Mr Ian Battersby: Weekly Update 31/05/2019

I firmly believe that education works best when there is a collaboration between school and home; teachers and parents working together for the benefit of the children. This is why we provide so many opportunities for parents to come into school to see and understand the learning process at BIS.  If you would like to read the BSO Report in full, it can be found here:

British International School, HCMC – BSO Report May 2019

A Successful Second SPLAT Session in F1

In F1 (and F2) this week, we held our second Stay Play and Learn Altogether (SPLAT) sessions.  It really backed up the comments in the BSO report, seeing so many parents engaging with their child’s learning and asking questions to gain a deeper understanding of the learning process in EYFS:

A Successful Second SPLAT Session in F1

Year 2 to 3 Transition Coffee Morning

As I referred to last week, our transition procedures are well underway.  Some classes have been visiting the class where they will be learning next year, whilst others have been engaged in activities designed to prepare them for what lies ahead.  On Thursday morning, a large group of parents attended the Year 2 to 3 Transition Coffee morning where Ms Dee and Mr Mike talked us through what our Year 2 children are to expect when they head to the Junior Campus in August. 

Ms Fran has been involved in coordinating the Year 2 to 3 Transition and will be sending a post out early next week regarding the process. For now, to view the presentation shared on Thursday, please click on the link below:

Year 2 to 3 Transition Coffee Morning Presentation

Class Mixing

On Monday 3^rd June, your child will bring home a copy of their draft class list for the academic year 2019-2020.  A great deal of time has gone into ensuring the classes have a good mix of gender, nationality, ability, EAL needs, and friendship choices.  At this stage we will not be making changes to the new classes unless there is an excellent educational reason to do so.

In Memory Of Anne Broughan

Long-standing members of the BIS community will remember Anne Broughan. Anne was a popular primary teacher in AP1 amongst children, parents and staff from 2006 until 2013. Unfortunately, Anne passed away in the early hours of last Friday having succumbed to an aggressive form of cancer.

For Anne the suffering thankfully was relatively short and she was well supported by friends and family from New Zealand as well as staff from her school in Oman.

 Her daughter Aliyya, now 18 has just finished her IB exams and will return to New Zealand with her aunt and her mum’s best friend.

 Anne radiated an incredible warmth. She will always be remembered for her unique laugh, the way she brought people together as well as her direct, no-nonsense approach to life. 

Roadworks Outside the Early Years and Infant Campus

As we are all aware, Thao Dien is presently undergoing some major roadworks which are now close to the main entrance of the  EY&IC. As a school, we have tried very hard to communicate with the construction company to delay any work close to the school until the summer holidays. However, the work needs to be completed within a particular timescale and will carry on.  I would ask for everybody’s patience and understanding whilst this work is ongoing. Hopefully, it will benefit everyone in District 2 in the future.

Anthony Rowlands

Managing our Traffic Together

Just prior to the holiday, I was contacted by a member of our local community asking about what was being done about the traffic situation in Thao Dien.  I met with the gentleman in question and showed him the procedures we have in place and how the school has invested in measures to help ensure the traffic keeps flowing, for example, creating the car park next to the Early Years and Infant Campus.

He was impressed with all that we have done.  Thank you to everyone who has worked with their drivers to ensure that the code of conduct is followed.  Unfortunately, there are still some drivers who insist on double parking near school and doing U-turns close to the drop-off area.  Please speak to your drivers to remind them of what is expected. 

Thank you – together we can make a difference.

For more information about how we can work together to improve traffic around our campuses, please access this post.

Join our BIS Baby and Toddler Group

Children can start at BIS when they are 2 years old. Fundinotots is the ‘BIS Baby and Toddler Group’ where parents of children aged 0 to 36 months can meet other parents and allow their children to engage in a range of activities. Fundinotots is based on the new Early Years and Infant Campus.

To find out more about fundinotots at BIS HCMC, please click here.

BIS Community Choir (for parents and staff)

Following a successful term with wonderful performances, we are looking forward to a new term and would welcome new members to come and join the chorus.  Rehearsals are on Thursday 7.00-7.45am (Secondary Auditorium) and Friday 1.15-2.15pm (Junior Music Room), so please come along to the one that is most convenient for you.

If interested please e-mail Mrs Frances Amos frances.amos@bisvietnam.com or visit https://sites.google.com/bisvietnam.net/communitychoir/home for more information.

PTG Update

I cannot stress enough how important the work of the PTG is in the life of the school, and currently we still do not have a committee for next year. I stress again, we will not be able to have any PTG events next year unless we have volunteers to help coordinate the events and bring the teams together to run these wonderful opportunities within our community.  There are more details in the PTG Update, but if you think you could help out next year, please, please, please do speak to one of the existing committee members or let Ms Dee or me know.

Primary PTG Update: 31/05/19

2nd June - Pre-Loved Fair

• Sunday 2nd June @ 9am - 12pm
• Secondary Campus Auditorium
• Relocating? Having a spring clean? Or perhaps just looking for a bargain? Join us on Sunday 2nd June at the BIS Pre-Loved Fair to buy and sell second hand/used items! Click here for more details.

3/6/19 – 7/6/19 – Open House Swimming Lessons (for F3 to Y2)

4/6/19 – Year 1 and Year 2 Music Concert at 5.30pm in the Sports Hall

5/6/19 – Headteachers’ Coffee Morning

8/6/19 – BIS Aquathlon

11/6/19 – Junior Campus Music Concert

13/6/19 – F3 Summer Show

14/6/19 – Vietnamese Lessons Finish

16/6/19 – Term 3 Co-Curricular Activities (clubs) Finish

17/6/19 – 20/6/19 – F1 and F2 Class Celebrations

17/6/19 & 18/6/19 – Year 2 Visits to the Ao Dai Museum

20/6/19 – F3 to Year 1 Transition Coffee Morning @ 8.30am in the Canteen

20/6/19 – Tech No Day!

20/6/19 – PTG Disco

21/6/19 – End of Year Reports Emailed to Parents

24/6/19 – Open Afternoon

28/6/19 – Term 3 Ends @ 11.50am

Health and Safety

Stay Vigilant

As in all major cities petty crime does occur, as a reminder to all of us please always take care of your personal belongings, especially when walking between campuses and across roads.

Before and after school waiting area

When waiting to drop off and collect the children at the EY&I we ask for all parents, carers and children to wait on the ground floor only.  We are in the process of installing extra seating in the shaded areas to increase the seating areas for our community at these times.  This rule is in place to ensure lessons and clubs that are running at these times are not disturbed and all children in the building are kept safe.  People sitting around the lower ground floor outside the canteen and along the corridors will be asked to move to the ground floor by our teaching staff.  Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our campus safe.

Safeguarding at school – it’s everyone’s responsibility

Personal Photographs

It is every parent’s wish to capture memorable moments on camera of their child at school either performing in an assembly, on their birthday or simply playing with their friends on the playground before the start of the school day.  Any photos that are taken by parents on personal devices must be kept private.  They must not be shared publicly on social media or between non-family members such as, other parents in the school.  By following these guidelines, we ensure our BIS safeguarding policy is adhered to and that our children are kept safe. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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 Leader.

Thank you,

Ms Mary

And Finally…

It is wonderful to be able to say that the BSO inspection team have rated BIS ‘outstanding’ in every category. I believe one of the reasons that we have achieved that accolade is our ongoing desire to improve.  On Wednesday next week, we will be having our Term 3 Headteachers’ coffee morning which has a theme of ‘School Improvement’. I hope you will be able to join Ms Dee and myself, at 8.30am in the Junior Black Box Theatre, as we talk through some of the key points of the BSO report, provide information about planned improvements to the facilities, and welcome Mr Steve Porter, who will be giving a presentation about a major upgrade to school’s information management system.

I cannot finish without saying ‘congratulations’ to our Junior FOBISIA team who achieved so much success in the recent FOBISIA Games in Phuket, Thailand.  Well done to everyone who took part!

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable weekend,

Ian Battersby, Head of the Early Years and Infant Campus