Weekly Updates on 13/09/2024

 Dear Families

We have reached the end of what has been an exceptionally challenging time for everyone. I am pleased that we were able to keep the campuses open and give the student some sense of ‘normal’ during the aftermath of the storm. A big thank you to the whole BVIS community for coming together and remining so strong throughout.

This week I hosted two seminars on options process for Year 9 and Year 11. A big thank you to all those who attended.

We also hosted some primary coffee mornings for the benefit of parents.

We will start our little dragons program next week and we are happy to say that there are many join the group this year. If you want further information please see below:

We started our ECA program this week and there were a vast range of activities for the students to enjoy.

As you know our students are due to go on residentials in October. You will not be surprised to hear that we are doing a full risk assessment at the moment following the storm and devastation this has caused in northern Vietnam. We will update you in due course on any changes and decisions we have taken.

Today we celebrated the moon festival and the school came alive with celebration and fun. This was the prefect way to end such a week.

I wish you all a very safe and relaxing weekend ahead.

The Early Years children develop resilience every day of their young lives as they learn to regulate, manage emotions and deal with events that happen around them. This week the children came to school in the rain and the wind and have been very brave in some difficult situations. The Early Years Centre is safe and secure, providing continuous learning and development.

Boosting speaking skill

Last week, in Year 1, the children had a great time learning how to describe people using adjectives! They began by drawing pictures of themselves and then used talking mats to practice describing their features and traits in full sentences. It was a fun way to boost their vocabulary and speaking skills!

Singing and dancing for the Moon Festival

Year 2 has been practising so hard for the Moon Festival this week. We love to hear their singing and dancing in the corridor in the morning. They have been rehearsing alot in order to get ready for the performance.

Enhancing the festival atmosphere

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, children eagerly gather to make colourful lanterns. The lovely lanterns have been used to decorate the classroom, enhancing the festival atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Confident communication

Year 4 guided reading lessons have become fun and help us improve all of our reading skills. Year 4 students do lots of different activities, like reading in groups, reading with the teacher, and playing quiz games. At the end of each lesson, the students have a 10-minute sharing time, which helps build their confidence to share their ideas with their classmates.

Using satellite imagery

During IPC, Year 5 learned about deforestation. They used satellite imagery and maps to identify the areas which have been worst affected.

Practicing problem solving

This week the Year 6 students created fish lanterns in preparation for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Creating Japanese fish lanterns was a fantastic activity for the children, as it nurtured both their creativity and cultural awareness. Through this hands-on project, the children developed their fine motor skills by cutting, folding, and assembling materials (like origami). They also practiced problem-solving and patience, as they worked carefully to complete their lanterns. In addition, the activity encouraged teamwork and collaboration, as students shared ideas and supported one another. Most importantly, it gave them the opportunity to appreciate and respect different cultures, linking art and tradition in a meaningful way.

Secondary Weekly Update 13/9/24

An update from Ms Claire

I hope that you are all well following the Typhoon and extremely challenging weather over the past week.

In this newsletter I have included some updates from different departments giving an insight into the work students have been engaged in.

As I write this newsletter, we are looking forward to our Moon Festival Assembly on Friday. In the newsletter next week, I will share lots of photos from this.

What’s been happening in Science

Bringing Science to Life: The Power of Hands-On Learning!
At our school, we believe that practical skills are at the heart of a robust science education. Incorporating hands-on learning into lessons is a priority, as it not only enriches students' understanding but also reinforces the theoretical content they cover in class. From the moment students step into the lab, they are encouraged to actively engage with scientific processes, honing skills that will serve them well throughout their academic journey and beyond.

The value of practical work lies in its ability to turn abstract ideas into tangible experiences. Whether it’s observing chemical reactions, measuring forces, or investigating biological structures under a microscope, these activities provide students with a deeper connection to the material. Each experiment helps to cement their learning, making it more memorable and easier to grasp.

We strive to include as much practical learning as possible in our curriculum, ensuring students gain the experience needed to confidently apply scientific principles. Beyond enhancing their knowledge, these activities foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork—essential skills for budding scientists. Moreover, it teaches students how to approach investigations methodically and handle lab equipment with care and precision.

In every lesson, our goal is to spark curiosity and cultivate a love for exploration. We are proud of our students' enthusiasm and commitment to practical work and here are some photographs from some of this week's practical!

Year 10s investigating Osmosis using beetroot

Year 7s investigating forces – Hookes Law

7I completed their first physics practical 'Investigating the Stretching of Elastic' as part of the Forces unit.

Year 12s Testing Biological Molecules

What’s been happening in English?

This week and next week, our wonderful Head Librarian Ms. Ba has been and will be running sessions with all our KS3 students: library inductions for Year 7 and an introduction to some of our new titles for Year 8 and Year 9. Over the summer, our library had an incredible revamp, and this included ordering around 500 new books selected by the librarians and English and EAL teachers. Ms. Ba delivered an amazing presentation to the students on some of the diverse and inspiring titles now available for our students to check out. Here are some photographs from one of the Year 8 sessions:

What’s been happening in Maths

In Year 12 Mathematics students used a set of mathematical dominoes to learn and understand Composite functions. Good team work and discussion helped to complete the task well.

What’s been happening in Computing Science?

In alignment with this month's theme of caring, IGCSE Computer Science students are collaborating effectively and supporting one another on numerous occasions.

Sports Fixtures

We had our first fixtures of the academic year on Monday, with BVIS v BIS; JV and Varsity Girls and Boys Volleyball. 75% success rate with 3 wins out of 4.
A big thanks to our Volleyball coaches Duc Anh LE - Whole School PE Teaching Assistant, Vinh Tran - Whole School PE Teaching Assistant, The Anh BUI - Whole School PE Teaching Assistant & Nam Nguyen Phuong - Whole School PE TA

Global Campus Chess Tournament

Registrations to compete in the BVIS Hanoi team in this years Global Campus Chess Tournament are now open!

There are two age categories – Under 11s (ages 7-11) and Under 18s (ages 11-18). Students can compete in teams in an online chess battle on 14th January 2025 against teams from other Nord Anglia schools around the world. There will be expert input from a FIDE Chess Master and an International Arbiter. The tournament will take place on Lichess – www.lichess.org. We will provide full instructions and guidance on how players can join our school’s Lichess team, and how to set up a Lichess account. Students will be able to prepare by joining a training tournament on 19th November 2024 with other NAE schools.

What is the Chess Tournament?
• An opportunity for teams of under-18 chess-playing students to compete in online chess battles against other NAE schools to become Global Campus Chess Champions 2025!
• The Chess Tournament is supported by a FIDE Master and an International Arbiter.
• Battles will take place on the website Lichess which is a free online chess server.

What are the key dates?

• 15th November 2024 - Team registration deadline
• 19th November 2024 - Supervised training tournaments
• 14th January 2025 - Qualifying battles
• 11th March 2025 – Under-18 Team final
• 18th March 2025 – Under-18 Individual final

Students can register through this QR code:

University Visits

Primary

Secondary

We wish you all a very relaxing weekend!

Senior Leadership Team from BVIS Hanoi