Seoul Foreign School, 1912-2022

Academic Programs

Before the PYP (Primary Years Programme) implementation, the Elementary School was operating using a combination of US state standards, Singapore Maths, and Guided Reading. However, with the shift to the PYP, the school followed a series of review processes in each area of the curriculum to evaluate and choose programs that best fit our students’ needs.

The Elementary School PYP program now incorporates the Readers and Writers’ Workshop, Handwriting without Tears, the Phonics Program from Columbia University, the Fountas Pinnell Reading Test, uses AERO and Next Generation Science Standards, Singapore Math and Zearn. Students also learn Mandarin Chinese or Korean (Native and Beginner). A significant culminating event in the elementary school is the 5th grade Exhibition in which students complete a research project. These students are mentored by faculty from across the school who, along with the classroom teachers, guide them through the process of planning, researching, and executing their project.

The school now has a full time PYP Curriculum Coordinator who works closely with the classroom teachers on the vertical and horizontal curriculum design and implementation.

Activities

The main source of after school activities for our Elementary School students are through the SWEP program (School Wide Extracurricular Program). On any given day, there are hundreds of students participating in sports, arts, and classroom after school. These programs give students an opportunity to try new things and develop their interests in a safe and fun environment.

A favorite event for the Elementary School students is the Songdo 7s hosted by Chadwick International School each November. SFS sends teams from Kindergarten to Middle School to compete against other international schools in Korea. As it is a competitive tournament, the students get to experience the joys of victory and the sorrows of defeat, and they get to experience real ‘pressure’ with their teammates. It’s a really fun time for all of the students and parents who love to represent the school.

The House System is an important community builder in the Elementary School and this is evidenced through the house points system, the House Disco, and the House Field Days.

An important tradition in the Elementary School is the 4th grade play or musical. In the past decade, we have performed Moana Jr, Madagascar Jr, The Snow Queen, the Wizard of Oz, Treasure Island, The Knight at Dawn, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Each of these performances have been stunning, with incredible set designs and costuming, not to mention the incredible acting and vocal talents of the students! This is truly an exceptional learning experience for the entire grade level, and a tradition that sets SFS apart.

Technology

Every student has access to an iPad in their classroom. Students have access to educational apps, such as Zearn and eReaders, and often use the iPads to document their learning on Seesaw, which serves as the school’s Learning Management System. Parents are fortunate to have ‘inside’ access to their child’s learning, as students post examples of their work, reflections, and other videos/ voice recordings. During the pandemic, Seesaw (and Zoom) was critical when students were home for ‘virtual learning’.

Christian Ministries

Wednesdays is the protected day for elementary students to participate in AWANA, which is run by the Christian Ministries department. This is a very popular activity, and the students enjoy the time of fun and fellowship, especially memorizing the weekly Bible verses.

There are also regular Grade Level Chapels, as well as classroom devotional time, in which time is spent focusing on the Christ-like Attitudes. There are also special assemblies throughout the year, such as during Christmas and Easter.

Middle School

Middle Schools are inherently unique, and as any parent of a middle schooler will tell you, this is definitely a most ‘unique’ time of development for students! As a result, the Middle School has chosen to focus on student well-being and a safe environment, which emphasizes a culture of Kindness, Inclusion, and Empathy. This culture, combined with the rigor and structure of the MYP (Middle Years Programme), has resulted in a dynamic learning environment for our middle school students.

Facilities

The Middle School and British School buildings are now the oldest academic buildings on campus, and are next on the master plan for new facilities. While we wait for that glorious future, the Middle School continues to make the most of its current home, undergoing a number of small improvement projects.

With the implementation of the MYP, the school created a new large design lab on the ground floor (where the Little Theater had previously been), which is well-resourced with tools and equipment for project based learning. This is a very impressive learning space, and students are exposed to a variety of real life skills, such as using tools and workshop safety! The kitchen, which is next door, is also utilized for the MYP Design program. In typical middle school fashion, some of the best ‘stories’ come out of these spaces. A favorite is the time a student thought it would be fun to fry some oil and cayenne pepper!

The IT department was moved from the basement of the Middle School building to the other side of campus into a renovated area, which previously were the High School language classrooms. In the old IT’s space, a brand new Middle School/Key Stage 3 library was built. This library has some outstanding features, such as a green screen room, a hidden door hallway, as well as the school server behind glass! Apparently, moving the IT office was feasible, but moving the central server was not. Surprisingly, it makes for an interesting and futuristic decor.