DBIS News

Take a moment for an update

Dear Parents

Parent Contact: Your understanding is sought in reminding all parents with students at our school that you do not have any right to confront other students at school, or outside of school, concerning their known or perceived behaviour at school.  There are accepted protocols to follow if you have a concern about another student at our school.  Just as is the case with your own child, you should make your concern known to either the class teacher involved, the associated Year Group Leader, one of our Deputy Principals or me.  Should any follow up action be deemed necessary, it will be coordinated by staff members.

Please note that school staff members don’t get involved in any incidents that involve our school students, that occur outside of school time.  If an incident occurs outside of school time, that is of concern to you as a parent, you need to communicate with the parent of the child accordingly.

Public Holiday – School Closure:  A quick reminder that our Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary Schools will be closed for instruction tomorrow due to the Tuen Hg public holiday in Hong Kong.  Best wishes to all Dragon Boaters!

Human Swine Flu (Influenza A / H1N1):  We continue to be taking all reasonable steps to prevent viral infections at school and staff members are reminding our students regularly about the need for careful hygiene practices.  The Education Bureau remains in direct and very regular contact with schools in Hong Kong.  As you may be aware, we now have our sixth confirmed case of H1N1 in Hong Kong.  The latest cases are people returning on flights from the United States.  In one case, it was a traveller who was seated three rows from another confirmed case, a person travelling to Taiwan.  This student returning to Hong Kong did not have reported symptoms on the flight.  

The Education Bureau is warning all schools to remind parents regarding the susceptibility of younger children and that all care must be taken in overseas travel, notably at this stage through North America.  They have asked schools to communicate the following message to parents:

Students studying abroad, particularly in countries and areas affected by H1N1, are at risk of contracting the disease. 

Exercise good personal hygiene and adopt preventive measures while overseas.  Those in affected areas should especially: 

• pay attention to announcements from the local government; 

• follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and preventive recommendations; and 

• do not have contact with sick people. 

If students show influenza like symptoms, such as fever, cough and sore throat, they should seek medical attention locally and immediately.  Wear a mask and seek medical attention immediately.  To protect their own safety and for the health of others, they should not travel. 

Should they develop symptoms while on board, notify the crew immediately and put on a mask.  The crew will in turn follow established procedures and alert ground control and port health authorities.  The port health team will board the flight to assess and follow up on landing.  After landing, they should accurately and honestly complete the health declaration form and present themselves to the port health post stationed at international border crossings.  No one should attempt to suppress a fever by medication and other means in order to evade the infrared thermoscanner.  Pay close attention to their health and wear a mask for 7 days after arrival.  

They should seek medical consultation from public clinics or hospitals and contact the Department of Health hotline 2125 1111 immediately if fever or influenza like symptoms appear. 

In addition, you are reminded to continue temperature checking for children.  Students who develop fever or influenza like illness should seek medical advice early and they are strongly advised not to attend school until 48 hours after the fever has subsided.

The Education Bureau is also warning that if a local H1N1 case occurs (ie no identifiable link to personal travel or to a secondary infection through another in bound traveller), the Government may consider closing all Kindergartens and Primary Schools for up to 14 days.

Clearing the Car Park:  Between 8:40 am and 9:10 am on this Friday morning, we have two year groups leaving our school by bus.  This will mean that we will have five buses through our car park in front of our school during this period.  In order to assist in the safety needs of our students, staff and parents, we need your assistance in clearing the car park area as quickly as possible.  Could you please limit the use of the car park on Friday morning to drop students off at school.  If you need to come into school, could you please park your golf cart elsewhere.  Your cooperation is hugely appreciated – thank you in advance.

The parking of golf carts has been a concern from time to time for many years.  Parking can also work well.  If you need to bring your golf cart to school, please park clear of the entrance way and also ensure that there is clear vehicle access from Discovery Bay Road right into our school. This must be clear at all times for emergency and school related access.

Summer School Programme:  Our School is pleased to announce the launch of our Summer School Programme.  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 new learning opportunities.  Our courses feature small class numbers (maximum of 15 students) and individualised instruction in a relaxed learning atmosphere.  Our Summer School programme will provide your children with an opportunity to try out new activities, develop their skills and areas of interest and add some further fun and variety to their holiday break.

For further information regarding courses, dates, times, costs and application processes please take a look at our brochure:   Summer School Brochure

Friends of the School:  We will be having another Friends of the School meeting soon to begin putting a team together for our International Food Fair.  The Food Fair, which is the Friends of the School’s next planned event, will be held in November and we will need to have the organising group established well before that time.

Art Exhibition:  Our Art Exhibition is nearly ready to go.  Following up on the hugely popular demand last year, this year we will be holding the Art Exhibition over two days on Wednesday 3 June and Thursday 4 June, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on both evenings.  Art works by our students from Kindergarten to Year 7 will be on display.  Refreshments and finger food will also be available.  We look forward to seeing you next week.

Congratulations to Our School Staff:  Thank you to all of our amazing school staff in your efforts with our charity fund raising event held last Friday afternoon.  As indicated in an earlier newsletter, one of our very special teachers, Ms Hannah Brooks, is battling triple negative breast cancer.  Members of our staff decided that a charity Promise Auction would take place to raise funds for further research into triple negative breast cancer.

Thank you to Laura Self and her team of amazing helpers for staging this event.  As a result of the donations by our staff, just over $40,000 has been raised.

Cricket Tournament: Discovery Bay International took a fine team of cricketers to a tournament at KG5 on the 20-5-09.  It was an excellent day, slightly overcast but warm.  We began the day with a strong batting line up, which on the smaller ground enabled our hitters - Blaise, James and Callum to hit 6's at will. There were moments of brilliance in the field from Mitchell, Andreas and Maxim which enabled us to keep the scores of the other teams to a minimum.  At times our bowling attack was devastating. Beacon  Hill school felt the full force of Dante and Josh's speed attack and eventually crumbled under the careful guidance of team captain Michael Keating.

Congratulations to our cricket team and thank you to Mr Brett McGregor for all of your coaching and assistance on the day.

Summer Works:  We have various upgrading, repair and renovation works taking place over the summer break.  Our Year 1 classrooms will be refurbished consistent with the work already carried out in sixteen of our current classrooms at the Primary School.  Work will also be carried out to upgrade the paved area under the Primary School courtyard trees.

SATs Testing:  Our Year 6 students have just completed their SATs testing in reading, writing, mathematics and science.  These tests are sent back to the United Kingdom to be marked.  Parents will receive the results by the end of August. 

Uniform Shop Update:  The Uniform Shop will be closed from 19 June and will reopen on 13 August on the following special opening dates and times:

13 – 14 August 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

17 – 21 August 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

With effect from 24 August, the Uniform Shop will resume its normal operating hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:15 am to 11:00 am.

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.

Hong Kong Dyslexia Association http://www.dyslexia.org.hk  June 2009 Meeting:  The talk is open to all, and there is no need to register in advance. Details as follows: 

Visual Perception and Learning Difficulties  

By Tehnaz Ragi SpLD and SEN Specialist Irlen™ (Visual Perceptual Sensitivity) Diagnostician (INT) 

Wednesday June 3rd -  7.00 to 9.00pm LIFE 3-C Fui Nam Building 48-51 Connaught Road (W) (At Sheung Wan MTR take Exit C to Connaught Road Central.  Go left past Western Market. Fui Nam Building is 5 minutes' walk away).