Middle School Houses
Ainslie House and Shin Saimdang House recognize the importance of providing a comfortable, homely environment for girls, many of whom will be away from their parents for the first time. Our caring Head of House and Teacher Dons ensure the girls feel welcome, happy and involved at all times. We aim to make their time an exciting and fulfilling “home away from home” experience. We nurture the girls to become confident and independent young women who will contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
Team Building
Our unique and comprehensive weekend program offers opportunities for individual and group activities that promote team building, independence and special moments to create fun memories and lasting friendships. Once a month we celebrate birthdays with cake, games and laughter. Our Family groups, enables for study hall, supervised by the highly qualified Teacher Dons, independently and collaboratively.
Caring
New and returning students are warmly welcomed into the Houses and the caring staff ensure that the girls feel welcome with a sense of belonging.
Since I started in boarding I try to think about the problem and find solutions before approaching the teacher dons for help.
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Grade 7 student
Faculty
Shin Saimdang House
 Franks, Laura Head of House |
Qualifications
M.A. (McGill University) Biography Laura holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership & Administration from McGill University in Canada. She joins us from Every Child Counts, Abaco, Bahamas where she held the position of Assistant Head of School. Laura has more than 25 years of experience in leadership roles including Principal, Director of Admissions, Executive Director and Director of Operations. |
 Linden, Amy Teacher Don
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Qualifications
B.B.A. (University of Washington) BiographyAmy joins Branksome Hall Asia after working as an au pair in Italy where she also taught English in a volunteer-led school for refugees. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from the University of Washington. |
 Lin, Wenhui Teacher Don
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Qualifications
B.A. English ( South China Normal University) BiographyWenhui Joins Branksome Hall Asia after workin as an executive assistant to the CEO, World Wlidlife Fund, China. She also worked in Utahloy International School Guangzhou as assistant to Head of School for a year. She holds a B.A in English from South China Normal Univerysity and had studied in America for several years. |
 Williams, Charlotte Teacher Don
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Qualifications
(Hons.) B.A. Politics (University of Nottingham) BiographyCharlotte has been a Teacher Don at Branksome Hall Asia for two years, and brings her own experience of life as a boarding student in the UK. She graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Politics and later gained CELTA qualification. She has spent time in early years education and teaching English as a second language. |
 In, SohHyun Teacher Don |
Qualifications
B.A. Social Science (University of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific) BiographySoh Hyun has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from the University of Asia Pacific in Japan. She grew up in Ireland since she was five and had attended Boarding school there. This is her second year at BHA as a residence don. |
 Macdonald, Nicolette Teacher Don |
Qualifications
B.A. (Sonoma State University) Biography Nicolette joins Branksome Hall Asia as a Teacher Don in the Residence program. She brings an extensive background in counseling and previously worked as a therapist in schools throughout Northern California. She holds a B.A. in Communications and a Master's in Clincial Mental Health Counseling from Sonoma State University. |
 Watson, Sarah Teacher Don |
Qualifications
B.A. East Asian Studies (Bard College) Biography Sarah is originally from New Hampshire in the northeastern United States.In addition to mutliple years of experience as a tutor, camp counselor, and substitute teacher, Sarah studied and taught English in China for two years.She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies with a focus on Chinese Language and Literature from Bard College. |
 Oh, Kyungeun Teacher Don
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Qualifications
B.A. (Hanyang University) BiographyKyungeun joins Branksome Hall Asia after graduating from Hanyang University in Seoul. She holds a Bachelor of English Education and Theatre and Film with a teaching license in English. She has experiences in supervising academic writing in high schools as a volunteer and teaching English in a Korean high school for teaching practicum. |
Ainsile House
 Trethewy, Tracy Head of House Ainsile House | Qualifications M.A. (Bournemouth University) Biography Tracy joins us as Head of House with more than 10 years of teaching and leadership experience at schools in Australia, UK, UAS, Thailand and China. She joins us from the HD Ningbo School where she held the position of Assistant Principal overseeing secondary boarding and after school pastoral care. She holds a Master of Arts from Bournemouth University. |
 Falcon, Monica Teacher Don | Qualifications B.A. (Rhodes College) Monica graduated from Rhodes College in 2017 with a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing. She has worked with children with special needs and helped to establish a writing center at a local high school during her time as an undergraduate. This is her second year as a Residence Don at BHA. |
 Kang, Miri Teacher Don | Qualifications B.A. French (Dongduk Women's University) GradDip.Couns (Australian College of Applied Psychology) Miri holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Graduate Diploma of Counseling. During her training in Counseling in Sydney, Australia, her two areas of focus included Cross-cultural Counseling and Creative Therapies. She has worked with adolescents through high school mentoring programs in Australia and medical wellness programs in Asia. She is passionate about helping young girls to discover their hidden potentials and strengths. As a new Residence Don at BHA, she is motivated to support resident students with their social health and emotional wellbeing. |
 Gray, Chelsey Teacher Don | Qualifications B.A. (Regina) M.A. (Aberdeen) Chelsey Gray is originally from Canada. She has her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Regina, and acquired her Masters of English Literature from Aberdeen, Scotland. She has several years of experience working in various fields, such as an entrepreneur, a professional writer, public speaker, English educator, and actress. She is excited to use everything she has learned to the fullest as a Residence Don. |
 Chen, Jianjia Teacher Don | Qualifications B.A. English (South China Agricultural University) Jianjia came from a Chinese IB school where she had served as a Secondary Secretary for one and a half years plus as an intern teacher for one year. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from South China Agricultural University and has the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (international) from Nottingham University. |
 Jeong, Michelle Teacher Don | Qualifications B.A. (Bowdoin College) Biography Min Kyo (Michelle) Jeong joins Branksome Hall Asia after recently graduating from Bowdoin College. She has worked as a student assistant in the Office of Fellowship and Research, as well as the Office of Off-Campus Studies at Bowdoin. Prior to that, Michelle has spent time working as a community health volunteer in India and Ghana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and East Asian Studies from Bowdoin. |
 Shepstone, Willow Teacher Don | Qualifications B.A. (Nottingham Trent University) Willow Shepstone is originally from the United Kingdom. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Furniture and Product Design from Nottingham Trent University. She has worked in Jeju at another international school for one year prior. She is excited to provide support the Residence Students at Branksome Hall Asia. |
 Hassan, Alina Teacher Don | Qualifications B.A. Politics (Underwood International College, Yonsei University) Alina is originally from Karachi, Pakistan but travelled to and lived in different parts of the world growing up. She acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) from Underwood International College, Yonsei University. She is trilingual and enjoys learning immensely. This year, she is excited to share that passion for learning and use her international background to help enrich the students' academic and personal lives. |
 Romero Cely, Daniela Teacher Don | Qualifications B.S. (University of North Carolina Wilmington) M.R. (NC State University) Daniela is orignially from Bogota, Colombia but has lived in North Carolina, USA most of her life. Prior to joining the BHA team, Daniela was doing Pediatric Research and volunteering at a pediatric clinic. During her undergraduate studies she mentored minority high school students during their college application process which drove her to continue a passion in guiding younger students to pursue higher education leading her to BHA. She holds a B.S. in Biology with concentrations in Chemistry and Spanish and a masters in Physiology, she wants to continue her studies by pursuing medical school in the near future. Daniela is very excited about becoming a part of such an impactful program and hopes to aid the students in pursuing their dreams. |
What to Bring
Provided in Boarding:
- The following will be provided for each girl:
- All linen including fitted bed sheets, mattress cover, pillowcase, duvet and duvet cover. However, many students like to bring their own duvets and we are happy for this to happen.
- Desk with chair.
- Wardrobe with mirror for clothes and shoes
- The rooms in Senior Houses have ample wardrobe space and shelving, those of Middle School Houses have storage space on top of the wardrobe (60cm x 60cm)
- Bed-drawers.
- A lockable drawer.
- Bookshelf and places for mementos.
In the common areas there are:
- Televisions, toasters, kettles, a fridge freezer and microwave.
- Separate laundry room with ironing boards, irons, washing machines, clothes dryers
What to Bring:
- Pillow
- Personal MacBook with earphones
- Cell phone with local number. Students are encouraged to have a cell phone.
- Toiletries including bathrobe, bath towels, toothbrush, shampoo, hair dryer, soap and plastic flip-flops (beach sandals) to wear in the bathrooms and shower areas
- A named laundry bag
- Clothes hangers for the closet
- Alarm clock, desk lamp, flashlight.
- Blue-tack for attaching pictures or posters to the wall (no tape or glue)
- Extension cable (4m)
- All clothing MUST be labeled with each student’s name.
- Rain coat
Extras, Some students may choose to bring the following:
- Sports equipment such as tennis/badminton racquet
- Musical instrument
What NOT to bring:*
- Small appliances of any kind: kettles, hot plates, blenders, refrigerators, toasters, soup pots, toaster ovens, rice cookers, crock pots (slow cookers), microwave ovens and irons
- Bookcases
- Night stands
- Side tables
- Shoe racks
- Shelving units
- Electric blankets
- Candles
- Wifi routers
- Printer
- Humidifier/dehumidifier
- Television
*Boarding faculty will confiscate any such items accordingly.
Our Boarding faculty will be happy to assist students in any way possible to set up their rooms in order to create a comfortable atmosphere, which the students can enjoy all year long.