DC_2024WholeSchoolPhotoYearBook-1

The Explorer Newsletter

The Explorer Newsletter

Explorer

Year 4 No Boundaries Camp to Cheung Chau

 

We are thrilled to share some highlights from our recent Year 4 Camp to Cheung Chau! Our students embarked on a wonderful adventure filled with exciting activities, including the Cheung Chau challenge, catapult making, and bouldering.

The camp experience was not just about the activities; it was a fantastic opportunity for team building and nurturing a sense of community. During their agency time, students explored, played, and forged new friendships, creating lasting memories together.

Some of the students were able to reflect on their camp experience. Many shared how they enjoyed stepping out of their comfort zones, trying new challenges, and working together as a team.

Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without our teachers, parents and fabulous staff, whose dedication and support made this experience possible.

Please enjoy some fabulous photos of our Year 4 students!

Auditions open for DC's Secondary Musical Production, Little Shop of Horrors

 

Super exciting news! DC's Performing Arts Team are starting up the next Secondary Musical Production! And this year's title? 
 
Little Shop of Horrors
 
Join a full cast of characters as we watch how Seymour and Audrey, shop workers in a local floristry, raise a small, slightly blood-thirsty plant into a giant man-eater who needs constant feeding! Sing along with us to some famous rock and roll, doo-wop and motown songs - it promises to be a grand spectacle once again!  
 
All students in secondary school are invited to audition for this production: We are looking for lead actors (most of whom sing and dance) Ensemble, Musicians, Set builders and Crew members - there's something for everyone. We expect there to be a large number of students signing up, so please know that the selection process is competitive, and likely not everyone will get the role they are hoping for.
 
We simply ask you to do your best, and make sure you don't miss the audition dates, or miss the deadlines for the video submission auditions. And we promise that the experience will be fun! 
 
  • Auditions will be held on 25 and 26 March, and your materials will be emailed to you once you have signed up for an audition slot. Students can sign up here.
  • Audition videos for Musicians and Crew need to be submitted by 21 March, through the forms provided. Musicians can sign up here and Crew can sign up here.
  • A separate audition will be held in August for students transitioning from primary to year 7, and for students new to DC.

Election of Parent Member of the College Council

 

 

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 Friday, 21 March 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 james.smith@dc.edu.hk.

 

International Women's Day 2025

International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March. From Amelia Earhart to Mother Teresa and from Rosa Parks to Marie Curie. These remarkable people have truly demonstrated what it means to be an inspiration: someone who is the truest version of themselves, even in the face of adversity. 

 

Discovery College’s SAA/CAS Captains would like to honour the unwavering strength and resilience of women, and show appreciation for the impact it has had on our lives and in society, therefore we have organised a series of events from 10-14 March.

 

Join us in celebrating International Women’s Day with our booths, open during both Primary and Secondary lunches next week from Monday to Friday! We will be offering a multitude of activities for the whole College such as creating a finger painting mural and storytelling for the Primary students, “Guess the Woman”, and a photobooth for Secondary students. We are also collaborating with Bethune House, a charity in Hong Kong that helps shelter distressed migrant women. Students will get the opportunity to create uplifting and motivating cards which will be delivered to the charity and distributed to the migrant workers. And for the grand finale, we will be hosting a 'period paint simulator' on the last day for our male students and faculty. This initiative is aimed to bridge the empathy divide by offering boys and men a firsthand encounter with the discomfort of menstruation.

 

Friendly Football Tournament: Discovery College vs DBIS

 

This past Monday, Discovery College and DBIS engaged in a friendly football tournament that brought together nearly 100 players from Years 5 and 6. The event showcased impressive skills and teamwork, all while fostering a spirit of respect and camaraderie.

 

Under a warm sun - which suddenly feels like a long time ago - players from both schools took to the field, displaying tenacity and competitive spirit. Highlights included thrilling goals and outstanding saves, but what truly stood out was the sportsmanship shown by all participants. Players cheered for one another and respected referees, creating a positive atmosphere.

 

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the teachers who organized this event and to the senior students who coached the teams. Their support made the day memorable for everyone involved.

 

As the tournament concluded, it was clear that the scores were secondary to the friendships forged and the community spirit fostered. Both schools celebrated not just competition, but unity. We look forward to more events like this in the future!

REMUN 2025

Well done to our Model United Nations delegates who attended the recent Renaissance College MUN (a.k.a. ‘RENMUN’). The theme, ‘Throwing it back’, encouraged students to think about their responsibilities as citizens in an increasingly uncertain world, and the conference created many opportunities for different committees to consider a variety of global issues. 


Special congratulations are due to a number of our students who received awards: Mahirr Uppaal, Mark Koung and Horus Lai were all recognised as Best Delegate for their respective committees, with Nadia Selivanova and Sebastian Lyons also receiving honourable mentions. Additionally, Rysa Bahri and Alexander Nolens-Liu served as committee chairs, fulfilling a vital responsibility on behalf of the conference. Well done to all our students and we look forward to seeing our MUN group in action again in a few weeks’ time at HKMUN!

Year 5 Gratitude Photos

 

Our Year 5 students collaborated to create these beautiful portraits as a heartfelt expression of gratitude for the incredible people who support us every day. Throughout this project, the young artists were excited to explore drawing and painting faces, developing their artistic skills along the way. They also embraced the collaborative learning process, sharing memories and recognising the value of each individual in our Discovery College community. We are incredibly proud of their work, and it was heartwarming to see their joy and pride as they presented their paintings alongside a letter of appreciation.

 

 

Deadline for Student Withdrawal

 

Parents are reminded that Wednesday, 30 April 2025 is the deadline for informing the College of the withdrawal of a student who will not be returning in August 2025. 

 

Parents who wish to withdraw their child from Discovery College are required to submit a Student Withdrawal Form via the ESF App*. The online Student Withdrawal form is the ONLY official way for parents to inform Discovery College of their children leaving the school.

 

All current DC students paid a two-month deposit upon entry to the College. The first half of this deposit was offset against the first month’s fees while the remaining half is credited against the fees for the last month of enrolment, subject to a two-month advance notice of withdrawal. In order to ensure the utilisation of the remaining half of the deposit as payment for the last month of enrolment, e.g. June 2025 (the end of this academic year) if the student is not returning in August 2025, notification is required no later than Wednesday 30 April 2025. Please note that any subsequent change of the last date of attendance or cancellation of the withdrawal may be declined. 

 

As soon as the online Student Withdrawal form is received, Discovery College will offer an admission assessment/interview for the year group in question to applicants on the relevant waiting list who, if successful at assessment/interview, will be offered the current student’s place to start after the last date of attendance as per the Student Withdrawal Notice. 

 

Enquiries regarding student withdrawal can be addressed to our Admissions Department at admissions@dc.edu.hk

 

Current Year 13 students graduating at the end of the current 2024-25 academic year do not have to submit the Student Withdrawal form.


* ​​To access the form, please tap on the Ding! icon and scroll down to forms.

Love from Luke Blood Drive 2025 Participation

We are thrilled to share the incredible success of the recent Love from Luke Blood Drive held on 4 March. Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our students, staff, and families, we were able to make a meaningful impact in our community by seeing 90 volunteers come and show their support. Each life saving contribution has the potential to help up to 3 patients in need—truly a testament to the power of coming together for a great cause.

 

A special thank you goes out to everyone who rolled up their sleeves to donate, as well as to the volunteers who helped organize and run the event. Your time, effort, and compassion made this event possible. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to the Hong Kong Red Cross for partnering with us and ensuring a smooth and successful drive.

 

For those who were unable to participate this time, don’t worry—we’re already looking forward to hosting another blood drive in the future. Remember, every donation counts and can make a life-changing difference for someone in need.

 

Let’s continue to show the spirit of DC by giving back and supporting our community. Together, we can save lives!

Parent Education Workshops

Sustainable Workshops on Deforestation held for Year 6's

 

Students from Years 11 and 12 worked with UNICEF this year along with Mr Gouk, Ms Kilbourne and Ms Worringham’s classes to engage in a cat grass workshop, targeting DC students in Year 6. This competition acted as a great opportunity for students to grow cat grass and raise awareness for deforestation close to the Year 6 Exhibition, an opportunity for Year 6s to engage further in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Through working with UNICEF for this event, the mission is to raise awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals and influence others to take action for our planet. These workshops also aim to promote advocacy amongst young students, leading to an even more sustainable future for our community. The team that worked on this workshop goal consisted of six members: Rysa Bahri, Katie Parker, Alexander Nolens-Liu, Jasmine Yeung, Jaydon Koung and Phoebe Morley.

 

This was an amazing activity with many great successes. We congratulate all of the Year 6s for engaging so enthusiastically on this project with us! We look forward to hosting similar events in the future. 

Year 7 Students Celebrate Dyscaluclia Day

At Discovery College, our Year 7 students had a great time celebrating Dyscalculia Awareness Day! This special day was all about raising awareness of Dyscalculia, a Specific Learning Difficulty that affects how people understand numbers and learn Maths concepts.
 

Students took part in sessions to introduce Dyscalculia, and they learnt that many talented individuals shine despite this challenge.

 

To add to the fun, our Year 7 Maths teachers also joined in by participating in a lively dance break! Everyone danced together, bringing energy and joy to the day while promoting inclusivity.

Watch video here.

DC Second-hand Uniform Sale

 

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