Emergency Number

As you may be aware, we have a single trip emergency number that we give to parents to contact when their children are on residential trips.  This ensures that all emergencies are routed through a single point of contact here in HCMC (even when the trip is overseas).

The mobile phone number we have held for over a year now has ‘expired’ and we now have a new number.  Please make a note of the following number for all secondary school trips:

0909 026 547

For emergencies only

Richard Dyer

Head Teacher

Secondary

 

 

Learning Together

The past two weeks in Drama have seen  Year 13 Theatre Arts students,  Elaine Calibara and Van Vo, run two workshops with the current Year 10 IGCSE Drama class.

Van explored the complex work of Jerzy Grotowksi through a series of physically demanding exercises that touched on how a powerful and flexible body can lead to a heightened performance. Students were encouraged to breathe deeply and block out the outside world whilst focusing on developing their flexibility. The Year 10 students worked hard and impressed with their open minds and willingness to try something new.

Elaine explored the work of contemporary theatre/dance company, Frantic Assembly. This workshop was based around ‘action and reaction’ and how this is a vital element for any piece of performance work. Elaine put the Year 10’s through their paces with many practical activities that relied on reacting with each other, sequences using a chair and then action and reaction when two students create a ‘chair duet’. Year 10 created some fantastic ‘Chair Duets’ which can be seen in the Hall of Fame on Studywiz.

This work will culminate in a 3,000 word Independent Project Portfolio in which Van and Elaine share their research, their workshops and their evaluations. Good Luck!

Anne-Marie Astley                                  
Head of Year 7

Head of Lower Secondary  

 

Vietnamese Trip

 

Culture, Language, Literature and Service

Despite the weather and the delayed flight, everyone remained  extremely enthusiastic and energetic.  Our flight took off at 4:40pm and reached Ha Noi by 6:30pm. We were very late but we still managed the time to experience Hanoi’s night culture in the street market and walked through the Ancient Town where old buildings are still resplendent .

 

Day two involved full day of sight-seeing .  First we visited the First National University in Vietnam “ Quoc Tu Giam” where we were lucky to meet the famous Vietnamese historian DUONG TRUNG QUOC and shook hands with him. Although Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum was under maintenance, we were able to observe his simple living style at Uncle Ho’s Stilt House. More impressive was the Memorial House of Kim Lan where his Literature works “ LANG” “ VO NHAT”  taught for IB Vietnamese have been displayed. We saw his works first-hand and knew more about his life and career throughout the words of his fifth son.

Afterwards, we played indoor and outdoor games with the orphans at SOS village. The friendly and joyous environment filled all corners of the village with laughter. We scuttled to the conference room of Hoa Binh hotel to meet a well-known literary professor TA KIM HOI and a Literature teacher. Two students Tina Le of year 13 and Duy Tran of year 12 produced excellent presentations which turned into interesting and though provoking discussions between Mr Hoi and the students. The short sketches of Drama, which were both humorous and thoughtful, were our last activities in Ha Noi.

With these sights and sounds also came the Hanoian cuisine which has brought a new and vibrant gastronomic world tastes to BIS students. Returning from Ha Noi, we were filled with memories of the people and the peerless atmosphere of Ha Noi’s unique culture. 

By a group of year 12 students

Dang Minh / Le Thanh Ngan / Mai Phuoc Trong Nghia / Nguyen Mai  / Nguyen Jannie

 

9I Assembly

On Friday 12^th October 9I presented their assembly on ‘Dyslexia Awareness Week 2012’

9I interviewed students and staff at BIS to discover how much they really knew about Dyslexia.  Myths were dispelled and interesting facts discovered. Did you know that Albert Einstein had Dyslexia?

Kathryn Sinker

9I Form Teacher

 

International Day

The students’ International Day is next Friday 19^th October. International Day is one of the annual highlights of the school year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those parents and staff in advance for the huge amount of work they put into making this day so enjoyable for the students. It is important that parents appreciate that this is a day for the students and is not an open day for parents and guests. There is a guest list which contains the names of those parents and helpers working in the International Rooms. Student security is of the upmost importance and only those parents and helpers registered on the guest list will be allowed entry.

 

During the afternoon there is a Culture Show and a Global Fashion Parade (12.45-14.45) which you are welcome to attend. If your child is taking part or you wish to watch these shows then please write to Mr Gillmore at petergillmore@bisvietnam.com so you can be registered on the afternoon parent list.

Peter Gillmore

Deputy Head, Pastoral

 

From the Head Teacher

With just two weeks to go before half term, the AP2 campus is a hive of activity.  There have been many events that show off the talents of our students and the warmth and humanity of our school community.

 

The Year 9 Options Evening was extremely well attended and students and parents gathered the information they needed to make informed choices about IGCSE subjects.  With our standard curriculum including nine IGCSE subjects, our student have a wide range of choices and are well prepared for further advanced study in the Sixth Form, two years later.

Even more people (and a few BIS dogs) took part in the BBGV Fun Run last Sunday. Even a 6.30 am start didn’t deter the committed runners, walkers, cyclists, in-line skaters and scooters.  BIS dominated the event, with a huge turnout, spectacular T-shirts and the fastest runners.

Volleyball featured on the sports calendar this week with a well-supported inter-school tournament hosted at BIS.  Games were hotly contested and our U18 boys’ match against SSIS featured a nail-biting second set to 30 points.

 It’s university season and many universities are visiting BIS to provide information for students.  Dates are on the front cover of BISbuzz.  Do get in touch with our Careers and University Guidance Counselor (aidancrowley@bisvietnam.com) if you have particular queries. It’s Canadian Education Week in HCMC next week, with an opening at the Intercontinental Hotel on Sunday. 

See   http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/vietnam/study-etudie/2012-10_education_program.aspx?lang=en&view=d#hcmc  for details.

 

Toni Perez's Short Film

One of our students, Toni Perez, submitted a film to the Saigon Student Short Film Festival 2012 (ShortSStuFF) and received some exceptionally positive feedback from the judges:

“Toni submitted a short film called “Eczema – A Dream” and the film was very well received by the judges and the audience.  In fact, there was a deadlock between the judges for the award “Best Director”, and a third judge was asked to decide between Toni’s film and another submitted by Year 12 students from an international school in China. “

 

In the end, the judge decided on the film from China but Toni deserves our congratulations nevertheless. 

 

Here is a link to her film on YouTube. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJO4nioaYPU

Richard Dyer

Head Teacher
Secondary

 

BBGV Fun Run - 30th September 2012

What a great Fun Run it turned out to be!  BIS students, families and teachers all turned out in force to support this community charity event, hosted by the BBGV.  There were runners, walkers, children on tricycles, scooters, roller blades, and even pets were brought along to join in the fun.  Representation by BIS exceeded all previous events, and it proved quite a feat to include everyone in the group photo.  As a school community of more than 300 participants, we were very noticeable in our modern, Union Jack inspired t-shirts.  As with previous Fun Runs, the athleticism of our students and indeed our teachers was apparent.  With over 7,000 Fun Run participants, and out of a total of 8 prizes, BIS won 4 of these prizes!  The prizes were presented by HE Dr. Antony Stokes LVO, HM Ambassador to Vietnam, and Mr. Douglas Barnes, HM Consul General and Director of UK Trade and Investment (Vietnam).  The BBGV have extended a very special thank you to all BIS participants for supporting this event.

Congratulations to our BIS Winners

Simon Arts - 1^st Teenager + 1^st Place Overall

Nicholas Yap - 2^nd Teenager

Victoria Ee - 1^st Girl 

Emma Morris - 2^nd Place Female

Fiona Nichols

Marketing and Public Relations Manager

 

BIS Dragons’ Den competition

This week we held the fourth annual BIS Dragons’ Den competition. Five teams of Y10 entrepreneurs pitched their ideas to the Dragons in the hope of securing an investment to finance their business. After a number of excellent presentations and much deliberation, the Dragons chose to invest in The Reaper, crowning them the winners of the Dragons’ Den 2012. Congratulations to Rijul Sharma, Denis Cao Van Truong, Quoc Long Bui and Jake Nguyen who impressed the judges not only with their fashionable products, but also a realistic business plan that promised an attractive return on investment. A huge well done to all the teams that took part in the competition. 

Michael Sherry
Teacher of Business Studies and Economics

 

Hue House Assembly

This all seems so formal. Let's just talk. I like my school. I like the people in it. I like it despite its chilly rooms, rigid deadlines, piles of homework assignments and patchy internet connection. But I do, I like it. And when you like your school, when you like your house, it's easy to just sit back and simply let everything be without ever getting involved.

 

It's not that simple.

 

It's not easy to get up, dust off your knees and actually go ahead and support it. Your House only exists because each and every one of you is a part of it; you're all important; you're all part of a mechanized system that would otherwise falter if not for you. I stand here today, another cog in the great clockwork that is our House, Hue, encouraging you to support and stand up for yourselves as individual representatives of your house. Support it because you’re worth something. Supporting your House doesn't mean winning. Supporting your house means having the audacity and courage to want to try something new, something exciting, all in the hope that even if you fail, you still stood up for something. You chose to stand together with your fellow classmates and you chose to take part in a community of thinkers, of creators, of risk takers.

I want to draw your attention to some really awesome activities you should all be thinking about participating in. There’s BIS Has Got Talent coming up, and for some of us it’s probably a chance to sit back and watch others fail. Don’t be that kid. Because by the end of the day, the student who participated and stood up to perform would be the one everyone reveres.

 

Another thing I’m encouraging you to join is the International Day Fashion Show. Most of you joined, but you year 7s and 10s have yet to complete all the slots. Year 7’s, don’t be afraid. We’re all here to support you. Year 10s, man up and strut down that runway like the fabulous Hue student you are. International Day can only work if we put ourselves into the work, so try to take part in as many things as you possibly can!

 

Ms Jones would also like to call your attention to the Inter-House Debate, which is a great opportunity to obliterate and completely destroy the well-cultivated ideas of smart-alecks and know-it-alls.

 

But in the end it's your choice. Whether you want to be involved, whether you want to stay out, I can't decide it for you. But sometime, you will come to realise that without your contribution, nothing great would ever be achieved by this House. If you stand up for something, contribute even in the slightest way, you can change the outcome of the game just like that….!

 

Amanda Reid

House Captain Hue, Year 12

 

Moon Festival Celebrations at Thuan An Deaf School

On Saturday 29^th September a group of 13 adults (teachers and assistants) along with 30 students jumped on a bus and headed down road 13 to Binh Dung Province. They took lanterns, party food, energy and a plethora of ideas and games. They were met by 130 eagerly awaiting children and teenagers of the 300 strong student body of Thuan An Deaf School. We were given an impressive welcome and introduction to the school in both Vietnamese, English and sign language by smiley Head teacher Ms Thuy before launching into personal introductions, splitting into two main activities lantern decorating and outside fun! Outside fun included hula hooping, hip-hop dance competitions, football, piggy in the middle, practising sign language,  obliterating all types of communication barriers and getting stuck into some very amusing party games. After a feast of party food we were entertained by a hilarious Mr Bean-style mime, set in a barber shop. We acknowledged the time we spent together as a really special morning before jumping back on our adventure bus to the familiar An Phu. Thanks to all those that gave up half of their Saturday to unite two very new parts of our community.

Emma Morris

Community Service Projects Manager