Secondary School Update (10 November 2023)

Looking ahead, we have an exciting lineup of events and activities planned. From Year 11 Parents Evening and Parent Connect sessions to our Open Day for prospective parents, there is something for everyone to look forward to. The upcoming CIS/WASC Team Evaluation Visit is a significant milestone for our school, and we appreciate the support and cooperation of our entire community.

As we celebrate Vietnam Teacher's Day on November 20th, let us take a moment to honour and appreciate the exceptional teachers who guide and inspire our students every day. Additionally, mark your calendars for World Children's Day on November 24th, where we encourage everyone to dress in blue to raise awareness for children's rights.

I am also excited to announce our upcoming Secondary Production, Year 13 Parents Evening, and Christmas Community Event. These events promise to be remarkable and memorable for all involved. More information is to come; please look out.

Once again, thank you for your continuous support and dedication. Together, we are shaping a bright future for our students.

Warm regards, 

Chris Newman 

Head of Secondary

Key Dates

• 10th - 12th November: FOBISIA MUN Conference hosted at BIS Hanoi
• 13th November: Year 11 Parents Evening 4:15-7:15 pm
• 16th November: Open Day for prospective parents
• 24th November: World Children's Day
• 29th - 30th November: Secondary Production
• 6th December: Year 13 Parents Evening 4:15 - 7:15 pm
• 8th December: Christmas Community Event (No CCAs)
• 15th December: End of Term 1 

Upcoming Parent Connect 

A reminder about our next Parent Connect session, titled: Improving balance and performance - Metacognition, Student Organisation, and Time Management. 

This session will be led by: 

• Ms Grace Byron (Head of Year 7) 
• Mr Liam Wright (Head of Year 11) 
• Year 11 students.  

This workshop will give you an opportunity to reinforce the effective strategies given to students by BIS to support them through their educational journeys. It will allow you to become more informed about how best to encourage and help them at home, which is invaluable to their progress and motivation.

Please RSVP to the above event by completing the Parent Connect Sign-up Form, which can be found in the invitation email from Secondary Office, by Monday 13th November.

Learning Showcase

Year 12 BISCAS trip: Mai Chau

Year 12 students visited the Mai Chau region as part of the recent residential trip week at BIS Hanoi. The focus of this trip was to engage with the local community and support enhancing the local infrastructure. Read more here.

Creative writing and illustrations (CCA)

We are thrilled to share the exciting progress made by our talented students in the Creative Writing and Illustration Co-curricular Activity! Over the past few months, our budding authors and artists have embarked on a captivating journey of imagination, collaboration, and creativity in the creation of our very own fantasy-themed book. From the inception of the project, the students' passion for storytelling and artistic expression has been truly awe-inspiring. They have poured their hearts and minds into crafting a rich and enchanting world filled with diverse characters, magical creatures, and epic adventures. The process began with brainstorming sessions, where students collectively shaped the overarching storyline and developed the vivid landscapes that would serve as the backdrop for their tale. These sessions ignited their imagination and fostered a collaborative spirit, as ideas were shared, refined, and woven together to create a cohesive narrative that would transport readers to a realm of wonder.

English

For the next 2 weeks, we are participating in the FOBISIA English competition. This competition offers students the opportunity to compete with other students in their class and year group, as well as the other schools in the southeast Asia region. The competition utilises this century-old tech platform to give students a range of units designed to develop skills appropriate for their age group and course of study. The competition is open for students’ years 7–11; please encourage them to participate as much as possible!

In other exciting news, year 10 and 11 literature students, along with year 8 students, will be visiting the Hanoi Opera House to watch a performance of Romeo and Juliet on December 6. The opportunity to witness live Shakespeare in Vietnam is very rare, and all the iGCSE students should witness some live drama to support them in understanding their drama paper, providing an appreciation of how a play is experienced as a performance rather than simply read off of a page. For year 8, witnessing this performance will give students an exciting introduction to their term 2 text of Romeo & Juliet, helping them to appreciate the nuances of how a play is performed as they consider the text.

Year 13: BISCAS 2023

A reflection from Ngoc Anh (13B)

“Over the week, our group actively participated in a series of workshops and community engagement activities. These sessions covered a wide range of topics, from learning how to reframe our mindsets to integrating Outlook into calendar organization. We also had the opportunity to visit the EYC (Early Years Centre) and engage in a creative activity such as creating Advent boxes for the younger students. This had been an opportunity for us to connect with the BIS community, gain insight into the experiences of younger students, and foster stronger connections with them. We really enjoyed bonding with the younger ones.

In addition to the meaningful interactions, we dedicated considerable effort to crafting the Advent Boxes. We wanted to create small presents for the younger students, hoping that they would find joy in them during the Christmas season. The workshops and activities have also equipped us with skills and mindsets in preparation for the final IB exams, taught us how to navigate university applications, and discovered efficient ways to utilise Microsoft Outlook and To-Do for organisational purposes.". 

A reflection from Quang Trung (13H)

“Throughout the week, I was able to reflect on my learning. For example, on the first day, we talked about our grades, and instead of focusing on the best grades possible, finding a grade that we are comfortable with is more practical. However, it wasn’t all learning and university finding; we also learned how to be role models for the EYC children and play with them. One of the things that was particularly interesting to me was how to deal with life at university. Since we will be spending up to half a decade of our lives there, it’s important to know its culture first. Overall, I felt the week was productive in researching our lives when we finished secondary school and allowing us a moment of silence during the chaotic school year. The most difficult challenges of the week were organising my workspace to be more efficient in my study and winning at the bowling alley. The big takeaway from these experiences is to not stress yourself and always plan ahead so you never need to put yourself in such situations." 

Lively with Lionhearts Podcast

Podcast CCA students have released the first Lively with Lionheart's edition of the year. Find out all about the different celebrations students at BIS celebrate during the term.