Over the weekend, myself and 7 other leaders across our school will fly to Hanoi to attend this year’s Nord Anglia Education (NAE) Regional Conference that is hosted by our colleagues in both BIS and BVIS Hanoi. The theme for this year’s Conference is ‘Innovate’.
Having the opportunity to connect with our NAE Regional network is crucial in our own personal development – both in terms of our professional pedagogy and our ability to effectively lead our school to ensure that every BVIS student receives the highest quality of both educational opportunities and academic outcomes that could not be bettered in any other school.
Building positive and effective relationships is the foundation for effective education to grow upon and I encourage you all to continue to strengthen your relationship with our school community. Over the weekend, take time to reflect how you can achieve this by asking yourself the following questions:
BVIS Hosts our NAE MLP residential
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Continuing today’s theme based around teacher learning, I am pleased to report that next week, BVIS will be hosting the annual Nord Anglia Education Middle Leadership Programme residential. Over 20 teachers from across our Southeast Asia, Middle East and India region will attend.
In school, a Middle Leader is responsible for a year group, subject area or taking the lead in developing and delivering programmes / strategic projects across the school. Such leadership further enhances the learning opportunities for all our students.
Developing Middle Leaders is vital in our commitment to what we call ‘growing our own’ and helping to support in a teacher’s professional learning. For some, this will be the start of their journey and progression into senior leadership.
Upcoming Principal's Afternoon Tea
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Please look out for your invitation to our next Principal’s Afternoon Tea Event.
Following on from previous sessions relating to our school’s strategic plan, Online safety and AI, I am pleased to announce that our next session again responds to the feedback from you, our parents.
Title: Understanding Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) both inside and outside of school.
Date: Wednesday 10th April 2024
Time: 2.00pm to 3.00pm
Venue: Main Hall
I am really looking forward to seeing you there next month.
Tuition Fees and Re-enrolment survey
Next week, I plan to send you all an update on our school fees for the next academic year, followed by our re-enrolment survey which will help support us in our school planning for the academic year 2024 – 25.
As always, your help to complete these important surveys are very much appreciated and respected.
Please look out for these emails coming into your Inbox very soon.
Contact us
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Should you wish to contact your child’s Class Teacher(s) or Form Tutor directly, we encourage communication to be written in the language you most feel confident to use.
Parents may also find it useful to contact their child’s class teacher(s) or form tutor directly for all individual queries about their academic work/social and emotional wellbeing in school. Individual contact details can be found in the Parents' Handbooks or via our Primary/Secondary Receptionists.
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I trust that you will enjoy reading through the Primary and Secondary section of today’s Highlights to celebrate all of the achievements that are attained across our school each week – from our Residentials Trips in Primary to our continued focus upon Gender Equality in Secondary.
Have a great weekend ahead.
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Mrs Mary McAloon, Head of Primary
Y5 Residential Reflections
Year 5 arrived back with so many stories to share about their experiences last week in the Mekong Delta. On Monday, students spent time with their teachers to reflect on what they had learned, their most memorable activity and what they would like to experience again. At school, we see the importance of taking time to reflect and consider what worked well and what could be even better next time. This is a skill that we teach students to ensure they know how to reach optimum learning techniques and continue to make exceptional progress. I am pleased to share with you some of the students’ and teachers’ special thoughts here in the weekly highlights.
- “It was an amazing trip because the food was so yummy, the activities were super fun and pairing up to other classes helped me to improve my teamwork skills.” (Tue Bao)
- “I think the trip was pretty fun although I was a little nervous about being away from my mom for 2 days! Mud fishing was incredible because I got opportunities to interact with fish which I had never done before.” (Candy)
- “This year's trip to Can Tho was certainly one for the books! The standout takeaway from our adventure was the sheer happiness and enthusiasm exhibited by all the students throughout the journey. We couldn't be prouder of the remarkable character and camaraderie demonstrated by everyone involved. The trip was rich with memories and opportunities for growth, and we're convinced that our students will hold onto these experiences for many years to come.” (Mr Simon)
- “One of the most rewarding aspects of the trip was how it provided opportunities for developing both teamwork and independence among the children. Through collaborative tasks and challenges, our children learned to communicate effectively, delegate responsibilities, and support one another. Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of the trip was witnessing the genuine happiness and excitement radiating from all the children. They immersed themselves in the activities, formed new friendships, and discovered the joys of learning outside the classroom. It was evident that the trip not only enriched their academic knowledge but also enriched their overall well-being, fostering a sense of belonging and fulfilment.” (Ms Suong)
Y4 travel to Long Hai
On Thursday this week, Year 4 set off on their first ever BVIS residential away from school. Following their preparation in Year 3 with a sleepover at school, students felt confident to take on the challenge of travelling away from school with their teachers and peers. The activities provided students with their first taste of adventure and challenge that residential trips provide. The experience provides the opportunity to develop a variety of personal attributes including, resilience, responsibility and independence. Next week I will share highlights of the students’ thoughts on how they feel they developed through the experience.
Specialist subject learning for parents
On Thursday this week, primary parents were invited to learn about the music, computing and ICT curriculum that we run at BVIS. Ms Heather and Mr Jonathan walked the parents through a variety of approaches and techniques they use in their teaching and gave time for parents to experience the resources used whilst learning and developing skills and understanding in these subjects. It was a pleasure to host a parent workshop where parents had the opportunity to immerse themselves in how their children learn these important specialist subjects. Thank you to all parents who joined us for the event, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
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Upcoming Events
- 04/03/24 – Book Week: Reading is Magic!
- 08/03/24 – Book Week Dress-up day (dress as your year group’s chosen magical character)
- 25/03/24 – International Week in Primary
- 06/04/24 – Clubs Block 2 breaks
- 08/04/24 – Green Week
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Mr Toby Bate, Head of Secondary
An Update from our Humanities Department
Last Monday, our Year 11 History class embarked on an enlightening excursion to the War Remnants Museum. Guided by passionate experts, our students explored a captivating collection of images that vividly depicted significant moments from the past. These powerful visuals not only enriched their understanding but also provided valuable context for their studies and coursework.
Stepping into the museum, our pupils were transported to an era they had previously encountered only through textbooks and stories. As they absorbed the exhibits, they couldn’t help but empathize with the lives of those who lived during those tumultuous times. It was a poignant reminder of the resilience and humanity that prevailed amidst adversity.
Our Year 11 students conducted themselves with utmost respect and curiosity throughout the tour. They exemplified the core values of our school and served as outstanding ambassadors. Let us celebrate their dedication, both during this trip and in their academic endeavours. Their hard work and commitment continue to make us proud.
World Book Day
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Next Wednesday allows the students to celebrate World Book Day in secondary. Lessons in English, Humanities and PSHE on the Wednesday will focus on historical fiction and literary non-fiction. There will also be specific lunchtime events for students to enjoy.
Gender Equity
This week's assembly focused on gender equity. Gender equity is the process of being fair to women and men according to their respective needs.
The empowerment of women is key in achieving gender equality, with a focus on identifying and redressing power imbalances and ensuring that women have more autonomy to manage their own lives.
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The picture demonstrates the comparison of gender equity with ‘equality’, where it has been assumed that everyone benefits equally from the same support.
As a school we are committed to developing all our students to become global citizens with an understanding of gender equity, and beyond this a broader equity for all of us. I encourage you to talk to your children about their awareness of gender equity and how they can help make a better future for us all.
First News Champions
This week's First News Champions are:
Year 7 – Nguyen Hoang Bao
Year 8 – Anna Huynh
Year 9 – Nguyen Chi Hieu
Year 10 – Nguyen Thanh An
A special congratulations to Thanh An who was the champion across the whole school!
Bedrock Champions
This week’s bedrock champions are:
Year 12 – Tran Bao Duy
Year 11 – Aki Vo
Year 10 – Sam Dang
Year 9 – Nguyen Minh Anh
Year 8 – Kosuke Yamamura
Year 7 – Mraz Le
Congratulations to all the above students who came up on top in their respective Year groups. A special well done to Mraz who once again achieved the highest Bedrock points total across the whole of secondary!
Sparx Maths Champions
Students earn XP by completing tasks in their Sparx Homework
Compulsory Tasks earn 60-80XP
XP Boost Tasks earn 120-150XP
Target Tasks earn 120-150XP
Independent Learning Tasks earn 100XP
Students reach a new Sparx Level every 10000XP
Top XP earners this week are:
| Year |
Name |
Form/Class |
| 7 |
Phuong Nhi Tran |
7S |
| 8 |
Anna Quach |
8zMat2 |
| 9 |
Lucas Dao |
9zMat2x |
| 10 |
Hoang Bao Chau Nguyen |
10zMat2y |
| 11 |
Minnie Nguyen |
11zMat4 |
Champion of the Week
This week’s champion student is:
Joan 8I! Well done to Joan!
Champion Tutor Group
This week's Champion tutor group is...
A huge well done again to everyone in 8I who worked together to achieve more housepoints than any other tutor group last week. Can anyone beat them?
Upcoming Events
- 6th March: World Book Day Celebrations
- 12th March: Year 12 Parents Evening
- 14th March: Pi Day
- 18th – 22nd March: Physics Week
- 26th March: Year 9 Parents Evening
- 6th April: Block 2 ECAs break
- 6th May: Block 2 ECAs resume
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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