Week Beginning 31st August 2020

Two weeks in and I, like many of our community, are navigating the new normal, some for the first time a Dover Court and some just experiencing a different Dover Court. As I look back it is fair to say that it is getting easier, more normal and the routines are developing.

This is most obviously true for our students who are always quicker to adapt than us older members of the school community. The buses now empty more quickly in the mornings and our students move through the school abiding by the new rules, processes of flow and cadence of their day without a second thought. Our existing students have been wonderful in supporting those new to the school and the feedback we are getting has been from our new families is hugely uplifting for the respective school leadership teams.
 
Through our new family ‘coffee mornings’ (with no coffee) we have managed on a couple of occasions to engage individually with parents, the theme has been children who were initially anxious are settling well, coming home with stories of new friends and making meaningful connections with teachers, peers and the school. We had a lovely experience with one family, new to Singapore whose child had a tough first week and when we spoke to him this Wednesday his child’s anxiety was rapidly reduced and they had become highly positive about so many aspects of school life. This positive start has not happened by default, our academic and administration staff have made this their absolute priority and we are so pleased with the results so far. Please let us know how things have been for you and where possible thank those who have made the term begin so well – these demonstrations of gratitude are so powerful for boosting moral.
 
Our next steps back towards the Dover Court normal will be ECA sign up for our Secondary students and we are hoping rules will be relaxed by the government soon to allow our Primary students their after school programmes. We are now preparing to host some face-to-face- small group coffee mornings at school to help our new parents connect and our existing parents to reconnect, if you have the time to join us I am looking forward to meeting you all.

The Year 13 students have started their IB Mocks today, we wish them the best of luck for this and next week!

Once again, please accept our apologies for the technical issues with the Primary Curriculum Evening last Thursday. The rescheduled events will take place this and next week. The meeting links will be emailed to you directly by the teachers.

The Years 7 and 8 Meet the Tutor event will take place virtually tomorrow, Tuesday 1st September. For any questions, please contact Miss Bianca Zaayman: bianca.zaayman@dovercourt.edu.sg   

The Parents' Support Network will have their first meeting of the year tomorrow, Tuesday 1st September, 10.00-11.30am. Mr Rizal Baharom, Head of Dynamics, running a workshop about "Struggling Learners: Strategies for support in the classroom and beyond." This session is mainly aimed at parents of Primary aged children. The Parents' Support Network is an opportunity for parents of children with additional needs to meet and share experiences. It is open to all parents, not exclusively to DCIS parents, so if you know someone who would benefit from this forum, please invite them along. 

Finally, a clarification on the Medical Certificate (MC) advisory from the Committee for Private Education:
If any member of your family has been given a 5 day MC for flu-like symptoms then all children/siblings should also remain at home for this period. Also, a reminder that if your child has had a fever then they should not return to school for a full 24 hours after the fever has gone.

Have a great week ahead.