About Us

This week in Primary has been bustling with activities, including Year 6 camp, House Challenges, and Odd Sock Day! On Wednesday, we took the time to recognise and celebrate our unique qualities while embracing our diverse community. The students made pledges to be upstanders every day, committing to spreading kindness and standing up against bullying.

Our Primary assembly was a wonderful occasion, led by our student ambassadors, during which we showcased the talents of two young performers. It was heartwarming to see everyone cheering each other on during Odd Sock Day, demonstrating our spirit of encouragement, inclusion, and support. This week, we reinforced our commitment to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment in Primary!

Enrolment for Term 2 CCAs will open at 10 am on Friday, 21 November. Please complete your enrolment by 10am Friday, 5 December.

The CCA Handbook 2025-26 contains an overview of the CCAs for this academic year. In the handbook, you will find our CCA calendar, a schedule for each year group and enrolment instructions. 

Co-curricular activities that will open for enrolment are:

• Primary Cobra Sports 

• General CCAs

• Student-led CCAs 

*Secondary Cobra Sports are now on Ding! for students to enrol for Season 2.

Term 2 CCA dates:         

Monday, 12 January 2026 - CCAs commence 

Friday, 20 March 2026 - CCAs end

To enrol into activities:

• For Primary students, parents complete enrolment directly via the Ding VLE found in the ESF Parent App.
• For Secondary, students select activity enrolment in Ding! and parents are required to "approve" their child’s enrolment in the Ding VLE found in the ESF Parent App. 

A guide to Ding! VLE (virtual learning environment) for enrolment is available here.

**IMPORTANT** Enroling for a CCA does not guarantee a place in the activity. The status "Allocated" next to an activity name only acknowledges your application; it is not a confirmation of an available place in the CCA.

Students who are enroled and accepted into a CCA will receive acceptance confirmation from the CCA Team. Due to the high demand for CCAs, we ask for your patience while waiting for a response. Enrolment will remain open for activities which have availability throughout the term.

The purpose of the Discovery College Council is to help the College provide the best possible education for its students. Council members undertake their roles on a voluntary basis and are prepared to share their knowledge, skills and experience for the good of the College as a whole. The guidance offered and decisions made form part of the framework within which our teachers work.

We write to give notice of the election of a Parent Member to a vacancy on the Discovery College Council. This vacancy arises because the previous member, Pushkar Sane, has finished his final term on Council. He has served with distinction over many years and we extend our thanks to him for all his contributions.

The term of office of School Council members is three years. Any parent of a student attending Discovery College, who is not an employee of ESF, is eligible to stand for election to the School Council.

Should you wish to nominate yourself for election, please complete the nomination form, which is downloadable here. You are invited to prepare a brief personal statement (no more than 300 words) setting out your relevant experience and stating what you would hope to contribute to the Council and the College (download the personal statement form here). A copy of any personal statement received will be sent to all parents of students attending Discovery College in the event that an election is needed (see below). Please note that all personal data received will be processed only as necessary and in accordance with ESF’s personal data handling policy available on the ESF website. Completed nomination forms, together with the optional personal statement, should be scanned and emailed to karen.shum@dc.edu.hk, or a physical copy handed into College Reception in a sealed envelope marked for the attention of Karen Shum. The last date for the receipt of nomination forms and optional personal statement is Monday, 24 November 2025. 

In the event that two or more nominations are received, an election will be held - in this eventuality, details of how to participate will be shared with all parents in due course. If one nomination is received, the need for an election will be dispensed with and the candidate will be elected unopposed.

For an informal discussion about what being a member of the College Council involves, parents are welcome to contact the Principal via chloe.pollack@dc.edu.hk.

From Wednesday, 5 November to Friday, 7 November the Year 4 students embarked on their No Boundaries trip which was based at the Jockey Club Holiday Camp in Tai Tong. Over the course of the 3 day, 2 night camp the students took part in a range of experiences from tree climbing and archery to kayaking and bush craft. 

After each long day of activities the students had dinner in the cafeteria, some lower key evening challenges and then settled down into their dorms for lights out at 8:30pm. It was great to see the Year 4 students approach all the activities with such positive attitudes and open minds as well as making new friendships and developing their independence along the way. 

As the flu season approaches, it is important for schools, parents, and students to be aware of the risks associated with influenza. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It spreads easily through coughs, sneezes, and close contact with infected individuals. During peak seasons, schools can become hotspots for transmission, making it crucial for everyone to take preventive measures.

In the school environment, students are in close proximity, which increases the likelihood of flu outbreaks. Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue. While most healthy children recover without complications, some may develop serious illnesses, especially those with underlying health conditions. To minimise the risk, we encourage good hygiene practices such as regular handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and maintaining a clean environment.

The Hong Kong Department of Health recommends that children, school staff, and family members receive a flu vaccination every year. This helps reduce the severity of the illness and prevents the flu from spreading easily. Our school has participated in vaccination programs to help protect our students and staff. Additionally, students who show any signs of the flu, such as a fever, cough, or sore throat, should stay home to avoid passing the virus to others. As per school medical guidelines, If a student has shown signs of being unwell, has vomited or had diarrhea symptoms twice or more within 24 hours, or has had a tympanic temperature of 38.0 ºC or higher, the student should remain at home for two full days after the symptoms subside.

For detailed information regarding our medical guidelines, please refer here.

By working together, schools, parents, and students can help reduce the impact of influenza this season. Promoting good hygiene, encouraging vaccination, and staying vigilant about symptoms are key steps in safeguarding everyone’s health. Let's stay informed and proactive to ensure a safe and healthy school environment for all.

Please read here for more detailed information regarding Seasonal influenza.

Last Friday, Year 1 went on their first ever field trip! 

This term, Year 1 is inquiring into structures for our ‘How the World Works’ unit. We went on a walk to the North Plaza to investigate types of structures, their functions and their designs. We enjoyed observing form and talking to our classmates about how the structures may have been designed to make them strong, safe and beautiful. 

Then on Tuesday, students had an absolutely fantastic time meeting a real-life engineering mentor! We were so lucky to welcome Professor Naeem Hussain, a brilliant engineer who designs enormous, famous bridges all over the globe!

He showed us amazing pictures of his work, like the Hong Kong-Macau-Shenzhen bridge and the giant, curved Queensferry Crossing in Scotland. 

This special visit brought our classroom learning to life, helping our youngest inquirers explore our big idea: Structures are designed for a variety of purposes. They saw how:

• There are so many different types of bridges.
• Building them is a careful, step-by-step process.
• The design changes depending on what the bridge needs to do.

It was so inspiring to see our students ask such thoughtful questions. They even had the chance to become engineers themselves, building and testing their own fantastic bridges using recycled materials!

Thank you to all our parent helpers for your support and enthusiasm.

Over the next few weeks all secondary students will be completing a counselling screening. This screening includes questions that specifically inquire about school belonging, symptoms of worry or anxiety, and symptoms of low mood or depression. The survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Students’ responses will help us identify individuals who need particular support and target appropriate prevention strategies for the whole student population. 

Students will take the screening at a convenient time between the 17 - 28 November. 

Members of the student support team, Zara Pugh (student counsellor), Kyo Wong (social worker), and Ellie Fong (social worker) will follow up with students who indicate in the survey that they would like support, or whose responses indicate that support may be helpful. We may also follow up with parents/guardians.

We encourage adults at home to talk with their child/ren about their wellbeing and mental health. This screener can be a way to start that conversation. It can be helpful to ask directly how they’re feeling, identifying if you’ve noticed any shifts in mood or behaviour. You can mention the counselling screening and ask if they had any reaction to it in a supportive and non-judgmental tone. It can be helpful to note that struggles can be context-driven, and given school stress and any number of life events, it would make sense to need support sometimes. You can also frame seeking support or help in a metaphor. For example, if you broke your arm, you would probably visit a doctor and receive approved medical treatment to let it heal over time. Similarly, your brain controls feelings, thoughts, and behaviours, and sometimes you need to seek known treatments from trained professionals to work towards balance and healing.

If you have any questions or comments about the screening or student support services at school, please visit our website and feel free to contact us directly. 

Get ready for Family Fun Day!

Tickets go on sale from 24 November to 5 December.(8:00 - 8:30am at the school entrance). Don’t miss out on this chance to purchase tickets early and join us for a day of activities, and community spirit on 6 December.

Please note: Only Octopus payments are accepted.

We’re excited to share that due to its immense popularity, we will be bringing back "Sponge the Teacher" again at this year’s DC PTA Family Fun Day! This time, we’ve extended the event to give everyone an opportunity to get involved.

Join us on 6 December between 1:00 - 2:30pm for some fun, splashes and laughter. It’s a great way to support our teachers and enjoy a memorable day with the community!

We were thrilled to welcome parents to our recent information session led by Mrs Garnett, Deputy Head of Secondary. She shared valuable insights into the vibrant community at Discovery College, highlighting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and engaging educational environment. Families had the opportunity to learn more about our curriculum, extracurricular activities, and the support systems in place to ensure every student thrives.

Adding a personal touch, two of our students took the stage to share their unique experiences at Discovery College. Their perspectives provided prospective parents with an authentic glimpse into life at DC, showcasing our school's culture of collaboration, creativity, and growth.

We're grateful for their contributions and look forward to community building as we continue to inspire and support our new students in 2026/27!