What is it like in Boarding with the Current Covid Challenges?
Life in Boarding at Dulwich International High School Suzhou!
To fully support pandemic control and prevention measures, our school switched to a 100% online learning model this week. Meanwhile, we also make effort to guarantee the boarding life of the students living in school.
Ms Alison Crozier, DHSZ Head of Boarding told us, "Boarding staff are in a very privileged position to be trusted with the most precious of people in a family - your children. This has been a rollercoaster of a week with many issues to deal with. But throughout the week the students have shown true Dulwich values. They have been supportive of each other, they have been resilient to all the changes and it has been a genuine pleasure to be around them, in the gym or watching them play Super Mario together.
The Dulwich Boarding community could not be a community without the support from our guards, ayis and caterers. Many of whom are now living in boarding too. I am overwhelmed by the care and support shown to boarding staff over the past day as provisions have been brought on campus by those who are still able to move around the city. These are testing times, but the students and staff will support each other and Mrs Angela Nunns （House Parent） and I whilst we are Mums to our own children, we are second mums to our boarding students. "
We are providing our students with a very good study and daily life experience, as well as fully supporting their academics and also their wellbeing. We’ve now provided free meals to all our boarding students.
A group of staff who are willing to take the risk went to major supermarkets yesterday morning to get food to stock up in case of any further needs.
What our Boarding Students have to Say!
DHSZ Y12 Grace G
"In the past few days, my primary task each day is to study online. Because I spend most of my time in the dormitory, I have more time and energy to study. The teachers took us to dinner every day and provided many activities after class promptly. We are still required to wear a mask when we go out of our rooms, and we cannot use delivery services to purchase anything other than necessities. During this period, I have adapted to good living habits, and I also study, do sports and entertainment with my classmates who may not be encountered very often before."
DHSZ Y12 Aimee L and Yvonne W
"In 2022, before spring comes, the new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has come one step ahead. People in Suzhou, who were supposed to eat the sweet dumplings and celebrate the Lantern Festival, began to enter the intense epidemic prevention work, home isolation, Covid-testing, schools also launched online courses, and some boarding students had to stay in the school. The efficient closed management of the school and the considerate care of the teachers gave us a sufficient sense of security, which made me feel no different from staying at home. We moved from classroom study to dormitory study. Every morning, the teachers kindly wake us up, check our health code, and arrange a healthy and hearty breakfast to ensure that each of us is happy and safe. Teachers are also very helpful during the online learning sessions. The extracurricular activities at school have also brought the current monotonous life more laughters. The various small games and a lot of sports equipment in the common room also make me less worried every day. During this time, I felt that DHSZ was really like a big family. I also let go of my worries with the round after round of covid-testing. Many citizens have become volunteers. I believe that they will be able to return safely, and Suzhou will win this war again!"
DHSZ Y12 Christophe Y
"I am satisfied with the life of lockdown in the past few days. There is not much difference between studying in school and studying at home. After class, I could freely plan my study and rest time, which is very satisfying. And teachers are also very helpful. Every day, they check everyone's green code and body temperature and arrange our meals. I feel that teachers at DHSZ are like our parents, and Allen House is like my home!"
