Seoul Foreign School
| Established | 1912 |
|---|---|
| School type | Private School |
| Head of School | Dr. John Engstrom |
| Address | 55 Yonhidong Seoul, Republic of Korea 120-113 |
| Coordinates | |
| Enrollment | ~1,500 |
| Organizational Membership |
National Association of Independent Schools |
| Athletic Conference | KAIAC APAC |
| Colors | Red Black |
| Mascot | The Crusaders |
| Homepage | Official Site |
Located in Seoul, South Korea, the Seoul Foreign School is a K-12 college preparatory school founded in 1912 by Christian missionaries to Korea. It offers both an American and British style education to international students with an emphasis on "Christian values." The school is located in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu.
Contents |
British School
Head Teacher: Dr. Timothy Gray, MBE
The British School (SFBS) offers a curriculum based around the English National Primary Strategy and National Curriculum for Reception to Year 9. SFBS spans Year 1 to Year 9. Children in the British division participate in a sporting competition in the South East Asia and Asia region that is open to all British schools in the area. There are children from over 50 nationalities at the school.
Elementary School
Principal: Mr. John Gaylord
The elementary school (SFES) offers a curriculum based on standard U.S.-style grade school education. Grade levels include Pre-K to 5th grade. School uniforms were introduced to SFES in the school year 2008-2009. The Seoul Foreign Elementary School offers specials for every student including Music, Korean, Information Technology, Library, Art, and PE. New building completed in 2008/09 school year includes a new cafeteria, 400 seat performance hall, media center/library, classrooms and spirit store. Every elementary classroom teacher utilizes a Smartboard and various other technology in their classroom.
Middle School
Principal: Lynn Gaylord
Assistant Principal: John Hill
Counselor: Dale Swanson
SFMS offers a course of study to students in grades 6-8 based on the philosophy of the National Middle School Association (NMSA). Like the elementary school, all classrooms have a Smartboard. Students are offered a choice of music classes, such as Choir, two different bands, and a percussion ensemble. The 3 three language classes: French, Korean, and Spanish. In addition, ESL students or struggling students can take a learning lab instead, which is basically a study hall. At the end of the day, Middle School students take advisory, which is a group of students that helps others and is a group of students which go together
High School
Principal: Kevin Baker
Assistant Principal: Jeff Marquis
IB Coordinator: Stuart Kent
Athletic Director: Jim Milliken
The high school (SFHS) offers a western style curriculum that is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The high school is also authorized to offer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) program through Cambridge International Examinations and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program from the IBO. Graduates from Seoul Foreign School attend universities and colleges throughout the world.
All students from kindergarten through 8th grade take music as a core part of their curriculum. The school offers band, choir and orchestra classes as well as IB music and a band program. Both the Middle School Symphonic Band and the High School Wind Ensemble have won numerous awards and acknowledgements in the field.
The Lyso Center for Performing Arts is a 10 million dollar complex dedicated to the performing arts. It includes large rehearsal rooms for band, choir, and orchestra, as well as ensemble and individual practice rooms. There is also a keyboard/composition lab. The main theater seats over 700 people, has a hydraulic orchestra pit, a turn table, and a removable large Wenger acoustical sell. There is also a Black Box theater with flexible seating up to 200 people. Robb Hall is a mid-size theater and has seating for 450 people.
Each spring all High School students participate in Discovery Week, a week-long educational experience that focuses on study beyond the classroom. Led by High School faculty members, a wide variety of courses take place within Seoul; others take place in different countries throughout the world.
Seoul Foreign School has an indoor sports complex which houses two gyms, each with several basketball courts, indoor volleyball courts, as well as one weight training/fitness room. Also, located outside are two more basketball courts (next to the soccer field). More basketball courts can also be found on the British school playground. There is an artificial turf soccer (football) field, a sandpit for long jump, and a running track. There is also an indoor pool and two tennis courts are situated above it. Two more tennis courts are situated adjacent to the British school playground. There is also a gymnastics room for various uses ranging from acrobatics workout to ballet practice. An additional four tennis courts are located on the roof of the cafeteria.
Seoul Foreign School supports a number of activities. At the HS level, an academical activity is the AMC (American Math Competition) competition with three levels of competition: 8th grade, 10th grade, and 12th grade. SFS High School has an active Model United Nations activity with weekly meetings and two meets annually (one in Seoul and the other in Beijing.) A Speech and Debate team also represents SFS with forensic meets with local and area schools. SFS Middle School participates in an area Spelling Bee, KMO and other clubs. There are also sports and other after-school activities, such as the Jazz Band/Ensemble, chess club, instrumental private lessons. Film club is also a popular club that meets on Mondays to create films and at the end of the year, hosts a film festival with all of the profit going to GIN (Global Issues Network). Additional activities are sponsored by each division's "Senate", or Student Council. These activities include dances, swims and various other events throughout the school year.
Recently, the 2010-2011 Girls Varsity Soccer Team of Seoul Foreign School won the All-Girls APAC Super Tournament hosted by Shanghai American School Pudong, beating 12 other teams, undefeated.
Seoul Foreign School is a private non-profit organisation. Although they have no specific obligations to publish their financial data, SFS recently published a financial report for the year ending on June 30, 2008 where total revenue was $3,393,043 and payroll was $1,884,055.[1]
Children whose parent/s are pastors of various Christian denominations may receive tuition for free or at discounted price.
SFS focuses on Christian values which are promoted in a variety of ways. The influence of Christianity originated in 1912 when missionaries first-founded the school and continues today.