Mr Ian Battersby: Weekly Update 27/05/2022

Mr Ian Battersby: Weekly Update 27/05/2022 As well as super learning opportunities, events are happening that bring the BIS community together once again.

‘Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength.  When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender.  That is strength.’ Mahatma Gandhi

It is hard to believe that there are only 4 weeks left of this school year.  It has been one that we will always remember because of the adversity we have experienced due to the pandemic, but also because of the strength in depth of the BIS community. 

On Friday, we held the ‘Moving On Workshop’ for parents.  It is time for some members of our community to move on to different countries and locations.  Our admissions team went through some of the logistics of transitioning out of BIS, and our Advice, Support and Counselling (ASC) team were sharing some advice on supporting children with the relocation.  One theme that came through when talking to parents was that the support over the last two years from our community is something they will miss.

If you are leaving and were not able to attend the workshop or would like to see the slides again, here is the link:

Moving On Workshop Presentation

Fun in Fundinotots

After a year of no face to face Fundinotot sessions it was so lovely last week to welcome back on site our parents and their toddlers and babies.  It was great to see the children and their parents exploring and enjoying the activities set up in the Fundinotots room and making new friends.

Have you got a baby or toddler aged from 0 to 36 months?  If so you too may be interested in joining Fundinotots with your child.

What is it?

Fundinotots is a friendly place to meet other parents with young children. We provide an informal play environment that enables your child to have opportunities to interact with other children and flourish within our creative school setting. Sand and water play, painting, story time and music sessions are just a selection of some of the activities that we offer.

Who can go?

Fundinotots is open to all children aged 0 to 36 months to attend with a parent.

When and where?

Fundinotot sessions run at the following times:

Monday 8:15 - 10:15 am

Tuesday 8:15 -11:15 am

Wednesday 8:15 -11:15 am

Thursday 8:15 - 10:15 am

Friday 8:15 - 10:15 am

How do I enrol my child?

Please click here to make an online application for Fundinotots. We are currently taking enrolments both for this term and the next school year.

For further enquiries about Fundinotots please contact: Sarah.Bonner@bisvietnam.com

F2 Teddy Bear's Picnic

To celebrate the end of their Talk for Writing Unit, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” F2 had a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. They made delicious Teddy Bear biscuits which the children and their teddy bears enjoyed eating. All the classes had a chance to play on the main playground together for the first time. Mr Ian and Bailey Bear also came to visit and the children enjoyed introducing their teddy bears.

Juliette Petrie

F2 Year Leader and F2B Class Teacher

Tea Time Recitals

Our Primary school has been filled with the warmest kind of music - music shared between friends, families, and very proud parents. Students from Year 1 through to Year 6 have performed in our latest series of Tea Time Recitals.

The fantastic range of performances featured singers, violinists, a recorder player as well as the very first student performance on an accordion at our Early Years campus! The range of repertoire demonstrated the breadth and depth of musical experiences that our wonderful musicians are engaging with.

As Ms Dee commented, it was the very best way to spend a Friday afternoon.  Thank you to everyone who contributed towards the performances and we will look forward to further opportunities in the future.

Headteachers’ Coffee Morning

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Next week, the UK will be celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  She is the longest reigning female monarch in history (Louis XIV of France reigned for 72 years and 110 days).  To mark this occasion, we will be having a ‘Red, White and Blue Day’ on Friday 3rd June.  Children can come to school in anything red, white or blue, or if they wish to come dressed as prince or princess, that will also be fine.

PTG AGM

We would like to invite all parents to our PTG AGM taking place on Thursday June 9th at 5.30pm in the Early Years and Infant Campus. We will hear from the PTG at secondary and Primary and say farewell to some key members of both PTG groups.  We hope you can join us. 

PTG Pre-Loved Fair 2022- Saturday 11th June

Consider participating in our PTG Pre-Loved Fair on Saturday 11th June.  There are a couple of ways to join.

You can purchase a table and sell all your second hand goods, or come along as a customer and pick up a bargain.  The Fair is open to all BIS Community members including students, families and staff.

 By now you will have received our email with the details so please check your inbox.

If you would like to book a table please email the Secondary Campus Receptionist – Katie Walsh katie.walsh@bisvietnam.com.

If you have any questions please WhatsApp Melanie Rowe, PTG on +84 93 802 9513 or email melanierowe1201@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you there.

 Event Details:

Date: Saturday 11th June

Time: 9.00am to 12.00pm

Location: Secondary Campus Auditorium

A BIS Community event

Book Sale: 24th May EY, 25^th May JC

Finally PTG events are back! And what better way to restart our events than a 2 day Book Sale that raised 40mVND for our BIS community partner, Thuy’s Dream Foundation!

This is a tremendous amount of money that will enrich the lives of children battling cancer and offer long term support to them and their families.

Thank you to all those parents and teachers who generously donated an eclectic collection of books.  Our parent volunteers worked hard to sort the books and set up the Sale, with the invaluable support of the Primary facilities teams.   Of course none of that preparation would matter if we didn’t have a wonderful turn out of adults and children, leaving with arms full of books, making generous donations. 

It was so lovely to see such joy amongst the BIS community being able to come together, hear the excitement as children discovered books they couldn’t wait to take home, and witness the generosity of everyone involved. 

It would not have been a success without everyone’s support. So Thank you to you all.

Despite such a successful event, we still have a huge collection of books left so will be considering other opportunities in which to sell them - so watch this space!

Many thanks

Pamela & Primary PTG

31/05/22                                 Year 2 to Year 3 Transition Meeting for Parents 

03/06/22                                 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

06/06/22                                 Sports Day for F2 - Y2 (Details below)

w/c 13/06/22                          International Week

w/c 13/06/22                          Staggered sharing of reports

22/06/22                                 F1 End of Year Celebration with F1S, V, N @ 8.45am

23/06/22                                 F1 End of Year Celebration with F1B & I @ 8.45am

24/06/22                                  Term ends @ 11.50am

Sports days are coming!

The children are currently working hard in their PE lessons mastering the athletics techniques for the upcoming sports day. After the success of last year, the format will be the same, based at the Junior Campus, with all children participating for their house in both track and field events. The children will run, jump, and throw to earn points for their house, with the emphasis on having fun!

Parents are welcome to come and watch, entry through Gate C at the Junior Campus

Monday 6^th June

F2 & F3 -  8.30-9.30

Year 1 -  9.45-10.45

Year 2 - 11.00-12.00pm

Tuesday 7th June - Year 6 -  8.45-12.00

Wednesday 8th June - Year 5 - 8.45-12.00

Thursday 9th June - Year 4 - 8.45-12.00

Friday 10th June - Year 3 - 8.45-12.00

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

Online application for Fundinotots

Are you a qualified teacher?

If you are, and are interested in doing some supply/cover teaching at BIS, please contact either Chris McKelvie (christopher.mckelvie@bisvietnam.com) or Sarah Curran (sarah.curran@bisvietnam.com).  They will arrange to meet and talk you through what is required in order to join those who we call upon to cover classes when the teacher is unable to be there. 

And Finally…

We are hearing that the second vaccination for students is imminent. Please can you ensure you are checking emails regularly as it may be a last minute call from us if we receive late notice.  Unfortunately, we have still not received any information about vaccinations for 5-year olds.  We will let you know as soon as we hear anything.

Also, if you have not yet ordered uniform for next school year, please check your emails with details of how to do so.  Thanks.

I hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend,

Ian Battersby, Headteacher