Ms Deirdre Grimshaw: Weekly Update 03/06/2022

No school can work well for children if parents and teachers do not act in partnership on behalf of the children's best interests - Author: Dorothy H Cohen

Here at BIS we believe this to be true and were delighted this week to open our gates and welcome parents on site for a number of events.

On Tuesday, the Year 2 parents came on site to visit the Junior Campus and hear all about the transition to Year 3 for their children.

There was a great turn out of parents, excited to hear about the Junior Campus, Year 3 and have a tour of the facilities here on site.  We were delighted to show them round the campus. The presentation has been shared with all Year 2 parents, if you have any questions, please do reach out to the office and we can arrange a meeting.  All week, we have also been welcoming the Year 2 classes as they have been enjoying their transition days to the Junior Campus.  More about their visits next week!

A wonderful celebration this week and a very important one, was the celebration of Year 6 with their exhibition. It showcased their ‘Primary Journey’ and the gym was alive yesterday with 180 students and their families sharing the last 6 - 8 years of education, learning, growth and change.  More can be found below in a post by Mr Mike, Year 6 Leader.

This week we also hosted a Headteacher’s Coffee Morning. We shared information about the Parent Satisfaction Survey and our next steps and we also shared some details about campus developments over the summer break.  Mr Anthony Rowlands  shared details of upcoming developments across all 3 campuses in an email earlier this week.  If you were unable to attend, a copy of the presentation can be viewed here.

Also this morning, we had a presentation for Year 3 parents about the BYOD Bring Your Own iPad programme for students in Year 4.  They heard from Mr Neil, Assistant Headteacher,  Ms Maria, Learning Tech Leader  and Mr Oli Year 4 Leader all about why we have this programme, how they are used and the benefits for all.  If you missed the meeting, the presentation can be found here on the BYOD site.

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

As a British International School, our connection with the UK also goes beyond curriculum. Today we proudly celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. What a wonderful occasion for everyone across the globe, recognising the incredible 70 years on the throne of Queen Elizabeth II. 

The campus was alive with children dressed in  Red White and Blue, there were celebratory cupcakes for all  and a special assembly with the Orchestra, Ukulele and choirs paying tribute to all things British!  

Our sincere congratulations to her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee.

What a show!

For the last 5 weeks the students in Year 6 have had the rather intimidating and large task of creating a piece of work that can be placed in an exhibition which showed their interpretations of ‘My Primary Journey’. With the help of clear planning and guidance from class teachers and the extremely supportive parents the students created pieces that were truly spectacular. Without exception, all those that were fortunate to visit the exhibition commented on how amazed they were with the pieces. Year 6 students should be very proud of their hard work and talent. All pieces are testament to how they have grown and progressed during their journey through primary education.

No matter where they are going next year, all of Year 6 are better able to take on the challenge of their future endeavours and I wish them all the best next year as they move on.

Mike Martin, Year 6 Leader

Rivers Trip

With the relaxing of some COVID restrictions, it was wonderful to be able to take Y6 students on a trip - the first trip in many years! The trip was organised for the students to see how climate change and rivers are so important to everyone here in Vietnam and specifically Ho Chi Minh City. The first part of the trip gave the children an opportunity to see how flood defences are being constructed as a result of the ever increasing storms and water level of the rivers rising around many areas of the city.

Everyone then moved a short distance down the road to observe how a river can be used for commercial purposes and how infrastructure and bridges are increasingly important. And finally, despite being such a hot day, everyone enjoyed a short trip into the Vinhomes park for play and games on the grass. Year 6 behaved wonderfully and were great ambassadors for BISHCMC.

Mike Martin, Year 6 Leader

PTG Pre-Loved Fair 2022- Saturday 11th June

Consider participating in our PTG Pre-Loved Fair on Saturday 11th June.  There are a couple of ways to join.

You can purchase a table and sell all your second hand goods, or come along as a customer and pick up a bargain.  The Fair is open to all BIS Community members including students, families and staff.

By now you will have received our email with the details so please check your inbox.

If you would like to book a table please email the Secondary Campus Receptionist – Katie Walsh katie.walsh@bisvietnam.com.

If you have any questions please WhatsApp Melanie Rowe, PTG on +84 93 802 9513 or email melanierowe1201@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday 11th June

Time: 9.00am to 12.00pm

Location: Secondary Campus Auditorium

A BIS Community event

Sports days are next week!

The children are currently working hard in their PE lessons mastering the athletics techniques for the upcoming sports day. After the success of last year, the format will be the same, with all children participating for their house in both track and field events. The children will run, jump, and throw to earn points for their house, with the emphasis on having fun!

On the day of the event, please make sure your children have sun cream on and arrive in their PE kits with a hat and water bottle.

Parents are welcome to come and watch, entry through Gate C, please remain behind the red barrier during the main events but when the call for parent V staff tug of war comes, you are welcome onto to field and take part- Will the staff retain their title?! 

Reminders of dates and times below:

8.45-12.00

 Tuesday 7th June - Year 6

Wednesday 8th June - Year 5

Thursday 9th June - Year 4

Friday 10th June - Year 3

Order of Events

BIS-Witched - preparing the magic to hit the stage!

BIS-Witched, a series of performances connected by the theme of magic, has been the focus of production clubs for Year 3,4,5 and 6.  Students will be hitting the stage in the first week of June on a specially built stage and screen in the Junior Campus.

In only 6 weeks of clubs these teams are creating performances to share with the school and their families, and we couldn’t be more proud of the wonderful work they have been doing. Year 3 and Year 4 are students of schools of magic and Year 5 and 6 are very busy over the rainbow. The photos are a teaser of their work.

Productions will be performed on the following dates and parents of the performers will be invited to a 4pm show to experience the true magic that our performers create.

Monday 6th June  – Year 3 Phep Thuat Academy.

Tuesday 7th June– Year 5 – A Vlog of Oz.

Wednesday 8th June – Year 4 – Incendio! (Harry Potter dream)

Thursday 9th - Year 6 - A Vlog of Oz.

Anna Hogan, Primary Music Leader

Health and Safety Updates – Junior Campus

Symptomatic (Any Cold/Flu/Covid Symptoms) - stay off school until symptom free. 

Take a precautionary Rapid Antigen Test at home prior to return and keep the school informed. 

Any concern you have at home with the health of your child, and include the Health and Safety Leads of each campus (EYIC Ms Sarah Curran sarah.curran@bisvietnam.com  and JC Mr Chris McKelvie Christopher.mckelvie@bisvietnam.com  .

It is vital, also, that you inform the office of any positive case within your family – these are called ‘household close contacts’.

If your child needs the School Nurse to administer any prescribed medication during the school day please do not put medication in the school bag but contact the School Nurse and sign the appropriate form.

Sarah Curran and Chris McKelvie, Deputy Headteachers

06/06/22 - 10/06/22               Sport Days for all Year groups

06/06/22 - 09/06/22               Productions for Junior Campus

w/c 13/06/22                          International Week

w/c 13/06/22                          Staggered sharing of reports

• Please check Learning Letters for specific days and times.

PTG AGM

We would like to invite all parents to our PTG AGM taking place on Thursday June 9th at 5.30pm in the Early Years and Infant Campus. We will hear from the PTG at secondary and Primary and say farewell to some key members of both PTG groups.  We hope you can join us.  Please fill in this form if you would like to attend. 

And Finally…

Here at the Junior Campus we will have a huge amount of work taking place and as such, from a Health and Safety perspective,  we will be unable to host any summer programmes.  We hope to resume our holiday programme during the December break when most renovations have been completed. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,

Dee Grimshaw, Headteacher of Junior Campus