Written by the DVGS Editorial Team
Photos by Erica Lai (Class of 2024) and Abigail Gong (Class of 2023)

The crisp sound of the bell, the jingle of keychains on backpacks, and the shuffle of excited footsteps — the return of these familiar sounds marked the official start of the 2022 – 2023 IGDVS school year.

Cheerful chatter and greetings of “How was your summer?” filled the air as the students lined up for a COVID antigen test. While precautions including masks, air purifiers, and regular testing were in place, there was a piece of good news: the elementary and high schoolers could finally come together, as was customary pre-pandemic, for the morning flag ceremony.

After an enthusiastic flag ceremony, the high school students gathered for icebreakers and team-building games on the soccer field. Creating class handshakes and playing whiteboard Pictionary were two of the highlights, but engaging rounds of “The Great Wind Blows” also brought laughter and helped everyone get to know each other better.

Concluding a morning of fun, the students lined up for meal offering at Wonderful Words Hall, followed by a scrumptious lunch prepared by the hard-working kitchen staff.

The first week of school went by smoothly and joyously, as the students reunited with their teachers and began their studies after the refreshing summer break.

Special thanks to Jin Jr Shr, all the teachers, and the kitchen staff for their dedication and efforts!