Primary Weekly Update 22/04/2022

The first week of Term 3 has been busy! We’ve been delighted to welcome new students to both campuses and indeed some students that have returned to BIS after time away.
 

With almost 100% attendance on both campuses, we have enjoyed visiting classes and hearing from the children about their various trips to home countries and holidays both in and beyond Vietnam.  As we are now back at school and all students are expected to attend in person, we urge all parents, moving forward,  to plan holidays around term dates to avoid further disruption to learning. 

Across both campuses, events for Term 3 have begun! This week saw students from Year 3 to Year 6 take part in the BIS Young Musician Semi-finals. With over 100 students auditioning before the holidays, the standard was extremely high, and 32 students had the opportunity to perform this week in front of an audience of parents and teachers.  

BIS Young Musician of  the Year  - Semi-finals 2022

This week we hosted the semi-finals of our Young Musician competition. Of the 108 students who initially auditioned in Round 1, 30 made it to the semi-finals on Wednesday and Thursday. The standard of performance was impressively high, and it was a real challenge for our judges to choose who would go on to the final next week. Congratulations to everyone who participated. 

Our finalists are:

Y13 Assembly with EYI children

On Monday, 16 children began school for the first time at the British International School, Ho Chi Minh City.  Parents were excited but also a bit worried about how their children would manage at school.  Will they be happy?  Will they make friends?  Will they succeed at school?  Will they do well academically?  We all have many hopes and fears for our children. 

It was the same in 2005 and 2006 when 22 of our Year 13 students joined BIS.  On Tuesday morning, these Year 13 students came to speak to our Year 2 children about their memories and experiences of life at BIS.  All those questions that the parents had when they were in Early Years have been answered.  They told us about the friendships they have made, how they have enjoyed being at BIS and how they have succeeded through their efforts at school and the support of the fabulous teachers.  Friday 22nd April is the Year 13s last day at BIS (apart from a few IB exams over the next few weeks), and then they are off to study subjects including; architecture, medicine, engineering, business management or music at the best universities around the world.

Gemma summed up the guidance to the Year 2s in saying they should make the most of the opportunities they have at school and follow their dreams.  Great advice from students who have flourished during their time at BIS.

Year 4 Science Fair

Thank you very much to all who took part in the Year 4 Science Fair yesterday afternoon. It was an incredible event and there was a real buzz of excitement in the gym. It was clear to see how hard the students had worked on their projects, putting lots of time and effort in at home with their families. Year 3 thoroughly enjoyed talking to the students who took part and Year 4 did a great job in explaining what they found out, what they did and what they might do differently next time. This event just gets bigger and better each year. I am so proud of our Year 4 scientists who took part and it's amazing to see that our young people are so creative, forward thinking and they clearly have a strong passion for Science.

Mr Tom Birbeck /Primary Science Leader

Tig Tag Science Webinar for Parents

We warmly invite parents to our Tig Tag Science Webinar on Wednesday 4th May.  It is an opportunity for you to see this wonderful resource that can be accessed at home as well as school and aid your children in their knowledge, understanding and skills in both science and IPC. The link for the meeting is on the poster and will be shared nearer the time on Seesaw also.  Put the date in your diaries for now!

Community Service Update - Ky Quang Pagoda Orphanage

At the beginning of this year a group of Year 12 IBDP students initiated ‘Create and Care’, a service-focused CCA with the aim of creating sellable pieces and hand-made products to raise funds for the school’s community partners.  On International Day, the club set up a stall which featured beautiful hand printed bags and designer stickers raising the substantial amount of VND 6,323,000 through their sale.  The students nominated for this money to be used by Ky Quang Pagoda Orphanage, who had expressed a need for new washing machines. 

Our school community has been engaging with the children of Ky Quang Pagoda Orphanage for more than 7 years, building a strong relationship with them over this period.  The organisation provides a school for more than 100 underprivileged children in Go Vap District and is also home to both disabled as well able-bodied children and young adults who live in the orphanage run by nuns, monks and other volunteers. 

Together with some of the funds raised through the BIS ‘Life in Vietnam’ calendar sales, we were able to purchase two brand new washing machines for the orphanage, delivery of which was made this week, much to the excitement and joy of the children!

On behalf of Ky Quang Pagoda Orphanage, we would like to thank all who purchased the ‘Create and Care’ products and/or the BIS ‘Life in Vietnam’ calendars.  Your donations are sincerely appreciated.

Tracey Brownrigg            
Co-Curricular Coordinator and
Community Service Project Manager

PTG Social Night!

Social Night is back at long last! Wednesday 27th April 7 - 9pm.

Tickets will be on sale at each campus later this week.

Only 400,000 per person, includes free flow beer, wine, selected cocktails and finger food.

It is open to parents and teachers from all 3 campuses.

A chance to get together, socialise, reconnect and meet those we have only had the chance to meet in the virtual world.

Please WhatsApp message on 093 802 9513 or email melanierowe1201@gmail.com for any questions.

Hope to see you there!

Primary PTG

25/04/22                                  CCAs Begin

26& 27/04/22                         Year 2 ‘Live’ Performances

27/04/22                                  Year 3 Rainforest Day

27/04/22                                  PTG Social Night

28/04/22                                  Young Musician Final

02/05/22 - 03/05/22             Labour Day and Reunification Day Holidays (School closed)

04/05/22                                  Tig Tag Science Webinar for Parents

Symptomatic (Any Cold/Flu/Covid Symptoms) - stay off school until symptom free. 

• Take a precautionary Rapid Antigen Test at home prior to return and keep the school informed.

Any concern you have at home with the health of your child, and include the Health and Safety Leads of each campus (EYIC Ms Sarah Curran sarah.curran@bisvietnam.com  and JC Mr Chris McKelvie Christopher.mckelvie@bisvietnam.com  .

It is vital, also, that you inform the office of any positive case within your family – these are called ‘household close contacts’.

If your child needs the School Nurse to administer any prescribed medication during the school day please do not put medication in the school bag but contact the School Nurse and sign the appropriate form.

Ms Sarah Curran and Mr Chris McKelvie, Deputy Headteachers

And Finally…

Due to the high volume of uniform we have at school, we are, at this time, unable to accept any additional uniform for recycling.  If there are any parents that are interested in getting our Upcycle Uniform project off the ground once more, please do get in touch with us and we can put you in contact with the PTG to support.

Kindest regards,

Ian Battersby & Dee Grimshaw, Headteachers