Dear Parents,

As we enter the second phase of the circuit breaker, we have been turning our thinking to what next year might look like. Our focus remains on how to ensure a holistic UWCSEA education, while taking into account the global situation and the impact of Singapore Government requirements, most particularly travel restrictions and physical distancing measures. We write now with an important decision regarding our overseas trips during the 2020/2021 school year.

We know that overseas trips related to our Outdoor Education programme are a highly-valued and distinctive aspect of our programme. As educators, our focus is on the learning that takes place through these trips. The opportunities for collaboration and teamwork, to develop independence, connect with nature and gain practical outdoor skills are enhanced when students leave campus for adventures outdoors. The curriculum for outdoor learning is fully articulated from Kindergarten to Grade 12. 

With overseas travel an unlikely prospect before the end of 2020, we have tasked our teams to retain this important learning, but with a focus on local outdoor education experiences, using all the resources available to us in Singapore. This gives us a positive opportunity to focus on and learn about opportunities within Singapore, while continuing to create meaningful, challenging and curriculum-aligned experiences for our students. This decision to focus on a local programme has the added benefit of furthering our sustainability agenda, and keeping additional costs for parents low. 

While the teams are still working through details, we have made the decision that our outdoor education programme next year for all students in K1 to Grade 8 will not include overseas travel. For Grade 9 expeditions and Grade 11 Project Week, we are holding a decision until October this year and will communicate as the global situation and the Singapore position become more clear. However, there will definitely be no overseas travel for any students during Term 1. 

This decision will also be applied to our Activity and Service programmes. We do not need to make ‘year-long’ decisions in these areas of our learning programme at this stage and we will review Term 2 and 3 travel possibilities in October 2020. Until the end of 2020, however, we will not make any international travel plans for any student groups. 

We know that these changes feel fundamental, but they are necessary. Making the decision now minimises uncertainty and enables us to use our time and creative energy to make next year the very best learning experience we can offer. 

We look forward to sharing the details of the ‘hyperlocal’ outdoor education programme in due course. Our planning requires conversations with key stakeholders which will take some more time but we wanted you to hear of the headline change directly from us. Principals will let students know when the time is right. We know that some of them will experience this as another disappointment, but our aim is to turn adversity into a positive and we are confident that purposeful, challenging and fun outdoor learning experiences lie ahead. 

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Elizabeth Bray, Head of UWCSEA Dover
Graham Silverthorne, Head of UWCSEA East