HOW TO GET INVOLVED Opportunities for parents at UWCSEA Dover
At UWCSEA we know that parent participation strengthens the College community and the educational experience for students, and we welcome and encourage parent involvement. There are many opportunities for you to get involved, from attending social events, to volunteering at school or in the wider community, to sharing your culture, talent or professional expertise. For those who have the time and interest, volunteering can be a wonderful way to make connections in the College, providing a network of contacts within and beyond your child’s class or grade. We are truly grateful for the support and involvement of our parent community, and we look forward to seeing you on campus. Elizabeth Bray, Head of UWCSEA Dover
How can I get involved in the UWCSEA Dover community as a parent? There are numerous ways to get involved, which we’ve summarised under these categories. Look for the coloured dots of the types of activities that interest you most next to the various opportunities that follow. Social: meet, socialise, and network with other parents Sports and wellness: get involved in sports, fitness and wellness activities Skills learning and sharing: share a talent or pick up a new skill or hobby Sustainability: help further the UWC mission for a sustainable future School support: support school or classroom activities and student learning Service: be part of our community partnerships and service efforts in Singapore and overseas Strengthen and lead: share your expert insights and experience by leading volunteer efforts
PARENT-LED GROUPS Parents’ Association (PA) The Parents’ Association (PA Dover) is focused on building a positive community spirit among parents, students and staff. All parents are invited to participate and volunteer in PA activities and events.
PA/Parents’ Lounge: the lounge (off the Tent Plaza) is open to all parents at 7am–7pm each school day. Come relax, meet a new friend, have a coffee or tea and use the Wi-Fi.
Parent and campus events: all parents and families are invited to coffee mornings and campus-wide events such as the Holiday Fair (Term 1), Community Fair (Term 2) and CinePicnic (Term 3).
Parent activities and excursions: group activities, tours and excursions offer opportunities for social and cultural connections. Watch eBrief and Classlist for the latest offerings.
Sports, wellness, and classes: join the various activity groups on Classlist to find out more about sports and wellness activities that parents can take part in.
Sustainability: work with like-minded parent volunteers to organise activities and events that support the College’s sustainability goal.
Careers Fair: parents are invited to share their professional journeys as guest speakers at the annual Careers Fair for UWCSEA High School students.
PA Squad: volunteer to provide ad hoc support for events, activities, or programmes, e.g., College Open Days, Holiday Fair, Community Fair, Transition to University/Careers Fair, Staff Appreciation, Graduation, and CinePicnic.
Nationality, language or cultural groups: join or represent your nationality, language and cultural community group through the PA to connect and build community.
Parent/Grade Coordinators: volunteer to represent your child’s class (Primary School) or grade (Middle and High School) to facilitate community engagement and dialogue and help to plan social events.
Managing Committee or portfolio leads (annual commitment): share your time, talent and leadership by nominating yourself for a PA Managing Committee position for election at the Annual General Meeting (Term 1) or take on a portfolio lead role.
Learn more get updates with eBrief and Classlist, or visit PA Dover in the Community Portal (login required) Contact padover@uwcsea.edu.sg
Foundation Parent Ambassadors
Engage with fellow parents to enrich the UWCSEA learning experience. This peer-to-peer programme is designed to raise awareness of the impact of giving to the College through the UWCSEA Foundation and to increase participation. Gifts through the Foundation enrich the unique UWC learning experience and bring the College closer to achieving its mission by supporting Scholarships, Sustainable Development, and Teaching and Learning programmes. Ambassadors receive training and full administrative support. Learn more www.uwcsea.edu.sg/support-us/be-involved/become-a-parent-ambassador Contact foundation@uwcsea.edu.sg | +65 6419 9353
Parents’ Action for Community and Education (PACE)
Participate in a parent-led service organisation that shares the UWCSEA values. PACE offers both a social network and the opportunity to engage with like-minded members of the school community through service programmes including regular volunteering with HCA Day Hospice in Singapore. PACE also supports scholarships for children from impoverished backgrounds in the Philippines through a scholar-sponsor matching programme and an annual event. Participate in a PACE event or join a committee to organise activities and events to support these efforts. Learn more visit www.uwcsea.edu.sg/community/parents/pace and get updates with eBrief Contact PACE.community@uwcsea.edu.sg
SCHOOL SUPPORT
Class volunteering
Primary School: support activities and events in your child’s class or school. Ad hoc volunteer opportunities are available as requested by the class teacher or school office. These may include accompanying the class on a local service visit or field trip, visiting the class as a ‘Mystery Reader’, helping sew costumes for the Arts Festivals, sharing your culture at the Uniting Nations Day food festival and more. Middle and High School: help with class or school activities and events. Volunteer opportunities exist on an ad hoc basis; teachers and Heads of Grade will notify parents when they are in need of assistance.
Connect with scholars
Share your culture and extend your home to a student far from their own. The boarding houses on Dover Campus are home to approximately 180 students from around the world, including over 50 scholars. UWCSEA families based in Singapore can ‘host’ a new scholar in their homes for a few days in early August to help the scholars acclimatise to Singapore, before they join the boarding house. This experience often leads to longer term friendships and unique opportunities for sharing cultures and perspectives. Calls for volunteer families are published in eBrief near the end of the previous academic year. Contact dianauwc@uwcsea.edu.sg
Service office volunteers
Support the UWCSEA Service programme. Throughout the academic year, various ad hoc opportunities may arise to support the Service programme, including assisting with College gardening or sorting donations. Contact servicegc@uwcsea.edu.sg to express interest
SKILLS SHARING AND LEARNING
IDEAS Hub
Gain skills-based knowledge and assist Hub users with equipment and projects. The IDEAS Hub at Dover Campus offers an Adult Volunteer Programme for interested parents. Volunteers are trained to use the Hub equipment (3D printers, electronics, Green Screen film studios, woodworking tools and sewing machines) and can then act as supervisors to Hub users during the week. Volunteers can also mentor student entrepreneur groups. Learn more visit www.ideashub.sg and watch for announcements in eBrief Contact ideashub@uwcsea.edu.sg
Community Lab
Learn new technical skills and support others in sustainability projects. The Community Lab at East Campus is a neighbourhood space open to the Singapore community, including UWCSEA parents, students, and staff. The Community Lab is an initiative of the Singapore-based Sustainable Living Lab; parents who wish to utilise the facilities and equipment or volunteer with the lab and its programmes are invited to attend an induction session. Learn more visit www.facebook.com/sl2square and watch the Community events section of eBrief Contact communitylab@sl2square.org UWCSEA Perspectives Do you have a great story or photo to share with the school community? Submit your article or photo to our online newsroom, UWCSEA Perspectives, for publication. Here’s your chance to hone your writing, photography and storytelling skills! Learn more https://perspectives.uwcsea.edu.sg Contact communications@uwcsea.edu.sg This brochure is by no means an exhaustive list of ways for parents to get involved at UWCSEA, but we hope it will provide a useful starting point for connecting with the school community based on your interests. Do watch for announcements in the weekly eBrief newsletter and from your child’s teacher, Head of Grade, and Principal as well as other departments for additional opportunities that may arise.
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www.uwcsea.edu.sg Dover Campus 1207 Dover Road, Singapore 139654 | +65 6775 5344 | uwcseadover@uwcsea.edu.sg