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Dear Parents,
There has been such a positive atmosphere this week across the Secondary Campus as students returned for Term 3. With almost 100% attendance in each year group, there is a palpable sense that we have overcome the periods of challenge of this academic year and we can now look forward with optimism to a rich, varied and full term across all areas of school life.
This week has certainly been a momentous one in the lives of our Year 13 students, who this afternoon finished their last ever school day- reaching a significant milestone in their lives.
As they embark on their IB Diploma examinations, which commence next week, I know the whole school community joins me in wishing them all the very best for the coming period for which they have worked so very hard. It was lovely to be able to share their last day with so many Year 13 Parents at the Leavers Assembly and for our Year 7 students to raise the roof with a congratulatory round of applause. It was such a moving event and a fitting end to their BIS journey. Please see in this week’s update a flavour of the highlights of their last week from our Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Hall- including the visit by a group of our Year 13 students to the Early Years Campus where their BIS journey began some 16 years ago.
You will also find below an update on the current picture in relation to Covid vaccinations, the latest decree ending online learning, and other educational updates.
Lastly, I would like to draw your attention to the PTG social event on Wednesday 27th April from 7-9pm. After such a lengthy absence - this firm favourite of the school calendar is back. I hope you can join fellow parents and teachers for a relaxed evening of good food and conversation. Please see further details below.
My best wishes to you all for a relaxing weekend,
Sean O’Neill
Head of Secondary
Today was the final day of the final school week for our Year 13 students before they begin sitting their final IB examinations. It was full of fun and memorable moments:
Tuesday EY&I Visit
Twenty two Year 13 students began their BIS journey aged 3 years or younger. This accounts for 18% of the year group which is an astonishing figure for an international school. This fact was celebrated with a visit to a Year 2 assembly at the EY&I campus where the Year 2 students shared what they liked the most about BIS. The Year 13 students responded with their view of those areas of BIS along with letting the smaller students know what they were now going to study at university / what career they had in mind.
In the same week that our Year 13 students completed their BIS journey, 17 new F1 students started theirs. We went to visit these students and it was a delight to see the graduating students playing with students who were the same age as when they started school. Some F1 teachers could also remember the Year 13s when they started BIS: there was lots of storytelling, laughter, and selfie taking during this time.
Wednesday Graduation Rehearsal
It is always an excitable time when the Year 13 travel to the Park Hyatt hotel to their graduation rehearsal. The rehearsal is an important event in its own right, as the graduation, which will take place on Saturday May 21st, marks the end of their time as school students.
Thursday Dress Up Day
Dress up Day was great fun from start to finish. We had an abundance of Teletubbies, a couple of Borats, and a whole host of other weird and wonderful costumes. Here is a flavour of what Year 13s looked like
Friday Final Assembly
The final event of the week, for Year 13, was a Farewell Presentation to students and parents, followed by a Final Assembly. The assembly was attended by our Year 7 students who are just beginning their secondary journey. The assembly was opened by Mr O’Neill, included music by the Year 13 musicians, moving speeches from the outgoing Head Students, focussed on some old photographs, and ended with video messages from members of staff. It was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion and a fitting end to the last day of school.
Farewell and good luck Year 13 - we will miss you.
Jane Hall
Head of Sixth Form
Our International Day 2022 was a wonderful celebration of the richness of our diverse BIS community. The day was only possible due to the wonderful efforts of our parents led by our Parent Country representatives. One of our parents,Charu, took some lovely photos throughout the day. I hope you enjoy.
The English Department and the Library are very excited to announce that this year all our Year 9 students will be participating in the Carnegie Medal Shadowing Scheme - a reading for pleasure initiative that engages thousands of students in the UK and around the world in reading a selection of the Carnegie Medal shortlisted books. The Yoto Carnegie Medal is the UK’s longest running and best-loved children’s book award; unique in that it is solely judged by librarians and whose purpose is to recognise outstanding reading experiences for children and young people. Past winners include C.S Lewis, Anne Fine, Philip Pullman and many more great writers. Every pupil will have the opportunity to read this year’s eight shortlisted titles, participate in reading activities, discussions and decide on their favourite book. Reading for pleasure is at the heart of the English Department’s philosophy and we are extremely proud to bring the Shadowing Scheme to BIS.
For more information: https://carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/
It has been very pleasing that as part of the Vietnamese authorities commitment to vaccinate 5-11 year olds, our remaining Year 7 students have this week been able to receive their first vaccinations. This means we have a fully vaccinated community on the Secondary Campus. There is at this stage no information regarding booster vaccinations for 12-18 year olds, as always we will update as and when we have new information.
As per decree 548/UBND-VX issued by the People’s Committee of HCMC, all students in HCMC are now expected to attend school in person. There is no longer the option to access learning from home. This is a recognition from the authorities that schools are safe places, and here at BIS, we continue to meet the highest expectations in terms of Health and Safety protocols.
As such, there will no longer be online learning offered to students across all 3 BIS HCMC campuses.
Please note, while we understand that travel has been difficult for the last few years, we will, moving forward, expect all children to attend school as per the term dates and ask all parents to plan holidays around school holidays only in order to minimise disruptions to learning.
For students that remain at home with Covid, as with other illnesses, we encourage the children to rest and recover whilst absent from school, and if able, access school work via Google Classroom when feeling better.
Vaccinated students that are household contacts can attend school whilst monitoring symptoms and testing negative on Days 1, 3, 5 and 7.
At the beginning of this year a group of Year 12 IBDP students initiated ‘Create and Care’, a service-focused CCA with the aim of creating sellable pieces and hand-made products to raise funds for the school’s community partners. On International Day, the club set up a stall which featured beautiful hand printed bags and designer stickers raising the substantial amount of VND 6,323,000 through their sale. The students nominated for this money to be used by Ky Quang Pagoda Orphanage, who had expressed a need for new washing machines.
Our school community has been engaging with the children of Ky Quang Pagoda Orphanage for more than 7 years, building a strong relationship with them over this period. The organisation provides a school for more than 100 underprivileged children in Go Vap District and is also home to both disabled as well able-bodied children and young adults who live in the orphanage run by nuns, monks and other volunteers.
Together with some of the funds raised through the BIS ‘Life in Vietnam’ calendar sales, we were able to purchase two brand new washing machines for the orphanage, delivery of which was made this week, much to the excitement and joy of the children!
On behalf of Ky Quang Pagoda Orphanage, we would like to thank all who purchased the ‘Create and Care’ products and/or the BIS ‘Life in Vietnam’ calendars. Your donations are sincerely appreciated.
Tracey Brownrigg
Co-Curricular Coordinator and
Community Service Project Manager
As we return for Term 3, we would like to remind all parents and drivers about the responsibility we all share to ensure we maintain health and safety at pick up and drop off time. It is crucial that we all avoid risky behaviours such as double parking and U-turns that compromise the safety of our children. Please remind drivers to follow the following guidelines:
Social Night is back at long last!
Wednesday 27th April from 7 – 9pm at Lubu Restaurant, 97B Thao Dien Street.
Tickets are available at each campus and it is open to parents and teachers from all 3 campuses.
Only 400,000vnd per person includes free flow wine, beer, selected cocktails and soft drinks, along with delicious finger food.
A chance to get together, socialise, reconnect and meet those we have only had the chance to meet in the virtual world.
Event Details
Secondary Campus Reception- call us or email at sc@bisvietnam.com to arrange a visit or your child can collect.
Junior & Early Years Campus – for sale at various school drop-off and school pick-up times this week. Look for your friendly PTG rep.
Please WhatsApp message on 093 802 9513 or email Mel at melanierowe1201@gmail.com for any queries.
We look forward to seeing you.
Secondary PTG
We are delighted to announce that we have some highly prestigious universities lined up to speak with our students this term. Already confirmed are Ivy League institutions UPenn and Brown, Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh, the Australian National University, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), and other top ranked institutions. Our program is almost complete for the term, but we hope to also confirm visits shortly from the University of Cambridge and the University of Chicago. The time and date of each confirmed visit are listed below but you can also read further details on each visit by visiting the Virtual Visits Summer 2022 pages here. You will also note that the majority of the previous webinars have been recorded and uploaded to our CUG site here.
Please note that after listening to parent feedback we have reverted to zoom as a platform for our virtual university visits.
You can also sign up at the links below.
We hope to see you at one or more of these events.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Sean O’Neill
Head Teacher, Secondary Campus
101 Thao Dien Street,
Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Junior Campus
225 Nguyen Van Huong Street,
Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Secondary Campus
246 Nguyen Van Huong Street,
Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam