Shi Jie - Spring 2019

Grow. Discover. Dream.

The Magazine of Discovery College

SHI J I E – Sp r i n g 20 1 9 TO L O O K O UT I NTO THE W O R L D

10 YEARS

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SHI JIE MAGAZINE

Contents

Fast facts

SPRING 2019

SPRING 2019 EDITOR

DC Opening Ceremony 2008

DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Amy Freed Ani Villaverde Claire Fraser Kenix Cheung Mamta Mukherjee

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Whole School

10 Years We built a solid Foundation

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10 Years of Vision

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New Beginnings

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Then and Now

DC’s Original Scholarship Students 12 DC Foyer July 2008

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Self Expression

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Making Music Together

16 CIRCULATION & CONTACT

Primary Fantastic Mr. Fox

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Spirited Competition

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HKPSSA Champions

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Secondary Hooray for Bollywood

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An Evening of Applause

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Class of 2019

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Alumni Update

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A Word from the DCPTA

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Discovery College 38 Siena Ave Discovery Bay Hong Kong Ph. +852 3969 1000 Fax. +852 2987 8115 Em. office@dc.edu.hk www.discovery.edu.hk CIRCULATION: 1500

Shi Jie is printed on Alpine Satin which is PEFC certified, Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and manufactured under ISO14001 certification, using 100% virgin fibre from well-managed forests.

On the

are indeed, a family of students and families, teachers and staff who have shared the last 10 years in order to Grow. Discover. Dream.

This issue’s cover is a depiction of the past decade. Much than just our magnificent building, these mosaic pieces are snapshots picturing only a small fraction of the thousands of activities and events that have shaped our community over the past 10 years. From drama productions, to sporting events, Christmas concerts to classroom activities, these 10 years have been a constant accumulation of fond memories and friendships.

While we look forward to the next 10

years, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate just how far we’ve come, and of all the people, past and present, who have contributed to DC’s success.

Mark Beach Principal

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Discovery College, however, has from day one been about much, much more than its facilities and rooftop.

As in any thriving community, the beating heart of DC is made up of all the wonderful relationships that make our place so special. It is not about one or two people, but the interconnectedness of current and past students, staff and families. We

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The 2018-2019 school year marks the 10th anniversary of Discovery College.

Ten years ago, the school had been characterised in magazines and publications mostly for its innovative campus, the building’s design and of course its state-of-the-art canopy.

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Cover...

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We built a solid

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Foundation

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When we sent out the photo request to our students and staff who had been here since our opening day in 2008, we weren’t sure what the response would be. We understood it was a Monday morning, before school and during one of the Year 13 exam weeks.

It was also hot, very humid and could have rained. There were plenty of possible excuses. Photo day arrived though and we were delighted, not only with the number of this 10 year club who made the effort to join in order to celebrate this milestone, but also by the spirit of community and enthusiasm everyone had for being part of this founding group. In total there are 18 staff members and 101 students (originally in Year 1-3) who were at DC when we opened in 2008 and are still with us today.

Grow. Discover. Dream.

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10 years of

• • •

Self motivation/achievement (passion, zest, etc) Lifelong learning skills (creativity, curiousity, etc) Positive contribution (to others, community, world, etc)

Holding to a set of criteria and using a bit of creativity, the working party incorporated the collective ideas into one concise statement. Just three simple words, our Vision, Grow. Discover. Dream. was ultimately launched with much fanfare at an assembly in November 2009. The statement is a legacy of the students, staff and parent community who worked so diligently 10 years ago to identify who we are and what we want to achieve. A decade on, the Vision has become engrained in all that we do at the school and will continue to support us for years to come.

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In 2008, DC took to the important task of constructing our Vision statement. The work was coordinated by a Vision working party, who quickly understood that it would be no small enterprise to take all of our aspirations and hopes for the College and condense them down into one short, all-encompassing statement. Students, staff and parents participated in a variety of activities designed to stimulate ideas about what our Vision might look like. Towards the end of this process, an outside facilitator came in to help distil the thoughts that emerged. Several key themes became apparent:

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Vision

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New Beginnings

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Staff members reflect on 10 years of fresh starts at Discovery College

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2008 The year was 2008 and a new adventure awaited us in Hong Kong at Discovery College.

When we first arrived in DB, we were in awe of the amazing school we saw before us and excited at the prospect of becoming part of the newest ESF venture. Even after a typhoon had caused major damage just before the start of the new school year, the College was still impressive, ready to welcome its community of students, parents and teachers.

The early days of DC certainly were challenging as we watched the school being constructed around us. There sometimes seemed to be as many workers as teachers! While they were busy constructing the physical structure, we worked on the ethos and Vision.

We took everything in our stride, making flexibility and determination the key to ensuring everything was established to the highest level.

One of our proudest and most memorable events was the opening ceremony, complete with dancing lions and a communal celebratory song. - Loretta Romano

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2009

2009

I think our mission statement “Grow. Discover.

Dream.” perfectly describes my 10 years at Discovery College. I still remember my meeting with Mark Beach 10 years ago, when he took me through the various opportunities that DC could provide to the teachers as a young and growing school.

Unfortunately, there are not too many left from my cohort of 2011. However, one stayer and major contributor to my, and other staff members’ wellbeing is Kylie Harrison. Kylie has unfailingly run free after school bootcamp sessions for us all since she started at the school.

There have been only a very few periods where bootcamp didn’t run, even when she injured her knees. Her commitment and generosity of her time have been of huge benefit to me and I’m sure many others. Thanks Kylie!

- Cheryl Osbourne

I also remember when Mr Beach spoke about the long-term goals for DC at an initial staff meeting. He spoke about how DC will be discovered by the world as one of the top international schools, offering the best education to assist our young learners to achieve their dreams. I truly believe that we are on the way to achieve this long-term goal.

- Joanne Li

2010

2011

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In August 2011, I started my new adventure in Hong Kong alongside a group of phenomenal teachers, many of whom I now call friends. My first impressions of Discovery Bay and DC felt like I was heading off to work in a tropical island resort. However, the infamous biting midges quickly brought me back to reality.

I have enjoyed my eight years here and feel incredibly privileged to be a part of the Discovery College community. - Kylie Harrison

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- Natalie Fong & Jason McKimmon

Job Fair when Mark Beach offered me a primary teaching position at Discovery College. I was so thrilled that I immediately cancelled all of the interviews that I had lined up with other schools. I knew that Discovery College and Hong Kong were going to be my new ‘home’.

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We remember discovering the beauty of small class sizes and knowing every student in secondary and every teacher in the college”

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I remember back to January 2011 at the Bangkok

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2012

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First Impressions Stick!

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Before I started teaching at DC in 2012 I had the privilege of working both as an Educational Assistant and a PTA member since the school opened.

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One of my most cherished memories of our early years of operation were the Christmas concerts. As we were still small, all our families gathered on the lower ground floor.

Picnic blankets were set out, the PTA held a food stall and the students sang songs that resonated with everyone. One year, as part of the event, the PTA asked families to donate to the food stall some treats or dishes that were significant in their own family celebrations. I remember supporting the food stall and as families brought dish after dish I heard heart warming stories as to why each dish was special to their cultural celebrations. Already there was an enormous sense of community for a school that was still so young.

- Nicole O’Brien

I remember soon after our arrival in August 2013 we had a Professional Development Day. One session was about International Mindedness. We were asked to take part in a role play where we had to be members of certain groups that had very distinct and, in some cases, bizarre norms and expectations. I was in a group where the all members had bare legs, so, without giving it much thought, I took off my trousers! (I did have a long shirt on!)

Being a new staff member, I had unwittingly made my first impression as someone who (I hope!) was courageous and bold and willing to throw myself into situations wholeheartedly, with perhaps a little bit of humour thrown in. I don’t think this has changed much throughout my six years. - Kim Ward

2013

I joined DC as a pretty well experienced teacher in 2013.

Over the past six years, I feel that my practice has continued to evolve and improve. I give credit of this to the students and the teachers working together in a positive and

2014

collaborative environment where creativity and new thinking are welcomed and supported. At DC

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Four years at DC has brought many fond memories, too numerous to list. I remember joining DC and thinking this place is so big, there are so many students and staff. However once you become a member of Discovery College you quickly find out the meaning of community, and the school just seems a lot smaller. Over the past years, the biggest thing I have noticed has been the extremely dedicated and passionate staff members I am lucky enough to work with every day.

As well as this, getting to know such sensational people (students, staff and parents) and seeing the way the community engages in the culture and vision is something that doesn’t happen in every school / workplace, and something that is truly quite special to DC. - Chris Barr

best practices are encouraged and shared, quality training is provided and then implemented putting the students at the centre of everything that teachers do. It has been a privilege.

- Jason Edwards

There have been many changes implemented into the college since I arrived in 2013. We have positive psychology, and visual wellbeing which is becoming a big part of education now. It was always there but teachers are aware and including it into our daily school life. In my own area of Visual Arts we have embodied a new curriculum and have worked on building skills in diverse media across the year levels with the results evident in our Year 13 Diploma Art Exhibition and IB results, with marks averaging well over 6 each year over the last four years. I find more teachers are involved in the DB community and signing on longer in their contracts. This creates a caring community that I am happy to be part of. - Fiona Altoft

2015

I had the pleasure of joining Discovery College in 2015 as a member of the Primary team. Having taught in six other countries across the globe for over 25 years, coming to Hong Kong and the move to DC was especially significant as my husband, Ian also joined the DC team. I now realise the magnitude of where I came to teach. Discovery College is an outstanding, world class school in every way. Each day I feel extremely proud and honoured to be part of the wonderful school community.

A Welcoming Feeling

Moving to a new country can be scary. When we started at DC the staff and PTA made us feel so welcome. Well before the school started, we were introduced to our teacher buddies who invited us for dinners, advised us about where to live and familiarised us with the school and local community. The PTA generously gave us a welcome backpacks full of goodies and we were invited to meet DC staff members. Once the year began, the weekly catch ups with all new staff members further strengthened that sense of belonging to DC and the community. - Nicki Dunn

CONTENTS

It is challenging to determine the intangible but there is something clearly tangible about a DC student. They stand out from the crowd in terms of presence, awareness and attitude. It is for this reason that I see this teaching opportunity as an absolute privilege and a chance to help others make a difference in the world.

- Wendy Urquhart

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2015

Looking back on my three years at DC I realise I love this school. When I arrived, it was the first overseas posting I’d had in a few years. I was coming out of the IB office environment. Coming back to school was daunting - so many students to see, so many new systems to learn.

The staff and students were so welcoming though, and I settled in quickly.

The greatest impact I found was how very motivated the staff was - taking on lots of new initiatives and always engaging with such gusto. The students impressed me with their positive behaviour - this is the first school I have worked at, where students actually thank me at the end of my lessons!

My husband and I have just about completed two years at Discovery College and are thankful every day for the opportunity to work with colleagues who have a passion for helping students Grow, Discover and Dream. - Vanessa Virret

I was lucky to start with a great group of teachers who were new to DC. We received lots of support and camaraderie from the first day itself. Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging and a lot of effort was made to ensure each one of us was comfortable and being well-looked after. I have met so many fabulous people who have such great teaching practices that makes me happy that I was lucky enough to be included among these people. - Lisa Klatt

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I have watched Drama students grow in ability and skills and can’t wait to see what the future still holds.

- Danielle Veilleux

The entire DC community gave us a warm welcome when we arrived in Hong Kong. The school leadership team encouraged us to ask questions and made us comfortable as we embarked on our exciting new journey at DC. The PTA also welcomed us with backpacks filled with items that were very helpful as we settled into our new roles.

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Grow. Discover. Dream.

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2018 The memories that I will take with me from my first year at DC are happy ones. Immediately I had the sense of teamwork at DC. The teachers are truly committed to working together for the best possible outcomes for our students. It is also one of the character strengths that we try to develop with our students. We had a great start to the year with a two-day session with Lea Waters on wellbeing. This focus for both teachers and students to be happy and fulfilled has been very rewarding. Later in the term we had a CIS/WASC and IB Visit.

The reports that they compiled showed what a dedicated and successful school DC is. I am looking forward to the next 10 years. -Deb Plant

Newly arrived in Hong Kong, I first set foot in Discovery College days before the opening of the College to students in August 2008. The site was full of construction teams racing to complete a range of tasks, including repairing damage from a recent typhoon.

Having left DC in 2012 and then returning in 2018, it’s fair to say that the development of the school since that first day has been extraordinary. The building, which was always a

talking point has truly come alive with the constant buzz of creativity and energy from our fantastic students and staff. Faces may have changed, but the strong sense of community, positivity and building something truly unique remains as the school continues to thrive and attain ever greater heights.

-John Wilson

Then and Now Pictured: Then - with school starting in less than 10 days, the furniture boxes arrived in the foyer for distribution throughout the classrooms.

Now - the foyer is a lively, active space throughout the entire school day.

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DC’s Original Scholarship Students 10 Years ago, Discovery College’s Scholarship Programme was in its inagural year. We checked in with our first two Scholarship holders to see how far they’ve come since graduating from DC in 2014

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Mimi Ho ‘14, Athletic Scholarship

I studied at the University of California, Fresno, where I obtained a full athletic scholarship and competed for the golf team. In May 2018, I graduated in Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Early Childhood Development, B.S. The Scholarship Programme at Discovery College contributed greatly to my successes at Fresno State. Skills that I had picked up at DC, such as time management, greatly helped me juggle both my school work and my passion; golf. Thus, I was able to experience and enjoy my time in college to the fullest.

It was a great honour to have been awarded as one of the first scholarship students at Discovery College. The experiences that I have gathered as a scholarship recipient at Discovery College has shaped and propelled both my academic and athletic careers in many ways.”

– Mimi Ho

After graduating from UC, Fresno, I was offered a position as an assistant coach for the Fresno State Women’s golf team. I enjoy every waking moment working along with the head coach, as I juggle miscellaneous tasks ranging from tournament rooming situations, academic issues, and handling disgruntled teens.

My determination to follow my passion has encouraged me to enrol for my Masters in Sport Administration. I still very much enjoy travelling and competing for the HK National golf team. Recently, I represented and played at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Japan and the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open 2019.

My golfing successes, especially being a part of the HK National team, not only gives me immense pride but also strengthens my determination to achieve the goals that I set out to achieve as I graduated from DC.

Carrie Chow ‘14, Academic Scholarship

Being one of the first students to receive the scholarship at DC prepared me for the challenges that I was to face as I pursued my dreams.

Apart from medicine, a huge part of my university life has been dedicated to the women’s rowing team that I am a part of. We trained intensively for three months during the summer on the Shing Mun River for the inter-varsity championships. The training was indeed tough, but I met and made some fantastic friends along the way.

After completing my elective, I trekked 12 days to the Everest Base Camp, and it was by far my most memorable trip”

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Recently, I returned from a four-week summer medical elective in Nepal as I prepare for my final year at Chinese University, Hong Kong. After completing my elective, I trekked 12 days to Everest base camp. It has been by far my most memorable trip.

The last five years of university have been hard, but the final nine months will be the most trying ones. University life is great - meeting new friends, traveling to different places and learning and discovering myself in the process has been truly wonderful.

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– Carrie Chow

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Self

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Expression

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At DC, we value inclusivity and diversity and every student is celebrated for their uniqueness. This is at the core of the LGBTIQ+ Alliance and the discussions and work they have been engaged in this year. In fact, DC Pride Week 2019 was a grand affair. Turning it up a notch in terms of activities and general presence in the school, the students of the Alliance were able to involve a variety of staff and students in order to raise around $6,000 for the Transgender Research Centre Charity. Activities included badge making, face painting, food stalls, photo booths and a variety of colourful flags and displays across the College.

Walking into the school and seeing the array of colours during the week was heart warming. The students were thrilled with their efforts and, as the Alliance supervisor, Luc DiGregorio could not have been more proud of each and every one of them.

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– Abbie Oshlack

& Meghan Lohse

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Pride week allows for everyone to express themselves on their own terms without judgement.

Grow. Discover. Dream.

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This year, Music students have had several opportunities to collaborate and perform with other musicians from outside of DC. On 12 March, the DC Cobra and Secondary Choirs hosted the choir from Discovery Bay International School in a fun and lively showcase. Then, on 3 May, the DC Chamber Orchestra and DC Stage Band hosted Canberra Grammar School’s (CGS) touring ensembles, which included a Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Band, String Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra for a very impressive performance of a wide range of musical pieces. One highlight of the performance was the collaborative pieces between DC and CGS String Ensemble and Big Band.

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Together

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Making Music

Grow. Discover. Dream.

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Look out for Mr. Fox! Our Primary cast portray Boggis, the chicken farmer; Bunce, the duck-andgoose farmer; and Bean the turkey-and-apple farmer, who attempt to foil the efforts of Mr. Fox and his friends - the Badgers, the Moles, the Rabbits and the Weasels. The animals unwittingly trap themselves in Bean’s Secret Cider Cellar, much to the displeasure of Rat (a rude creature) and all appears lost. In the end, they cheer as Mr. Fox provides a glorious feast for each and every one and gives rise to Mrs. Fox’s proclamation that “My husband is one fantastic fox!”

The choice of The Fantastic Mr Fox enables these outstanding young people to transform from the regular role of student to something extraordinary and magical. Even if just for a moment, each member of the cast becomes something new as they set foot on the stage.

The production process over the months demanded discipline and risk-taking from the actors while providing scope for fun and celebration. Part of the rehearsal process involved script-writing workshops, dance workshops, music, makeup and costume design which emerged as ideas and sometimes incorporated into the script. The enthusiasm, energy and practical assistance of the Discovery College staff, parents and students made the theatre production process a rewarding experience and once again, the persistence, drive, dedication and talent by all, makes this show possible.

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Boggis and Bunce and Bean/One fat, one short, one lean/These horrible crooks/So different in looks/are nonetheless equally mean.� And so is the enchanting tale concerning the extraordinary adventures of three nasty farmers, two curious creatures, a family of foxes, and our hero - a most fantastic fellow!

Grow. Discover. Dream.

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Spirited Competition

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With our biggest crowd of parents to date, the Primary Athletics Day on 3 May set the foreshore pitch on fire.

Perfect weather gave our young athletes the optimal setting to run, throw, pull, leap and cheer their way through the variety of events. Though the competition was fierce, the spirit of the day brought students and parents together to enjoy the camaraderie of this House competition. Yellow House (土 Re Tu) were the overall winners on the day, followed by Green (木 Qing Mu ), Purple (金 Jin Shu), Red (火 Lie Huo) and Blue (水 Liu Shui).

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HKPSSA

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Champions

S ection N ame

On 23 March 2019 the cream of Hong Kong primary school athletes flocked to DC for the 2019 Hong Kong Primary School Sports Association Cross Country Championships. Over 560 runners from 18 different schools gathered to compete over distances ranging from 1.6km for the U8s up to a little over 3km for the U11s & U12s. With each school limited to a team of five runners in each age category, the event showcased the top talent in primary school endurance running over a thrilling course that involved the DC foreshore, the Siena Club Waterfront and Siena Park.

Despite some early morning rain, which briefly delayed the start of the event and added a few slippery patches to the course, the participants were cheered on by large crowds of family members and teachers and supported by a host of coaches and

PE staff, many of whom spent the morning acting as marshals around the course. DC athletes were well represented with full teams entered into both the boys and girls races in all age groups, hoping to continue an excellent run of form from the recent HKPSSA Kowloon Championship (also hosted by DC), built on regular twice-weekly training sessions to build speed and endurance.

The hard work paid off, with team victories in both the U8 girls and boys races as well as an overall team win in the U9 boys. In addition, the DC teams took second place in the U10 and U11 girls races, and third spot in the U9 girls. Despite being pushed all the way by some solid performances by both Kellett School and German Swiss International School, DC was crowned Champions of the overall competition for the second year in a row.

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Superb individual performances were led by Christina Warwick with a solo victory in the U8 girls race, going one better than her runner up result in the Kowloon Championship when she was just pipped on the line. Also on the podium were Alessia Smith (2nd, U9 girls), Kaydn Park (2nd, U9 boys), Mathias Jacobsen (3rd, U9 boys), Nathan Parkin (2nd, U11 boys), Amaya Mantel (2nd, U11 girls) and Karlee Dean (3rd, U11 girls).

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Hooray for

Bollywood In February, the Year 13 Film Studies students had the opportunity to meet and talk with Lisa Ray, star of the film Water (Mehta, 2005), which they studied this year. Lisa Ray delighted them with engaging stories and anecdotes about making films, providing valuable insight into acting, directing and other aspects of the film production process.

“To interact with the very actress that served as the face of the awe-inspiring film, Water, was an incredible privilege for us,” Dennis Law, Year 13 film student said of the experience. “As Film students, we were eager to learn about the intricacies of a production, such as the cooperation between the director and the actor and how actors interpreted screenplays, from an industry professional. On top of that, with a part of the class having written an analytical essay on Water to fulfil course requirements, we were treated to an insightful discussion about the difficulties of producing a film that centres around women’s rights abuses in the 1940s India, particularly that of widows. This fleshed out the class’ understanding of the film’s cultural context.”

Grow. Discover. Dream.

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It was wonderful to see children I have known since Year 1 who are now in Year 9 - and many more that I don’t know - who took to the stage to perform so well in front of us.

– Marion Udall, DC Parent

Feedback from audience members was fantastic. Higher Education Counsellor Susie Blomfield said, “It was inspiring to see so much talent on stage, and to see how far our students have come.” DC Parent, Wendy Thompson added, “I really enjoyed watching the students today during their performances. It was a great opportunity for parents to see such great talent.” Sue Thomas, former VP Secondary, summarised her thoughts by saying, “I had a wonderful time moving from one venue to another. On each of the stages the students took their performance very seriously and they were SENSATIONAL.” Now, let’s have another round of Applause...

Grow. Discover. Dream.

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On Wednesday 10 April 2019, more than 200 students from Years 9-11 took to the stage for our first ever ‘Applause’ performance showcase. The festival style event used seven performance spaces including the Black Box, the Theatre, the LG/F steps and dressing rooms in the White Box. Audience members could watch Y9 perform scripted duologues, Commedia dell’Arte scenarios devised by our Y10 students and alternative theatre forms including puppetry, personal theatre and site-specific work by our Year 11s.

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Applause

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Photo Credit: Elina Makilammi

An Evening of

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Congratulations

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Class of 2019

2019 S ection N ame

The sixth graduating class of Discovery College said their final farewells prior to heading off to study leave. Their final assembly on 11 April was full of laughter and tears as these seniors serenaded the rest of the Secondary students and staff with their parting song, Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver. After exams finished on 24 May, students had a little over two weeks to relax prior to the graduation ceremony on 4 June.

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Niina Fujita, ‘18 I just completed my first semester of college at Hawaii Pacific University where I major in General Business. I spent the semester completing General Education classes before I proceed to take major-related classes.

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At the start, there was a bit of culture shock for me, since life in Hawaii was significantly more laid-back and relaxed in comparison to Hong Kong. As time went on, I began to adjust to the island lifestyle and spend my weekends road tripping around the island, attending food festivals and exploring different beaches with friends.

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Life after DC has exposed me to a variety of challenges.

Fortunately, these challenges have helped me grow to become more independent as I can no longer solely rely on my parents. The freedom that comes with college life has helped me learn what I enjoy doing for fun, while at the same time, it has allowed me to make my own mistakes and grow as a person.

Alumni

Update Taichi Kho, ‘18 I had very mixed feelings after my first year at Notre Dame. It was a lot to take in at the start of the semester with classes, collegiate level golf, and being so far away from home. I struggled to adjust to my new life in the US for the first couple months to be honest. I have a completely different lifestyle now than I did at DC. Lifts in the morning, classes through noon, then practice for the rest of the day. I was very homesick for most of the fall. Over the spring season, I was only on campus for two weekends because we travel so much for practice and tournaments. It’s a bit overwhelming but I’ve come to learn to appreciate the opportunities that I’ve been given to pursue my dream. I’ve been able to compete and play at the highest level of amateur golf, while visiting some great courses like Augusta National for The Masters.

I’m grateful for the people I have surrounded myself with, as well as the new academic and athletic challenges that I’ve had to face in my first year. My first year has given me a clarity of mind in what I want to do after college, which is to play golf at the professional level. Until then, I’ll continue to make the most of my Notre Dame experience to best prepare myself for achieving my dream job.

Galen Law-kun, ‘14 I’ve been with the PwC Crypto Team for nearly 5 months now after graduating from HKUST early this year. At PwC, I work on global crypto initiatives, project manage and also represent PwC in numerous Crypto public speaking opportunities. I really enjoy what I do as it is a continuation of what I’ve been doing in my free time at university.

Reflecting back on my secondary school education, there was no doubt that the MYP & DP were tough and challenging, however, the motivation and support I received from the teachers and my peers at Discovery College taught me grit. To have the courage and resolve to keep pushing & innovating, this is something I really appreciate looking back.

Whether it’s Double Peak, a family office investing in Crypto Assets, or Velcron’s winning research/presentation at Cyberport x Stanford CUPP Program in 2017 both of which I

Giving back is also very important to me. I started the Rotaract Club of Central, to provide opportunities to disadvantaged youth. I have also been appointed as one of the Startup Mentors of Cyberport a Hong Kong Government Incubator Program to provide FinTech and Blockchain mentorship, seminars, and trainings.

I have finally started to play rugby again since being injured two years ago. I play in the development team for the Women’s premiership club in Loughborough- Loughborough Lightning.

I have also been playing rugby for Leicestershire County and am gearing up to play in the Division 2 Women’s finals at Twickenham on Saturday 8 June.

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Finally, for all current students reading this, no matter how hard school work or social life is, keep pushing. Don’t give up because destiny is in your hands. Life is a marathon, so be curious, unique and learn from failures. Because if you can master all these areas, the world is your oyster.

I graduated from Loughborough University during the summer of 2018 with a 2:1 in Geography and Sports Science. I am now working with Volleyball England as a project delivery team officer, mostly working with the national teams. This is largely organising and administrating the cadet and junior camps and competitions.

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co-founded. The mind-set moulded by Discovery College laid the foundation of what I have achieved today, to be a global citizen, pursue my passion and be the leaders of the future.

2019

Eleanor Udall, ‘15

Grow. Discover. Dream.

32 SHI JIE MAGAZINE – SPRING

A word from the

2019

DCPTA

The DCPTA sponsors a number of events throughout the year whose aim is to entertain and educate both the parents and students within the DC school community.

One of the highlights this term was a screening of the documentary entitled “Straws” in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute of Hong Kong depicting the devastating effects of plastic pollution in our seas and oceans. Students were encouraged to make a pledge on how they will change their own behaviour to make an impact on this crisis. It was such a success the PTA has received requests to host more screenings for the larger school community in the coming months.

Stay tuned.

Another highlight this term included our annual Afternoon of Music where the Hong Kong Welsh Male Choir joined forces with the Unsung Heroes and our very own DC Cobra Choir to sing some of their favourites to the delight of audiences of all ages.

From coffee mornings, Easter Eggstravaganza to Comedy Night and the continued sponsorship of our DC Dragon Boat Team, the DCPTA thoroughly enjoys hosting events for the students and parents that enrich the overall DC school community spirit.

We want to thank all of the parents and DC staff who volunteer in order to make these events happen. Your support of your time and talents is very much appreciated.

Grow. Discover. Dream.

33

SHI JIE MAGAZINE – SPRING

2019

Discovery College 2018-2019

DISCOVERY 2018

Y COLLEGE - 2019