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The Explorer Newsletter

The Explorer Newsletter

Explorer

ESF Bi-Annual Primary Choral Concert

Our recent Primary Choral Concert was a truly unforgettable celebration of music, teamwork, and youthful talent. Over two spectacular evenings, more than 800 Primary students from across ESF came together to perform for audiences of over 3,000 people each night. The energy, dedication, and joy they brought to the stage filled the venue, creating an atmosphere that was both inspiring and heartwarming.

 

We are incredibly proud of Cobra Choir and Orchestra, their commitment throughout rehearsals, and their courage in performing on such a large stage. Performing for such an audience of that size was an extraordinary achievement for our children. The applause at the end of each night was a testament to their hard work and the powerful impact of their performance. It was a concert to remember, and we could not be prouder of our talented young musicians.

DCPTA organises Mother's Day activities for Primary

We’re thrilled to share that the Mother's Day craft event, organised by the DC PTA, was a fantastic success! The children had a wonderful time making beautiful bracelets, and we hope you’ll enjoy receiving them this weekend.

 

Each child created a special bracelet for a meaningful person in their life, whether it’s a mother, grandmother, aunt, family friend, or any special individual who cares for them.

 

Thank you for your support, and we hope these heartfelt creations add joy to your celebrations!

Beyond Words: Year 12 Ethnographic Study at the Sai Kung Deaf Cafe

On 6 May, the Year 12 Language and Culture class visited a Deaf cafe in Sai Kung, for a highly immersive introduction to Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL) and the community.

 

Upon arrival, we practiced ordering food using sign language, which challenged us as we usually relied on spoken languages, and the use of sign language made communication feel more intentional. Even simple interactions, such as ordering food, required focus and patience. 

 

A key part of the experience was interviewing two employees, and we provided Cantonese- English interpretation to the rest of the class. The class asked questions about communication within the restaurant, hiring, and what daily life is like for deaf individuals residing in Hong Kong, including their experiences with public transportation and family communication. The manager of the cafe also explained the difference between Hong Kong Sign Language and other sign languages such as American Sign Language (ASL) including the challenges she faced in communicating with others, explaining that her partial hearing made it challenging to understand words when spoken fast. 

 

This trip was truly an eye-opening experience, broadening our understanding of communication beyond spoken languages, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and accessibility, and providing us first-hand experience of the ethnography we studied. The kindness and patience the cafe staff showed us created an impactful learning experience, and as a group, we left with a deeper appreciation of the deaf community and the role language plays in shaping communication and understanding.

 

Article contributed by Cassley (Year 12 student)

Year 2 Celebration of Learning: Sharing the Planet

 

On Wednesday, our Year 2 students proudly showcased their hard work in our unit of inquiry 'Sharing the Planet'. Families were treated to a wonderful presentation of the children’s habitat poems, where students demonstrated both creativity and a deep understanding of the environments they have been exploring.

 

Afterwards, parents and children joined together for an engaging hands-on experience, creating habitat dioramas that brought the learning to life. It was a joyful afternoon that truly highlighted just how much the children have learnt and how confidently they can share their knowledge.

 

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us on the afternoon, our Year 2 teachers, and - of course - our wonderful students for celebrating your learning with us!

DC Secondary Swimmers Compete in the HKSSF Swimming Championship

Our secondary swimmers competed in the HKSSF Swimming Championship yesterday, and the excellent results reflected the months of training they’ve put in. It was a long day at the pool, but the team stayed focused and delivered standout performances.
 
The C Grade Girls had a standout day, finishing as the overall champions for their division. This team victory was built on a series of strong individual performances and critical relay points. Nancy L (Y8) and Cherry Y (Y8) led the charge with individual gold medals in the 50m and 200m Freestyle, respectively, while the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay team secured a first-place finish and set a new record. However, the overall title was truly a squad effort; points earned by swimmers like Sara P (Y9), Paola T (Y7), Melody Y (Y7), Grace W (Y8), and Yuji T (Y7) across various strokes kept the team ahead of the competition. It was a well-deserved win for a group that showed great depth and consistency.
 
In the A Grade division, Amber C (Y12) showed impressive consistency. Taking home gold in both the 50m Freestyle and the 50m Breaststroke. Competing at the highest age level is never easy, and taking home two individual golds is a testament to her speed and technique.
 
The Boys’ B Grade squad had a successful day across the board, finishing 2nd place overall in their category. This was anchored by Lincoln L (Y10), who became the 50m Breaststroke Champion, and a gold-medal finish from the 4 x 50 Freestyle Relay team.
 
The B Grade girls' 4 x 50 Freestyle Relay team delivered one of the day's most impressive performances, securing a first-place finish in style. By setting a new record, they didn't just win the race; they raised the bar for future competitions and proved exactly what this group is capable of.
 
Congratulations to everyone who swam! Whether you ended up on the podium or simply beat your own personal best, you represented the school incredibly well and we are proud of your efforts!

DCPTA Sponsored Year 8 Pizza Party

Last evening our Year 8 students came together and celebrated with an awesome pizza party and movie night! Everyone had such a great time watching The Truman Show, and the Figo’s pizzas we had beforehand were delicious. A huge thank you to the PTA for funding our Pizza Movie Night, and to our student leaders Jesper and Navika for their work alongside the PTA.

 

A big thank you to our Year 8 ambassadors: Jesper, Areeb, Navika, Amy, and Anaya for helping organize everything. And of course, we’re really grateful to our Dean, Ms Viirret, our Learning Advisors Ms De Wet, Ms Grant, and Ms Tate, for making this event possible.

 

It was such a fun and relaxing evening, and the perfect reward for all the hard work we’ve been doing.

 

Article contributed by Areeb (Year 8 student)

Year 12 Students Visit HKBU and CUHK

 

Last Thursday, a group of Year 12 students visited Hong Kong Baptist University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for an inspiring day of university exploration.  

 

In the morning at Baptist University, students toured the New Creative Hub - home to Hong Kong's largest recording studio and honed their newsreading skills in the state-of-the-art TV studios before enjoying lunch in the student canteen.
 
The afternoon took them to CUHK's stunning,  sprawling campus overlooking Tolo Harbour and housing 9 colleges and over 169 buildings. There, they interacted with DC alumni and CUHK students, gaining valuable and candid insights into campus life. It was an incredible day, giving students a preview of what lies ahead in their next life chapter. 

A Celebration of Literacy: The Primary Battle of the Books Semi-Finals

Battle of the Books is an exhilarating team competition that challenges students to dive deep into a curated selection of 20 fantastic titles. On 7 May, the French International School hosted the semi-finals for the Primary International Division, bringing together a vibrant community of readers.

 

Discovery College competed alongside students from Carmel School Association, German Swiss International School, Spanish School of Hong Kong, French International School, and San Wui Commercial Society YMCA of HK Christian School. The atmosphere was electric, filled with collective enthusiasm and a shared passion for literature.

 

Representing Discovery College with pride were our Upper Primary students, supported by Ms Mills and Mrs Kitty. We congratulate the following team members for their dedication and impressive literary knowledge:

 

Upper Primary

Jasper, Emily, Isha, Karl, Tejas, Harlie, Sasha, Joseph, Lucas, Megan, Hayton, Jacob and Hamza.

Year 4 Students Participate in Multicultural Banquet

 

Yesterday, our Year 4 students excitedly participated in a Multicultural Banquet to celebrate diverse food choices as part of our multicultural celebrations, and to foster an authentic connection to our current unit, where we have been inquiring into the systems communities use for the production and distribution of food. 

 

One of our key learning outcomes has been to develop an understanding of why people choose the food they eat. This was a really wonderful opportunity for the children to celebrate the rich cultural diversity within our year group and to explore how our culture can influence our food choices.

 

Students considered and shared the personal stories behind the dishes they chose to contribute to the banquet. As they enjoyed sampling a range of foods, they were encouraged to complete a 'tasting passport', learning the names, countries of origin, and ingredients of different dishes, as well as describing the foods using their senses. 

 

We are truly grateful to all the students and their families for sharing such an important part of their identity, and for the thought and effort that went into so many of the delicious foods prepared.

Cards4Kids Campaign

Cards4Kids is a student-led organisation that has been dedicated to spreading kindness in the community through custom hand made pokemon card packs. Through these simple acts of creativity, Cards4Kids aims to show how small gestures can have a meaningful impact. 

As a part of recent efforts, Card4Kids led a meaningful initiative to support Mother’s Choice by donating over 100 custom hand made packs to children in need.  

During the campaign, members in this organisation have dedicated their time to design and create the custom made packs.  With each pack being thoughtfully made, it highlights the power of small acts of kindness. Through this campaign,  members of the campaign have deepened their understanding of how creative initiatives can make a real difference.

The project concluded with the successful delivery of over 1,000 cards, marking a significant milestone for Cards4Kids and everyone involved. 

Coming from the entire team behind Cards4Kids, we are excited to continue growing this initiative and creating opportunities for the community to give back and make a positive impact through simple acts of care.

 

Secondary: Y7-Y12 3-Way Conferences & Bus Arrangements - 11 & 14 May

 

Secondary Y7 to Y12 3-Way Conferences will take place next week on Monday, 11 May (1.30 - 6.30pm) and Thursday, 14 May (1.30 - 6.30pm).

There will be an adjusted school day for Secondary. Lessons will finish at 12.20 pm on the days of the conferences. The schedule will be as follows:

 

 

There will be no Discovery Time on these days. 

 

If a change to your appointment schedule is needed, please reach out to your child's individual teachers via email. Teachers oversee their own schdeule after the bookings close and will be able to assist you. 
A reminder email will be sent through with your meeting links, one day before the conferences.
 
Bus Arrangements
 

Due to the Secondary 3-way conferences, the regular after-school bus will not be available for secondary students. Please refer to the public bus routes and timings below:

 

DB01P (DB to Tung Chung) – pick up outside Siena Club
2 buses at 12:30 & 12:35 (double-decker)

1 bus at 15:40 (single-decker)

 

DB03P (DB to Sunny Bay)
1 bus 12:35 as per the bus timetable (double-decker)
1 bus 15:35 as per the bus timetable (double-decker)

Please note there is only one bus from North Plaza DB03P that is scheduled as per the bus timetable. Students can walk up and take the DB03R from the DB road bus stop.

DC Students Performing at the Wind in the Willows Play

On Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 May, a number of our DC students will be performing 'The Wind in the Willows' at Sheung Wan Civic Centre Theatre  in Central.

 

The performance is sure to be a wonderful day out for the family whilst also supporting our budding DC actors and actresses who have been working hard in rehearsals.

 

DC secondary students Benji, Lucie, Cassie, Verabella, Jia, Mia, Pauline, Lucile, Laura, Audrey and Ella along with DC primary students Abigail, Milla, Iris and Danny are all excited to showcase their hard work and talent in The Wind in the Willows.

 

Suitable for all ages. 

 

Further information can be found here.

 

 

ESF Stakeholder Survey 2026 Analysis

The ESF Stakeholder Survey 2026 was conducted across all ESF schools, including Discovery College, to gather feedback from all stakeholders. 

 

With support from ESF Centre, our leadership team has analysed the results of the survey, identifying the strengths of the College, as well as areas to further improve, from the perspective of each stakeholder group. Your valuable input is guiding us in making informed decisions and shaping strategy and we greatly appreciate your participation.

 

A summary of findings can be found below: 

 

Parents

Our parent survey identified that student wellbeing is widely regarded as a strength at the school, with a number of parents noting that the school is proactive in creating conditions for students to flourish and that their safety is a priority. Parents also noted that there is a strong community spirit, with a wide range of activities that bring students together, and an extensive parent workshop series identified as a valuable asset. As an area to improve, parent responses indicated a desire for even more opportunities to learn about their child’s academic progress, with actionable strategies to support learning at home.

 

Students

The student survey revealed several positive insights regarding the learning experience. Students feel that the greatest strength is that they feel safe at school, and that their wellbeing is prioritised. A further strength from this survey is that students feel they are making significant progress through personalised feedback, which has greatly enhanced their educational journey.  Students expressed a desire for more opportunities to contribute to the school's strategic development, indicating their eagerness to play an active role in shaping their educational experience.

 

Staff

Staff commended the school's commitment to student well-being, and also highlighted a strong collegiality and sense of community. Staff also recognised that the school provides a well-resourced learning environment, and offers extensive Professional Development opportunities. There were suggestions to further develop our approach to student support and inclusion, which aligns with the Inclusion Evolution currently in action across ESF. There were also suggestions around improving lines of communication between teachers, senior leaders and the wider community.



Next Steps

The survey findings are informing the strategic planning process for the upcoming academic year. Moving forward, insights from the community will help us shape our strategic objectives for the 2026-2027 academic year. We are grateful to all students, parents and staff for your support with the stakeholder survey, as your input is crucial in our continuous enhancement as we work together to make Discovery College the best it can be, supporting all members of our community to Grow. Discover. and Dream.

 

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