Mr. Simon Higham, Principal
Dear Parents,
We would like to welcome you all back to school following our recent half term break.
In particular, we would like to welcome all of our new students who are beginning thier BVIS leanring journey this week, through our Virtual School Experience. In addition, we would also like to welcome back many of our exisiting students who have recently returned to school and looking forward to reconnecting with their class teachers and school friends.
This week, many of our BVIS staff have had the opportunity to return to working in school and have been enjoying the recent developments across our site. These include a new high quality astro turf pitch, fully equipped STEAM room with laser cutter technology, a new student support area for upper secondary students, fitness suite and x2 additional science labs.
Look out for further details of these developments in future editions of the Highlights.
Meet our New Teachers
This week, we continue to introduce you to our new teachers who joined our school this academic year.
Bringing a greater visibility and focus to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) learning across our school, welcome to Mr James Chandler, our new STEAM teacher.
The Benefits of Being Bilingual
In an increasingly globalised world, speaking two languages rather than just one, has obvious practical benefits linked to job opportunities and higher income potential, with advantages of being bilingual even more significant than just able to converse with a wider range of people.
Following on from our successful Bilingual month at the end of last half term, read more about how your child(ren) benefit from being BVIS bilingual students.
House Prefects - Making a Real Difference!
The House Prefect system at BVIS is part of the student leadership programme. Students from upper Secondary are appointed each year to undertake various roles and responsibilities around the school.
To find out more about how they are making a real difference across the whole school, click here to access the post.
Academic Calendar: 2022 –2023
Next year’s academic calendar (2022-23) is now available to download from our school website.
Click on this link to find out term dates, holidays and teacher only days.
Additional Support for Parents - Working Together as One
Over this forthcoming half term, we continue to support all parents with any technical aspects of our Virtual School, through our BVIS Help Desk email: it.servicedesk@nordanglia.com
For all individual queries about your child’s academic work/social and emotional wellbeing, contact their form/class teachers directly via email or Dojo.
(028) 3758 0709 / ext. 111 or
primaryreception@bvisvietnam.com
(028) 3758 0717 / ext. 211 or
secondaryreception@bvisvietnam.com
Have a very safe and enjoyable weekend ahead.
Mrs Mary McAloon, Head of Primary
Mindful Mondays
Following World Mental Health Day in October, we have been raising awareness around wellbeing and the importance of looking after our mental health. With the challenges that we have faced over the past few months it is imperative that we look after ourselves both physically and mentally.
With the introduction of ‘Mindful Mondays’, as a community we aim to encourage everyone to keep active, maintain a healthy lifestyle and help ourselves to feel content. Ms Laura, our student leadership coordinator, is helping us to remember the things that children can do to keep their minds healthy. From playing an instrument to drawing a picture, playing games with family and singing or exercising, there are plenty of ways to keep our minds calm and collected in the busy and disrupted world that we are living in.
Take a look at the pictures of what children have been encouraged to participate in this week to inspire your family.
Home Learning Packs and Library Books
This week all students from F1 to Y6 have had a special pack of resources handmade for them by their teachers. These resources will be used for children to complete some tasks on paper, instead of online. We feel this is important to encourage handwriting and other learning activities with a practical element such as, mathematical work and art.
If families requested library books for their children, these will also be ready for collection at the same time.
From Monday 1st November, families are invited to come to BVIS Gate C to collect the home learning packs and, if requested, their library book pack. On arrival, report to the guard on duty, share your child’s full name as known in school, and the guard will bring the packs to you at the gate. In exchange, please bring any school library books that you have at home so they can be returned to the library. If a delivery driver is collecting the packs, then please ensure they have the child’s full name as known in school and class to inform the guard. If you cannot come to school the alternative is to arrange a delivery/courier service. Many EYFS families during last year’s VSE successfully arranged a delivery service to collect their packs from school and bring it to their home.
Baking is Best
On the last day before the half term holiday, Year 4 children and their teachers decided to celebrate their learning and achievements over the past 9 weeks during their Golden Time. The children prepared the equipment, ingredients and workspace in their kitchens and met online for their usual Golden Time hour, but this time with a different approach. Together they worked through a ‘No-Bake Cheesecake’ recipe and created their very own to share with their families as a celebration of their hard work and dedication during the half term of VSE.
Take a look at the photos of what our budding chefs created – they will make your mouth water!
Upcoming Events
Mr Jack Rudin, Head of Secondary
Virtual Live Lunch
On Friday 15th October we had our first ever Virtual Live Lunch broadcast live on YouTube. The event was full of fantastic performances ranging right from George Michael to Taylor Swift! As usual, our BVIS performers did not disappoint and their musical talent certainly shone through!
If you missed the event, please click on the link here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg0jI6a-fkQ
A HUGE well done to the students that took part:
Attendance
After a long half term, attendance remains high with an average of 96.8% in the last week before the Holiday!
A huge well done to 8S who are the latest tutor group to achieve 100% attendance for a whole week
Success at the World Economics Cup
We had several students from Year 13 represent the whole of Viet Nam in this year’s World Economics Cup. Firstly, it is an incredible achievement to represent the country in such a prestigious competition but our BVIS students not only participated, they thrived!
Congratulations to all our students who as a team finished in the Top 10 worldwide, finishing 9th from 52 teams. Special mentions go to the following individuals for their efforts:
Gold Medal (Top in the world)
Siver Medal (Top 20 in the world)
Bronze Medal (Top 30 in the world)
Once again this is a fantastic achievement and we are justifiably proud of our Y13 students for their exceptional results.
Secondary VSE Champion of the Week
A unique week this week as we have our first ever triple champions! 3 students could not be separated and so we have 3 champions for the first time.
Well done to Peter (9V), Bao Linh (13V) and Kevin (12S) for their incredible work. Having three champions really highlights how much effort and engagement is going on in school – well done to all students for their ongoing efforts!
VSE Champion Tutor Group of the Week
A huge well-done to 9B who achieved more than 30 more housepoints than the next highest tutor group this week!
More than 10 students in 9B received more than 10 housepoints over the course of the week which is an incredible statistic!
Also well-done to 8S for amazing attendance all week – showing commitment to studies and extra-curricular activities beyond expectations!
Well-being week in Creative Arts
Art
Students focused on mindful drawing activities across the secondary school, such as patterns, shading and colouring in.
In KS4 and 5 students also focused on organising and prioritising tasks to ease workload and stress.
Drama
KS3 Drama students explored “The Power of Laughter” and how the fear of “getting it wrong” can stop us from learning how to “get it right”.
Students played games where they were rewarded for unconventional or ridiculous answers. They played “Hide and Seek” with the intention of being found and practiced putting themselves in other peoples’ shoes who had tough decisions to make where there is no “right” answer. They then reflected on their own decision making and what it is that influences their choices in life.
STEAM
Within KS3 this term, students are designing and modelling their very own BVIS Alebrijes.
Alebrijes were originally created in Mexico by an artist called Pedro Linares and are imaginative and colorful Mexican art sculptures that have transformed into mythical creatures that act as spirit guides. Spirit guides help and protect their human friends and are designed using a variety of different animal parts. However, the original sculptures were made from wooden carvings and are often designed using one-off production.
Safeguarding and Child Protection
The health, safety and wellbeing of our students remains the number one priority at BVIS HCMC.
Should you have a concern for the welfare of any child in our school, please refer to our Safeguarding poster below:
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