Student Life
Counselling
At DGS, our School Counselling Service is here to support students through the challenges of middle and high school, a time of significant personal growth and change. Our counselor offers a safe space for students to discuss their personal concerns, manage stress, and navigate the transitions that come with these important years. The counselor provides short-term counseling in areas such as social/emotional well-being and mental health, helping students to learn important life skills that are needed to resolve their unique problems. The counselor regularly works with parents, teachers, school administrators, and outside professionals to optimally address the educational, emotional and social needs of DGS students.
Counselling services are available to all students at DGS, and can be accessed at school by visiting the counselling office, through a teacher/advisor, or by directly contacting our counselor via Toddle.
We understand that mental and emotional health is key to academic success, and we are dedicated to helping students and families thrive during this transformative time.
Safeguarding
At DGS, every child’s welfare is paramount. We act to ensure that our students enjoy the right to be protected from abuse and neglect, and to have their welfare safeguarded. We have a responsibility to protect and safeguard children and to advocate for their rights and safety in cases of suspected child abuse. DGS will take all necessary and legal steps to protect the child and provide support for the child and their family.
DGS endorses the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which our host country, Vietnam, is a signatory (20th December, 1990). DGS also follows all applicable Vietnamese laws for child protection.
Centered on transformative growth, it is the mission of DGS to inspire our students to become healthier, more enquiring and more ethical human individuals, with agency over their own lives, who look to change the world for good. In order to fulfill this mission, it is vital that we as a community lead by example and ensure that our child safeguarding systems, practices and policies are being implemented and regularly reviewed.
At DGS, safeguarding policies and procedures encompass: responding to allegations of child abuse/neglect, student wellbeing; bullying; harassment and discrimination; use of physical intervention / safe handling; meeting the individual physical, psychological or medical needs of students; drug and substance misuse; educational visits; relationships, body safety and comprehensive sexuality education; online safety; the welfare of students and learners during school expeditions; and safe staff selection processes.
If an adult or student within the DGS community suspects abuse or neglect of a child, they must report immediately to a member of the Child Safeguarding Response Team.
Our Child Safeguarding Response Team immediately responds to suspected cases of child abuse and neglect, and ensures there is a comprehensive Child Safeguarding Programme in place.
DGS Safeguarding Policy can be found here.
Advisory
Advisory plays a crucial role in the Pastoral care of all DGS students. It is through advisory that students develop relationships with trusted adults; these relationships are leveraged to support students through their academic achievement and social-emotional growth.
More details about the advisory program can be found here.