DBIS News 
Keep up to date with what's happening in the school with our fortnightly newsletter.
Newsletter
Saturday 11 February
11 February 2012
Dear Parents
GREEN WEEK
Thank you all for your support of our Green Week focus in school and around our community. Thank you also to our Green Team at school of Dawn Hulland, Stephanie Ryan and Sarah Sullivan for your planning and organisation for our teachers and students. Don’t forget that our annual Walking Bus will take place this Friday for all Primary and Secondary students.
Staffing: Anna Lovell-Knight completes her time with our school tomorrow as our assistant teacher in art. Thank you to Anna for all of the highly valued work you have carried out with our Primary and Secondary students and for your assistance with our Primary teachers. We all wish you well in your new art school adventure here in Discovery Bay.
School Security: Our school will soon be initiating some of the security measures already outlined over the past year. Once our new Secondary building is open and in use, by the end of this month, the main entrance gates into our Primary and Secondary School will only be open for access to and departure from school by students and parents at the start of the school day, and at the end of the school day. Our school gates will be locked between 8:45 am and 2:45 pm. Please note that our school gates will normally be secured at 7:00 pm each evening and closed over the weekend, unless there is a school event or activity taking place. Please also note that there will be no access through our school grounds, from or too Seabee Lane, between 8:45 am to 2:45 pm and between 7:00 pm and 7:00 am on school days. As noted, these security measures will also be in place throughout the weekend, with our school site open only to groups with official bookings.
We will announce the actual commencement date of these security measures. We will also provide a drop off place for any lunches that are brought to school prior to lunch times. While all visitors will be required to report to our school office, no one will be permitted into school to drop lunches or other equipment off to students. Could you please remind your helpers not to use our student toilets in school at anytime during our school day. Student toilets are for students, cleaning staff and duty staff only.
Thank you all for your understanding and assistance with these increased security measures.
Kindergarten News
Our Kindergarten students are busily involved in Green Week activities, raising their awareness of reducing, reusing and recycling. We will round off the week with our Walk to School from the plaza at 8:55 am tomorrow morning, followed by a performance of a song to you by all of our students. This is a last minute extra to our Green Week programme, but a delightful one for you to enjoy if you are able to take part.
Nursery had a wonderful trip to the North Plaza last week as their entry point to the IPC unit, Shopping. Thank you to all of the parent helpers who came on the day, in particular to Seaside and Sunflower helpers for your flexibility when the bus was late! We simply couldn’t have the trips without your involvement.
Reception are Going Places in IPC and the topic’s exit point is going to involve lots of travelling. More details of the activities will follow, but rest assured we will have them back home in time for tea.
Nursery parents, please remember to sign up for your conference with your child’s class teacher if you are yet to do so. Reception Parent Conferences are next month from Monday 19 to Friday 30 March. The lists of days and times for these conferences will be available early March.
This term is going to be a busy one with Book Week, the Pyjama story-telling evening and Sports Day coming up. Be sure to keep up to date with these fun, learning events via your child’s class website and noticeboards. Jane Hendley - Head of Early Years
Mandarin Studies: Please take a look at our Primary School Mandarin page on our school website for an update on our overview of unit studies for this term and the associated character learning. Kindly be reminded that you can check the page on a regular basis if you wish to revise with your child what he/ she is doing in Mandarin lessons.
Our Mandarin clubs for Term 2 have begun this week. Again, we hope to have a large number of enthusiastic students signing up to join us for each club session. Details of the club dates, year groups and activities are available on our Mandarin webpage. If students are interested in extending their learning in Mandarin, Chinese cultural activities and computer activities, be sure to encourage them to come along. Jackie Tse – Head of Mandarin
Bullying: The overwhelming interactions that take place within and beyond our school, between and amongst our students, are positive, cooperative and considerate. From time to time however, students in schools are subjected to bullying by other students. Our school is no exception in this regard. As you are aware, our school will not tolerate bullying, which can present in a number of ways. All staff in our school look out for signs or actions related to bullying. Action is taken with students, and where it is deemed necessary, parents are contacted. Our Middle and Senior Leaders become involved when warranted. For example, an off hand and silly remark may well be addressed, at the time, by the staff member who is aware of that situation. This situation may not require further intervention. However, a more considered and offensive comment may require additional reinforcement.
All of our students are reminded in class and at assembly times of the damage caused by bullying and the fact that we don’t want it at our school or in our community. When such instances do present, we encourage our students to tell their class teacher, or to see a senior member of staff. Sometimes, students will only share this information at home. In this instance, it is most important that the class teacher and / or a senior member of staff is informed. All reported situations are followed up.
Action and follow up can only occur through the reporting of any school bullying incident. Please be sure to monitor your child’s communications by way of text, email or social media. For our older students, these avenues are enabling opportunities for distasteful bullying through poor choices of language.
Plaza Behaviour: We have received second hand information relating to inappropriate behaviour in and around the Plaza, by students allegedly attending our school. Such behaviours are reported as taking place at night time and on Friday night in particular. Our students have been advised about making the right choices at school and when out in the community.
While we are not responsible for our students outside of school time or school related activities, it is important that I communicate this information to you so that you can be sure to guide your child and monitor their activities accordingly.
Upcoming Events
Thursday 9 February Nursery Parent Conferences Continue
Saturday 11 February Year 7 Thailand Trip - Departure
Sunday 12 February Kai Tak Hockey Tournament
Monday 13 February Y4LO Art Museum
Monday 13 February Year 8, 9 and 10 Week without Walls
Tuesday 14 February Y4RM Art Museum
Wednesday 15 February Y4KW Art Museum
Wednesday 15 February Year 2 Celebration Evening
Wednesday 15 February Athletics Meet
Thursday 16 February Year 2 Celebration Evening
Friday 17 February Nursery Parent Conferences conclude
Friday 17 February Year 7 Thailand Trip - return
Saturday 18 February Shaheen Hockey Tournament
Monday 20 February DBIS Beach Touch Rugby
Tuesday 21 February Year 1 Open Morning
Tuesday 21 February Year 5 Performance Dress Rehearsal
Wednesday 22 February Year 5 Performance Dress Rehearsal
Wednesday 22 February Year 5 Performance Evening
Wednesday 22 February Year 3 Open Morning
Wednesday 22 February Year 6 Geko Maths competition
Wednesday 22 February Basketball Competition
Thursday 23 February Year 5 Performance Evening
Monday 27 February Year 2 Hong Kong Park Trip
Tuesday 28 February Year 2 Hong Kong Park Trip
Kind regards
Grant Ramsay
