DBIS News

June Update

Dear Parents

Art Exhibition:  Thank you to everyone who visited our wonderful Art Exhibition held over Wednesday and Thursday evenings this week.  Once again our annual Art Exhibition has been even better than before with fabulous works of art works on display.   Our Kindergarten and Primary students created such colourful and vibrant work which was displayed superbly for all to admire.

Thank you for taking the time to call in and share the enjoyment of our student’s artistic efforts.  Thank you to all of our artists and their respective teachers for putting the content together.  Thank you in particular to Tracey Smal for your very special touches in leading and coordinating our best ever Art Exhibition.

Year 3 Production – Jungle Book 2:  We were treated to another of our wonderful Year 3 production last week.  Nearly 120 students kept us thoroughly entertained through an evening of song, dance and beautifully delivered lines.  It is always amazing to see these shows come together in such a relatively short space of time.  There are high expectations set for every student, and everyone rose superbly to the occasion on both evenings. 

Thank you so much to all of the combined efforts of so many parents who give so generously of your time to assist with the back drop touch ups, the set, props, costumes and make up.  You all make such a difference to our productions.  Thank you to all of our staff who assisted with the choreography, lighting and various technical elements.  Thank you also to Liz Tait for your script writing.  Thank you once again to our superbly talented music department: Ben Walker, Tanya Balke and Vincent Bradley.  The singing was delightful and your accompaniment was perfect.

Finally, a big thank you to Tracey Edwards, Linda Roxborough, Jo Pache, Emma Purday and Stephanie Ryan for your direction and production work, culminating in quality entertainment from our young performers.

Beijing Netball and Rugby Tournament:  We had a very successful trip away to a sports tournament held at Dulwich College in Beijing last week.  Our U11 rugby team played superbly and returned with the cup as the overall winners of the rugby tournament.  Our U15’s netball team also played with great skill and success, returning with the Shield.  Our U11’s netballers also worked extremely hard and returned with a trophy for third place overall.  

Our students were a credit to all – their behaviour was exemplary, their drive and determination a pleasure to see and their team spirit a delight. A special thanks goes to Jarrod Dunn and Kris Metcalfe for their coaching of our rugby boys, to Susanne Chambers for her coaching of our Secondary netballers and to Fran Walden and Kate Basford for their coaching of our Year 6 netball girls.  Thank you also to Anna Shere - the organisation was just superb and your leadership appreciated by everyone involved – thank you and well done!

Uniform Shop:  The uniform shop will be closed from 21 June 2011 and will reopen on 15 August, at the following special opening dates and times:

Special opening hours:          

August 15 - 19                       9:00 am – 1:00

August 22                 8:15 am – 11:00 am                                                                                                                            

With effect from 23 August, the Uniform Shop will resume its normal operating hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:15 am to 11:00 am.

Advance School Uniform Orders:  We suggest that you take advantage of our ordering system.  Please fill in our attached order form and return it with a cheque payment to either the Kindergarten or Primary / Secondary School office.  Orders can be collected from 17 - 19 August at the uniform shop. 

School Nurses - Information: From time to time we will share health and safety tips and product overviews with you that may be of interest.   Sea Band – is wristband that works by using acupressure to alleviate feelings of nausea. The bands can be worn before and during travelling, and are helpful for other types of nausea.  They are completely natural, have no side effects, are reusable and washable.  They can be purchased from Watsons.

Uniform update: we have made some minor adjustments to our Kindergarten and Primary School uniform for next year, focusing on fit and warmth.  Our upgraded fleeces will have a light lining in them to allow them to breath better and to add further warmth when needed.  We will also be adding a further item to our uniform list, a hooded sweatshirt.  This is an optional item.

Our Secondary PE uniform has had a makeover with the use of a more breathable fabric and a style that our students have selected.  Our girls have requested a standard collar on their day wear shirts, this will also be available next year.  A transition will be in place for 18 months during which time the existing or remodelled uniform versions may be worn. Secondary will also have a hooded sweatshirt added to their uniform provision.  The hooded sweatshirt is an optional item.

The 2nd Great DBIS Uniform Trade Off:  Following on from the success of our last Great Uniform Trade Off we will be holding another Trade Off on Thursday 16 June at 8:00 am.  Please bring any out grown Kindergarten, Primary or Secondary uniform items in to the school office between 10 and 15 June.  We will then sort them by size and item to make them available for the Trade Off on 16 June.  This is a great opportunity for you to pass on any outgrown items and to collect items for the coming school year.   Please see the attached flier for further details.

Kindergarten News:  Last Friday saw the Kindergarten awash with water, bubbles and shaving foam when the Nursery Students held their Water Fun Day.  It was a fabulous morning of utter enjoyment and it was no mean feat that all 100 students went home in the right clothes after changing for the event! Reception students will be having their own Water Fun Day next Thursday 16 June. 

This week we welcomed our new intake of Nursery students to their first Play date at Kindergarten. Of course many of them thought that they were coming to start straight away, but they will in fact begin their induction mornings in the week beginning 22 August.  Exciting, but patient times for all those involved!

Reception students have begun a series of transition activities in preparation for the move to Year 1.  Next week, on Tuesday 14, the Reception students will have a welcome assembly at the Globe with Mr Ramsay and will be visiting the Year 1 teachers and classes.  Please bring your child to the Primary School covered area outside the Year 1 classrooms at 9:00 am on the day.  The Reception teachers will be ready to greet them there for registration. 

Nursery will have their own transition visits to Reception over the coming two weeks, visiting the first floor classrooms and listening to stories with the Reception Teachers. 

Year 6 Graduation Ceremony:  Please remember that our Year 6 Graduation Ceremony starts at 12:45 pm on Friday 24 June.  It is important to have everyone (Year 5 and Year 6 students, staff and parents of Year 6 students) seated before 12:45 pm.

Reports:  The end of year Reception through Year 9 reports for will be sent home on Friday 24 June along with your child’s class list for next year.  The finalised class lists for our 2011 / 2012 Reception classes will be sent home on this date as well.

End of Term:  Our end of term is closing in quickly – Friday 24 June.  All Kindergarten classes, including Starlight, will start at 9:00 am on our last day and conclude at 12:00 pm.  All Primary and Secondary classes will start at their usual times.  All classes will finish for the day, just prior to 1:45 pm so that they can participate in the clapping out and bell ringing by our graduating Year 6 students.

DBIS Summer Programme:  Our Summer School programme will be up and running again for the 2011 Summer break. We have a range of courses available throughout the first four weeks of the Summer break to help keep your children entertained and to provide some great learning opportunities.  Our courses feature small class numbers, individualised instruction and a relaxed learning atmosphere. Our Summer School programme will provide your child with an opportunity to try out new things, develop their skills and areas of interest and to add some further fun and variety to their holiday break.  More information and an application form can be found on our website by clicking here.

Upcoming Events

Friday 10 June Rock Band Performance in The Globe at 1:00 pm

Saturday 11 June CBS Aquathon

Wednesday 15 June Year 6 science fair at 6:30 pm

                Year 3 Open Morning

Thursday 16 June Secondary School Transition Evening

                Uniform Trade Off at 8:00 am

                Year 1 Open Morning

                Reception water fun day

Friday 17 June Swimming Gala - Years 5 & 6

                Reception water fun day back up

                Rounders tournament

Monday 20 June Secondary Awards Ceremony at 8:45 am

Tuesday 21 June        Primary Awards Ceremony - (Years 3 - 6) at 8:45 am

Wednesday 22 June Reception Pirate Day

                Year 6 quiz night

Friday 24 June Year 6 graduation ceremony at 12:30 pm

                End of Term 3

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.

FRIENDS Resiliency Building Program: Due to popular demand, we are excited to be able to offer the FRIENDS Resiliency Building Program at DBIS in September 2011.  Based on over 15+ years of research, the program works on developing a child's self-esteem, social skills and problem-solving skills through this comprehensive evidence-based program delivered over 12 sessions.  Groups are limited to a maximum of 10 participants with 2 to 3 trained Facilitators per group (minimum 1:5 ratio).  More information on FRIENDS is available at : http://www.friendsprogram.com.hk or by calling 3552 3012.  An information session on the FRIENDS Program will be held at DBIS on Tuesday, 14  June at 6:30pm.  Please email : if you would like to attend.

Fundraising Charity Book Sale:  More than 1,000 children lost their parents in the recent Japanese tsunamis and earthquakes. We are selling donated books and cards to raise funds for the Ashinaga Ikueikai in Japan. This organisation will support these orphans and their education until they reach adulthood.   A Book Sale will be held at DBIS on 10, 13 June at the Kindergarten and on 14 and 15 June at the Primary School, before school starts and after school finishes.

PALS Day: On Sunday 12th July, the animal society PALS (Protection of Animals Lantau South) will be holding another of its successful animal adoption days at the Gazebo of the DBIS car park.  The event runs from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm and gives you a chance to meet some of their animals and to decide whether you could offer a permanent or temporary home to one of them. See you there!

Raising Responsible Teenagers age 9 years+:  Misan McFarland, a qualified Social Worker and trained parenting practitioner will be holding a 90 minute Triple P Workshop on 18 June 2011 at 10.15am at Siena Club, Discovery Bay.  This positive parenting workshop will help parents to have a more positive family life and promote healthy family relationships.  To register, email  or phone Misan on 6500 0943.

Ivey’s Summer Business Program:  Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario is recognized, alongside the Harvard Business school, as one of the top case method schools in the world. This summer, Ivey is pleased to offer a business fundamentals program for university-bound, high school students at its Hong Kong campus.

Ivey’s Summer Business Program, taught by faculty from Canada, allows students to learn business fundamentals in finance, marketing, organizational behaviour and general management. The course is delivered using Ivey's renowned case method, which challenges students to learn by doing, within an active class environment.  Please visit our website for more information and contact Amanda Tung for any inquiries: http://www.ivey.com.hk/summer-business-program/index.html 

BodyTalk:  BodyTalk Hong Kong will be running Access Seminars for children this July.   Children aged 10-18 years will learn simple techniques to allow them to look after many of their own health needs.  BodyTalk is a safe, non-invasive, and drug-free solution to improve your family's health including: strengthening the immune system against viruses, bacteria, parasites, allergies and   intolerances; enhancing focus and memory; improving sleep and relaxation; responding to small emergencies by learning ‘fast aid’; reducing sports stress and anxiety; strengthening posture, alignment and overall health.

Workshops will take place on July 12th from 3-6pm at Om Yoga in Central, and July 18th from 3-6pm at BMSE in Discovery Bay.  Register online at http://www.bodytalksystem.com.hk, email or call Angie Tourani on (852) 6683 5755

Apron Strings Junior Master Chef cookery program, Term 1, 2011 at DC – with Chef Jo Alani:  While your children learn the art of cooking, each class adds a heap of kitchen safety, a scoop of creativity, a pinch of menu planning, and laughter to taste along with social skills through our hands-on cooking classes.  Jo Alani trained at ‘Leiths School of Food and Wine’ in London, UK and has had an exciting career both in private catering and teaching children and adults the art of cooking. 

Junior Master Chef Classes age 7-10yrs, Wednesdays and Thursdays 4-5.30pm, starting on Aug 24th 2011 Junior Master Chef Classes age 11+yrs, Tuesdays 5- 6.30pm, starting on Aug 23rd, 2011. Summer Holiday Cookery Class program available now.  Contact Jo at or ph: 9735 5724 for more info and booking details. 

Beach Cleanup Sunday June 12th:  June 8th was World Ocean Day and to mark this day DB Green is holding a beach cleanup this Sunday June 12th at Nim Shue Wan Beach.  Please come & show your support & help us to make a difference in cleaning up our local beaches.  There is only going to be a healthy ocean ecosystem if we do something positive about it now.   DB Green with the support of Hemingways will be offering a free sausage sizzle to all participants afterwards.

Time 9:00 am-1;00 pm.  Meeting point Nim Shue Wan Beach (off the road to the Marina Club).  You need to bring a refillable water bottle, shoes, hat & sunscreen.  We will supply gloves & rubbish bags. We hope to see you there!

Mission Hills Summer Camp:  Mission Hills Summer Camp is a platform to enhance self-care ability, intercommunication skills, boost up team spirit and inspire child creativity through numerous exciting activities. This is an invaluable opportunity for your children to widen their social horizon and sharpen their competitive edge. 

Mission Hills 5 Days 4 Nights Summer Camp - For age between 6-14. Our exciting activities includes: professional golf coaching; team building games; obstacle race; pool fun; camp night. The package includes: Summer Camp 5-Day program; dining and camp tee; 4 nights stay at Deluxe Room in Mission Hills Resort • Shenzhen.  Hotline: (86-755) 2802-0888-38102/33333 http://www.missionhillschina.com Mission Hills Hotels & Resorts.