Ms Deirdre Grimshaw: Weekly Update 21/05/2021

While it has been a quiet week on campus, it has been a busy week across the homes of BIS students as they have continued to wow us with their amazing efforts and engagement.

Seeing their work on seesaw, the time and energy they are putting into lessons, the support of parents reminds us why our BIS community is such a special place.

In reading about how to support students, staff and families through this time, I have read countless articles and columns dedicated to this subject.  In summary, for our community I hope the following will help.

Experts recommended developing an optimistic attitude. “We have experienced these types of pandemics multiple times, yet we have successfully overcome these pandemics,” as Mr Anthony Rowlands often says; this too will pass.

Experts also recommended to concentrate on long-term goals. Here at BIS, although the children are not at Face to Face school right now, we know that in the coming weeks, months and even years, we will do all we can to ensure their academic progress and pastoral care is prioritised and our teachers are dedicated to this end goal.

The most common psychological recommendation was to establish a sense of agency — to find a way to remain in charge of your day-to-day life, despite pandemic uncertainty. Research in psychology shows that such mental focus can help regulate emotions in the face of uncertainty. It includes finding ways to reframe the pandemic as a manageable challenge, to find “something that you want to get out of bed for, or to establish structure and habits to compensate for lack of external structure in a lockdown-imposed work from home.

As such, we have asked children to continue wearing their uniforms, to continue with the structure of lessons and timetables where possible, and to ensure that the children have a school routine established, albeit from home.

Finally, the most frequent recommendation for coming through the pandemic concerned social connectedness. This theme includes “creating small little traditions within your closest family circle” and protecting “loved ones, friends, and neighbours.” Importance of social connectedness in the World After Covid plays a protective role for mental health, including during times of disaster.

Here at BIS, we are priortising regular well being check ins with children and PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) lessons to ensure we are meeting the needs of our students and families.  We encourage all our families to contact class teachers and/or leadership teams if you have any concerns with regards to the well being of your children, we are here to support.

In the next week or so  Mr Rowlands will be sharing with you details regarding the upgrading of our facilities in June and July which along  with the current COVID situation will limit our ability  to do a holiday  sports programme. However, pending COVID restrictions we may be able to offer a sports programme on the EY&IC for younger students. 

Christina Noble Children’s Walk For Hope – 23^rd May 2021

A reminder that registration is open for the Global Virtual Walk which takes place this Sunday 23^rd May 2021 in support of Christina Noble Children’s Foundation who are raising much needed funds to help protect and support vulnerable children.  The cost is just VND 150,000 and you will also receive a complimentary Children’s Walk For Hope bandana in recognition of your participation.

Tracey Brownrigg, BIS Co-Curricular Coordinator and Community Service Project Manager

British International School Virtual Film Festival 2021

Exciting news for all our students – The BISVF is Back!

Get ready for the 2021 British International School 2021 Virtual Film Festival. All information will be released on Monday the 24th of May at 12pm, but start... Youtube!

Week 3 – Read a story in your mother language - Launch date 21.05.2021

We are now in Week 3 of the LiF Mother Language Challenge. This week, we are asking you to raid your bookshelves and share a story in your mother language.

Watch the video below for instructions on this week’s challenge. 

LiF Mother Langauage Challenge Week 3

Remember, if your home language is English, you can read in English. Post any videos and photos into this Google folder. 

If you haven't done the challenges from Week 1 & 2 yet, don't worry! It's not too late - you can still do them, any time.
To see the latest brilliant entries from Week 2, click here.

Health and Safety

COVID Procedures at the Junior Campus

Key points to remember are:

• If your child is sick with a cough, temperature or cold, please keep them off school. Please notify Ms Nhi  Nhi.Mai@bisvietnam.com  028 3744 4551 in the office and their class teacher of their absence.
• Temperature checks on arrival. Students coming to school with a temperature above 37.8 degrees celsius will be checked twice more and if their temperature is still high, parents will be asked to take them home.
• Masks must be worn at all times, except in classrooms.  All children should have their own mask and a spare, preferably labelled with their name. If you would prefer that your child continues to wear a mask in the classroom, we are very happy to accommodate this.
• Year 3 and 4 Students to enter through Gate A
• Year 5 and 6 Students to enter through Gate B
• Bus children to enter via Gate C
• All parents must wear a mask on site and will only be allowed to come on site at the end of the day to pick up children from the designated areas, (small field Year 3 - 5 and basketball court, Year 6). All parents should enter through Gate A and exit through Gate B.
• Parents must have an appointment if they need to come on site at any other time.  Please email or call Ms Nhi. Nhi.Mai@bisvietnam.com  028 3744 4551

Will be updated next week.

And finally…

There is another amazing assembly available for students and families today including The Masked Reader and The Masked Singer! In an effort to keep our students entertained, teachers have been busy – Enjoy!

Have a wonderful and safe weekend.