Back to school!

It was wonderful on Tuesday to be able to welcome all our students back to school following our two weeks of VSE and a two-week holiday for Tet. At the main entrance on Tuesday morning I was met with many pairs of smiling eyes – I could not see their smiling mouths because of the masks everyone is wearing! There was a real buzz around the school as students reconnected with their friends and teachers, and got back down to face-to-face learning. 

We are being very cautious to ensure the safety of our school community. All our Covid protocols remain at their highest levels, with the use of masks, temperature checks, heightened cleaning and hygiene routines and limited contact between students. Assemblies today have taken place on a virtual platform and we are not making any plans for off-site visits or sports fixtures at present. We take our responsibilities seriously, not just for protecting our community, but for playing our part in the wider national fight against Covid-19. 

BIS Hanoi community support

I was very pleased today to receive an update regarding the fund-raising that we did as a school in Term 1, to help communities in central Vietnam who were so badly affected by the floods in October and November. In total, over 100 million VND was raised by the students, parents and staff of our school. The money was donated to Blue Dragon, a charitable group in Hanoi, who were helping to coordinate the relief effort. They conducted a thorough assessment of the damage and the needs of families, before allocating resources. Many houses were severely damaged by the floods, furniture washed away and roofs broken; chickens and ducks had been killed; crops destroyed and fishing equipment broken or washed away. Blue Dragon organised repairs to houses and provided furniture and basic equipment such as blankets, pans and bowls. They bought chickens and suitable feed, and equipment needed to restart fishing businesses.  

One other important aspect of the support that Blue Dragon provided with the funds we raised was to ensure that children could return to school. Many families could no longer afford to pay their children’s school fees or provide basic stationery for school-work. Without an education, these children would struggle to be able to improve their life-chances for the future. School fees were paid until the end of this academic year, and all the equipment and stationery that the children would need was given to them. Some of them even received a small desk so that they could complete their homework properly. In addition to this, 5 children who live a long way from their school were provided with bicycles so enable them to get to school.

The support work enabled by the money we raised is not yet complete. Next month, another 12 families will receive direct support from Blue Dragon, with things like house repairs, home equipment, food, clothes, school fees and equipment. 

Blue Dragon would like to thank you to you all

This makes me very proud to be part of the BIS community.

Read more about their charity work for the flood relief effort in Central Vietnam.