As child safety took center stage under new school policy, DIS ushered in updated regulations and protocols. With a spotlight on welfare, administrators advocate for a more student-safe environment. Admin enacted changes over summer break that include renovations to the campus and digital communication.

Bathrooms now serve teachers and students separately. Students may only access bathrooms on the south side of the main building, the wing closer to the libraries. Teachers must utilize the ones on the north side. Mr. Jolly, head of school, noted that the implementation of this policy originated from fruitful discussions with other international schools in Korea. “We always keep in mind children’s welfare and also their comfort level,” Jolly said.

Teachers expressed their support for the change. “It seemed like it was a good move and a necessary one. It’s an experience that I’ve had when I’ve gone to professional development at other schools,” secondary English teacher Mr. Hinkle said.

Additionally, windows were installed on two large doors that formerly provided no visibility into the rooms. Most notably the presentation hall and dance studio, received the new windows. “Child safeguarding for the 21st century is something that’s growing and growing. So having sort of an open view to every room in the school where children would be meeting for classes or for after school activities or for athletics is just in the school’s best interest for teachers and faculty and staff and students so that everyone’s aware of what’s going on in every room,” Jolly said.

Jolly conceded that some students might want privacy, but precautions trump those concerns, “Maybe at times… if they [students] are in speaking with a counselor or in speaking with an administrator, sometimes there are times where they wish not to be seen by everyone. But I think it’s probably more paramount that students feel safe and they’re in areas where there’s visibility for all.” 

Students are adapting to the changes and offer an alternative perspective. Sophomore Yujun Piao said, “I think if there’s a window we know that somebody…might look into the window even without opening the door fully. So, we might feel more responsible because of the fact that there’s a window. It’s not uncomfortable either. It’s just a tool to make us more responsible and it doesn’t cause any inconvenience.”

Another new policy reforms student-teacher contact and social media. Now, teachers exclusively contact students through Google Chat and move away from Kakao as a platform of communication. Teachers will no longer follow students on social media platforms such as Instagram.

Jolly believes these changes mark a successful step towards a more professional atmosphere. “Not only with Kakao, but also a number of schools worldwide are moving apart from interactions between students and children online because there have been issues that have come up through that,” Jolly said.

These policy changes positively impact the school community. “It’s going to benefit in a lot of ways that are kind of invisible but impactful by keeping kids safe. So, it’s hard to point to exactly what the benefit is because the benefit really is avoiding negative outcomes. So, they are preventative measures,” Mr. Vis, elementary principal, said.

All in all, Mr. Vis hopes to foster a safer community. “We will continue to think about ways we can move forward with child safeguarding here at the school. We have a child safeguarding committee that meets regularly. We’re trying to make sure we continue doing what’s best for kids to keep everybody safe here.” Vis said.

The recent policy shifts at DIS reflect a commitment to foster a belonging environment for the members of the community. While it requires some time to adjust to the new alterations, this highlights the school’s commitment to prioritize safety and well-being.