STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2023 STUDENT WELCOME PACK 2021-2023 Dear Student, A very warm welcome to UWC Atlantic. If it’s any comfort, I know exactly what you are going through. Just a few weeks ago my family and I arrived here from Canada to begin a new chapter in our lives. So as you familiarise yourself with campus life, please be reassured that you’re not alone! We have all become part of an extraordinary community uniting brilliant, deliberately diverse, fertile young minds across 90 nations and cultures to live and learn together in a quest for world peace and sustainability. Come with an open mind and open heart, and be prepared to be challenged and stretched in ways you might never have imagined. At the heart of our new home is our magical 12th Century castle, steeped in Celtic history and where, nearly 60 years ago, the UWC global movement first began. Beyond the Castle there are 122-acres of pasture, valley, woodland and seafront that you now call home. Adventures await! Adventures during which friendships will be forged and transformations experienced that will last the rest of your lives. But please remember that this wonderful opportunity comes with a responsibility; to live by UWC values and to make a positive difference in the world. Keep the following at the forefront of your mind in all you do here: UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. This handbook provides answers to many questions but you’re bound to have more. The staff and second year students are there to help you with WELCOME the answers. In the meantime, please take time to read this booklet paying close attention from Naheed Bardai to the Learning through Residential Life and UWC Atlantic Code of Conduct. Emphasis is placed on the personal responsibility and cultural sensitivity necessary for living in a multi-national community. My wish for you is that you have the time of your lives over the next two years and whatever contribution you go on to make to the world, you’ll never forget how this place inspired you. Naheed Bardai Principal STUDENT WELCOME PACK 2021-2023 Learning through Academics The IB Diploma Programme UWC Atlantic, like all other UWCs, offers the two-year International At UWC Atlantic, you are expected to go beyond the requirements College Information Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The IB Diploma is a of CAS (creativity, Activity, Service). Engage in co-curricular deliberate synthesis of the specialisation required in some national activities, develop your leadership and collaboration skills, and systems and the breadth provided in others. You will take courses participate in meaningful service activities throughout the College from five or six different academic areas for the duration of the and UWC Atlantic community, you willface personal challenges UWC’s Mission, Values and Education Models two years, as well as complete the three core elements. There are and overcome them with action, passion and reflection. different subject choices available within each academic area. Find out more about the IB Diploma at www.ibo.org The academic areas are: • Studies in Language and Literature Along with various enrolment forms, you will receive one especially UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and • Language Acquisition to make your preliminary subject choices. Please complete and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. • Individuals and Societies submit this form as it will help us in our timetable planning. Once you arrive at College you will have the opportunity to receive • Sciences further information in each subject and confirm your choices or UWC believes that to achieve peace and a sustainable • Mathematics • The Arts make changes if needed. future, the values it promotes are crucial. Furthermore, all first year students will take a diagnostic test in • International and intercultural understanding Maths and complete an English writing exercise to assess the • Celebration of difference advised level in these subjects. Subject packages will be finalised • Personal responsibility and integrity with your tutor after the diagnostic results and academic fair • Mutual responsibility and respect have been completed (in the academic fair you meet teachers and see sample work along with resources used by each course). • Compassion and service The three core elements are: • Respect for the environment Individual academic consultations will take place with a guidance • A sense of idealism and university counsellor, the IB Coordinator and your personal 1. Theory of knowledge (TOK), in which you reflect on the tutor to help you finalise your course package. • Personal challenge nature of knowledge and on how we claim to know what • Action and personal example we know Find out more at www.uwc.org 2. The extended essay (EE), which is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000 -word paper 3. Creativity, activity and service (CAS), all three of which you participate in weekly together with a yearly project week STUDENT WELCOME PACK 2021-2023 College Calendar Please note the schedule of College holidays below. We require New students join the College at the end of August. The first term students to have full attendance during the published College ends in the middle of December and a break of three-and-a-half dates. Absences during term time will only be authorised under weeks enables some students to return home, while others may exceptional circumstances; a Leave of Absence Form (LOA) must experience extended hospitality in the homes of their friends. be completed at least 7 days prior to the requested absence. Please do not book any travel prior to submitting the LOA form. Please note that students are not able to be accommodated on Due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, leaving campus may be the College campus during the December break. In cases where allowed only under special circumstances in the 2021/22 students cannot return to their home country during the academic year. Parents and students will be informed about December break, they should arrange alternative accommodation. actual procedures at the beginning of the school year. The second term, which begins in early January, continues until The College calendar is designed to allow us to deliver the full mid-June. UWC educational programme, which puts equal emphasis on curricular and co-curricular activities. Parents and students must understand that the published times and dates of holidays are not negotiable. Travel plans should be arranged within the advertised holiday dates. It is important for parents to plan in advance in order to avoid unauthorised absences. Important Dates for 2021/2023 Monday 30th August All students arrive on campus from 1400 onwards. Buses will be waiting for students at London Heathrow Airport. Further details e-mailed separately. The cost of the transportation will be deducted from the student’s College bank account after arrival. A typical College day Friday 22nd October Autumn long weekend begins after 1400 Sunday 31st October Autumn long weekend ends at 2100 Friday 10th December Last day of Autumn term. Buses will be provided, at cost, to London Heathrow Airport at 2200 This is the structure of our College day: on 10th Dec and at 0800 on 11th Dec. All students must be off campus by 1100 on 11th December. Wednesday 5th January Students may arrive on campus from 1400 onwards. Buses will be waiting for students at London Heathrow Airport. Departing late morning, mid-afternoon and early evening. Lessons start each morning at 08.00 and finish at 13.10. Costs will be deducted from the student’s College bank account. As part of our holistic curriculum, each student is expected to undertake a Thursday 14th April Start of Spring Break at 1400 minimum of 2 hours of community service, 2 hours of physical activity and a further 2 hours of creative activity each week. These sessions take place in the Sunday 24th April End of Spring Break at 2100 afternoons, evenings and weekends. Saturday 21st May Last day for second years. Buses will be provided, at cost, to London Heathrow Airport. Every Monday afternoon there is a tutorial with your tutor following an All second years must leave campus by 2300 assembly or another community gathering, where attendance is mandatory. From Sunday to Thursday check in is at 21.30. On Fridays and Saturdays Friday 17th June Last day for first years. Buses will be provided, at cost, to London Heathrow Airport at 2200 on this is extended to 23.00. 17th June and at 0800 on 18th June. All students must be off campus by 1100 on 18th June. Active participation and full engagement are necessary requirements of a UWC. STUDENT WELCOME PACK 2021-2023 UWC Code of Conduct The UWC Common Code of Conduct is a series of expectations which all students accept in order to join the UWC Atlantic’s community movement and, by association, the UWC Atlantic community. The UWC Code of Conduct is based on the UWC values, which are at the heart of the movement’s mission to make education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. It is UWC Atlantic’s desire that every community member works towards embodying these values. We expect the Code to be observed by all students when in attendance at the College and on College activities. Please sign and send the Behaviour Policy Form which can be downloaded from our website. The policy can be found here. The UWC Common Code of Conduct • Consumption, possession