Educating for the Future

From the Master
来自校长
마스터

Dear Parents

There are many things that go to make up a memorable teacher. Compassion, expertise, patience and the ability to work with children so that they feel empowered to grow as individuals as well as learners seem to me to be some of the key ingredients. The list of factors is endless, though, and I am sure that each of you has your own memories of wonderful (and perhaps even not-so-wonderful) teachers from your own childhood. 

There is one thing more I would add to my list of qualities for great teachers, and that is the willingness to learn along with their pupils. Adults who recognise the need to adapt and change, to keep pace with developments in their chosen field, are invariably those who stand out from the crowd. I remember well the introduction of computerisation in the Stock Market of the City of London in the mid-1980s. My uncle worked in a bank there and was shattered by the new ways of working. He could not adapt to the changes and took early retirement rather than suffer more misery at work. He was not alone, as thousands of established bankers, traders, brokers and others left their jobs within 12 months.

The reliance on e-learning over the past couple of weeks is not as seismic a shift in work behaviour as that faced by those in the City of London in the 1980s - all teachers are familiar with computers and classroom technology these days, after all - but I am sure you recognise the challenges it has created for them. The limitations of internet bandwidth; the difficulties of communicating with groups of children, often scattered to the four corners of the earth; and a recognition that it is not always easy for parents to act as substitute teachers. These are all obvious challenges that need to be overcome. In this context, I have seen colleagues adapt and grow as practitioners, almost on a daily basis. They have embraced new ways of communicating, responding quickly and openly to feedback from pupils and parents. Colleagues in all parts of the school have shown a capacity for personal and professional development that belies the short time we have been conducting online learning. 

I do not deny that there have been some challenges, but every time we have been alerted to an issue, colleagues have sought out ways to overcome them. It may not quite represent a full revolution in the art of teaching, but I recognise clear forces of change in the way we foster learning, forces that will have a lasting impact on the education of your child. As a community, we are committed to learning the lessons from this difficult time. It is a time to embrace the spirit of innovation and reflection in teaching we see around us and I am wholly confident that it will make us into a stronger school as a result. It may not always feel like it at the moment, but in time, pupils, parents and staff will all be the richer for having experienced these few weeks of genuinely collaborative teaching and learning. 

As ever, I am here to answer your questions and concerns, so please do not hesitate to send me an email

(julian.jeffrey@wellingtoncollege.cn). 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Julian Jeffrey

MASTER

FROM THE HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

For Parents of Pupils in Exam Year Groups (Years 11, 12 And 13)

We are well aware that the outbreak of the coronavirus is causing some worries and anxieties with exam candidates and you as parents. The school has made a deliberate and conscious effort in ensuring that learning goes on as usual, but anxieties regarding the public examinations in May/June 2020 series are understandable.

As a school, we have communicated our concerns to the examination boards and Cambridge International (CAIE) and Edexcel. They have both responded with a promise to work out how to support us best in order to minimize the impact on candidates if the situation continues until April, when the exam series starts. They are also reviewing how schools will be supported in preparing students and submitting work for components such as coursework, speaking tests and practical assessments. We are yet to get a substantive response from AQA, but I have no doubt that the message will be similar.

The exam dates remain fixed for early April/May through to June. Exam boards have not communicated any change to these dates. Mr Ogando, our examinations’ officer, is in the process of making exam entries for candidates and all candidates will soon receive their individual statements to check this week. At that stage, they will know the precise dates of their exams. A centre-specific timetable will then follow. 

Should we receive any updates from the exam boards, parents and candidates will be the first to know. Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have any questions or inquiries.

Mrs Jayne Sabio - Head of Sixth Form - jayne.sabio@wellingtoncollege.cn

Mr Felix Ogando, Examinations officer - felix.ogando@wellingtoncollege.cn

Mrs Dragana Popovic, Head of the Senior School - dragana.popovic@wellingtoncollege.cn

FROM THE ACADEMIC ASSISTANT

Senior School Report: Years 11 to 13

Dear parents, reports of the exam year groups (Year 11, 12 and 13) will be published via the Parent Portal on Monday 24th February. I hope you appreciate that during these unique circumstances, teachers have done their very best to produce accurate reflections of students’ progress. We hope you find the reports a valuable form of communication. Teachers are always contactable via their school email, if you need to discuss any issues.

If you have any concerns regarding reports, please contact either: jane.arden@wellingtoncollege.cn or dragana.popovic@wellingtoncollege.cn

FROM THE HEAD OF ART DEPARTMENT

Online Wellington Art Gallery

As the unique circumstances of our schooling continue, teachers have been finding new ways of reaching out and supporting our young Wellingtonians. Lessons and the whole school community have moved online and so have other aspects of our usual school life including the display of artwork. 

It can be difficult to motivate yourself to create high-quality work when isolated from classmates, so this week sees the launch of our new Team: the online Wellington Art Gallery. Outstanding examples of drawing and painting from Senior School Art classes are selected for the virtual exhibition and Junior School pupils are also invited to contribute their works. 

Junior School pupils who are interested can access the 'Get Creative' folder of activities which can be easily completed at home with paper, pen and pencils. Pupils can select an activity, complete it at home then send it to their teacher who will then submit the best examples to the online gallery. The creative activities will be refreshed every week so there will be plenty of opportunities to exercise any latent talent! 

To access the ‘Get Creative’ folder please go to the ‘Junior School Assembly’ Team now re-named ‘Junior School Projects’. Go to the channel on the left side of the screen which says ‘JS Art Gallery’. There you will find the ‘Get Creative’ folder. Happy drawing!