Dear Branksome Hall Asia Community Members,
As the academic year of 2019-2020 draws to a close, it is an honor to be able to write to you all and share some of our highlights and celebrate our successes. This is undoubtedly a year that will be remembered in vivid detail, and I would like to take this opportunity to make sure that it is remembered for some of the very positive things that have happened in Branksome Hall Asia over the course of the year.
In May of this year, 67 students graduated from the class of 2020 and received Branksome Hall Asia and Korean High School diplomas. The support network of Branksome Hall Asia graduates grows year by year. Our graduating class has enjoyed the benefit of our university counselling team to support their choices in higher education to make the most of their strengths and achievements. Many of our students have been accepted into U.S. universities such as Columbia University, the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University and many more. We also have graduates who have received offers from top international universities that include the London School of Economics, King's College London, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and Yonsei University in Korea among many others around the world. All our graduating students have worked tremendously hard and have shown great commitment. I am especially proud of the accomplishments of our graduates this year, as they have shown such resilience during the recent period of uncertainty that has occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our forward-looking IB curriculum is gaining recognition both nationally and internationally. In November, Dr. Siva Kumari, the General Director of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) visited our campus along with key members of the education community that included officials from the Jeju Provincial Office of Education. These recent inquiries indicate the ever growing national interest in our program and in IB programs in general.
I would also like to recognize some of our broader cultural achievements. Our Grade 9 students broadened their global perspectives by participating in a 3-week cultural exchange program with our sister school, Branksome Hall in Canada. Another highlight of the year was the amazing production of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.’ Over 100 students came together as actors, directors, or behind the scenes experts to bring us this year’s fantastic production. The Winter Concert was also a resounding success. During this production, 150 students performed classic, pop, and jazz music. Thanks to everyone involved and especially to our dedicated teachers for all their hard work. In May, the Branksome Hall Asia Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition was spectacular, displaying highly personal, brave, and bold content. Congratulations to each of our DP exhibiting Artists on a highly successful Exhibition!
We are pleased that our technology focus has supported students during this highly unusual year. Obviously this outcome is an advantage of our forward looking philosophy. Our efforts in technology and innovation were internationally recognized by the International School Award 2020, where we received an award for advancing Students as Future Thinking Innovators. This use of technology has been enormously helpful to us during the turmoil of 2020 - as very few schools were better prepared than Branksome Hall Asia to meet the unprecedented challenges of the year. Even during the COVID-19 outbreak we were able to implement innovative projects online. We were also able to share our expertise and knowledge in online learning with other international and private schools around the world.
As we look forward to starting the new academic year, I would like to send my thanks to our parents and families who have been very supportive even through the hardships we endured together in the face of COVID-19. Indeed, it has been an extraordinary year with the unprecedented pandemic, and I know many of our community members have been affected by it. However, I would also like to highlight that, in spite of the unexpected turn of events, one strong positive is that this pandemic brought us together as a stronger and more mutually supportive community as a whole.
Once again, I would like to thank our community for your support, and I look forward to our continued partnership during the next academic year.
I wish you an enjoyable summer relaxing with family and friends, and we look forward to welcoming you back in August 2020!
See you at school,
