DBIS News

Happy Mid Autumn Festival

Dear Parents

Secondary School Admission – 2011 / 2012:  As indicated in our last newsletter, and in follow up communications with our current Year 6 families, we anticipated that we would fill all 44 spaces from students in our existing Year 6 classes.  At the end of last week, I informed our Year 6 families that all 44 places had been confirmed with the deposits paid.  We are now operating a waiting list, with 23 students on this list.  The waiting list is prioritised by the date of each application to Year 7.

While our school appreciates the support from so many of our Year 6 families, we share the disappointment of many in only having 44 places currently available.  There will inevitably be some changes to the confirmed list of 44 students.  Where spaces do become available, parents on the waiting list will be contacted in prioritised order to have a place offered accordingly.  Please note that our school is not accepting any further deposits for places in Year 7.  Such deposits are only required when there is a space available, noting that the deposit subsequently contributes towards the first two fee instalments due in Year 7.

ESF Secondary School Applications: An important reminder for those Year 6 parents wishing to apply for admission to an ESF secondary school.  Please be reminded that you only have six days left to complete the application process.  The ESF Central Application process commenced on 1 September 2010 and will finish on 30 September 2010.


Please follow this link for general information http://www.esf.edu.hk/admission and this link for the application procedures http://www.esf.edu.hk/node/88.  As always, we will forward any further information received from ESF concerning applications and transition to ESF secondary schools.

International Food Fair:  Please read about the exciting developments in our DBIS International Food Fair Update attached with this newsletter. 

Year 1 Reading and Writing Evening: Our Year 1 Reading and Writing evening will take place this Tuesday, 28 September, covering the following areas:

• How we teach students to read and write.

• How you can help your child at home.

• Home reading books.

• A look at where students will be at the end of Year 1.

Drinks and nibbles will be served in the Boardwalk Café from 6:30 pm.  The presentation will commence promptly at 6:50 pm in the Globe Theatre, with a brief introduction.  After the introduction you will be split into class groups and return to your child’s classroom for a presentation.  This will start at approximately 7:00 pm and will last for approximately 45 minutes.

Parking at Primary / Secondary School:  A review is currently underway involving Discovery Bay City Management (who have oversight for the schools’ parking area), Wei Lun Primary School and our school.  The review has been prompted by concerns raised over the growing number of golf carts using this area, along with buses, hire cars and other vehicles.  We have over 1200 students at both schools sharing this access area at peak times.

Morning congestion is proving to be the most difficult period as both Primary Schools start at similar times.  The afternoon situation is not quite as difficult as we have varied departure times for Wei Lun Primary School, our Primary School and our Secondary School.  A range of suggestions is being considered from restricted parking areas with a drop off only point, through to the car park to only be used by buses and official vehicles.  Our School Advisory Committee will be considering this issue once again at our next meeting.  

In the meantime could all parents using golf carts to transport students to and from school only consider doing so when necessary.  We continue to try and keep our school open for access, however we would ask that when using a golf cart in the morning, to please try to drop off your children at the school curb side and drive out as soon as possible, thus restricting the number of parked golf carts for the time being.  Given the congestion in the morning, could parents please restrict arrival with golf carts until 8:15 am.  This will assist Wei Lun with their start to the day.

The safety of all of our students is of paramount concern – thank you all for your continued assistance in this regard.

Sports training cancellations:  In the event of a thunderstorm warning, all outdoor training sessions will be cancelled.  If it is heavy rain, the coach will try to inform all parents of any cancellations the night before the session.  Students will be informed of any after school cancellations due to bad weather during the day.  Generally, light rain will not affect our sports clubs that train on the pitch.  Thank you - PE Department.

Secondary Netball:  On Wednesday our Year 7 - 9 Netball squad played in their first friendly gane against Discovery College Year 7 - 10 team.  The final score was Discovery College 15 - DBIS 12 (well done to Discovery College).   Our ‘Player of the Match’ was Apple Obenario.  Apple represented DBIS especially well in the final quarter showing excellent court discipline.  All DBIS players showed fine determination against a good opposition of generally older and more experienced players.  Thank you to our captains this week; Cooper Murphy and Ashley Yetsenga.  We are looking forward to our next matches!  Susanne Chambers - PE Department.

Typhoon Signals:  Thank you to our Kindergarten parents for your patience and understanding with the Typhoon signal T3 in place this week.  I appreciate the frustrations of the situation when all appeared calm after the storm, while noting that the signals had been lowered around 8:00 am when morning and full day classes were suspended.

As you are aware, Discovery Bay International School is a private and independent school.  We still come under the authority of the Government’s Education Bureau and we are required to follow their direction.  The Education Bureau carefully considers all safety situations and they have to make decisions for all of Hong Kong.  Our school supports the Education Bureau’s prudent actions in accounting for the safety of all students throughout Hong Kong.

National Day:  A reminder that we have another four day week coming with National Day public holiday next Friday, 1 October.  Our Kindergarten, Primary School and Secondary School will be closed next Friday.

Kind regards

Grant Ramsay

Principal

Community Notices

Disclaimer - The following notices are presented as a community service.  While the content is proofed and generally summarised, it is important to state that the information contained in these Community Notices in no way reflects Discovery Bay International School policy or practices.

Special Discovery Bay Fund Raising Event:  A reminder that there is a very special fundraiser for taking place this Saturday, September 25 at Zaks.  Edwin Stevens, a most amazing young person in our Discovery Bay community, will undergo major surgery; the operation is lengthy and complex and will require him to be in traction for nearly two weeks beforehand.

The operation is not being covered by insurance and as you can imagine, this will be very costly as it having to be done under the private health sector.  Cath and Ian Stevens are valued members of our community whose home, as many of you will know, is always open to anyone in need of friendship and support.  Edwin is an intelligent, brave and very amusing young man who truly makes a difference.  We, a close group of friends of Edwin’s parents have made a decision to take this out of their hands - they have enough to cope with.  We’d really appreciate your support.

If you would like more information please email  A special fundraiser is being held at Zaks from 7:00 pm – Saturday 25 September.  Tickets are $500 per person with entertainment and refreshments provided.

Discovery Bay Angels Football Club (“DBAFC”): DBAFC is the only all girl’s football club in Discovery Bay.  We are now inviting players up to the age of 14 during this season (Sept 2010 through to May 2011).  Accordingly, membership is now open for all girls born between 1 Jan 1997 (year 9’s) and 31 December 2004 (year 2’s).   Although we have limited remaining capacity remaining in each age group, we are particularly looking for girls to join to form an under 14’s team (from girls born in 1997 and 1998).  For more information and registration please visit their website at http://www.dbangelsfc.hk.

DBAFC is a registered club in Hong Kong which is not for profit.  Training is currently held on Sunday mornings at the DBIS school pitch.  Coaches are made up from volunteer parents. Annual fees are HK$500 and there is a one time entrance fee of HK$250 per player that goes towards the cost of their kit.  DBAFC participate in a number of tournaments in Hong Kong and last Sunday we hosted our first competitive fixture against HKIS, at the DBIS school pitch, which was a great success.  We also run the best quiz night in Discovery Bay at Moorings for fund raising purposes, on the first Monday evening of every month, which is open to all and is great fun!

Do HALLOWEEN in Style This Year:  With personalised Trick or Treat Bags, T-shirts and Happy Halloween Labels from Stuck on You.  Help the growing Lost Property pile by ensuring all uniforms and items that go to school are labeled - Stuck on You have name and clothing labels that really do stay stuck.   Visit http://www.stuckonyou.biz or call 2549-2245  (remember we fundraise with Stuck on You so don't forget to mention us when you order)

PENNY SCALLAN are ON SALE:  SAVE 50% on all Backpacks, Large Lunchboxes and Wall Art, and at least 25% discount on all other bags.  Stocks are limited, so bag a bargain before we release these prices to the rest of Hong Kong.  Great for pre-Christmas shopping, and well in time for overseas post.  To qualify for discounts, Visit the office at 8E Mountain View (near corner of Headland Drive) or call Tania 6015-4050.  Working parents are welcome to make a phone order. http://www.pennyscallan.biz