Mr Tim Webb: Weekly Update 13/10/17

Why are residential trips at BIS Hanoi important?

Trips’ Week is eagerly anticipated by the whole BIS Hanoi school community. For the students, there is extended time to be spent with friends. This social situation is not to be taken for granted by children who live across the city of Hanoi. If our best friend lives in a distant part of the city in relation to our home, we may never see them at weekends or on school evenings. Furthermore, the trip challenges students in unique ways. This challenge might be physical, a gruelling cross country hike, for example, but it is also a mental one, with children having to find solutions to problems, that they encounter on the trips, that are usually solved by the adults in their lives. Additionally, the trips provide the children with another perspective on how others live their lives. This deepens their understanding of the world.

Trips are also a rich experience for the teachers of BIS Hanoi. Subject teachers get to know the children in a context that is very different to the classroom environment. Seeing the children in this fresh light reveals more about the teacher-student relationship and enriches it. I was asked recently what was special about the BIS Hanoi curriculum and I replied, that it was the teachers, that delivered the curriculum at BIS Hanoi, who were really special. Our teachers have an extraordinary ability to form relationships with the students, that challenge and inspire, care for and nurture our students. One of the keys to this is the willingness of BIS Hanoi teachers to embrace their wider role. They are not just a mathematics or a science teacher, they are a teacher in the broadest sense of the word.  Attending the trips, willingly spending time away from their own family and friends, enables our teachers to form a deep educational relationship with your child, which is mutually beneficial to the learning experience.

Trip Safety

We are aware of the severe weather reports, particularly in the north of Vietnam. We are monitoring this situation carefully and will provide an update on the trips on Monday. We will not put any student or staff member at risk. We are reluctant to postpone the trips because of the valuable experience that they provide. However, the safety of the children will come first and the trips will be postponed, if necessary. The secondary office will make a final decision on Monday 16 October 2017.

Year 10 Assembly

One trip, that does not seem at risk, is the Year 10 trip to Dalat, where the students will stay at the Nam Qua campsite. It was a great pleasure to attend an assembly conducted by the Year 10 students, today.  They shared with us their innovative approach to raising funds.  The funds (in excess of 12 million VND), will be donated to Khiem Thinh School and will be used to help buy a washing machine for the hearing impaired children who board at this school.

Tim Webb

Head of Secondary