High School welcome guide 2021/2022 Dover Campus
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Contents
Welcome to the UWCSEA Dover High School
Welcome to the UWCSEA Dover High School..........................1
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the High School at UWCSEA Dover.
Parents’ role in High School..........................................................2 UWCSEA mission and values........................................................2 High School ethos............................................................................3 Organisation of High School.........................................................3 High School Team............................................................................4 UWCSEA’s High School Learning Programme...........................5 Useful information...........................................................................7 Preparing for life after UWCSEA...................................................10 Uniform..............................................................................................10 Health and well-being of students...............................................11 Parent involvement.........................................................................12 Acronym glossary............................................................................13 Dover High School contacts..........................................................14
Our High School community is a vibrant, high-energy environment for learning and you will join a diverse group of young adults that represent over 70 different nationalities from all over the world. Your High School years should be enjoyable, challenging and rewarding, and our belief in the benefits of a holistic education ensures that you will grow and develop through all elements of our learning programme: academics, activities, outdoor education, personal and social education and service. All of our programmes are underpinned by a core set of values and a genuine commitment to embrace challenge and take responsibility for shaping a better world. We have high expectations and we expect you to act with honesty, integrity, respect and compassion. You will be given more freedom and responsibility to learn alongside other passionate individuals that will inspire, challenge and support you. We want you to graduate from UWCSEA with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable you to make the right choices in life. If you value yourself and others and you’re willing to commit to the ideals of the UWC movement, you will gain enormously from our High School learning programme. We look forward to welcoming you to the College. Kind regards, Rebecca Butterworth High School Principal
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Parents’ role in High School
UWCSEA mission and values
With increasing focus in High School being placed on students taking responsibility for their learning, parents sometimes ask us about their role in the learning process when their child starts High School.
UWCSEA is a member of the UWC movement. We are a mission-driven organisation with a strong commitment to the educational principles of Kurt Hahn, our founder, and a passionate belief in the importance of education as a force for good in the world. There are 17 UWCs around the world.
Parents play a very important role in supporting their child’s learning and maintaining open lines of communication with teachers and the leadership team. Our doors are always open and we are here to support all parents in helping their children become autonomous young adults. The last four years of school are energising, exciting and challenging. Students face significant decisions about the future and prepare to leave the security of school and the home. Parents have a crucial role in helping their children navigate this transition. As a school, we also rely on parents to help us get to know their children so that we can best meet their needs.
The UWCSEA community consists of staff, parents, teachers, students, alumni and alumni parents. Parents are asked to lead by example, emulate our values and encourage them in their children.
UWC mission The UWC movement makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
UWCSEA educational goal
This guide is designed to provide an overview of the High School, to highlight the opportunities the College provides for our students and the expectations we have of them.
Our goal is to educate individuals to embrace challenge and take responsibility for shaping a better world.
Every Friday parents will receive the eBrief which is our key means of communication to all parents.
• The values that we seek to live by as a community are:: • commitment • compassion • inclusion • integrity • openness • responsibility
Values
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High School ethos
Organisation of High School
A common High School ethos is shared across Grades 9–12. It is:
The High School encompasses students in Grades 9 to 12.
We, as High School students aspire to contribute, to the best of our abilities, to the UWCSEA community. Mindful of our experience and maturity, we acknowledge that we are role models to younger students, and as such, will promote goodwill and strive towards excellence in all our endeavours. To achieve this, we will actively work towards our own personal development and individual achievement, therefore contributing to the betterment of our learning environment at all levels. We aim to recognise and learn from the differences in culture, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, language, ability and physical appearance that make up our College experience. We aim to encourage individuality and cooperation, acknowledging the benefits of both. We seek to reach our potential, and actively help our peers to do the same.
The UWCSEA ACHIEVER For our students, ‘ACHIEVE’ means being: • Aware (self-awareness, global awareness, community awareness) • Compassionate (service to others, understanding, empathy) • Honest (integrity, trust, reliability) • International (inter-cultural, appreciation, open-mindedness) • Encouraging (supportive, constructively critical, inspiring) • Virtuous (principled, respectful) • Engaged (pro-active, involved)
Your child will be guided and supported throughout by a number of staff in the following ways: • Academic subject teachers – classroom delivery of the academic element of the learning programme • Mentor (home room teacher) – meets with your child daily and delivers the Personal and Social Education programme • Head of Grade – leads mentors in guiding students and delivering the PSE programme • Grade Secretary – always ready in the High School office to help with daily queries • College Counsellors – confidential counsellors that students can see one-on-one for help • High School Leadership (Principal, Vice Principals, DP Coordinator) – set the strategic direction of the HS and work closely with all staff to ensure high quality learning for all students • University Advising Centre (UAC) – a team of staff to support your future planning. The first opportunity parents will have to meet some of these staff members will be during orientation week. There will be other opportunities to meet them during the year, such as the Principals’ forums, coffee mornings and parent evenings. To support all families, we will be continuing with a blend of face-to face and virtual meetings and forums throughout the academic year.
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High School Team The following people will guide and support you throughout your time in High School.
Rebecca Butterworth Principal
Pippa Haley
Jessica Huang
Linsey Lawrence
Jensen Hjorth
Vice Principal (Curriculum)
Vice Principal (Grades 9–10, Pastoral)
Vice Principal (Grades 11–12, Pastoral)
Vice Principal (Curriculum and IBDP Coordinator)
Grade 9
Grade 10
Martin Lyon
Julie Martens
Simon Bignell
Esperanza Gutierrez
Senior Head of Grade 12
Deputy Head of Grade 12
Senior Head of Grade 9
Deputy Head of Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 12
Denise Stevenson
Neil Cowdy
Barry Daniels
Sara Walker
Senior Head of Grade 10
Deputy Head of Grade 10
Senior Head of Grade 11
Deputy Head of Grade 11
Priscilla Wong
Li Hui Tan
Annie Ang
Crystal Chan
Grade 9 Secretary
Grade 10 Secretary
Grade 11 Secretary
Grade 12 Secretary
Secretaries
Mentor groups
Who to contact
During orientation, students are placed into mentor groups. Mentor groups are identified by three initials of the mentor (e.g., 10MLy). The mentor groups are then assigned to a Head of Grade.
The mentor is a parent’s first line of communication with the school, followed by the Head of Grade. Curriculum-based queries should be directed to the subject teacher, and then to the Head of Department. More serious issues which concern High School as a whole should be directed to the Vice Principal and then the Principal.
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UWCSEA’s High School Learning Programme The College has a strong learning programme, which allows us to provide a holistic learning experience for our students. The programme is based on five interlinking elements: Academics, Activities, Outdoor Education, Personal and Social Education and Service. Equal emphasis is placed on each element as we seek to develop in our students the skills and qualities to enable them to become aware, able and active contributors to both local and global communities.
Activities The Activities programme has something to suit the interests of every student. A large selection of music, drama, sports, arts, student publications and many other opportunities are on offer at the College each term. 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. Please note that there is a compulsory commitment to a service activity required of all High School students.
Personal and Social Education (PSE) The PSE programme in the High School is largely delivered to students via mentor group time and during assembly each week. The programme follows closely the experience of students as they progress through their courses. Counsellors The Counselling Department provides a professional service to support and enhance the personal growth, resilience and wellbeing of our students, complementing the PSE programme.
Academics There are three academic programmes in the High School: IGCSE – for students joining the College in Grade 9 A full outline of the IGCSE programme and details on each subject, including course content and assessments, is contained in the Grade 9 and 10 Academic Learning Programme available on the website. FIB – for students joining the College in Grade 10 An outline of the Foundation IB Academic Learning programme is available on the website. IB Diploma Programme – for students joining the College in Grade 11 A full outline of the IB Diploma programme is contained in the Grade 11 and 12 Academic Learning Programme. The guide is available on the website.
Professional counsellors work closely with the tutors, Heads of Grade, Vice Principals, Principals and boarding houseparents to support the emotional and social needs of students. Their main responsibilities are to: • offer students a confidential, empathetic empowerment service that enhances their wellbeing and full access to learning opportunities • offer staff the support to enable the academic, social or emotional development of students • work collaboratively with parents and families as a wellbeing resource in times where an individual need has arisen Depending on the age of the student, counsellors can be accessed through self-referral or by referral from a parent or staff member; all consultations are confidential unless there is a possibility of imminent harm. There is more information in a leaflet on the website. The counsellors also facilitate workshops for parents throughout the year at appropriate times. Please look for these in eBrief and on the College calendar.
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Service
Outdoor Education
UWCSEA has developed a three-tiered Service programme involving College, local and global service. • College Service refers to some of the service activities for the UWCSEA community • Local Service involves working with Singaporean service projects • Global Service refers to our work with UWCSEA Global Concerns (GCs)
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.
All students are expected to participate, and opportunities are built into our programme to facilitate both participation and learning. We expect members of the UWCSEA community to be compassionate and responsible. Service allows our students to put these values into action whilst also offering an opportunity to practice interpersonal skills. As some services are shared between the different schools, the older students often become role models and mentors to their younger counterparts. Through participation in Service students are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences, attitudes and actions. Local and College service All High School students undertake Service. • Grade 9 and 10 students give either half an academic year (starting in September or February) of Local Service or commit to a full year of College service. • Grade 11 students undertake a full year of weekly Local Service. Many continue this into Term 1 in Grade 12 voluntarily. Participation is taken very seriously and students are expected to attend as they would academic lessons, with a strong commitment and full participation. Global Concerns–‘Turning ideas into action’ Global Concerns (GC) is our global service programme. It seeks to integrate an awareness of global development and environmental issues into the College’s educational programme. GC aims to increase students’ awareness of these issues and to enable committed students to do something about their concerns. Through the motto ‘Turning Ideas into Action,’ GCs aim to: • promote desirable values and action among students • raise awareness and educate students about broader issues relating to specific projects • encourage students to be aware, informed and active • highlight the values of service and environmental awareness • foster amongst the students the sense of belonging to an international educational movement with 18 member colleges with a common ethos and mission
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 9 and FIB Students in the High School can also participate in the National Youth Achievement Award. More information will be communicated to new students about these programmes after their arrival in August. Grade 11 – Project Week Project Week is part of the Grade 11 learning programme. Historically, it has been an opportunity for students to travel outside of Singapore with a particular focus on service and experiential learning. In 2021/2022 we will be reviewing Project Week outcomes in light of COVID-19 restrictions and build a stronger focus on project possibilities here in Singapore.
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Useful information Absences – students
United Nations (UN) Night
Parents need to notify the High School Office if their child is absent or going to be late to school. Contact details can be found at the back of the brochure.
UN Night is a celebration of the cultural diversity in the College, and this occurs annually. UN Night performances are a colourful smörgåsbord of dance, song and drama from around the world. Items are initiated and produced entirely by High School students.
Absences – parents Parents are required to be resident in Singapore with their child, unless their child is staying in the boarding house. If both parents are travelling outside Singapore for a short period of time, we need to know the name of the child’s guardian 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, under ‘Forms’.
Arts programme Over 500 students across the High School are involved in our annual calendar of arts events, which take place across all three terms. These include drama and dance productions, classical music and rock concerts and cultural evenings. Involvement in the Arts programme is a great way for students to experience the Arts. Students need not be taking Theatre, Music or Visual Arts subjects as many productions are run through the Activities programme. There are many ways in which students can become involved in the Arts: backstage management, lighting, sound, set construction, costuming and props as well as performing. All drama, dance and music productions require someone behind the scenes helping to make the production a success, and UWCSEA provides training for these key roles. Music Students can participate in the intermediate level choirs and ensembles, including: • The Band (intermediate wind and jazz band) • Singers (non-auditioned choir) • Camerata (intermediate string orchestra) • Guitar Ensemble and various other chamber ensembles • Percussion group The performance standards achieved by the students are a direct result of the College’s extensive Instrumental Teaching Programme (ITP). Individual, pair and group lessons are offered in a comprehensive range of instruments. More information on the ITP is available on the website. There are numerous concerts on campus each year which families are welcome to attend. The annual highlight is the OPUS at the Esplanade Concert Hall in Term 2.
Being late The College expects students to be punctual. If a student arrives to school late, they must sign in at the High School Office. Students will be provided with a late slip to be handed to the class teacher. If a child is consistently late then we will contact parents for a meeting. Parents can view their child’s attendance records on the Community Portal.
Boarding community UWCSEA seeks to provide a ‘home away from home’ for nearly 200 students as part of an international boarding community. Boarding life at UWCSEA is a rich, culturally diverse experience which nurtures self-discipline, selfmanagement and leadership skills and is true to the traditions of the UWC movement. Boarding students can be invited for a sleepover or a family outing with day student families. This can be arranged by contacting the boarding house.
Security pass and security check 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. 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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Cars Students arriving by car should alight at the designated dropoff point. The security guards have been asked to be strict in enforcing this rule. We ask that students being collected by car at the end of the day be collected at 3.30pm, after the buses have left the campus. Traffic congestion during peak arrival and departure times can be significant. Drivers are expected to be patient, polite and comply with traffic laws on approaching and leaving campus. Cars should be registered with the UWCSEA security department and display a UWCSEA decal. Parking Parking is limited. If the main car parks are full, parents may use the right hand side of the bus park from 7.40–8.30am. To ensure the safety of students and the quick and efficient loading and departure of the buses, we ask you to drive slowly and only park in allocated lots. Taxi Taxis need to come to ‘UWCSEA on Dover Road’—we have two campuses, and they are on opposite sides of the island! Bicycle Students 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. Public transport There are a number of public buses that drop off near the entrance to the school driveway. Students in High School are permitted to leave the campus without an accompanying adult and therefore are able to use the extensive public transport system. Bus One way to get to and from school is by the school bus, which is provided by Yeap Transport. They go to most places in Singapore. The Transport Office organises the school bus service—contact details are on the back cover of this guide. Parents 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 3.10pm. Pick-up and drop-off times are advised when parents book the bus service, which is door-to-door. Students who have an after-school activity that ends at 4.20pm can take the activity bus home which leaves at 4.35pm. Students will have to make their own arrangements to get home if the activity ends after this time.
Drug testing Any High School student can be selected for random drug testing. When selected, students go to the medical clinic and the hair or urine sample is taken in private.
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.
Lockers Lockers are provided for students to use. Students must keep their locker secure with a lock at all times.
Lost property Students go to the Reception to ask about lost property, or to hand something in. Found valuables are recorded and kept by the receptionists. Missing items can be reported to the Grade Secretary or Head of Grade.
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Lunch and snacks
Round Square
There are multiple food outlets offering a wide variety of food, with influences from all over the world. A bought lunch costs between $5 and $10 per day. Fresh whole fruit is available in these outlets. There are also options for breakfast and after-school snacks.
Founded by Kurt Hahn, who also founded the UWC movement, Round Square is a worldwide association of schools on five continents sharing unique and ambitious goals. Member schools share a similar educational philosophy to UWCSEA. UWCSEA belongs to the Australia and East Asia Region, which offers opportunities for collaboration with other member schools at many different levels, and in many different ways. These include: • regional and international conferences • student exchange programme • international service projects • Gap Year programme • Round Square committee membership (by school section)
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. At The Pavilion, there is an Indian stall where fresh naan is cooked daily and 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. Chilled, filtered water is available in water fountains, not bottles— bring a water bottle from home to refill during the day.
Plagiarism and collusion Plagiarism is the practice of presenting the ideas or work of others as one’s own. Collusion is copying from a friend or allowing a friend to copy one’s own work. The College views such academic dishonesty very seriously and has a policy of suspension for those who plagiarise. The full policy is available on the portal for both students and parents, and students are taken through information on academic honesty as part of the Personal and Social Education (PSE) programme.
Please visit the dedicated Round Square microsite for more details: www.uwcsea.edu.sg/roundsquare.
Student leadership Many opportunities, both formal and informal, for student action and leadership are provided at UWCSEA. For example, students can be involved in Student Council, Sports Council, Global Concern Executive, Student Forums, PRISM, UWC Taskforce, Initiative for Peace and more.
Sport Dover Campus has many sports teams across a multitude of representative sports, and also provides access to a number of other recreational sports. UWCSEA is linked with two sporting conferences, SEASAC (across Asia) and ACSIS (within Singapore), and our representative teams have been very successful in both these competitions. The sports microsite lists all the representative sports seasons as well as details on tryouts and training commitments. These are also published in eBrief at the start of the year. Once selected, students’ participation is registered in the activities programme database. Recreational sports are part of the Activities programme, and students sign up for each of the four seasons through the online sign-up system. Parents are encouraged to support the Dover Phoenix teams and come and watch the matches. We have covered seating at both the pool and the main Ayer Rajah field to make watching sport a more comfortable experience—though it is advisable to bring a cushion!
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Preparing for life after UWCSEA
Uniform
University Advising
Clothing All High School students wear a short-sleeved polo shirt with a skirt, trousers or shorts. A white t-shirt may be worn under the uniform shirt, provided it is visible only at the neck.
Students and parents have access to the dedicated University Advising microsite via the Community portal, which provides very detailed information to assist students to explore their options. For students in Grade 10, the university advisors hold several presentations towards the end of the year as they prepare to make subject selections for Grade 11 and the IB Diploma programme. This helps students make informed subject choices to ensure they keep desired future learning pathways open. UWCSEA’s individualised University Advising programme commences in Grade 10. Over 200 universities visit UWCSEA each year, and there are several annual university fairs held in Singapore by various countries such as the US and Australia. The University Advising calendar is linked to the High School College calendar; all these visits to campus are listed on this calendar.
Grades 9 and 10 wear a dark blue coloured polo shirt with grey culottes, skirt or shorts. Grades 11 and 12 wear a white coloured polo shirt with smart black trousers, skirts or shorts of their own choosing. Skirts and shorts are required to be a discreet length and should be in a fabric appropriate for the climate. Black denim is not acceptable. Sweaters must be black, white, grey or navy blue. A UWCSEA sweater is available. Shoes Should be black, grey or white, or a discreet combination of these. They should fully enclose the feet but not cover the ankles. Socks should be white, grey or black. No flip-flops!
The PA organises an annual Careers Fair at the College where professionals—UWCSEA parents, alumni and staff—provide students with information on their own areas of expertise to make informed career and university choices. Calls for volunteers to participate at the fair are sent out in Term 2 via eFlyer and eBrief. There is also a work placement programme being developed.
PE uniform Should be worn with sturdy trainers (athletic shoes) in black or white. Students must bring their normal school uniform to school to get changed into if they have PE during the day. High School students always shower after their PE lessons, so they will need to bring a towel to school with them on PE days.
National Service
Backpack and laptop bag Students may choose their own backpack/school bag style. Students must minimize the risk of damage when carrying the computer to and from lessons.
Each year we have a number of students who are eligible for National Service. We offer information and advice sessions for these families involving the University Advisors as well as the Vice Principal, Jessica Huang.
Sun protection All students are advised to protect against UV when outside at break, during PE, for lunchtime sports, sports team practices and sports days. Jewellery Students may wear one pair of earrings (studs or sleepers) in any part of the ear they wish. Any religious symbols should be discreet. Nose studs are not permitted, unless written permission is given for cultural or religious reasons, and tongue studs and eyebrow rings are prohibited. Rings, bracelets, chains and ankle chains may not be worn.
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
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Health and well-being of students Temperature Taking
College Counsellors
In order to remain compliant with government requirements, parents must submit their child(ren)’s temperature every morning, before they leave home. You can submit temperature readings via the ‘Temperature-Taking’ icon in the UWCSEA App or via the ‘Temperature Declaration’ icon in the Community Portal (login required for both).
Our counsellors are available to support Infant 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.
If your child is unwell, they are to remain at home until they fully recover. More information on health and safety can be found on our Health Advisory Website.
Emergency contacts
Medical care The Primary 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.
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.
If your child has a medical condition that may require medical treatment, emergency care or there is anything else related to health and well-being that our staff should be aware of, please notify us via the online medical questionnaire.
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.
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.
Food and other allergies
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. As it can take some time for this information to be processed, it is also important that you inform the class teacher of any serious allergies or health problems your child may have. If there are any changes in medical information, please amend the online form as well as informing the class teacher.
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
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Parent involvement Communication The College communicates with parents primarily by email. The Community Portal is the key place to start any search for information. Website and Community Portal The website is a rich resource dedicated to providing information on the College and the Junior School. Parents can login to the Community Portal via our website 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 (for review and updating) • contact information update system (for review and updating) • 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 the school year. 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. 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, which can be imported to parent calendars. If setting this up in advance, please make sure to include the High School, Dover Campus and UWCSEA/College calendars. Other school sections and the PA calendar can also be included. 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.
Reports and assessments Students receive ‘Approaches to Learning’ (ATL) reports, a subject attainment report, a subject written report and a pastoral written report over the course of each year. Reports are accessed through the online portal.
Meetings and presentations Information evenings, parent workshops and a number of other presentations are on the annual calendar. The High School Principal’s forum is designed to keep parents up-to-date with developments and events at the school and to obtain feedback, as is the Head of Campus Forum and the annual Board of Governors Open Forum. These are all advertised in eBrief.
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. 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.
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Acronym glossary FIB
Foundation IB – a one-year course for students joining in Grade 10
GC
Global Concerns
HoD/HoG
Head of Department/Head of Grade
ITP
Instrumental Teaching Programme
NYAA
National Youth Achievement Award
PSE
Personal and Social Education
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Dover High School contacts Dover Campus Reception
+65 6775 5344 uwcseadover@uwcsea.edu.sg
High School Office
+65 6419 9316 (Grade 9 and 10/FIB) +65 6419 9317 (Grade 11 and 12)
Grade secretaries Grade 9 – Priscilla (Fong Hui) Wong
fong.hui.wong@uwcsea.edu.sg
Grade 10 – Li Hui Tan
lihuitanuwc@uwcsea.edu.sg
Grade 11 – Annie Ang
annie.angc@uwcsea.edu.sg
Grade 12 – Crystal Chan
crystal.chan@uwcsea.edu.sg
Counselling team Christopher Kearnes (Head of Counselling)
christopher.kearnes@uwcsea.edu.sg
Anise Robinson
anise.robinson@uwcsea.edu.sg
Camille Ko
camille.ko@uwcsea.edu.sg
Benjamin Hill
bhi@uwcsea.edu.sg
University Advising Centre (UAC) John Liu (Head of UAC)
jyl@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
Charles Knowles
charles.knowles@uwcsea.edu.sg
Greer Bevel
greer.bevel@uwcsea.edu.sg
Jacqueline Villa Evanko
jacqueline.evanko@uwcsea.edu.sg
Jee Won Lee
jel@uwcsea.edu.sg
Shruti Tewari
shruti.tewari@uwcsea.edu.sg
Sriyuni Henningsson (Secretary)
sriyuni.henningsson@uwcsea.edu.sg
Tay Hui Wen (Secretary)
huiwen.tay@uwcsea.edu.sg
School services College Clinic
+65 6775 5321 collegeclinicdover@uwcsea.edu.sg
Transport Office
+65 6872 3213 busesuwcdover@uwcsea.edu.sg
Library
library.uwcsea.edu.sg
Sports
uwcsea.edu.sg/dover-sports
Round Square
uwcsea.edu.sg/roundsquare
University Advising
uwcsea.edu.sg/uacdover
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. COMS-2122
