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Parent Community
We are fortunate to have an active and engaged parent community, and enjoy an exceptional level of support from parent volunteers.
Parents’ Associations On both campuses our hard-working Parents’ Associations (PA) are managed by an elected committee of enthusiastic volunteers—all parents at the school, who offer their time to serve the school community. In addition, a large number of parent volunteers support the many events and programmes run by the PA throughout the year. By helping parents connect with one another and to other important groups, the PA contributes significantly to one of the College’s most important strategic goals: to build a united, diverse and strong community. The PA’s organise an exciting and diverse array of events and activities, from large, campus-wide events, to social coffees and lunches, to regular and one-off activities or outings.
In addition to the annual flagship events, the Dover Campus Community Fair and the East Campus Family Festival, volunteers in our PA’s were integral to the success of Graduation, the annual High School Careers Fair and Transition to University events, the annual Admissions Open Days, and in supporting scholars and boarders. Numerous volunteers also contribute as class or grade-level and nationality representatives to coordinate information flow and feedback, as well as coffee mornings and meet-ups.
The annual PA organised parent buddy programme helped to welcome families to the community on each campus, and volunteers also host well-attended Staff Appreciation events for UWCSEA staff. Both Parents’ Association are registered as a society in Singapore under the Societies Act. They operate individually and have independent constitutions and Managing Committee structures which are governed by a constitution and bye-laws, with independently audited financial statements available to members each year.
Parents’ Action for Community and Education (PACE) A volunteer, parent-led organisation that falls under the Service umbrella of the College, PACE serves the UWCSEA parent community across both campuses. A full annual schedule of activities and events provides both a social network and many opportunities to contribute to the Singapore community, and beyond. For the last 10 years, PACE volunteers have visited HCA Hospice Care, a registered Singapore charity providing comfort and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. PACE volunteers organise entertainment, celebrate many different cultural events, keep patients company and learn about their lives and stories through twice monthly visits. On Friday, 10 May 2019, 18 visitors from the HCA Hospice Care were welcomed to the Dover Campus on a customised, wheelchair-friendly Sustainability Tour coordinated by PACE volunteers. Over the last 20 years PACE volunteers have: set up two libraries in Myanmar, built nine schools in Cambodia and two in Myanmar, provided 10 years of hospice service in Singapore, donated over 200,000 lunches to children in need and helped over 100 children graduate from college in the Philippines.
UWCSEA Foundation Parent Ambassadors The UWCSEA Foundation Parent Ambassadors are a group of over 100 passionate and committed parents who represent the Foundation within the UWCSEA community. Easily spotted by their bright orange lanyards, they champion and support activities and events, increasing awareness of the impact of giving to the College. They represent the Foundation at numerous parent coffee mornings and community events, encouraging members of the community to make a contribution through time, treasure or talent. In a new initiative in 2018/2019, the ‘Home Away from Home’ initiative was co-organised by the Foundation Parent Ambassadors and the Parents’ Associations on each campus. Over a weekend in March 2019, 30 UWCSEA day families opened their homes and offered a warm welcome to over 50 students from our boarding houses, bringing them together to share a delicious home-cooked meal, great conversation, and cultural traditions.
The UWCSEA Foundation Parent Ambassadors also run Dinner with Scholars events on both campuses and sustainability tours. In 2018/2019 they initiated Sustainability Tours of the campuses in Mandarin, and amidst the hustle and bustle of the Dover Community Fair and the East Family Festival, were key instigators of choreographed flash mobs designed to spread the message of unity through diversity.
