Welcome to Year 11

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

Welcome back to Discovery Bay International School – Year 11. I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health and high spirits. As the summer break ends, we are excited to commence another academic year filled with opportunities, growth and learning.

DBIS is committed to providing a safe, nurturing and inclusive learning environment that fosters academic excellence, character development and personal growth. Every child is unique and possesses untapped potential. 

Our dedicated team of educators is passionate about creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity, critical thinking and a love for learning.

 

In addition to academics, we are committed to promoting the social–emotional wellbeing of our students. Our 1:1 programme will continue this year, and students and tutors will begin meeting for their 1:1 sessions on 2nd September 2024.

Tutors will create and share a timetable with students. These sessions are incredibly important and valuable for many reasons, and attendance is compulsory. The dates will be written in the students’ planners.

 

Furthermore, we understand the importance of effective communication between the school and parents. Our school website, newsletters and regular parent–teacher conferences will inform you about upcoming events, academic progress and other important information. We encourage you to actively participate in your child’s education by attending school functions, volunteering, and engaging in open and constructive communication with our staff. 

As our students enter Year 11, they are expected to grow in independence as they progress through the school. Each student will have a diary that must be used; they must write down the homework set and the date it must be handed in, alongside other key dates such as tests and coursework due dates. Parents are asked to sign these weekly, and tutors will also check diaries. This is another line of communication between students, parents and tutors that we will be actively using this year. 

 

School attendance is always important. Students are encouraged to attend all lessons as the content for each subject is increasing. If your child is to be absent from any lessons, please ensure that you fill in the JotForm here (this can also be found under the ‘Parent Information’ section on the Hub) so that no follow-up action is taken. Students are also expected to contact each teacher for catch-up work; they are responsible for doing this for every lesson missed.

Students must adhere to the school’s uniform requirements, including wearing black shoes and not having unnaturally coloured hair. The full uniform list can be found on the Hub under ‘Parent Information’/’Uniform and Stationery’.

Building on last year, students will, in the first half-term, set aspirational targets for each subject after a conversation with their teachers. These targets will be reflected upon throughout the year in one-to-ones with their tutor teachers and are there to help focus and inspire our students. Weekly targets will also be set in the students’ diaries, and parents may wish to have a conversation with their children about these, too.

If you have any questions, your first point of contact is your child’s tutor. We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for your child’s success. We encourage you to reach out to us with any questions, concerns or suggestions. Together, we can make a positive difference in your child’s educational journey. Our tutor team this year is:

 

11B	Mr Jordan Warburton	[email protected]
11D	Ms Fiona Mak	[email protected]
11I	Mr David Pugh	[email protected]

 

11B Jordan Warburton:

I want to introduce myself as the new tutor for Y11B. I’m originally from the north of England and studied at Manchester University, gaining a BA in Film and Media Production. This year is my third at DBIS as a teacher of Media Studies. I spent the last two years as a Year 12/13 form tutor. Prior to moving to DBIS, I spent six years as a Media and English teacher at the Korean International school.

The house system continues to be a key part of the DBIS community and has developed into four new houses that encompass both Primary and Secondary. Similarly, there are a diverse range of new  ECAs to choose from and these offer a wonderful opportunity for all students to develop their talents or perhaps take on new challenges. Week Without Walls has been moved to November and will see students travel to Thailand, Bali or residential trips in HK.

As your child’s tutor, I will be your first point of contact should you need to contact the school, alongside Ms Tracey Smal as Head of Year 11. Together, we encourage all students to be responsible, independent and organised learners.

I look forward to meeting you at many of the upcoming school events.

 

11 D Fiona Mak:

I hope you had a wonderful summer break. I’m excited to continue supporting your child’s academic journey at DBIS.

As an experienced tutor, I emphasise the importance of attendance and punctuality for your child’s success. Meeting homework deadlines and preparing for (I)GCSE exams are crucial. I also encourage participation in extracurricular activities (ECAs) to ensure a well-rounded experience.

Tutors and tutees meet daily during tutor time and in Learning for Life class twice per cycle. We will also soon have student–parent consultation sessions. However, please feel free to contact me anytime if you need assistance or have concerns; as your child’s tutor, I am your primary contact at the school.

Our main priority is providing a positive pastoral experience for all students, and I am committed to achieving that for my tutees.

I look forward to meeting you at the school on 2nd September.

11I David Pugh:

I am joining DBIS as a Business teacher after spending six years teaching in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Before that, I taught in several schools in the Manchester area in the UK. I have moved to Hong Kong with my wife and two children. In my spare time, I enjoy various sports, particularly rugby. I also enjoy socialising, listening to music, cooking and travelling to experience different cultures.

Key dates for this term

• Year 11 Team to Meet the Parents— 2nd September. This will be held at school from  6.15pm to 7.30pm Parents will be able to meet tutors and receive an overview of the important year ahead.
• Student Target Setting in Subject Lessons – 11th – 22nd September
• Report with Tutor Comment –  23rd September    
• Year 11 Options Information Evening – 16th October 
• Half Term Break – 21st October – 25th October 
• Week Without Walls – 11th November – 15th November
• Short Report without Tutor Comment – 19th November
• Year 11 Mock Exams – 21st November – 29th November
• Mock and Short Reports – 6th December 

                                         

We encourage you to contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have. Together, we can make a positive difference in your child’s educational journey.

Once again, welcome back to  DBIS. We are honoured to have you as part of our school community, and we look forward to an exciting and productive academic year ahead!

 

Best Regards

 

Tracey Smal

Head of Year 11

[email protected]