The Week Ahead 26 November 2021

Dear parents

Dr Yang and I were in Guangzhou last weekend, speaking at a conference on developing innovation in education. Speakers ranged from Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge to leaders from some of the finest schools across China, all discussing how schools and universities were encouraging a spirit of innovation among their students. Perhaps inevitably, many of the speakers focused on innovation in technology. There were presentations on the future of education in the 'metaverse', how drone technology is being adapted to enhance learning and news of exciting collaborations between industry and schools with STEAM labs, much as we have in our relationship with Microsoft through our Showcase School status.

Your children have increasing access to new technologies across the school. STEAM – the acronym for science, technology, engineering, art and maths education – has taken firm root in the school, with pupils from the Nest to the Senior School able to access exciting ways of exploring their learning through the varied lenses of technology. Robotics and coding are embedded parts of the curriculum, and next term sees the school embrace e-sports. Junior School pupils will be competing in an international competition, the FUSE Cup, for the first time. The FUSE Cup sees schools from Asia and Australasia compete in "an online, safe, competitive, and challenging esports opportunity while also promoting concepts such as Digital Wellbeing, Inclusion and Social Values". The games we enter are age-appropriate and non-violent: the first year will see teams compete in Just Dance, Rocket League and Mario Kart 8. Pupils train for the events in an ASA and are monitored by their teachers at every step of the process. Parents who want to know more can access the website here: https://ies.network/the-fuse-cup/. I look forward to writing to parents later in the year to report back on the progress of our young e-sports enthusiasts.

My own focus at the conference was to offer some thoughts on how schools were responsible for creating an environment where innovation is fostered and encouraged. In this way, I wanted to focus not so much on educational technology or any of the potential advantages of the metaverse, but instead on what can be described as the 'untaught curriculum'. I feel very strongly that schools need to create an ethos of intellectual risk-taking and curiosity so that a spirit of creativity and innovation can flourish. A one-size-fits-all approach to learning has long been discredited, both in terms of what goes on in the classroom and how schools encourage individuality and independence of thought. The latter two do not exclude other parts of the Wellington identity, of course, but rather express our determination that our pupils should feel able to forge their own unique pathways through their learning journeys. I have seen real innovation in action here across the school, from how our Nest pupils experiment with their learning each day to some genuinely revelatory work in our textiles, art, technology and music departments. The school has allowed pupils to stretch their imaginations to open new ways of thinking about and seeing the world.

Progress for humankind has always relied on the innovative, the dreamers and the visionaries, but it doesn't happen by happy accident. Children need to feel supported and encouraged to think beyond the conventional and explore the world with fresh eyes. I hope that, through establishing an environment in which such learning can occur, Wellington is playing a full part in fostering innovation. 

Best wishes

Julian Jeffrey
EXECUTIVE MASTER

Duke of Wellington Room (MB109)
1400hrs-1500hrs, Thursday
2nd December

This week's Meet the Master slot is open to parents of pupils in the Nest and Junior School. Please confirm via e-mail with Ms Emma Shi (emma.shi@wellingtoncollege.cn) by Wednesday, 1st December if you would like to attend.

Parenting workshop: "Super Daddy" – how to use the parent functions on electronic devices
Old Common Room (MB 214)
1500hrs-1600hrs, Friday
3rd December

We had introduced the E-safety for you in the previous parents briefing. This week, we would like to introduce some methods and good practice in supervising a child's use of electronic devices. If you are interested in participating, please send your registration to Ms Coco Liu (coco.liu@wellingtoncollege.cn).

Talented Parent Recruitment

After the Christmas holiday, the most important Chinese Festival, Spring Festival, is coming very soon. To celebrate the Chinese New Year as the whole Wellington community, we are delighted to invite our parents to join us to celebrate the Year of Tiger. Further details will be sent out by related teachers. If you are interested in it, please contact

Nest: Ms Helen Shen (helen.shen@wellingtoncollege.cn)

Junior school: Ms Catherine Jia (catherine.jia@wellingtoncollege.cn)

Senior school: Ms Sophia Shen (sophia.shen@wellingtoncollege.cn)

Nest: Pre-Nursery Winter Walk
0830hrs – 1130hrs, Monday
29th November

The Nest theme has changed to 'forests', and to get our pre-nursery children thinking about forests and trees, they are going on a wonderful winter walk. To bring this theme to life for the children and use the vocabulary we associate with a forest, there is no better way than to go and be around trees. Parents will be invited to join their children on this winter walk, so please pay attention to letters coming home to give your permission and to be able to join us.

Lunchtime virtual university visits
FOW Room (MB238)
1320hrs – 1400hrs

The university team is delighted to welcome university representatives from Bristol, Glasgow and York for a virtual university session next week. We would like to invite parents and pupils from years 10-13 to attend these virtual meetings. The sessions will introduce the course programmes, application process and entry requirements. A 10-minute Q & A session will follow after the presentation. For parents interested in joining these sessions, please contact Ms Lily Lian at lily.lian@wellingtoncollege.cn and indicate the specific session you wish to join.

*Due to the recent outbreaks of COVID-19, the College can only allow a maximum of 20 parents in for each of these meetings. Therefore, access to these meetings will be on a first come, first served basis.

Nest Christmas show
Theatre
0915hrs, Friday
3rd December

Nest pupils will stage a concert full of Christmas themes, in which you'll hear songs from pupils dressed up in different costumes and in various roles. Apart from being surrounded by their pure voices and angelic faces, you'll also see the children play percussion instruments in traditional Christmas music with an innovative touch. The Junior School ballet group will also bring us some beautiful dances to celebrate this special festival.

Junior School Young Talent Recital Competition
1500hrs – 1545hrs, Wednesday
1st December

The final round of the Junior School Young Talent Recital Competition is fast approaching! This year, the Music Department aims to scout for more young talent in the Junior School and provide genuine performance opportunities and music events. The preliminary round was already a success, and it helped us discover so many young musicians!

The finalists, including Elsa on the piano (Year 3), Olivia on the violin (Year 5), Marcus on the piano (Year 6), Matthew on the electric guitar (Year 6), and Roger on the cello (Year 6), will once again gather on stage to perform their piece to you and a judging panel made up of musicians from both the junior and senior schools. Please join us in the award ceremony to celebrate the success of these young musicians at 1430hrs on Wednesday 1st December.  

Parents who would like to come in for the final round should have their parent ID card, health code and track code ready to show the guards at the entrance. Please contact Ms Stella Sun at stella.sun@wellingtoncollege.cn if you have any questions.

Choir Performance: Christmas Tree Lighting in St Regis
1820hrs, Friday
3rd December

The Wellatonics will be singing a few Christmas carols and songs at the St Regis Hotel's Christmas tree lighting event starting from 1820hrs on Friday 3rd December. The hotel is offering a discount of 30% to parents who dine at the buffet restaurant on the day. It will be a fun way to end your working week by getting into the festive spirit with the Wellatonics! Please contact Ms Stella Sun at stella.sun@wellingtoncollege.cn if you would like more information.

Year 6 Mandarin trip
0920hrs-1500hrs, Friday
3rd December

To further encourage our pupils' interest in exploring modern Chinese literacy and history, the Mandarin Department is organizing a trip for year 6 to the Uchiyama Shoten Bookstore on Friday 3rd December. As a part of the Junior School Chinese Curriculum, pupils will better understand the historical background of modern literary works. They will be encouraged to read Chinese literary books. Pupils will set off at 0920hrs and be back at school before 1500hrs. Please see the parent letter that will be handed out soon for further details. Please contact catherine.jia@wellingtoncollege.cn if you have any additional enquiries.

* Christmas Charity Felting wool workshop is postponed to Thursday 2nd December, 1100hrs – 1300hrs in the old Common Room (MB 214).

Each week we will have workshops and lectures on various and colourful topics held by our school parents and friends. This is to enhance our bonds as a Wellington Community, and we would love to welcome all of you to join us!