Secondary School Updates (09 September 2022)

Key Dates | Secondary Learning Showcase

Weekly update from Head of Secondary

Dear Parents,

Next week we will introduce an initiative called Tutor Connect. This is a new event that aims to more closely connect students and parents with the school. We know that educational success is a collaborative effort that puts the young person's wellbeing, motivation, and performance first.

These sessions will focus on the "student" and what their targets are both inside and outside of the classroom, and strategies to support them to achieve their goals both at home and in school will be discussed. There will also be an opportunity later in the academic year to have performance-related conversations with subject teachers.

Students will attend these sessions along with parents and Form Tutors. While we highly recommend that parents attend in person, there is an online alternative.

Please check your email for more details and directions as to how to log in and make an appointment. If you have any questions, please contact the Secondary Office at secondaryoffice@bishanoi.com.

Next week's Tutor Connect Sessions:

• Year 8 - Monday, September 12th 
• Year 7 - Tuesday, September 13th 
• Year 10 - Wednesday, September 14th 
• Year 12 - Thursday, September 15th

Key Dates

• Week beginning 19 September: Year 11 + 13 Progress Tests 

• Week beginning 19 September: Language Week 

• Monday 26 September: Co-curricular Activities start 

• Thursday 6 October: Year 9 and 11 Options Evening 

• Saturday 8 October: International Festival

• Week beginning 10 October: International Week 

Secondary Learning Showcase

MFL | Computer Science

MFL  

On the 14th September, the MFL department will be hosting its yearly Sixth Form Lectures provided by the Association for Language Learning. This year the lectures will be held in person from 3:10-4:30. These lectures provide our Year 12 and 13 students a chance to delve into a specific area of Francophone or Hispanic culture with the focus of: 

• Spanish: Regional Identity in Spain delving into the languages, culture, and geography.  
• French: Women in French cinema. 

The event will give our students a great foundation of cultural knowledge which is necessary for their IB course as well as exposing them to 50 minutes of target language which is fantastic input for their language development. Furthermore, the students will have a chance to taste authentic French and Spanish snacks.  

As a department we are extremely excited to host these workshops and look forward to welcoming our Year 12 and 13 language students. 

Whole school Computer Science

Primary and Secondary Computer Science teachers are collaborating this term to enter four teams into The Marvelous Hole-In-One FOBISIA Minecraft competition, which is hosted by Bangkok Pattana School in Thailand, and runs from September 5th  to October 14th . 

The competition requires teams of students from across Asia to create a golf course using Minecraft and their amazing imaginations.  The teams are entered in three age groups (8–9, 10–11, and 12–13). We are very pleased to say that interest has been so high that BIS Hanoi has teams in all three categories, and in fact, two in the 10-11 category. 

The CS team kicked off the competition on Tuesday 30th August, with an audience of some 46 students who were dedicated enough to have a working lunch of sandwiches and watermelon as Mr. Labelle and I explained the rules and aims of the competition.

There is a great deal of excitement amongst the teams, and we now wait with baited breath to see what amazing golfing creations our students can develop in the few weeks they have.

Good luck, Minecrafters!

Mr. Labelle and Mr. Shepley