Mr Simon Higham: Weekly Update 24/02/17

For the last 4 days, I have been hounded by our Year 1 children, as their teachers within this year group created an emotion and passion for persuasive writing by telling the children that I was banning all toys from the Milepost 1 playground.

Time flies when you’re having fun and this week has moved along very quickly with a great deal of fun learning taking place.

For the last 4 days, I have been hounded by our Year 1 children, as their teachers within this year group created an emotion and passion for persuasive writing by telling the children that I was banning all toys from the Milepost 1 playground. There have been some petitions, threats to ‘send me back to where I came from’ and mobs of articulate 6 year olds asking me why the decision has been made. Luckily, I am pleased to announce that after reading some very persuasive Year 1 letters, all toys have now been restored to the playground areas. Education is most effective when it becomes real, relevant and fuelled by passion!

Responsible Digital Citizens

Thank you to over 80 parents who attended Thursday’s Digital Citizenship Workshop, hosted by Mr Adam Astley, learning Technologies Coordinator and Mr Chris McKelvie, Assistant Headteacher.

Mr. Adam Astley talked about the need for us all to ensure that our digital lives are being kept safe and secure, and how together we can help encourage our children to become responsible and careful users of technology. Also included in the workshop was the introduction of our new initiative for the academic year 2017-18: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) - Laptop. This initiative will see those pupils in, or moving to, Milepost 3 from August this year being asked to bring to school their own laptop to further enhance their learning. More information will be coming to all current Year 4 and Year 5 parents during this term and next.

For all parents who were unable to attend this workshop, the full presentation can be found here. Please take time to look through our BIS, HCMC Digital Citizenship site that is full of useful help and resources to help our children be safe online. (This can be found in ‘Parent Essentials’ > ‘Quick Links’ on the school website).

Look out details of Mr Luke’s workshop on the Google Suite of tools used in education which will be offered to all parents next month.

F2 Visit to Secondary Science

Over the last 2 Fridays, F2 children have had the wonderful experience of being scientists for the morning as we visited the science laboratory at APS. Read more about their scientific adventures in this post by Maria Shooter, F2S Class Teacher and Design Technology Leader.

Year 2 Visit Anh Minh School

Linked to their IPC topic ‘Circus’ together with their ongoing partnership with Anh Minh School, class 2I visited their partner children this week. Find out more about how the circus really has come to town in this post by Ms Gemma Hobbs, Year 2 teacher.

Year 4 Learn About Endangered Species

In Year 4, we have been learning about endangered species in Vietnam. Two weeks ago, Ms Marina from EAST (Endangered Animal Species Trust) came and told us how her charity helps endangered animals. She inspired us and now we are trying to find out the facts. We have found out information about the animals, and why they are endangered. Find out more about the animals that they have found in this post by Basile Humbert, Year 4 Student.

e-Books at An Phu Primary

Have you talked to your children about accessing our EBooks? All Year 3 to Year 6 have an email in their school Gmail accounts with a worksheet explaining how to access them from home.

Additionally, there are about 20 Fiction books that can be used to encourage reading.

The Destiny Discover App can be downloaded free from the iTunes store and The Google Play store.

If you have any problems accessing them, please speak to Mr Andy Sood-Smith in the library.

BIS, HCMC TX Campus – School Fete

The TX School fête is back on Saturday, 4th March from 9.00am to 1.00pm.

Come and enjoy the craft and games stalls, try some delicious food from around the world and watch the show. Children and parents are encouraged to come in a costume, the best ones will win a prize!

Raffle tickets will be on sale at TX Campus: 20 000 VND/unit.

There are many amazing prizes on offer including luxury hotel stays, 5-star dining experiences, food hampers and much, much more.

This year also, we are pleased to welcome 20 children from PDV to the Fête. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the BIS, HCMC community service partners.

Annual Whole School Concert

The British International School HCMC Music Department presents our annual whole school concert on Thursday 2^nd March at 6.30pm. For more details at this time, please click on this post.

Julliard Mascot

This week, we have had visitors into school from Julliard to observe the methods that we use to teach Music. Along with our visitors a small penguin also came along who we have decided to adopt as our Julliard mascot. Unfortunately, as yet he does not have a name. If you would like to find out more about how you can help to give him a name, read this post by Ms Beth Bown, Music Leader.

Fundinotots

Fundinotots is our thriving Baby and Toddler group that take places every morning from Monday – Friday. To find out more about Fundinotots and how to enrol your child who is 0 – 36 months old, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Hanh in the AP1 Admissions Office.

Staying Safe in School

If, during your visit to school, you have any reason to be concerned about the safety of a young person, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Person (Ms Dee Grimshaw) or the Head teacher (Mr Simon Higham)

Parents and Visitors’ Code of Conduct

Our school has a strong commitment to ensuring that we provide a safe environment for all of our students. We expect that all visitors support us by following the code of conduct outlined below:

On entry to our school, you must:

• not take photographs or videos of any child without the permission of the Headteacher
• only use the designated adult toilets whilst on campus and under no circumstances enter the children’s toilets or changing room areas
• not be alone with any child
• not touch any child or invade their own, personal space
• not take any contact details from any child

Please note that CCTV cameras are in operation at all times across the campus.

The Wizard of Oz at BVIS, HCMC

Do you want to see over the rainbow and follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City? Now you can as BVIS, HCMC is taking us all back in time with their performance of The Wizard of Oz. Read about dates and how to purchase tickets in the poster below.

PTG Update

Parent Liaison Volunteer, Ms Ying bisvnptgap1@gmail.com

PTG Charity Bake Sale

On behalf of the PTG, I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all who contributed to our highly successful bake sale last Friday.  Whether you donated your favourite sweet treat, set aside some time to help with our sales or came along on Friday afternoon to buy up all of our goodies, you helped to raise a fantastic 21,000,000 vnd for our Community Partners.  All proceeds from this event will be donated to the BIS, HCMC community service partners.

Used Football Boots Wanted

Spring Fair - Can You Help?

If you  would like to help out with our forthcoming PTG Spring Fair on Sunday 26th March, please refer to the informtion below and email the PTG directly at bisvnptgap1@gmail.com

1. By donating prizes for our raffle. Raffle tickets will be sold both before and during the event. Raffle tickets sales have raised significant funds in past years. Contact us to discuss your ideas or to get some input from our side.
2. By sponsoring an activity or food stall at the Spring Fair. Please contact us for further details. We can display your company’s marketing material near the sponsored activity.
3. By making a cash donation, large or small.

Each year BIS, HCMC is proud to assist various community projects and without donations from individuals and corporations, this would not be possible.  

As always, your help would be very much appreciated.

PTG Events for Term 2

23^rd March 2017 – PTG Disco

26^th March 2017 – Spring Fair

Key Upcoming Dates for your Diary

March

Thursday 2^nd: Annual Whole School Music Concert

Tuesday 7^th – Friday 10^th: Year 5 Residential Trip

Wednesday 8^th – Friday 10^th: Year 4 Residential Trip

Thursday 9^th: – Year 3 Sleepover

Sunday 19^th: - Term 2 Clubs Finish

Monday 27^th: - Progress Update Report Out To Parents

Tuesday 28^th and Wednesday 29^th: - Parent Meetings (academic focus)

For all of the dates in this year’s academic calendar, please click here to take you to the front page of the ‘News and Insights’ section of our school website.

And Finally………

Have you heard about our Social Wall?

Would you like to be able to get one of your pictures onto our Social Wall?

Click here to access many images from social media that encapsulate the vibrancy and diversity of events and learning opportunities that can be experienced at BIS, HCMC.

Remember to use: #bishcmc

Mr Simon Higham

Head Teacher, An Phu Primary Campus