Dear Parents,
Although it has been a short week, in typical BIS fashion, we have packed in a rich array of events and activities in student learning and connecting with you, our parent community.
My thanks to everyone who participated in one of our four very well attended Parent events this week. Forging connections is at the core of a successful start to the academic year, and this weekend, as we reach the ‘end of the beginning’ of the year, it is clear that our BIS connections are stronger than ever. If you were unable to attend the events this time, don’t worry, we will send presentations to parents in each year group.
I hope you enjoy this update with a summary of the week’ events, a window into our wonderful year 8 UN Global Goals House Challenge Day and a look ahead to the events to come in September.
My best wishes for an enjoyable Independence Day Holiday weekend with your families and Chúc mừng ngày Lễ Quốc Khánh.
Sean O’Neill
Head of Secondary
The Secondary Parent Open Mornings are an opportunity for our parents to view the school day in action for their children. This week we saw an enthusiastic crowd of Year 7 parents fill the Auditorium for an early start. The morning started with insight into the routines and connections that form the foundation for a successful year 7, from SLT, our Year 7 Leaders, and our students themselves. Parents were then guided around the campus by members of our leadership team and given the opportunity to visit classrooms and speak with teachers while observing the rich and varied learning in action that their children partake in on a daily basis.
Our theme for Year 8 this year is Participation. We are challenging our year 8 students to try something new, be creative and make new connections. These features were on display in abundance at our Year 8 Challenge Day. Students worked in groups throughout the day to use “Design Thinking’ approach to “Empathise, Define and Ideate” to address key Sustainable Development Goals, planning creative solutions to real-world global issues.
Dominic Cheng, Head of Year 8
Starting a new school or a new job can be stressful. Moving countries can stressful. Doing both can be very stressful, so it is so important that we take time to think about how we should be looking after ourselves in these moments. At BIS, we have a great team of people ready to help and support families moving into Vietnam. Our admissions team provide the support prior to arrival and then our teaching teams provide the general support, and our ASC (advice, support and counselling) team are ready in any circumstance.
It was so good to see many of our new families at the Settling in Workshop on Wednesday morning. Some great advice was shared and you can review it once more by clicking on this link.
We never know when we might need support, so please reach out to our ASC team who will be more than happy totalk. Ms Saskia can be contacted on Saskia.Dodds-Smith@bisvietnam.com.
We were delighted to share the successes of our BISHCMC Alumni at our 25th Anniversary Alumni celebration last Friday. From London to New York, and all over the world, Alumni attended the event with fond memories to share. We were blessed to meet previous students in a range of professions from psychologists to pilots, those still studying at university and some all the way back to the Class of 2009!
Students of all ages and interests have been participating in a variety of trials and auditions this week, and with the Co-Curricular Activities sign-up now live on Schoolsbuddy, we are looking forward to a busy beginning of the CCA programme from Monday 12th September. If your child has not quite found their club yet, or missed out on a spot in their preferred sport of art programme, there are still some opportunities to find an alternative once CCAs begin.
International Day is back to its original time slot this year, Friday 14th October.
This is an invitation to you as parents to get involved and celebrate your home country on Secondary International Day. Consider signing up as a Secondary Country Rep using the link below. Over 50 nationalities are represented at BIS and last year more than 20 countries were represented on International Day.
International Day is not only a fabulous event for the students, but a wonderful day for parents and carers to participate and share their home traditions, food and activities.
REMEMBER…Running an International Day booth or activity is what you (the parents) want to make it. Don’t be put off if you are new to BIS or Secondary, we can guide you.
If you are your country's sole representative, or only have a couple of helpers, perhaps try a short activity or a small food stall.
There are no small ideas.
If you would like to sign up as the representative for your country, please use the link below and register your name using the SignUp Genius link below.
Secondary Country Representative Sign-Up
Please contact Mel Rowe (PTG Chairperson) on +84 93 802 9513 for any queries.
Melanie Rowe, Secondary PTG Chair
The Secondary Campus International Day planning meeting will be held on Tuesday 6th September at 8.45am in the Auditorium.
At this meeting you can find out more about the shape of International Day as well as the current guidance around holding the event.
Please register here if you will be attending the meeting on Tuesday 6th September.
We are delighted to be able to resume rehearsals with our fantastic community choir next week. The community choir is open to all adult members of the BIS community who enjoy singing.
Rehearsals will take place on Thursday mornings 7.00am - 7.40am in the Secondary Theatre OR Friday afternoons in the Junior Campus multi-purpose room 13.15-14.15.
All are welcome, whatever your singing level.
Parents should register attendance in advance on this link.
Year 10 parents are invited to our forthcoming Year 10 Parent Information evening this evening at 6pm in the Secondary Auditorium.
This parent-focused workshop will provide you with all the information you need to know relating to your child's education over the coming 2 years. Senior Leaders and I will share important information with you regarding the IGCSE programme and pastoral care, as well as exciting updates relating to our Year 10 expeditions programme.
To help us plan the evening, please click here to confirm your attendance.
I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday. Please note that this is a parent-only event.
Year 11 IBDP Options Evening
We are delighted to invite Year 11 Parents and students to our forthcoming IB Diploma Programme Options Evening on Tuesday 6th September from 18:00-19:30. The purpose of this event is to provide you with all of the information required to make the best possible informed decisions regarding your pathway to Sixth Form, including your subject options for Years 12 and 13.
Deputy head, Mr Falconer will l be joined by all of our Heads of Department, College and University Guidance team, as well as Mrs Danielle Fountain, IB Diploma Programme Co-ordinator. The collective goal is to give you all of the information required for you to fully understand the next exciting chapter in your educational journey. We look forward to seeing you there.
Year 8 parents are invited to our Year 8 Parent Open Morning at the Secondary Campus on Thursday 8th September from 8:30-10:30am.
The morning will include an opportunity to learn more about life in Secondary from our Senior Leadership team and hear from Mr Dominic Cheng, Head of Year 8 on how we will shape a successful year ahead for our Year 8 students.
There will also be an opportunity to tour the campus to see our school on a typical working day-with student learning in action, to gain an insight into learning across the curriculum at Secondary.
Click here to confirm your attendance.
We are delighted to say that in-person University visits will be resuming this year at BIS. We will also be continuing with our weekly Thursday webinars. These will start from September the 8th with the University of Toronto. Below are details of this and some of our other upcoming events.
We are delighted to start our latest webinar series with The University of Toronto, which is the most popular university destination worldwide for BIS students, with 6 students heading there from BIS this year and even more than this with offers. One of our class of 2022 was also successful in gaining a prestigious Lester B Pearson International Scholarship. Jan Braun will lead this webinar and will be happy to answer any questions after her talk, with hopefully an in-person visit to follow up from Jan later in the term.
Find out about the Russell Group and what type of student they are looking for. You will also hear from the University of Warwick to find out more about our courses, campus and student life. Also from the University of York you will find out more on the courses and job opportunities available relating to the respective courses, industrial placement opportunities, career support services and scholarships available. In addition, you will get a sneak preview of student activities and on how living and studying is like at York.
We hope to see students at one or more of these events. Students should remember to sign up via the BridgeU University Visits tab.
Paul Rispin, Senior University Guidance Counsellor
Enjoy your long weekend and Chúc mừng ngày Lễ Quốc Khánh.
Kind regards,
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
