Halla East - Newsletter June 2023

COMMUNICATION RESPECT KINDNESS

StaffingChanges

Letter from the BM

What an exciting, challenging and demanding year this has been for me as the new Boarding Mistress of Halla East When I left NLCS Jeju in 2018 I did not expect to return, but the love of the Korean culture, the beauty of Jeju island and working with wonderful young people brought me back I started this year with a very new team and was very grateful to have Miss Darija Minic continuing in role, both for support and providing the stability for the year 13 girls The first term of year 13 is a tough academic term, as the girls cope with the stepped-up academic workload and college applications We, the Halla team, have pushed hard to ensure that our current year 12’s are in a good place on which to build their IB success next term. They should all have their CAS project nearing completion and ideally already recorded, their EE should be on track with all research done. This leaves them time to focus on college applications and academic enrichment.

The highlight of the first term for me was getting to know the strengths of my team and learning about the girls under my care. In Halla East our three key words are “Communication”, “Respect” and “Kindness”. These are core values that I expect my girls to emulate with each other, staff and the wider community. I am proud to say when I look back over the year and recall the many moments that have made me smile from awards for sportsmanship or academic excellence, the support of a friend, accolades from staff, the completion of varied service projects both in the home and out, to how far the girls have come with their communication regarding their needs, I am truly amazed at what has been accomplished in Halla East this year. Well done, the Halla East family!

Second term, revolved around year 13 mocks and making the most of the feedback from these formal assessments together with supporting the year 12’s as the IB content within their chosen subjects became harder. This is where our individual student tracking came into play. Plans were implemented and communicated with key stakeholders to plug gaps within subjects Monitoring progress and celebrating the small steps supported the girls in making changes Finally, the summer term was the intense examination period and I am so pleased with how balanced and focused all the girls were The year 12’s taking their annual examinations in their stride was a measure of how secure and ready they felt for them The year 13’s enjoyed our de-stressed tables in their study breaks The highlight of this term, obviously has to be the graduation and prom It was delightful to meet in person so many of the parents with whom I had only had online communication I am looking forward to capitalizing on the changes and improvements made in Halla East over the past year and the increased staffing stability next year

-- Mrs Shayna Coughlan

Boarders in NEW BOARDERS' EXPERIENCE IN H

This academic year saw the arrival of several new boarders We had a conversation with them about their experience living in Halla East and boarding

Hera Olweny

Hera joined NLCS Jeju and Halla East from Kenya in August 2022 Her arrival has made our environment more international and culturally diverse, thus enriching the lives of our Korean boarders She has overcome cultural shock, home sickness and feelings of isolation to find inner confidence When asked about how she finds boarding, Hera says that "homesickness is the main challenge" but that the overall experience "has been good because [she is] in the comfortable environment". Finally, she adds that one of her most memorable moments was the Halla Christmas party - "Just being somewhere away from the boarding house with both the boys and the girls was good fun"

Eunseo (Emily) Kim

Are there any challenges you've faced while boarding? How have you overcome them?

"I was not used to the Halla pass and exeat as I was new to the school However, now I know when to use them Also, in the beginning, my privacy was important to me So I did not want somebody else to come into my room Now I got used to people coming into my room."

Can you share any memorable experiences or moments you've had as a boarder?

"After prep, we have 30 minutes of free time I went outside with my fiends and watched the night sky "

How do you see boarding impacting your personal growth and development?

"Being in the boarding house, I have learned to clean and organise myself Also, since my friends have different routines and personalities, it allowed me to appreciate and understand the diversities amongst my group of friends "

Hwayoung Shin

Can you share any memorable experiences or moments you've had as a boarder?

"Most recent one was when my room was filled with flies I cannot forget about that as I left the windows open and I changed my room."

What kind of support or assistance do you feel you receive from the boarding staff?

"Mrs Coughlan had a one-to-one interview with me which was very helpful in getting me to see my areas of weakness as well as strengths Academic support from each individual staff member was also supportive."

Hayoung (Wendy) Lee

How are you finding the boarding experience so far?

The system here allows me to live the life the way I want to with support I benefit well from the system - all the facilities provided are just a perk to the school life Saving time is a big benefit. Playing sports is also something I like to do and in boarding I can play sports when I want to Also, living close to friends is fun

Can you share any memorable experiences or moments you've had as a boarder?

I was voted as the House Captain, and this allowed me to interact with other houses I really enjoyed the Christmas party, we went to a cafe and we really had a great time

The end of 2022 was near, we did a lot of activities such as Secret Santa. It was great as we organised and planned the whole event Everyone enjoyed themselves and I felt happy seeing everyone enjoying the event

Boarders in Focus

HALLA STUDENTS HARD AT WORK

Halla boarders have the privilege of accessing academic facilities 7 days a week Hera (left) and Seobin (right) used this advantage to work on their Chemistry EE's and get the best out of the academic support we provide for our boarders Special thank you to Dr Raj and the Chemistry department for organising this. We love to see our girls hard at work!

PREP IN HALLA EAST

A wonderful advantage of being a boarder in Halla is that prep can be done with peers and friends which makes group projects more convenient It also gives the boarders an opportunity to study together in smaller groups, exchange ideas and peer-teach Plus, there is a good dose of laughter, too! :)

Boarders in

GOODBYE YEAR 13's!

The end of the IBDP exams marks an end to our Year 13's journey as Halla East boarders Our girls showed commendable dedication in their preparation for their exams and even when it got bumpy along the way, they demonstrated resilience and successfully completed the last assessment of their two-year-long learning of diverse subject fields

To celebrate the girls, their efforts and two years of laughter, funny moments and the challenges we encountered and overcame together, we organised a simple but heartwarming dinner party A big thank you to Saine Kim who was an absolute wizard in ordering all the food and for letting us convince her to order a larger quantity of food Needless to say, everyone enjoyed so much and no food was wasted!

Boarders in

GRADUATION DAY

On the third of June, we celebrated our Year 13's completing their final year of secondary education The graduation ceremony was held in the school's Performing Arts Centre (PAC) and the program included various emotional speeches as well as beautiful musical performances by some of our very own Halla East girls - Eunsoo Lee who was one of the performers and Hannah Lee who arranged the music piece, as well as, performed

We can not express how proud we are of our Year 13 girls who will be stepping into the adult world, hopefully carrying with themselves the valuable lessons they learnt during their time in Halla, as well as the values we have worked hard to instill in them Good luck on your next adventure! We look forward to hearing about all the amazing things you achieve Remember, communication is key and kindness goes a long way!

Boarders in

OUR FIRST HALLA EAST DRIVER THIS YEAR!

Congratulations to Saine Kim, our Year 13 graduate who is the first Year 13 boarder in Halla East to obtain her driver's licence! This is an important milestone in the next chapter of your life - we wish you all the best and stay safe on the roads! We are proud of you :)

YEAR 13 POST-GRADUATION WORK EXPERIENCE

After completing their IBDP exams, our Year 13 boarders got some work experience contributing to various departments in school This is always a wonderful opportunity to do something valuable and productive and to get a feeling of what it may be like in the future first jobs Arts Week has also seen them contribute massively behind the scenes

Heather Kim (left) and Julia Back (right) volunteered in the English and Chemistry department

Leadership

HALLA LEADERS ON OUTDOOR TR

In the first week of May, Victoria Ju, Hwayoung Shin and Taehee Kim joined a Year 8 Residential Trip to Pyeongchang as student leaders

They have been excellent role models for the Year 8 students who attended the trip They have demonstrated great leadership and organisational skills, as well as an adventurous spirit! This is exactly the kind of qualities and a balanced lifestyle we love seeing in our Halla East boarders

Later in the term, these same girls embarked on a journey over the Michinoku trail in Japan and successfully completed their GOLD Duke of Edinburgh International Award Congratulations, girls!

ARTS WEEK MUSIC PERFORMANCES

Exceptional leadership of our boarders is seen in various areas of our school and boarding life, including in the Arts Our very own Hailey Kim in Year 12 is the leader of Sonitas and she has worked diligently to plan and organise various music events in this year's Arts Week The events ranged from Acoustic gigs, highly energetic Rock on the Rock concert which featured teachers, to one of the most popular events such as Sonitower We are so proud of you Hailey!

Taehee, Victoria and Hwayoung in Japan on Gold DofE expedition

Halla Staff News

STAFFING CHANGES - GOODBYE

At the end of this academic year, we say goodbye to some of our staff members and welcome some new ones Ms Darija Minic leaves to work as the Assistant to the Head of Sixth Form (Pastoral) in the Senior School I have known Miss Darija since she was arrived as a Gap Assistant and have loved working along side her this year as BM As a boarding ABM she has experienced many pastoral experiences and we are glad she will still be working with our girls in the sixth form She is a true role model to the girls of what hard work and committement can achieve and we are celebrating her promotion! Well done - Miss D!

Looking back on all of her five years she spent in Halla East, Ms Darija shares her thoughts: "Halla East has always been a home for me at NLCS Jeju I started as a Gap Assistant in Halla East back when the homes accommodated both boys and girls, then I stayed as a Graduate Assistant, and finally came back as a Psychology teacher and the ABM in the same house I have seen many changes occur but one thing that never changed was the energy and the family atmosphere we have created here together with our girls I am excited by what the future position brings, but I will always carry with me the memories and the experience I gained working in this house Once a Halla East girl, always a Halla East girl!"

WELCOME TO...

Ms Amy Yoon who will be joining us in the position of the Assistant Boarding Mistress Ms Yoon has joined our school this academic year as the Learning Support specialist in the Senior School She holds a degree in Economics and was a boarder herself when she was a student We have no doubt that Ms Yoon will provide exceptional pastoral care for our Halla East boarders and we look forward to welcoming her into our team!

She has already met with BM and rest of Halla team and is looking forward utilising her experience to support the girls

Halla Staff News

STAFF PROFILE: MRS SMITH, DA

Mrs Julia Smith joined Halla East in August 2022 as the Assistant Boarding Mistress after switching roles from the Assistant Head of Sarah House Also a Dance Teacher, Mrs Smith brought a lot of great energy and creativity into our Home If there is one word to describe her, it would be the word "glitter" Looking back on this academic year, Mrs Smith says:

"I joined the Halla East team in August 2022 and embarked on a transition that led me to a completely unfamiliar job role and environment It was a remarkable shift for me, having come from a London Comprehensive school and finding myself in Jeju, working at a boarding school for the very first time

Soon enough, I embraced the pastoral responsibility of nurturing and guiding bright, ambitious, and enthusiastic young women, taking on the role of a mother figure I dedicated myself to supporting, advising, and empowering these students to the best of my abilities, leveraging my life experiences and skills

Beyond the mere title of an Assistant Boarding Mistress, my role extended to bridging the gap between their home life and the pressures of academics Late nights were spent in heartfelt conversations over cups of tea, discussing worldly matters and providing guidance for academic deadlines Most importantly, I forged meaningful relationships with the students under my care "

"This year as an ABM has been a gratifying experience, and I eagerly anticipate the forthcoming years, where I can continue to grow and flourish in this role, making a positive impact on the lives of those entrusted to me."

GRAD ASSISTANT STORY: MISS KENDALL GRADY

Our school provides great professional development opportunities for those who wish to develop themselves as a teacher. We talked to Kendall Grady, one of our Graduate Assistants who is also staying with us next academic year. Reflecting on this academic year in Halla East, this is what Kendall had to say about her journey so far:

"I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the girls and staff of Halla East over the course of this past year I tried to be a supportive presence in the girls’ journey of IB classes, performances, social events, and meetings Their perseverance and hard work has inspired me to become a stronger, kinder, and a more detail-oriented person Taking part in a larger holistic pastoral vision allowed me to explore something I eventually learned was the “safeguarding web,” where I became just a small part in the larger supportive structure for the girls throughout the entire school Witnessing different problemsolving approaches and communication styles proved to me that there are a variety of ways to find success, enriched my experience within boarding, and made me find more confidence within myself.

Next year I can’t wait to see and help the current Year 12s find their way into Year 13 roles and prepare to become independent women in the world outside of NLCS."

Halla Staff News

HALLA EAST TEAM FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-24

MS AMY YOON Assistant Boarding Mistress Learning Support Assistant ayoon@nlcsjeju.kr

MRS JULIA SMITH Assistant Boarding Mistress Dance Teacher jsmith@nlcsjeju.kr

MRS SHAYNA COUGHLAN Boarding Mistress Chemistry Teacher scoughlan@nlcsjeju.kr

A Year in Pictures

A Year in Pictures

Halla East