DBIS News 
Keep up to date with what's happening in the school with our fortnightly newsletter.
Our most recent newsletter
Dear Parents
Secondary School Update: As part of the Year 7 and 8 Outdoor Education Programme, our students were involved in three activities in and outside Discovery Bay last Wednesday. Group 1 spent the afternoon in Pui O learning to kayak and surf, group 2 were on an orienteering course and group 3 were developing their tennis skills at the Residents Club. Our students are preparing themselves for their field trip to Thailand. This will take place from 27 November to 4 December. Over the next few weeks they will be investigating river systems in Thailand, studying Thai folk stories and culture as well as learning a few Thai phrases. Our Year 7 waiting list for the academic year 2010-11 continues to grow, with 45 names currently recorded.
International Food Fair: Preparations continue in real detail for our fabulous 21st International Food Fair.
Major Raffle: The total prize value for this year’s raffle will exceed $80,000. Raffle books were sent home yesterday with each student. Tickets are $20.00 each or $200.00 for a full book. Please return the ticket stubs with the money, along with any unsold tickets, to your child’s teacher before 12 November. Tickets will continue to be sold at school up to and on part of our International Food Fair day. The draw will take place on the afternoon of our Food Fair.
Food Stalls: Thank you to all of our superb volunteers – we will be offering 17 Food Stalls this year with all sites being used.
Commercial Stalls: We will once again have a very full range of inviting and tempting Commercial Stalls this year. More details to follow in our next Newsletter.
Library Book Stall: A reminder if you have any books that you would like to donate for the Library Book Stall, please bring them to the library at our Kindergarten or to our library on the first floor of the Discovery Centre at our Primary / Secondary School.
Diwali: Thank you to everyone involved in our Diwali celebrations last week. The wonderfully colourful dress by so many looked amazing.
Congratulations: Special congratulations to our wonderful music teacher Mrs Jayne Gonzales (nee Shadbolt) who married Mr Mike Gonzales last Saturday at their wedding held in Christchurch. Flowers and a card were sent from our Discovery Bay International School community. Jayne Gonzales will back with us next Monday.
Missing Property: Generally, the protection and care of property at our School is a given. Unfortunately on some occasions, property does go missing from student bags and from the classroom. We have also had situations recently where scooters and a guitar have been taken from School. The scooters were named. The guitar wasn’t named (it is a medium size red Toyama guitar in a soft black case).
Small items can go undetected at home if they arrive inadvertently. Larger items like scooters and a guitar don’t simply turn up and remain invisible around the house. To add to the protective measures relating to school and student property, could you please check from time to time to see if items have turned up where they don’t necessarily belong.
Education Bureau Statistics: We have been directed by the Education Bureau to collect information on each student concerning visa status and ethnicity. The definitions or descriptors noted on the form in the Ethnicity section have been required by the Education Bureau to be copied directly. I realise that you will be most disappointed with the terms used and confused in some instances as to which ethnic group you will record. Please understand that our school is the messenger in this process and that we are required to supply the data on every student enrolled at our school. Your anticipated assistance in completing this form is hugely appreciated.
Cooler Weather Uniform: Cooler Weather Uniform items are now available in the Uniform Shop located on our Primary / Secondary School campus. Please refer to our website for a full list of available uniform items.
Dogs at School: Dogs are not permitted in our Kindergarten or School grounds at any time. I ask that you don’t bring your dog to Kindergarten or School when accompanying your child to or from School and when dropping off lunches. If you or your helper has to bring your dog to Kindergarten or School, please ensure that it is tied up safely outside the grounds and well away from the access gates. Dogs are not to be tied up near the classrooms at any time. Thank you for your help with this health and safety issue, as well as reducing the disruption to classes prior to lunch time and the end of our School day.
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.
“The Age of Stupid”: You are warmly invited to an exclusive showing and discussion of the blockbusting film titled “The Age of Stupid”. This animated film is a drama / documentary starring Pete Postlethwaite as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching archive footage from 2008 and asking: Why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance? The film will be shown in the Discovery Bay International School’s Globe Theatre (what was the hall) on Wednesday 11 November, starting at 7:30 pm. Admission is free – please bring a cushion.
Friday Night Flick Night: Discovery College is holding a Friday Night Flick Night on 6 November in the Discovery College Performing Arts Theatre – all children are welcome. There will be two screenings:
Kung Fu Panda starts at 4:45 pm and ends at 6:40 pm (children under the age of 6 must be accompanied by parents). Admission is $40.00.
Pirates of the Carribean – The Curse of the Black Pearl starts at 7:00 pm and ends at 9:15 pm (this is a PG 13 rated movie and is intended for secondary students and above). Admission is $40.00.
Refreshments will be available but food and drink are not permitted in the theater.
Cutting Edge at Club Siena – Diamonds and Wine knowledge based seminars: Organised by Nilesh Jhaveri in conjunction with the International Gemological Institute and Annabel Jackson, wine and food consultant and author of nine books. Thursday 5, 12, 19, 26 November from 7:00-9:00 pm in the Club Siena function room.
