Week Beginning 18th November 2019 - Christopher Short, DCIS Principal

Dear DCIS Parents,

We had a wonderful celebration of Kindness last week and the students participated in a range of activities and workshops across the year groups. The students in Secondary especially enjoyed the Kindness workshop led by Dover Court parent, author, educator and holistic well-being advocate, Mrs Forrester.

I have mentioned our Council of International Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges membership and accreditation process a few times over the last two years. This process comes to climax this week as we have 8 visitors representing the two organisations with us this week for the final accreditation visit. The week started yesterday with a welcome function for the visiting team and all our staff. We will find out the outcome of the visit early next year.

We performed this term’s lockdown drill last Thursday. As usual, the school community responded brilliantly – as you know, I’ve written before about my anguish on how easily we perform these drills, sad in the knowledge that we do need to do them.

Wednesday, 20th November is World Children's Day and this year we will focus on the Convention of the Rights of the Child, that was signed 20th November 1989. Our Secondary Student Council has put together a fantastic video, with our students sharing what the declaration means to them. Watch it here: World Children's Day Video

We have some exciting parent workshops coming up over the next weeks. Tomorrow, Tuesday 19th November, our PE team will lead the Health & Sports parent workshop. We look forward to welcoming you to Cooper Hall, 8.45am.

• Our counsellor, Ian Moody will talk about how to cope with the stress around exams in the Navigating the Exams Rapids workshop, Tuesday 26th November, 8.45am-9.30am. This workshop is aimed at Upper Secondary parents.
• Juilliard Dance Specialist Donna Costello and DCIS Dance Specialistand PE teacher Victoria Hughes will give an introduction to the NAE - Juilliard Performing Arts collaboration and the Performing Arts programme at Dover Court, Tuesday 26th November, 9.15-10.00am in Cooper Hall. Please sign up here if you'd be interested in participating.
• Mr Moody's Forum for Dads - Secret Dad’s Meeting will take placeThursday 28th 7.30am-9am. This session will focus on parenting teenagers and is open to all DCIS fathers. More information to follow.
• The new initiative, a network for Single Parents, also led by Mr Moody, will meet in The Lounge, Tuesday 3rd December 7.30pm-9pm

During the week beginning 25th November, Primary students and students in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be participating the second MIT STEAM Challenge of the year. The theme is Extreme Exposure. Our STEAM coordinator Mr Baines is looking for oceanographers, aquarium educators, scuba divers, mariners, and other people with expertise related to ocean exploration, as well as roboticists, engineers, electricians, camera buffs, and tinkerers who can help us build imaging devices like underwater cameras. If you are able to support us next week, please send Mr Baines an email: richard.baines@dovercourt.edu.sg

Have a great week!