Secondary School Updates (9 December 2022)

Key Dates | Pastoral Update | Secondary Learning Showcase

Weekly update from Head of Secondary

Dear Parents,

This week we held our Secondary School production of Chicago. This production is almost two years in the making, due to the disruptions of COVID-19.  

The dedication and hard work shown by the 91 students involved and the 15 teachers leading and supporting is shown in the outstanding performances and quality of the production.  

There is no greater example of the value of investment of time and resources in the performing arts than the production that we have seen this week. There's a school we are committed to offering our students a wide variety of experiences. The learning that occurs here at bis Hanoi is not just limited to the classroom, but extends into multiple other disciplines. it's so wonderful about a production like Chicago is it involves so many different kinds of skill sets including:  acting, dance, music, lighting technology, sound technology, and many others.   

The students involved will end this production with lifelong memories and will feel a strong sense of confidence that they can achieve anything. All those involved should feel an enormous sense of pride for their efforts.   

Chris Newman 

Head of Secondary

Key Dates

• Wednesday 14th December: Winter Concert 

• Friday 16th December: Principal Award's Assembly

Pastoral Update

This has been a time of preparing for change for the Sixth Form students. As Year 13 approach their trial exams in January, and the number of coursework deadlines decreases, their thoughts will be going to the final exams and their futures beyond those. Visits from universities and discussions about gap years, as well as presentations on independent living have been helping the students to frame in their minds an idea of what is important for them. As they approach their final two terms in school they are also getting ready to pass responsibility over to Year 12, in particular in terms of student leadership. 

The process of selecting the new student leadership team (the Prefect Committee) is long and complicated, but the majority of it is now complete. Year 12 students who wanted to follow in the footsteps of their current Head Students, completed letters of application and curriculum vitae, made election videos and had interviews with a staff member and current student leader. Votes cast by the rest of the student body, based on their videos, are also being considered, so that student voice is strongly considered in deciding student leadership. In January the new Head Students, Prefect Committee and House Captains will be finalised, and they will begin the process of creating their teams and setting their own agendas. As always, this process of renewal is one that is bittersweet – especially in this case as the current student leadership team had their tenure cut short by the pandemic and online schooling. However, they should be justly proud of how visible they have been, and how active they have been in this short time. 

As always in times of change or high pressure, it is our connections that see us through and strengthen us to help deal with challenges with resilience. Most recently the Sixth Form students in both year groups competed in a sporting event, the Sixth Form Olympics, to help bond the tutor groups together and create a sense of fun and competition. Events like this help our students to see a different side of school, away from work and academic studies, and genuinely nurture a sense of belonging. These have been ongoing themes for the outgoing Year 13 Prefect Committee in their motivation behind various projects, and I hope it is one we will continue into the new term. 

Rob Airdrie

Head of Sixth Form

Learning Showcase 

Computer Science | MFL

Computer Science

Boys vs girls in the world series of OOP!   

Year 13 submitted finally their Internal Assessments on 1st December and, with the pain of the last 8 months’ work behind them, we now focus on the three Rs...Review, Revision and Reinforcement! We are approaching this using past IB exam papers to hone our ability to interpret questions and then express concise and accurate answers. In this week’s lessons, the group were given control of which topics to re-visit and there was unanimous agreement to focus initially on developing algorithms in Pseudocode.  A series of programming challenges were issued and to add a competitive element, we decided to split the group into male and female teams. 

I was very impressed by the gusto with which the students set about this task; amidst the friendly rivalry there was so much evidence of their strengthening knowledge and skill, but also their openness to listen to each other’s ideas and learn from them. There was clear evidence of social constructivism (Vygotsky, 1962) in action, and happily the outcomes were pretty much even. Good job, Year 13! 

Rob Shepley 

Head of Computer Science 

MFL

Year 13 Language B 

Aside from bringing our first term to a close, our Y13 Language B are preparing for their trial exams in January. In addition to their usual cultural discoveries about the target cultures, Y13 have been preparing for IB reading, listening and writing. Our Language B students also sat through a trial oral exam, which led them to fully prepare for their final speaking. Speaking in a foreign language is a tremendously challenging and rewarding exercise, as being pushed out of one’s comfort zone, one can fully appreciate how one’s knowledge has grown over time. The IB Orals are quite a demanding task, as it involves a picture description and conversation, where students can explore different points of views and perspectives. Nevertheless, our Y13 have enthusiastically overcome this challenge and will perform outstandingly in their final oprals. 

With the trial exams around the corner, students will continue preparing for this challenge in a way that promotes reflection and meticulous appreciation of each skill and exam requirements. This process will allow them to perform and stretch their abilities to allow them to give their best. We wish them all the best and, of course, a Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad and Joyeux Noël.