Secondary School Update (8 September 2023)

We are immensely grateful to the dedicated teachers who were all present, answering questions and sharing their profound passion for their subject areas. The contributions of our students, who led learning walks and provided translation services, also exemplified the inclusive and welcoming environment we strive to foster.

A reminder about the upcoming year-level residential trips for students in Years 7 to 12, when we embark on enriching expeditions through Vietnam. These trips align closely with our core aims of fostering challenge, bonding, self-discovery, and community service. Students will be exposed to a range of carefully curated activities designed to push their boundaries and promote personal growth. Through shared experiences, students will forge lasting connections and develop a sense of unity. Moreover, these trips offer an invaluable opportunity for self-reflection and exploration, enabling students to discover their strengths and passions. By engaging in community service initiatives, students will cultivate a deeper understanding of global citizenship. Get ready for an unforgettable journey of discovery and impact.

Chris Newman

Head of Secondary

Key Dates

• 13th September: Tutor Connect Day 
• 29th September: Moon Festival Assembly 
• 5th October: Year 9 + 11 Options Evening 
• 7th October: International Festival
• 16th-20th October: Holiday 
• 31st October-3rd November: Residential Trips 

Pastoral Update

Year 7 have had a fantastic start to life in Secondary school so far, and myself and the tutor team are incredibly proud of how they have settled in. They have approached the year so far with positive and proactive attitudes and have brought enthusiasm and energy to their lessons and their tutor groups. You can see in these photographs how this enthusiasm has been displayed in the tutor photograph challenge!

In Well-Being, students have started to engage in discussions around self-esteem, organization, time management, mindfulness, and resilience and are learning to think even more deeply about some of the challenges they may face in their time at secondary school. They are building more meaningful friendships with their peers and ensuring that new students and teachers feel that BIS is truly a place to belong.

In other news, I attended the pre-trip visit to Mai Chau and couldn’t be more excited about the Year 7 trip at the end of October. It was a fantastic day in a beautiful place, and the opportunities that will be presented to the year group during the trip are phenomenal! You can see some snapshots of my day in these photographs too.

I am so pleased with the progress already made by our Year 7 students, and I envision a wonderful year to come!

Ms. Byron 

Head of Year 7

Secondary Learning Showcase

Science

In Science this week, Year 11 students were given the opportunity to review their learning from Year 10 through a practical involving a heart dissection. The students were able to identify various components of the heart and were amazed when actualizing what the structures looked like. Mr. Wilson was impressed with how focused, inquisitive and engaged the students were in this activity.

English 

Following the start of the year, Key Stage 3 students have commenced their library and reading lessons. As part of their regular timetable in English, students spend one lesson per fortnight in the library reading and choosing new books to read. In English, we know that reading for pleasure has enormous benefits for students. These range from health benefits, such as better sleep or feeling more relaxed, to academic ones, such as having a broader vocabulary and better comprehension skills, which can help students understand texts, not just in English but in all their subjects.

For this reason, in Years 7–9, all students are assigned one hour per week of reading homework. Our expectation is that this is the minimum a student should be reading during the week. Encouraging children to read frequently at home is hugely beneficial for all students, not just the younger ones. Please help us support your child in developing positive reading habits at home.

Mr. Hoare 

Head of English

University Guidance

More than 120 students and parents across Years 11 to 13 visited BIS Hanoi on Wednesday, September 6, to meet and interact directly with representatives from the Yonsei University Admissions Office, one of the top 3 universities in Korea. Yonsei University is ranked 76th in the world and 1st among Asian private universities, according to the QS World University Rankings 2024.

Mr. Noh Minchul, Admissions Officer at Yonsei University, presented to BIS Hanoi students and parents, showcasing the options for Korean students on the 3-year and 12-year special admissions tracks. In the next room, Mr. Park Taehyung, Admissions Officer at Underwood International College (UIC), the special college of Yonsei University that teaches courses in English, gave a presentation to non-Korean BIS Hanoi students about their options at Yonsei.

Overall, the session with Yonsei University was a huge success; students and parents received invaluable information during the session.

Feel free to directly reach out to Yonsei’s Admission Officer Danny (ysadms@yonsei.ac.kr) and Underwood International College's (UIC) Admission Officer Mr. Park (uicadm@yonsei.ac.kr). You can also follow Yonsei University Admission Office’s Instagram (@yonsei.admissions) and send a direct message to receive an answer to your specific question.

University Guidance at BIS Hanoi works to guide students to find their best-fit university pathway. Feel free to contact University Guidance Counselor Mr. Joe Mckinney (joe.mckinney@bishanoi.com) or visit the office at S111.

Mr. Mckinney 

University Guidance Counselor