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.