Mr Carl Mincher: Weekly Update 08/06/2018

Mr Carl Mincher: Weekly Update 08/06/2018 You may know a popular song that goes … “And the rhythm of life is a powerful beat..”. Having a special meaning to us this week I found these lyrics were playing over in my mind. My recent updates have reflected on important days in BIS life and the rites of passage our students enjoy as they join us grow, flourish and move on. From the big concerts to the stage shows to sporting tournaments, to their final exams and of course to their graduation these moments punctuate the the journey and this week has certainly added to these.

You may know a popular song that goes … “And the rhythm of life is a powerful beat..”. Having a special meaning to us this week I found these lyrics were playing over in my mind. My recent updates have reflected on important days in BIS life and the rites of passage our students enjoy as they join us grow, flourish and move on.  From the big concerts to the stage shows to sporting tournaments, to their final exams and of course to their graduation these moments punctuate the the journey and this week has certainly added to these.

Our Graduating Class are now looking forward to exciting new horizons and as part of the natural rhythm of BIS life and this week others stepped into their shoes and followed in their footsteps as we were delighted to welcome our next Year 7 class.

The lyrics of that song go on in my mind … “Puts a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet” – I would say that both our departing graduates and our joining Year 7 feel this ‘tingle’ and are equally excited by the changes ahead. Of course the Year 7 experience is only part way along a journey and is preparation for the other.

From parents to teachers and our older students too…who hasn’t been prompted to reminisce on the excitement and events of a transition in life and remember how well it went for us – these events, often vividly, stay with us for a lifetime. So, it is important that we create the best possible conditions for the new Year 7 to join their new environment and do so confidently. When they reminisce in years to come they should do so with a smile and fond memories of a great start. I can tell you after joining us on the Secondary Campus on Thursday, the smiles and happy conversations at the end of the day were music to my ears and the beginnings of great memories and a great start.

BIS F1 Grand Prix

This week we held our first BIS Grand Prix event to which a number of schools from across the city joined us to take part in a S.T.E.A.M event with a Formula 1 theme.

Congratulations to Nam Phong Racing and the Design and Technology Department for a hugely successful event led by Mr Greg Roberts, DT teacher.  We look forward to reading more about this event in next week’s update.

Year 6 Transition Day

Endings quite often lead to new beginnings….

….and a whole new set of challenges to overcome and skills to learn.  

For our Year 6 students the end of this academic year represents the time for them to make the journey across the bridge to become full time Secondary students.  

Supporting that journey we have been working, Primary and Secondary teams together,  to help our Year 6 students get to know their new campus home, culminating in the Year 6 Transition Day this week.  The transition day is a fantastic opportunity for students to get to know the Secondary Campus even better and meet new friends and start to become familiar with new routines. Throughout the day they were accompanied by our Year 7 buddies who did a wonderful job of helping the Year 6 settle in as well as sharing their top tips to flourish as a new secondary student.

We hope that all of our Year 6 students enjoyed the day and we look forward to welcoming you back in your white and tan in the last week of August.

The Second Annual BIS Night of the Arts

On Wednesday 6th June BIS hosted the second Night of the Arts. The Drama, Music, Art and DT departments opened the doors of their classrooms to parents, students and teachers to celebrate the power of the arts at BIS Secondary.

Learn more from one of our Drama Teachers,  Ms Anne-Marie Astley, and see some of the photos from BIS Night of the Arts 2018.

Thao Dien Clean-Up 2018- Saturday 23rd June

Our Global Goals Club at the Secondary Campus have organised a clean up event on Saturday 23rd June and they need your help!

After the success of Clean-Up 1 they would like to invite you to join them in their second Thao Dien Clean-Up event. The clean-up will take place on Saturday 23rd June, from 8.30 - 11.30 A.M. Sign up for the whole morning or just choose the  time slot you can join us for:

8.30 - 10.00am
9.00 - 10.30am
9.30 - 11.00am
10.00 - 11.30am

Find out more about the Thao Dien Clean Up 2018.

Global Campus Creative Writing Winners 2018

The 2018 NAE Global Campus Creative Writing Competition saw over 4000 students participate with 88 going on to be published in this year’s Creative Writing and Visual Arts Anthology.

Three of our students were shortlisted to appear in this year’s published anthology:  Ryan Lower, Age 10, Raghav Dwivedi, Age 11 and Amber Jarigsma, Age 17. Congratulations to you all!

You can find out more about the competition and listen to Ryan, Raghav and Amber read their stories at Global Campus Creative Writing Winners 2018.

A few words from the PTG about the Preloved Fair 2018

Another PTG event, The 'Flea Market and Preloved fair' last Sunday morning was a great success.
A key aim of this event is to promote the ‘recycle, reuse, reduce’ message within, as well as, outside the school community. The whole school supports this campaign and are trying to do their bit to bring in  positive change.
Thank you to all the parents for supporting this affair.

Shweta Mangal and the PTG Committee

The Last Plastic Straw at BIS Secondary Campus

We are proud to say that BIS HCMC Secondary Campus is now free of plastic straws! Congratulations to Year 12 student Victoria and the Catering Committee for implementing this very positive change - the first step in our campaign to be single-use plastic-free by 2020.

Here is Victoria Fethke, Year 12 student, to explain how they did it.

 

Christina Noble Children’s Foundation Scholarships 2018

BIS HCMC have had the pleasure of working with Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF) for the past 2 years. We have connected with them through our weekly Noble Swimming Club as well as Year 12 IB CAS projects

Each year through PTG community fundraising events comes an opportunity to provide further support.  The main focus for this year’s PTG support for community partners is sustainability and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Quality Education.

Find out more about this year’s scholarships and our future goals by reading Christina Noble Childrens Foundation Scholarships 2018.

 

Thuy’s Dreams Donation 2018

This week, the Community Department at BIS HCMC, along with PTG Community Representative, Mel Rowe, took the time to distribute the funds raised from our annual coffee and cake fundraiser to Thuy’s Dream.  This heartfelt community event raised both awareness and funds for families of children with cancer here in HCMC.

Mel tells us more about the visit to two local hospitals with Thuy’s Dream donations.

From our Sports Department

Our Secondary SISAC and FOBISIA sporting schedules have come to an end for this year, with our final event being the BIS Aquathlon tomorrow.

Well done to all of our competitors throughout the year. It has been wonderful to see so many of our students take on a sport for fitness and fun.  The final sporting event for the year, the BIS Sports Awards Evening, will be a celebration of the many successes for our sporting teams throughout the year, both here in HCMC and across Asia.

Sports Award Ceremony - Friday 15th June

As a celebration of our continued success in Sport, both in Saigon and across Asia, BIS HCMC would like to acknowledge the achievements of players and coaches by holding its first Sports Award Ceremony.

The event details

When: Friday 15th June from 7.00 to 10.00pm

Where: Diamond Ballroom at the Novotel Hotel,

167 Hai Ba Trung, D1, HCMC

Tickets: 900,000vnd from the Cashier

IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts Exhibition - Monday 11th June

We are delighted to showcase the hard work of 4 of our Year 13 BIS HCMC artists who are exhibiting select pieces from their recently completed International Baccalaureate Visual Arts course

The event details

When: Monday 11th June 2018 from 7.00pm

Where: Soma Art Cafe, 6b Le Van Mien Street, District 2

Collect your free invitation at the Secondary Campus Reception.  Spaces are limited.

Dragons' Den Final 2018

The event details

When: Monday 18th June from 3.00 to 5.00pm

Where: Secondary Campus Auditorium,

Who: All student are welcome

Join the BIS Team-Job Vacancy

Part Time Primary Chinese Teacher (equivalent to 2 days per week)

We are looking to recruit someone with a strong desire to work for a growing organisation who has an affinity with and an interest in teaching Chinese to Primary children.

The person appointed will work at the Junior campus, must hold a full degree, qualified teaching certificate and have previous teaching experience within either Primary or Secondary education.

If you are interested please forward a letter of application and full CV which must include a recent professional photograph and the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current employer to bis.recruitment@bisvietnam.com by Friday 15th June.

Managing our Traffic Together

We have continued to distribute a newly updated Driver’s Code of Conduct to all those who drive to school both at drop off and pick up times. With key information in both English and Vietnamese, we aim to further educate our drivers to make better choices when they enter the areas around our school campuses and within the Thao Dien area as a whole.

Please take time to talk to you drivers about the this and ensure that it is visible in your car at all times. This will serve as a reminder about our expectations for all drivers when they are bringing our children to school in the morning and picking them up at the end of the day.

If you would like a copy of the code for your driver please collect one from the Secondary Campus reception.

Safeguarding at school – it’s everyone’s responsibility

If, during your visit to school, you have any reason to be concerned about the safety of a young person, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Person.

Please note that CCTV cameras are in operation at all times across the campus.

And finally….

2018-2019 New Start/Finish Times for the Early Years and Infant Campus

All parents should have already received an email from Mr Anthony Rowlands, Principal of BIS HCMC regarding the new start/finish times for the Early Years and Infant Campus.

Please note that these new timings will take effect from the beginning of the new academic year  2018/19.

Upcoming Events

Saturday 9th June: BIS Aquathlon, BIS community event, families welcome.

Monday 11th June: IB Diploma Programme Visual Arts Exhibition, Soma Art Cafe D2, 7pm to 9pm, tickets available at reception

Friday 15th June:  BIS Sports Awards Ceremony, Diamond Ballroom at the Novotel, BIS students welcome

Monday 18th June: Dragons’ Den Final Competition, Secondary Campus Auditorium, 3.00 to 5.00pm, students welcome

Saturday 23rd June: Thao Dien Clean-Up 2018

Friday 29th June:  Last Day of School, school ends at 11.30am

 

Have a wonderful weekend,

 

Kind regards,

 

Carl Mincher

Head Teacher

Secondary