DBS NEWSLETTER

Dear Parents and Guardians, This week, while walking around the campus, it was a very pleasing experience to see our students going about their daily lives, following the values that we hold dear at DBS. As a teaching community, we place a lot of importance on our Five Pillars, our Skills and also our Values. For those new to the school, our five values at DBS are humility , generosity , courage , integrity and empathy and we feel that these are important in shaping a well rounded student who is capable of thriving in both academic and social environments. Students who show humility recognise that they don't have all the answers and are open to learning from others, including their peers and teachers at DBS. Additionally, being humble makes it easier for our students to work in groups, as it allows one to value the opinions and skills of others. Finally, showing humility means that each student acknowledges their own limitations, setting the stage for growth and self-improvement. S...

 Dear Parents and Guardians, We have had another busy week at DBS as we settle into the new academic year.  In Pre-Prep we held two parent workshops this week; one on supporting your child with reading and another on using Tapestry in the Early years. Tapestry is a fantastic product which allows us to build a digital journal of your child's progress. Assessment in the Early Years is very different and much of what we are assessing is social and physical development, characteristics that don't lend themselves well to A, B and C grades... In Prep we held welcome events in each section. The idea for these events came from our parent forums last year and we were glad to develop this idea this year. I also hope you enjoyed seeing our refurbished corridors and new library. We have started the year with some extra-curricular success with our World Scholars Cup students qualifying for the Tournament of Champions at Yale. Congratulations to all of our World Scholars! Last weekend we he...

Head of Senior School - Academic Excellence  for all In a world that often fixates on A* and A grades, it's important to remember that success in exams is not solely defined by these top marks. Every student's journey is unique, and their achievements deserve recognition, regardless of the letter on their report card or on an exam transcript.  At DBS, we talk about academic excellence for all and behind every B, C, or D grade, there's often a story of determination, effort, and growth. A story of students who have faced challenges head-on, and strived to improve to reach their potential. Their dedication is a testament to the power of a growth mindset – the belief that abilities can be developed through hard work and perseverance. The importance of these results, therefore, goes beyond the grade itself; it lies in the character and resilience they foster. These students have learned that some setbacks are opportunities for growth, failures are stepping stones to success, an...

Dear DBS Prep Parents, It was great to see many of you this week at our Welcome Events for all sections of the Prep School. I hope the sessions were insightful and an excellent opportunity to get to know your child's new class teacher or form tutor. This year, we included visits for parents to the classrooms and form rooms so that you could see where your children start their school day. For Year 3-6 parents, we were proud to share our newly designed Lower Prep School environment on Floors 5 and 6 of the D3 building. The purpose of the renovation was to create a more mature, calm, and focused learning environment to help inspire our students. We are delighted with how they have responded to the new designs, which feature neutral colours, more natural light, and cosy corners for reading. As the students move through the three sections of the Prep, we hope they feel a sense of growth and excitement to experience the new environment and opportunities available. Despite being early in ...

  Dear Pre-Prep Parents, I hope this newsletter finds you well. It has been an eventful week here in the Pre-Prep, filled with learning and opportunities to strengthen our partnership with you, our wonderful parents. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who attended the two Pre-Prep Parent Workshops this week. Our first workshop focused on your child's reading journey, emphasising the importance of reading and how you can support this journey at home. Reading is a valuable skill that opens up doors to knowledge, imagination, and lifelong learning. When children read, they not only gain knowledge but also develop critical thinking, vocabulary, and communication skills. We encourage you to continue fostering a love for reading in your child's life as it's a gift that keeps on giving. The second workshop was designed to provide insights into our use of Tapestry, explaining its purpose and how you can access it at home. We believe that strong relationships a...

Celebrating Success at DBS Denla British School!  IGCSE and AS Level results are in, and our students have truly shined bright. Congratulations to all the hardworking minds for achieving remarkable milestones. Your dedication and determination inspire us all. Here's to the next chapter of your academic journey!  Congratulations to our remarkable DBS students for conquering your IGCSE exams with determination and excellence. Here's to the bright futures ahead!  Congratulations to our remarkable DBS students for conquering your AS-LEVELS exams with determination and excellence. Here's to the bright futures ahead!

 Huge congratulations to the brilliant minds of the DBS Team during the Bangkok Global Round! 🌟 They've secured their spot in Tournament of Champion of the World Scholar's Cup at Yale University from 2-8 November 2023, and we couldn't be prouder.   Student’s individual performance: 🥇21 Gold Medals Vincenzo (1) Jani (1) Puth (3) Baiploo (1) Charming (3) Lene (3) Ethan (4) Aom (5) 🥈 28 Silver Medals Porsche (1) Vincenzo (1) Jani (3) Puth (3) Baiploo (4) Charming (3) Lene (3) Ethan (5) Aom (5) Next Station YALE University🌟📖✨

Senior School CAT4 - The what and why? As parents, we often hear about standardized tests and assessments that our children undergo during their school years. One such assessment that DBS has just done for Years 9 and 11 is the Cognitive Abilities Test Fourth Edition (CAT4). It's essential to understand that CAT4 is not just another test; it serves the main purpose in helping teachers support your child's learning journey. CAT4 is designed to provide educators with valuable insights into a student's cognitive abilities. These abilities encompass reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Unlike traditional exams that measure subject knowledge, CAT4 assesses how well your child can process and apply information across various subjects. To this end, the primary purpose of CAT4 is to identify a student's strengths and areas that may need improvement in terms of cognitive abilities. Armed with this information, teachers can tailor their teaching methods to me...

  The Year 13 students at DBS School have been developing themselves into potential great global leaders, guided by a sense of purpose, a strong connection to their community, and a clear vision of their life's direction. In their pursuit of personal growth, these students have embarked on a journey of self-discovery. They have taken the time to delve into their own values and passions, exploring what truly matters to them. This introspection has provided them with a solid foundation upon which to build their leadership qualities. Moreover, these students haven't limited their aspirations to personal success alone. They've actively engaged in community-based initiatives, demonstrating their commitment to making a positive impact on those around them. Whether it's volunteering, mentoring, or leading various projects, their dedication to their community is evident. The Year 13s at DBS are not just striving for personal achievement; they are on a mission to contribute posi...

Year 13 students recently participated in the SIMFA Foundation's Stock Market Game, a learning opportunity where they get to explore the world of investing without using real money. The winning team from DBS was Yoyo, Bambam, Mark, Pinky, and Namphung. Out of 119 schools worldwide, they secured an impressive 25th place. This achievement not only reflects their dedication but also signifies the valuable financial skills they are developing. The Stock Market Game is helping them understand money, manage risks, and make informed choices, setting them on a path toward a brighter financial future. We are proud of their success and look forward to seeing how their newfound knowledge and skills will benefit them in the years to come.

SONGS IN CONVERSATION - A VIDEO SERIES This term, Mr Ang launches a new initiative with our Music scholars, introducing a series called "Songs in Conversation". The project features vocal renditions that blend popular songs in a dialogue format. Our first episode stars Pinky (Year 13), presenting a harmonious fusion of "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman and "How Far I'll Go" from Moana.  New episodes will be unveiled weekly, so make sure to follow @dbsbangkok.music  on Instagram for the latest updates. DJ'ING ASA LAUNCH Who says humanities and music don't mix? Introducing Mr Apter: by day, he's head of the Humanities faculty, by night, he's the DJ spinning the decks! Join our new DJ'ing ASA and see what happens when textbooks meet turntables.  The DJ'ing ASA is another new addition to the Music department's extensive provision of after-school activities. For more information, please contact our Performing Arts Faci...

  WACKY WEAVING IN "Y2 HEDGEHOG" Weaving is one of the oldest forms of art and has been used for thousands of years to create fabrics and decorations. In Y2 Hedgehog, the children were shown how to weave using colourful strips of paper. Careful cutting, wacky designs and lots of FUN... Well done, Hedgehogs!

Our Smartest Artists ASA had an inspiring journey last week, delving into the captivating world of color theory and distinguishing warm from cool colors. This week, they took their creativity to new heights, crafting self-portraits infused with a 3D element—balloon bubbles, which added a dynamic twist to their artwork. The students' remarkable enthusiasm and their ability to absorb artistic concepts with open hearts and minds continue to impress. With their passion for art shining brightly, we're eagerly anticipating the amazing projects that lie ahead in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more artistic magic! 🌈🎨🎈

It has been another busy week in the Dragonfly class, full of new learning and exploration. In math, we've enthusiastically explored sorting techniques, working together to categorize various items. PE class with Mrs P has been a blast, keeping our Dragonflies active and full of energy. We've also begun our adventure with 'Owl Babies,' uncovering intriguing facts about owls, such as their nests and nocturnal habits. We're excited to continue our exploration of phonics and math in the coming week.

  What a brilliant week we are having! In maths we have been looking at ordering numbers and using the vocabulary “greater than” and “less than”! In English we have turned into detectives and have been trying to figure out the mystery person that caused a terrible problem one night! The children have completed some fantastic writing all about our mystery figure "Goldilocks". Thank you for your continued support!

  Another lovely week has gone by in the Caterpillar class with the children beginning their new Talk for Write topic. We had lots of fun talking about feathers and nests and owls after we discovered these items had been left in our room on Tuesday. They enjoyed building nests out of lots of different things in the classroom and talking about what the best kind of nest would be for an owl living in a tree. In Maths we began to look at matching objects together and played snap and matching pairs throughout the week. The children are beginning to talk more about their emotions and feelings at different times of the day and are able to recognise when they are feeling tired or hungry and how that makes them feel. They have used their pictures and our ‘zones of regulation’ to illustrate this in the classroom. Finally we have spent time talking about our class promises and how important they are as they link to our school values. We have especially focused on the value of ‘Generosity’ by...

  The Jellyfish Class has had a fabulous week, with our first proper swimming class the children were happily splashing about and most left on a high. The transitions between inside and outside play are becoming much smoother and everybody is much calmer, more engaged, and happier in the Early Years Garden. The children have been exploring their outside environment more and more. Finding new ways to build, problem solve, and work together. I have also seen the children building friendships and strengthening old ones. There have been lots of imaginary play and new games in the classroom.

  We have had a great week in the Sunflower Class and are very proud of how independent the children are starting to become. Now the children feel more comfortable in their environment and we have been able to explore the school beyond the Mini Dragon area. On Tuesday we had a great visit to the library where the children loved exploring the space and the books on offer. They also all choose one book to take home. On Wednesday we ventured outside to the Early Years garden where the children were very adventurous, exploring the environment and all the wonderful resources. On Thursday and Friday morning we joined Mr Gower for music sessions and the children are already starting to learn some songs and join in with the actions. Well done Sunflower Class. We hope you all have a relaxing weekend and we look forward to seeing you next week. Miss Cullen, Miss O, Miss Ploy and Miss Taryna.

This week in the Woodpecker Class the children have been busy solving problem of who caused a terrible mess at DBS last week. After looking at all the evidence, the children successfully identified that it was in fact Goldilocks! They created wanted posters to help catch her and thought carefully about what questions they wanted to ask her. To end the week, as a class, the children helped create a story map for Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In Maths, the children have continued their learning of comparing numbers and have began to look at ordering numbers correctly. It has been a busy week full of learning - well done Woodpeckers!

  In our third week, many Sea Turtles have shown that they feel settled and comfortable in and around the school environment. Lots of children are starting to show more independence; remembering their friends names now, and are beginning to show good sharing and turn taking skills. We have started our new topic and story called “Dear Zoo” and learning about what different animals look and act like. We have seen more of the school this week, including the swimming pool where we did our best swimming for the first time altogether! In PE, we showed great bravery completing an obstacle course, and were excited to take books home from the library for the first time. What a great week!

  What an action-packed week it has been in Seahorse Class! This week we started our first Talk for Write text ‘Dear Zoo’. The children loved reading the story and interacting by guessing which animal is in which box. Building upon our story, we delved into a world of animals at the zoo by exploring the sounds they make, their patterns and their footprints. We also had our first swimming lesson where the children swam like real Seahorses in the water! Alongside this, we have introduced the 'Zones of Regulation' to help the children recognise and communicate their emotions. We look forward to more discoveries and fun activities next week.

  We have had an amazing week in Pufferfish class! We have been reading 'Dear Zoo', and loved creating the different animals, including scary snakes, fierce lions and tall giraffes. We have acted out the story, pretending to be the animals and can even start to retell the story, using our story map to help us. Pufferfish children have enjoyed exploring our senses using foam, spaghetti and playdough to find soft, slimy, and smelly things. We also had our very first swimming lesson which was AMAZING! We had a great time kicking our legs around and using the noodles to help us swim around. Another fantastic week, well done Pufferfish!!

Well done, Butterfly class for another brilliant week of learning and new adventures! This week we began looking at the story 'Owl Babies'. The children found some twigs and leaves and feathers scattered around the classroom and they were all so intrigued to find out where they had come from. The intrigue has led to some fantastic conversations around what birds look like and why they prefer to come out at night time. This week in maths, we have been exploring the concept of the 'same' and 'different'. The children really enjoyed working with their friends to find things in our environment that were the same. Enjoy a restful weekend everyone. Mrs Grassi x

This week in Fox class, we have been learning to partition two digit numbers in a variety of ways. In English we have been learning our story map for Little Red Riding Hood and have spent some time creating our own characters for when we write our stories next week. Finally in Science, we compared what humans need to survive in two contrasting environments. 

 

Who says humanities and music don't mix? Introducing Mr Apter: by day, He's head of the Humanities faculty, by night, he's the DJ spinning the decks! Join our new DJ'ing ASA and see what happens when textbooks meet turntables.

Miss Cleugh played in the North-East England Performance Academy in the UK as well as being invited to National Trials and being the coach of U19 high performance squads. Miss Cleugh brings a wealth of Netball experience as we have identified it as a sport that we believe is growing rapidly in Bangkok and South-East Asia and something we could excel at.

At DBS, our teachers are always thriving and developing their practices to provide our children with the very best of the British Curriculum. Our Pre-prep and Y3-4 teachers participated in three days training of Read Write Inc. directly from the UK to ensure they can deliver the best teaching!