Secondary School Update (8 December 2023)

As we approach the end of the academic year, I am delighted to reflect on the outstanding achievements and hard work of our current Head Students, Deputy Head Students, and their team of Prefects. Their dedication and commitment to serving our school community have been truly commendable.

The handover process for student leadership is now underway, marking an exciting time for our school. The selection process for new leaders involves a rigorous and thorough procedure, including application, video pitches, interviews, voting, and a panel interview with the Principal, the Head of Secondary, and the Head of Primary, which includes a presentation. This comprehensive process provides our students with a valuable learning experience, allowing them to showcase their skills and demonstrate their potential as future leaders. 

We are immensely grateful for the tremendous achievements and contributions of our current student leaders. They have worked tirelessly to enhance the school environment, promote student agency, and foster a culture of high motivation and quality learning. Their efforts have been instrumental in creating a positive and inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels that they belong.

Student leadership empowers students to take ownership of their learning journey and encourages them to become active participants in decision-making processes. By providing opportunities for leadership, we nurture the development of essential skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, which are crucial for success both within and beyond the classroom.

I am confident that the incoming student leaders will carry forward a strong leadership legacy of excellence and continue to inspire their fellow students to reach new heights.

Chris Newman 

Head of Secondary

Key Dates

• 15 December: End of Term 1 (Half Day)
• 10 January: First Day of Term 2
• 11 January: Year 7 Parents Evening, 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm
• 17 January: Year 10 Parents Evening, 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm
• 24 January: Universities Parent Connect 4:30 pm, Auditorium 

Secondary Learning Showcase

BIS Hanoi makes waves at the UNIS Club Swim Meet  

Last weekend, 35 students represented BIS Hanoi at the UNIS Club Swim Meet. Our swimmers displayed extraordinary talent throughout the two-day event, showing tremendous confidence and perseverance of truly Lionhearts. They supported each other through every race, cheering and giving one another wise words of advice. Both primary and secondary swimmers had a fantastic weekend, celebrating many personal bests and heat wins. Highlights of the gala are Xuan Phuc (Year 7)’s torpedo backstroke and Runa (Year 12) ’s exceptional achievement of 4 medals and the second-best score in her group. 

English

We were very fortunate on Wednesday to have the opportunity to visit the Opera House to watch a fantastic production of Romeo and Juliet from the American Drama Group Europe. Students from year 8 and all our iGCSE literature students travelled to the Hanoi Opera House for the packed-out performance. The innovative staging from the travelling company gave the students an invaluable opportunity to experience live drama. Having experienced this will facilitate their understanding of how drama functions as a distinct form of literature and will support them in developing their ability to comment on it in depth and detail.

This production in particular featured some delightful comedic touches, allowing the students to experience both the tragedy and comedy present in Shakespeare’s work. Hopefully, this will be the first step in our students’ journey to enjoying a broad range of literature in performance.

Mr. Simon Hoare

Head of English

Silver Duke of Edinburgh Practice Expedition

Our students recently embarked on an exhilarating Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expedition in the breathtaking region of Mai Chau. Read more here.