Weekly Highlights 17/02/2023

Mr. Simon Higham, Principal

Dear Parents,

Once again, it has been an extremely busy and productive week of learning at BVIS. Thank you for taking time to read this week’s Highlights.

Take a Virtual Tour Around BVIS

This week, we’re excited for you to be the first to visit and experience our school's modern and spacious facilities through our new Virtual Tour.
 
Take a tour now to see our cutting-edge technology, world-class sports facilities and inspiring creative arts spaces (to name just a few places to visit!) 

The Virtual Tour will be available on our website very soon.

Parent’s Satisfaction Survey 2022-23 – we need your help!

I am pleased to report that we have now received over 170 responses for our Parent Satisfaction Survey, which equals a 20% response rate. However, we still need your help and support to exceed last year’s 60% response rate.

To complete this year’s survey, please click on the link in the Highlight’s email that you receive each Friday.

Many thanks to all parents who have already completed the survey – all feedback remains anonymous and is both valued and respected.

City Championships

I would like to congratulate all of our students who have recently taken part in the City Championships. Whatever their sport and whatever the outcome, it has been extremely pleasing to see the BVIS Bulldogs competing competitively and giving 100% effort in every game, across each sport.

We are all extremely proud of everyone who wears the Bulldog shirt, representing BVIS in the very best way through hard work, never giving up and above all, playing hard but fair. 

Read more about the City Championships in Mr Bate’s Highlights below.

Bucksmore Education - Summer Schools in the UK

Charlotte Conway, Head of Operations at Bucksmore Education, who are part of our NAE family, will be in HCMC on Saturday 25th March and will be available to meet with students and families who are interested in joining summer programmes in the UK this year. 
 
Having started with the company in 2014 as an EFL Counsellor, Charlotte worked her way up through the Bucksmore Summer Schools into management positions before becoming part of the Head Office team in 2018. As the Head of Operations, Charlotte ensures that the premium quality our BVIS families expect is the reality and alongside her team creates the best experience for all.
 
If you would like to schedule a meeting with Charlotte at the NAE Regional Office in District 1, please contact Ms Carly Balmforth using the details below:

• Carly.Balmforth@nordanglia.com
  
• WhatsApp / Zalo: +6019 999 6594

World Book Day - Used Book Sale

World Book Week is coming to BVIS very soon and will take place between 27th February and 3rd March 2023. 

This year, as part of the many different book/reading activities that will take place, we are organising a Used Book Sale: 

• Date: Friday 3rd March
• Time: 3.00 -4:00 pm
• Venue: Primary Playground

If you have any books that you would like to donate, please send them directly to our School Reception Offices from now until Friday 24th February.  

All books should be in good condition with:

• their covers and pages intact 
• clean and unmarked/unhighlighted pages   
• appropriate content for young children to young adults

All profits will be donated to our BVIS Community Partners.

Contact Us

Please do not hesitate to use the contact information below. Our staff are looking forward to assisting you and answering any questions that you may have regarding your child’s education at BVIS: 

Have a great weekend ahead.

Mrs Mary McAloon, Head of Primary

Year 4 go to Long Hai

On Thursday morning the Year 4 students and their teachers arrived at school filled with excitement and anticipation for their annual residential trip.  After a final head count of all the students, the buses set off to their hotel located on the seafront.  After a two-hour journey, with a stop along the way, by the time the group arrived in Long Hai they were ready to begin the fun activities that had been purposefully planned to build teamwork skills. 

The students thoroughly enjoyed activities in the swimming pool, on the beach and around the hotel resort.  As the evening set in, the whole group came together to enjoy a campfire on the beach, sing songs and tell stories.  The talent show was a real treat for the audience with students having been rehearsing for a few weeks prior to the trip.

I myself joined the Year 4 residential and it was wonderful to see all the students developing resilience, confidence and independence through their experience in Long Hai. 

Thank you to the whole Year 4 team for creating this meaningful experience for the students and to parents for the continued support provided to the children and school

Year 5 students explore the Mekong Delta

On Wednesday, with the luggage safely onboard along with the specially prepared items for the community partner that the group were visiting, Year 5 were ready to embark on their journey to the Mekong Delta for their annual residential.  

Classes had been preparing for their two-night trip away for a few months prior to their departure.  Their first stop was Binh Thuy Primary School in Can Tho City, a community partner school. Our Year 5 students worked with the Binh Thuy students with the focus of the visit being to develop the book collection area at the School.  Students worked together on decorating the area to inspire the local students to enjoy books and read more.  This initiative follows discussions with our students in school about the importance of the Sustainable Development Goal, ‘Quality Education’.

Our BVIS students developed their recognition and understanding of equality in education through their experience at the local school.  I would like to thank the staff and students of Binh Thuy primary school for accommodating our Year 5 BVIS students and teachers during their residential trip. 

The students continued to enjoy a number of great experiences during their stay in the Mekong Delta.  They returned safely on Friday with plenty to share and celebrate.  Thank you to the whole Year 5 team for creating this meaningful experience for the students and to all parents for the continued support provided to the children and our school.

Term 2 Parents’ Evening Meetings

Tuesday 21st March will see the beginning of our Term 2 Parents’ Evening Meetings with class teachers.  We aim to meet with every child’s parent to discuss progress and share how to support them at home with developments towards their next steps.  

Please ensure your meeting time is booked through the online Parents’ Evening System before the sign-up closes at 5pm on the Sunday prior to the week of the meetings.  

If you require any support in booking your meeting, please contact Primary Office at primaryreception@bvisvietnam.com.

Upcoming Events 

• 21/02/23 and 23/02/23: Parents Evening for B and I classes
  
  
• 27/02/23 to 03/03/23: Book Week Celebration
  
  
• 28/02/23 and 02/03/23: Parents Evening for V and S classes
  
  
• 01/03/23: Positive Parenting Workshop 5: Wearing your firm parenting hat for Upper Primary
  
  
• 03/03/23: World Book Day dress-up celebration
  
  
• 07/03/23: Y6 Residential Trip
  
  
• 07/03/23: EYFS Sports Morning

• 15/03/23: Positive Parenting Workshop 5: Wearing your firm parenting hat for Lower Primary

Mr Toby Bate, Head of Secondary

History trip

On Monday 13th February our Year 11 historians visited the War Remnants Museum for a guided tour. Students were able to view a variety of notable images and learn important facts to aid them in their studies and classwork. The museum helped students visualise a period of time they had only read or heard about, and helped them empathise with those who lived throughout it.  

All of the Year 11 students who attended were exemplary in their behaviour, and were model ambassadors for the school. They should be proud of both their conduct on the trip, and their hard work in their studies so far.

City Championships

This week saw the City Championships running in Saigon across different age groups and sports. 

We sent strong teams to compete in all our sports, knowing that the competition would be fierce.

Our under 13 Boys Football Team placed 3rd overall.

Our under 19 Girls Basketball Team also placed 3rd overall.

And our under 15 Boys Football Team were crowned the City Champions!

Congratulations to all of our students who competed in this city-wide competition and especially to the U15 Boys Footballers who proved that they are the best across the whole city.

Year 11 Music Recital

On Thursday, we invited parents to come in and enjoy a music recital performed by our Year 11 IGCSE Music Students.

This event saw 23 students performing a wide range of pieces to an incredibly high level. If you were unable to attend this recital we invite you to join us next week for the Year 13 performances.

Champion of the Week

Congratulations to Nhu Y (Suri) in 10V who is this week’s Champion. 

A great effort from her to come out on top in a week of tough competition from many of our students.
 
Well done Suri!

Champion Tutor Group of the Week

It’s 2 weeks in a row for 7S as they are once again the Champion Tutor group. Another incredible effort from all students in 7S as each and every one of them earned housepoints towards their team’s total.

Well done 7S – who will take the title next week?

FOBISIA Student Leadership Conference

Last week Ms Blick took ten of our student leaders to the FOBISIA Student Leadership Conference in Bangkok. This was a fantastic opportunity for our student leaders to work with students from other leading international schools in the region and to learn more about leading in a wider context.

Even though our students were up against the best of the best regionally, we were still able to come away with the overall first prize in the sustainability challenge. Truly amazing work by our student leaders.

University Visits

On Thursday this week we welcomed visitors in school from 23 different Australian universities.

This was a fantastic opportunity for all our Year 11 and Year 12 students to discuss options for their educational pathways with some of the world’s top universities. 

Upcoming Events 

• 16/02/23: Y11 Music Recital Night/ Australia Universities Fair

• 21/02/23: Y13 Parents Evening

• 23-27/02/23: U13 FOBISIA Games

• 24/02/23: A Level Music Recital Night

• 28/02/23: USA Universities Fair

• 03/03/23: World Book Day

• 03/03/23: Y7-10 Grade reports sent home

• 07/03/23: Y8 Parents Evening
  
  
• 14/03/23: Y12 Parents Evening
  
  
• 23/03/23: Arts Award Evening

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: