Mr Simon Higham: Weekly Update 18/05/18 | BIS HCMC - mr-simon-higham-weekly-update-18-05-18
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BIS HCMC
18 May, 2018

Mr Simon Higham: Weekly Update 18/05/18

Mr Simon Higham: Weekly Update 18/05/18 | BIS HCMC - mr-simon-higham-weekly-update-18-05-18
Mr Simon Higham: Weekly Update 18/05/18

This week, our parents and teachers came together and celebrated the many successes of our PTG over the last 12 months. For me, the PTG epitomises the spirit of community within BIS HCMC. It helps to bring together our children, parents, teachers and community as a whole to celebrate what is special about our school.

PTG Coffee Morning 179505

Last year, the following events took place because of the PTG:

  • 3 Discos (one per term)
  • 2 Newcomers Orientation (Term 1 and 2)
  • 2 Coffee Mornings (Term 1 and 2 - joint with Seniors)
  • 2 Newcomers Bus Tours (Term 1 and 2 - joint with Seniors)
  • 1 Charity Bake Sale (joint with Seniors)
  • 1 Social Night
  • 1 Teacher’s Day Breakfast
  • 2 School Fairs (Family Evening and Spring Fair)
  • International Week

2 projects that last the whole school year:

  • Saturday Football Training (including 1 tournament)
  • Re-used Uniform Project

Class and Country Reps coordinated by the PTG:

  •  34 Country Reps
  •  65 Class Reps

For parents who could not attend, we have linked the presentations for you to look over:

PTG AGM – full presentation

One More Used – upcycling uniform project presentation

Under the leadership and guidance of all of the PTG volunteers, events such as the one shown above happened. I would like to firstly thank all parents across our school who have given their time and effort to help us grow and develop the PTG this year.

Secondly, I would like to encourage all parents from our community to consider and reflect upon how you could give time to our PTG. Currently, we are looking for parents to step forward and volunteer for the following key positions across Primary:

  • PTG Coordinator (replacing Nicky)
  • PTG Assistant Coordinator (replacing Nandini)
  • Class & Country Representative Coordinator (replacing Leanne)
  • Treasurer position (replacing Kate)
  • Saturday Morning Football (SMF) Coach/Leader (replacing Andy)

If you are interested or need more information please e mail bisvnptgap1@gmail.com or feel free to talk to Nicky Green, Nandini Varma, Leanne Horridge or Kate Parratt.

In order for our PTG to move forward, why not step forward and give a short amount of time each week to help. Please remember that a little of your time will go a long way and it’s a great way to meet new people from different places and have a huge amount of fun along the way.

Get involved – you’ll not regret it!

I hope that you enjoy reading through the many learning opportunities from across the Junior Campus and Whole School this week and I hope that you get into the Royal Wedding spirit this weekend. Enjoy the pomp and ceremony but above all, share it together as a family. Have a great weekend.

Year 6 Visit Minh Long Pottery

Year 6 Minh Long Trip 14

On Monday, Year 6 children visited Minh Long Pottery in Binh Duong province as a part of their Vietnamese culture lessons. Before the visit, the children have been learning all about pottery and designed the patterns to decorate their own pottery products. 

Binh Tho Life Skills Lessons – taking learning beyond the classroom

IMG_5257

BIS HCMC have had the pleasure of working with Binh Tho School for the past 5 years. Binh Tho children visit us throughout the year and take part in a number of different activities with our students, such as: F3 playdates, Project Impact (Secondary), Friendship club and Busy Hands (Junior).

Read more about how this long term project has positively impacted the learning of our children at BIS HCMC and how this is closely linked to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Quality Education, in this post by Ms Clover Sharman, Community Service Project Manager.

#BISCommunity / Global Goals at BIS HCMC

A Guide to Helping Parents With Picky Eaters

Picky Eaters

Following an excellent health and wellbeing workshop to our Fundinotot and F1 parents this week by Dr Jonathan from Family Medical Practice, read about how you can deal with your child if he/she is a picky eater in this post from Ms Melanie Yates, Speech and Language Therapist at NAE's Dover Court International School Singapore, a member of our Nord Anglia Education family.

BIS Undefeated in Primary TBall Tournament 2018

TBall 2

On Wednesday 9th May, students from the BIS Primary FOBISIA team participated in a Teeball tournament against fellow international schools in Saigon, held here at BIS HCMC. There were two Year 6 teams (A and B) and two Year 5 teams (A and B) with each team having 5 girls and 5 boys. Read about how the team was undefeated throughout this weather affected tournament in this post by Ms Lindsey Shuttleworth, PE Teacher.

U11 A Team:

Joel, Louis, Christian, Rentaro, Mackenzie, Helene, Ida Maya, Mei, Pucca, Naomi

U11 B Team:

Billy, Sam, Maya, William, Kashish, Allen, James K, Aileen, Bao Vanh, Dilani

U10 A Team:

Emma, Jamie, Celina, Ming Yoon, Alex, Nhat Minh, Terra, Dong Hee, Lewis, Edward

U10 B Team:

Xuka, Amelie, Thao Vy, Sarah, Asha, Quoc Huy, Isaiah, Toshi, Cong Danh, David

Congratulations to all who took part.

U11 SISAC Girls Football

This week, our girls’ football teams have been competing hard in the SISAC tournaments that have been held across the city. All of the squads that took part gave their all in the spirit of the game and represented BIS HCMC with a sense of true determination and pride. Many congratulations to all of the girls who took part and thank you for your perseverance and true sporting integrity.

Read more about their experiences in these posts that are linked below.

Click here to read more about the Pool A Fixture

U11 SISAC Girls Football  Pool A 6

Rachel, Mathilde, Jasminh, Sabrina, Khanh Linh, Vivian, Michelle, Chaeyoung, Jenny

Place: 2nd

Click here to read more about the Pool B Fixture.

SISAC U11 Girls Football  10

Min Yoon Tee, Asha ‘The Rock’ Hennessey, Celina Vuu, Thao Vy Nguyen, Emma Green (Capt.), Amelie Audier, Alex Schulz, Jamie Kim, Sarah Choi and Xuka Ko

Place: Champions

Click here to read more about the Pool C Fixture.

IMG_8480

Kashish, Pucca, Helene, Aileen, Bao Van, Maya, Dilani, Mei, Ida Maya and Naomi

Place: 5th

U11 SISAC Boys Football

On Tuesday the Boys U11 football team travelled to SSIS to take on the best teams from around Saigon in the annual City Football Championships. With 5 schools to take on, the boys would have to be at their best.

Click here to read more about the Pool A Fixture.

U11 Boys SISAC Football  Pool A 1

Joel Lau, William Rankin, Allen Wei, Billy Nguyen, Christian Gladchuck, Sam Lyons, Louis De Geer, Mackenzie Batterbee, Rentaro Ohashi and James Kim

Place: Champions

Click here to read more about the Pool B Fixture

U11 SISAC Boys Football  Pool B 4

Edward Burden, Toshi Gotoda, Qouc Huy Nguyen, Isaiah Ng, Cong Danh Pham, Nhat Minh Nguyen, David Hong, Terra Kwon, Lewis Menzies, and Dong Hee Kim

Place: 7th

The Junior Production Club Presents The Jungle Book

Jungle Book  Website

All parents are invited to the upcoming Junior Production of The Jungle Book.

Date: Thursday 24th May
Time: 18.00
Venue: Secondary Campus Auditorium
Free entry and no tickets required

Adapted from the original works of Rudyard Kipling and Disney’s beloved animated film, join Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie and the gang as they swing their way through jungle adventures with “man cub” Mowgli learning exactly what it means to be human.

We are looking forward seeing you there for a great family evening.

A View from the Bridge – you are invited to join

A View from the Bridge1

All parents are invited to the upcoming literacy performance of a View from a Bridge.

Date: Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd May
Time: 17.30
Venue: Secondary Campus Theatre

The play itself is one of Arthur Miller's most famous plays: set in New York, it follows the decline of a tragic hero, Eddie Carbone, as he struggles with conflict, morality, honour and family. Our students have been working incredibly hard to bring this play to life for 7 months and now the time is near for them to take to the stage for two evenings of drama. This play is also incredibly relevant to the study of texts in English as in Year 10, students analyse this play in preparation for their IGCSEs making it a text that is significant to all ages.

Tickets are currently being sold at BIS Secondary Campus reception for 50,000 vnd.

Read more about this show and how you can obtain tickets in this post.

We hope to see you there.

Miss Bostock, Miss Davies and the cast of A View from the Bridge

Managing our Traffic Together

Drivers Code of Conduct

Next week, we will be distributing a newly updated Driver’s Code of Conduct to all those who drive to school both at drop off and pick up times. With key information in both English and Vietnamese, we aim to further educate our drivers to make better choices when they enter the areas around our school campuses and within the Thao Dien area as a whole.

Please take time to talk to you drivers about the this and ensure that it is visible in your car at all times. This will serve as a reminder about our expectations for all drivers when they are bringing our children to school in the morning and picking them up at the end of the day.

BIS Night of the Arts – Wednesday 6th June

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BIS Night of the Arts is back! Our Design, Visual and Performing Arts Departments will be opening their doors once again to parents, students, teachers and the local community to showcase a variety of lessons, open rehearsals and performances. 

For all details, please refer to this post from our Secondary Campus colleagues.

Safeguarding at school – it’s everyone’s responsibility

safeguarding poster

If, during your visit to school, you have any reason to be concerned about the safety of a young person, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Person.

Please note that CCTV cameras are in operation at all times across the campus.

PTG Update

PTG Annual General Meeting

We enjoyed listing to the Primary, Senior and ex TX PTG teams talking about their year and seeing the financial reports. We also heard from Bibi and her recycling project and Andy updating us on Saturday Morning Football.  Thanks to all those who came along.  Thanks to Mr Anthony and the Heads of Campuses for joining us and for your continued support. 

New Families Arriving

A huge, warm welcome from the PTG if you are new to the school this term.  Please reach out to us for information (find out what we are about!) or a friendly coffee, we can also put you in contact with your Country Rep.

Please contact us at bisvnptgap1@gmail.com.

International Week

Int Week1

Our International Week is fast approaching and we are looking forward to another great week of learning across both the Early Years and Infants and Junior Campuses. This year, International Week will run from Monday, June 18th till Friday June 22nd 2018.  It promises to be a spectacular week for all.

This year, there will be 3 parades during International Week for the students, one at the Early Years and Infants Campus and two at the Junior Campus. More information relating to these arrangements has been sent to you via email today from Ms Dee and Ms Mary.

We would also like to remind you to send confirmation of countries that would like to perform at one or possibly two of our International Week parades. Please email Ms Dee Deirdre.grimshaw@bisvietnam.com if your country is planning to perform. The strict deadline for confirmation is Friday May 18th2018.

Term 3 Disco

Thursday 14 June – Get your dancing shoes ready! Details out, hot off the press as follows! 

Yr 1 disco. 2.30-3.30 pm EY&I campus, sports hall

Yrs 2 and 3 disco. 2.45-3.45 pm Junior campus, sports hall

Yrs 4, 5 and 6 disco. 4-5 pm Junior campus, sports hall

Tickets on sale from Monday 4 June! 

BIS PTG Flea Market 2018

PTGFleaMarket

 

Saturday Football

football2

Saturday Football will return on Saturday 19th May at the following times:

  • 8.00am – 9.00am on the large field (Years 4, 5 and 6)
  • 9.00am – 10.00am on the small field (Years 2 and 3)

If you are able to help out or would like to find out more about how you can enrol your child, please contact Andy Lyons at the following email address.

Reminders:

*Please remember children need to wear sports kit. 

*Please remember all children need shin pads with football socks to protect their legs. 

*Please remember they must bring a water bottle.

*Hat or cap is optional

*You can buy Football socks from the BIS Uniform Shop, or any sports shop.

*For parents who are unable to stay throughout the whole training, would appreciate to arrive 10 minutes before your children's session ends to pick them.

*Please remind children if they are wearing football boots, they are not allowed in the basketball court and the playground area as their boots might damage the floor surfaces. 

Key Dates for Your Diary

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May
  • Monday 28th – First drafts of class lists for 2018-19 are sent out to parents
June
  • Sunday 3rd – Secondary PTG Flea Market (9.00am – 11.00am)
  • Wednesday 6th – BIS Night of the Arts (Secondary Campus, 6:30pm - 8:00pm)
  • Thursday 14th – PTG Disco
  • Saturday 16th June - Year 6 Moving on Celebration. 
  • Sunday 17th – Club programme ends
  • Monday 18th – Friday 22nd – International Week
  • Friday 29th – Term 3 ends: school finishes at 11.30am

And Finally………

The British International School HCMC is looking to appoint a:

Community Service Project Manager

We are looking to recruit someone with a strong desire to work for a growing organisation who has an affinity with and an interest in education. BIS HCMC is a compassionate supporter of community projects in Vietnam and beyond. Therefore, we are looking for an enthusiastic person to manage community service and extra-curricular projects that have a balanced focus between People, Animals and the Environment.

The person appointed will need to oversee the provision of these projects for Early Years and Infant, Junior and Secondary campuses. A good knowledge of Vietnam and an understanding of the how the school can support community projects is desirable and holding a recognised degree qualification is essential.

A full job description is available on request.

If you are interested please forward a letter of application and full CV  which must include a recent professional photograph and the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current employer to bis.recruitment@bisvietnam.com by Friday 18th May.

NAE BAmin

Mr Simon Higham

Head Teacher, BIS HCMC, Junior Campus