Dear Parents and Carers,
A very warm welcome to all of you joining Foundation Stage 2 (FS-2)! We hope you had an enjoyable summer break and look forward to meeting you all. To our new families, welcome to DBIS!
Meet the Team
The FS-2 team consists of four classroom teachers and four Educational Assistants; we can’t wait to meet our new FS-2 families. We are a dedicated team that wishes to ensure your child has the best start to their learning journey.
Safari Class
Teacher – Mrs Emma Chambers, FS-2 Head of Year
Educational Assistant – Mrs Rasarin Rudall
Garden Class
Teacher – Mrs Helen Reid
Educational Assistant – Ms Liao Liao Liang
Harbour Class
Teacher – Mrs Emily Sharman
Educational Assistant – Mrs Susy Borrelli
Harbour Welcome Letter 2024-25
Airport Class
Teacher – Mr Nicholas Grimes
Educational Assistant – Mrs Raji Jeerasinghe
Airport Welcome Letter 2045-25
Key Dates
Please refer to this document for key events in Term 1. More information about these events will be posted on the Hub closer to the event time. Timetables for your child’s class will be shared with you very soon, so please look out for these.
School Uniform
School uniform is an important part of children feeling a sense of belonging and pride in our school; it is also a compulsory requirement. Apart from small stud earrings and a simple watch, jewellery should not be worn to school. We will ask children to remove necklaces, bracelets and other accessories as they do not form part of the school uniform and can risk their safety. Please be aware that smartwatches (or equivalent) are not permitted at school. Any accessories will be returned to parents and carers at the end of the school day. Please find a link to the uniform here: DBIS school uniform.
Parent and Teacher Conferences
The first FS-2 Parent Teacher Conferences (PTCs) of the year will take place from 12.30 pm on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th August. On these days, the children will be dismissed at 11.30am and return home for lunch. Please refer to the Hub post HERE for further information about booking an appointment if you haven’t already done so.
Class Parents
Class parents are important in Discovery Bay International School’s community and culture. This role greatly benefits everyone within a class and assists the teacher in various ways throughout the year. Class parents are parent volunteers who take on the role at the beginning of each new school year. This role is not limited to one person; ideally, each class should have two class parents.
Some of the suggested activities that class parents may wish to be involved in are:
- Communicating with the other parents in the class;
- Welcoming new families and wishing farewell to those leaving;
- Organising social gatherings for their class.
Please speak to your class teacher if you are interested in this role. The class teachers genuinely appreciate the support from class parents throughout the year.
Pick-Up Procedures – Photo ID Cards
During dismissal, our prime concern is to ensure every child gets collected by the right adult and returns home safely and happily. Therefore, we have a system that must be adhered to.
Please inform your child’s class teacher during your initial PTC of the adults who might collect your child. Please ensure all of these adults have a DBIS photo ID card. If you have not registered for these, please contact [email protected] to register.
Please collect your child from their classroom door. When you collect your child, you must show your DBIS photo ID. We will check your ID against the list of named adults that you have provided us with. This process might take longer than normal in the initial weeks as class teachers get used to faces; thank you for your patience.
If your child is going on a playdate after school, please inform class teachers before midday of the name of the adult collecting them; this is best communicated through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Campus office, using [email protected]. Upon arrival, your child’s class teacher will check the named adult’s photo ID before releasing your child.
Communication
When the bell rings at the start of the day, the children are our first priority and continuity is extremely important for a smooth transition into school each morning. With this in mind, teachers will be able to take quick messages at the door in the morning; however, if you wish to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning and development in greater detail, it is kindly asked that you make an appointment at a mutually convenient time so that we can focus on settling the children into their day. When waiting for the bell to ring, your child is encouraged to independently put their water bottle and lunch box into the appropriate boxes on the outdoor deck outside the classroom and then wait with their carer to be greeted at the door when the bell rings.
We have exciting plans for the year ahead, and we will keep you updated through the Parent Hub, Seesaw and the communication boards on the classroom door. Please be sure to check these regularly as key information will always be displayed here.
Chatter Tubes
We are looking forward to learning more about each child through their Chatter Tube. Please bring in your Chatter Tube during their first week of school beginning Monday 19th August. Please refer to this Hub post for further information about Chatter Tubes.
Home Readers
Throughout the year, your child will take home reading books. This is an opportunity for your child to practise the skills they have been working on in school. Reading at home should be a positive experience for your child where they can continue to build confidence and support their application of skills. We will share more information about this before sending out books. To support home reading, we kindly ask that you provide two named A3 or A4 plastic zip folders. The children will bring home their reading book and library book in these each week.
Birthdays
We love to celebrate each child’s special day at our school. When it’s your child’s birthday, the class will celebrate them with their own special traditions, such as singing birthday songs or letting them wear the class birthday crown or hat. To ensure all children can fully participate, we ask that you refrain from sending in any food items or party bags due to potential allergies and dietary restrictions. Our focus is on making every birthday celebration inclusive and enjoyable for the whole class.
FS-2 Information Evening
On Wednesday 28th August, we will hold an FS-2 Information Evening for parents from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Further information about this will be communicated closer to the time.
Teaching and Learning
Please familiarise yourself with the attached documents, which are also available on the DBIS Hub. This will enable you to understand the curriculum and the transition into Foundation Stage 2:
It is a very exciting time of year for all of us, and the FS-2 team is really looking forward to getting to know our families. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to working in partnership with you.
Kind regards,
The FS-2 Team