德威之友：家长互助，创建多元文化社区

上海德威外籍人员子女学校（浦东）的家委会名为“德威之友”（Friends of Dulwich），这是一个充满人情味的社区，通过多种途径帮助许多初到上海的德威大家庭成员适应新生活。

图：学校提供

上海德威外籍人员子女学校（浦东）的家委会名为“德威之友”（Friends of Dulwich），这是一个充满人情味的社区，通过多种途径帮助许多初到上海的德威大家庭成员适应新生活。他们也与学校密切合作，帮助孩子们更好成长。这个社区是怎么运作的？他们都做了些什么？“

德威之友”主席Ms. Melissa Lien回答了菁kids提出的相关问题。

菁kids：请与我们分享一下“德威之友”的使命和历史传统。

Melissa：“德威之友”的使命是在学生、员工和家长之间建立密切联系，更好地服务于社区。由于社区家庭和学生的高流动率，我们准备了特别项目，帮助新家庭适应学校日程及上海的环境。

例如，我们有一个大使项目，将新家庭与现有的德威家庭配对，配对的家庭孩子年龄相仿或母语为同一种语言。通过一些特别的活动和服务项目，所有的德威家庭都可以按自己的兴趣，参与学校的活动。家长们也可以选择服务“德威之友”的各个委员会，担任班级家长代表，参加社会活动或者志愿帮助“德威之友”的慈善活动。

菁kids：核心委员会成员是通过选举产生的吗？他们为“德威之友”服务的平均时长是多久？

Melissa：核心委员会成员主要包括主席、财务、市场/交流副主席、家长联系副主席、慈善副主席、幼儿园、小学及中学家长总代表。德威浦东的家长可以提名家长社区的成员担任这些职务，只要无人反对，就可以出任。核心委员会的每个职位至多由两名家长同时担任，但投票只计一票。委员会成员的任期一般为一个学年。

菁kids：“德威之友”的主要活动和主要职能是什么？

Melissa：我们每年有将近25名家委会成员，主要负责以下几个大型活动：

冬日圣诞集市——这是一次家庭友谊慈善筹款活动，对所有人开放，包括娱乐、集市、游戏、活动、食物以及和圣诞老人合照
世界展——德威浦东家庭的文化庆祝活动，展示来自40多个国家的德威家庭
父女舞会——专为父亲和女儿举办的舞会
父子运动会——专为父亲和儿子举办的趣味运动会
步行马拉松——德威家庭一起步行慈善筹款活动
教师感谢会——代表社区对所有德威浦东教师表示感谢
艺术作品拍卖——在每学年最后的校庆日上对学生的艺术作品进行默拍

正在进行的活动有：

家长联谊会——在学年内组织各种活动欢迎新加入的德威家庭，包括咖啡晨会、家长联谊、午餐会、大使项目
咖啡晨会——每月举办一次，主题不一，包括旅行、健康福利、二手校服及二手书展卖
社区集市——每学年举办四次课后集市，主要是本地（食品和礼品）摊位，社区成员可前往购买
跳蚤市场/捐赠——定期收集二手物品，分类并捐赠给心连心慈善机构
慈善——支持本地的慈善机构，宣传学校慈善项目，每学年都会为慈善筹款
欧贝豆图书集市——每年4次的新书购买活动

菁kids：你们有什么特殊的方式可以帮助“德威之友”的新成员迅速融入上海？

Melissa：我们出了一本叫《上海之秘》的书，专为新加入德威浦东的家庭和员工提供上海生活小贴士和资源。这本书一共有50多页，而且每年都会更新。里面的内容包括一些个人推荐，例如到哪里购买生活用品、礼物、家具、服装？去哪里旅行？哪里可以举办生日派对、社交派对？在哪里学习什么课程等等。

菁kids：“德威之友”会从哪些方面加强家长和学校的联系？

Melissa：德威浦东的家庭来自40多个不同的国家，家长联谊会委员会全力帮助每一个新加入德威的家庭尽快适应新的生活。我们每个学年都会举办咖啡晨会、午餐会及联谊会，大家可以认识新的朋友，更多地了解上海，在一个舒适的环境中提出他们的问题。

每个学校的家长总代表会任命班级或者年级家长代表。这些家长代表会收集班级联系名单，建立班级微信群，为所有的家长及时更新相关信息，包括教室变化、温馨提醒以及一些活动信息。家长代表会定期与学校管理团队见面，学校管理团队会告知家长们他们相关年级的最新信息。这些微信群可以让家长们，尤其是在上班的家长们，更全面地了解学生的在校时光。

通过慈善筹款活动，我们可以为学生组织的公益服务项目提供每年约15万元人民币的善款。这些课外的公益服务项目由中学生组织，如唐四乐队（音乐课）、回馈社会公益服务项目（补习项目）、游泳教练项目（提供游泳指导）等。

菁kids：“德威之友”是否会制订全年计划？如果是，一般怎么制订？

Melissa：会的。我们的年度计划会在每年第三学期，也就是制订新学年年历的时候开始准备。我们会与学校领导团队合作，避免日期冲突，保证我们的活动可以顺利举行，所有德威家庭都可以参加。

我们也会重新评估之前组织的活动对社区的影响。例如，今年第一学期，我们用了数月时间去讨论文化庆祝活动。过去，我们都是通过国际美食节来进行宣传，主要是强调各国不一样的美食文化。今年通过讨论，我们决定通过各国间不同的音乐、娱乐、行业和美食来进行展示。

菁kids：现在的“德威之友”的核心委员会中还没有爸爸成员，是否想改变这个状况？

Melissa：我们期待所有的家庭成员都可以参加，跟我们一起分享他们的想法。但现实是在我们的社区中，上班的父亲还是居多，这从我们的核心家委会成员构成就可见一斑。不过仍然有很多上班的父母会参与德威之友的活动。在大型活动期间，当我们需要人手时，许多家长只要有时间都愿意帮忙。每个人都有自己重要的事情需要处理，我们完全理解，与此同时我们也鼓励每位家庭成员都可以不同程度地参加我们的活动。

菁kids：作为家委会的核心成员，有什么想跟其他家长分享的吗？

Melissa：“德威之友”是一个家长与家长之间互相帮助的组织，我们做的所有事情都是为了德威社区、家庭、员工，当然最重要的还是学生。每一位参与的家长都贡献了自己的时间和精力，为所有家长提供一条纽带，为有需要的孩子和家庭筹款，支持学生的学术发展及社区公益服务。有了这样一个充满能量的家长团队，学生们会更加成功，这一点已被证明。

Friends of Dulwich (FoD) is a parents-helping-parents organization in Dulwich College Shanghai (Pudong). It helps new comers to settle into school routines, and supports students in their academic and community service endeavours. What does FoD do? Ms. Melissa Lien, President of FoD, has answered questions raised by jingkids.

Jingkids: Please share with us the mission and vision of FoD, its history and traditions.

Melissa: Friends of Dulwich’s mission is to build strong connections among students, staff and parents for the benefit of the community. With a high turnover of students and families, we have special programmes in place to welcome new families and help them settle into school routines and Shanghai. For example, we offer an Ambassador programme to pair new families with a current family sharing the same age children or native language. Through special events and service programmes, FoD provides supportive programming for parents to be involved with school related activities at whatever level they are interested. Parents can choose to serve on one of FoD’s many committees, act as Class Parent Representatives, take part in social activities, or volunteer to help with our charitable events.

Jingkids: for the core committee members, are they elected? How long will they serve averagely?

Melissa: The Core Committee includes Chairperson, Treasurer, VP, Marketing/Communications, VP Parent Connections, VP Charities, Head Representatives of DUCKS, Junior School, Lower Senior School, and Upper Senior School. Dulwich College Shanghai (Pudong) Parents can nominate members of the parent community for the positions and if there is no opposition, each member is elected. Up to 2 people may share a role on the Core Committee but they only have one vote on matters requiring a vote. The term to serve is one academic school year.

Jingkids: What major events and key function do FoD members working on?

Melissa: There are approximately 25 committees which run throughout the year. Our larger events include:

Winter Fair – Family friendly fundraising event open to the public including entertainment, bazaar vendors, games, activities, food and photographs with Santa

World Expo – Cultural celebration event for the Dulwich Pudong community to showcase our families from over 40 countries

Daddy Daughter Ball – Special evening for fathers and daughters

Dads and Lads – Fun sports day for fathers and sons

Walk-a-thon – DUCKs family walk for charity

Teacher Appreciation – promoting community through small tokens of appreciation to all Dulwich Pudong staff

Art Auction – fundraiser through silent auction of student artworks at the end of year

On-going Events

Parent Connections Committee – assorted events throughout the year to welcome new families including coffee mornings, parent social, luncheons, and the Ambassador programme

Coffee Mornings – monthly coffees themed around areas of interest (travel, health and wellness, used uniform sales, used book sales)

Community Markets – held four times per year – after school bazaar for Dulwich Pudong community to buy goods from local vendors (food and gifts)

Flea Market / Donations – Periodic collection of gently used items collected, sorted and delivered to Heart 2 Heart

Used Uniform / Used Books – sales of donated uniforms and books are a fundraising vehicle for our supported charities

Charities – supporting local charities and school promoted service programmes with fundraising money raised throughout the year

Obido Books – four times per year new book sales

Jingkids: Are there any special ways to help new Dulwich family enjoy their life in Shanghai?

Melissa: We have a book called Shanghai Secrets. It is a special 50+ page guide updated annually with tips and resources for Dulwich Pudong newcomers (parents and staff) to Shanghai. It includes personal recommendations on where to go for groceries, gifts, furniture, clothing, travel, birthday parties, social clubs, lessons and much more.

Jingkids: In what ways do you help to strengthen the connections between parents and the school?

Melissa: There are over 40 different countries represented at Dulwich Pudong. FoD’s Parent Connections committee makes every effort to help newcomers find their way. We host coffee mornings, luncheons and socials throughout the year to provide forums to meet new friends, learn more about Shanghai and ask questions in a comfortable environment.

The Head Reps of each school identify one parent in each class or year level to be a class rep. These reps create class lists and WeChat groups to offer all parents a closer connection to relevant information including classroom updates, reminders and events and activities. Reps meet with school leadership periodically and share updates relevant to their year levels with these parents. These WeChat groups are a closer connection to the student experience especially for working parents.

From our fundraising efforts throughout the year, we provide financial support to student-led school service initiatives over 150,000rmb annually. To name a few after school programmes involving Senior School students … Tang Si Migrant Band (music lessons), The Giving Back Programme (tutoring programme), and Swim Leaders (swim instruction).

Jingkids: Is there a year-round plan of the committee? If yes, how do you make it?

Melissa: Yes. The year-round plan is set in Term 3 at the time of calendaring. This process is organized in partnership with Dulwich Pudong leadership to avoid conflicts and insure our events and activities serve the community as needed. From time to time, we re-evaluate the events from previous years to determine their effectiveness and benefit to the community. For example, in Term 1 this year, we spent months reflecting on our celebration of cultural diversity event. In the past it has been the International Food Festival with an emphasis on food. With many conversations across the College, we have updated this event to a new location, and new directive with the focus on cultural awareness through music, entertainment, industry and food.

Jingkids: There’s no male member in the committee right now. Do you want to change the situation?

Melissa: We gladly welcome all members of the parent community to share ideas and get involved. The reality is that there are more working men than women in our community and our leadership team reflects our population. However, many working mothers and fathers are involved in FoD’s activities. When we ask for help at some of our larger events, if available, many parents are ready, willing and able. We understand that everyone has different priorities and we will always encourage involvement at any level a parent is willing to give.

Jingkids: As a member of the core committee, what do you want to share with other fellow parents?

Melissa: Friends of Dulwich is parents helping parents. Everything we do is for the benefit of the Dulwich Pudong community, parents, staff and most importantly, students. Everyone on the committee generously volunteers their time and energy to provide outlets for parents to make meaningful personal connections and friendships, raise funds for children and families in our host country, and support our students in their academic and community service endeavours. It is proven that students are more successful when they have an active and supportive parent community surrounding them.

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