PARENT HANDBOOK 2013-2014
Contents WELCOME FROM THE HEADS ................................................................................ 4 PHILOSOPHY & OBJECTIVES .................................................................................. 5 COLLEGE LEADERSHIP TEAM ................................................................................ 7 JUNIOR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM ................................................................. 7 AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY .................................................................................... 8 WHOLE SCHOOL INFORMATION ......................................................................... 9 FEEDBACK AND COMMUNICATION ................................................................... 9 STUDENT CONDUCT ............................................................................................... 10 GENERAL INFORMATION ...................................................................................... 10 BICYCLES _________________________________________________________ 10 BUS SERVICE_______________________________________________________ 11 EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE EVACUATION _________________________________ 11 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION _______________________________________ 11 FRIENDS OF DULWICH BEIJING (FRIENDS) _______________________________ 11 LUNCHES _________________________________________________________ 12 MEDICAL POLICY __________________________________________________ 12 PARKING AND DROP OFF AND PICK UP _________________________________ 13 SECURITY _________________________________________________________ 13 SPORTS CENTRE ____________________________________________________ 13 SUN SAFETY _______________________________________________________ 14 JUNIOR SCHOOL INFORMATION ....................................................................... 14 ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL _______________________________________________ 14 DISMISSAL AND COLLECTION_________________________________________ 14 SCHOOL HOURS ____________________________________________________ 14 SECURITY: ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE__________________________________ 15 PLAYGROUND _____________________________________________________ 16 AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES __________________________________________ 16 ATTENDANCE _____________________________________________________ 17 PETS AT SCHOOL ___________________________________________________ 17 UNIFORM _________________________________________________________ 17 JUNIOR SCHOOL ACADEMICS ............................................................................. 19 JUNIOR SCHOOL CURRICULUM________________________________________ 19 HOMEWORK _______________________________________________________ 19 ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE AND LEARNING SUPPORT _________ 20 PROGRESS REPORTS AND PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES________________ 20 SCHOOL TRIPS _____________________________________________________ 20 FIELD TRIPS _______________________________________________________ 20 RESIDENTIAL TRIPS _________________________________________________ 21
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WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD AT DULWICH? __________ 21 USEFUL WEBSITES FOR PARENTS OF KEY STAGE 2 STUDENTS ________________ 21 PASTORAL CARE ....................................................................................................... 22 THE SCHOOL ETHOS ________________________________________________ 22 THE HOUSE SYSTEM ________________________________________________ 22
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WELCOME FROM THE HEADS Dear Parents, The Dulwich College educational philosophy places equal emphasis on the development of a student’s intellectual and personal development. To that end we focus on four core areas throughout the school: academic excellence; participation in sport and physical education; involvement in a wide range of music and drama opportunities; and a commitment to service and community. Your support and involvement in your children’s education is a crucial element of their development and we encourage you to communicate regularly with us, as we will with you. This handbook will introduce you to school life, structure, policies and procedures. The first section includes information that is common to all three schools within the College, while the second section is specific to the Junior School. We recommend that you read it carefully before your child starts school, and keep it on hand for future reference. We trust this handbook will answer most of your questions about school, but to the extent it may not, please be assured that we are always happy to meet parents to answer their queries and listen to their feedback. David Mansfield, Headmaster Ruth Grant, Head of Junior School
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PHILOSOPHY & OBJECTIVES Our Philosophy and Objectives have been converted into child-friendly statements and linked to relevant values. We provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment. Our school is a fun and safe place to learn. VALUES: ENTHUSIASM AND KINDNESS We recognize that each child is unique. We can be ourselves. VALUES: CONFIDENCE AND CREATIVITY We challenge each child to be best they can be and support them in this. We all work together to do the best we can. VALUES: DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE We educate the whole child. We learn through everything we do. VALUES: OPEN-MINDEDNESS AND BALANCE We emphasis the benefits and responsibilities of working together. We play and work together as a team. VALUES: COLLABORATION AND TRUST We know that meaningful learning involves taking risks. We trust ourselves to try new things. VALUES: COURAGE AND FLEXIBILITY We value awareness of the natural world and its resources. We will try our best to take care of our world. VALUES: COMPASSION AND RESPONSIBILITY We prepare children to live their lives with a spirit of respect for themselves and others. We respect ourselves and others. VALUES: RESPECT AND INTEGRITY We aim to prepare them for a future that is unpredictable. I will be prepared for change. VALUES: ADAPTABILITY AND RESILIENCE
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COLLEGE LEADERSHIP TEAM David Mansfield, Headmaster Ruth Grant, Head of Junior School Simon Herbert, Head of Senior School Sarah Humphries, Head of Early Years Cynthia Maclean, Head of External Relations Jayne Scott, Bursar
JUNIOR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM Ruth Grant, Head of Junior School Daniel Nichol, Deputy Head of Junior School Emma Harmon, Year 3 Leader Karen McRobb, Year 4 Leader Kate Tucker, Year 5 Leader Rebecca Archer, Year 6 Leader Catherine Wanjau, Learning Support Coordinator Christy Kalksma, EALCoordinator
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DULWICH COLLEGE BEIJING Areas of Responsibility Position
Name
Areas of Responsibility
Headmaster
David Mansfield
Whole College, Staff, Community
Head of Senior School
Simon Herbert
All matters relating to the Senior School
Head of Junior School
Ruth Grant
All matters relating to KS2
Head of Early Years
Sarah Humphreys
All matters relating to Early Years
Bursar (until Sept. 2013)
Jayne Scott
Business management of all campuses; Fees
Bursar (from Sept. 2013)
Paola Morris
Business management of all campuses; Fees
Head of External Relations
Cynthia Maclean
Admissions, Marketing, Community
Head of Government Relations
Becky Jing
Government Relations
Director of Admissions
Choon Eichman
Admissions, Student Records
Senior Admissions Manager
Jane Ji
Early Years Admissions, Administration
Director of Marketing
Kasia Baran
Newsletter, Website, Advertising
Dulwich Community
TBD
Out of school programmes
Head of Finance
Liu Ying
Matters relating to Finance
Head of Human Resources
Maureen Huang
Matters relating to HR
e-mail david.mansfield@dulwich-beijing.cn simon.herbert@dulwich-beijing.cn ruth.grant@dulwich-beijing.cn sarah.humphreys@dulwich-beijing.cn jayne.scott@dulwich-beijing.cn paola.morris@dulwich-beijing.cn cynthia.maclean@dulwich-beijing.cn becky.jing@dulwich-beijing.cn choon.eichman@dulwich-beijing.cn Jane.Ji@dulwich-beijing.cn kasia.baran@dulwich-beijing.cn DCP@dulwich-beijing.cn ying.liu@dulwich-beijing.cn maureen.huang@dulwich-beijing.cn
Telephone 6454-9011 6454-9031 6454-9031 8450-7676 6454-9168 6454-9168 6454-9110 6454-9069 6454-9015 8450-7676 6454-9020 6454-9127 6454-9101 6454-9118
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WHOLE SCHOOL INFORMATION The information in this section applies to all schools within Dulwich College Beijing.
FEEDBACK AND COMMUNICATION Formal Written Communication on School Related Matters Curriculum Guides These documents describe in detail the curriculum followed in the Early Years, the Junior School and each of the Key Stages of the Senior School. These are available on our website Foundation Stage: http://www.dulwich-beijing.cn/page.cfm?p=456 Key Stage One: http://www.dulwich-beijing.cn/page.cfm?p=457 Key Stage Two: http://www.dulwich-beijing.cn/page.cfm?p=455 Key Stage Three: http://www.dulwich-beijing.cn/page.cfm?p=395 Key Stage Four: http://www.dulwich-beijing.cn/page.cfm?p=396 IB: http://www.dulwich-beijing.cn/page.cfm?p=397
Website Useful information on our curriculum, welfare and guidance, activities and staffing can be found at www.dulwich-beijing.cn. Back-to-School Relevant information for the start of the school year can be found in this document, which is sent to parents and posted on the website. Parent Handbook Parent Handbooks are produced for each of the three schools, with information common to the whole school at the front.
Informal Written Communication on School Related Matters Newsletter This is a weekly digest highlighting news of the past week and providing information about upcoming events. The newsletter is delivered by email and hard copies are placed around school every Friday. Letters Letters are sent by email with the weekly newsletter.
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Text Message followed by E-mail When the College needs to reach all parents urgently (e.g., if school closes due to excessive snowfall), parents are sent a text message with basic information and asked to check their email for details. The College This magazine contains articles and photos from recent events at Dulwich College Beijing as well as other Dulwich Colleges in Asia and London. Student Publications Various student groups produce regular publications, which are forwarded with the weekly newsletter on Fridays. Website The website contains reviews and notices of events, as well as information about the curriculum, operations and plans for the College. Email Parents are encouraged to contact teachers by email to book appointments or for clarification of policy. Extended communication over email is not advised as a substitute for face-to-face or telephone communication. Our email address format is as follows: givenname.surname@dulwich-beijing.cn
Informal Face-to Face Communication on School-related Matters Parents are always welcome to book appointments to discuss their child’s progress with teachers. The College also schedules regular events throughout the year, such as parent information sessions and parent forums, to provide information to parents and address their questions. These include parent information sessions, open days and parent forums, depending upon the school.
STUDENT CONDUCT At Dulwich College Beijing we encourage positive behaviour and in 2012-13 we undertook a comprehensive review of our behaviour policies. While the principles behind our policies are consistent, the application of those policies varies from school to school to ensure that the rewards and sanctions are age appropriate. Please read our Encouraging Positive Behaviour and Anti-bullying Policies in their entirety on our website: http://www.dulwichbeijing.cn/page.cfm?p=513
GENERAL INFORMATION Bicycles
Children riding their bicycles to school are asked to park them in the designated areas. We ask that you review traffic safety with your child repeatedly throughout the school year, but especially at the start of each new school year. Helmets are required for all students riding bicycles to and from school. Children are advised to lock their bicycles at all times.
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Bus Service
The school provides a bus service that is contracted through a local bussing company. School bus routes and stops are determined based on the requirements of those using the service, and may vary from year to year. We make every effort to meet the needs of our students. However, Beijing is a large city and we may not be able to accommodate children living in residential complexes far from the school and outside regular school bus routes. Seats are assigned on a first-come first-served basis. If you move during the course of the year, we will do our best to accommodate your needs but cannot guarantee a seat for your child on the bus route serving your new residence. Safety of the children on the bus is of paramount importance to us. To this end, all our buses are equipped with seat belts, mobile phones, emergency phone numbers and first aid kits. A bus monitor travels on each bus to ensure that the children remain in their seats with their seat belts fastened. If the bus is significantly delayed, the bus driver will notify the school office and the school office will notify parents. Traffic in Beijing is unpredictable at best, and tie-ups and gridlock are common events. We ask for your understanding and patience should your child’s bus be delayed in traffic. Students are expected to observe the same standard of behaviour on the bus as in the classroom. They are expected to respect the bus driver and monitor, and to observe the following rules, which are posted in each bus: • • • • • • • •
Remain seated with your seat belt fastened at all times. Respect your classmates and your bus monitor. Keep your voice down. Keep your head and hands inside the bus at all times. Keep your feet on the floor and off the seats. Leave chewing gum, sweets and candies at home. Eat your snack before boarding the bus or after you get home. Tell your bus monitor immediately if you feel sick.
Please note that neither eating nor drinking is allowed on the bus. Inappropriate behaviour by any student on the bus is unacceptable and if repeated will result in the denial of bus service with no fee refund.
Earthquake and Fire Evacuation
Earthquake and Fire Evacuation Plans are in place. These are posted on the walls in classrooms and around the school. Drills are held during the year to allow students and staff to practise and become familiar with the evacuation procedures. If you are on the school premises during an evacuation, please follow the evacuation procedures.
Emergency Communication
Should exceptionally severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances make it unsafe for the children to attend classes, information will be posted on the website and parents will be notified by SMS and email.
Friends of Dulwich Beijing (Friends)
Dulwich is very much a community school and involvement of parents is an integral part of our school life.
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All parents of Dulwich students are members of Friends of Dulwich Beijing and are encouraged to become actively involved. Friends hold an open meeting every month with the Headmaster and the Head of External Relations to discuss events within the school, fundraising projects and school developments. Friends also invite interested parents to become involved in various committees and to support class activities and events. Friends is run by the Friends Executive Committee, consisting of a Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, five Campus Representatives, Charity Representatives, a Coffee & Books Representative, a Friends Shop Representative, School Representatives and four additional representatives. Friends’ activities include the Friends Newsletter, Connections Club, Culture Club Excursions, the annual Dulwich Charity Dinner Dance, the International Food Festival at Founder’s Day, the Friends School Shop and Coffee & Books Coffee Shop.
Lunches
The Lakeview Café at Legend Garden offers tasty, nutritional food to students. The daily menu includes a choice of an Eastern or Western dish. The café is run by the catering company, Culinary Capers, and students will purchase meals using a photo ID value card that can be loaded at the cashier station or online. We recommend an initial amount of RMB400 be loaded and reloaded as needed in increments of RMB100. Culinary Capers also provides food for children in Early Years classes. These children do not use a card for lunch; parents may pay for school lunch by the term or annually in advance. Students who do not wish to purchase the school lunch are welcome to bring their own cold meal. Parents are responsible for sending in a bag lunch for a child who either does not eat or is allergic to foods on the menu. All Dulwich lunches are nut-free so if you send a bag lunch, please do not send any nut or nut products with your child. In addition, we ask that you not include sweets, candies or sodas. If your child has a food allergy, it is essential that you note this clearly on the school Health / Medical form and provide a doctor’s letter describing the allergy, severity, typical reaction and treatment. Please also indicate any food restrictions, religious or otherwise.
Medical Policy
The school places exceptional importance on the health of our school children, and it is the responsibility of all members of the school community, parents and teachers alike, to keep the children healthy. If we find that a child has an illness or condition that will affect the health of his or her classmates, we will notify the parents to take the child home from school immediately. The following Medical Policy must be strictly observed:
Children must not be sent to school if they have any signs of fever or sickness. A student must be free of fever for 24 hours before returning to school.
For the sake of everyone’s health, children with heavy coughs or runny noses must not be sent to school even if they are not feverish.
Children who have been ill should be kept at home until they are able to fully participate in all school activities. Weather permitting, all children will go outside during playtime, and children recovering from illness will not be kept indoors.
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Children who are too sick to play outside are not well enough to be in school and in contact with the other children.
Children must not be sent to school if they have any signs of conjunctivitis, as it is highly contagious. They may only return to school after the full course of treatment has been completed and their eyes are completely clear.
Children requiring medication for an illness should remain at home until the illness is cured. When they are essentially well but must continue with a day or two of treatment they may be sent to school. In this case, a Medicine Administration Form must be completed and given to the Teacher or Form Tutor along with the medicine to be given. Please let us know if your child is taking homeopathic medicines as well.
Children must not be sent to school if they are ill with chicken pox, and they may not return to school until the sores have healed and scabs have fallen off.
You must notify the school immediately if your child has head lice. Children with head lice must be treated with proper medicated shampoo and be completely free of both lice and eggs before returning to school.
In case of injury requiring medical treatment, the child's parents will be informed immediately and he/she will be taken to the nearest international medical facility.
Please be sure to keep vaccinations up to date.
All children entering the school are expected to have medical insurance coverage. Fees for a student's medical treatment are to be paid by the parent. The school will not assume medical expenses.
Parking and Drop off and Pick up
Every year, just before the start of school, we send all families a letter outlining the pick-up and drop-off procedures as these may change from time to time. Due to the large number of children being dropped off and collected, we ask that you and your driver comply with the guards instructions and observe extreme caution when driving near school.
Security
There is no issue the school takes more seriously than the safety of our students. At each campus we employ door monitors who are responsible for ensuring that unauthorised personnel do not enter the school and that students do not leave on their own initiative. We believe the students are very safe during the day on the school premises. We have instituted a number of procedures to ensure the journey to and from school each day is equally safe, and we require your assistance to make these procedures effective. All parents are encouraged to obtain a parent ID card. Receptionists at all campuses may assist with these arrangements.
Sports Centre
Located on the Legend Garden Campus, the Dulwich Legend Sports Centre provides students, parents and the community with access to a wide range of sports facilities and equipment. The club offers a 25-metre swimming pool, a sports hall, a multi-purpose sports dome, tennis courts, a dance/aerobics studio and a variety of resistance and cardiovascular training equipment. The club’s operating hours are 6 a.m.to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.
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When school is in session, only Dulwich students may use the swimming pool, sports hall and sports dome. Dulwich students receive free access to all of the club’s facilities and Dulwich parents are provided with special discounted pricing on membership fees. Contact the Sports Centre reception desk at 6454-9150 for more information or to set up a tour of the club.
Sun Safety
We ask that students wear sun hats that are part of the school uniform and either bring sunscreen to be applied at school or apply it at home before coming to school during hot weather. During very hot weather, we may limit outdoor time. Water is available on the playground during the hot months.
JUNIOR SCHOOL INFORMATION Arrival at School Classroom doors open at 8:00 am and supervision of students begins at this time. We ask that children not arrive at school before that time as there is no adult supervision. In the interest of safety, we ask that you review the playground rules with your children regularly.
Dismissal and Collection 1.
2.
If your child will be collected at school, please introduce the authorised adults to your child’s teacher during the first week of school, and get the appropriate security pass from school. If your child has permission to go home from school or the school bus stop without adult supervision, please submit written notice to your child’s teacher. Junior School students will need a home pass to leave the school campus alone
It is IMPERATIVE that you inform both the School Office and classroom teachers if you have a change of staff, e.g. ayi or driver, affecting the collection of your child, or if your child will go home with a friend.
School Hours The school day runs from 8.15am to 3.30pm. It is usually divided into three sessions, but the specific times of morning break may vary according to timetable commitments. Class times Times 8.15 – 8.30 8.30 – 9.00 9.00 – 9.30 9.30 – 10.00 10.00 – 10.30 10.30 – 10.50 The children have a snack 10.50 – 11.20 11.20 – 11.50
JS Registration Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Break then free outdoor playtime Lesson 5 Lesson 6
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11.50 – 12.20 12.20 – 12.45 Yr 3 & 4 to lunchroom to eat 12.45 – 13.35 Yr 5 & 6 to lunchroom to eat 13.35 – 14.05 14.05 – 14.35 14.35 – 15.05 15.05 – 15.35 15.40 – 16.35
Lesson 7 Lunch Yr 5 & 6 to play outdoors Lunch Yr 3 & 4 to play outdoors Lesson 8 Lesson 9 Lesson 10 Lesson 11 Clubs ( Tues & Thurs)
Key Stage 2 assembly takes place every Friday from 2:35 pm to 3:35 pm and parents are invited to attend if they are able to do so.
Security: Arrival and Departure There is no issue the school takes more seriously than the safety of our students. At each campus we employ guards who are responsible for ensuring that unauthorised personnel do not enter the school and that students do not leave on their own initiative. We have instituted a number of procedures to ensure the journey to and from school each day is equally safe, and we require your assistance to make these procedures effective. All adults who enter the campuses are required either to have proper identification or to sign in with the receptionist and obtain a visitor pass. You will receive instructions on how to obtain a parent identification pass shortly after the start of school. Returning parents may use their 201112 identification passes for a short period at the start of the 2012-13 school year. It is essential that we have a clear and accurate record of who is authorised to collect your child at school and at the school bus stop. Therefore, we ask that you complete in full the “Student Pick-up Authorisation Form" you have received and send in the photographs required. We will not release a child to the custody of anyone not identified on his/her form unless we have received formal written notification from his/her parent. In addition, we ask that you observe the following: 1. When dropping off your child please drop them with the guard at the gate. If we do not know your child has arrived at school, we cannot ensure his/her well-being. 2. We ask parents to walk out together with their child having collected him/her at the line up point outside the school where they will be waiting with the class teacher or teaching assistant. If you are picking up a group of children, please make sure they leave the school with you in an orderly fashion and confirm with the teacher that you are responsible for those children. 3. If your child is to be picked up for a play date, you must provide written notice to your child's teacher in the school diary or by email. 4. Any changes to regular home time arrangements must be provided for the class teacher/office in writing in the blue diary or by email so appropriate arrangements can be made. 5. If anyone other than those noted on the Student Pick-up Authorisation Form will collect your child at school or the school bus stop, you must notify the School Office in writing and advise some method by which we can identify him/her. 6. All visitors to the school are required to wear their parent pass or sign in at the school door and wash their hands before entering. If a student is leaving the school during the school day they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and are required to inform Sylvia and get a signed slip to show the guard on the gate when leaving school.
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Playground The playground and field areas are supervised at both break and lunchtime by Junior School staff to monitor behaviour in these areas. When using the playgrounds, we ask that all children observe the following rules: • Be aware of others around you • Only one child on the slide at a time • Always go down the slide feet first • Slides are for sliding down not walking up • Play co-operatively • Stick and rocks are not for playing with • Use playground equipment safely and properly On the playing fields, we ask that parents and students observe the following rules: • No food, drinks or pets • No high heeled shoes • No smoking • Don’t pull out the grass • Don’t grab or hang on the goal netting • Don’t play in the sand pit • Don’t bury anything in the sand pit • Don’t climb on the fences In the new Junior School play area • No food, drinks or pets • No high heeled shoes • No smoking • Don’t pull out the grass • Tidy up the sand toys at the end of break • Play co-operatively • Respect nature • Use playground equipment safely and properly • Maximum of 4 children on the birds nest swing at one time
After School Activities After School Activities (ASAs) take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm and are run by school staff. A list of the activities on offer will be sent home with your child so you can help to choose a good mix of activities throughout the year. Please make sure that the completed sign-up sheet indicates your child’s first, second, and third choices, as there are a limited number of places in each ASA. All children are encouraged to select one activity on each of these afternoons. If this is not possible, due to heavy commitments outside school, please ensure that your child attends at least one activity on either Tuesday or Thursday as it is a good opportunity to interact with children from other classes, work with other teachers and to have fun learning a new skill or engage in an enjoyable activity. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the school buses will leave at 4.45 pm. The 3.45 pm bus service will still be available for children not participating in activities on that day. Parents collecting children from school are asked to collect children promptly at 4.30 pm from the Reception area. Please make sure that a note is sent to school if your child will be missing an activity on a particular day, as an attendance register is kept and all children need to be accounted for. There are a wonderful variety of activities to choose from covering a range of sports, music, arts, drama, ICT and academic activities and your child is sure to enjoy and benefit from this aspect of school life.
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Attendance Due to the international nature of the community in which we live, some absences from school are unavoidable. However, regular school attendance is expected as frequent absences may prevent a child from fulfilling academic expectations. If a student is absent for more than twenty days during an academic year, then we cannot guarantee that he/she will complete the curriculum and advance into the next year group. Could you also ensure that your child arrives at school on time by 8.15am to give them time to get organised for the day before the start of their first lesson. Repeated lateness is unacceptable and teachers cannot be expected to repeat lessons if students are continually late. If your child will be absent from school due to illness or extended leave, please be sure to inform his/her teacher and the School Office by phone or email.
Pets at School Occasionally teachers may request that pets be brought to school to enhance learning. If the teacher has not contacted you, the parent, directly to make an arrangement, then please do not send pets into school with your children. Dogs must be on a leash at all times whilst on the school premises and should not be in the school building during the school day. Please leave your dog tethered outside the school in the designated areas, particularly at the beginning and end of school when the entrance is busy and your dog may be upset by the crowds or noise. If there is a sports event outside then dogs may attend on a leash but the following breeds must be muzzled: Pit bull terrier, Rotweiller, Dogo Argentina, Filo Brazil era, or Japanese Tosa. This follows UK law. We are happy to promote good pet owning skills and would ask that if your dog should make a mess that you clean it up. We are aware of the benefit of a pet in the family but we also have the health and safety of all of our students in mind at all times.
Uniform APPEARANCE All students at Dulwich College Beijing must wear the school uniform. This is different for warm and cold weather, and students must adhere to seasonal requirements. Our students are ambassadors for this school, and their dress and behaviour convey an impression to the public of what we are like as a school. Teachers are required to enforce the dress code at all times and to encourage students to take pride in their appearance. The uniform must be worn daily to attend classes. School uniform must be worn correctly at all times on buses, in school and when on a school trip (unless special permission has been given). SEASONS A—Start of school in August – October mid-term holiday: Summer Uniform B—October Holiday – April holiday: Winter Uniform C—April Holiday – Summer holiday: Summer Uniform (The dates above are a guide, subject to weather conditions.)
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JUNIOR SCHOOL – YEARS 3 TO 6 Best Dressed: Best Dressed uniform is worn on Fridays throughout the school year. When wearing Best Dressed, blazers must be worn to and from school and during assemblies. The winter uniform is the same as Best Dressed, except girls may substitute navy trousers for kilts. PE Kit: Generally, PE kit can only be worn during PE lessons or House activities. Once PE lessons are finished the student must change into their daily uniform for the remainder of the day. Accessories: Students may wear a watch. Girls may wear two small stad earings, on in each ear. Neither jewellery nor piercings are allowed unless of a religious significance. Hair: Hair must always be clean and tidy, worn off the face and styled so as not to invite comment for any reason. All students with hair longer than shoulder length are required to have it tied or held back with a headband away from their face. Makeup: Makeup is not permitted. This includes nail varnish. Shoes: Black polished shoes are a uniform requirement. Training–type shoes, high heels, wedges, open–toed sandals, Ugg boots, canvas shoes and sling backs are not permitted. Boots may be worn to and from school. Sweaters and Cardigans: School sweaters and cardigans may be worn at any time. Hats and Caps: Dulwich College requires all children to wear hats or caps for outdoor play in all seasons. In the summer this must be the Dulwich hat or cap. In the winter warmer hats should be worn. Blouses and Shirts: All boys’ shirts and girls’ long-sleeved blouses must be tucked in at all times. Girls’ short-sleeved blouses should be worn fully outside trousers or skirts.
• • • • • •
Junior School Boys Winter Summer White long- • White shortsleeved shirt sleeved shirt with school crest School Tie Blazer • No tie Navy trousers • Navy shorts or Navy socks trousers Black polished • Navy socks shoes • Black polished shoes • DCB cap or hat when outside Best Dressed
Same as Winter Uniform.
• • • • • •
Junior School Girls Winter Summer White long- • White shortsleeved blouse sleeved blouse School tie with school crest Blazer • No tie Knee-length kilt • Navy knee-length skort or navy trousers Navy tights or • Navy tights or navy socks navy socks Black polished • Black polished shoes shoes • DCB cap or hat when outside Best Dressed
Same as Winter Uniform, but trousers not allowed.
Please do not send your child to School with items such as stickers, markers, cell phones, electronic games, toys, weapons, snacks or sweets/candy.
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JUNIOR SCHOOL ACADEMICS Junior School Curriculum Using the English National Curriculum as our starting point, we provide our students with a broad-based curriculum developing skills, knowledge and understanding in Key Stage Two that can be built on at Key Stage Three. The Key Stage Two curriculum guide provides detailed information and is available on our website: http://www.dulwich-beijing.cn/page.cfm?p=455
Homework In the Junior School homework is built into the planned curriculum and is suited to the individual needs of the child. It is used to consolidate and extend the children’s learning in the classroom. In this way you will be able to monitor the curriculum your child is following. Sometimes your child may be enthused by a topic and wish to do extra work, or research something on the computer at home; we would encourage this and be pleased to see the results of that extra work in the classroom. All teachers within the year group will plan the homework tasks alongside the lessons to ensure that all students are receiving the same type of tasks. These tasks may be differentiated to suit the needs of various children but all students should spend roughly the same amount of time on their tasks. Homework should increasingly promote independent study and research skills. All children have a diary in which they write their homework tasks, or the class teacher will ensure that a record of their tasks is entered. We ask that parents sign this book each week and, when necessary, write a comment in the book. Please see below the expectation for each year group. Please note work that is to be done daily is in italics.
Year 3 Reading - 10 minutes Spellings 12 - 20 words - 5 minutes * Chinese - 10 - 15 minutes * Music - 10 minutes instrument practice 1 x Spelling - 15 minutes 2 x Numeracy - 15 minutes 1 x Literacy/Humanities/Science - 15 minutes Total time per night - 55 minutes
Year 4 Reading - 10 minutes Spellings 15 - 20 words OR spelling activities - 10 minutes * Chinese - 10 - 15 minutes * Music - 10 minutes instrument practice 1 x Literacy - 15 minutes 2 x Numeracy (1 number work and problem solving) - 20 minutes Total time per night - 1 hour 5 minutes
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Year 5 Reading - 10 minutes Spellings - 10 minutes *Chinese - 10 - 15 minutes * Music - 10 minutes instrument practice 1 x Spellings sheet - 25 minutes 1 x Literacy - 25 minutes 1 x Numeracy - 25 minutes and 1 mental maths task 1 x ICT task curriculum link - 25 minutes Total time per night - 1 hour 10 minutes
Year 6 Reading - 15 minutes Spellings - 15 minutes * Chinese - 10 - 15 minutes * Music - 10 minutes instrument practice 2 x Literacy - 30 minutes 1 x Numeracy - 60 minutes 1 x ICT task curriculum link - 30 minutes Total time per night - 1 hour 25 minutes * Chinese given every night by the Chinese Department * Music - Instrument practise given every night by the Music Department
English as an Additional Language and Learning Support Dulwich College welcomes a great diversity of students, many of whom have different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds and some of whom have specific learning needs. We believe that such diversity enriches our school community. The College has a small team of dedicated teachers who support children with additional educational needs. Our English as an Additional language, Learning Support and Gifted and Talented programmes are tailored to meet the needs of the individual and offer small group withdrawal lessons in addition to in-class support, as required.
Progress Reports and Parent-Teacher Conferences Progress Reports are a summary of your child's development and academic accomplishments during the school year. Students will receive a progress report towards the end of Term One, which will be followed by a parent consultation evening. There will be a Parent–Teacher Consultation Evening towards the end of Term Two. At the end of the academic year, a Final Report will be issued and another parent consultation evening scheduled. Parents are always welcome to come and discuss their child’s progress with teachers, the Deputy Head of School or the Head of School. Appointments can be made by email or phone through the junior school office or directly with the teacher.
SCHOOL TRIPS Field Trips Taking the students into the community to show them the reality of what they have learned in the classroom is an integral part of any curriculum. Over the course of the school year, teachers will arrange half day or full day trips to enrich the student's education and you will be notified
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of these field trips as they take place. Please fill out the Permission Slip which is enclosed with this pack and return to your child’s classroom teacher to cover trips to other school campuses, or trips within walking distance. Students will be expected to wear school uniform on all field trips unless advised otherwise.
Residential Trips All year groups will go on a residential trip during the school year. They are planned to be age appropriate, increasing in both length and challenge to reflect the developing ability and maturity of the students.
Year 3 The children experience a whole year group sleep over in the third term and they, along with their teachers and TA’s, sleep in the lake View cafe for a night. This is followed by a day of team building and fun activities.
Year 4 Year 4 students experience a day climbing at the Ole Climbing centre in Beijing and then they experience camping under canvas on the school field. The following day they partake in teacher lead fun activities.
Year 5 Year 5 go with Wild China on a two day overnight camping trip to Xiao Xihu which involves some team building activities and walking to encourage an appreciation of the natural environment.
Year 6 Year 6 students also go with Wild China on a three day, two night trip. They visit Miyun and take part in abseiling, raft building and rock-climbing as well as hiking thorough the beautiful landscape.
What can parents do to support their child at Dulwich? Simple things like showing an interest and being encouraging can make a big difference to how young people feel about school. It can give them the confidence to try out new skills and ideas and learn from mistakes without feeling discouraged. Parents can: • • • • • • • • • • •
Show an interest in their child’s work Talk about the school day Use the school diary Attend parent-teacher meetings Discuss homework tasks with their child Help students to organise their time and paperwork Make sure they attend school on a regular basis Find them a quiet place to study in the home environment Praise their child’s achievements Ensure children get enough sleep each night Ensure a good balanced diet
Useful websites for parents of Key Stage 2 students BBC Schools http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ Pages for parents as well as KS3 Bite size, useful revision and practice tests.
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Learn.co.uk http://www.learn.co.uk A great deal of resources for help with homework and revision
PASTORAL CARE The goal of the school community is to develop the whole child, and as a student matures, selfdiscipline should take the place of imposed discipline and achievement should become its own reward.
The School Ethos At Dulwich College we aim for our students to enjoy academic success, and create an environment where students, parents and teachers are all actively involved in school life. To achieve this we have:
a clearly defined set of objectives and values reflected in school policies, the curriculum, school practice and behaviour; strong academic goals for all students; a safe and nurturing environment for all students; opportunities for student involvement, commitment and responsibility; a strong staff development programme; regular communication between the school, teachers and parents, and between the community and the school; personal development programmes that focus on problem solving, conflict resolution, self-esteem, shared responsibility, and respect for the rights of others; a fair and consistently enforced discipline system.
The House System Students in Years 3 to 6 are allocated to one of five School Houses and, once allocated, will stay in that House throughout their time at the school. The students in the house vote for a House Captain and Vice-Captain at the beginning of each school year. The main function of the House system is as a vehicle for school competition but it also acts as a support for the pastoral system. The Junior and Senior Schools each have five Heads of House and, although Senior students will support and, in some cases lead the Junior students, competition in the Senior and Junior schools is separate. The Houses:
are a focus for school competition; are a focus for classroom reward in all areas of the curriculum; provide a source of collegiality; develop group identity and a sense of belonging; offer an opportunity for the older students to lead and mentor the younger ones.
Points are earned for each House in competition throughout the year. The House with the most points at the end of the year wins the House Cup. All members of teaching and administrative staff, with the exception of the Headmaster and the Heads of Schools, are allocated to a House.
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The five Houses are: Alleyn, named after Edward Alleyn (1566 - 1626), who founded Dulwich College London on June 21st 1619, with letters patent from King James I. Alleyn was an actor and an entrepreneur in the world of Elizabethan and Jacobean entertainment, a colourful and famous figure of his day. House colour – Purple. Johnson, named after Amy Johnson, the famous aviator. Johnson set off alone in a single engine Gypsy Moth from Croydon, England, on May 5, 1930, and landed in Darwin, Australia on May 24th, Hers was an epic flight of 11,000 miles. She was the first woman to fly alone to Australia and enjoyed many aviation firsts. House colour – Blue. Owens, named after Jesse Owens, the grandson of an African-American slave and winner of 4 gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Owens proved the lie of Hitler and his Nazi Party’s belief in the Aryan master race. In winning on the global stage from such lowly beginnings and in the face of powerful political forces, Owens is an inspiring figure. House colour - Orange Soong, named after Soong Ching-ling, who was born in Shanghai in 1893 and married Dr Sun Yat-Sen, She was heavily involved in political life, representing women in the political process as well as founding the China League for Civil Rights and the China Defence League. In 1950 she created the China Welfare Institute. House colour – Red. Wodehouse, named after the author P.G. Wodehouse, who was born in Surrey, England, and attended Dulwich College London from 1894 to 1900. His first novel for adults, Love Among the Chickens, was published in 1906. He worked in the United States as drama critic for Vanity Fair, and as a regular contributor to The Saturday Evening Post. His work includes novels, short stories, musical comedies, and screenplays. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in January 1975. House colour – Green.
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