中文

Core Values in Action｜Staff Training Week

Monday 25 Aug 2025

1.Leading with Core Values

The week of professional training at Dipont KCS Chengdu began with a warm welcome from Tim Lan, who greeted new staff and extended his appreciation to the whole faculty. In his address, he reflected on the development of Dipont Education, outlined the school’s positioning, and reaffirmed the group’s strong, long-term commitment to the Chengdu campus.

Tim shared the story behind the school’s four core values—Responsibility, Care, Respect, and Collaboration. “The significance of this process,” he explained, “is that our values were not written down by one person and handed to everyone else. Instead, they were drawn from the collective voice of all Dipont KCS staff, through discussions, debates, and shared reflections.” At the end of last semester, more than 100 colleagues participated in this dialogue, reaching a consensus that now forms the cornerstone of school culture and the foundation of collaboration and educational practice.

 

2.Teaching Standards: Building a Strong Foundation

On the second day, Clare Huang, Head of High School, introduced the teaching standards and new evaluation framework for the year. Alex Callow, Head of Primary, outlined standards for younger learners, highlighting student-centered, inquiry-based approaches that balance rigor and creativity.

Clare noted that these standards help bring the school’s values into the classroom—using Care to encourage self-expression, Respect to adapt to diverse needs, and Collaboration and Responsibility to foster teamwork and independence. She also emphasized baseline expectations, introduced the new teacher appraisal system, and launched a research framework to support collaboration and professional growth.

 

3.Pastoral Care & CCA

On the third day of training, Middle school  Principal Zhu Wenbin introduced updates to the pastoral care system and plans for the new CCA program. She highlighted initiatives such as regular “growth dialogues,” mental health workshops, and emotional management courses, designed to support students with both academic and emotional challenges while reflecting the values of care and respect. She also outlined a wide range of CCAs in academics, arts, sports, and community service, encouraging students to build teamwork and creativity for holistic development. The Primary and Senior High teams likewise shared their pastoral plans, giving teachers a full view of the school’s student support system.

 

4.From Values to Action

One of the week’s highlights was the interactive workshops in which teachers explored how values can be translated into practice across different areas of school life. From the classroom to boarding, from operations to student activities, teachers brainstormed concrete applications:Responsibility: reinforcing it through classroom habits and daily routines，Collaboration: building stronger teamwork among teachers, boarding staff, and operations teams to support students holistically.

 

5.Creativity & Challenge

Throughout the week, departments designed creative activities to make values tangible. The Arts team led the creation of display boards showcasing student work alongside the core values, embedding them into the school environment. The English team initiated a “Values Poetry Challenge,” where teachers captured Responsibility, Care, Respect, and Collaboration in short, vivid verses.

 

The highlight of the training week was Friday’s House team challenge. Teachers from all six Houses turned simple materials into creative solutions, filling the room with laughter and teamwork，Balancing paper-and-tape structures against the heavy weight of dumbbells became a playful yet intense trial of team ingenuity. Congratulations to Aliverstone for winning the prize with their clever design and strong collaboration!

 

 

6. Looking Ahead: Living the Values

Training week was more than skill-building—it was a shared journey of living our values. As the new year begins, teachers stand ready to embody Responsibility, Care, Respect, and Collaboration, offering students not just knowledge, but role models for growth.