Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am delighted to introduce myself as the Head of Year 9 and a new member of staff in the DBIS community. Over the last decade, I have worked in international schools in Bangkok, Cairo and Hong Kong, and have relocated to Hong Kong with my husband and daughter. I am sincerely looking forward to the year ahead and working alongside you and your child as they navigate through this stage of their school journey.
Year 9 marks an important milestone in your child’s educational path as they gear up towards making important subject choices in preparation for their (I)GCSE’s. I understand the significance of this milestone and will strive to guide and assist your child in making informed decisions that align with their interests and aspirations. On 4th September, we will have our ‘Meet the Team’ evening for all Year 9 parents, where timelines and guidance on the (I)GCSE options process will be shared with you. This event will run from 6.15pm – 7.30pm in the Globe Theatre.
At the core of our approach in Year 9 will be the cultivation of positive learning behaviours and fostering independence, underpinned by “Ready, Respectful, Sensible and Safe”. By instilling these values, we aim to equip your child with the necessary skills and mindset to tackle challenges with confidence, resilience and compassion.
We have a fantastic tutor team in place with Ms Higgins and Mr Reinhardt carrying on the excellent work they did last year with 8B and 8I respectively. We also welcome Mr Xia to the team who will be the form tutor for 9D.
Ms Higgins: As the new school year gets underway, I would like to formally introduce myself. My name is Ms Higgins and I am very fortunate to be the form tutor for this year’s 9B students for the second year. I have been a teacher of Design Technology and Art in South Wales, UK for over twenty years and more recently, I have spent two years teaching in Thailand. I currently teach Design Technology and Computer Science in DBIS. In my spare time I love to travel and explore new places and cultures.
My name is Shawn Xia, and I am very excited to be the form tutor of 9D for this academic year. I have been a teacher of Mathematics from Year 7 to Year 13 in Oxford, UK and Sydney, Australia. I will be the teacher you talk to if you have any matters or concerns of your child. I am extremely looking forward to leading this group and to celebrating success with your child.
My name is Chris Reinhardt, and I will have the pleasure of taking 9I this year for tutor time. This will be my 4th year at DBIS and I have had the opportunity to grow with the school and its community. I look forward to welcoming your child back from the summer holidays and supporting them through this exciting year of subject choices.
Together as a Year 9 team, we are dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where your child can flourish and grow both academically and personally. Routines, both in school and at home, will play an important role in ensuring students achieve their potential.
The student diary will be a focal point for students to record homework, set SMART targets and plan ahead with ECAs and other commitments. We ask that all parents support their child with this by signing their diary at the end of each week. It is a crucial tool for intermediary communication, not only to you as parents or guardians but also between subject teachers and the pastoral team. Your child’s tutor will check their diary each Monday as part of this process.
Tutors will be continuing their 1:1 conversations with students before form time, and a brief reflection will be recorded in their student diary. The primary point of contact for your child is their form tutor, and I will be working with the Year 9 tutors to ensure that your child’s wellbeing and happiness remain at the heart of everything we do.
Key Dates
8th October: Year 9 short report with tutor comments released
29th October: Y9 options evening
11th – 15th November: Week Without Walls in Vietnam
I look forward to seeing you at the Meet the Team evening, on Wednesday 4th September in the Globe Theatre.
Kindest Regards
Mrs B Wilson
Head of Year 9