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Mr. Simon Higham, Principal
Dear Parents
Welcome to another edition of the BVIS Weekly Highlights and a chance for you to continue your engagement and connection with our school and it’s wider community.
With the summer holidays fast approaching, it’s time to get excited for another amazing BVIS Summer School! From 26th June to 16th July, we’ll be opening our doors for three weeks of thrilling experiments, exciting challenges, and unforgettable memories.
This year’s theme is ‘Superpower Science: Unleash Your Inner Hero’ for our Primary students. They’ll explore the science behind their favourite superheroes’ abilities—think Hulk-like strength, super speed, and even flight! The excitement will culminate in our Summer School Expo, where students will showcase their newfound powers and their own specially designed superhero gadgets.
Meanwhile, our Secondary students will take on ‘Game Changers: The Power of Sports’—an action-packed journey into the science, technology, and creativity behind athletic excellence. Using our state-of-the-art STEAM facilities and benefiting from Nord Anglia’s exclusive collaborations with MIT, Juilliard, and UNICEF, students will:
Students will also embark on a field trip to locations tailored specifically to further enhance their exploration and Summer School adventure!
Don’t miss out on this incredible summer adventure—where science, sports, and creativity come to life!
Please kindly refer to the Summer School leaflet for more information or access this link
If you have any questions or require support in relation to BVIS Summer School 2025, please contact Ms. Nhien Ngo (+84)90 6880 005 or email: Marketing@bvisvietnam.com
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The U13 FOBISIA Games competition in Thailand at the end of February was a memorable and proud journey for the young sports talents of BVIS. They competed with full dedication, overcame challenges, and achieved outstanding results.
Read more about their successes in this post from the News section of our School Website.
Last Friday, Primary World Book Week came to a close with a variety of meaningful activities, igniting a passion for reading among students. From engaging reading sessions with author Nawal Kalra to a vibrant parade featuring unique costumes, the week was filled with excitement, joy, and inspiration.
As I was attending the FOBISIA Business meeting last Friday, I was sad to miss one of my favourite events of the year. However, I would encourage you to look through this post, as I have done, to celebrate the amount of great learning that took place last week.
This weekend, take time to ask yourself and your child(ren) the following book related questions:
- What is your favourite book and why?
- Who is your favourite author and if you were able to meet
them, what 3 questions would you ask?
- If you could be any character from a book you have
read, who would you be and why?
Remember - the greatest gift you can give to your child(ren) is to regularly read to them – please ensure that you build this into your daily schedule, no matter how young or how old your child(ren) is/are! It really does make a positive difference.
Last Friday, our Student Council hosted an incredible TedX Youth event that both inspired and left the audience in awe with both the eloquence and confidence of our speakers.
With the active and professional collaboration of BVIS secondary students, particularly Như Ý and Cindy (Year 13), the Student Council leaders, the BVIS Marketing team, and representatives from TEDx, the students showcased their leadership and project management skills, ensuring the event’s outstanding success.
Read more about this globally focused event in this post.
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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 Parent's Handbooks or via our Primary/Secondary Receptionists.
Thank you for your continued support and on behalf of everyone at BVIS, we wish you a great weekend ahead.
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Mrs Mary McAloon, Head of Primary
Last Friday and Saturday, eight students from Y6 travelled to BIS Hanoi to take part in the annual FOBISIA Primary Maths Competition. Over 120 students, making up 30 teams, from 16 schools, took part in the two-day event. The competition consisted of two rounds of group problem solving, STEAM maths design and construction challenges, individual tests and an extremely active maths treasure hunt inside and outside of the school. Our students showed excellent commitment, effort, collaboration and teamwork throughout all of the events. Ms Phuong and Mr Darragh were so proud of the children, especially seeing them embody the core values of the school in their interactions with other teachers, and getting involved making friends with students from other FOBISIA schools. Bon and Gia Linh took part in a short interview and said, ‘’We loved the problem-solving events because they were fun and we had to work together as a team!’’
Overall, one BVIS team finished in 7th place and another in 17th place. These are the best overall results for BVIS in this competition to date. In addition, 3 students were awarded bronze medals for their scores in their individual tests section. They were Minh Anh (Cherry), Minh Kien and Duc Quang. The students spoke about how proud they were to represent BVIS and their families at the event. Congratulations to all of the students involved. We are already excited for next year’s competition, which will be hosted by two FOBISIA schools in Shanghai, China.
On Monday, Mr Chris, Primary STEAM and Design and Technology curriculum leader, alongside Mr Chandler, Head of Computer Science and Design and Technology in Secondary, hosted an inspiring and engaging parent workshop for our Year 4, 5 and 6 families. The workshop was hosted in the secondary Design and Technology suite where parents had the opportunity to fully immerse themselves into a student’s experience at school. The first task set had parents creating their own lego model and then learning how to draw this on paper. The second task then involved parents creating an actual 3D model from wood. Parents were given a pre-cut wooden model that had been prepared using the school’s laser cutter. With Mr Chandler’s support, parents assembled the pieces to create a wooden box that will eventually become an ornament with moving parts on a book stand.
We are thankful for the parents who joined the workshop; this care and investment into learning about how your children learn at school is invaluable to ensure the best possible educational experience for them all.
On Thursday and Friday, Year 1 went on an exciting trip to Bitexco Tower. The students have been learning about buildings and landmarks during their Lien Ket topic, so this was a perfect trip for them to experience the landmarks of Ho Chi Minh city. Students completed different activities on the Skydeck at Bitexco Tower, like drawing cityscapes, searching for landmarks and sketching the world-famous Landmark 81 building. On the bus journey back to school, they took a route via the post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Turtle Lake and the Independence Palace. Year 1 were so excited and loved discussing the different landmarks in their city.
This trip was a wonderful experience. Well done to all Year 1 students for representing BVIS with integrity on this trip.
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Mr Toby Bate, Head of Secondary
This week, the BVIS GC Global Debate Team put their wit, wisdom, and well-rehearsed rebuttals to the test in an online showdown against fellow Nord Anglia Schools. With teams at Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, our debaters took on their international peers in The Netherlands and China, proving that when it comes to logic, persuasion, and eloquence, they can talk the talk — and then some!
From tackling world hunger to advocating for animal rights, debating fiscal responsibility to championing community welfare, the BVIS team navigated every motion with skill, empathy, and just the right amount of intellectual flair. One argument at a time, they built their cases, laid their motions, and wowed each other and their opposition!
A huge well done to all involved!
Pi Day is celebrated every year on March 14th (3.14).
As part of our celebrations for the day this year, Ms Aldersley and Mr Dunn co-ordinated a KS3 ‘Mathstravaganza’ where all students in Years 7, 8 and 9 used their knowledge of Pi to earn the opportunity to Pie Mr Dunn!
Students really enjoyed the opportunity to work in house teams and my personal highlight was the ‘Hula Hoop’ Challenge.
Our winner was decided by a challenging tie break question – could you get closer than Anh Khoa, Le (Sam)?
The Mathstravaganza was once again followed by our annual 'Pies for Pi Day’ sale by the Communities Committee, where they raised 1.2mil VND for charity
On Monday 10th March, our Year 11 students had the opportunity to partake in an insightful maths workshop. The students welcomed guest speakers from the University of Waterloo who came all the way from Canada to be with us. Professor Shane Bauman, the guest speaker guided the students towards the idea that maths can be generalized. He had the students solving puzzles that were similar to each other. Then he explained, by taking one solution to a problem, we can use that to solve other similar, more complicated problems.
The university’s admissions officer also spoke about the countless career opportunities a Maths degree can lead to. Overall, it was a very fun session, and the students were able to gain valuable knowledge!
Thank you to the University of Waterloo for their presentation to our students.
BVIS is proud to participate in the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme, a collaboration that enhances our current curriculum in Dance (shared through PE lessons), Drama and Music. Last week Ms Tania Hakkim, our supportive Drama Curriculum Specialist, attended our school to support staff and students in the world of the dramatic.
Ms Hakkim observed teaching staff, gave demonstration lessons highlighting the wonderful shared resources of The Juilliard Creative Classroom (connecting NAU schools around the globe through exploration of core drama works), and gave an extra added bonus of a Musical Theatre workshop with our younger Secondary students.
Thank-you Ms Hakkim for sharing your enthusiasm for Drama, and we look forward to welcoming you again.
You are invited to attend our upcoming Creative Gala on Tuesday 25th March, starting at 4pm in the Theatre.
The Creative Gala is an opportunity for students and parents to explore the world of the Creative Arts and Media Studies at BVIS. As a faculty we combine the creativity of Art, Drama and Music and are joined for the afternoon by Media Studies, with students across KS3-KS5 participating in regular learning and extra-curricular activities in one, some or all of these disciplines.
We look forward to seeing all parents and students attend this annual event within our school calendar.
Tomorrow our fabulous BVIS band, The Bittersweet, will battle it out to retain their title. If you are attending, please make note of the following:
All guests must be pre-registered for attendance. The link was shared earlier this week.
Please bear in mind that the school (BVIS) cannot take responsibility for accompanying members of the audience to the performance or supervising them while they are there, and all attendees should ensure transport to and from the venue.
Good luck to THE BITTERSWEET!
Last week, the University Guidance Department organised a visit for Year 13 students to the RMIT Ho Chi Minh City campus. This visit provided an excellent opportunity for students to experience university life post-graduation. During the trip, students had the chance to explore various buildings and facilities, engage in student activities, and learn more about RMIT.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to RMIT, especially the RMIT ambassadors, for their support to our current Year 13 students during the visit.
Weekly newsletters from university ambassadors can provide students and parents with updates on the activities of the University Guidance Department and insights into necessary preparations for university life. This week, students and parents will gain a deeper understanding of the factors to consider when choosing a specialised major (e.g., Psychology, Law) and important aspects to keep in mind.
The links below display the House Sways, which are put together by our House student leaders. As the term progresses different posts and updates will be added displaying the relevant news for each of the Houses.
The Sparx Maths Weekly Champion is the student who is the top XP earner in each year group.
Students earn XP by completing tasks in their Sparx Homework
Huge congratulations go to our Top XP earners this week, who are:
| Year Group | Name | Class |
| 7 | Minh Tri Dang | 7I |
| 8 |
Moon Nguyen |
8zMat2x |
| 9 | Anna Quach | 9zMat2x |
| 10 | Minh Anh Nguyen | 10zMat1 |
| 11 | Chau Thai | 11zMat4 |
This week’s bedrock champions are:
Year 7 - Nguyen Ngoc Thien Huong (Cherry)
Year 8 - Le Hong Minh Quang (Mraz)
Year 9 - Bui Nguyen Khanh (Khanh)
Year 10 - Nguyen Ngoc Huyen (Huyen)
Year 11 - Do Nhat Minh Anh (Sunny)
Year 12 - Bui Phuong Ngoc (Annie)
Congratulations to all the above students who came up on top in their respective Year groups. A special well done to Mraz who achieved the highest Bedrock points total across the whole of the secondary school for this week!
This week’s champion is...
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Congratulations and well-done to Minh Anh!
This week’s Champion tutor group is
Congratulations to 789b/dalat2 well done!
Congratulations to Hanoi house who are still leading the house point challenge.
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:
