From the Head of School

Dear SFS Community,

As I write these words, I cannot help but feel immense gratitude to be part of a community that so graciously supports one another in the face of adversity. Our solidarity makes long-anticipated moments like concerts, tournaments, and drama performances, feel all the more special. When the Itaewon tragedy hit, we once again came together to check on one another, to grieve together, and to honor our beloved city and host country. We were also reminded of the fragility of life and so held our children a little tighter.

Despite the challenges, I also feel a great deal of hope and joy for the future of Seoul Foreign School. You might recall me writing in the previous issue about “The Way Forward”, our process for growth and improvement into the foreseeable future. I am proud to say that “The Way Forward” ploughs ahead and our good work is well underway.

This issue of The Banner is special because it highlights how Seoul Foreign School is bringing back the community and how teachers are using feedback to support student progression. Stories like Our Heroes don’t wear capes, they wear scrubs and The Power of Feedback serve to underscore Seoul Foreign School’s commitment to community and to lifelong learning while our Alumni stories remind readers that SFS’s legacy lives on long after commencement.

I hope you enjoy this glimpse into our school’s life. I offer my thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue, the parents and alumni who volunteered their time for interviews and the faculty who shared their stories. SFS could not be a Christian school for everyone without your support. I do not take this for granted and appreciate it now more than ever.

Together, we are stronger.

God bless,

Colm Flanagan Head of School

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

- Romans 12:4-5

THE BANNER

Seoul Foreign School

Magazine, Spring 2023

Team

Published by:

Seoul Foreign School External Relations Team

Editor-in-chief: Cyrielle Bazin

Design and Photography: Juhie Suh

A special thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue

Address

Seoul Foreign School

39 Yeonhui-ro 22-gil Yeonhui-dong Seodaemun-gu Seoul, South Korea, 03723 www.seoulforeign.org

Unless otherwise noted, articles may be reprinted without permission - as long as they are not edited or revised - with appropriate credit given to “The Banner, the magazine for Seoul Foreign School.”

*All efforts have been made to check details and consistency. Please contact communications@ seoulforeign.org with any questions.

Cover: Our Elementary School community celebrated Korea’s rich heritage and culture this week during the annual Korea Days.

From the Board Chair

Dear SFS Community,

From the beginning of the academic year, I realized I had started spending more time on the SFS campus and gradually re-engaged with the SFS community. In the past few months, I have been able to see old and new faces, all finally with a discernible smile not obscured by a mask. The COVID pandemic is not over, but the immunity gained by vaccination and exposure has allowed the government to lessen restrictions which meant that the school finally switched to full-gear mode. In a few days, we will have our first International Fair together with the much-anticipated celebration of our 110th anniversary. I am still in awe at the idea that our school has survived and thrived through numerous devastating historical events and that, every time, it has adapted and changed to engage with every new reality that was present. We have eye witnessed the resilience of our school and the amazing response of our administration to the COVID pandemic hurdle. The hard work and hard decisions made during those early months have resulted in our school coming out stronger and in a better position within our Seoul community than it was three years ago.

I am coming to the end of my term on the Board of Governors, and I will step down from the Chair of the Board at the end of this academic year. I felt privileged to have been part of this community. SFS has been a home away from home for my family, I learned a lot as a governor, and through this journey, I have met many remarkable individuals that have made this experience unforgettable.

I know I leave the school in good hands as the current Board members are an extraordinary group of dedicated individuals that love the school and firmly believe in its philosophy and mission. I encourage everyone to get involved with this amazing community; it is what makes this school so special: each and every one of you that trusts SFS with your children's education.

Sincerely,

Dr. Silvia Ratto Kim Chair of the Board of Governors

“I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do.”

- Joshua 1:9

THE NEXT CHAPTER CLASS OF '23