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Verse by Verse: Language, Learning, and Poetry in DUCKS
Here at Dulwich College Beijing’s DUCKS (Dulwich College Kindergarten School), writing is an essential part of our curriculum. We believe it is an important lifelong skill that fosters creativity, communication, and self-expression. We want all children to develop a love of language, encouraging children to use writing not just to convey their thoughts but also as a fulfilling outlet to document their creativity and their ideas.
Last month, our DUCKS students experienced poetry beyond traditional methods through the eyes of talented rapper and multi-award-winning poet Mark Grist. Mr Grist led an inspiring assembly and held engaging sessions with each year group.
For our Nursery and Reception children, he shared his delightful story, Rhinos Don’t Cry, emphasising the importance of resilience and the value of expressing emotions. The story’s delightful rhymes and vibrant illustrations captivated our young audience, making the experience both entertaining and meaningful.
In Year 1, Mr Grist introduced Kenning poems, a form of poetry that describes objects or creatures without naming them directly. Meanwhile, Year 2 students explored metaphors, crafting imaginative descriptions of their brains in relation to various emotions.
This immersion into the world of poetry was a memorable experience for all, evidenced by the students’ incredible enthusiasm and engagement. This also served as an inspiration for our students who, in the following week, took part in our DUCKS’ Verses class competition.
Our students have made us proud with their resilience and confidence, as well as their kindness and respect in supporting their peers and being an audience for their classmates. Well done to everyone who learned a poem and took part in this competition!
But the opportunity to stretch their poetic skills doesn’t stop there.
As part of our commitment to fostering creativity, confidence, and student agency through the Worldwise Events Programme, our students were also invited to participate in the EiM Poet of the Year Project — an EiM-wide initiative celebrating language, storytelling, and self-expression.
Led by Mark Grist, the project is a poetry competition that allows students to have their work published in the annual EiM Anthology, a professionally bound collection showcasing student voices from our global community.
This year’s theme, Everyday Superheroes, encourages students to think about real-life heroes such as doctors, firefighters, and parents, rather than fictional characters like Spiderman or Wonder Woman.
Selected students will also have the opportunity to participate in a poetry recital competition, following international Poetry Slam rules, for the title of EiM Poet of the Year 2025. Judged by internationally renowned poets, this competition will showcase the very best of student creativity while bringing our schools together in a celebration of language and performance.
Opportunities like this help provide a strong foundation for our young learners, empowering them to build confidence, expand their language abilities, and cultivate a lasting appreciation for poetry and creative expression.
Last month, our DUCKS students experienced poetry beyond traditional methods through the eyes of talented rapper and multi-award-winning poet Mark Grist. Mr Grist led an inspiring assembly and held engaging sessions with each year group.
For our Nursery and Reception children, he shared his delightful story, Rhinos Don’t Cry, emphasising the importance of resilience and the value of expressing emotions. The story’s delightful rhymes and vibrant illustrations captivated our young audience, making the experience both entertaining and meaningful.
In Year 1, Mr Grist introduced Kenning poems, a form of poetry that describes objects or creatures without naming them directly. Meanwhile, Year 2 students explored metaphors, crafting imaginative descriptions of their brains in relation to various emotions.
This immersion into the world of poetry was a memorable experience for all, evidenced by the students’ incredible enthusiasm and engagement. This also served as an inspiration for our students who, in the following week, took part in our DUCKS’ Verses class competition.
Our students have made us proud with their resilience and confidence, as well as their kindness and respect in supporting their peers and being an audience for their classmates. Well done to everyone who learned a poem and took part in this competition!
But the opportunity to stretch their poetic skills doesn’t stop there.
As part of our commitment to fostering creativity, confidence, and student agency through the Worldwise Events Programme, our students were also invited to participate in the EiM Poet of the Year Project — an EiM-wide initiative celebrating language, storytelling, and self-expression.
Led by Mark Grist, the project is a poetry competition that allows students to have their work published in the annual EiM Anthology, a professionally bound collection showcasing student voices from our global community.
This year’s theme, Everyday Superheroes, encourages students to think about real-life heroes such as doctors, firefighters, and parents, rather than fictional characters like Spiderman or Wonder Woman.
Selected students will also have the opportunity to participate in a poetry recital competition, following international Poetry Slam rules, for the title of EiM Poet of the Year 2025. Judged by internationally renowned poets, this competition will showcase the very best of student creativity while bringing our schools together in a celebration of language and performance.
Opportunities like this help provide a strong foundation for our young learners, empowering them to build confidence, expand their language abilities, and cultivate a lasting appreciation for poetry and creative expression.
