Noro Newsletter - December 2023

December 2023

Term 1

The Winter Howl The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

Term One in Noro House

BY MS TORRANCE

Welcome to our Term 1 newsletter of the 23/24 academic year. It has been a busy and productive term in Noro House with many successes to celebrate Throughout the term we have seen emerging and confident team players, who display great enthusiasm for Noro house as fearless wolves.

This year, House Competition takes place on a Friday afternoon, it is wonderful to enjoy the House Lunch followed by an array of competitions whilst proudly donning our purple Noro hoodies. Throughout this newsletter you will get the opportunity to hear from some of our student leaders, the newest members of the wolf pack and read through some of our highlights of term 1. As always, I am extremely proud of each and every wolf, our motto gets stronger and stronger - the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Yunseo (Louisa) Kim and Yunseon (Rachel) Kim for capturing the Noro House Spirit in this wonderful Winter Howl newsletter.

Take a look: Term reflection House competition news House Commendations, Merits and Character Strengths

A Message from Mr Lim Noro had a whirlwind start to the year and they kept the pace up after the half-term with First Place finishes for Year 7 Public Speaking, Year 9 Table Tennis, Year 9 Mathletics, Year 9 Scrabble Scramble and Year 10 Football. House Spirit has never been higher and it is amazing to see how enthusiastic each and every member of the house has been during House Competition.

Our Year 11 Student Leadership team has done a wonderful job with the Year Group Vice Captains to organise, plan, and help students prepare for all of the events.

Coming up after Christmas there will be a new addition to the House Competition, with Year 7 and 8 Boys entering an ESports competition while the Year 7 and 8 Girls get into the pool for their shot to swim their way to finish line. Drone Dash, Basketball, and the newly introduced Dodgeball make their way into the rotation next term. I look forward to seeing Noro rise up to the new challenges that come their way in the New Year!

The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

December 2023 - Term 1

Year group captain term reflection Year 7 Vice Captain

Jisang (Jason) Son

It is such a pleasure to be the Vice House Captain of the best house Noro! It is my second time having a house leadership role, since in the Junior School, I was the Haetae House Captain. I believe I learned my leadership skills from being the House Captain of Haetae, and I am trying my best to use that leadership skills I learnt right now, as the Vice Captain of Noro. I believe that having a house leadership role is very important in the NLCS Jeju community, and I believe that is a job which requires great leadership skills. I hope Noro will achieve 1st place this year. Let’s go WOLVES!!!

Yeonah (Yuna) Kim While being a Vice House Captain for Noro, I realised that a true leader does not force the people to do as they order. Instead, they listen and join all the ideas together to form an ideal example of a united community. I learnt from being in Noro that if you cooperate, you can portray yourself to the best you can ever be, just as the Noro slogan expresses: 'the strength of the wolf is the pack and the strength of the pack is the wolf'. We are together as one, and we must rely on each other for our benefit!

The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

December 2023 - Term 1

Year group captain term reflection Year 8 Vice Captain Seaon (Sean) Lee

Greetings! I'm Sean Lee, privileged to be Year 8's Vice House Captain at Noro House. Representing the collective spirit and passion of our wolf pack is an incredible honour. Beyond a title, being Vice House Captain is a responsibility I embrace with enthusiasm.

Noro House is more than a place; it's a family where each member contributes to our school life. I'm committed to providing an environment where every individual feels valued and heard. I tried my best to pull out individual strength to house competition and build a better community where everyone values their internal potential and has the opportunity to demonstrate their talent. Thank you for trusting me as Vice House Captain.

I'm eager to make this year truly glorious for Noro House!

Seoah (Chloe) Kim

Hi, I’m Chloe Kim, Year 8’s Vice Captain of the Noro House. I am very honoured to take this role and represent Noro Y8. Throughout this term I have made a conscious effort to listen to every individual, ensuring everyone feels involved and valued as a part of the Noro family. As a member of Noro since Y7, I’ve always tried to give my best in every House competition, fostering a sense of unity and belonging. While our House competition results may not have always met our expectations, I've encouraged everyone to pull out their best strengths. As a year group captain, I want to keep up this spirit and enthusiasm of Noro and give everyone the opportunity to participate and be involved in House competitions. Thank you for giving me a chance to represent Noro Y8. The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack!

The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

December 2023 - Term 1

Year group captain term reflection Year 9 Vice Captain Jian (Ella) Lee Term 1 was an absolutely wonderful start of the year full of vigour and passion within Noro house. It was great to see people supporting each other and cheering altogether as a Noro family. In particular, I would like to highlight great teamwork and commitment performed by Year 9 during the house competitions. Year 9 has collaboratively worked as a group encouraging each other which resulted in achieving first place in chess and mathletics. Although it was a hectic term with several disappointments, I was genuinely surprised by the strong bond within Noro as a pack. Keeping up this energy, I believe Noro will win the victory with no doubt.

Yongjun (Brian) Kim

Hello, this is Brian Yongjun Kim, Vice Captain of Noro. This term has been a great start to Year 9. We got 1st place in Mathletics and Chess. And showed great teamwork and performances in Public Speaking, Quiz and Badminton. I participated in House Glee, singing and other competitions. Singing & Glee was especially the biggest challenge (I was not a good dancer), but also what I enjoyed the most. I hope we’ll get the score we actually deserve next time. Since, most of the house competitions in next term are sports such as Rugby, Netball, Dodgeball and Basketball. I’ll work on sorting out teams, making sure people interested and not interested in sports are all committed.

The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

December 2023 - Term 1

Year group captain term reflection Year 10 Vice Captain Yeongjin (YJ) Yoo Without a doubt, the first term of this academic year has been a great success for Noro Y10. Our year group has not only seen victories across all competitions from football to quiz, but we have also had passionate participation in various areas like Ensemble and Glee. In fact, I can say with confidence that Noro Y10 is one of the most enthusiastic groups in the entire house, volunteering to take part in Noro’s amazing achievements every time. Oftentimes I fail to express this, but I am truly grateful for the students I am working with in Noro and I wish nothing more but for us to continue doing the things in the way we do them. I am eager to see what awaits us in Term 2.

Nayeon (Chloe) Park

This term, it has been an intense and tight period with many things going on. Many people tried their best to show who we are as Noro, resulting in us to start off strong from the beginning of the year.

Especially mentioning the house singing and house glee, regardless of the result, as a whole Noro House, we were able to present how powerful and amazing we are. Now, we are looking forward to more house competitions to achieve the victory but also to strengthen together as a full pack of wolves. We all appreciate a huge gratitude to Year 11’s leaders who have been putting all of their efforts in House Singing and Glee for months.

The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

December 2023 - Term 1

Year group captain term reflection Year 11 Vice Captain

Woo Hyeok (Rex) Gwon

Noro has been my family since day one, a community that welcomed me with open arms. In the first few years, my enthusiasm for Noro in House Competitions was unmeasurable. I eagerly looked forward to the events after school on Mondays. Over time, my passions seemed to evolve, I went from enthusiastically participating in competitions to becoming one of the leaders of the house. Today, I focus on leading Noro to victory, aiming for the top at the end of the year. Noro is more than a community; it has been and will be the journey of growth, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence that I am honoured to be a part of.

Freya Paliwal Nigam

Noro house is really like my family. Now more so than ever. From the first day of Year 7 to being House Captain now, I have cherished every moment I have spent in the house. When I look back to Year 7 and 8, the first memories that come to mind are either of Noro or the people that have been in Noro with me.

The house has pushed me to try new things and to step out of my comfort zone. Whether that be in house competitions or in my school life in general, I always knew that I had a genuine support system that would back me up and help me every step of the way, and for that I am incredibly grateful. There is nowhere else I would rather be than in Noro house.

As a Whole House Captain We may not always win, but we have always been there for each other. We always cheer the loudest and we always make a comeback. That is the true meaning of being in Noro. That is what being a Noro House member means to us, and we hope that everyone feels the same way. Because, If we can continue to keep our spirits high, there is no stopping us from winning house competitions. We have the passion and we put in the hard work. There hasn’t been a single moment where we haven’t been proud of being Noro.

We are truly the best house.

The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

December 2023 - Term 1

House Competition Reflection Our Year 7 won the 1st place in Public Speaking!

To celebrate their achievement, we took some interviews with the participants!

Ryan Ng

I felt pretty nervous starting out because right when we started my teammate decided to switch roles with me. I started out as just a planner, but suddenly I found myself doing the role of the speech to entertain. I didn’t have any ideas at first with my prompt “If I met my favourite singer”.

Then, I got the idea to include a parody of some kind of sponsor. Then, that idea spread, and eventually became imitating Mr. Beast. However, this was only the second time I ever did public speaking, so I could feel my legs shaking and I was extremely nervous. I also ended up speaking under time as well, but I think I ended up doing good in the end.

Hyeona (Stella) Shin

Hello! I am Stella from N7B who participated in the recent house competition, public speaking. I did the Duo Duel with my partner Mollie. I would say it was a very interesting experience... The topic was about true love and I didn't know what to say but I ended up thinking of a good prompt to start the speech with Mollie. Although I don't know much about love it was fun to interpret the video. Although I got nervous I just calmed myself down by making jokes and playing around with my partner after preparing everything. It was overall an awesome House Competition!

Yeonah (Yuna) Kim

Before doing the 'public speaking event', I honestly did not get the point of forcing students to speak in front of the entire Year 7. However, after the competition, I felt that this experience would always be with me, and would encourage me further to try out new things. This competition would be memorable because Noro Year 7s worked together as a house to reach an accomplishment. It was such an enjoyable activity and I hope I will have another chance for it in the future. Finally, I believe every member of Noro can be proud of our fabulous effort!

December 2023 - Term 1

House Competition Reflection House Glee

Freya Paliwal Nigam

It was such an amazing experience getting to choreograph and lead glee with Benjamin.

We definitely had the most enthusiastic dancers who always tried their best even when they were tired. We had a lot of laughs and even when we were getting stressed with the performance we all grouped together and performed brilliantly. I think that is what I enjoyed the most about the whole experience. On top of that we had the most support. The ambiance that Noro house created for our dancers on the day of the performance was like no other. It made me incredibly proud to be Noro!

House Drama

Do Won (Kevin) Kim

It has come to me as a series of surprises witnessing the unfolding of Noro's bright future. Despite all the endof-term turmoils, we managed to come up with a solid cast and a script. All the helping hands of Mrs Torrance, Mr Lim, Reina and Eunri have undeniably given Noro a significant head start compared to other houses and we are certain that our performance will be successful.

December 2023 - Term 1

House Competition Interviews House Singing

Yunseo (Claire) Park

I am thrilled to share the recent Glee and House Singing performance, which everyone in Noro participated in. As the Arts Captain and the conductor of the House Singing event, leading the performances was such an honour and made an unforgettable memory for me. House singing holds a special place in our hearts as it is the only event where all year group joins, and it is the most exciting event among the house competitions. A special appreciation goes out to all the leaders, teachers, and the tech team who dedicated so much effort to house singing and glee. Regardless of the results, the preparation for the house singing was profoundly meaningful, showcasing the unity and effort put in by each year group. Our collective performances deserve the first place, and we should all take pride in our accomplishments. Our final performance displayed our best singing and dancing yet, and I firmly believe no one could have done better.

Ensemble

Seungchan (Robert) Park

Tough competition during busy times…Preparing for House Ensemble was a complete pack of solving problems. From Jacob Collier to Totoro to Phantom of Opera, we tried many different pieces and genres, figuring out the best way to represent our ensemble team. I would like to thank Eden and Andrew for participating and following so well, as their work has been phenomenal in terms of cooperation and teamwork. We had the most diverse age range among the ensemble groups, representing the theme of “vital connections”. I believe music should be a medium of communication, a language between musicians and a ‘connection’ between the performers and the audience. Noro Ensemble did this perfectly. Well done to all performers, and thank you to everyone who supported the team.

December 2023 - Term 1

Term 1 House Commendations At the end of each term we award the House Commendations to a selected number of students in Noro House. These awards are given to students who have embodied house spirit and ethos.

Congratulations to our Noro Term 3 award achievers: Year 7 – Sean Yun & Justin Rue Year 8 – Anthony Kim & Elin Shin Year 9 – Seoyun Jung & Daniel Lee

Sanghyeok (Sean) Yun Sean's demeanor is characterised by politeness and a consistent willingness to assist others, establishing him as a model student within my tutor group. He exhibits a commendable level of concern for his peers, consistently fulfills his assigned responsibilities, actively engages, and executes his role with excellence.

Ms Jung (Form Tutor) Joon (Daniel) Lee Despite not being chosen as our year group captain this year, Daniel has not only shown his leadership qualities in helping with the team lists but also participated in a variety of house competitions. He is not only observant but also would also express his opinions thoughtfully. This award is a testament to Daniel's dedication, leadership and positive influence in the group.

Ms Liu (Form Tutor)

Year 10 – Dahye Lim & Reina Choi Year 11 – Thomas Downes & Robert Park Jooan (Justin) Rue Justin is an exceptional student known for his active participation in house competitions, remarkable teamwork, and leadership qualities. He consistently demonstrates cooperation, serving as a valuable team player while also displaying characteristics of a team leader when needed. Justin is not only enthusiastic and disciplined but also extends his support to classmates, fostering a positive and inclusive school environment.

His commitment to collaboration, leadership, and helping others makes him a standout student and a positive influence on the school community.

Mr Mahfouz (Form Tutor) Yeonjoon (Anthony) Kim Anthony has made a consistent contribution to a range of house competitions, with enthusiasm (even when acting under duress!) and spirit. He has helped to guide and support others in the tutor group and the house with different skills and activities, and has shown great maturity so far this year.

Ms Bostock (Form Tutor)

Yunjeong (Elin) Shin Elin has been a proactive and supportive presence in our tutor group as a tutor rep, showing Seoyun Jung exceptional dedication, committment and Seoyun brings energy and enthusiasm to all that she leadership. She consistently takes the initiative, does. She always contributes her very best to Noro inspiring and guiding her peers to be the best they and brings life and fun to our tutor times. It's a great can be. Her natural leadership qualities are pleasure to see her confidence increasing with every evident in how she motivates others, helping to term that goes by! Most importantly, she is always kind elevate the overall morale of the class. and caring, and supports others whenever she can.

Mr Kim (Form Tutor) Ms Thornley (Form Tutor)

The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

March 2023 - Term 2

March 2023 - Term 2

Term 1 House Commendations Jiyin (Reina) Choi Reina's impact on house competitions is truly commendable. Engaging in a variety of activities, from Drama to Robotics, she has showcased her diverse talents this year. As a cherished member of N10B, Reina has extended warmth and kindness to newcomers, embodying the Noro House spirit. Her consistent growth in confidence and leadership skills hasn't gone unnoticed, and she consistently fills N10B with a vibrant energy and positive attitude. Well done Reina.

Mr Narvaez (Form Tutor)

Dahye Lim Dahye demonstrates an exemplary level of engagement in house competitions, actively assuming the role of a spirited leader in coordinating tutor group events. Her commitment to fostering a sense of camaraderie is evidenced by her meticulous attention to detail, ensuring the celebration of friends' birthdays with personalized gestures that go beyond mere acknowledgment. Dahye consistently exhibits a dedication to excellence in all her pursuits, epitomizing a commendable work ethic that is reflected in her academic and extracurricular endeavors.

Ms Kim (Form Tutor)

Thomas Downes When it came to House Glee and Singing, I saw Thomas in a completely different light and it was one of the moments in my teaching career where I felt immensely proud of what he achieved that evening. He completley shined the whole evening and his passion for dance truley blew me away.

It was beautiful to see him perform and you could see the hours of training he put into it really showcased his brillant talent and team spirit!

Ms Sultana (Form Tutor)

Seungchan (Robert) Park There are a few strong candidates in the Form this term, but Robert stands out for me. Not only did he put in a huge amount of time an effort into the House singing and ensemble, he had a very good manner with the boys in rehearsals, finding the balance between encouraging / chivvying them to do what was required. He displayed a maturity beyond his years during rehearsals. In addition, he has found the time to help Years 7,8,9 with public speaking. When other tutors asked for volunteers, no one really wanted to do it, but Robert showed great commitment and he stepped up. He has also taken part in House Table Tennis.

Mr Lutley (Form Tutor)

The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.

March 2023 - Term 2

March 2023 - Term 2

23/24 Term 1 Memories