Mr Ian Battersby: Weekly Update 23/08/2019

It has been wonderful this week to welcome back families as the new term got underway on Wednesday.  I would like to give a particularly warm welcome to families who are joining BIS this year. Changing or starting school is a challenge, but I can assure you that you are joining a caring and supportive community and I am certain that you will have a fabulous time, whether you are staying for a year or two, or for longer.

Campus Developments

With the Early Years and Infant Campus (EY&IC) being only 18 months old, the focus for developing BIS facilities has been at the Junior and Secondary Campuses.  However, work has been carried out at the EY&IC to improve our English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Learning Support (LS) teaching spaces, enhancing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) outdoor spaces, including increasing the shading in F1, installing a disabled and family toilet next to the reception, and providing a cover for the staff motorbike parking area.

The teaching staff have been back for over a week now, and have been involved in training as we continue to explore ways to improve the education that your children receive.  This year we will be having a particular focus on maths and drama, as well as embedding the work from previous years.  We will be providing more information throughout the term.

Parents’ Information Evening

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to the ‘Parents’ Information Evening’ for the Early Years and Infant Campus which will begin in the Sports Hall on Thursday 29^th August at 5pm and end in the classrooms at approximately 7pm. There will be an introduction to our leadership team, followed by a short presentation about what we are wanting to achieve as a school.  Then there will be year group specific presentations and a chance, if you have not done so already, to meet your child’s class teacher.  Please make attending this event a priority! Important information will be shared by your child’s class teacher, and you will have a much greater understanding of how you can support your child’s education over the course of the year.

Parent Teacher Student Conferences (PTSCs)

The first few weeks at school are very much about settling into new classes and routines.  General information will be shared at the Parents’ Information Evening, but there will be an opportunity to have a one-to-one meeting with your child’s class teacher in a few weeks’ time. Please make a note in your diary that the pastoral PTSCs will be taking place on Tuesday 10^th and Wednesday 11^th September.  Details of how to book an appointment will be sent to you next week.

Co-Curricular Activity (Clubs) Sign Up

Today you should have received the Early Years and Infant Term 1 Club booklet; it was attached to the weekly update email.  In this booklet, you will find all the details about how to sign up for Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs), including when you can get support for members of the school staff, which activities are available for which year groups, and key dates relating to our CCA programme.  Encourage your child to take the opportunity to do something new. 

Please take time to look at the booklet with your child and ensure that you sign up next week. We don’t want any children disappointed because the sign-up deadline was missed. 

29/8/19 - Parent information EYI

4/9/19 - Settling in workshop

5/9/19 - Digital Citizenship

10/9/19 - Parent teacher student conferences

11/9/19 - Parent teacher student conferences

13/9/19 - Lantern Parade EYI

19/9/19 - English Workshop

19/9/19 - PTG Social

23/9/19 - Term 1 clubs begin

23/9/19 - Vietnamese classes begin

27/9/19 - HoPE Conference

24/9/19 -Vietnamese Coffee (Juniors) - Class and country rep meeting

29/9/19 – BBGV Run

3/10/19 - EAL Parent Workshop

10/10/19 - PTG pot luck lunch EYI

14/10/19 - EY&I Specialist Open Classrooms

16/10/19 - Intl Week Meeting

18/10/19 - EAL Parent meeting Pre JC

18/10/19 – Term 1 ends

Health and Safety

Registration Procedures

Our registration procedures were outlined in the ‘Health and Safety 2019’ letter that was sent to families via email on Thursday this week.  As a reminder for all, children are registered as late and will require a late slip after the following times:

• F1 and F2 – from 8:30am
• F3, Years 1 and 2 – from 8.20am
• Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 – from 8:00am

If for any reason your child is absent from school, we ask for you to either inform the class teacher via email or, inform the receptionists via telephone from 7:30am on the morning of absence.  If your child usually takes the school bus, we would also ask for you to also inform Ms Trang, our bus manager, via email at Trang.Pham@bisvietnam.com  

When calling reception please use the telephone number: 

• Early Years and Infants (EY&I) – 028 3636 0055

If school has not been informed as to the reason for your child being absent, the receptionists will contact parents on the first morning of absence to establish the reason.  If possible, it would be helpful to indicate how long you expect your child(ren) to be absent for.

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.

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.

Thank you,

Ms Mary

PTG

The Parent Teacher Group plays such an important role in the life of the school.  Last year, it was great to see so many parents volunteering their time to support events and activities that had such a positive impact on the whole BIS community.

Each week, the PTG has a post highlighting what is happening over the coming weeks and months, and how you can get involved. Click on the link below to find out more:

Primary PTG Update: 23/08/2019

And Finally…

Communication is fundamental to ensure the smooth running of the school.  Please take time every week to look at this weekly update and to read the Seesaw posts from your child’s class teacher.  Just a reminder, this week you have been sent the following:

1. Health and Safety at BIS
2. The Term 1 Co-Curricular Activities Booklet
3. A Parents’ Information Evening letter

If you have not received any of these, please contact Ms Van (van.pho@bisvietnam.com).

Enjoy a relaxing and restful weekend,