Weekly Highlights 18/11/2022

Mr. Simon Higham, Principal

Dear Parents 

From Thursday to Saturday this week, I will be proudly representing our school at the annual FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) Business Meeting held at the British School, New Delhi in India. 
 
To find out more about FOBISIA and how our membership gives additional opportunities to our students, click here. 

U15 FOBISIA Games 

This week, our U15 squad attended the international FOBISIA Games that were held in Pattaya, Thailand. I have been receiving regular updates from the team and they have certainly made an impact both on and off the sport’s field! 

With 6 medals already achieved in the swimming events and at least 2 more on the athletics field, we really are proud of everyone’s achievements. 

As Mr Kenny wrote to me: 

‘Our students have a great attitude in both victory and defeat. This has been noticed and also praised by a couple of the other schools' coaches and even the games organiser, which is pleasing to hear. They have a great team spirit and are having fun and enjoying themselves.’ 

More detailed updates to come when they return next week. 

Congratulations to all of the squad and I look forward to reporting more successes from the U13 Games in February 2023. 

Love BVIS Week 

#LoveBVIS Week is yet another very special annual event in our calendar, as all of our community comes together to celebrate the love that they have for everything BVIS! 

Thank you to all parents (and students) who have left us some very heart-warming reviews about why they #LoveBVIS. 

If you have not yet had chance to leave us a review, I’d like to invite you to share your love for our school through: 

• Google Review
  
  
• Facebook Recommendation  

Simply click on the links above to find out more – we look forward to hearing from you. 

Teacher’s Day 

As this year’s Teacher’s Day falls on a Sunday, the Student Councils from both Primary and Secondary came together on Friday morning to hand out special treats for our incredible teachers and TAs. 

Both teachers and TAs alike were extremely appreciative of the special ‘dim sum’ breakfast and gifts of appreciation that had been organised by them as they entered the school. 

It is true that our teachers and TAs really do make the difference in delivering the best education possible to our BVIS students. 

Over the weekend, I encourage you to work together with your son/daughter to take time and contact their Class, Form or Subject teachers directly to show your appreciation for all of their hard work and efforts. 

Principal’s Afternoon Tea 

On Tuesday this week, you received an invitation to our second Principal’s Afternoon Tea event of the year that will take place on:  

• Wednesday 30th November  
  
  
• 2.00pm – 3.00pm 
  
  
• In the Main Hall  

The topics covered will be:  

- a brief overview of school developments that have happened since our last Afternoon Tea Event 

- a presentation on how to keep your child safe online and using appropriate age-related social media – this session will be led by Mr John Twemlow, Subject Leader of Computing 

- a brief Q and A relating to this topic area 

To join us on Wednesday 30th November, please click on this link to register. 

2023-24 School Calendar 

Last week, I shared with all parents via email our 23/24 school calendar that can be accessed through this link.  

Alternatively, this can also be found through the ‘Parent Essentials’ section of our school’s website. 

Photographs reminder 

Following last week’s Highlights, please note that school photographs will take place during the week beginning 28th November. 

Individual and class schedules have now been finalised so please look out for all details that will be sent to you via email early next week.  

Welcome to BVIS  

As part of our ongoing introduction to new members of our teaching staff, this week we are pleased to welcome Ms Jess Humphreys, our Science/Biology Teacher.

1. What were your first impressions of BVIS?  
   
   Wow!! What a school to be a part of, feeling very grateful to have joined such a fantastic school. One which celebrates students and teachers alike. The facilities are superb, and I am very lucky to be working in the brand-new science laboratory. I am thrilled to be part of such an excellent team here at BVIS.  
   
   
2. As a BVIS teacher, what are your professional priorities in this first year at school?  
   
   My priorities are to continue to develop into an excellent classroom practitioner, who provides engaging, exciting, and informative science lessons. I wish to build positive relationships with my students and work colleagues. To continue to learn from the incredible staff around me and the development opportunities provided here at BVIS.  
   
   
3. What 3 things are you looking forward to doing whilst working and living in Vietnam? 
   
   I will continue to eat my weight in Pho and Bun Thit Nuong! Continue to practice my Vietnamese cooking skills and to travel more of beautiful Vietnam and the surrounding countries.  

Contact Us

Should you require any help, support or advice regarding the school website or any aspect of your child’s education, please do not hesitate to contact us using the information below: 

Have a very family orientated and pleasant weekend ahead and look forward to seeing you all again in school on Monday.  

Mrs Mary McAloon, Head of Primary

U11 Football City Championships 

Welcome to this special edition of the primary highlights this week.  I am taking time this week to celebrate our teams’ outstanding performances and successes in the U11 Football City Championships. 

Both our Boys and Girls U11 Football Teams played in the city championship tournament last week.  After weeks of dedicated training, and practice in game situations through many friendly fixtures, the teams were fully prepared and eager to perform at the City Championships alongside other schools in the city to play for the ‘City Champions’ title.  Both teams showed strength and determination while they dominated each game, making their way to the final.  The Girls and Boys Teams both met ISHCMC teams in the final game where the girls came away with a 2-1 win, and the boys, a 3-1 win.  All that was left was to crown both Girls and Boys Teams of BVISHCMC the Citywide U11 Football Champions!  

Congratulations to both our teams for bringing home the trophies; an outstanding performance that the students will be empowered by forever. 

Events like this support the holistic development of a child.  This special message to all the footballers last week from Coach James, Boys Under 11 Coach and Rising Star Football Academy Technical Director, demonstrates all that is involved for a child when they join a sporting squad. 

“From the very first session we set our goals and we set the core values and philosophy we would follow to achieve our ambition of not only winning the city championships but becoming better together.  Teamwork, competitiveness, supportiveness, responsibility and most importantly, belief in ourselves and each other, were the foundation of our success.  Throughout the season you all worked tirelessly and at the City Championships you were duly rewarded.  Every member of the squad contributed to the success; your unity as a squad and belief in one another and the courage you showed was exceptional – an example of true ambition. 

Please remember this moment and feeling, bottle it up in your heart and mind and release it every time you set out on a journey to achieve something great.  Let it be your motivation and your guide towards all things exceptional that you will achieve in your lives.” 

Season 3 of Clubs offers more sports squads for the students to join.  Please look out for these and register your child if you would like them also to have experiences like our footballers have had this season. 

Upcoming Events 

• 23/11/22 @ 14:00: Career Guidance Seminar for Upper Primary parents 
  
  
• 24 & 25/11/22 @ 14:00: EYFS Christmas Sing-a-Long (entrance by ticket only) 
  
  
• 30/11/22 @ 08:30: Positive Parenting Workshop 3 for Lower Primary: Wearing your encouraging hat 
  
  
• 30/11/22 @ 14:00: Principal’s Afternoon Tea (registration through link provided in parent emails) 
  
  
• 02/12/22: Season 2 club programme breaks 
  
  
• 09/12/22: Year 2 Production 
  
  
• 10/12/22: Christmas Fun Day  
  
  
• 16/12/22 @ 11:30: Term 1 Ends 

Mr Toby Bate, Head of Secondary

#LoveBVIS Week - Secondary 

This week saw several events in secondary celebrating #LoveBVIS week. On Wednesday we had our “Heart Wednesday” where staff members brought along or wore different items that had heart shapes on them. 

Thursday saw the #LOVEBVIS photo booth in action with groups of students and staff members having their photographs taken by our marketing team. 

“Pink Friday” encouraged all students and staff members to celebrate their love for BVIS by wearing pink for the day. It was lovely to see so many staff and students displaying their positive feelings in such a simple way. 

Student proposal for school rewards

At the Pastoral team’s weekly meeting, Khoi Nguyen (Marcus) and Phuong Nghi (Nancy) presented a student-led proposal for a further rewards system in BVIS Secondary. They spoke with excellent confidence and clarity and promised to reflect on the feedback they were given. All of the Pastoral leaders were extremely impressed with their proposals and agreed that they would improve our school. Thank you to Marcus and Nancy for having the motivation to change our school in a positive and professional manner! 

October/November Exam Series 

The exam series for October and November ended this week with some of our students having made the choice to sit these exams to try and further improve their grades. A huge thank you from the whole school to Mr Steele (our exams officer) who organised all the entries and invigilated many of the exams that our students sat.  

The results for these exams will be released in the new calendar year and best of luck to everyone who has sat an exam during this period. 

U15 FOBISIA Games  

The FOBISIA Friendly Games is back, and after several weeks of preparation and training, BVIS took a boys’ team from Year 9 and 10 and travelled to Thailand to compete in swimming, athletics, basketball and football.  

It was great to see international competition back once again and our athletes making new friends from other schools around Asia.  

Some of our parents travelled to support the team and joined in with the celebrations and soak up the atmosphere.  The team rewarded us all by winning several medals, exceeding expectations, especially in swimming and athletics.  

The Games closed with a gala dinner and disco giving all the athletes time to say farewell to new friendships until they see each other again next year. 

Secondary Champion of the Week 

This week, we have a Year 12 winner!  A huge well done to Phuong Nghi (Nancy) from 12V who is this week’s champion, earning a huge 16 Housepoints! Well done, Nancy! 

Secondary Champion Tutor Group of the Week 

9V are the Champion Tutor Group of the week this week with 146 house points collected. An enormous well-done to them! 

Blood Brothers  

Tickets are still currently available for the below show dates and times: 

• 7th and 8th December at 4.00pm and 

• 9th December at 6pm. 

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: