Secondary School Update (03 March 2023)

Key dates | Pastoral Update

Weekly update from Head of Secondary

Dear Parents,

The month of March is always one of the busiest in international schools, and BIS Hanoi is certainly no different. The sporting program continues with multiple tournaments and fixtures, including those for our under-13 students, who will head to Thailand on Friday to compete in the FOBISIA tournament. At FOBISIA, we place ourselves against eight other schools from around Asia. FOBISIA is a fantastic opportunity for our students, and we send teams to several FOBISIA tournaments at various age levels throughout the year.

U13 FOBISIA Team 2023 | BIS Hanoi

This week was also World Book Week. We had fun dressing up as our favorite literary characters on Friday. Students were doing this for house points as well. Most year levels also had a drop everything and read session during morning registration during the week, during which students put down their pens and laptops and read their favorite book.

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As part of book week, we also welcomed local author Ngoc Nguyen to speak to students and teachers on Thursday. Ngoc’s book, Weird Culture Kids, is a memoir of her incredible life living in multiple countries and an exploration of her identities, which cross over into several cultures. Her messages are so important for our students to hear and for our staff to learn more about our students, as many have diverse backgrounds.

Author Ngoc Nguyen visit BIS Hanoi

Book week culminates with an assembly on Friday afternoon for all students, where they work with fellow students in their House on a book week quiz.

This week, we also held parent meetings for students and parents in Years 11 and 13 on the topic of how parents can support their students at home in preparation for success in their examinations. These were well attended, so thank you to all the parents and students who came to the sessions.

We have a range of upcoming events, including Parents Evenings in March, the dates for which you will see below.

Chris Newman

Head of Secondary

Key Dates

4th March: Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition
8th March: Year 12 Parents Evening
14th and 15th March: Juilliard Visit - Dance
14th March: Parent Connect workshop on Sleep
16th March: Year 10 Parents Evening
17th-19th March: Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition
18th and 19th March: Model United Nations Conference at BIS
23rd March: Group 6 IBDP & IGCSE Showcase Event
24th March: End of Term 2

Pastoral Updates

Year 9s have had a strong and eventful beginning to Term 2, with lots of challenging yet enriching activities for their Wellbeing.

Going from strength to strength, Term 2 has shown Year 9's continued improvement in respect towards others, attendance focus, positive and harmonious friendships, working relationships with peers, professional appearance through maintaining a neat and regulation school uniform, and plenty of sporting and physical activity.

As befits maturing young adults at their crucial life stage, Year 9 have also been learning about the human body and healthy sexuality, as well as how to manage themselves and positive relationships with others in a mature, sustainable, and conscientious way. Showing themselves to be characteristically sensitive to others, the Year 9 Form Tutors have been commended for the way they are engaging with our Wellbeing curriculum and dynamic activities.

Year 9 Pastoral | BIS Hanoi

A strong turnout to the Year 9 Parent-Teacher Information Evening allowed many of you to voice your questions about subjects, obtain answers, and obtain helpful tips as to how best to support your child, but most importantly, this evening strengthened the school-student-home partnership that is so essential to BIS.

I am sure that we will see much growth continue from Term 2 into the final term of our year.

Yours sincerely,

Nathan Miller Royters

Head of Year 9, Teacher of English Language & Literature

Secondary School News