Secondary School Updates (3 June 2022)

Key Dates | Pastoral Update | Learning Showcase

Weekly update from Head of Secondary

Dear Parents,

At the annual Graduation Ceremony last Saturday, we said an emotional farewell to our wonderful Year 13 students. 

With any end, there is an inevitable sense of sadness and loss. It is not commonly known that this time of year is highly emotional for teachers. There is heartache as we bid adieu to those students with whom we have established warm and nurturing relationships. This year is no different.

Overall, though, for teachers, there is a sense of exhilaration and anticipation on behalf of students: where will you go, and what will you do and see? 

My key message to the graduates was a reassurance that, despite the fact that it may feel like a loss, they will never lose their school and we will always be their teachers. They are part of the school for the rest of their lives, and we will forever be there to support them. I encourage all graduates to stay in touch with us, their school, over the years. We look forward to hearing about their exciting and unique journeys.

Chris Newman

Head of Secondary

Key Dates

• Tuesday 7 June: Year 10 Parents’ Evening 

• Tuesday 14 June: Year 12 Parents’ Evening 

• Friday 24 June: Final Day of the School Year 

Pastoral Update  

It is with great pleasure that I finally get to write a newsletter article about Year 7 students enjoying the delights of on-campus learning. Since our last update, we have returned to face-to-face school, got to grips with moving around all of the secondary school facilities, and learnt how to present and conduct ourselves as secondary school students. It has been a whirlwind of a term and the students' infectious enthusiasm and high spirits have been a delight for us all. 

We have had such a busy term with lots of exciting learning and events taking place. Our Wellbeing lessons have been full of inquisitive questions and mature conversations about our changing adolescent bodies and minds. We have had time to learn and discuss this with our tutor groups but also in gender-specific forums with the Year 7 tutor staff, so we have had plenty of space and opportunities to discuss our knowledge and concerns in a safe environment.  

This week has been an especially busy one, with two hugely exciting house events. On Tuesday, we went head to head with all of Key Stage 3 in an inter-house sports competition. It was a fast-paced, high-energy multi-sports event where we all got to try our hands at Basketball, Hockey, Netball and Football. It was wonderful to mix with students from Years 8 and 9 as we all cheered each other on, hoping to reign victorious. Ultimately, it was Hue who came out on top! 

Emily Brawn 

Head of Year 7

Learning Showcase

English | Maths | Sport | Performing Arts

English 

‘Something wicked this way comes..’  

Year 9s have been ‘hover[ing] through the fog and filthy air’ to re-enact Act 1 Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’. They’ve discussed the topic of regicide, the theme of appearance and reality and learnt about the Great Chain of Being. They have also approached this powerful story of greed jealousy and ambition through a focus on the VIA strengths, and weaknesses, of its characters. 

J Shepley Clarke 

Head of English 

Mathematics 

Students in Year 12 have been working incredibly hard on their Internal Assessment piece of work. This is a chance for students to apply some of the mathematics they have learnt to a real-life problem that interests them. It is a great opportunity for students to see how something they see in the real world can be thought about mathematically, and teaches them independence, ingenuity, and perseverance. This fully independent piece of work is worth 20% of their IB mark and allows them to see the mathematics we study in a different, less structured way.  

Students began by writing ideas on a board and brainstorming, allowing them to sharpen their own ideas and learn from each other. 

Once they had an idea, the students have then worked independently to research, find or create their own data and write their own full projects. 

As well as being a compulsory component of the course, IAs allow students the experience of deciding, researching and reflecting on their own topic, something that will be an invaluable experience both in university and into their working lives. 

Lively with Lionhearts

For the community, BIS students have created a sport and well-being podcast. Find out about the latest sports news, wellness trends and recommendations, hot issue conversations, and more.

The second podcast episode is now available. If you haven't yet listened to our school podcast, please click on this link to catch up on all of the exciting things that are going on at BIS Hanoi. 

Salome Airdrie 

PE Whole School Leader 

It’s almost Whit Friday! 

"The greatest free show on earth" is described as taking place in the North of England when hundreds of brass bands from across the world descend on several tiny villages in the Pennines (Greater Manchester - coincidentally where Miss Howarth happens to be from) to compete for trophies galore. Made famous in the films Yanks and Brassed Off Whit Friday sees bands in brightly coloured uniforms marching through the streets before competing on podiums late into the night.

This band competition has been a staple for over 100 years in these villages, but due to COVID, the last two years have slipped quietly online with a virtual competition instead. Which means... we can join in! When in the UK, Mr Scott competed in this competition each year since being a child, and it is somewhat part of Miss Howarth, so both were keen to organise something. But why stop at just our school? We are an international company. Let’s get everyone on board!

So in March, the Nord Anglia Virtual Brass Band was launched and teachers all over the world have been teaching their brass students the march tune Slaidburn. Videos have been sent to us from all over the place, from Mexico to China and everywhere in between. Our students in Hanoi have recorded this week, and we are looking forward to sharing the video with you soon. 

Miss Howarth 

Head of Performing Arts