Primary Weekly Update 18/02/2022

It has been a week of high excitement and joy across both primary campuses as we were finally able to welcome students back on site!

We have been delighted to see the children back at school this week and have been very impressed with how they have come back in, with lots of energy and enthusiasm and ready to begin face to face learning. 

We recognise that many children and parents will be feeling nervous but please be rest assured that, as a school, we are doing all we can to ensure the safety of our students and BIS Community. More details can be found below in the Health and Safety section as to how you can play your part in keeping our school safe.

Across the school, there have been many wonderful learning opportunities taking place. From Plant Hunts in Year 1 to learning about the circulatory system in Year 6. Year 3 have been looking at The Name Jar book and doing lots of activities based around this while in EYFS, the children have been settling in, making friends and for many learning their way round their new school including first visits to the library for F1. Year 5 have begun their IPC unit on Space while Year 2 are getting back into the flow of writing! Have a look at the selection of photos to see what learning has been taking place.

Our focus continues to be on making children feel safe and secure and helping them to adjust to life back in the classroom.  Please do contact your child’s class teacher if you have any concerns.

Young Interpreters in action this week!

As part of the return to school, our wonderful BIS Young Interpreters have excitedly welcomed the new students in Year 4 and Year 5 this week. They have enjoyed continuing to build friendships as well as practice those important skills of kindness and care, especially during the challenging time of joining a new school. The Young Interpreters and new Y4 and Y5  students enjoyed a treasure hunt across the Junior Campus. This gave all new students in these year groups an opportunity to learn about the important locations across the school! It was a fun activity for all and we look forward to helping our new students settle into the BIS community in the coming days and weeks.

Mr Luke Neville, Assistant EAL Leader

Black History Month

During February, we are celebrating Black History Month at BIS. Throughout history, people have been treated differently because of the colour of their skin. Black people were not seen as equal and were not treated in the same way as white people.  For example, they had to sit in different seats on a bus or public places like the cinema. They were even made to go to separate schools.  At BIS we are global citizens of the world, so we need to make sure that everyone, of every race and colour, is celebrated and represented! This week, we have read lots of stories about Black characters and real Black people from history. We've been listening and thinking about music from Black artists and discussing amazing Black athletes who are using their talents to help change the world!

Ms Victoria and Ms Aziza, Equality and Engagement Champions

Book Day Dress Up Day

We are excited to let you know that Thursday 3rd March is World  Book Day. During that week, we will be having our own celebration of Books here at BIS.  Everyone at BIS is invited to dress up as a book character. Please start thinking about your costume and we look forward to ‘meeting’ a fantastic assortment of characters.

Uniform Expectations

A reminder about the expectations for uniform and shoes as we are back on campus;

• All children should be wearing black shoes.
• Socks should be white, black or grey in colour.
• All children with long hair should have it tied back neatly.
• Children should not be wearing jewellery except small stud earrings. Any exceptions due to faith or other, should be discussed with the class teacher.
• Smart watches that can act as telephones are not allowed.

Many thanks for your support.

Health and Safety Updates - Important - Please read!

Good afternoon everyone! I would like to start off by echoing what Ms Dee has already highlighted; it has been fabulous to have the children back on our campuses this week. The mood around the school has lifted incredibly, and of course children have that effect on us! I would like to thank you all for the support you have provided in ensuring we were able to have children back safely, but also in keeping with the current Decrees from both the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and the Department of Education and Training (DOET) of Thu Duc City and the Ministry of Health. In fact, our preparedness far exceeds any expectations put on us by these organisations.

 Moving forward, we need to be working even closer as a community to ensure our campuses are as safe as possible, and the first line of defence starts at home with your family. We urge you to always monitor the health of your family and keep children off school if they are displaying any of the symptoms from the parent guidance booklet linked below. Please ensure that you are informing the office of either campus of any concern you have at home with the health of your child, and include the Health and Safety Leads of each campus (EYIC Ms Sarah Curran sarah.curran@bisvietnam.com  and JC Mr Chris McKelvie Christopher.mckelvie@bisvietnam.com  in that email.

It is vital, also, that you inform the office of any positive case within your family – these are called ‘household close contacts’ and children of a household close contact will be required to remain off school until such a time as a negative PCR is provided to the campus nurse. Whilst we do not expect this, it is highly recommended that you have a supply of Rapid Antigen Tests at hand and that you use them regularly within your family.

There will also be instances where we will require a contact trace of those children who might be a close contact (F1) of a positive case (F0) that does present at school. In this instance, school will inform you of the next steps in making sure that your own children are kept as safe as possible, as well as the rest of the BIS HCMC Community. These steps will differ depending on the campus your child attends. If, at any time, you are unsure of what the expectations are, or how we are keeping our campuses safe, please refer to the Parent Guidance booklet here, or indeed contact either Sarah or myself at any time. Keep safe, and enjoy the wonderful weekend with your families!

Mr Chris McKelvie and Ms Sarah Curran, Deputy Headteachers

Early Years Car Park

We are really sad to inform you that from the week of the 28th February, BIS will no longer have access to the car park. We are working with the company to see what arrangements we can make with the car park across the road to help parents with parking. More details will follow next week.

To help the change of routine from Monday 21st February F1 and F2 children with their parents will be able to enter from Gate A. There will be a designated path for you to follow up to the F1 and F2 playgrounds.

F3, Year 1 and Year 2 children will continue to enter from Gate B. We have narrowed the barriers to create more space for bikes.

Ms Sarah Curran, Deputy Headteacher

EYI Pick Up

We have staggered pick up to help with congestion in the playground.

Please can we ask you not to arrive early and once you have picked up your child/children please leave the playground so we can follow the 5K.

Please can I also remind all parents that the climbing frame at the end of the day is not to be used.

Ms Sarah Curran, Deputy Headteacher

How BIS HCMC Student Nini helped mark 75 years of UNICEF

Here at BIS HCMC we take great joy in our Nord Anglia collaborations with pioneering institutions such as MIT, Juilliard and of course the humanitarian aid organisation, UNICEF. This partnership seeks to empower our student changemakers and provides them with priceless opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required to make positive change within their communities.

Read on to find out how Year 12 student Nini Pham represented BIS HCMC.

03/03/22                     PTG Coffee Morning tbc

03/03/22                     Book Day at BIS

24/03/22 - 30/03/22   EY&I School photos

And Finally…

We have postponed the Virtual PTG Coffee Morning till later in the term and the date will be confirmed.  Our focus this week is to ensure everyone is back in school safely.

Additionally, we will begin Co-Curricular lunch activities at the Junior Campus next week These will be organised in line with covid safety protocols. And sign up will be done internally so no need for parents to do anything at this stage. At this time we cannot proceed with activities at the Early Years and Infant campus due to Covid restrictions but as soon as we can move forward, we will update you.

Wishing you all a happy and safe weekend.  Please do remember to keep your children at home if they are not feeling well or exhibit any possible covid symptoms.  We would also strongly encourage our BIS Community to test regularly using RAT tests.

Kindest regards,

Ian Battersby & Deirdre Grimshaw, Headteachers