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The Explorer Newsletter

The Explorer Newsletter

Explorer

Library Highlights: Character Parade & Author Visit

Though the Character Parade was rescheduled, it was well worth the wait when it took place on Monday, 16 March. Under a beautiful spring sun, our campus was filled with parents and smiling faces, all gathered to celebrate the incredible creativity of our students. From the imaginative "Mini Bees" in Year 1 and the "Wild" animal costumes inspired by The Wild Robot, to the clever Year 13 depiction of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the level of effort was truly impressive. A special shout out to Mr. Gouk and Mr. Bolton, whose charismatic MCing kept the energy high throughout the morning. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so much fun! We can't wait to see more of the amazing costumes and creations next year!

 

We were also honored to host Carnegie Medal-winning author Tanya Landman on 18 and 19 March. Tanya captivated our Primary students with engaging read-alouds and storytelling sessions. In Secondary school, she shared her fascinating journey toward becoming a published author, discussing the challenges of rewriting the classics and introducing the world of Gothic literature to our Year 9s. It was a wonderful blend of fun and high-level learning that left everyone feeling motivated to pick up a new book!

The Truth Behind the Masks: Y13 IBDP Visual Art Exhibition

Masquerade was a joyful celebration on Wednesday evening, which received well-deserved acclaim. Our students transformed the Senior Student Centre into a contemporary art gallery and made profound explorations of Visual Art. The cohort delivered a masterclass of conceptual depth and moved seamlessly between mediums like fashion, painting, printmaking, video, sculpture, and found objects. The greatest strength was the diversity, where in each exhibit, the artists revealed truth in conversation to viewers, allowing them to look beyond the aesthetic mask and see each particular identity. If you were unable to attend, please enjoy the photographs below and click here for a brief summary of each outstanding exhibition.

 

Masquerade was not only a testament to the resilience and boundless creativity of our graduating artists, but also a reflection of the brilliant work of Secondary Visual Art teacher, Ms Mitchell. For the last two years, Ms. Mitchell’s outstanding guidance has fostered a challenging conversation for each individual, pushing them to inquire further and allowing them to look beyond the mask. Congratulations to Ms Mitchell and the Year 13 Artists!

 

A very special thank you to our Visual Art Technicians, Book and Reysi, for the support of each student over the past two years and of course, during the installation of the show.

Last but not least, on behalf of Discovery College’s Visual Arts Department, thank you to all our supporters within our wonderful community!

DC Celebrates Neurodiversity Week

This week, our campus is buzzing with energy as we embrace the wonderful idea that every brain is wired differently. Just like we have different eye colours or heights, we all have unique ways of thinking, learning, and socialising. 
 
A huge shoutout to the Learning Diversity Team and the Secondary Neurodiversity Club for their incredible leadership in making this week a success, by organising many engaging lunch activities for both Primary and Secondary students, including "Secondary Jeopardy" game and calming Sensory Craft sessions. Have you seen our Neurodiversity Trees at the Foyer, where students were sharing their wishes for a more inclusive world? We invite all parents visiting our school to take a moment to explore these heart-felt student messages.
 
Let’s keep this momentum going and continue to celebrate the brilliant, diverse minds that make our community so special.

DC Hosts HKPSSA Cross Country Championships

This week, Discovery College hosted the HKPSSA Cross Country Championships, welcoming 18 schools from across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon to participate. The event featured primary students aged 8 to 11 and showcased the resilience, stamina, and commitment of our young athletes to long-distance running.

Discovery College students did an excellent job representing our school, and we want to acknowledge the hard work and determination of every student who participated last Saturday. Special congratulations goes to Pratyush from Year 3, who placed third overall in his age category. What an achievement!

Well done to all participants, and we extend our gratitude to the Cross Country coaches (Ms Alflatt, Ms Berry and Mr Smith) and the PE department for dedicating their Saturday morning to this event.

DC Students Lead the Way in Sustainability at the Swap & Shop Fashion Show

Last Friday, DC students hosted an incredible Swap and Shop Fashion show!

Conceived by 4 Year 13 students – Ava, Ally, Maya and Sophie and run by a group of Year 12 students (Amber, Athan, Ashley, Christina, Constance, Lucia and Zak), the project began with a practical idea: reduce waste, share resources and give pre‑loved clothing a new life.

 

Talented student designers created clothing crafted from upcycled pieces, while student models perfected their catwalk. The event raised an impressive HKD14,520 in support of Plastic Free Seas, an organisation committed to tackling textile waste. Ms Winograd from Plastic Free Seas shared valuable insights on addressing this growing environmental challenge, and the evening concluded with a lively performance by DC’s band, LunchBreak.

 

We are immensely proud of our students, and extend our gratitude to Ms. O’Connor and Ms. Horogoda for guiding and supporting them throughout this journey.

CCA Term Update: Looking Ahead to Term 3

 

As we wrap up another fantastic and busy term of Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs), we want to thank all our students and parents for their energy and commitment.

We are already gearing up for an exciting Term 3. Please take a moment to review the key dates and enrolment reminders below to ensure a smooth transition for your child.

 

Key Dates for Your Diary

 

  • Next week 23–27 March: No CCAs.
  • Monday, 20 April: Term 3 CCAs start.
  • Thursday, 18 June: Term 3 CCAs end.

 

Cobra Sports & Kit Requirements

​Please take note of the following if your child is participating in our competitive sports programs:

 

  • Preseason: U12 Volleyball Season 4 has already begun preseason training.
  • Mandatory Kit: To foster team spirit and safety, Cobra Sports kit must be worn for all sessions, including Primary.

 

Please refer to the Cobra Sports Guidelines for further details.

 

Important Enrolment Reminders

To help our team manage placements fairly and efficiently, please keep the following in mind:

 

  • Requests vs. Confirmed Placements: Submitting an enrolment request indicates your preference but does not guarantee a spot in that specific activity.
  • Wait for Confirmation: Your child’s place is only secured once you receive a formal confirmation message. We appreciate your patience as we process the high volume of requests.
  • Rolling Enrolment: Please note enrolment will remain open for all activities that have remaining availability. Sign-up and contact the CCA team to highlight your interest. 

 

Resources

Please read our CCA guidelines or alternatively please refer to the CCA Handbook.

Kids' Lit Quiz

 

The Kids’ Lit Quiz is a global initiative dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of reading. On 17 March, our school was proud to be part of this vibrant event hosted by ISF, which saw 22 teams from 9 different schools showcasing an incredible depth of literary knowledge. It was truly inspiring to see so many students celebrating their shared passion for books. Our students tackled 100 questions across 10 challenging rounds, putting their book knowledge to the ultimate test. It was a fantastic day filled with fun and friendly competition. We are incredibly proud of our team for their focus, dedication, and wonderful sporting spirit.

 

Below, our students share their reflections on the experience:

 

"I think this experience is a great opportunity for readers. This quiz tested different topics such as animals and book knowledge, and the questions required really specific answers" - Advhika.

 

"I would say that Kids Lit Quiz is harder than Battle of the Books, but more challenging, and way more fun. You have to memorise details from books, movies, cartoons, authors, illustrators, and even nursery rhymes!" - Brown

 

 "I enjoyed spending time with my team members trying to answer the questions. I would definitely join the Kids Litz Quiz again. If I got the chance to, maybe I’ll try to organise a CCA for it!" - Cadence

 

"Kids Lit Quiz was a good experience for me, and I had lots of fun" - Sophia

 

IBDP ESS Students Participate in SWIMS Biodiversity Programme

 
Four Discovery College IBDP students - Davina, Mali, Marie and Dana - have spent the past three weekends taking part in the Swire Institute of Marine Sciences (SWIMS) Marine Biodiversity Ambassador Programme 2026. Alongside lectures on Hong Kong’s unique marine habitats, they engaged in a range of hands-on activities: observing and identifying marine specimens, collecting and processing environmental DNA , and visiting Hap Mun Bay for a coral and invertebrate identification workshop using dichotomous keys. A glass-bottom boat trip then allowed them to spot these organisms in their natural environment, and the final day of the programme focused on exploring marine life in local mangrove ecosystems.
 

The students shared that the experience “significantly expanded our knowledge and allowed us to appreciate and learn to conserve Hong Kong’s rich and diverse marine life.”

 

We would like to thank Mr Turner and Mr Yeung at the ESF Centre for generously giving up their weekends to supervise our students. As Marine Biodiversity Ambassadors, the participating students will now help promote ocean stewardship within the Discovery College community

School Photos - Reminder

A friendly reminder that the school photos are available for purchase. You should have received an email with a link to your children's individual and group photos. If you haven't received the email, please check your spam folder first. Please note that today is the last day to take advantage of the 10% early bird discount on photo orders.

 

For any queries, please email schoolportraits@colsimphotography.com.

DC Farming Group

It’s been a busy few weeks in the DB Green Square! Our students have been swapping their textbooks for trowels in the latest DC Farming Group, a fantastic partnership with HKR International Ltd (HKRI) and the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council (NAAC) Discovery Bay sub-office. 

 

Over seven hands-on sessions, students got stuck into every part of garden life, from planting the seeds to nurturing the crops, learning firsthand where their food actually comes from while picking up some great lessons in teamwork and responsibility.

 

The highlight was definitely the final session. Instead of bringing their harvest home, our "little farmers" chose to gift their fresh vegetables and handmade photo frames to the elderly in Discovery Bay. It was a beautiful way to bridge the gap between generations, teaching the students that the best part of growing something is the joy of sharing it with others. We couldn't be prouder of their hard work and big hearts!

 

 

Year 6 Student earns Second Runner-up at the 78th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival

We are delighted to share that Rachel (Year 6 student) was awarded Second Runner-Up  in the Cantonese Opera Vocal Solo competition at the 78th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. This is a remarkable achievement, and we are so proud of her dedication, talent, and hard work. 

 

Congratulations, Rachel!

 

DCPTA Primary Easter Crafts - 27 March

Get ready for some spring fun! The DCPTA invites all primary students to our Easter Craft Event on 27 March during lunch break. Join us in the school's main foyer area to create colourful crafts and celebrate the season together!

Bring your creativity, and let’s make some wonderful Easter art! We can’t wait to see you there!

Happy crafting!

 

Student Withdrawal - Deadline: 30 April 2026

 

Parents are reminded that Thursday, 30 April 2026, is the deadline to notify the College if a student will not be returning in August 2026.

 

Parents who wish to withdraw their child from Discovery College are required to submit a Student Withdrawal Form via the ESF App (tap the Ding! icon in the app and scroll down to "Forms"). This online form is the only official method for notification. 

 

Deposit & Fees - Upon entry, all DC students paid a two-month deposit. The first half was applied to the first month’s fees; the remaining half is credited against the final month of enrollment, provided a two-month advance notice is given. To apply this credit to June 2026 (the end of the current academic year), notice must be received by 30 April 2026. Please note that subsequent changes to the final attendance date or cancellations of withdrawal may be declined.

 

Account Balances - Please ensure all outstanding balances are settled. The ESF Billing team can only apply the deposit credit once all other invoices are paid. To check your balance, go to the ESF App/Ding and tap on ‘ePayment account transaction/balance’. For ePayment questions, please contact e-payment@dc.edu.hk.

 

Current Year 13 students graduating at the end of the current 2025-26 academic year,  do not have to submit the Student Withdrawal form.

 

For more information on the Withdrawal Procedure, please click here. Should you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@dc.edu.hk.

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