Families, Food, and Celebration: Founder's Day 2026 at DHSZ
As spring begins to settle gently across campus, Dulwich International High School Programme Suzhou marks its annual Founder's Day.
This year, the celebration takes on a vibrant “dopamine of colour” theme, where colour becomes the most immediate language. From decorations to dress, from exhibitions to the stage, bold and luminous tones run throughout the campus, lending the day a sense of lightness and energy.
Yet, beyond colour, what stands out more are the interactions and connections that unfold throughout the day.
Across the campus, different spaces come alive simultaneously with art, conversation, creativity, and expression, inviting participation in many forms. If the learning, connections, and culture a school seeks to nurture could be made visible, then Founder’s Day may well be its most complete expression.
Annual Art Exhibition | Where Creativity Is Seen
The day begins with the launch of our annual art exhibition held in the theatre. Prior to its opening, a brief and thoughtful ceremony is held. Head of DHSZ Ms Sarah Tielman, Principal Mr Jon Fei, and Head of Art Mr Carl Binstead formally open the exhibition with their remarks.
Year 13 Fine Art student Sophia Z, who has received an offer from the Rhode Island School of Design, then shared insights into her creative journey. From initial inspiration to material choices, and through cycles of revision and refinement, she brings forward the often-unseen process behind the finished work.
As the exhibition opens, visitors move naturally towards the gallery spaces on the second floor. Paintings, installations, film, and mixed media works are displayed throughout corridors and exhibition areas.
The pace of viewing remains unhurried. Some pause to read, others engage in quiet discussion, while student artists stand beside their work, continuing conversations with peers and parents alike.
Here, the works are not only displayed, but understood, responded to, and allowed to spark further dialogue.
Among the Crowd | The Dulwich Community Marketplace
Moving outdoors, the atmosphere shifts into lively motion. The DHSZ community marketplace unfolds along the main campus pathways, with stalls forming a continuous, flowing “street”. Individuals from across the school community take part in different ways, bringing previously separate experiences into a shared space.
CCA groups present self-made products from candle-making and crafts to gardening, transforming classroom interests into tangible, interactive outcomes.
Student-led initiatives are equally present. Organisations such as SISU and Wingsplan continue their engagement with social causes through products and conversations.
Student Council members and Boarding Prefects share their perspectives on shaping school life and community with DHSZ and Boarding merchandise.
Teachers and parents further extend this space. Head of P.E., Mr Rees, prepared hot dogs; Head of English and Modern Languages, Mr Webb, offered homemade desserts; and parents contributed through floral design, traditional crafts, and food.
Without a fixed centre, the space naturally gathers people together. Through conversation, exchange, and shared presence, a distinct sense of the Dulwich community begins to take shape.
At the same time, these seemingly simple exchanges point towards a shared purpose: profits from the day's stalls and activities are dedicated to charitable giving.
Here, creativity, collaboration, and participation move beyond expression, becoming action that is both visible and meaningful.
Student and Staff Interaction | Redefining Boundaries
In another part of the campus, the pace becomes more relaxed.
The Photobooth draws a steady stream of participants, capturing moments of colour and spontaneity. Ring toss games and other interactive activities invite participation across age groups.
“Sponge the Teacher” quickly becomes a focal point of energy. Water-filled sponges and playful moments of unpredictability gently dissolve the usual boundaries of the classroom.
In “Tattoo the Teacher”, students apply temporary designs to their teachers, laughter carrying across the space.
These moments, though light in tone, are not without meaning. They bring a sense of authenticity to relationships, drawing students and teachers closer and reshaping how individuals relate to one another and to the school itself.
On Stage | A Convergence of Expression
As the day progresses, attention gradually shifts towards the stage. Performances unfold under the guidance of student hosts, beginning with revisited musical excerpts, followed by solo singing, dance performances by CCA groups, and several student bands taking the stage in succession.
As the day progresses, attention gradually shifts towards the stage. Performances unfold under the guidance of student hosts, beginning with revisited musical excerpts, followed by solo singing, dance performances by CCA groups, and several student bands taking the stage in succession.
Teachers also join, through dance and collaborative performances with students, transforming the stage into a shared space rather than a one-sided showcase.
As the final teacher's band concludes, celebratory confetti fills the air. Music and applause overlap, bringing the day to a close with a clear and collective rhythm.
The DHSZ Community, Seen in a Day
If the day were to be broken down, it would consist of the art exhibition, the DHSZ community marketplace, students-teachers interactions, and live performances.
Yet when experienced together, it becomes something more. It reveals how students engage, how they connect, and how they participate in shaping their environment.
Through these moments, a vibrant community emerges, shaped through interaction and shared experiences. It reflects our holistic education that extends beyond the classroom, one that unfolds through practice, exploration, and engagement. It also speaks to the gradual development in our strength of character, formed through expression, collaboration, and responsibility.
As these collective efforts come together in the form of a meaningful charitable contribution, the significance of the day shifts, from celebration to shared responsibility and community giving.
Founder's Day is not only a celebration of the Dulwich community, but a moment in which connection becomes action, giving the day a resonance that extends far beyond itself.