DBIS News

End of term update

Dear Parents

End of Term Two: Thank you to all of our talented staff for your work throughout a constantly busy and hugely productive term.  Every week has been action packed with events, activities, excursions, tournaments, camps and a host of rewarding challenges.  All of these great experiences have been on top of the quality teaching and learning taking place each day.


We are a private school – there are high expectations on what is provided for and with our students.  Our staff has every reason to feel very proud of what is delivered – individually and collectively, and in turn, achieved by our students!  Thank you all for what you seek to develop with your students, with your colleagues and for your school.

Thank you of course, as always, to all of our parents.  You all contribute so positively in so many ways, whether it is for the work building up to a production, helping with tournaments, supervising groups on trips, attending our many events or whether it is with the constant and wonderful support you extend – you are appreciated in every capacity.

I am continually reminded of the outstanding qualities of all of our students, from Nursery through to Year 7.  As a staff, we are so grateful to our school community for giving us such special students to work, learn and have fun with at school.  The ongoing interactions between our students, and between staff and students of our school are a key strength.  The positive and engaging nature of our students as they present their smiling faces is amazing.

Once again, thank you for giving us the opportunity to share such an important element of your child’s life and development.  Be assured that we appreciate the importance of this responsibility as we all seek to be ‘better than before’.  We look forward to having our students back for another exciting term in two weeks.

Discovery Centre – Official Opening: It has been a great Discovery Centre opening throughout the week – starting with our opening event on Tuesday morning and building with the tours following the opening, through until today.  We have had over 300 parents visiting in the past days – everyone of you so affirming and positive about what you have seen.  While the constant enjoyment of seeing the quality facilities we now have has been expressed, the most significant comments have related to the quality teaching and learning taking place.  Thank you all for finding the time to see our Discovery Centre in action, in full working mode.

Thank you to all of our staff this week for presenting our quality school in action for so many parents.  Thank you to Paula McQuillan for the detailed care and specialist knowledge in designing and overseeing the development and very recent completion of our science laboratory.  A special thank you to Anna Shere from all of your appreciative colleagues for your very specific organisation in not only getting our Discovery Centre ready for the opening, but also for your complete leadership and coordination of the whole Discovery Centre opening.


It has been a demanding few short years to see this set of facilities move from a sketched outline (in the shape of a ship) late in 2005 through the many phases of planning and detailed consideration to reach the near final fit out stage we have now realised.  There are so many people to thank and my apologies if I miss any group:  our School Council for the trust placed in our Facilities Sub Committee and for backing the host of major decisions associated with this project; our Advisory Committee for your feedback and contributions; the past PTA and current Friends of the School for assistance with the ICT fit out costs; our staff for your ongoing input and patience during the design and building; Design Group Consultant architects; Hong Kong Resort for your special assistance through Anthony Tong in project management; KK Ho, Connie Ting and Rose Ting for your management work on site; MECS for their engineering design; Chinney Construction for the building work; our parent community for your patience and support as we developed this project and of course our students for immediately realising the potential of the host of special resources and facilities now available.

Thanks go also to our senior leadership team for all of your direction, consideration and guidance throughout this work.  Finally, I want to thank Julian Wyatt chairman of our Facilities Sub Committee and one of our Deputy Principals, Anna Shere, for all of your work.  There were so many meetings, an amazing number of hours associated with this project.  You skills, guidance and hard work have been outstanding.

Our next major project is already at the planning stage.  We will outline more about this as soon as possible.

Instrumental Lesson Programme:  The DBIS Instrumental Lesson Programme for Year 4, 5 and 6 students is all set to start.  We now have over 70 students about to receive lessons with a wide range of instruments.  Please note that all lessons will take place in our Music Suite practice rooms or in the main music rooms.  Thank you so much to Jayne Shadbolt for your leadership and coordination of this superb addition to our performing arts development.

Bicycles to School:  It is pleasing to see the growing number of students bringing bicycles to school.  We have added two further bicycle stands and we are looking into obtaining a separate scooter stand.  

Until recently, the guidelines in riding bicycles to school have required that only Year 5 and above students are allowed to bring bicycles to school.  However, increasing practice has seen students in Year 1 riding bicycles to school.  Following discussions with our Advisory Committee, the decision has been made to leave the choice and responsibility of riding bicycles to school entirely with parents.  It remains our school’s recommendation that students Year 5 and above ride their bicycles to school.

From the beginning of term three, the decision as to who is allowed to ride a bicycle to school will be left entirely to parents.  The responsibility, regarding road safety, the safety of your child and the operating safety of your child’s bicycle is also left entirely to parents.  Our school will not be responsible for the secure storage of your child’s bicycle and we recommend that your child has a bicycle lock to attach to the bicycle rack.  

Please note that our school strongly recommends that all students riding to school wear a properly fitted and approved bicycle safety helmet.  All cyclists are required to dismount at the roadside entrance to our school and wheel the bicycle to the bicycle racks.  All cyclists are required wheel their bicycles to the roadside or cycle track when departing school.

Year 5 and Year 6 Camp:  We have had a very busy time with two major camps recently.  Our Year 5 classes camped at Cheung Chau and our Year 6 classes camped in tents at Nam Shan.  Both camps were most successful, with students challenged, engaged and having plenty of fun in a wide range of activities.  Everyone arrived back safely, with their equipment and huge smiles.

Thank you as always to our outstanding staff for the care taken and quality of your planning, preparation and organisation.  School camps require a great deal of time and detailed consideration.  The careful supervision of each student is of course paramount.  Thank you on behalf of our students and parents for your extra efforts.

Pie Day Friday:  The Pie Day last week was very successfully organised by our administration staff and our Friends of the School.  Thank you everyone involved and in particular, thank you to our Friends of School parents who assisted with the cooking on Friday.

Lantau Buffalo Association – Donation:  As well as being a wonderful Year 5 show, ‘Hoodwinked’ proved to be a fantastic opportunity for our students to make a valued contribution to a local charity.  By making and selling wind chimes, hats and bookmarks in the rustic market place created under the covered area, Year 5 are proud to announce that they managed to raise a grand total of HK$ 10,085 for the Lantau Buffalo Association.  

This is the largest single donation ever in the Association’s history, so a huge ‘Thank you!’ to all the kind parents who gave generously to the cause.  The money will go towards vets’ fees as they attempt to treat the cows and buffalos that are injured by the feral dogs that roam the island.

School Security:  A reminder that our Primary and Secondary School buildings are now patrolled every night by a member of the Gurkha International (Hong Kong) group.

Best wishes from all of our staff for a very Happy Easter and a most enjoyable time with your children over the term break.

Kind Regards

Grant Ramsay

Principal