Weekly Updates on 29/11/2024

 Dear Parents

On Wednesday the Primary School hosted the 'Big Sing' event here are BVIS. Many schools from Hanoi joined in with this incredible day of choral activity, culminating in an amazing performance at the end of the day.

We are making our final preparations for the Christmas Fair on the 7th December. We already have a large number of families signed up and I hope many of you will join us. We will be offering a prize for the best Christmas dress up costume on the day. Please scan the QR code below or click HERE to register the ticket.

Last evening I had the pleasure of attending the IGCSE certificate presentation evening. A wonderful evening of celebration. congratulations to all the students.

Thank you to all those who have completed the parent satisfaction survey, it is very much appreciated. If you've not done so already, we would appreciate it if you took the time to complete. Thank you.

I would like to say thank you all again and recognise the amazing Teacher's and Children's day last week. It was an incredible day full of joy and appreciation.

I wish you all a very relaxing weekend ahead.

Big Sing
We hosted the Big Sing at BVIS this week. It was an all-day event bringing together choirs from five international schools in Hanoi: BVIS, BIS, SIS, HIS and Westlink. There were hundreds of singers and over one hundred parents together with our own students who came together to enjoy the big choral performance that was the culmination of a fantastic day of singing, all brought together by our very own Mr Daithi.

HAC Youth Football Festival
It was a great experience for those involved. The children were fantastic, and it is great that BVIS was one of only three schools that had an all-girls team. All three teams played well together, and we were thanked by other coaches for our sportsmanship. In total our teams won six matches, lost four, and drew two, which is a huge achievement!

We Can Do It!
This week in the Early Years, the children have been focusing on independence and perseverance. They are learning, in very simple terms, to pick a goal and try very hard to achieve it. This is taken from our PSE program and promotes our school values. Even the smallest of steps can be huge achievements for very small children like putting on shoes independently, taking care of their personal belongings or learning new words. These small steps will lead to real life goals in their futures.

Joy and Togetherness
Last week, Year 1 celebrated Children’s Day with joy and togetherness! The children had a wonderful time making bracelets as a group and began learning Makaton to help include and communicate with everyone. It was a meaningful celebration of children from all around the world!

Creating a Hand Muscle Model
Year 2 children had an exciting time creating a hand muscle model using card, string, and straws to see how tendons and muscles work together. They carefully threaded string through the straws to mimic tendons and pulled the string to make the fingers move, observing how the "muscles" helped the "hand" grip and release. After the activity, they worked on writing clear instructions for making the model, using time connectives like “first,” “then,” and “finally.” This hands-on activity not only deepened their understanding of how their hands work but also helped them practice sequencing and using precise language in their writing.

Vietnam's Cultural Heritage
Year 3 students worked in groups to gather information and create a model of Vietnam's cultural heritage. They collaborated by researching the provided texts to learn about famous landmarks and historical sites in Vietnam. After collecting their findings, they designed a creative model to represent what they had learned. This activity helps them understand the importance of preserving cultural heritage while also encouraging teamwork.

Making Flour from Wheat
In Year 4, students are learning about how food is produced. They explored the traditional process of making flour from wheat by separating the grain from the wheat stalk (threshing), separating the grain from the chaff (winnowing), grinding the grain into flour, sieving away any impurities, and packaging it into tubs with labels.

Gratitude
Last Wednesday, Year 5 celebrated Children’s Day and Vietnamese Teachers’ Day. The Year 5 teachers were very thankful for the wonderful gifts that the students and their families shared.
To mark the day, the students wore something blue and in class, the students read a Children’s Day story. The story explored what childhood is like for children around the world and reminded our students about being grateful for what we have.

Maya, bored of her life in the city, wants to live somewhere more exciting. She travels the world experiencing how children live. Although each place she visits is exciting, and she loves it to start with, something makes her miss her home.

She realises that her life in the city is pretty great.
The students also created character puppets and sets, and, working together, they retold the story, practising their speaking and teamwork skills.

Be ready, be respectful, be caring!
During the water game, children had an incredible time while reinforcing essential skills such as teamwork, readiness, respect, and care. They collaborated effectively, stayed alert, and supported each other throughout the game. The excitement and joy were evident as they declared this activity the best thing ever in Year 6. This fun-filled experience created impressive memories for the children in their last year of primary school, making it a truly unforgettable highlight.

Secondary Weekly Update 29/11/2024

An update from Ms Claire

It has been an extremely busy week in BVIS Secondary. It was lovely to see so many parents at the Year 11 Parent Teacher Conference (PTC) on Tuesday and we are really looking forward to welcoming Year 13 parents next week.

On Thursday our Year 12 students and families had a fantastic time celebrating at the IGCSE Presentation Evening. This was a wonderful event recognising the achievements of the students. We will share photos and more information in the Newsletter next week

As a school community, we are really excited for the Wizard of Oz on Thursday and Friday. Students and staff have been working hard all term, rehearsing and preparing, and this will be a fantastic show. Tickets are available from reception

On Tuesday we wished our FOBISIA Dragon’s Team good luck as they headed off to Bangkok to compete in a range of events. We will share lots of photos and updates in next week’s newsletter

Case Code Competition

On Thursday 21st November, BVIS hosted the first ever High School Case Code Competition. Over 20 teams from schools all over Hanoi participated and 5 final teams were selected to participate in the final.

With the theme “The Digital Distraction Crisis in Education,” the young coders showcased their ingenuity and dedication by presenting innovative technological solutions to real-world challenges. This competition has not only fostered creativity and critical thinking but also brought together students from diverse schools, creating a collaborative and competitive environment to grow and shine.

Beyond the competition, HSCC 2024 emphasized the importance of problem-solving, teamwork, and embracing technology to address the pressing issues of our time. The event wouldn’t have been possible without the ambition, dedication and hard work of the BVIS Tech Committee

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Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition

Last weekend, 28 Year 10 and Year 11 students completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Practice Expedition in Soc Son. The expedition involved two days of hiking and one night of camping, with all students carrying their own equipment and food, making it a fully self-sufficient.

On Saturday, the group took on Ham Lon mountain, and we are pleased to report that all students completed the hike successfully. Their teamwork, perseverance, and commitment were evident throughout the expedition, and they should all be proud of their achievements. Congratulations to all the participants!

Remembrance

This year's Remembrance, The History department decided not to do the traditional assembly but instead all of our KS3 students were involved in an enrichment day with a specific emphasis on The First World War. Students analysed a number of WW1 poems, which we then used to create our Poppy display, next they learnt the basics of military drill, they also designed their own parachutes (as Major John Carter was involved in development of the parachute in 1918) and finally got involved in a decision making activity about living as a soldier during the war. In this activity, the students were given a number of scenarios to pick from e.g. to write home to their family stating the truth about conditions, or to lie. This involved lots of debate and students were all engaged working with each other to decide upon the best possible answer.

All of these activities aimed to give students some further understanding of The Great War and on the whole it seemed a success and we hope they enjoyed themselves and learnt something new

MIT Student Trip 2024
MIT Student Trip: A Journey of Innovation and Inspiration
This year, two of our Year 12 students embarked on an extraordinary journey to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions. Their experience was nothing short of transformative, shaping their aspirations and broadening their horizons.

It all began in March 2023, when Year 9 and Year 11 students were invited to participate in a school-wide competition. The challenge? Create a video answering the question, “If I were an innovator at MIT, I would…” This open-ended prompt sparked incredible creativity, with 25 unique submissions showcasing innovative ideas and diverse interpretations. After much deliberation, 10 finalists were selected, and our teachers judged their videos with great care to choose the top two entries.

Meet Our Innovators – Finalists

Dang Doanh (Year 11):

Dang’s vision was a solar mossy air purifier, a sustainable solution addressing air pollution by harnessing the natural filtration capabilities of moss. His concept integrated renewable energy and advanced technology, such as humidity sensors and automated irrigation systems, to create a cleaner, greener urban environment.

Quang Nguyen (Year 11):

Quang imagined a future with a revolutionary zonal climate control system. Powered by quantum computing and room-temperature superconductors, his concept aimed to personalize home environments seamlessly. He envisioned leveraging MIT’s world-class facilities, including the Microsystems Technology Laboratories, to bring this innovative idea to life.

After rigorous internal judging, their entries were submitted to Nord Anglia Education’s global round and following weeks of anticipation, it was announced that both students had won—making our school one of the few with two winners! The boys were both stunned in silence as we told them and then quickly gave each other a high five as they recognized that this was an amazing

The Journey to MIT

Months of preparation culminated in an unforgettable adventure. With a 23-hour journey ahead, our students and their chaperone, Mr. Gino, bonded over shared excitement and a touch of humour to ease the long travel hours. Arriving in Boston, they joined peers from Nord Anglia schools worldwide to explore the cutting-edge world of MIT.

Reflections from Our Students

Dang Doanh 12B:
“My week at MIT was an eye-opening experience. Exploring their state-of-the-art labs and witnessing the innovative projects of MIT students was truly inspiring. I learned how they balance intense academic rigor with personal passions, which has motivated me to reflect on my own goals. This trip helped me build confidence and encouraged me to connect with others in an unfamiliar environment. It’s an experience I’ll cherish forever.”

Quang Nguyen 12S:
“The MIT campus was so massive, I thought it was a city! Visiting Harvard showed me a contrasting perspective of university life—traditional and historical compared to MIT’s cutting-edge modernity. A highlight for me was collaborating with MIT researchers to build devices for studying the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) in Alaska. Meeting talented peers and alumni made the trip unforgettable, and I hope this won’t be my last visit to MIT!”

Teacher Reflection:
Mr. Gino:

“Our trip to MIT was nothing short of extraordinary. It was an incredible opportunity to witness the innovative spirit of MIT students and alumni firsthand. From soldering circuits to programming magnetoscopes, our students embraced every challenge with enthusiasm. Beyond academics, they built lasting connections with students from around the globe. This trip was a perfect blend of learning, collaboration, and fun—an experience they’ll carry with them for a lifetime.”

A Glimpse of the Future

At MIT, our students engaged in activities like debating environmental issues, practicing glass-making techniques, and building devices destined for Alaska’s aurora borealis research. These experiences exemplify the power of combining curiosity, collaboration, and cutting-edge technology.

We are incredibly proud of Dang Doang and Quang Nguyen for representing our school on a global stage, and we look forward to seeing how they’ll use this experience to shape their futures.

If you are interested in your child getting the same experience, information on this years student competition will be coming out soon. So if you have a child in Year 9 or Year 11 encourage them to participate in this unique opportunity.

STEAM Festival early registration link: https://bit.ly/4eR9TcH

NAE STEAM Competitions

• MIT Student Trip (November 2025) for Year 9 and Year 11 | Deadline to register: January 2025, date TBC
• NAE STEAM Festival 2025 (St Andrews Bangkok) for Year 6-Year 8 | Early registration open until 5th December. More information to follow.

Primary

Secondary

We wish you all a very relaxing weekend!

Senior Leadership Team from BVIS Hanoi