Dear Parents,
As we reach the end of this shorter school week for the Vietnam Independence Day public holiday, we mark the end of the beginning of the school year.
Though there are significant challenges for families in HCMC, and for BIS families around the world, I hope this long weekend enables our students to take some rest to recharge for the busy school weeks ahead.
In this shorter ‘mid-week update’, I am delighted to share some details of opportunities for students to be involved in, which all contribute to the rich fabric of school life .
Whether spending time exploring our collection in the Curve, collaborating with peers through choirs, orchestras and other ensembles, leading change though our many student leadership opportunities, or participating in our CCA programme, there is much more to BIS school life than formal lessons, and we are determined to maintain as much of that breadth within Virtual School. Please find details below and do take a look together with your children.
We know that finding balance during lockdown is hard for us all personally, and as families too, so we have also included in this week’s update some activities from our PE and Wellbeing teams to help our children keep balanced and healthy.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership, my best wishes to you all for a restful weekend.
Sean O’Neill
BIS Choirs and Orchestras are a huge part of BIS life and we want you to be involved this year.
We are still accepting auditions for a variety of music CCAs including Chamber Choir, Concert Band and Orchestra. To send us your audition video please join the Google Classroom - code sxtpitn.
Your videos can be uploaded any time you are ready, until the 17th of September for choir and orchestra and 24th September for Concert Band.
This year for the first time we will be auditioning for Concert Band as the standard is now so high and we have the new Junior Wind Band as part of the CCA programme.
A few tips for preparing your audition video
Please record a video where we can see you playing or singing.
The video should be of a piece you play well and should be between 30 seconds and 1 minute long - there is no need to play the whole piece, just a small section.
No piano accompaniment please - we just want to hear your voice or instrument.
You can give yourself a note on the piano to find your starting note when singing.
You can upload videos for both groups and if you want, you can audition on more than 1 instrument and for more than 1 group
If you have any questions, please contact Mr Alexander via email at Ian.Alexander@bisvietnam.com.
Ian Alexander
Director of Music
This week, all students received instructions on how to access our digital resources within Destiny Discover, our online library platform. We really encourage you to browse through our eBook collection - both fiction and non-fiction - as well as our specialist digital subscriptions.
Please find below a screencast to remind students of how to log-in to Destiny Discover.
Anita Curley
Secondary Teacher Librarian
There are several Student Leadership opportunities and School Events coming up in the next few weeks that you should keep an eye out for! We’re adapting to the virtual environment and making sure we carry on with key features of BIS school life – virtual CCAs, Student Council appointments and meetings, House Captain appointments and House events, and World CleanUp day, to name just those in the next three weeks!
Here’s a run down so you know what’s coming up. More information on how to Be Involved will be sent soon…
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Week beginning… |
What’s Happening… |
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6th September |
House Captain (Y8-11) and Head of House (House Prefect) (Y12) Applications due Plastic Diet House Challenge Launch FOBISIA |
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13th September |
House Captain (Y7) Applications due Student Council Selections in Form Time Saturday 18th September – (Digital) World CleanUp Day and WCUP Workshop |
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20th September |
Blue Dragon Marathon Walk fundraiser (in your homes!) 21st September – Peace One Day |
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27th September |
Plastic Diet Challenge Ends NAE Writer’s Award Launch |
Look out for more exciting events in October!
Lauren Binnington
Deputy Head Teacher Enrichment
Regional NAE-UNICEF Lead for South East Asia and the Middle East
Year 7, 8 and 9 have been getting active and away from their screens during PE lessons. They have been attempting challenges for the last two weeks to gain medals and house points in our very own Online Olympics. See the videos below for highlights.
Week 1 of the BIS Online Olympics
Week 2 of the BIS Online Olympics
We in the PE Department hope you have a relaxing long weekend, but we know it can be difficult when stuck inside. Below is the link to our Virtual PE Website.. It includes challenges, workouts and games that can be completed individually or as a family, also for fun or for competition!
BIS Secondary Online PE Activities Website
Ali Thom
Head of Secondary PE
Kevin joined BIS HCMC in August 2021. Since completing his teacher training in Ontario, Canada, Kevin has worked in schools in London, Kuala Lumpur, and most recently, at a British boarding school in Shenzhen, China. Here, he acted as the Director of Educational Technology as well as the Head of Design Technology. Prior to teaching, Kevin worked as an Industrial Designer designing various products for manufacturing in the automotive and medical sectors. Outside the classroom, Kevin is an active person and loves to weight train, run, and hike. He also loves to spend time exploring the city with his family.
Where have you moved to BIS from?
Shenzhen, China
Why did you move to BIS?
BIS is clearly one of the top international schools worldwide. It has an exceptional reputation for providing a comprehensive education for students. I have come to work at BIS so that I can learn and grow as a professional and share my passion for Design Technology with the students.
What has been the best experience for you since arriving in Vietnam?
Since arriving in Vietnam, I have been treated like a member of a family. The care and attention to detail I have received from members of SLT and HR is unlike anything I have experienced. Prior to arriving in Vietnam, I had already been exposed to three different government quarantines. The prospect of a fourth government quarantine really drained our spirits, but the BIS staff really transformed it into the best quarantine I have experienced thus far.
Tell us one fun fact about yourself.
I love to lift weights and exercise in general.
Lela joined BIS as an EAL teacher in 2021. She began teaching in 2012, working at an international school in Cairo, Egypt. After gaining additional qualifications, Lela moved to Vietnam in 2015 and began working in EAL at a local language school.
She then cemented her experience at a global UK cultural and language organization, where she gained further qualifications and taught students to excel academically in English. In addition, she enabled students to become global citizens by teaching 21st century skills focused on equality, diversity and digital literacy.
Outside of the classroom Lela enjoys being active through dance and cycling. She is a certified scuba diver and is happiest by the sea. She enjoys reading and spending time with her beloved pet. Exploring new art, travel and food plays a big role in Lela’s life.
Where have you moved to BIS from?
British Council Vietnam
Why did you move to BIS?
I love the community and day to day of international school life and enjoy enriching the lives of students.
What has been the best experience for you since arriving in Vietnam?
Hiking and exploring the Da Lat mountains in perfect January weather, as well as taking a cruise in Ha Long Bay.
Tell us one fun fact about yourself.
I love diving and snorkelling, and have had the pleasure of swimming with many sea creatures! Sea cows, dolphins, whale sharks and giant turtles too.
BA Hons Economics, Northumbria University, UK
PGCE Economics and Business Worcester College H.E., UK
Peter joined BIS HCMC in August 2021. Peter has over 30 years of teaching experience most recently as Head of Individuals and Societies at a leading international school in Indonesia. He is particularly interested in using information technology in the teaching and learning of Economics and Business. Outside of the classroom, Peter is a keen football supporter and occasional player, and always tries to follow his favourite team - Newcastle United.
Where have you moved to BIS from?
I was at the British School Jakarta for the last 8 years
Why did you move to BIS?
I have been to Vietnam many times and always loved the country.
What has been the best experience for you since arriving in Vietnam?
How friendly everyone is.
Tell us one fun fact about yourself.
When I was 10 I beat Adrian Moorhouse in a swim race. He went on to be an Olympic champion and I......didnt.
With the long weekend approaching, we would like to share a reminder of the things we have been doing in our weekly wellbeing lessons. As you will be aware, we have a ‘Wellbeing Menu’ in place for all students in Years 7 to 11. We are sharing these below and hope that your son/daughter can use the activities during the long weekend. This is entirely optional, though we hope that your son/daughter finds the activities useful during this time period.
During the current lockdown period, it can be somewhat difficult to find time to get away from screens. Having regular screen time breaks is very important both for your eyesight and your general wellbeing. Our ‘Wellbeing Menu’ can help with this and empower your son/daughter to maintain a healthy relationship with their digital devices.
Please see below the various ‘Wellbeing Menus’ for Key Stage 3 and 4 below:
Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) Week 3 Wellbeing Menu
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) Week 3 Wellbeing Menu
Our Sixth Formers are currently using their weekly wellbeing lesson time to work on their IB CAS Requirements with students seeking opportunities to engage in creativity, action and service. As you will know, providing service to others promotes positive emotions connected to gratitude which supports general wellbeing and wellness. Our student’s focus on creativity helps instil a sense of meaning. Additionally, there are obvious benefits in the fitness element of action. We feel that this approach is supportive of our student’s wellbeing and hope that you can encourage your son/daughter to continue working on these areas over the long weekend.
To further support our community’s wellbeing and wellness, I am resharing a post originally sent last term with recommendations for maintaining personal wellbeing during the lockdown period. I hope that it will be beneficial to you all.
We hope these items are helpful for you and your family. Should you have any questions or require additional support relating to welfare and guidance, please email your son/daughter’s Form Tutor or their Head of Year. Alternatively, you can email Gareth Wills, Deputy Headteacher (Welfare and Guidance) on gareth.wills@bisvietnam.com with any queries or questions.
Event Details
Clubs Schedule: Monday 13th September to Sunday 17th October
Club times: two sessions each afternoon from 2:50pm – 3:50pm and from 3:55pm - 4:55pm and some during lunchtimes.
Audition details for Chamber Choir, Concert Band and Orchestra can be found above. We hope to see lots of our enthusiastic musicians joining in online.
The College and University Guidance team are pleased to continue our program of Virtual University Visits. We have already arranged 3 for September with more to come. These events are open to all secondary students and their parents. See below with a link to the registration form for each event.
Forthcoming Virtual University Visits.
Thursday September 2nd 2021. 3pm-4pm VN time. “Pathways to becoming a Doctor in the US or the UK”
Follow this link to register for the above event.
Wednesday September 8th 2021. 3pm-4pm VN time. “Study in Ireland”
Follow this link to register for the above event.
Tuesday September 14th 2021. 4pm-5pm VN time. “US application essay advice session”
Follow this link to register for the above event.
Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd September: School closed - National Holidays - Independence Day
Thursday 2nd September: Pathways to becoming a Doctor in the US or the UK, 3pm-4pm VN time. Follow this link to register for this online event.
Wednesday 8th September: Study in Ireland, 3pm-4pm VN time. Follow this link to register for this online event.
Tuesday 14th September: US application essay advice session, 4pm-5pm VN time. Follow this link to register for this online event.
Wednesday 15th September: Year 11 IB Options Event
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kind regards,
Sean O’Neill
Head Teacher, Secondary Campus
101 Thao Dien Street,
Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Junior Campus
225 Nguyen Van Huong Street,
Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Secondary Campus
246 Nguyen Van Huong Street,
Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
