Middle School welcome guide 2021/2022 Dover Campus
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Contents
Welcome from the Principal
Welcome from the Principal..........................................................1
Welcome to Middle School. The adolescent years are an important time of transition from childhood to adulthood. We strive to ensure that all our students have a strong sense of belonging with increased opportunities for independence and responsibility. Our learning programme supports students to realise their potential in a diverse range of areas by ensuring that they are engaged in their learning while feeling supported and challenged.
Welcome from the Student Wellbeing Action Team ..............1 Finding your way around................................................................2 Who can help? .................................................................................2 Health and wellbeing of students................................................2 Communications..............................................................................3 Contacting the school.....................................................................4 Middle School uniform...................................................................5 School day.........................................................................................5 Transport to and from school.......................................................6 Technology........................................................................................7
We encourage you to become fully involved in College life by actively participating in a challenging Academic curriculum, Outdoor Education, Service, Activities and our Personal and Social Education programme.
Other useful information...............................................................8
We look forward to you joining our community.
Additional information regarding subjects.................................9
Cameron Hunter Middle School Principal
Lunch and snacks.............................................................................7
Arts......................................................................................................10 Service and Activities programmes.............................................11 Service................................................................................................11 Sports.................................................................................................12 Outdoor education .........................................................................13 Optional trips....................................................................................13 Middle School enrichment trips...................................................13 House System...................................................................................13 Dover Middle School contacts......................................................14
Welcome from the Student Wellbeing Action Team Welcome to UWCSEA! We are the Student Wellbeing Action Team (SWAT) and we look forward to meeting you all. Starting at a new school can be a bit scary and challenging, but it can also be fun and exciting. We hope that this information makes your start at UWCSEA easier. You will find lots of information on school life such as, expeditions, activities, what to wear to PE, and more. On your first day of school, your Advisor will introduce you to a ‘buddy’ who will make sure you know where your classes are, help orientate you to the school and help you meet new people. Remember, we have all been new to UWCSEA at some point, so don’t hesitate to approach any student to ask questions or just to say hello. We are looking forward to getting to know you, and we hope that you have a wonderful start at UWCSEA!
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Finding your way around
Health and wellbeing of students
There is a map of the campus in the student planner, which is given to students on the first day of school.
Who can help?
including adjusting to a new school and new country. When you consult the counsellor, what you speak about is completely confidential, except in cases of personal risk or harm. Contact details for the counsellor is on the back cover of this booklet.
Buddy
Medical care
On your first day of school, your advisor will introduce you to a ‘buddy’. This is a student in your Advisory who will make sure you know where your classes are, help orientate you to the school and help you meet new people.
Teachers If you have any questions about your subjects or assignments, it is best to approach your subject teacher for clarification and guidance.
Advisors You see your advisor every day during advisory group period. They will keep in touch with you about your overall progress and your general welfare. Your advisor is the first person you can approach with any concerns.
Heads of Grade Your Head of Grade is responsible for ensuring all students under their care are supported and challenged. They liaise closely with advisors, subject teachers and counsellors to ensure students are provided with the necessary encouragement, guidance and support to reach their potential. You are always welcome to approach your Head of Grade with any ideas or concerns.
Counselling We have a specialist Middle School Counsellor at the Dover Campus. Our counsellor is available to all students who wish to consult them about more personal issues and concerns. Students see the counsellor for a wide variety of reasons
The Middle School clinic is staffed by trained nurses and is fully equipped to handle minor injuries that occur in school. If a child has been taken to the clinic and needs to go home then one of the nurses will contact you. If your child has a medical condition that may require medical treatment, emergency care or there is anything else related to health and wellbeing that our staff should be aware of, please notify us via the online medical questionnaire. Any medication should be given at home or, if it is essential that it is administered during the day, then it should be given by the nurses at the clinic. Students are not permitted to carry medication around the school. If your child shows any signs of illness, please do not send them to school, and if they become unwell at school, we will contact you to arrange for them to be picked up. Please refer to the section below on nominating alternative or emergency contacts.
Online medical forms There is a comprehensive online medical questionnaire that we require all parents to complete for each child no later than orientation day. The form covers vaccinations, pre-existing conditions and illnesses, as well as related information for activities such as PE, for example, swimming ability and other conditions that may affect their participation. Please note that we cannot take a child off campus until this has been filled in, so if it is not completed then a child may miss important field trips. If there are any changes in medical information, please amend the online form as well as informing the class teacher.
College Counsellors Our counsellors are available to support Middle School students who are experiencing social and emotional difficulties. Referral is always after consultation between the class teacher and parents. More information on the counselling services is available on the website and on the portal.
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Communications Emergency contacts Parents are asked to nominate two emergency contacts other than yourselves in Singapore. It is important that these are kept up-to-date. These should be people that you trust to make medical decisions for your child should the unfortunate need arise. We therefore request that you do not nominate your domestic helper. Please also note that these contacts are not necessarily the same as the nominated guardian that we require if both parents are out of Singapore at the same time. This situation requires separate notification to the school.
Food and other allergies Some children have food allergies, and we monitor this very carefully. If a student with a severe allergy, such as a nut allergy, is identified in a class, we will request that items containing the allergen are not brought into the school by any student in that class. For safety, the parents of students who suffer from such allergies are encouraged, nevertheless, to assume that the classroom is not nut free and to behave in accordance with that assumption. Once we have a better idea of the requirements of each student, via the online medical questionnaires, we are able to assess the level of caution we need to adopt in each class. If your child has a severe allergy, please make sure that this is indicated on the online medical questionnaire and bring it to the class teacher’s attention as soon as possible. We also require details of the management plan to be set out for staff. We can provide contact details for a support group of parents of allergy sufferers.
UWCSEA is an exciting environment, but with so many things happening it can be a challenge to stay up-to-date.
For students Student planner Your Middle School student planner is essential; remember to bring it every day. It is not just for recording homework and planning projects but also for communication between parents and teachers. Please ask your parents to check and sign your planner every week. Assembly and advisory group Each grade has a weekly assembly, and the daily bulletin announcements are read in advisory group time each day. Personal Gmail and system login Each student is issued with a login to the website where you can view information tailored to your needs and sign-up for the Activities and Service programme. All students are also issued with a College-linked Gmail account, which the College uses to communicate directly with you. You should check your email daily. Community Portal The Community Portal is dedicated to providing students with information you need to know on upcoming events and reports on what has happened, lunch menus and more. The Notices section will tell you what is going on in the school that day that may affect you such as sports try-outs, changes to activity locations, music and drama auditions, and Global Concerns events. There is also a calendar for Middle School.
For parents Student planner The Middle School student planner is essential, and students should bring it to school each day. It is for recording homework and also contains a lot of other useful information, including: • student expectations and responsibilities • details on the importance of social and emotional learning and overall wellbeing • topical information and guidelines such as giving presentations, working collaboratively • information on topics such as giving presentations, • writing assignments • Parents are asked to check and sign the student planner each week.
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Website and Community Portal The website is a rich resource dedicated to providing information on the College and the Middle School. Parents can login to the Community Portal via our website or app where you can view information tailored to your family and about your child(ren). Access a number of key systems for the following: • online medical information system • contact information update system • student record system (timetable, attendance records, reports and assessments) • notices for parents (you can see the notices sent to students as well) Parents and students are all issued with individual logins which will be emailed to them prior to the start of school. UWCSEA App The UWCSEA App is available for iOS and Android devices via the app stores. Download the app to access eBrief, the calendar, notices, student timetable (including their activities for each day) and more. Parents will need login details to access the App, as the information is customised to each user. Parents’ Association (PA) The PA provides an opportunity for all parents to contribute to the UWCSEA community. Being involved in PA activities provides parents with an opportunity to be an active participant in their child’s school community, keep up-to-date with happenings in the school and an avenue to meet other parents and members of the wider school community. New parents are encouraged to contribute as much as their time and interests allow. The PA offers many opportunities for parents to become further involved in the life of the school (restrictions dependent). These include: • grade-based coffee mornings and other networking opportunities to meet parents of children in the same grade as their child • nationality-based social events for parents to network with other parents of the same cultural background • events and programmes to enhance students’ and parents’ experiences and wellbeing, such as new parents welcome events, Careers Fair, Community Fair and more. To find out more about the PA, click here. The Parents’ Association has a parent-to-parent communications app called Classlist. Classlist is opt-in and is supported by the College as a platform to support parent connection and a united College community. At the start of the school year you will receive a personal invitation to join Classlist.
Online College calendar There is an up-to-date online calendar on the school website. There is also a printable academic year calendar listing term dates and public holidays. The College uses Google Calendar, and, depending on the calendar system you use, you can import all or some of these events from Google Calendar to your own to help you keep on top of what’s happening! If setting this up in advance, please make sure you include the Middle School, Dover Campus and UWCSEA/College calendars—you can also include other school sections and the PA calendar. Updating your contact information and indicating a preferred email address If there is any change in contact information (i.e., phone, address or email), it is very important that parents amend the details the school holds on file. An important step to remember is to indicate your preferred email address for receiving school communications. If you do not do this the College will default to the first email contact on file as your preferred email address. Indicating a preferred email address also allows us to eliminate duplication in communication and ensures we are able to identify each parent uniquely as required by some key systems used at the College. You can indicate your preferred email address by logging in to the portal or via the UWCSEA app. eBrief This weekly newsletter consolidates key information into an easy-to-read format for parents. Considered essential reading, eBrief is sent to all parents every Friday during the school term. It contains information for parents on the upcoming two weeks. You can expect the first eBrief the Friday before school commences—to help you get ready for the start of the year. It is not sent during school holidays.
Contacting the school Student absences Please notify the Middle School Office, as early as possible, if your child is absent or is going to be late to school. Send an email to middleschooldover@uwcsea.edu.sg If your child needs to attend an appointment during school hours, you will need to collect your child and obtain a slip to leave the campus from the Middle School Office. Parent absences from Singapore If both parents are travelling outside Singapore, we need to know who your child’s guardian is in case of an emergency. Please let us know by returning a completed Nomination of a Supervisor during Temporary Parental Absence form, which can be found on the portal.
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Middle School uniform All Middle School students wear a green short-sleeved polo shirt with grey culottes, trousers or shorts. If a T-shirt is worn as a vest or undershirt, it should be plain and white, and visible only at the neck. Socks must be grey, black or white only, with no patterns.
Where to purchase uniforms In line with COVID-19 precautionary measures, all uniforms are to be ordered online and arranged to be collected. Visit uwcseadovershop.org to place your order. Dover College Shop Term time: 8am–12pm; 12.45–4pm School holidays: 8.30am–12pm; 1–4pm Tel: +65 6775 5344 ext 1923 dovershopstaff@uwcsea.edu.sg
Footwear Shoes should be of a practical design and must be black with black laces. Shoes must enclose the foot, but not cover the ankles. Socks should be white, grey or black.
Jewellery Middle School students are permitted to wear one pair of ear studs or sleepers. Religious necklaces may be worn if they are discreet. Nose studs are not permitted, unless written permission is given for cultural or religious reasons. Rings and bracelets should not be worn. Tongue/nose studs and eyebrow rings are also prohibited.
Hair and makeup Students are not expected to wear extreme styles and only natural hair colouration is permitted. Discreet makeup is permitted in Middle School, however coloured nail polish is not.
Non-uniform days Non-uniform days are called focus days at UWCSEA—please see page 10 for details. Focus days have a theme and students are expected to dress appropriately, culturally sensitively and ensure their outfits meet requirements for PE and practical subjects such as Science and Design and Technology.
School and laptop bags Middle School students may choose their own backpack/ school bag style. Students must minimise the risk of damage when carrying the computer to and from lessons. Laptops must be carried around school in a protective sleeve/ bag. Bags which support our Global Concerns partners are available from the College Shop.
PE uniform Students may wear their PE uniform to school if they have PE in the first two periods of the day, but they must bring their normal school uniform to school to change into (including the uniform black shoes). If students have PE later in the day, they must wear their school uniform to school and bring their PE uniform to change into. Indoor lessons: UWCSEA PE shirt, UWCSEA PE shorts, white sports socks, training shoes. Outdoor lessons: UWCSEA PE shirt, UWCSEA PE shorts with a hat, long football socks, studded boots for field activities (hockey, touch, rugby, football). Shin pads are required for hockey and football lessons, and mouth guards are needed for contact rugby and hockey lessons (these can be purchased from the College Shop). Aquatics: Girls – one-piece swimming costume. Boys – trunks or short swimming shorts (no longer than PE shorts). A swimming cap is required for students who need to tie their hair back (these can be purchased from the PE Department). UVA-protective shirts are highly recommended. Other: A towel and water bottle are required for all PE lessons plus hat and sunblock for all outdoor lessons. Middle School students always shower after PE lessons, so they need to bring a towel on these days.
Sun protection We ask students to wear a hat for any outside activities and apply sunscreen. Students should also carry a water bottle that can be used throughout the day.
School day The school day has been designed so that all Middle School students have breaks at the same time, allowing us to more easily plan whole school events. 7.30am
Earliest time that students can be dropped at school
8.10am
Start of school (students should arrive and enter classrooms from 7.50am)
9.25am
Morning break (25 minutes)
11.30am
Lunch (45 minutes)
3pm
Classes finish
3.10–4.30pm
Activities session 1(this is optional; see below)
4.30–6pm
Activities session 2 (this is optional; see below)
Students are asked to leave school at the end of the school day unless they are staying back for activities. Once you have been sent your login details, you can access and print your child’s full timetable via the Community Portal.
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Transport to and from school There are several ways to travel to school:
Security pass and security check
Bus
The security guards check all vehicles and pedestrians entering the campus. Parents must have their grey parent lanyard and ID card to show security upon arrival and must wear them at all times whilst on campus.
One way to get to and from school is by the school bus, which is provided by a company called Yeap Transport. They go to most places in Singapore. The Transport Office organises the school bus service—contact details are on the back cover if you would like to know more. You can book either a one-way or two-way service. Buses arrive in time for the start of school each day, and leave at around 3.15pm. Pick-up and drop-off times are advised when you book the bus service, which is door-to-door. If you have an after-school activity that ends at 4.20pm, you can take the Activity bus home which leaves at 4.35pm. You will have to make your own arrangement to get home if the activity ends after this.
Public transport There are a number of public buses that drop off near the entrance to the school driveway. Students in Middle School are permitted to leave the campus at the end of the school day without an accompanying adult and therefore are able to use the extensive public transport system. There are a number of online route planners to help you plan your trip from home to school.
Car If you come to school via private car in the morning then you should be dropped off at the designated drop-off points. If you are also being picked up in the afternoon, you can be collected from the same place.
Bicycle You are welcome to cycle to school, and there are secure bicycle racks available under cover. Cyclists must wear a safety helmet and obey all road rules.
Parking There is limited parking on the school site.
Taxi directions Ensure that you ask the driver to take you to UWCSEA Dover. As we have two campuses, it is important that you ask for the correct campus.
Please organise a security pass to facilitate a speedy arrival to school if you or a helper will be bringing your child to school or collecting them regularly. Families are asked to upload photos for parents, nominated adults and enrolled children directly to the College database for their UWCSEA profile and ID cards. Refer to this Profile photo upload guide. To upload, log in here using your parent login details.
Visitors to Campus Under the current COVID-19 requirements all visitors to campus must have a valid invitation with a confirmed time and date and must have pre-registered with our visitor booking system – Envoy. The grade secretary or Parents’ Association will share Envoy registration details with you prior to any meeting on campus. Upon arrival on campus visitors must complete all TraceTogether Safe Entry procedures. Parents MUST have their grey parent lanyard and ID card clearly visible at all times whilst on campus. Please note that student pick up and drop off procedures differ and you can view more information about these arrangements in the “Transport” section.
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Lunch and snacks
Technology
There are two canteens offering a wide variety of food, with influences from all over the world. If you buy your lunch rather than bring it from home, it will cost between $3 and $7 per day.
Calculators
Students can purchase snacks and lunch using the (cashless) campus card system, which can be monitored and topped up online by parents. Students are able to utilise the campus card system once they receive their student ID card in the first few weeks of school. Further information on the campus card system is available on the portal on the College website. They can also utilise other forms of cashless payments such as debit cards to purchase food on campus. For more information, visit the Food Services page on the portal. The Verandah has several counters and many options, ranging from healthy snacks like sushi, fruit salad and freshly squeezed juices to more substantial offerings like pasta, pizza, a salad bar and a sandwich bar where you can choose the fillings. Rolls, sandwiches, fruit smoothies and other drinks are also available. In the second canteen, The Pavilion, there is an Indian stall where fresh naan is served with a variety of Indian curries. There is also a large counter with a wide selection of hot Western, Asian or Halal dishes and sandwiches, wraps, sushi, fruit and yoghurt. Fresh whole fruit is available in both canteens. There are also options for breakfast and after-school snacks. The tricky thing is deciding what to buy for your lunch, but that is up to you! Chilled, filtered water is available in water fountains, not bottles—bring a water bottle from home to refill during the day.
Break times Three breaks are scheduled every day: morning break (9.25– 9.50am), lunch time (11.30am–12.20pm) and a 10-minute break in the afternoon at 1.35pm. There is also a five minute change over periods between the end of school and start of activities.
The Mathematics Department requires students to have a reliable scientific calculator. Grade 8 students may wish to purchase a TI-Nspire CX II model from the College Shop as it will be required in High School. As with all other valuable items, students should label their calculator with their name.
Laptops All UWCSEA students in Grades 6–12 must have an up-todate Apple MacBook laptop to support their learning and complete the remote laptop orientation process–Ready Learner One @ UWCSEA–for students and families. Families have two options to source a laptop for school: • use an Apple laptop that you already own • purchase a new Apple laptop Ready Learner One @ UWCSEA is a set of learning engagements and families will be supported remotely to complete both levels: • Level 1: System Setup – This level will help set you up to use the school systems; including wifi, printing and our software distribution system (Filewave) • Level 2: Taking Care – This level will help you consider how you will take care of your laptop and yourself. You will also create a shared family media agreement to help develop a positive environment for use of a laptop at home. It is compulsory for students to store and carry their laptops in a padded bag. Bags which support our Global Concerns partners are available form the College Shop. A shoulder strap is strongly recommended. During lunch and break time, laptops must be secured in lockers.
Digital devices Digital devices include items such as mobile phones, kindles, iPads, and more. In order to promote a healthy balance in your lifestyle, you should not use digital devices during breaks or lunchtimes. They should be turned off and left securely in your locker from 8am until the end of the school day. If you need to make an urgent phone call during the day, go to the Middle School Office and your grade level secretary will help you. Likewise, if you parents need to contact you urgently, they should phone the Middle School Office and leave the message with the relevant secretary.
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Other useful information Digital citizens
Homework
We are committed to helping students learn how to navigate the sometimes tricky world of life online. We want our Middle School students to get the best out of using the Internet and to keep themselves and others safe and healthy in their online worlds.
Homework will become an increasingly important part of your life in Middle School. You should expect to spend between 40 minutes to two hours on homework each evening. The overall amount will vary from time to time; at some points you may have little or no homework, while at other times you will have significantly more.
Through lessons, assemblies and discussions, you will explore materials that will help to inform you about digital citizenship and being safe, positive and responsible online.
If you find that managing your homework load is becoming stressful or a struggle, talk to your advisor and they will help. You will use your Middle School Planner to record homework set, keep track of deadlines and to plan your time effectively. We also use an online system for teachers and students to communicate about homework and this is visible to parents.
Lost property Please go to Reception to ask about or report lost property, or to hand in something you have found. Found valuables are recorded and kept by the receptionists. Please ensure your belongings are labelled.
Lockers You will be allocated a locker by your advisor on the first day of school. You must keep your locker secure with a lock at all times. You will need to purchase a combination lock from the uniform shop prior to the start of school. The locks cost $10.
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Additional information regarding subjects Languages Other Than English (LOTE) The teaching of LOTE is a core element of the curriculum. The ideas of the improvement of communication skills and the propagation of greater understanding of other cultures are central to the aims of the UWC movement. In Middle School, it is compulsory to take a LOTE—unless you are in the EAL programme which means that English is your second language and you are doing Additional English instead or you are in Study Skills. LOTE first languages courses are for those whose proficiency in the language is of native or near native speakers’ level. The aim is to develop sensitivity and effectiveness of speaking and listening through various themes, tasks and activities using literary and non-literary texts. Students develop their reading and writing skills, and their awareness in analytical, critical and original thinking using a variety of texts. The appreciation of culture is an important part of the courses. Students study literature texts through various media. For the foreign language continuation courses, students are expected to have basic knowledge of the language; this usually means at least one year’s previous study of the language is required. A placement test may be required to determine the appropriate class. You should already know which language you are signed up for. If not, please ask your advisor or Head of Grade First languages Grade 6: • Chinese • Further options below in our Home Languages Programme Grade 7 and 8: • Chinese • Dutch (see following page) • German (see following page) • Further options in our Home Languages Programme (see following page) Second languages Grade 6: • Beginners, foreign language and second language Chinese (see following page) • Beginners and foreign language French • Foreign language Spanish Grade 7: • Foreign language and second language Chinese (see following page) • Foreign language French • Beginners and foreign language Spanish
Grade 8: • Foreign language and second language Chinese (see below) • Foreign language Spanish • Beginners and foreign language French Chinese as a second language The Chinese as a Second Language course is a course inbetween foreign language Chinese (Mandarin) and first language Chinese which suits students with a Chinese heritage but who might not necessarily speak it as the main language at home, or students who have extensive experience of Chinese but are not mother tongue speakers. This offers more challenge and depth in studying Chinese than foreign language Chinese, and students need to have a high level of language ability in all four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) especially in speaking and listening as the lesson will be conducted fully in Chinese. Students must pass a placement test before being enrolled in this class. Dutch In addition to the other languages, Dutch lessons are available from Grade 7–12 for native speakers of Dutch. For students in Grade 7 and 8, these lessons take place after school, twice a week from 3–4.30pm. The policy of Dutch language provision is as follows: • UWCSEA, together with the Dutch-speaking community in Singapore, operates a joint scheme to employ a fullyqualified teacher of Dutch. This teacher provides Dutch tuition both within and outside the normal timetable for native speakers of Dutch. The teacher is a fulltime employee of the College, but the Dutch-speaking community contributes to the total cost of employing the teacher. • The College is thus not obliged to provide Dutch tuition but does so to accommodate the wishes of the Dutch and Flemish community. For this reason, there is an extra charge levied by the Dutch community for any Dutch tuition. The cost depends on the number of students taking Dutch lessons. More information is available from Hans Schellekens (hsc@uwcsea.edu.sg). German In Grade 7 and 8, German is taught as a first language for native speakers according to the Swiss curriculum. This is a provision for Swiss students joining us in Grade 7 from the Swiss School. Other German native speakers may join this class, but will have to sit a test that assesses if their level of German is sufficient to keep up with the specific curriculum requirements. More information is available from Wolfgang Oesch (woe@uwcsea.edu.sg).
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Arts Home Languages Programme (HLP) The HLP is for students who want to maintain and consolidate a language spoken at home but they do not study this language as part of the academic curriculum during the school day. Lessons take place once a week, after school. Parents contribute $41.80 per hour per child to the school. (GST and Admin fees included) Classes are taught in very small groups of minimum 3 and maximum 6 students. The focus is on building students’ skills in reading and writing. The languages on offer may vary year to year subject to demand. In 2020/21 we ran classes for Bahasa Indonesia, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Russian, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, and Swedish. For further information, please visit our HLP Dover website (https://sites.google.com/gapps.uwcsea. edu.sg/doverhomelanguages) or contact the Head of Home Languages: Pilar Jimenez - doverhomelanguages@uwcsea.edu.sg
Physical Education Physical Education (PE) is one of the compulsory subjects in Middle School. You have two double periods every week. In Grade 6, you will be with your advisory group; Grade 7 and 8 you are divided into sets (based on skills and ability), and boys and girls are taught separately. Throughout the year, you are assessed on different sports in this subject. You will need to wear the school’s PE uniform during the lessons and studded boots are a requirement for sports such as football and rugby. It is also recommended to bring your own racquet for sports such as tennis and badminton. Students need to wear a hat and sunblock for outdoor sports and a rash vest over the top of your swimmers for aquatics. You should bring a towel on PE days as you shower and change after lessons. Don’t forget a water bottle, as it is easy to become dehydrated in the heat and humidity. There is a comprehensive competitive and recreational sporting programme offered through the Activities programme—see later section for details on how to get involved.
Middle School students have numerous opportunities to express themselves creatively outside the classroom. One hugely anticipated highlight is the United Nations Evening just before the October holidays—a diverse assortment of dance, music and cuisine from around the world. Students have the opportunity to be involved in the performances and/or the food stalls. Information on opportunities to participate is sent around early in the school year via notice boards and the website Notices.
Drama Middle School students can participate in a number of drama productions throughout the year. There are dedicated Middle School productions involving students from specific grades. There are many opportunities for students to be involved both on and off stage. Look for these in the activities sign up, and for information on auditions in the website notices.
Visual arts In Term 3, Middle School students have an Art Exhibition dedicated to their work, displaying work by many talented students to the whole school and the wider community. Work by individuals and groups is displayed, showcasing a wide variety of materials and techniques.
Music There are many opportunities for Middle School students to be involved in music through the Activities programme. The ensembles available include: The Band (woodwind, brass and percussion), Camerata (strings), Concert Strings, Intermediate Jazz Band, Arioso (Middle School Choir) and Middle School Percussion Ensemble. There is also opportunity for soloists and small chamber music ensembles to participate in the Term 3 Chamber Concert. The ensembles above perform in termly concerts and some are involved in the ‘Opus’ concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall and the ‘Finale’ concert at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Concert Hall. Look for information on auditions in the website Notices or contact the Music Department.
Instrumental Teaching Programme The Instrumental Teaching Program (ITP) lets you learn instruments taught by internal and external music teachers. Tuition is available on the following instruments: • violin • trumpet • saxophone • viola • guitar – electric, • tuba acoustic, • cello • euphonium classical, bass • clarinet • percussion • oboe • double bass • flute • tenor horn • piano • jazz piano • French horn (advanced • recorder • bassoon students only) • voice Registration is available through the Community Portal (logged in via the College website) and further information can be found there.
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Service and Activities programmes
Service
There are four service and activity seasons over the three school terms each year. In Middle School, students are required to complete two consecutive seasons of an after-school service or four consecutive seasons of a lunchtime service. They are also encouraged to participate in at least one activity each season.
What is Service?
Service includes College, Local or Global Concerns and during your time in Middle School we encourage you to try different types of service. There is a range of activities to choose from including sports (competitive and recreational), visual and performing arts (art, drama and music), leadership (e.g., Student Representative Council, the Ambassadors, GC Executive) and enrichment (e.g. chess, accessories creation, debating and much more).
Activities Activities are usually after school from 3.05–4.20pm or 4.30– 6pm. There are activity buses that leave school at 4.35pm to take you home, but if you have an activity that ends later, you will need to arrange your own transportation. You should check what time and day your activities are scheduled on before you request to sign up so you can make it to all of them. Many activities are included in your school fees, but some require additional payment to cover equipment, coaching or other costs; this will be noted in the sign-up system when you make your preference each season, and payment generally needs to be made before the activity commences.
Online activity sign-up Students and parents can view the Service and Activities overview for the year by logging into the Activities database through the portal using their User ID and password. Students are encouraged to plan their activities for the year. Sign-up for activities is done online during sign-up period, and while parents can browse the available activities here, students need to use their own login to complete their preferences each season. Staff can also assist new students through the process. Sign-up opening and closing dates, and full information on how to sign up, will be posted in eBrief and in the online calendar. Some sports, music and drama activities hold trials or auditions to select their team for leagues or upcoming events. Trials are held on separate days, and you are informed about this beforehand via the online notices system on the portal.
College and Local Service involves a group of students that help people and/or the environment within the College and the wider Singapore community. For example: Helping In Primary School (HIPS) assists younger students at UWCSEA, while National University Hospital (NUH) Play Buddies, Reading Buddies and SIA MINDS all work with groups in the Singapore community.
What is a Global Concern? The College’s Service programme beyond Singapore is called Global Concerns (GC). Global Concerns’ wide variety of activities and projects reflect a range of global development challenges and associated environmental issues. Through their involvement with GCs, students take action to build community awareness and raise funds to support partner organisations around the world. The projects that UWCSEA Middle School are involved in reflect concern for people and human economic development in a way which is sensitive to culture, the environment and sustainability. We support a range of projects that focus on children, education and health, empowerment and environmental conservation. Some of the current Middle School GC initiatives include: • Green Gecko Project, Cambodia • Kids in Cambodia • LaValla, Cambodia • Tabitha, Cambodia • Jakarta Street Kids, Indonesia • Waterford Kamhlaba Service Support • Blue Dragon, Vietnam • Promoting Animal Welfare • Tioman Turtles, Malaysia Special efforts are made in our Primary and Middle Schools to incorporate Global Concerns into the curriculum. We hope that as a result of their experiences, our students leave us with a lasting commitment to Global Concerns and an ability to turn ideas into action. How to sign up Students need to plan out their Activities and Service commitments simultaneously to ensure that they don’t have overlapping commitments. Sign up for Service is done via the online Activities sign up. There is a separate link to select and sign up for a Service. You are expected to take your commitment to your selected service very seriously., and full attendance is expected unless absence is completely unavoidable. Grade 8 students are expected to do a weekly service (commit 60–90 minutes each week) during the year. Local Service commitments must be at least two seasons and Global Concern commitments are a full year.
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Sports Spirit Week Spirit Week is held in Term 3 and involves all Middle School students. It focuses on Global Concerns, and each day during the week has themed activities and focus, based on the nominated GCs.
Focus Days These are organised in response to natural disasters, to aid humanitarian relief efforts in the affected area, and are often paired with non-uniform days or clothing colors to highlight specific causes. A donation (as a personal response) from students raises funds for the humanitarian efforts, which is directed, where possible, to a project connected to our Global Concerns programme. Students are expected to dress appropriately and culturally sensitively.
There are 17 representative sports on Dover Campus, 13 of them for both genders. Senior-level sport is organised into seasons, with College teams competing in local school leagues and end-of-season tournaments organised by ACSIS (Athletics Conference of Singapore International Schools). Many Middle School students participate in the ACSIS competitions in their appropriate age groups. Current representative teams include options to participate in badminton, basketball, climbing, cricket (boys), cross country, football, golf, gymnastics (girls), hockey, netball (girls), rugby (boys), sailing, softball, swimming, tennis, touch football and volleyball. Not all of these sports teams may have an age group for Middle School students, although many do enter teams in a range of age divisions. There are a number of other recreational sports, such as fencing, offered via the Activities programme.
How do I get involved? Check the notice boards, daily notices, eBrief and the sports website for details of tryouts. Tryouts are held at the beginning of each season in August, November, February and April. If you are starting school in the middle of a term, please go to the Sports Office (in the Senior Sports Hall) and ask for further information.
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Outdoor education
Middle School enrichment trips
The opportunities for learning at UWCSEA extend far beyond the classroom as students take on experiential challenges that build resilience, collaboration and leadership. Our Outdoor Education programme offers an incremental progression of age-appropriate experiences to students across the K–12 curricula.
A variety of optional Middle School trips are offered each year. These are in addition to the compulsory grade level expeditions that are a fundamental part of our outdoor education programme. The trips outlined below offer an enrichment experience focusing on at least one of three broad categories—cultural immersion and/or curriculum enrichment, service and adventure. The majority of these trips are run during the holiday period with the exception of the Round Square Conferences. All trips are led by UWCSEA Staff. Please note costs shown are approximate and are confirmed when available. Dates may also vary.
Please note that due to the current COVID-19 travel restrictions, there will be no overseas travel for UWCSEA student groups during the 2021/2022 school year. Enrichment trips outside of Singapore are also unlikely to be available in the 2021/2022 school year. Instead we will be delivering a ‘Local Plus’ model, with on-campus experiences and offcampus trips within Singapore. These experiences will retain the learning for students, while giving them the opportunity to experience Singapore in new ways.
Grade 6–Outdoor Discovery The Grade 6 Outdoor Discovery takes place at various venues around Singapore in Term 2. This is a four-day programme where the students are involved in a series of activities such as trekking, kayaking, sailing and survival skills. The students learn to work as a team while developing new skills, discovering themselves and their peers and a connection to the natural world.
Grade 7–Outdoor Exploration The Grade 7 Outdoor Exploration will occur in Term 3 and expands on the skills and learning developed in Grade 6. The programme involves similar activities to Grade 6 incorporating a greater level of challenge and independence. Exploration is the theme running through the programme developing a greater depth of understanding of the spaces and places that they visit and the people they are with.
Grade 8–Outdoor Adventure Grade 8 follow a more adventurous experience over more challenging terrain in Term 1. They undertake the activities with a greater level of autonomy and independence. There are both adventurous and cultural aspects to this programme as well as opportunities for students to learn more about how to solve problems collaboratively in an outdoor environment.
Optional trips Some exciting optional trips are offered to Middle School students throughout the school year. Although the destinations can change from year to year, all of our school trips are linked to outdoor education or service, and many focus on making connections with schools around the world that share our ethos and commitment. Information nights and opportunities to register interest and sign up will be publicised in eBrief, and trips will be advertised as they are confirmed.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, enrichment trips outside of Singapore are unlikely to be available in the 2021/2022 school year.
House System In order to promote interaction amongst students across grades in Middle School, a vertical House System. Students and staff are allocated to one of six houses named after another college in the UWC movement: Adriatic, Atlantic, Pearson, Mostar, Nordic and Waterford. The aims of the House System are to: • enhance interactions across Grades 6–8 • promote house spirit and a sense of camaraderie, which directly promotes Middle School spirit • provide additional leadership opportunities for students • promote a supportive spirit amongst different grade levels • make links to the qualities and skills in the UWCSEA profile • broaden access to and participation in drama, art and sports There are a number of House meetings and House events during the year, ranging from Battle of the Bands to Days of Sport and Maths Challenges.
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Dover Middle School contacts Dover Campus Reception
+65 6775 5344
Middle School Office
+65 6419 9315 middleschooldover@uwcsea.edu.sg
Grade secretaries Grade 6 – Valerie Nonis
valerie.nonis@uwcsea.edu.sg
Grade 7 – Fiona Ellison
fiona.ellison@uwcsea.edu.sg
Grade 8 – Suharni (Su) Sani
suharni.sani@uwcsea.edu.sg
Heads of Grade Grade 6 Carla Fitzpatrick Mark Porter
carla.fitzpatrick@uwcsea.edu.sg mark.porter@uwcsea.edu.sg
Grade 7 Rachel McCarthy Will Walker
rachel.thistoll@uwcsea.edu.sg will.walker@uwcsea.edu.sg
Grade 8 Rachel Fielding Adam Taylor
rachel.fielding@uwcsea.edu.sg adam.taylor@uwcsea.edu.sg
Middle School leadership Cameron Hunter, Principal
cameron.hunter@uwcsea.edu.sg
Paul Brogden, Vice Principal (Curriculum)
paul.brogden@uwcsea.edu.sg
Ardene Mandziy, Vice Principal (Wellbeing)
ardene.mandziy@uwcsea.edu.sg
Middle School Counsellor Camille Ko
+65 6419 9329 camille.ko@uwcsea.edu.sg
School services College Clinic
+65 6775 5321 collegeclinicdover@uwcsea.edu.sg
Transport Office
+65 6872 3213 busesuwcdover@uwcsea.edu.sg
Library
librarydover@uwcsea.edu.sg
Sports
uwcsea.edu.sg/dover-sports
Parents’ Association
+65 6775 5344 | ext 1080 padover@uwcsea.edu.sg
Online staff directory The staff directory can be accessed via the Find it Fast menu on the website (login required). Please look in the online staff directory for email addresses for individual staff and in the Contacts Us page of the website for the emails and telephone numbers for departments such as Admissions and Finance.
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