Weekly Highlights 10/05/2024

Mr. Simon Higham, Principal

Dear Parents

Welcome to the first full edition of the Weekly Highlights for Term 3.

Again, we thank you for taking time to engage and connect with us to celebrate the many successes across our school community and be kept informed about future events and essential information.

Friends of BVIS

This year, we launched the Friends of BVIS (FoBVIS), which was designed to bring parents even closer to our school.

FoBVIS is essentially a school and parent group, that works in close partnership to help support our wider community in organising fun, community focused events. This year, FoBVIS have supported in several successful events, and I am very keen for us to look at new and exciting projects for the next academic year. Examples of events run this year are:

- Mooncake Baking Workshop (attended by over 60 parents)
- Teacher appreciation cards completed for all teachers and TAs in celebration of Vietnamese Teachers’ Day
- Halloween Movie Night (attended by over 350 parents and children)
- Help and support during the Christmas Funday event
- Help and support during the BVIS Tet Fair

This term’s Principal’s Afternoon Tea event will focus upon FoBVIS led events for the next academic year. If you would like to get involved in any way – no matter how big or small - please look out for the event sign up that will be sent out to all parents very soon.

Frequently Asked Questions about FoBVIS

Q. If I volunteer to help, do I have to sign up for every event?

A. No. You can fit the amount of support you want to give around your own personal schedule. 

Q. How much time do I have to give?

A. As much or as little as you can. A small bit of help, goes a long way.

Q. Who leads and coordinates FoBVIS?

A. Our Events manager, Ms Nhien should be the first point of contact for FoBVIS events. Her email address is: nhien.ngo@bvisvietnam.com

Q. How does the group work?

A. Events across the year are agreed between FoBVIS and the school. These events are placed into the main school calendar and then sub committees for each event are created. Both parents and the school work together to ensure the events are effective, relevant and fun.

Q. How can I let school know that I would like to help?

A. Attend the Term 3 Principal’s Afternoon Tea event. If you are unable to join, simply email Ms Nhien directly and let her know that you want to volunteer.

This weekend, I encourage you to talk to your child(ren) about this year’s school events. Ask them:

1. So far, what was your favourite event this year and why?
2. What event would you like to see at BVIS next year and why?

Then, ask yourself:

1. How can I become involved in FoBVIS?
2. What do I need to do to get involved?

I remain fully committed to making FoBVIS bigger and better, year after year as I truly believe that one of the most effective ways for our children to receive the very best quality, educational opportunities, is to continuously develop an effective partnership between school and home.

I look forward to the journey that lies ahead for us all – get involved, become part of FoBVIS!

FOBISIA Safeguarding Conference held at BVIS.

Next week, we have the honour and privilege of hosting the annual FOBISIA Safeguarding Conference that will be attended by over 120 delegates from across Asia. 

Beginning with initial Executive meetings on Thursday 16th May with the main conference taking place on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May, delegates will be attending 4 Keynote speeches and 5 group sessions to share the most up to date and relevant practices in keeping our children both safe and happy at school and across the wider community.

If you see a conference delegate next week, please ensure you give them a big BVIS welcome!

Successful Planned Emergency Evacuation

On Monday this week, we successfully carried out our 3rd planned emergency evacuation of the academic year. With a calm and well organised exit, students were delighted to see the Binh Chanh Fire Department, who attended with fire engines, back up vehicles and firefighting teams, as part of their annual drill.

I am pleased to report that our procedures continued to work extremely well with the building ‘all clear’ within our targeted timescale and all students, staff and visitors accounted for.

Following the Drill, our F1 children had a chance to find out more about the fire engines, as part of their recent learning – this was lovely to see.

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.  

I would like to personally wish you all a very safe and family orientated weekend ahead.

Mrs Mary McAloon, Head of Primary

This week 22 primary students made their way to Patana Sports Resort, Thailand, for the annual FOBISIA U11 Games where they met a number of other schools from around our region to compete in swimming, athletics, football and teeball.  Arriving on Sunday with time to acclimatise and make their final preparations, our Bulldogs were full of adrenaline, excitement and energy for the sporting week ahead. The week started with athletics and swimming on Monday with many of our students placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd for their event. 

Watching the week unfold through the photographs has been a pleasure; the supportive yet competitive nature that the experience of the FOBISIA Games builds in our students is incredibly special. I am proud of the students who competed with the drive, commitment and passion they have shown during their preparation for and performance during the games. They have spent many weeks preparing with their Coaches, Mr Jac Isaac and Ms Jess Blick, spending additional time during the week to ensure they were their best selves when they arrived for the games. Congratulations to our Bulldogs team for representing BVIS with such courage and determination this week.

Supporting our Community Partners

Green Week in primary occurred before the April holiday. This year student efforts were focused on ‘Planet Vs Plastic’. Part of the theme are two community partners, Saigon Xanh and Limloop. 

Saigon Xanh is an organisation that cleans up the Saigon river channels. Donations collected on Monday 15th April when the community wore green to celebrate our planet and raise awareness of how best to look after it, raised  16,113,000 VND. A huge thank you to all students and families who participated in this fundraising activity. The money collected is paying for vaccinations needed for the volunteers to safely enter the Saigon river for their work.

Limloop is an incredible organisation that creates useful everyday bags from recycled plastic bags.  All employees of Limloop are deaf which is an additional unique fact of the organisation. The plastic bags collected by our community during Green Week were given to Limloop before the holiday and are now ready to purchase as new and upgraded bags that have many uses. The creative bags will be for sale on Monday 13th May in the Primary foyer during the morning for students taking the school bus and, in the afternoon on the Primary playground for students being collected by parents. Please look for more details on ClassDojo for the new exciting items available for purchase next Monday 13th May. All proceeds go to Limloop.

Global Citizenship with a Vietnamese Perspective

The recent primary assemblies have focused on our two values ‘Global Citizenship’ and ‘Vietnamese Perspective’ aiming to increase students’ awareness of diversity and the respect and care they show as they interact with the people they meet. Engaging fiction texts were chosen to highlight how across our globe we all have the same needs and feelings and live under the same sky, yet our lives may look different depending on where we come from. Students considered that students wear different uniforms for school, they have different bedtime routines and eat different dishes for mealtimes, yet they all need the same amount of sleep, energy and exercise. 

 
Students also heard from some of our BVIS teachers who come from different parts of our world.  Ms Syana shared how she is from the UK and has heritage from Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean as her Grandma relocated to England, UK a few decades ago.  Ms Khuyen shared her favourite aspects of her home country, Vietnam, and how her Global Citizenship has shaped the choices she makes, such as the food she eats and her approach to greeting people from different places.  Ms Karissa and Ms Jacinth shared the special elements of the Philippines, their home country, and how their traditional dress has similarities and differences with other countries like Vietnam.

Developing students’ Global Citizenship with a Vietnamese Perspective at BVIS is a priority for teachers.  There are many ways this is achieved – through the curriculum in the classroom, special events and residentials away from school with teachers.  We are proud to be an international school that is dedicated to helping students develop their Vietnamese Perspective and Global Citizenship.

Preparing for Transition

On Wednesday, Year 3 parents joined Ms Yen Tran, Upper Primary Coordinator, and Ms Ruth Bowler, Year 6 Teacher and Lien Ket Coordinator, to learn about the transition ahead into Year 4 and Upper Primary for their children.  As the students grow, approaches to learning adapt and become more challenging requiring an increase in independence and responsibility.  It is important for parents to understand the significant changes from lower to upper primary so they are prepared to support their children through the process.  Expectations such as the amount a student is required to write in their literacy lessons, the approach to using their device both in and out of school and the increased amount of independence they need to develop are all examples of the challenges that students navigate as they transition into Upper Primary.  Ms Yen and Ms Ruth shared information about the transition and guidance for parents supporting their children through this period.  

Thank you to the parents in attendance; if you have any further questions about the transition ahead, please connect with Ms Yen who is happy to support families.

Upcoming Events

1. 14/05/24 -17:00 – Speech and Poetry Final
2. 22/09/24 - Positive Parenting Workshop: Wearing your playful hat for Upper Primary parents (Years 4-6)
3. 24/05/24 - STEAM month launch
4. 24/05/24 -14:00 – Year 3 Project Curiosity Showcase
5. 28/5/24 -14:00 – Year 2 Project Curiosity Showcase
6. 29/05/24 - Positive Parenting Workshop: Wearing your playful hat for Lower Primary parent (Years 1-3)
7. 30/5/24 -14:00 – Year 1 Project Curiosity Showcase
8. 09/06/24 - Clubs Block 2 ends
9. 24/06/24 - Transition day for primary
10. 25/06/24 -16:00 – Year 6 Celebration
11. 26/06/24 -11:30 – Term 3 Ends  

Mr Toby Bate, Head of Secondary

MIT-Nord Anglia STEAM Competition

I am delighted to be able to confirm, after an extensive judging process, that  Phuc Thien (9S) from BVIS HCMC has won a place at the MIT- Nord Anglia STEAM experience in Boston from October 27th to November 3rd, 2024. To win this competition Phuc Thien created a video answering the question, "if I were an innovator at MIT, I would....". This achievement is truly commendable, especially considering the tough competition with over 80+ NAE schools worldwide participating, and only 65 students being chosen for this prestigious opportunity.

A special mention also goes to Diem My (Cherry) (9S) who also received a commended certificate for her entry.

Puberty Seminar

Wednesday saw approximately 40 parents from Y6 to Y9 students come into school to take part in a puberty seminar that was hosted by the Secondary School Leadership team.

The seminar focused on three key aspects: the biological changes, the psychological changes and the behavioural changes that take place during puberty.

The seminar provided some practical guidance to both support parents during this potentially difficult time and also how parents can support their children.

If you weren’t able to attend this event, please do reach out to the school and we can provide you with materials or answer any questions you may have on this topic.

Pseudocode Competition

I would like to congratulate Minh Khoa (Teppi) on winning the international IGCSE pseudocode competition.

The feedback we received from the competition creator was that “the entry that Teppi made was of very high quality from both a design standpoint and content matter.” 

“On behalf of the SEACSTA organisation I wish you my sincerest congratulations and hope that you continue your first-class teaching.”

A huge well done again to Teppi and to everyone else who entered this competition.

An Update from our Vietnamese History Department

This week, Year 8 students are delving into the intricacies of Indian culture. Their focus lies on religious architectures, where they are tasked with observing, describing, and comparing various Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic works. Furthermore, students will apply this knowledge to determine the existence of similar religious structures within Vietnam. History always gives the students opportunities to not only understand the remote areas, but also to know more about their own homelands.

Obscure British Sport Week

This week our Secondary students were invited to take part in the very first "Obscure British Sports Taster Week" during lunchtimes at BVIS.

The creators at Global Campus challenged all Nord Anglia students to take part in a completely new sport or physical activity. Thus, Ms Mumby-Cole and our Global Campus Student Ambassadors decided that this was an ideal opportunity to provide a little downtime for our exam students, and to let our younger students try something a little different and a little quirky.

The week included a traditional fairground-style Coconut Shy courtesy of Mr Clark and Mr Spong, a Highland Games style foam Caber Toss from Scotland, the home country of Mr Routledge and a wonderous ‘Welly Wang’ (throwing a wellington boot the furthest you can) from Ms Mumby-Cole. Additionally, students experienced a very adapted version of the famous Gloucestershire Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling competition, and of course, a classic Egg and Spoon race on Friday to finish off the week.

Students enjoyed the combination of unusual activities and the snippets of British history that accompanied the challenges.
To see more about students’ experiences and to see how our other NAE schools go on, our students can check on the Global Campus “Spotlight on Sport” Padlet - https://globalcampus.nae.school/mod/lti/view.php?id=30919

House Sways

Champion of the Week and Champion Tutor Group

Upcoming Events

1. 6th May: Season 2 - Secondary Clubs resume
2. 7th June: Secondary Clubs end
3. 10th June: Science Week
4. 12th June: Y12 students return to normal lessons
5. 17th – 21st June: Transition experience week for year 4,5,6 in Secondary
6. 26th June: Last day of term, school finishes at 11:30am

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: