NLCS Jeju Newsletter 22 September 2023

22 September 2023

Newsletter

North London Collegiate School Jeju

TOP NEWS

MUSIC ENRICHMENT WEEK

HAPPY CHUSEOK

ADMISSIONS EVENTS IN SEOUL AND JEJU

ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT IN BOARDING

PRINCIPAL’S LETTER

Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Friends of NLCS Jeju

The weeks have flown by since the first day of the new academic year and it has been so encouraging to see how new and returning students have embraced their lessons as well as participating so positively and enthusiastically in the co-curricular programmes. Around the School we see purposeful and happy students actively engaged in school life at NLCS Jeju. This week seeing children and staff engaged in Music Enrichment Week has been uplifting and we thank also alumni who returned to help to deliver sessions to our sixth form students

It has also been very encouraging to see high turnouts at many parent events which give parents the opportunity to find out more about the curriculum, pastoral system and co-curricular provision and how the School leads and delivers a British education here at NLCS Jeju.Understanding the house system and how it benefits the children with a sense of belonging and ownership is something which we are very proud of at NLCS Jeju and I do welcome parents of children in the various houses to embrace the opportunities to find out more about their house, as some parents from Geomun were able to yesterday in conversation with House staff and student leaders.

We all hope that you have a wonderful Chuseok holiday with your families and return refreshed and invigorated for the rest of the term.

Yours sincerely,

Lynne Oldfield Principal

The Main Event

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

MUSIC ENRICHMENT WEEK

What a week we have had, the School corridors have been filled with wonderful musical performances from a variety of students, covering a number of genres. This is the first Enrichment Week of the academic year - they have set a high standard for those who follow in the coming weeks. Thank you to all the staff and students who have made this week so special.

“The Music Department hopes that a number of students at NLCS Jeju will get involved in Music activities throughout the year, but what better way to start than to experience as many events as possible during Music Enrichment Week? A busy programme sees students explore a range of musical cultures from around the world. Everyone - from audience members to performers - will find something for them and remember what joys music can bring to our lives.” - Mr. Harry Thorrington (Director of Music).

The Main Event

MUSIC ENRICHMENT WEEK

The Main Event

The Main Event

The Main Event

HAPPY CHUSEOK

September marks both Chuseok and the International Day of Sign Languages. You can read more about both events in the Cultural Awareness Committee (CAC) section of this week’s newsletter.

Combining both, our Aewol Boarding Homes students have created this great video where they wish the NLCS Jeju community a happy Chuseok with sign language. We hope everyone at NLCS Jeju and beyond has a lovely Chuseok and a restful break.

Don’t miss our posts!

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

• Dance Alumni

• Mr. Paye’s Music Class

• Blood Bus

• Halla House Tea

• UGC Seminars

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

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Though we are proud of each and every student who receives an award or recognition for an achievement and you have our heartfelt congratulations, the only achievements that will be listed need to meet the following criteria:

1. The competition was arranged by NLCS Jeju - for example the GEC Coding Challenge

2. The competition is a national or international competition and NLCS Jeju has entered a team - such as the FOBISIA Maths Competition or PERSE Coding Competition

3. The competition is an external competition but it is hosted at NLCS Jeju - such as the World Maths Championships

4. If a student enters a competition independently only those that are at a national level will be included, for example, representing Korea.

INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL LITERACY PROJECT

Ms. Minsoo Cha shared another great story on our students’ success. “The team that represented Korea consisting of Jungseo Park (Team leader) (Y10), Dayun Kim (Y10), Naeun Kim (Y10), and Changhyun Kim (Y10) brought honour and distinction to NLCS Jeju by securing a prestigious 2nd place in the International Statistical Literacy Project (ISLP) Lower Secondary Division for the academic year 2022-2023.

The ISLP, renowned for its global reach and significance, saw participation from 35 countries and a total of 19,772 individuals, and it is with immense pride that we announce our students’ outstanding placement among this highly competitive field.

Following the theme of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: But are you recycling in the correct way?”, the team embarked on a rigorous investigation into the effectiveness of waste separation practices. As part of their research, they thoughtfully provided guidelines on correct separation methods, which was made available alongside the trash cans in order to enhance the overall rate of compliance.

The students were honoured at an award ceremony held at the National Statistical Office on the 1st of September 2023, coinciding with National Statistics Day. This momentous occasion signifies their dedication, hard work, and the recognition they have earned on both a national and international level.

The team will be receiving a prize of €350, which they have chosen to donate to environmental organisations.”

Other News

BLOOD DONATION BUS

It may have rained all day, but the blood donation bus was another huge success. Well done to Elizabeth, Stella and Olivia who arranged the event and dedicated so much time to making sure as many people as possible could donate.

Thank you to all those who donated or assisted with translation, event set up and supervising.

Other News

Last week our representatives from our Chinese Parent Community (CPC) visited the School to give a gift of appreciation to our Principal, Ms. Lynne Oldfield and our Head of Junior School, Mr. Jeremy Freeman.

The gifts were Chinese traditional painting reproductions from Shanghai Museum exhibits, featuring the School’s flower - the daffodil.

We are very lucky to have such a warm Chinese Parent Community and are delighted to see more and more students from China applying to NLCS Jeju, now that direct flights from China to Jeju are becoming more frequent.

A special coffee morning has been arranged on 6 October for prospective parents, local businesses and anyone who wants to find out more about NLCS Jeju, with Mandarin translation. Sign up via the QR code today.

CHARITY GARAGE SALE

Each year, Ms. Brooks, arranges a charity garage sale. Collecting items from staff, both those who are leaving and those who are having a clear out, the sale then runs throughout the summer and all staff (and this year, including BHA staff) are invited to browse and purchase items - with all money raised going to charity. Local charities were also invited along to collect items without charge.

This year the Garage Sale raised a staggering and record breaking 2,131,806 KRW. The money raised will be split equally between two Jeju charities. Jeju Friends - who look after abandoned cats and dogs and Save Jeju Bada - who provide ocean environmental education, helping to upcycle abandoned waste, carrying out beach cleans.

A huge thank you to Ms. Brooks - this is a big undertaking and your enthusiasm and hard work ensures that many people (and cats and dogs) benefit in one way or another. Thanks also to those who have helped her this summer with sorting, donating or buying.

PARENTS AS PARTNERS

The first Senior School (Year 7-9) Parents as Partners was a great success. The topic was ‘Bullying’ and informative workshops were provided by Mr. Waterman, Mr. Carter-Stead and Mr. Caudle. Thank you to all the parents who joined us and we look forward to seeing more parents at future Parents as Partner events. The next one, with a focus on Boarding, will take place on 24 October, save the date!

On Wednesday there was a very informative Junior School Parents as Partners ‘Learning in Reception: Development Matters and the Importance of Play’. There are more events planned shortly after Chuseok and we look forward to welcoming parents. Please sign up via the iSAMS email.

Parent - School Communication

3 October - 3.30pm to 4.15pm

Year 1 to Year 6 Curriculum Overview

4 October - 8.20am to 9.10am

Register to attend via the iSAMS email from Ms. Gayle Hume, Deputy Head (Academic).

Other News

ACADEMIC ENGLISH PREFECT

“During our KS3 assembly, new Academic English Prefect, Geumbee Ahn delivered a powerful main address with some thought provoking questions. Does English make you a better thinker? Geumbee referred to one of her most admired novelists, Vladimir Nobokov and recited a quote ‘the reason English is separately beautiful from languages such as French and Spanish is that the adjective comes before the noun’. Geumbee acknowledged the ease of communicating in our first language, but challenged the students to push beyond that and overcome difficulties associated with multilingualism; with this our thought process and our view of the world will transpire into something dazzling.” - Ms. Susan Gleeson, Head of Academic English Development.

BOOK DONATION

Thank you to the Ng family for their recent donation of Mandarin books for our First School Library - the books will be a great resource for our students who are learning Mandarin as well as for our first language Mandarin speakers to enjoy. Here is a photo of our First School Librarian, Ms. Josephine Nalugya and Rachel Ng with the donated books.

Other News

TERRARIUM CRAFTING COLLECTIVE

Take a look at this great Bryant! The purpose of the group is to make beautiful glass terrariums to place around the School for students and staff to enjoy. To ensure longevity the plants will all be easy to maintain. We look forward to seeing the finished products which will certainly brighten up classrooms.

BCCK EVENT

NLCS Jeju are proud sponsors of the British Chamber of Commerce in Korea and are delighted that our students are invited to perform at all its prestigious events. Thank you to our wonderful musicians who recently performed at the Summer Garden Party at the British Embassy.

“A great deal of compliments were paid to Hyeon Moon (Y13 - Cello), Eunbie Ko (Y9 - Violin) and Edward Kwon (Y10 - Viola) as they entertained guests of His Excellency the British Ambassador to Korea. The stunning residence in the heart of Seoul was a perfect backdrop for excellent music-making and more collaborations with the British-Korean community are forthcoming.” - Mr. Harry Thorrington (Director of Music).

FOCUS ON SIXTH FORM

CELEBRATION: IGCSE CEREMONY FOR YEAR 12 STUDENTS

We were so happy to start the year with a wonderful celebration! The IGCSE Ceremony was a lovely occasion to honour all the hard work our Year 12 students have put into their IGCSES over the last two years. Needless to say, this was a practice run for the big celebration in two years!

FOCUS ON SIXTH FORM

HERE COME THE YEAR 12 PREFECTS

We were inundated with Prefect applications a couple of weeks ago! With the help of the current Senior Prefects, and the Project area mentors, we were able to interview all the applicants in order to come up with our finalists.

Today we present you with our new Beyond the Curriculum Prefects under the care of Mr. Machin, and a bigger than normal group of Arts Prefects under the care of Mr. Tamlyn to represent Dance, Art, Music, and Drama.

Watch this space for photos of the other Prefects.

FOCUS ON SIXTH FORM

MEET THE Y13 TUTORS

We would like to shed the light on two of our wonderful Year 13 tutors.

Mr. Daniel Jewitt has loved working with this group, “I love my tutor group’s enthusiasm to contribute beyond the curriculum! Whether via service, academic societies, the arts, or athletics, each and every student provides so much to our school community while also developing holistically.”

Ms. Caroline Sannegadu has taken over from Mr. Niall Scarlett, and she has been hot on the heels of her new group about CAS. It’s not easy being a CAS coordinator!

“I am delighted to return to the Halla Tutor Team and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my tutees, after taking over the group in August. I look forward to supporting my tutees over this academic year as they sit their exams and prepare for life after graduation.”

IB HISTORY TRIP

Early September, a group of Year 12 and 13 IB History students visited Japan to gain a deeper understanding of modern Japanese history and culture. They had a busy few days and visited important places in Tokyo, Kyoto, Arashuyama, Miyajima, Fukuoka and Hiroshima, including the Yasukuni shrine, Yushukan museum, the Imperial Palace, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera temple, the ‘golden temple’ - Kinkakuji and the Peace Park and museum. Thanks to Ms. Oliver and Mr. Matthews for accompanying the students.

“All of the students thoroughly enjoyed the trip, their behaviour was excellent, and they learnt a lot from the experience. Students were encouraged to reflect upon how they could use some of the museum pieces in their TOK exhibition - which they will complete later in the year. We wish to thank the parents for allowing students to join the trip, and plans are already in place for an IB History trip to China in 2024.” - Mr. Ben Matthews - Assistant Head of IB.

UGC PARENT SEMINARS

What a busy week our University Guidance Counsellors had last week. Two information sessions took place on campus on Thursday and two back to back seminars were given in Seoul on Saturday. All four events were well attended and we hope all our parents gained important insights into the University application process.

HOUSE SHOUT VIDEO

Here is the video from the most recent House Shout! Thank you to Mr. Kim for creating the video. The first Senior House Coffee morning took place yesterday and was well attended. These coffee mornings are a great way for parents to meet the House team and connect with other parents whose children are part of that Senior School House. Thank you to the Geomun team. We look forward to future coffee mornings with the other Houses.

GEOMUN COFFEE MORNING

ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME (AEP)

We are pleased to confirm that the AEP in boarding has started again and is already proving a great addition to our boarder’s evening study.

“Our Academic Enhancement Programme in boarding aims to provide meaningful academic enhancement for our boarding students out of normal school hours. This includes activities, such as coursework support, revision sessions, lectures, oral practice, and supervised access to specialist facilities normally from 19:00-21:00, after house registration and is a great way to provide targeted academic assistance. Staff create targeted sessions for students but we also ask students to forward their ideas for support. By incorporating these specific activities into the academic enhancement programme, we can offer a well-rounded support system for students, making their evening sessions both productive and enriching. The varied approach addresses different academic needs and preferences, contributing to a meaningful and inclusive programme.” - Ms. Natalie Wilson - VP (Academic) and Mr. Neil Tamlyn - AVP (The Arts and Academic Enrichment).

CULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE

Welcome to Cultural Highlights!

This is run by the hardworking members of the CAC (Cultural Awareness committee) and talks about upcoming holidays and festivals. We will be regularly featuring in the newsletter so please enjoy. This month we have a wide variety of festivals to talk about. However, from September 15th until October 15th Hispanic Heritage month is being celebrated. This is mainly celebrated in the United States to remember the history, achievements and the contributions of Hispanic Americans. As the fastest growing ethnic minority, this time is taken to highlight and enjoy Hispanic culture. Many cities put on concerts, parades, runs, festivals, art exhibits, and more to honour the month.

Chuseok

CULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE

Chuseok (meaning ‘Autumn evening’), or Hangawi (meaning ‘the great middle of Autumn’), is a three-day celebration that falls on the 15th day of the 8th month on the Lunar calendar. People often refer to this celebration as the Korean Thanksgiving as it shares similar traditions to the Thanksgiving holiday of the U.S. and Canada in which families gather together and give thanks to the successful harvest for the year. Koreans celebrate Chuseok by making special foods, and a prime example is a rice cake called Songpyeon. Some families also perform a Korean Jesa Ceremony, which is meant to honour the ancestors that paved the way for those who are living today with a plethora of food (including Korean pancakes, fresh fruits, fish, vegetables and snacks). This year, Chuseok will be celebrated on 29 September.

Zhong Qiu Jie (中秋节)

Zhong Qiu Jie, meaning the Mid-Autumn Festival and also known as the Mooncake Festival, is a holiday celebrated by Chinese cultures that falls on the 15th day of the 8th month on the Lunar calendar. This is because this date is considered the “middle day of the month in the middle of autumn”. This year, Zhong Qiu Jie will be celebrated on the 29th of September.

Zhong Qiu Jie is a time to honour the full moon, as it is usually the brightest at this time of the year. The moon represents the concept of being fulfilled or full and is a symbol of reunion. In the past, people used to give offerings to the moon as thanks for good harvest. Today, most people typically celebrate Zhong Qiu Jie by gifting mooncakes, retelling mythological legends, such as the story of Chang-E, the woman in the moon, lighting lanterns, gazing at the moon, and most importantly, reuniting and spending time with family while appreciating a fulfilling life.

CULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE

Similarities and Differences of the two

The two holidays both occur on the 15th of August on the lunar calendar, and both have the history of gathering with family in thanks for good harvest on this day. To this day, both holidays place importance on spending time and reuniting with family. During Zhong Qiu Jie, people commonly enjoy gathering together to view the moon and make wishes for good health and harmony while eating mooncakes and drinking tea. Additionally, lanterns are lit up at night time to symbolise beacons which show the path to good fortune. On the other hand, during Chuseok, Koreans normally hold a memorial service for their ancestors, called a Charye (차례), which is where foods such as songpyeon, jeon, and rice are presented. These foods are eaten together with family members after the service.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated in honour of Lord Ganesha, the elephantheaded deity of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Lord Ganesha is believed to be the remover of obstacles and the god of new beginnings, making this festival particularly significant for people starting new ventures or any important undertaking.Ganesh Chaturthi typically takes place in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, which usually corresponds to August or September in the Gregorian calendar. This year, it takes place on the 19th of September. During this event, a variety of sweets, particularly modak (a type of dumpling), are prepared and offered to Lord Ganseha. In fact, modak is considered as Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweet!

International Days

Translation day

International Translation Day was founded as an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of language professionals who play an important role in bringing nations together, facilitating dialogue, understanding and cooperation, contributing to development and strengthening world peace and security. This day also celebrates the feast of St Jerome, the Bible translator, who is considered the patron saint of translators.

CULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is a major Jewish holiday celebrated in the fall over a period of two days. The celebration marks the Jewish New Year, which takes place in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Religious Jews do not work during the holiday and instead attend prayer services at the synagogue where they read from the Machzor, a special prayer book. An integral part of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the Shofar, a trumpet made from the horn of a ram, and is a call for spiritual awakening. The holiday is a remembrance of the creation of the world and ushers in a ten-day reflection period, which is why it is also known as the ‘Day of Judgement’. The food eaten during Rosh Hashanah is symbolic. Challah (traditional bread) represents the eternal cycle of life, and it is usually dipped in honey to represent the hope of the new year being sweet.

Sign language

International day of Sign Language is celebrated annually across the world on 23rd of September from 1951 by the World Federation of Deaf (WFD) in Rome. Afterwards, the UN has proclaimed it once more in order to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realisation of the human rights of people who are deaf.

ONLJ

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 Moonsuk Kim who shared their stories this week.

ONLJ Profile

Moonsuk Kim

Class of 2019

King’s College London Biomedical Engineering (BEng)

Why did you choose this degree?

One of the most frequent questions university students get is “Why did you choose your major?” For many, it’s a chance to weave a compelling narrative. For me, the story is a bit less conventional.

As a teenager, music was my lifeblood; I dreamed of big stages and applause, a drumstick in each hand. Leading SONITAS, the largest music society at NLCS Jeju in 2017-18, only intensified my love for music. However, when it was time to apply for university, I decided to reserve music as a passion rather than a profession.

Why Biomedical Engineering? Simply, I sought a new challenge. I plunged into the unknown world of medical engineering with little clue what awaited me. It wasn’t until the end of my second year that I truly understood what I wanted my future to look like.

How is university life so far?

Since 2019, I’ve been soaking in the diverse, exhilarating culture of London. Settling down in a new city was nerve-wracking at first, but being part of a community of NLCS Jeju alumni and Korean students supported me to make the transition easier.

Life as a Londoner also brings the excitement of various student societies. Organisations such as KCLKS (King’s College London Korean Society) and OKSE (Organisation of Korean Societies in England) have enriched my college experience, even allowing me to continue my passion for music through being a band representative in OKSE.

What are you doing now?

This summer, I’ve had the opportunity to intern at Samsung SDS Europe (SDSE) as a part of their Digital Marketing Team. The experience complements my academic focus, involving computer-based tasks like Excel, research, and coding. The chance to work for a global company has given me invaluable insights and fortified my skill set as I prepare for the next steps in my academic journey.

Memorable moments at NLCS Jeju

As an alumni, I can’t help but cherish my years at NLCS Jeju. Rather than recount specific moments, I’d like to highlight the wealth of opportunities the institution presented for a well-rounded education. The campus was more than just classrooms and textbooks; it was a hub for extracurricular exploration and personal growth. From sports to arts and music, NLCS Jeju uniquely combines resources, spaces, and instruments that allow students to delve into a myriad of activities. The facilities are readily available, reducing any barriers to entry that might be more prevalent in university settings.

ALUMNI LECTURE

“Our School had the privilege of hosting a distinguished alumnus, Bryan Hwang, who graciously shared his wisdom and experiences with our Y12 and Y13 students.

Bryan, an alumnus of the prestigious University of Cambridge, where he pursued Mechanical Engineering, is currently working in a simulation based engineering firm in Seoul as part of his alternative military service.

During his visit, Bryan engaged our students in insightful conversations about his journey, from the challenging application process to the rigours of engineering studies. For aspiring Oxbridge Engineers, his guidance was invaluable!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Bryan for his generous mentorship and inspiring our young minds.” - Ms. Shin (Alumni Manager)

DANCE WORKSHOP

Thank you to Jiwon, who returned to NLCS Jeju to lead an improvisation and repertory session with our IGCSE and IBDP students - giving them a taste of what it would be like to train in a dance conservatoire.

Jiwon recently graduated from the London Contemporary Dance School (The Place), where she was awarded a first class honours degree in Contemporary Dance.

“She was an inspiration and role model to our students.” - Ms. Taylor, Head of Dance

If you are an alumni of NLCS Jeju and you would like to support the School and our current students, we would love to hear from you - get in touch with Ms. Shin today (alumnioffice@ nclsjeju.kr).

ADMISSIONS NEWS

AVAILABLE PLACES

There are a small number of places available to join us this academic year, we have intakes in November, January and April. We are also now accepting applications for Year 3 and above for August 2024. Should you have any friends or family with school age children we would be delighted to hear from them. Contact admissions@nlcsjeju.kr for more information.

INFORMATION SESSIONS

The Admissions Team is hosting a number of information sessions for prospective students in Seoul and Jeju.

Those considering NLCS Jeju can find out more about our upcoming events on our website, or contact the Admissions team to discuss further admissions@nlcsjeju.kr +82-64-7938004.

• Coffee Morning with Chinese Translation - Jeju - 6 October

• Seoul Information Session - 7 October

• Junior School Information Session - Jeju - 10 October

• Senior School Information Session - Jeju - 11 October

... AND FINALLY GEC FARMER’S MARKET

Though not arranged by NLCS Jeju we thought this was a great event, one that our community is sure to enjoy!

Date: 21 October

Time: 11am to 5pm

Location: Sports Complex next to NLCS Jeju

Includes: Performances, food market, flea market, local produce, safety education, social enterprise, games, foot volleyball, Farmer’s Market merchandise and much more!

Click the QR code if you would like to be part of the arrangements and volunteer your time.