Weekly Updates on 02/02/2024

Dear Parents

Thank you to all those who attended the TET Fair on Sunday. It was our biggest event yet with nearly 1500 people in attendance. It was a wonderful day of celebration with some great performances, activities and fun competitions. It was such a great community event, and I am already looking forward to the next one!

I have been receiving many messages this week from across the world congratulating BVIS Hanoi for our International Schools Award. I am delighted that the school has been internationally recognised for the amazing community work we carry out with staff and students across the school.

It has been incredible over the last week seeing all the TET celebrations and events. This includes some great assemblies and many classroom activities to recognise this most important time of the year.

A massive thank you to everyone in the community for your donations to our Tet Appeal. WE have been overwhelmed with the generosity shown by all. Thank you so much.

A final reminder please if you have not done so already, please complete the parent satisfaction survey. Your feedback really does matter to me, so please support us in filling out the survey.

You can access the survey through the link in the email or the communications platform of each section.
1. ClassDojo: http://tinyurl.com/BVISHN-ClassDojo 
2. ParentPortal: https://bvh-isams.nordanglia.com/main/framework.

As you now we have now launched our summer school program and I hope many of you will join this camp during the summer.

Our youngest global citizens learn a Vietnamese perspective through Tet

The Early Years children are ready for the biggest Vietnamese celebration of the year. They shared learning, worked and played together, made the decorations and enjoyed a wonderful week celebrating Tet in school. Now, it is time for new clothes, new haircuts and for families to be together in each other’s company.

School Values: Respect and Enquiry - Korean Lunar New Year traditions

Through the IPC focus of ‘Let’s Celebrate’, the children have been investigating New Year celebrations around the world. Last week, the children explored Seollal and were able to discuss similarities and differences in traditions. Year 1 tried Korean cookies, designed their own Hanbok and were able to take part in traditional games. The children showed lots of respect and enquiry for others and their culture.  

Vietnamese perspective - Making Bánh Chưng

Year 2 students had a great experience making Bánh Chưng! They shared their hobbies, what they knew about Bánh Chưng and were very excited to participate in the activity of folding, cutting leaves and wrapping Bánh Chưng. 

School Value: Enquiry - How is chocolate made?

Year 3 have been reflecting on their learning in IPC. They have learnt all about the process of how chocolate is made from bean to bar. They designed our own chocolate making machines to visually demonstrate our understanding of the process. This will also support them with their instruction writing.  

School Values: Caring and Respect - Thinking of others at Tet

Preserving the cultural essence of Vietnam, this Tet, the children had the opportunity to learn about the legend of Bánh Chưng and Bánh Dày and engage in the practical process of making Bánh Chưng, a special kind of cake during Tet. The children independently go through various steps to create a meaningful Vietnamese Bánh Chưng! In addition, they also made greeting cards and packaged meaningful gifts they have contributed to give to disadvantaged children in the Hanoi area. 

Vietnamese perspective – Making Tet paper craft

Year 5 students did some Tet origami crafts this week, making their own Ông Thần Tài models. Some of them stuck them to Li Xi envelopes to take home to their families. We are really impressed by their patience with the tricky folds and new skills they had to build!

Collaboration and support – making Bánh Chưng together

Year 6 students had an amazing time learning to make Bánh Chưng as a part of their TET celebrations this week. Some students have had a lot of experience with this, whilst it was the first time for others. We were pleased to see the collaboration and support given by some of our more expert students for this activity.

School value VIETNAMESE PERSPECTIVE

For the first time, the assembly to celebrate the Lunar New Year with the theme "The Lovely Tet" for BVIS secondary school students took place in two days and had the participation of guests who were parents and students in grades 5 and 6 of primary school. This assembly is built based on the idea and script of Truc Khanh, a former BVIS student, bringing an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation for the new year, as well as touching and meaningful moments of family affection. 

This is an opportunity for high school students to show off their talents through many forms of stage performances, including singing, modern dancing, traditional dancing, drama, playing folk drums...

The assembly is also a good wish to everyone in the new year, wishing for a peaceful and happy new year with loved ones.

The Tet assembly has created an interesting and meaningful space, bringing joy and memorable memories to everyone involved.

School value PERSERVERANCE and INTEGRITY

Our Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award students undertook 3 days mountain biking and 2 nights camping in Mai Chau over the weekend as part of their Adventurous journey. All students passed their assessment with flying colours. They showed an immense amount of determination and outstanding teamwork throughout the trip. They should all be very proud of themselves. 

School value PERSISTENCE

🌟 Exam Prep Tip: Sustainable Consistency for Success! 📚🌱

Parents, as exams approach in 13 weeks, remind your child to stay sustainably consistent. Avoid burnout by balancing focused study with breaks. Even during holidays like Tet, encourage them to do something productive. Prioritise, fuel their success, and offer positive reinforcement.

Let's go! 💪

#ExamPreparation #SustainableConsistency #Success #Support.

School value ENQUIRY

We were very privileged to be given the opportunity for a visit from Professor Dr Shanton Chang (research and teaching academic at the School of Computing and Information Systems, University of Melbourne & Associate Dean (International) at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology).   

His talk gave research supported and practical answers to student enquiries regarding 21st Century Skills for future work/careers. 

His insights were informative and engaging.  Both students and parents alike had many questions for him that he was happy to engage with in explaining the intricacies of choosing appropriate degree courses and Universities in which to study them.

We thank Dr Chang for his support and we are able supply a PDF of his presentation to those who were unable to attend. Please email with  – “Dr Chang Talk” in the subject line to colleen.usher@bvishanoi.com.

Young Virtual Musician of the Year Competition 

Entries for the Virtual Musician of the Year Competition are now open!! 

Students can show off their musical skills by entering this prestigious competition by entering in one of the following categories: 

• Composition 
• Bands/groups 
• Brass/Woodwind 
• Percussion 
• Piano/Keyboard 
• Strings 
• Voice-Musical Theatre 
• Voice-Popular music

Students need to choose their category, record a good quality video/sound performance and send it to Ms. Andrea by February 2nd! 

BVIS winners will be announced on the 23rd February, and those entries will then be sent to be judged in the Global rounds, the winners of which will be announced in April. 

All key information was sent in a parent email, or you ask your child to click on this link to find out more: Course: Performing Arts: Virtual Young Musician (nae.school)

The School will close from Saturday, 3 February 2024 to Monday, 19 February 2024 inclusive for Tet Holiday. School operations will resume on Tuesday, 20 February 2024.

We wish you all a very relaxing weekend, and Happy Lunar New Year!

Senior Leadership Team from BVIS Hanoi