Mr Ian Battersby: Weekly Update 25/08/2017

I love the sense of optimism that comes as the new school year gets underway.  Everyone is keen to find out what people have been doing during the holidays and talk quickly moves on to who your new teacher is, who has joined the BIS HCMC community and the opportunities that lie ahead. 

I am sure you would like to join me in congratulating 4 members of staff who got married over the summer; Mr Matthew and Ms Hayley, and Mr Andy and Ms Alicia.  We wish you a wonderful life together.

There a number of new members of staff that I would like to welcome to the Tu Xuong Campus; this year, many of our new teachers are very familiar with BIS already.

Ms Philippa (Year 6) has been working in BIS Hanoi for the last 5 years having previously worked in Panang, Jakarta, Brisbane and Bangkok.

Ms Fran (Year 4) spent two years working in Manchester before coming to Vietnam last year where she worked on the An Phu Primary Campus.

Ms Jo (Year 1) was teaching in London for a number of years before taking up a position at BVIS in Hanoi, where she was based before joining us.

Mr Chris (EAL leader) has been in Vietnam for 8 years and worked at language schools and the An Phu Primary Campus.

Ms Fran (Cover teacher) qualified as a teacher in 2011 and taught in Oxfordshire and Bristol before joining BIS this year. 

Ms Sophie (MFL Leader) has spent two years away from BIS working in Brunei, but has returned to take up her previous position.

Ms Rebecca (Music intern) will be working with small groups of instrumentalists on Fridays.

Ms Palm (Receptionist) was born in Thailand, but spent a number of years growing up in England. 

We wish all our new members of staff well and hope they enjoy their time working at TX.

Great Expectations

‘If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right’ Henry Ford

Henry Ford was a man who really believed that he could do the things he wanted to do.  His legacy remains to this day as a testimony to his self-belief.  I spoke to the children this morning about expectation - the belief that someone will or should achieve something.  Countless studies have demonstrated that children will achieve what they expect to achieve.  It is our role as parents and educators to raise those expectations in our children and provide them with the conditions to develop the same belief in themselves that we have them.

What do you think you can do this school year?  As Henry Ford says, ‘if you think you can do a thing…you’re right!’

Uniform Expectations

I also spoke to the children about our expectations regarding uniform.  The children looked very smart as they returned to school in their new school uniforms.  However, can I remind you of the additional details regarding shoes and socks that can also be found in the parent handbook:

Shoes:  Sensible black leather shoes (Foundation Stage 1 & 2 exempt) or closed toe sandals, preferable without laces for the younger children.  F1 & F2 should wear sensible shoes or closed toe sandals to aid the growth and development of small feet. 

Socks: White, black or grey ankle high socks. 

Parent ID Swipe Cards

Please can I remind you that parents, nannies and drivers need to be wearing their ID swipe cards on lanyards when entering school and at all times when on campus.  Thank you to all the adults who are following this procedure; wearing the lanyard containing your swipe card makes it easy for all staff concerned to identify if someone has a right to be on the campus.  I am sure you will agree, we want to make our campus as safe as possible for our children.

Amalgamation

With the amalgamation plans in full flow, you may begin to notice slight changes to structures, routines and curriculum.  As we begin to align the two campuses to ensure the amalgamation is seamless, Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 will have two PE lessons a week instead of one PE lesson and one swimming lesson.  These year groups will have their swimming lessons in either term 2 or 3, which matches the curriculum timings with our An Phu campus.  Because of this change, you may wish to purchase an extra PE kit for your child. Please visit Ms Dat in the uniform shop from Monday 28^th August.

CHQ Club Sign-up Term 1 2017-2018

It is time to consider your club choices for Term 1.  The Term 1 2017-2018 CHQ club booklet is available today, Friday 25^th August and attached to this week’s weekly update email.  You have the weekend to look through the club choices and then CHQ opens online for sign up on Monday 28^th August at 4pm.

Now is the time to get prepared with your CHQ login details. You will need your child's username and password to log in and sign up for the clubs. Sign up will close again on Friday 1^stSeptember.  Ms Van will be hosting a drop in session on Tuesday 29^th, Wednesday 30^th and Thursday 31^st August at 8am in foyer. Clubs will be selected randomly by the CHQ system. Please visit the office or email Mr Ali who is now leading the TX club programme if you are unsure of your login details; we will be able to help you identify these.

CHQ link on the school’s website

Job Opportunity: Primary Admissions Officer

We have a great opportunity for a friendly and enthusiastic individual to join our primary admissions team.  The role will principally involve the co-ordination and administration of all tasks and activities related to admission and enrolment of expatriate students to the primary campuses.  Although previous experience of working in a school environment would be useful, this position would be suitable for anyone who is confident, well-organised and demonstrates good interpersonal skills.  You will act as an ambassador for the school, enhancing and building our reputation both locally and globally. You will work across our school to embed a sense of community, pride and belonging.

If you are a native or fluent English speaker, and would like to find out more about the position, please email recruitment@bisvietnam.com for further details.

We look forward to working with you.

Due to the planned amalgamation in January, we have produced a Tu Xuong calendar for Term 1 which will be emailed to you next week.

28/08 – CHQ Club Sign-up Opens, 4pm

31/08 – Parents’ Information Evening @ 6pm in the Sports Hall

01/09 – CHQ Club Sign-up Closes, 4pm

04/09 – School Closed: HOLIDAY Vietnam National Day

05/09 – Settling in Workshop @ APP

W/C 11/09 – EYFS Parent Meetings

13/09 – TX Parents’ Evening

18/09 – Term 1 clubs start

21/09 – Joint APP/TX PTG Social

24/09 – BBGV Fun Run

02/10 & 03/10 – Book Celebration

05/10 – EYFS Moon Festival

06/10 – Moon Festival Assembly

12/10 – Young Musician of the Year Semi-final

17/10 – Young Musician of the Year Final

23-27/10 – Half term holiday

23-26/11 – Phuket Football

24/11 – Coffee & Cake – Joint PTGs

25/11 – TX Leaving Party

28/11 – Year 4 & 6 Sports Day

29/11 – Year 3 & 5 Sports Day

30/11 – Year 1 & 2 Sports Day

1-4/12 – Nord Anglia Education Games

1/12 – EYFS Christmas Concert

3/12 – Clubs finish

4/12 – Student Council Cross Campus

6/12 – EYFS Superhero Bootcamp

7/12 – Whole School Music Concert

8/12 – MP1 Christmas Production

8/12 – Interim Reports sent home

8-11/12 – Bangkok Swim Meet

10/12 – Community Football Tournament @ APP

13/12 –  TX Christmas Concert

14/12 – Parent Group Potluck Lunch

15/12 – Term 1 finishes @ 11.30am