As we finish Term 2, I wish to acknowledge the astonishing range of activities that the Dover Court students have been involved in from January to March 2025. You will see in the pieces from David Buckley and Rachel Edwards that participation levels are extraordinary in everything from music and drama to competitions of all types, sports expeditions, and exhibitions. These events have taken place in school, away in Singapore, and overseas, providing exceptional, memorable experiences for our students.
Student leadership and agency have also gone from strength to strength across the school, with Secondary students being trained in suicide awareness and as diversity advocates (for example) and Primary students initiating the CHAMP programme.
This term, we completed our self-study for the Council of International Schools (CIS) as part of our re-accreditation process. We have received early feedback from CIS where we received very positive acknowledgement:
“It is highly evident that the school adopted a professional approach to the self-study resulting in a very high quality report … The narrative shows evidence of a high level of critical reflection and analysis…”
As we look ahead to the final reaccreditation evaluation visit in November, I am confident that Dover Court will receive a positive result, and I am grateful to the very large number of people who have contributed to the work so far.
It is hard to round off this term without reflecting on the incredible outpouring of community action on Friday 4th April, in support of our fundraising drive in response to the earthquake that so badly affected people in Myanmar and Thailand recently. News of the disaster reached Dover Court in minutes because we have schools in Yangon and Bangkok, which were evacuated at the time of the quake. No casualties were reported in our schools, but the impact on the two countries affected has been significant.
We are at the confluence of several important periods of spiritual refection and renewal (Eid Aidilfitri, Easter and Qing Ming) and this disaster serves to remind us of the fragility of life. It may also prompt us to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in a geologically and politically stable city. We have the opportunity to translate our gratitude into financial assistance for the disaster relief through our school’s fundraising effort. Every little bit counts.
I will finish by wishing our Muslim friends a slightly belated “Eid Mubarak”, our Christian friends a slightly early “Happy Easter”, and today, on the Qing Ming Festival, I wish our Chinese community peace, serenity and comfort on this day of remembrance.
Enjoy the extended time with your children and I look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 3 on Monday, 21st April.
Richard Dyer
Principal
Dover Court International School has been awarded the Bronze Award in the Eco-Schools Awards 2024 from WWF Singapore. This remarkable achievement highlights the hard work and dedication of our Primary Planet Protectors—an enthusiastic group of Years 3 to 6 students—who are on a mission to make our school more eco-friendly.
