NLCS Jeju Newsletter 23 February 2024

North London Collegiate School Jeju

TOP NEWS

ECONOMICS ENRICHMENT WEEK

ENGLISH AND LIBRARIES ENRICHMENT WEEK

MIDDLE

ART ACHIEVEMENTS

PRINCIPAL’S LETTER

Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Friends of NLCS Jeju

We hope that all of you had a pleasant Seollal with families and have returned to School refreshed and looking forward to the rest of the term!

As you will read about here our students have been active and participating in many opportunities and events both during half term and in term time. Enrichment weeks for both Economics and English have been engaging. Well done to the students participating in the Robotics Competition in Seoul.

Students have followed their survey results with a focus on English as the lingua franca of NLCS Jeju with many suggestions to each other to encourage all to practise their English and grow in confidence in using it in social situations such as in the corridors and at lunch as well as ensuring they are all actively speaking English and participating fully in an English environment in their lessons. We are always keen to encourage and facilitate fluency and this includes thinking in English. It is very detrimental for students to attend hagwons and academies where they are taught in Korean and then the student is translating to English rather than learning initially in English. This encourages students to rote learn and stifles critical thinking, risk taking in learning as well as hindering the development of fluency of expression and evaluative skills. We challenge everyone to take on board the advice of our students to gain confidence and fluency in English. Suggestions have focused around the value of reading and listening to audio books as well as watching films, TV shows and even Prime Minister’s Questions Time in London!

We congratulate the newly selected Little Eight and wish them every success as they begin their tenure. The competition is fierce in the Senior Schools for Big Eight positions as seen in the number of year 12 applications. There are many other leadership opportunities at NLCS Jeju and we hope that many of you take up the opportunities in societies, enterprise clubs, sports clubs, School Council or in house to grow and develop.

Yours sincerely,

Lynne Oldfield Principal

The Main Event

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

ECONOMICS ENRICHMENT WEEK

Thank you to the Economics Department for a great Enrichment Week prior to the half term break. It was clear to see how many students have a passion for the subject and we enjoyed watching the younger children engaging! If any of our students want to discuss this option for the IBDP, please get in touch with Mr. David Farrell or Ms. Arunima Paliwal soon!

The Main Event

ENGLISH AND LIBRARIES ENRICHMENT WEEK

Another great Enrichment Week took place this week with a number of activities arranged by our teachers and students. This included the launch of the Pier (NLCS Jeju’s literary journal), Library Debates, Lectures, writing for music and much more! At NLCS Jeju we are lucky to have three well stocked libraries, catering to students of all year groups.

The Main Event

PE ENRICHMENT WEEK

Next week will be an active week for all, as it’s the turn of our PE Department to host the Enrichment Week. We look forward to sharing photos soon.

Don’t miss our posts!

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

• Year 4 Parent Event

• INSET Day

• Teacher Tuesday - Ms. Jenny Liu

• Tom Sherrington is coming to NLCS Jeju

• Duke of Edinburgh News

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

VEX ROBOTICS COMPETITION

“This year was the first time NLCS Jeju sent a team to VRC Over Under - MS/HS Blended Korea Nationals 2023/2024. Before attending the finals, our team took part in two regional competitions held at SJA and KIS Jeju. It was a good learning experience for students to take part in such a big competition. There were 41 teams from all parts of South Korea. The NLCS Jeju team played the knockout match and was given the ‘Judges Award of the Year’.” - Mr. Tajvir Singh (Head of Computer Science).

Team Name: ‘Start Here’

Team members: Soyeon Ahn (Y10), Sunghyun Yoon (Y12), Suhyeon Shin (Y10), Donghoo Lee (Y10), Jiyin Choi (Y10) (Team Captain), Hai Kim (Y12), Hojin Kim (Y10), Hyeeun Lee (Y12). Well done to all of you!

NLCS Jeju Awards and Achievements

JEJU PROVINCIAL SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION AWARD

“From May to December 2023, the ZeroXJeju, including 9 students in Year 11, conducted various activities to improve awareness of environmental issues, challenges for zero plastic, and reduce waste through plastic upcycling with Jeslyn Park (class of 2023) as a mentor.

Through the activities, Junior School Year 4 students learned about the importance of plastic-free, and about 100 senior school students participated in plastic reduction campaigns and plastic bottle lighting activities. Zero X Jeju also expanded into local activities by visiting the Gueok-ri Recycling Center and participating in marine plugging activities which is organised by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Kakao Makers.

In particular, Kim Kwang-soo, the superintendent of Jeju Provincial Office of Education, participated in the campaign to reduce plastic in daily life.

With such active participation, Team Zero X Jeju get the Excellence Award (Jeju Superintendent of Education Award) at the 2023 Plastic-Free Practice Challenge sponsored by the Ministry of Environment.” Kellyn Park

Mentor – Jeslyn Park(class of 2023)

Team members – Jimin Son, Jisu Park(Kellyn), Naeun Kim, Seoyoung Min

Yun Park, Jinwoo Lee (Kai), Tae Hyeon Jun (Daniel), Suhyuk

(Melissa),

Cho (Jeff) and Jimin Hong (Elroy)

NLCS Jeju Awards and Achievements

KOREA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR (KSEF)

“Esther Kim (Y10) has participated in the 21st Korea Science & Engineering Fair (KSEF) and won a Silver Medal in both the domestic and international sections.

Moreover, the happy news is that Esther has won a Silver Medal, and as a result, she has the opportunity to participate as a representative of Korea in the GENIUS OLYMPIAD to be held in New York in June among the Gold-Silver award winners from the entire participants of the international competition.”

- Ms. Hyehyang Kim - Teacher of KSL & Korean B

Other News

MEET YOUR LITTLE 8

There are a number of leadership roles in our Junior School. All with their own unique responsibilities and all as important as the other, today we are introducing you to the Little 8. In future editions of the newsletter we will focus on the other leaders, including the council members and ambassadors.

Congratulations to Celina Kim, Dahyun You, Ella Choi, Jay Choi, Nayoon Kim, Steffi Im, Sehyun Lee and Dante Lee - we know you are going to be a great asset to the School in this role.

Other News

STUDENT COUNCIL

The work of our Senior School Student Council is underway and they are working well as a team to provide support and guidance to all students, here is a reminder of who they are! The role is very important and we are enjoying seeing their enthusiasm and effort to date.

Year 7 - Dohyeon and Heedan

Year 8 - Yunjeong and Chansol

Year 9 - Seoyeon and Seoha

Year 10 - Keira and Ziu

Year 11 - Hyunseok and Jisu

Year 12 - Yumin and Chloe

Year 13 - Ahrim and Sungbin

Chairs - Shona Park and Joonseok

Other News

KOREA - UK MORNING

“Before the break our year 4 students learnt about how the UK and South Korea are similar and different. To end this unit of learning, we invited the parents to come into class to help us learn more about, and celebrate, the histories and cultures of both nations. We played traditional games, made new year’s kites, and we ended the day with a tea party to try some traditional foods. It was a huge success, even if year 4 definitely do not like Marmite!” - Ms. Alex Lea

Thank you to all the year 4 parents who joined us! We had a great day.

Other News

POWER OF ZERO

During our staff INSET day on 8 February, we were joined by Kathy Grey from the Power of Zero. Kathy led workshops for our staff in the morning and in the afternoon she provided an online workshop to our Junior School parents and an in person session for our Senior School parents. Thank you to the parents who were able to join us, your contribution is greatly appreciated.

With Kathy’s support we will create a Social Vision Statement for the School that we can all be proud of. If you would like to find out more, please contact Mr. Crispian Waterman.

CHANDELEUR

“La Chandeleur, also known as Candlemas in English, is indeed a Christian feast day celebrated on the 2nd of February. It commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. In addition to its religious significance, the day has also become associated with a popular French tradition involving the consumption of crêpes.

The connection to Pope Gelasius I serving pancakes to pilgrims in Rome is an interesting historical tidbit. The round shape and golden colour of the crêpes are said to symbolise the return of spring and the sun after the dark winter months.

The tradition of flipping the crêpe in the air with the right hand while holding a coin in the left is a playful and symbolic custom. The act of flipping the crêpe is thought to ensure prosperity and good luck for the coming year. The coin represents wealth, and the successful landing of the crêpe back in the pan is believed to bring financial fortune.” - Ms. Laetitia Choi - Head of European Languages (French, Spanish) and KSL.

“In the past two French lessons, we explored the ingredients and process of making a pancake, in order to celebrate La Chandeleur. The most exciting part of this project that me and our classmates were waiting for was of course baking the pancake ourselves, and taking a bite on it.” - Yejun Cho (Y6)

“We learnt the names for the ingredients before making the crêpes, such as le lait and les oeufs. Then, we made actual crêpes and enjoyed it with sugar or Nutella. I found this activity very interesting as we had the chance to do the activity and make it more interactable to experience the culture first-hand.” -

Ted Koh (Y6)

“I extremely enjoyed the process of making the crepes. I was really happy I had the opportunity to experience something that was fun and included food…which I love.”Sophia Seo (Y6)

Other News

LANTERN FESTIVAL AND TEMPLE FAIR

Thanks to Ms. Maggie Dai (Head of Junior School Mandarin) and her students for arranging another Lantern Festival and Temple Fair to celebrate Yuan Xiao Jie - marking the end of the Lunar New Year in China - we all had lots of fun - the fair included traditional crafts and games, performances by children and parent volunteers, Tangyuan (sticky rice dumplings) making, Chinese Fashion Show, Designing Red Envelopes (Hong Bao) for the Year of Thanks to the Temple fair

Other News

JS SHAKESPEARE DRESS UP DAY

There was lots of fun on campus today as our Junior School students took part in our Shakespeare Dress Up Day! Take a look at the photos and see if you can recognise any of your favourite literary characters! Well done to them all for making such an effort.

Other News

CHINESE NEW YEAR - HOME VISITS

Like last year, a number of generous and welcoming families opened their homes to our students. Our Mandarin students were treated to a traditional family gathering and delicious food to celebrate Chinese New Year. Thanks to the host families: Mrs Li and family (Y4) and Mrs Peng and family (Y2)

THE ARTS

TRIPLE SCOOP ‘PLUS’ FOR ART STUDENTS!!

COBIS ART COMPETITION - WINNER!

COBIS, together with Arts University Bournemouth, invited students to produce a piece of art based on the theme ‘A Future to be Proud Of’. The competition was entered by 111 schools, with 270 entries in total. We are delighted to confirm that Taewon (Logan) Kim (Year 12) won first place! “This is an outstanding achievement.” - Ms. Sharon Kennington (Head of Art).

This achievement follows our recent success in the FOBISIA Art Competition, where two year 9 students achieved 1st and 2nd place.

THE ARTS

EDEXCEL OUTSTANDING LEARNER AWARDS

We were thrilled when Edexcel announced that Jian Kim (Year 11) and Jian Han (Year 11) have both received prestigious Edexcel Outstanding Learner Awards for achieving the highest marks in Korea for their IGCSE. “This is a fantastic achievement. We are very proud of our students and their dedication to developing the highest possible technical standards and true love of creativity.” - Ms. Sharon Kennington (Head of Art).

Jian Kim

Jian Han

Jian Han

Jian Kim

THE ARTS

We have been informed that the exam board, Edexcel, has chosen four of our student’s coursework to be displayed on their website as ‘world exemplar’ material for thousands of other schools. Congratulations to Jian Kim, Jian Han, Seyoon (Gloria) Hwang and Ziniu (Benny) Yu.

“This demonstrates that NLCS Jeju students are truly exceptional.”

(Head of Art).

Coursework

Pencil on cartridge paper A4

Oil

paper, A3

Coloured

Ziniu (Benny) Yu

Seyoon (Gloria) Hwang

Jian Kim

Jian Han

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

SINGAPORE JOINT DOFE!

“I am delighted to announce a very special collaboration between NLCS Jeju and NLCS Singapore! Our schools will come together for a joint Duke of Edinburgh International Award Silver Adventurous Journey in March. The Expedition will take place in the mountains of Cheongyangsan Provincial Park in North Gyeongsang Province.

Ben Tomlinson will be leading the NLCS Singapore group. Both groups will meet in Andong which has been described as ‘the most Korean town in Korea’. The town welcomed Queen Elizabeth II in 1999. Our pupils will lunch together before shopping for the supplies they will need in the mountains.

In terms of internationalism, opportunities to develop language skills and to really push their social skills - I feel this is going to be a very enriching trip! All of this on top of planning, organisation, fitness, navigation, teamwork and determination. Our combined student groups will have South Korean, British, Chinese, Indian, Singaporean, Mongolian, Australian, Indonesian and American students.” Mr. Chaddock

Are you in Year 9? Do you like trips, travel and adventure? Duke of Edinburgh International Award applications for Year 10 will open in spring so look out for notices or speak directly to Mr. Chaddock.

SPOTLIGHT ON CAS

CAS

This week, interviewer Chandler Ahn reflected on her own progress in CAS.

What has been the greatest challenge so far?

Confession: I’m not exactly the world’s most organised person. My morning alarm has been going off at 6:30 in the afternoon for the past three weeks because I set the AM-PM divide wrong that one time, never got around to opening the clock app to correct it, and chose instead to keep time to the sound of my neighbour’s alarm. It was difficult logging my CAS progress on ManageBac because it seemed like there was always something more pressing to do: there was an exam tomorrow and absolutely no time could be spared for a CAS entry (it really could), I had CCA tomorrow so I’d do the reflections in bulk (I didn’t), I hadn’t taken a photo so the experience was useless and couldn’t be recorded (it definitely could—evidence, though a crucial component of tracking your CAS journey, needs to be accompanied by an explanation to be useful). Fortunately, my tutor, Ms. Roberts, and Mr. McLaughlin have both been stringent with keeping students on track with CAS reflections, and I’ve been making an effort to take advantage of tutor time and core time to log my reflections in a timely manner.

What has been a key takeaway from your CAS experience?

The greatest reward came from the experience I was dreading the most. I started this year as a running novice barely able to go 5k without being winded, and reluctantly opened a half marathon experience to fulfil the Activity requirement of my CAS. This week, I finished 9k at a respectable pace, and am on track to actually run a 10k marathon during the upcoming Easter Break! 10k is like birdseed to people who are actual long-distance runners, but to me, it represents a huge progress in the amount of faith that I’m able to put into my body, and a transformation in the way I think of exercise and its role in the composition of a healthy life. It’s still such a surreal experience actually liking a sport that I’m considering burning incense for the past me of years 8 to 11 who dreaded the last week of school because of the inevitable carnage that would accompany having to play dodgeball in PE. CAS has helped me overcome a mental and physical challenge that I would otherwise never have thought to go near.

FOCUS ON SIXTH FORM

SEIJUN (SAM) KIM- 12WHE

“I am particularly interested in Biology because everything around us can be explained through the realms of Biology. In the future, I plan to study Public Health and Policy because as life expectancy increases our health will show signs of deterioration, and technology can play a crucial role in this change. Through my studies, I plan to reduce the disparity between the rich and the poor in terms of health. The IB DP Course has so far allowed me to freely research specific areas of interest. As it happens, I am the Chair of the Medical Society, through which we advocate the importance of basic knowledge in the field of medicine for everyone.”

DONGHA (DAVID) KIM - Y13JCH

David is a brilliant all-rounder academically and socially, but he is particularly talented in art. He was awarded 4th in the World’s Best Figure Expressionists section in the American Art Awards. We are so proud of his achievements, and look forward to seeing all his masterpieces during the Y13 Art Exhibition on 8 March.

“Dongha, a creative artist, often surprises students with philosophical questions, adding a lively touch to our mornings.”Ms. Cha (Tutor)

SIXTH FORM TRIP TO CHINA

The History Department is pleased to announce a trip to China in early September 2024.

The trip will be for Year 12 and 13 IBDP History students. We are therefore inviting current Year 12, and Year 11 students who would like to take History at IBDP to sign up for the trip.

Students will visit Nanjing, and Beijing and visit numerous places of historical interest including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden Kingdom, and the Great Wall of China.

The trip will not impact any IBDP assessments, or University applications for the Year 13s, and for Year 12s it will be an exciting and engaging start to their History course.

For further information speak to Mr. Matthews

CULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE

WORLD PANCAKE DAY - 13 FEBRUARY

An annual tradition where people around the globe indulge in delicious pancakes. Stemming from the Christian observance of Shrove Tuesday, it’s a day to use up rich ingredients like eggs and milk before the Lenten fasting period begins.

ZERO DISCRIMINATION DAY - 1 MARCH

The day commemorates everyone’s right to live a full and productive life. Created by the United Nations, the day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout the world. Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace, health and, above all, a movement for change. Working to help create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination.

CULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE

WORLD HEARING DAY - 3 MARCH

World Hearing Day is an international advocacy movement to promote ear and hearing care worldwide and increase public awareness of hearing loss. Additionally, it aims to support the inclusion of hearing healthcare in universal health care plans so that everyone has access to the necessary rehabilitation services and communication tools that they need.

WORLD WILDLIFE DAY - 3 MARCH

The day rallies global support for wildlife conservation. It creates a crucial reminder for the necessity to protect biodiversity, ecosystems and habitats. Together, we work to preserve habitats and combat threats like poaching and habitat destruction, safeguarding the future of our planet’s precious wildlife.

CULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE

BALI NYEPI DAY - 3 & 4 MARCH

Nyepi is a public Hindu holiday that commemorates every Isakawarsa (every year). Often referred to as the “Day of Silence’’, the Balinese event is mainly celebrated in Bali, Indonesia. During the holiday, fasting, meditation, and many other ritual practices are common amongst the locals, who take this time to reflect on themselves, and nothing more. As such, anything that would disrupt this purpose is restricted. This period of time is considered to be one of the most sacred religious holidays, and an opportunity to ask for forgiveness before the new year.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY - 8 MARCH

International Women’s Day is a worldwide celebration of women’s political, social, and economic accomplishments. Additionally, it’s a day to support women’s rights and gender equality advocacy. The day is celebrated with a variety of activities and events that honour the achievements of women and draw attention to the ongoing fight for gender equality.

We are extremely proud of all our students and we love to keep in touch and find out what they are up to after graduating from NLCS Jeju.

Our ONLJ (Old North Londoners of Jeju) is an active and supportive community, guided by our Alumni and Development Manager, Ms. Shin.

Thank you to Hyungeun Victoria Lee who shared their stories this week.

If you studied at NLCS Jeju and you want to share your news with us, please email Ms. Shin (alumnioffice@ nclsjeju.kr). We cannot wait to hear from you.

Why did you choose this degree?

ONLJ Profile

Hyungeun Victoria Lee

Class of 2015

Sung Kyun Kwan University - Psychology

Looking back at my IB days, I enjoyed Theatre Studies the most. I loved getting into the heads of those characters, figuring out their motivations. I guess that's what got me hooked on understanding why we humans do what we do. So, when I had to choose a major at the end of my freshman year, I chose Psychology. While I loved my studies, I was more interested in applying what I'd learned to real-life settings. Thus, I kickstarted my career a er undergraduate.

How was your University experience?

I went to Sung Kyun Kwan University, right in the heart of Seoul, Korea. I’d say the Korean college experience was something else – truly unique and exciting. I o en invited my NLCS Jeju friends to the school’s festivals to share the vibrant campus culture together. Additionally, I enjoyed participating in extracurricular activities outside of school. For example, there are several corporate-led programs designed for college students in Korea. I benefited extensively from Samsung’s programs, which a orded me the incredible chance to visit overseas. Experiences like these have been invaluable in broadening my horizon and shaping my early career.

What are you currently engaged in? What motivated you to pursue this specific career path?

I’m currently working at one of Korea's leading edtech startups. Joining the team as its fi h member in 2020, I've witnessed remarkable growth, with our team expanding to over 140 individuals. I’ve experienced almost all positions including customer service, operations, marketing, product management, and even a little bit of coding. Now, my focus is directed towards expanding our business globally, especially in the Japanese market.

In fact, during my job search, I also considered pursuing a career at large or conventional companies in Korea. However, I was more drawn to the potential of startups to change the world with innovative ideas. At work, I really love the environment where everyone is dedicated to pushing themselves for growth. I am very grateful to work with such inspiring and professional colleagues every day.

Share some cherished memories from your time at NLCS Jeju.

My time at NLCS Jeju from Year 10 to Year 13 stands out as the most remarkable period of my life. Initially, I found myself among the weakest students in the class due to my struggles with English. As I kept pushing myself forward, I was able to improve my language skills and thoroughly enjoy my school life. It is undeniable that Jeju has become my second home and most of my lifelong friends are from NLCS Jeju. So, my advice is to always be nice to people around you, try out as many things as possible, and make a lot of memories. They will serve as lasting treasures in the years to come.

ADMISSIONS NEWS

RECEPTION, YEAR 1 AND YEAR 2

Applications for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are open! Visit our website to apply. Due to the volume of applications received for these year groups the Admissions team will be in touch as soon as possible after you apply, please allow for up to 5 working days. Applications close 29 February.

Should you have a younger child or friends with children who wish to join the School, please encourage them to apply.

Reception

Applicants will be invited to attend an assessment day on 22 March 2024 at NLCS Jeju. The assessment will include classroom activities and observations, as well as a friendly and fun test, which is interactive and age appropriate.

Year 1 and Year 2

Applicants will join us on campus for an English test and maths test as well as classroom activities and observation on 20 April 2024.

These two dates are one of the highlights of the Admissions calendar, every effort is made to ensure the young applicants feel relaxed and enjoy their experience. All the staff and students involved thoroughly enjoy the event!

Decisions will be made within 3 weeks of the assessment. Call or email the Admissions Team (+82-64-793-8004, admissions@nlcsjeju.kr) today to discuss further.

UPCOMING ADMISSIONS EVENTS

Full details can be found here.

• 2 March - Seoul Information Session - in Seoul

• 12 March - Junior School Information Session - at NLCS Jeju

• 13 March - Senior School Information Session - at NLCS Jeju

• 27 and 28 April - COEX Education Fair - Seoul

• 29 April - Chinese Coffee Morning

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.

We recently told you that Mr. Dorian Brown was planning on running all Jeju Olle to raise money for charities supporting mental health and suicide prevention - since the start of 2024 Mr. Brown has run an impressive 63% of the Olle trails.

He had the pleasure of the company of Alvin, Jinu and Andy (Y13) joining him on Olle 8, around 17km which was the furthest any of them had run before! - Well done to you all - if anyone else wants to run with Mr. Brown please get in touch - alternatively you can avoid running and donate to this great cause instead!

• JustGiving fundraising page

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

NLCS JEJU MIDDLE LEADERS CONFERENCE

We hope that all our staff from Jeju, Dubai, Singapore and London have an enjoyable weekend at our first Middle Leaders Conference. Take a look at the busy schedule. We are delighted that so many of our NLCS family are spending their weekend focusing on professional development which in turn benefits all our students and community. We will share photos soon. Well done also to Ms. Natalie Wilson (VP -Academic), Mr. Carl Lewis (AVP - Academic) for all their arrangements and to Mr. David Lock (Events Manager) for the logistical support. Thank you in advance to our wonderful speakers - Mr. Tom Sherrington, Ms. Sian Carr and Ms. Gwen Byrom.

IB ART SHOW

We are delighted to share the news that the IB Art Show is back for another wonderful year. We hope lots of people can join us, enjoy an evening of art and appreciate our students’ talent!

Follow Us! Don’t forget that you can follow us on social media for daily updates!