Deputy Head Teachers' Weekly Update 01/06/2018

Dear Parents,

This week, the Secondary Campus has had a rather different feel as our Year 9, 10 and 12 students have sat their end of year assessments. This is an appropriate moment for us to reflect on the purpose of these assessments: we believe they provide an opportunity for our students to receive feedback on their progress in order to prepare for the next stage of their journeys at IGCSE and IB, and encourage them to reflect on their skills as learners.  Often, it is not the result which is the most important aspect of these assessments - the processes that students have gone through in the build up to these, how they have managed time, workload and pressure, and what they have learned from this, are just as valuable as the grade or outcome.

As we say to our students when we discuss why we have assessments, examinations help to develop some of the more hidden skills of  deliberate practice and acting on feedback. Exams offer a chance to identify the ways to get better, the chance to fail at something (an integral part of learning), and the chance to test ourselves which is critical to growth and improvement, both now and in the future.  Simply put, they can help us to become better learners.

We need to find what we don’t know, can’t do or aren’t doing very well in order to make improvements; equally, it is important that we celebrate our successes.  We need to see examinations not as an end point but rather a mid-way stage in the learning journey. Your support as parents in sharing this view of assessment is crucial to our students maintaining a healthy perspective.

We would like to congratulate our students on the exemplary way they have conducted themselves throughout their assessments; they have done us and themselves proud.  A special thank you to Mrs Tracey Brownrigg, our Examinations Officer, who has coordinated both the internal and external examinations, and Mr James Chandler, our IB Coordinator, who has overseen all of the IB examinations.

BIS HCMC Graduation Ceremony 2018

On Saturday 26th May, 72 Year 13 students came together with over 400 of their teachers, family members and friends to celebrate their Graduation at the Park Hyatt, Saigon. It was a special ceremony filled with an array of emotions: great excitement for what lies ahead for our graduating Class of 2018, tinged with some sadness as we said our fond farewells.

Girls’ Uniform Update for Academic Year 2018-19

BIS HCMC is delighted to share with parents and students an exciting update to our Secondary girls’ uniform for the next Academic Year. Following consultation with students, parents and staff, we will be changing the style of the girls’ skirt to reflect the active lifestyle of our students and the need to ensure comfort whilst maintaining a professional standard of dress. The existing skirt will be replaced with skorts in a new high-quality lightweight cotton fabric, as of August 2018.

Uniform Swap at the Flea Market

At the Flea Market on Saturday 3rd June, we will have a stall for the return, swap or purchase of second hand BIS school uniforms.

Bring in your used, clean BIS uniforms that are no longer needed to donate or even swap for the next size in preparation for next year.  Our Greenr Minds team are already working on innovative designs for upcycling, but perhaps you can give these items a new lease of life. All funds raised from the stall will go towards the production costs of upcycling the uniforms.

To find out more about the philosophy behind a uniform swap or buying second-hand, read more from One More Reused.

Library Leaders’ Assembly

As Oliver Wendell Holmes said,
“The best of a book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts.”

This week saw three of our Student Library Leaders - Sebastian Miranda, Tri Lamb and Debbie Tran - deliver a thought provoking assembly on the power of reading to our Year 7-9 students.
The key focus of the assembly was the importance of reading as not only a means of personal growth, but also as a social activity in which reading communities are formed and ideas shared. These communities of readers are yet another way in which our students collaborate and challenge each others’ thinking and, as demonstrated by our Library Sleepover, “Starry Night of Ambitious Bookworms”, have lots of fun in the process!

Several of our teachers shared their favourite books and invited the audience to try something new in their reading.

A huge thank you to Sebastian, Tri and Debbie and to Ms Breard for her support for the Library Leaders throughout the year.

Junior Saigon Mathematics Competition 2018

On Saturday 26th May, BIS HCMC took 3 teams to the Junior Saigon Mathematics Competition held at ISHCMC: Year 8 boys Andrew Vu, Aarush Yendamuri and Sean Sia (Team A); Year 7 boys Benz Pham, Edric Chen and Raghav Dwivedi (Team B); and Year 8 students Linh Nguyen, Jane Chang and Khoa Tran (Team C). All students representing BIS did so with gusto.  Thank you to Mr Sillitoe for his dedicated and energetic leadership of our co-curricular Mathematics programme.

Year 6 Science transition (CREST)

The Science team and students at BIS HCMC Secondary Campus are looking forward to welcoming the new Year 7 students in August 2018.  Our teachers are constantly striving to ensure the Year 6 students from the Junior Campus have a smooth transition into Year 7. To this end, they have created a unique transition programme within Science.

Dragons' Den Final 2018

The event details

When: Monday 18th June from 3.00 to 5.00pm

Where: Secondary Campus Auditorium,

Who: All student are welcome

Community Event: Ky Quang Pagoda Football Lessons with Rising Stars Football Academy

This year, with the support from the Secondary PTG, we have organised for 10 children from Ky Quang Pagoda to receive football lessons from Rising Star Football Academy. Lessons have already started and the students have been training for the Rising Star Boys Tournament on 17th June.

Read more from Clover Sharman, Community Service Project Manager, about our six year partnership with Go Vap Orphanage and the football lessons at Ky Quang Pagoda.

Sports and PE: the latest Match Reports

SISAC U14 Volleyball City Championships

Last week our U14 volleyball teams were in action at the City Championships and had a great time. Both Boys and Girls team secured 3rd places. Well played! 

See the Twitter Highlights @BISHCMC_PE.  

To read the full details from all of last week's matches go to the Match Reports page under Sports and PE at bisvietnam.com

PTG Flea Market- Sunday 3rd June

There are already many stalls booked for this year’s Flea Market.  It promises to be another great community event, with the chance to bag a bargain.

There are still a small handful of stalls available at 200,000VND per stall.  For queries, please contact the PTG at bisptgap2@gmail.com

BIS Night of the Arts 2018 - Wednesday 6th June

Please join us for the return of BIS Night of the Arts.  There is a great deal that is new and different to see and enjoy.

When: Wednesday 6th June 2018 from 6.30pm

Where: BIS Secondary Campus, Design, Visual and Performing Arts Departments

We look forward to seeing you there.

BIS Aquathlon - Saturday 9th June

On Saturday 9th June, BIS will host our annual Aquathlon event for all students. An Aquathlon is a fun and fast-growing sport that combines both swimming and running.

When: Saturday 9th June 2018 with race briefing at 6.45am

First race 7.00am

Where: Junior and Secondary Campuses of BIS

There are individual and team events, children’s, staff and parents’ races, with great prizes to be won!

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Phil Husband, our Director of Sport: philip.husband@bisvietnam.com

IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts Exhibition - Monday 11th June

We are delighted to showcase the hard work of 4 of our Year 13 BIS HCMC artists who are exhibiting select pieces from their recently completed International Baccalaureate Visual Arts course

When: Monday 11th June 2018 from 7.00pm

Where: Soma Art Cafe, 6b Le Van Mien Street, District 2

Collect your free invitation at the Secondary Campus Reception.  Spaces are limited.

Sports Award Ceremony - Friday 15th June

As a celebration of our continued success in Sport, both in Saigon and across Asia, BIS HCMC would like to acknowledge the achievements of players and coaches by holding its first Sports Award Ceremony.

When: Friday 15th June from 7.00 to 10.00pm

Where: Diamond Ballroom at the Novotel Hotel,

167 Hai Ba Trung, D1, HCMC

Tickets: 900,000vnd from the Cashier

All students who have participated in SISAC events, Invitational Competitions or international sports trips are invited to attend.

Fobisia Advanced Orchestral Festival

The FOBISIA Advanced Orchestral Festival will take place at the British International School, Phuket, in Term 1 of next academic year and the Music Department is currently inviting all those interested in attending to sign up.  The dates for the festival are from the 8th to 12th November 2018 and all attendees must have completed ABRSM Grade 5+.

If you would like more information, please contact Ms Emma Husband: emma.husband@bisvietnam.com

Key Dates for Your Diary

Sunday 3rd June:  PTG Flea Market, Secondary Campus Auditorium, 9am to 12 noon. All welcome

We wish you a great weekend with your families.

Mrs Amy Murphy and Mr Sean O’Neill, Deputy Head Teachers