Weekly Updates on 17/01/2025

Dear Parents

A very warm welcome back after the winter holiday. Despite there only being two and a bit weeks of this half term, we have been working hard to ensure a smooth transition into the TET celebrations.

I am both delighted and proud to announce that our KS4 and KS5 boys basketball teams have been crowned HAC KS4 champions and HAC Varsity champions respectively. Both teams winning their competitions against the other international schools in Hanoi. Our KS3 girls football team also picked up a silver medal for their performances. Congratulations to all our dragons, all our sports teams and coaches involved, this is a tremendous achievement for you and the school here in Hanoi. Amazing, well done!

On Sunday we are expecting over 1300 people to attend what promises to be an amazing TET Fair at the school. The teams have been working hard over the winter break to ensure everything is ready for Sunday. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend as I shall be in London at an NAE teacher recruiting event and I shall be very sad to miss the occasion. I know you will all have a wonderful time. Please save the event map below to plan for the day.



Thank you to all the families who have contributed to our TET appeal for 2025. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and will be put to great use.

Please note we have now launched the sign up for our 2025 Summer School. It would be great again to see so many families taking advantage of this opportunity over the start of the summer period. The summer school will be managed and led by staff from across our two schools in Hanoi. We are also offering a 30% discount to students who complete the registration before 31 January 2025. For further details, please click the photo below.

 

We have many new families joining this term and I would like to extend a very warm welcome to them all.

 

School will finish for students at 3.05pm on Thursday 23rd January. School will reopen for students on Wednesday 12th February.

Have a great weekend ahead and for those of you who will attend, have a fantastic TET Fair. 

Getting Ready for Tet

The Early Years Centre is full of the colours of red and yellow in preparation for the TET Festival. The children’s creative work is displayed ready for next week’s Stay and Play when we hope parents will join the celebrations. The children were very excited to experience Chung Cake making as part of the TET activities this week. They also had a special story “This is TET”, read to them by Co Trang, Assistant Head of Primary.

Kind Wishes

After the holiday, the Year 1 students are exploring the IPC topic of "Let’s celebrate" focusing on various activities that take place during the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. The children are also excited about the "Tet Shoebox" project, where they are contributing meaningful gifts and collaborating with the Year 4 students to create cards with kind wishes for children in challenging circumstances.

Community Activities

To launch the IPC theme Earth - Our Home this term, Year 2 students welcomed guests from Think Playground, who shared information about the community activities planned for the term. Afterward, the students transformed recycled bottles into flowerpots shaped like the 12 zodiac animals.

Chocolate

This week we had our Entry Point lesson for our new IPC topic: Chocolate.
The children tasted milk, white and dark chocolate and described the taste, texture and appearance of the chocolate.

Students shared facts that they already knew about chocolate, for example it is made from cacao beans. They also asked questions about what they would like to learn this term, for example, ‘How is white chocolate made?’ and ‘What country produces the most chocolate?’ and ‘How do you turn the cacao beans into chocolate bars?’

Year 3 students are excited to get stuck into their new IPC topic!

ENTRY POINT to Topic Land, Sea, and Sky

Year 4 students had an exciting trip to the Koi Fishpond at Royal City. They explored how Koi fish adapt to their underwater environment and drew and labelled the parts of a Koi fish. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this engaging activity! 🌟

The Ancient Greeks

Year 5 have been learning about the Ancient Greeks. They learned the story of the Golden Apple and the Trojan Horse and in their Entry Point, the students made their own Trojan Horses. During English, Year 5 have been learning how to write poetry using figurative language, rhyme and repetition. In their first lesson, they learned the story of Hercules and considered what made him a hero. Then the students, created their own heroes.

Banh Tom

Year 6 engaged in numerous exciting activities this week. They eagerly practiced singing and dancing, as well as performing "Tao Quan" plays in preparation for the Tet Assembly performance day. Additionally, they took part in crafting flowers to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Moreover, they learned to make "Banh Tom Ho Tay," a famous Hanoi delicacy, as part of their Vietnamese Humanities lessons.

Secondary Weekly Update 17/01/2025

An update from Ms Claire

This is a very short term at BVIS and as a result it is very busy, and action packed! Therefore, the newsletter this week has lots of updates and information about what has been going on in Secondary.

We are all very much looking forward to Tet Fair on Sunday. This promises to be a fun0-fuilled event, and I look forward to seeing lots of students and their families at this event.

Duke of Edinburgh Expedition

Well done to our Y11 & Y12 DofE Silver participants. Last weekend they successfully completed a very tiring & cold three day hiking two nights camping in Mai Chau. They displayed positivity, determination and resilience.

A Transformative Experience with MIT

This term, our school was privileged to welcome two outstanding students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as part of the MISTI Global Teaching Labs program. Their visit was filled with engaging sessions and meaningful interactions that inspired students, parents, and staff alike.

Matvey delivered some exceptional sessions for the Year 12 Further Mathematics group, exploring advanced topics that challenged and excited students. In one session, he guided students through deriving a formula for the Fibonacci sequence, illustrating its applications in nature and mathematics. In another, he introduced RSA encryption, explaining the mathematical principles behind secure online communication. Our Further Mathematics teachers described the sessions as “pitched perfectly,” praising both of their ability to make complex concepts both accessible and exciting. Students were not only able to grasp these advanced ideas but were also inspired to explore topics like Number Theory further, with some now considering it as a university focus.

As part of the Year 12 PSHE program, Anh and Matvey also ran a session on university applications and life at MIT, offering valuable insights into what it takes to craft a strong application and succeed in a demanding academic environment. Their advice was particularly well-received, giving students practical guidance as they begin their own journey into higher education and inspiring them to aim high in their ambitions.

Anh shared her expertise through dynamic talks and interactive activities that showcased the real-world applications of mathematics and computer science. Her talk on artificial intelligence, delivered to Year 13 students, captivated those with an interest in computer science. By explaining AI through the lens of both mathematics and coding, she answered thought-provoking questions and motivated students to research the topic further. Anh also addressed the Year 12 mathematics cohort, introducing them to high-level mathematical modeling competitions that challenge students to solve real-world problems by creating predictive models and writing detailed solutions.

In addition to these focused sessions, Anh also delivered a memorable hands-on science session for the entire Year 7 cohort. Students explored the concept of cooling curves through the practical and engaging process of making ice cream. This activity combined scientific principles with a fun, interactive approach, leaving students excited about science and eager to learn more.

Matvey further enriched the curriculum with captivating physics lessons that introduced students to a variety of fascinating topics. From exploring the rocket equation and the mechanics behind roller coasters to understanding the intricacies of refraction and the principles of gyroscopes, Matvey brought complex concepts to life with clarity and enthusiasm. He also delved into advanced topics such as Schrödinger’s equation, crystal spectroscopy, and the practical applications of pulleys, seamlessly connecting theory to real-world phenomena. These sessions deepened students’ understanding of physics while sparking their curiosity and excitement, inspiring them to approach the subject with a renewed passion and a desire to learn more.

Parents also benefited from the interns’ knowledge and experience during a special session on university pathways. Matvey and Anh shared practical advice on academic planning, university applications, and skill development, addressing thoughtful questions from parents eager to support their children’s ambitions.

The contributions of Matvey and Anh have had an undeniable impact on our school community. Their energy, expertise, and enthusiasm have left a lasting impression on students and staff alike. This partnership with MIT has been a truly enriching experience, and we look forward to building on this collaboration in the years to come.

HAC Tournament weekend 11th January 2025:

KS3 boys football and KS3 girls football hosted by St Pauls American International School.

The KS3 boys had a tough opening game and were well beaten by an organised and talented UNIS squad. In their second play off game, after fighting back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1, a defensive error with 1 minute to go allowed Olympia to equalise. They then lost the game on penalties.

The girls team has been unbeaten all season and were hopeful of a good run after beating the UNIS B squad 8-2 with 4 goals from Tam An, 2 from An Nhien and 1 a piece for Tue Minh and Ngan Khanh. They went on to the semi final and faced a strong QSI Hai Phong team. After missing a few early chances the girls eventually went on to lose 2-0 and were knocked out of the competition.

KS4 boys basketball and KS4 girls basketball hosted by Concordia International School.
At BVIS we strive to keep our age groups together so that they learn, grow, win and lose together. This helps them bond as a team and creates the social cohesion that is one of the best parts of playing team sports.
With only 8 players on the day of the tournament our JV girls team worked hard for each other. New additions to the squad grew in experience and confidence and this bodes well for the future. Despite their efforts they lost both their games and were knocked out of the competition.

The KS4 boys faired a little better and as defending champions managed a first in the BVIS record books of a back to back championship win. The boys brought home BVIS Dragons second trophy of the year. Pham Duc, Nam Khanh, Thien Son are 3 names that every team must be afraid of as at any moment they can step up and score 18 points in a row with 6 consecutive 3 pointers – as they did in the final. We have a talented young group of players and we look forward to seeing how they will develop.

KS5 boys basketball and KS5 girls basketball hosted by United Nations International School.

The KS5 girls had a tough start to the HAC Cup campaign with their first game against Olympia, a strong and well coached team. With some notable absences due to injury and other commitments we were a slightly depleted squad but that didn't stop our Dragons from working hard giving their best every moment of the game. Each quarter saw us getting stronger and we finished the day with a consolation game against SPAS, feeling proud of our efforts', 3- point shots and overall success.

Following a highly successful regular season campaign, which saw the KS5 boys go unbeaten for the first time ever in a BVIS season, their own expectations were certainly higher than in previous years. Due to a number of factors, bringing home the Varsity title would be no easy task. A tough first round game saw them pitted against Olympia, who put up a solid performance, however the quality and determination of the team was too great. We moved confidently on to the semi-final match where they faced Concordia which is always a difficult task, however they were able to overcome the obstacle and reach the final match.

Despite going 6-0 down in the first quarter of the final against UNIS, the boys rallied and put up 14 points without reply. From then on, the boys managed to maintain a comfortable, if not close, 7-point lead. After losing two key players at half-time due to prior commitments, the final 16 minutes would be played out by just six students. As fatigue set in, the remaining players had to dig deep to maintain control of their opponents. As the clock ran out, pure elation and relief came across the boys as they finally won the Varsity Championship for the first time.

That makes a record breaking three trophies in the 24-25 campaign for the Dragons and is just reward for the efforts and hard work that have gone in, from both students and coaches. We are proud of all our Dragons and we look forward to launching into season three.

Vietnam Friendship Village Concert

On Sunday 12th January Thanh Hang (Anna) in year 12 and a team of students organised a wonderful concert at the Vietnam Friendship Village as part of the “Give Love, Get Smiles” initiative. Through a shared love of music and some fabulous performances, students and staff from BVIS connected with veterans and residents at the village. It was a wonderful and heartwarming event with a range of musical performances.

What’s been happening in Maths?

Y9 Mathematics- Games can enhance mathematics learning by making fractions engaging and accessible. Interactive activities such as this dice game, played in pairs, allow students to manipulate fractions, fostering understanding and retention. Competitive and collaborative elements motivate practice and teamwork, encouraging discussions that clarify misconceptions. This dynamic approach boosts learners' confidence and mastery of fractional concepts effectively.

Student Success

Tuan Kiet and Dinh Anh in 7V took part in the VEX robotics competition last Friday. For this they were part of a team of 6 who built a robot and then brought it to the competition day to complete a range of games and tasks.

Their group was awarded the Excellence Award, got 4th place in the Teamwork Competition and will be going to the Final National Competition in February. Well done!

Global Campus Art Competition

We are very excited to announce the launch of the Global Campus Art competition for 2025!
The theme for this years’ competition is ‘Light & Dark’, which is linked to the UN International Day of Light on 16th May. Students can work on their art individually, in pairs, or as a group.

Students can submit their entry to Ms. Deana Bartlett, the Head of Art and Media by Monday 3rd of March. We will share the results of our school winners by 10th March via this newsletter and our social media platforms.

Those entries will then be entered into the global competition against other entries from NAE schools around the world. The global winners will have their art published on Global Campus and have the opportunity of a masterclass for themselves and their classmates with special guest judge and artist Laura Watkins.

Students can find out more about this competition by clicking this link: Course: Art, Design, Media: Art Competition 24/25, or by speaking to Ms. Deana or Mr. Ogden

University Information

We have a masterclass "Rankings of Universities: What do they mean?" running at 3:30pm next Monday (20 Jan). Parents can still join if they haven't already (Link: https://forms.office.com/r/DGcuK9h79g). In addition to this we are running a student workshop at the same time on Robots as part of our Social Future presented by Dr. Wafa Johal. Students can sign up via Teams.

Primary

Secondary

We wish you all a very relaxing weekend!

Senior Leadership Team from BVIS Hanoi