When laughter echoes through the campus once more,
When dormitories fill again with suitcases—
We know a new story is about to begin.
Hello, New Students!
On the afternoon of August 31, our new students moved into their dormitories, collected their textbooks, and posed for their first group photos in front of the opening display in the lobby.
Meanwhile, a special "Think & Match" wall was waiting for them on the first floor—with keywords from the DSI Student Outcome, ATL Skills, and the R.I.S.E. values hidden behind each flip card. Students learned as they played, familiarizing themselves with DSI's core values in a relaxed and engaging setting. These weren't just words on a poster; they became cards to touch, clues to piece together in teams, and moments of shared laughter.
Think & Match
Students who completed the challenge also received a 15th Anniversary DSI Arts Gala Night souvenir, designed by DSI students and teachers. Every city featured on it is a place where DSI community members have set foot, lived, and grown.
That evening, we gathered for the Orientation Dinner—clinking glasses and sharing smiles, the distance between new members quietly fading away.
Then came the ice-breaking session. Names we'd only heard hours ago suddenly had faces to match. And just like that, they weren't strangers anymore—they were classmates and buddies.
Together We Begin
On September 1, the DSI community gathered for the Opening Ceremony. As the school anthem played, the new semester officially began—returning students sang with pride, while new faces looked ahead with hope.
Executive Principal Ms Seraphina Chong welcomed everyone to the DSI family. School leaders, joined by SC and House student leaders, presented each new student with a Desheng bear and a welcome gift—a small token of the warmth and belonging that define our community
Our new students also received some practical advice from seniors and teachers on how to thrive at DSI—both in and out of the classroom:
G11 Jun Hao姚钧皓
Drink more water and stay healthy—it's the foundation for good learning.
G8 Prince 王梓涵
For those who don't need a nap at lunchtime, the library is a great spot—quiet, comfortable, and perfect for studying or writing English journals.
These little words of advice, drawn from everyday campus life, carry the warmth of DSI.
We then welcomed seven new teachers to the DSI community with a round of applause. They each came up on stage to share their first impressions of DSI and hopes for the year ahead. This year, our staff team has grown to 109, including seven PhDs—a diverse group of educators from around the world, bringing fresh energy and new perspectives to our learning community.
In front of the eager crowd, Ms Chong unveiled this year's School Theme —
「Dream Big, Reach High」。
敢于梦想，勇于登高
This theme was proposed by students from Grade 8 Helen Keller Class. In a school-wide vote, it received 70 votes from students, parents and teachers, standing out among 49 submissions.
Ms Chong then invited everyone to set bold goals for the new academic year, embrace challenges with courage, and "dare to excel" in all that they do—not just to be good, but to constantly push beyond their own limits.
She also gave a preview of the exciting events lined up for Semester 1: the LEP (Local Experiential Programme), the annual Sports Meet, and Community Day — G.E.T. DSI. These activities, together with our academic curriculum and holistic development programmes, all point to one goal: nurturing students' ATL skills—critical thinking, communication, self-management, collaboration, and reflection—empowering them to become the lifelong learners envisioned in the IB Learner Profile.
Ms Chong also extended a special invitation to all students: The DSI Arts Gala Night student organising committee is still open for recruitment. This showcase will take place in Semester 2, and we're looking for students to get involved in every stage—from planning to execution. It's a chance to take ownership, bring your ideas to life, and grow along the way.
At the ceremony, Ms Chong also outlined two key priorities for the new academic year: developing students' ATL skills and enabling an English Learning Environment. This involves embedding the CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency) framework and designing layered language scaffolds, so that language becomes a vehicle for cognitive growth—not just a tool for subject learning.
"Dream Big, Reach High, Dare to Excel." With this clear vision, the entire DSI community is ready to embark on the journey ahead.
Exploration Starts Now
On September 1, DSI Exploration Week (DEW) officially kicked off for students in Grades 7, 9, 10 PP, and 11.
These year groups mark important transitions—some are moving up from primary to secondary, while others are entering the crucial DP preparatory year. DEW is designed to help them settle in quickly during the first week, find their rhythm, and start the new phase with confidence.
Subject departments introduced students to the core framework of their courses—what they would learn, how they would learn it, and why it matters—helping them build a mental map of the year ahead and see that subjects are not isolated silos, but interconnected and mutually inspiring.
Meanwhile, the PCCG curriculum embedded the core attributes of the IB Learner Profile into daily activities, using group discussions and collaborative tasks to help students navigate new environments and challenges with confidence, strategies, and peer support.
Before the New Semester Began
The excitement of a new school year doesn't just happen on stage.
On August 25 and 26, DSI held its Start of Year Seminar. Divisional, subject, and Corporate Communications teams came together to review last year's teaching practices through the Inquiry, Action, Reflection (IAR) cycle. They also mapped out the direction for the new academic year around three priority areas. Division and department leaders actively inquired into one another's practices and proposed cross-departmental and interdisciplinary collaboration.
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On August 27, we warmly welcomed our new teachers. Then, at the Staff Meeting on August 29, all faculty worked together to explore the use of CALP and language in English-medium subject teaching, emphasizing the need to cultivate language awareness and design instruction with layered scaffolding, in alignment with Approaches to Learning.
On August 30 and 31, student leaders from the Student Governing Council came together for a two-day Mid-Year Review. Guided by their motto— "Roots Deep, Reach Wide" —they used SWOT analysis and cross-group peer reviews to honestly assess their work from the past semester, turning feedback into concrete action plans for the term ahead.
From teachers to student leaders, everyone was preparing in their own way—to welcome you.
Dream Big, Reach High
Here's to the first day—and to all the days ahead.
Dream Big, Reach High, Dare to Excel.
Welcome back, and welcome aboard. 🌍
