camera Physics Society - SANDBOX project model

FOUNDER’S DAY

Founder’s Day celebrates the founding of NLCS in April 1850, by Frances Mary Buss. This is a special day for the family of NLCS schools as we give thanks to Ms. Buss and all the other inspirational heads and teachers that paved the way for all of us today.

On 27 March, the School community will hold a service of thanksgiving, which includes a daffodil procession, a reading of the Lord’s Prayer, music and the whole congregation singing our School song ‘New Home of Daffodils’.

This is always such a joyous occasion and we are looking forward to celebrating next week. We will share videos and photos after the day.

Don’t miss our posts!

Follow us on our social media pages to never miss out! Our recent posts include:

• Admissions at COEX Education Fair

• Korean Language Lesson for our Singapore Exchange Students

• TEDxYouth

• Disorganised Drone

• FOBISIA Golf Tournament

• Spear’s 500

• Critical Thinking

• NLCS Jeju Badminton Open

FLICKR

Did you know we add all our photos to Flickr? With no restrictions on the number of photos we can share, you will be able to see every photo from all the events around School. Why not have a look now?

NLCS Jeju Awards and Achievements

ARLT LATIN READING COMPETITION 2024

“We are extremely happy to announce the success of these Latin students in the ARLT (Association for Latin Teaching) Latin Reading Competition. All students who entered received prizes this year. Senior students read a very dramatic section of Virgil’s Aeneid where the sea monsters attack and kill Laocoon and his sons, Intermediate students recorded themselves reading a poem by Catullus in which he tells himself to stop being silly and admit that his girlfriend no longer loves him and the Juniors read an exciting story from the Suburani Latin Course about a wild boar and a scar. All students were judged on their pronunciation and ability to convey the meaning of the passage. You can listen to the prize winning recordings by following this link.” Ms. Margaret Baird, Head of Latin.

Senior

Second Prize: Hye Eun Lily Lee (Y12)

Third Prize: Jinyoung Kil (Y12)

Intermediate

First Prize: Soowhan Benjamin Jun (Y10)

Second Prize:Junseok Jayden Lee (Y10)

Junior

First Prize: Heijune June Sung (Y9)

Second Prize: Yerim Chloe Lee (Y9)

Third Prize: Siwool Um (Y9)

Other News

MEET YOUR JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENT LEADERS AND AMBASSADORS!

There are a number of leadership roles within the Junior School, in addition to the Little 8. All the roles are equally important and have a number of responsibilities which help make the NLCS Jeju community a huge success.

Well done to you all on your roles - we are lucky to have you!!

Technology Ambassadors

Teacher - Mr. Dave Smithson

Students L-R - Bella Lee, Berke Tegzes, Ji Hoon Choi, Winston Lee, Edward Lee

Our Technology Ambassadors help in many ways, one of which is to educate younger students with how to use technology, but more importantly, how to use it safely.

SWAG

“The SWAG group helps enhance students’ holistic development by promoting well-being and creating a supportive and inclusive school environment conducive to learning and growth.” - Mr. Washington.

Teacher - Mr. Richard Washington

Students - Back - L-R Seunga Kim, Jay Kim, Ryan Song, Audrey Kim Front - L-R Bona Lee, Joowon Kim, Layla Jung, Joon Bang

Other News

Sport Ambassadors

Teacher - Mr. Andy Cronin

Students - Back - L-R Jason Kim, Benedict Kim, Aiden Jun, McKenzie Reddy

Front - L-R Kate Washington, Tiffany Kim, Ryan Jun, Lily Lee

“The Sports Ambassadors serve as role models in PE and Sports, actively promoting and encouraging participation in sports. They play a vital role in the organisation and running of PE enrichment week and Sports events and aim to spread the enjoyment and benefits of sports within the school community.” - Mr. Cronin.

Student Council

Teachers - Mr. Pete Evans and Ms. Mireille Alwan.

Students - Back - L-R Kevin Yeo 6EF, Dael Choi 5EF, Lena Kim 6AB, Aaron Kim 6CD, Yejun Cho 6IJ, Joowon Kim (Y6 Chair), Harry Yoon (Y6 Chair), Mckenzie Reddy (Y6 Chair), Layla Jung (Y6 Chair), Jason Chun 5IJ, Ryan Jun 5AB, Ted Kim 5GH, Hoya Yoon 5CD, Flora Lee 6GH, Ms Alwan

Other News

Service Ambassadors

Teacher - Mr. Gwangho Im

Students - Back - L-R

Service is very important at NLCS Jeju and our Service Ambassadors work hard to find ways in which the Junior School can continue to give back to the community.

“The Student Council continues to be the voice of the children in the Junior School. The children have already started making a difference in their four committees: Academic, Pastoral, Beyond the Curriculum and Food & Canteen Committee.” - Ms. Alwan.

Aiden Kim, Alice Oh, Front - L-R - Hayoon Kwon, Deline Lee, Yejun Cho, Yeonho Lee

Front - L-R - Leo Kim 4DE, Tia Kim 4JH, Henry Kim 3LKH, Amelia Kim 3TH, Ijun Sa 3RB, Suhyeon Song 3LG, Yuhyun Lee 4TS, Roy Kim 4AL

Other News

Music Ambassadors

Teacher - Ms. Ruth Baker

Students L-R - Luke Park, Rael Lee, Jennifer Kang, Jiwon Song

“The Music Ambassadors are heavily involved in the Beyond the Curriculum programme for Music. They participate in a diverse range of activities and also help create example performances of pieces different year levels are learning in their curriculum music lessons.” - Ms. Baker.

Library Ambassadors

Teacher - Mr. Guk Hyun Nam

Students - Back - L-R - Angela(Hyojae) Lee, Olivia (Ingyeong) Park, Lena (Damhee) Kim, Jeremy (Junyoung) Lee, Front - L-R - Hayun Lee, Ellie (Ha-eun) You, Eileen (Eunseo) Jang

“Library ambassadors are learning library skills to support other students who need help from the library as information managers. They also try a variety of encouragement and efforts for students’ joyful and successful library use.” - Mr Nam.

Other News

Eco Ambassadors

Teacher - Ms Megan Dyer-Jones

Students - Back - L-R - Jun Woo Kim, Jessica (Jiyul) Kim, Holly (Yeon) Jeong, Terry (Taehyun) Kim, Front - L-R - Dael Choi, Yonjay Nam, Stella (Jeongin) Lee, Sophia Seo

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” - Robert Swan.

Cultural Awareness Committee (CAC)

Teacher - Ms. Melissa Green

Students L-R - Ted Kim, Penelope Brown (Not pictured Aaron Kim and Woohyun Seol)

“Members of the Cultural Awareness Committee are dedicated to building strong and lasting bonds between members of our diverse student community. They develop, research, and share projects to increase awareness about underrepresented groups in our school.” - Ms. Green.

Other News

Art Ambassadors

Teacher - Ms. Michelle Walker

Students L-R - Back: Belle Ji, Alice Yi, Alex Lee, Jerome Lee, Lucas Chang, Front - Daisy Fitzpatrick, Mia Park, Taein Park, Yuna Song, Kei Weber

“The Art Ambassadors play an important role in promoting art and art activities in the Junior School. They assist with preparing for exhibitions, supporting younger students with art activities during enrichment week and Arts’ Week. They are the creative sparks who can be called upon at any time to create a last minute poster or title for a display board or simply just help with cleaning up after art lessons.” - Ms. Walker.

MEDICAL REVIEW

“We would like to wish all our students the best in tonight’s Medical Review 2024. The teams were selected following preliminary rounds which took place recently. Tonight they present on the PAC in front of an audience and a panel of medical experts, the latter of which will ask questions related to their presentation before a winning group is selected.

We are immensely proud of everyone who has dedicated time and effort to this year’s NLCS Jeju Medical Review. Through the build up towards the Preliminary Judging, such an experience has provided our students with valuable skills and insights when communicating complex ideas such as the use of AI in the medical field. From the involvement of our students and from the feedback of the preliminary judges, it is without doubt all thirty student participants vying for the top three places have also learnt more about themselves; when taking part in that which is discursive and exploratory, many of our Medical Review participants have found the challenge of impromptu questioning, a viva voce of sorts, a very part of their personal growth in academics. For those who did not advance this time, we encourage you to make good use of this year’s experiences when participating in next year’s Medical Review. Remember, perseverance and continuous improvement are the keys to future successes.

Other News

After careful deliberation and consideration from the preliminary judges’ feedback, the final three groups of exceptional finalists are:

Apple Kim (Y10) and Collin Seo (Y10): “AI-enhanced Retinal Scanning”

Jimin Son (Y11) and Haliey Choi (Y11): “AI in first response”

Soomin Shim (Y12) and Chandler Ahn (Y12): “Artificial Intelligence in a Warming World, Transforming the Landscape of Pandemic Diagnosis”

Witnessing such dedication and excellence in our students’ presentations was truly inspiring. In addition to our three groups of finalists, we have also included a “Highly Commended” team:

Serena Hong (Y11) and Kellyn Park (Y11): “AI’s role in Alzheimer’s Diagnosis”

The final round for the NLCS Jeju Medical Review 2024 will be held this Friday, 22nd of March in the Performing Arts Centre (PAC). Our finalists will be presenting to and answering questions from a prestigious panel, Mr Daniel JewItt (NLCS Jeju), Mr Tajvir Singh (NLCS Jeju), Dr Jun Rhee (Yonsei University), and Prof Byung-Il Yeh (Yonsei University).

Other News

Students, staff members and parents are welcome to join us at the event and cheer on our presenters. The Review will be run between 6:30pm and 9pm. Prior to the Review commencing there will be a display of twelve sets of academic posters in the PAC Foyer, displaying the presentation content of ALL of the participating student groups in this year’s NLCS Jeju Medical Review.” - Ms. Kym Prichard and Mr. Mark Kim and the Medical Review team!

Please join us in support of the high calibre of thought and exploration into what is now proving to be both dynamic and enigmatic - The Evolving Landscape: Exploring AI’s Impact on the Transformation of Medical Diagnosis.

Medical Review Programme

Other News

ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO FROM SOHAPPY

Take a look at the latest video ‘SOHAPPY Insights x #stoplookthink: Campaign Launch Video’. Well done Seoha, thank you for sharing.

CELEBRATION TIME!

As the second term comes to an end, we gather our students together to celebrate all of their achievements and accomplishments from the term. As always, there is lots to reflect on and be proud of. We are looking forward to seeing what term 3 has in store for our community.

DEI WORKSHOP

Thank you to the parents who joined us recently for our Senior School Parent Workshop which focused on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. We hope we can work together to ensure that NLCS Jeju is a welcoming and safe place for all.

CLEAN OLLE

NLCS Jeju signed an agreement with Jeju Olle “Our Town Clean Olle.”

With this agreement, NLCS Jeju will expand its own environmental purification projects and carry out full-scale purification activities with responsibility for the Olle Road around the School.

“I am proud of NLCS Jeju students who regularly carry out environmental cleanup activities as well as their academic work. I am very happy to sign an agreement with Jeju Olle, which is making a big difference in the lives of the Jeju community, and I hope that we can help each other through continuous relationships.” said Lynne Oldfield

News link

Other News

FAMILY CENTRE

As well as signing an MOU with Jeju Olle, we were delighted to also sign an MOU with the Jeju Family Centre, we are proud of the work our students do to support the community and this agreement means we can continue to support the Family Centre and make a difference.

CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL DAY

Last week our Chemistry labs were a hive of activity, throughout the day a number of practical sessions took place focussing on equipping our students with the tool kit to tackle Paper 6. These skills included data analysis, application of knowledge, logical and critical thinking. These are all highly valued skills for IB chemistry students.

Other News

The purpose of the day was to build confidence in tackling Paper 6 in all the students in the Yr11 cohort, as well as extending our top performers, whilst supporting those who need additional consolidation.

Ms Coughlan asked her final group of the day what they had thought of the carousel of activities.

“I am delighted to report that the response was overwhelmingly positive. The students felt they would be more successful in their exams. Most importantly, they had learnt new things, consolidated skills and had fun doing it! I am grateful to work with such a great team of educators.”

Other News

IGNITE

The student led event ‘Ignite’ recently took place at NLCS Jeju - the event follows the online sessions which have taken place since December.

Throughout the competition the students were placed into real-life business situations and were required to work in randomly assigned teams of various people and various backgrounds to best recreate the global business environment.

Well done to everyone involved.

“We have been especially proud of our four student leaders who envisioned, planned and delivered this programme. Fantastic to see such an enriching experience following their efforts.” - Ms. Natalie Wilson - Vice Principal (Academic).

We were also delighted that five students from NLCS Singapore joined us for the eventincluding three of their Big 6.

FORENSIC DEBATE

“We recently saw remarkable success in the Jeju Forensics Network Online Debating Championship 2024 hosted by the NLCS Debate Society’s leadership team, with me, Taeyoon (Alvin) Song (Y11), Xin (Andy) Zhang (Y12), Jaehoon (Roy) Song (Y11), and Hyeeun (Lily) Lee(Y12) on the Chief Adjudication Panel (a.ka. organisers). The tournament was filled with highly skilled debaters and judges from 12 schools, including those within the GEC, mainland Korea, and even overseas - making the event a truly global space for articulating and contesting ideas.

After 4 engaging preliminary rounds, 6 teams earned the privilege of contending for the trophy during the latter half of Sunday.

“We recently saw remarkable success in the Jeju Forensics Network Online Debating Championship 2024 hosted by the NLCS Debate Society’s leadership team, with me, Taeyoon (Alvin) Song (Y11), Xin (Andy) Zhang (Y12), Jaehoon (Roy) Song (Y11), and Hyeeun (Lily) Lee(Y12) on the Chief Adjudication Panel (a.ka. organisers). The tournament was filled with highly skilled debaters and judges from 12 schools, including those within the GEC, mainland Korea, and even overseas - making the event a truly global space for articulating and contesting ideas.

After 4 engaging preliminary rounds, 6 teams earned the privilege of contending for the trophy during the latter half of Sunday.

Team Pride, which consisted of Jason Jung (Y9), Andy Kim (Y9) and a students from KISJ, ultimately emerged victorious at the end of the day in a highly competitive grand final under the motion ‘This House Believes That that one must imagine Sisyphus happy’ - a philosophical inquiry inspired by the Frenchman Albert Camus. They took the debate in a landslide 7-0 decision by the panellists. Congratulations!

The most notable aspect of the tournament, however, is the number of NLCS Jeju students who distinguished themselves from the other participants in terms of both individual and team awards.

• Jason Jung and Andy Kim(both Y9) of team Pride broke 1st and earned the title of grand champions. Jason ranked 1st overall, and Andy ranked 4th overall and was voted Finals Best Speaker by all 7 judges.

• Chris Lee(Y10) of team Hallabong broke 2nd overall, made it all the way to grand finals, and ranked 3rd individually.

• Henry Han(Y7) of team Harubang broke 4th overall, made it to the semifinals, and ranked 9th individually.

• Derrick Kim, Sharon Yoon, and Donghyun Lee(all Y10) of team debatte were open quarter-finalists and broke 3rd overall.

• And, finally, Uchan Seo(Y8) of team Hallasan broke 5th overall, made it to the quarterfinals, and was ranked the 5th best novice speaker.

On behalf of the CAP, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all participants and judges who accompanied us throughout the tournament. JFNODC 2024 was a massive” - Taeyoon (Alvin) Song.

HAPPINESS SHARING DONATION DAY

“As students and parents leave for their hometowns every holiday, a lot of food has been thrown away after the expiration date in GEC. So, About Jeju, one of NLCS Jeju service Bryant groups, cooperates with Seogwipo City to donate unused items and processed foods with little expiration date. Ahead of long holidays such as summer, Christmas, and Easter, we will collect and donate processed foods or daily necessities that do not have much expiration date at home to Seogwipo City Hall to share them with neighbours in need. Donation boxes are located in front of the Junior and Senior Libraries each.” - About Jeju group.

EQUILIBRIUM

Enjoy the latest issue of our fantastic student journal, Equilibrium. All articles are written by our students and this edition includes ‘Why is there no successful communism’ and ‘Effect of globalisation on South Korea’s economic development’. Well done to the team of writers and to the Chair - Hwayoung (Sophia) Lee, Editor in Chief - Tae Hyun (Terry) Kim and the Designer - Seyoon (Gloria) Hwang.

BOARDING NEWS

This section of the newsletter collates news relating specifically to boarding at NLCS Jeju. It gives a flavour of living in one of the boarding homes and celebrates some of our boarders’ achievements. In many cases, you will find the full details in other articles in this newsletter.

HEAD BOY, HEAD GIRL, SUPERSTAR STUDENTS

Since the announcement, the new Big 8 have all been much photographed, talked and written about.

It was, therefore, a delight to catch up with the new head students – Andy Xin Zhang and Alexa Chaewon Han – in more informal circumstances. Chatting and laughing in Halla East, they reminisced on their journey to their current position and, how key their experiences in boarding have been to achieving this.

We look forward to them delivering on their vision for the future.

IGNITING ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRITS

The recent Ignite Entrepreneurship Competition (see main article) was a great success and, as Terry Tae Hyun Kim hands over the reins to Elliott Hyunseok Lee to continue to grow the project, it is worth taking a second to celebrate the journey so far.

The original seed for this project were sown as far back as 2020 with the Marketing Communications Society.

Many of the details and the future vision that Elliott will take forward, were worked out, with support of the Boarding Master, in a dedicated project room in Aewol across the spring and summer of 2022. This was under the working title, the “Alliance Project”, before rebranding as Beyond Boundaries that autumn.

From here, and a successful first competition (2023), to the recent expanded IEC success, this project is not only a testament to Terry and the team, but shows how the boarding environment can support such students with ambitious long-term projects and really deliver on our “go further” belief.

Terry Tae Hyun Kim, left, and Elliott Hyunseok Lee

BOARDING NEWS

NLCS SINGAPORE EXCHANGE

Our NLCS Singapore exchange students were accommodated across our boarding homes for their stay on Jeju. It was a delight to have them with us and they brought a different energy and perspective to share with their “buddies” and the wider boarding community. In return, we were delighted to give them somewhere to relax and play in their downtime from a busy schedule of events. From pool and table football, to kimbap making and Korean fried chicken, it was fun.

NLCS BOARDING. GO FURTHER

MUSICAL ROOM MATES

If you missed the assembly video, you can see it again here as JY Jaeyun Seol and Yumin Chung, who are room mates in their boarding home, share the piano in the PAC.

BOARDING NEWS

THE ACADEMIC LANDSCAPE

One can sense that the Diploma and IGCSE exams are, along with the annuals, on the horizon when walking around the boarding houses. There is a more focussed feeling in the air and the common rooms and studies are full of teachers offering academic enrichment.

While students who require support in certain areas are invited to specific sessions, they are advertised to, and open to all boarders, allowing for a range of engagement to suit needs. This can be as simple as an occasional drop-in session though to some of our exam students, who have two support sessions an evening followed by supervised revision time.

This academic focus has not prohibited the boarding community from achieving in other fields as diverse as MUN, Natural History Day and World Maths Competition.

HALLA x GECMUN

Three Halla North boarders participated as part of the executive board for Global Education City Model United Nations (GECMUN).

SeongJoon (Steven) Yang - Under Secretary General

Geonwoo (Geoff) Kim - Head Chair of Security Council

Sungwoo (Edward) Kim - Deputy Chair of Security Council

These students played a key role in supporting the preparation of the younger delegates from our school as well as drafting the background guides which provide the necessary information about the agenda and the stances of each nation. Living together in Halla was key as it facilitated their collaboration.

NLCS won the Best Delegation award as the top performing school. Steven says

NLCS BOARDING. GO FURTHER

“It was thrilling to celebrate the end to my MUN journey by having our school be the Best Delegation. I want to thank all delegates, chairs and directors for their dedication.” Among the individual winners were Best Delegates:

Hyeonbeom (John) Shin, Aewol Choisung (James) Park, Hyeopjae

BOARDING NEWS

With International Women’s Day this Friday, various house activities took place around this event as we work to develop internationally minded people and help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities. As part of this, one home created cards to post home to their mothers in recognition of all they have done for them.

NLCS BOARDING. GO FURTHER

The boarders are in the middle of electing their new student leadership teams who transition into their roles for next term. The new home captains will be announced at the boarding celebration this weekend. Home Spirit, Values Champion and Merit prizes will also be awarded in the PAC before pizza and a film screening.

THE ARTS

YUJIN CHOI STUDIOS

It was our honour to welcome Yujin Choi’s Father to campus this week to officially open our two new music studios, created in memory of Yujin. The Yujin Choi Music Studios will provide more specialist spaces for our students to use. Comment start Thank you to Yujin’s parents who also donated two pianos for our students to use, the whole community is very grateful for your generous and kind gift.

JUNIOR SCHOOL VISIT THE EXHIBITION

Ms. Sharon Kennington and Ms. Michelle Walker arranged for our Junior School students to visit the IBDP Art Show. Not only did the students have the opportunity to enjoy the art (and some cookies!), they were also tasked with explaining what message they thought the artist wanted to convey and how the art made them feel, before they selected their favourite piece to sketch. What a great way to inspire our young artists.

THE ARTS

Another packed term for our Art Department. Dance, drama, music and art galore! Again, thank you to Mr. Mike Kim for gathering all the footage to create this wonderful video. Our students show such great passion and commitment to the arts which is evident here!

Thank you to our dedicated teachers, grads and art techs for all their support.

THE ARTS - TERM 2

THE ARTS

JUNIOR SCHOOL - FOUNDER’S DAY ART

Take a look at the wonderful artwork created and displayed in our Junior School in preparation for our Founder’s Day celebration next week. Well done everyone, it looks great!

Thank you to our Junior and Senior School Studio Bands who performed this week for us. We are lucky to have such talented musicians on campus.

STUDIO BANDS

THE ARTS

ANIMAL FARM

Last Thursday we were treated to a performance of Animal Farm by our year 7 to year 9 students. Again, a fantastic performance, well done to all those on stage, those busy behind the scenes and to the tech teams for bringing the adaptation of this classic by George Orwell to life on stage.

THE ARTS

RITES OF SPRING - ORCHESTRAL SPECTACULAR

The roof was raised on the PAC last week by our orchestra. Thank you to our students for a wonderful evening of music, it really was spectacular!

SPORT

FOBISIA GOLF

We have shared updates on our social media, but here is a great video, created by Mr. Mike Kim (Marketing) which shows what a great trip it was! Well done all.

This week, Hyunseo Kim and Yoonkyo Kang interview Ms. Justine Oliver.

CAS

What do you enjoy about your role as IB Coordinator and what are the biggest challenges you face?

The challenge that I face as an IB coordinator is basically the same as that which students face: time management. I have to constantly prioritise, considering which work is the most urgent. Ensuring that everything is done well and still maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the biggest challenge.

However, with these challenges, come some very joyful moments. I feel happy when students succeed, particularly when I know that they have struggled. The IB Diploma is all about constantly learning as both a student and a human. I enjoy when I witness somebody grasp a difficult concept and grow by overcoming challenges in academics and extracurriculars.

CAS

Why are the ‘IB Core Parts’, including CAS, an important element of the IB program? How will it benefit students in the long term?

I think TOK is the best part of the IB program as it requires students to question and to be critical. This equips students to evaluate and analyse. It is not always easy, but it is in many ways a practical subject, not simply an academic subject, and enables you to question throughout your life or the world around you.

According to graduated students, the Extended Essay is most useful for university because it teaches how to write an undergraduate dissertation. For example, researching, organising and referencing are the most useful preparation for university. Also for CAS, I would like you to get some exercise, be creative, and do something to help others. These are the elements that make IB special. When IB students get to university, they are much more successful. IB is tough but teachers are there to support and are always available to you.

Tip for CAS: get on your phone! Install the managebac app and make audio reflections. Do it just after the activity, reflect on what you’re doing straight away and when it is fresh in your mind. It is an ongoing process, so don’t leave it until later and reflect at the end of 2 years! CAS is all about the journey and all about the learning outcomes.

What are some of the misunderstandings students have about IB?

I feel students need to be kinder to themselves during the IB. It will be more beneficial for students to regard the IB program as a way to expand their knowledge in subjects they enjoy and have a natural talent for. Such a mindset will lead them to a suitable university and even future career pathway. It is a privilege to receive full time preuniversity education; so many people in this world, especially females, do not have this privilege. It is important for us all to recognise how lucky we are and to make the most out of that experience.

Also, I feel the biggest misconception that IB students have is that finishing the majority of the work right before the deadline is fine. In reality, most successful students understand that internal assessments need regular work on them. This means less but more often, all the way from when it is set to the final due date. Leaving things to the last moment is the biggest mistake that a student can make as they will not be able to spend time on other subjects at that point.

What advice do I have for Year 10/11 students preparing for the IB program? Play some sports, create something and try to explore things in the new extra curricular activities. Visit museums, enjoy art, walk an Olle trail, and listen to interesting podcasts. The most successful students are those who engage with the outside world and leave the narrow confines of the classroom. Students work hard learning their different subjects, however it’s important to be aware that there is a world outside. Students should endeavour to expand their knowledge of what is going on in the world, so read news on reputable websites or watch current affairs programs.

FOCUS ON SIXTH FORM

Y13: GETTING CLOSER TO THE FINISH LINE!

Year 13 students had a very exciting day on Tuesday 19 March taking their yearbook photos. Here is a glimpse from behind the scenes. Many thanks to Mr. David Lock, Events Coordinator, for organising and ensuring the smooth running of this day. We are very excited about all the artistic work Minju Kang 12APA and Mingeun (Sam) Choi 12NCA are putting into creating a promising yearbook for the class of 2024-25!

In preparation for the upcoming IB exam period, Mr. Russell Maddison delivered a brilliant assembly to the Y13 students about being balanced, an IB Learner Profile Attribute. It is very important for the students sitting the exams to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the upcoming Easter holidays, and the study leave. We will continue to support and advise our Y13 students throughout the next period as always.

Despite the approaching exams, Y13 students are staying focused and keeping their eyes on the ball!

FOCUS ON SIXTH FORM

THE Y13 ART EXHIBITION:

We were treated to world-class art on Friday 9 March. It was so wonderful to see all the hours of hard work and dedication paid off. This piece by Yuhyuk (Louis) Yang 13RMN is just an exam of all the wonderful pieces that we could not feature here!

MINWOO JEONG- 12MJA

“Being in year 12 of the IB program has been challenging yet rewarding thus far. Among my subject choices, Biology, Chemistry, and Maths are the ones I enjoy the most, all of which I take as HL. In particular, I find my Chemistry class taught by Mr. Dowling to be enjoyable due to the welcoming atmosphere where making mistakes is not intimidating for anyone. In these classes, I’ve come to understand the importance of time management and organisation. These skills took a lot of stress off my shoulders and helped me keep a positive mindset.”

Here are some Y12 students who managed to find a quiet moment during their free lesson to do some revision. It was really nice to see this diligent group hard at work!

MEDICINE OFFER

Congratulations to Joona Kim, who has received an offer to study Medicine at Imperial College, London.

We had a chance to speak to Joona, who joined NLCS Jeju in year 7, about her offer and why she selected this course and location.

Joona discovered a fondness for STEM subjects, in particular chemistry, she also took part in olympiads and was the chair of the student led Pharmacology Society. Joona decided that she wanted to use what she learns in the classroom to help others and knows that though this is a difficult profession, she has the right type of personality to be successful.

Studying the IBDP at NLCS Jeju has prepared her for the world of medicine, teaching her how to work under pressure, to tight deadlines and to find a work life balance.

She credits NLCS Jeju for providing her with opportunities outside the classroom to make her a well rounded individual, such as being part of the orchestra and being a house sports captain.

NLCS Jeju has provided Joona with a house structure in which she has been able to make a close knit group of friends, and she also thanks her French teacher (Madam Choi) for providing pastoral support - not just French lessons - this network of support has given Joona the confidence to pursue her chosen career.

Joona selected London as her study destination as she has a number of friends in London, and has undertaken work experience in the city, at a hospice. She has also completed work experience in rehabilitation centres.

She hopes one day to be working in the geriatrics and palliative care area of medicine, and we know this dream is well within her reach, we are excited to follow her journey and wish her well with the remainder of her IBDP studies.

CULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE

HOLI - 25 March

Holi, the festival of colours, is a global celebration mostly observed in India but also marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. Holi explodes into a day of unbridled joy and togetherness, beginning with the customary bonfires of Holika Dahan the night before, where communities come together to destroy negativity symbolically. People of all ages gather in the streets, equipped with coloured powder and water, and relish in the joy of dousing each other in vivid colours, transforming the streets into arenas of jubilation.

EASTER - 31 March

Historically, Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, taking place three days after the death of Jesus on ‘Good Friday’. In more recent years the presence of the ‘Easter Bunny’ has come to life. A popular theory entails that the rabbit originated from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre—a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a bunny. Common traditions for families celebrating Easter are: decorating Easter eggs with paint or dye, hunting for Easter eggs, eating chocolate eggs & bunnies, and eating a traditional Easter meal. This meal often includes deviled eggs, ham or lamb, and carrots..

CULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE

RAMADAN - 10 March to 9 April

Ramadan is an Islamic holiday, which means the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It signifies fasting (sawm), prayer (salah), reflection, and community. For the Ramadan period, Muslims all over the world are required to do 10 spiritual things, which are reading the Quran daily, not eating or drinking anything during daylight hours. Instead, Muslims should eat one meal called the ‘suhoor’ or ‘sehri’ just before dawn and another one after sunset which is named the ‘iftar’. This year, the date for the Ramadan period is from the evening of Sunday, Mar 10, 2024 to Tuesday, Apr 9, 2024. Traditionally, it begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. For Muslims, Ramadan has a huge significance.

ADMISSIONS NEWS

UPCOMING ADMISSIONS EVENTS

Full details can be found here.

• 27 and 28 April - COEX Education Fair - Seoul

• 29 April - Chinese Coffee Morning

• 9 May - 1:1 Admissions Consultations - in Daegu

• 10 May - 1:1 Admissions Consultations - in Busan

Private Family Tours

We offer tours every week to families who may want to join NLCS Jeju. Email or call admissions today to book your appointment.

ADMISSIONS NEWS

STAFF NEWS

RUNNING FOR PIETA HOUSE

Mr. Dorian Brown has almost completed running all the Jeju Olle Trails. This is a tremendous feat for a great cause, Pieta House. Well done Mr. Brown - we wish you all the best with the final trails.

If you wish to support Mr. Brown you can donate here:

- ₩- Bank transfer to (NH) 302-1729-0437-81

-£/€/$ - Justgiving donation page

AND FINALLY

FRIENDS OF NLCS JEJU

The rain did not stop the ‘friends’ from running their first community event. On Sunday a group of parents, their children and staff met outside NLCS Jeju armed with litter pickers and rubbish bags in order to collect as much litter as possible in the local area. Afterwards we met in Smiley Cafe to warm up and enjoy coffee and a chat.

Thank you to Ms. Mina Chang who coordinated the event with the parent leaders -

• Mother of Skye Seo (Y8) and Sophia Seo (Y6)

• Father of Kyran Coughlan (Y12)

• Mother of David Seoha Kim (Y9)

• Mother of Ziu Choi (Y10)

We look forward to our fabulous ‘friends’ arranging more events in the future, with the support of the Parent Liaison Managers.

Any parent can be an active ‘friend’ (someone who creates and leads events) by signing up here, or they can be a non-active ‘friend’ who attends events without arranging it.

AND FINALLY

IRISH DANCING

To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, Mr. Stephen Mckeogh, Head of Jeoji House arranged some Irish Dancing during tutor time! Thank you for bringing such joy to our morning and thank you to Mr. Seyed Raeisian for capturing the video and to Jinyoung Kil (Y12) for the photos.

https://youtu.be/Ca0X4hhzBWA