Issue 18 eng

1. BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - HANOI
NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 23 2015| ISSUE 18
IN THIS ISSUE
From Mr. Anthony Rowlands
From Mr. Christopher Short
From Mrs. Karen Hanratty
Secondary Geography
KS2 House Sports
Lord Puttnam visits BIS Hanoi
Tet Fair
Fundinotots Programme
Lunch Menu
Contacts
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
Issue 18 | 1
UPCOMING EVENTS
26th
Lord Puttnam visits BIS HN
KS1 House Sports
KS4/5 Boys Basketball vs Wellspring
27th
-30th
Y8 Expedition – Mai Chau
27th
Y4 Learning Insights Parents Information Session
KS4/5 Boys Basketball vs St Paul
29th
Y1 Learning Insights Parents Information Session
30th
Y11 & Y12 Mock Results issued
2nd
KS3 Boys & Girls Football vs HIS
3rd
-6th
Year 6 Expedition to Hoi An
3rd
F3 Learning Insights Parents Information Session
4th
KS3 Boys Football vs Wellspring
5th
Year 2 Learning Insights Parents Information
Session
KS4/5 Girls Basketball vs Concordia
7th
Tet Fair 2015
JANUARY
FEBRUARY

2. Issue 18 | 2
From Mr Anthony Rowlands - Principal of BIS Hanoi
Geography and History are often
classed together as Humanities and,
whilst they do have some things in
common, they are very separate
individual subjects. As with most
subjects, gaining knowledge is
important but more important are the
skills that we use to analyse the
knowledge we learn. I am extremely confident that both
subjects are taught to the highest level here at BIS
Hanoi. Much is written about Geography by Mr.
Schofield in today’s newsletter and I will talk more
specifically of Geography in a later edition of the
newsletter.
However, as I have mentioned in previous newsletters, I
have a great fondness for History. There is so much that
we can learn from the subject which can make us better
human beings and help turn the world into a better place
as we reflect upon past events. It is not just a subject that
focuses on knowledge – where and when things
happened - it also requires people to use analytical skills
to evaluate what happened in the past. This week I was
struck by a History essay written by Phuong Chi (Year
11). The essay won her the History Department’s
Academic Award Competition and Mr. O’Reilly states of
the essay:
‘’Phuong Chi based her historical fiction essay, titled
“Strong”, on the consequences for divided families
during the Vietnam War. Phuong Chi has used the
historical skill of empathy to a high level within her
work. Her paper focuses directly on the human impact
of war and in doing so she provides a robust reason for
the maintenance of peace’’
It is an outstanding piece of work which is written with
thought and sensitivity. Here is a section of the essay
which provides a taster of the quality of work
produced:
“The memory of their short reunion flooded her mind
as she continued to crop the wheat. She still
remembered how euphoric and rejoiced she felt when
she flung herself into his arms. The image was as vivid
as if it was only yesterday. Her husband stood there, his
uniform stained from the dirt and blood, reeking of war,
but she still held on him as tight as she could, as if
releasing him from her embrace would make him
vanish forever.”
Phuong Chi’s essay will now be submitted to the
‘Historical Association of Great Britain’ to be judged in
the final against students from around the world.
Congratulations to Phuong Chi and what a great way to
end the week. I would like to wish you all a wonderful
weekend.
Secondary Student Council
SympaMeal Visit

3. While we enjoy the home comforts
tonight, spare a thought for our Year 11
and 12 students sleeping in tents as
part of their Duke of Edinburgh’s
Award Silver expedition. We have
talked about this award many times in
this newsletter because it is such a
good example of how BIS sets out to
develop the whole person. Kurt Hanh, the founder of
the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Gordonstoun School
(where the British Royal family send their children) and
the United World College movement, is quoted as saying
that the Moray Firth (a part of the Sea around northern
Scotland) was his best teacher. 80 years after Kurt Hanh
founded the school, students at Gordonstoun still have
sailing as a compulsory activity and every year each
class takes a week out of lessons for sailing instruction
on the Moray Firth and the Western Isles of Scotland. I
doubt many ex-students are still active sailors but I
Issue 18 | 3
From Mr Christopher Short - Head of Secondary
know that the skills they learnt around teamwork,
commitment, perseverance and leadership have
remained with them for life.
As well as fantastic results and excellent personal skills,
students do need to be guided through the mechanics of
applying to university. With Morrisby testing, our new
careers library and counselling with school staff we
have already made a strong start in assisting our oldest
students on the next step of their academic journey. Mr
Byrne and his team have now secured IELTS testing run
and examined by the British Council at BIS and, from
next year, students will be able to sit their US SAT tests
at school on test dates set by the College Board. With
the demanding curriculum we offer, our wider
programme and the tests required for university
entrance we are now in a commanding position to start
our first Year 13 class in August.
SECONDARY BASKETBALL

4. This week we held the KS2 House
Sports competition. As ever, it was
organised by the PE department with
the aim of it being an inclusive session,
an afternoon when all children would
have the opportunity to take part as
well as to support their team mates.
The competition this time was around
‘Handball’, a fast and exciting game where children
need to use their teamwork skills as well as physical
skills to score against the opposing team. Teams were
made up of children from Years 3 and 4, or Years 5 and
6 and a mixture of boys and girls to make the
competition more balanced.
What an exciting afternoon it turned out to be! We had
held a similar competition in Term 2 last year and I can
honestly say I was surprised and impressed with the
development in the children’s game. Without exception
their level of skill and competence has increased, which
led to far closer matches that were really gripping to
watch. The expressions on the children’s faces were
also amazing – such looks of focused concentration and
determination beyond their years. There was a great
team spirit as well with all Houses, children supporting
and cheering for their friends but being gracious to the
opposing side as well. The final results declared Hanoi
as the winners, but in my opinion every child was a
winner just by the excellent attitude that they displayed.
Issue 18 | 4
From Mrs Karen Hanratty - Head of Primary
FINE DINING
My thanks for such a terrific afternoon go to the PE
department and all KS2 staff who ran the event so
smoothly. But more importantly to the KS2 children
who made it such a wonderful and memorable
afternoon.

5. What a fantastic start to Term 2! From
what the grades attained by the IGCSE
students show, they evidently have
displayed exceptional perseverance
and reflection in their revision studies
over the Christmas holidays and
Mock period! They have set
themselves an excellent platform
from which to achieve even greater
results in the Summer Exams. There are lots of potential
A-Level candidates in this group, many of whom I hope
to see continue their studies in Year 12 as we launch the
CIE AS and A-Level course. Well done…you know who
you are!
Also in Year 11, the students have also been working
hard on their coursework, a project investigating the
quality of the environment in and around Hanoi using
the latest technology to bring ‘learning to life’ outside
the classroom .
Students of all
Key Stages will soon get the opportunity to experience
the benefits of this equipment in the near future. I know
that the Year 10 Geographer’s are eagerly anticipating
this prospect, as well as continuing the exciting
curriculum that they are studying. All students (and
parents too!) from BIS Hanoi are welcomed and
encouraged to view, comment or ask questions to me
on any of the posts contained in the Blog. The
department’s Subject Ambassador’s; Le Khanh Linh,
Tran Xuan Tung and Nguyen Phuong Chi will become
actively involved in assisting the department in the
maintenance of the Blog as well as other exciting
developments. I am excited to be able to have the
opportunity to work with them soon.
The successes of Year 11 are by no means down to luck.
The skills and attributes needed to be a good
Geographer are carefully developed over time. This is to
ensure that once they finish their studies, not only are
the students academically proficient in understanding
issues and natural environments around the world, but
they also acquire a deeper sense about how to be a
better Global Citizen. However, equally important, is
that they are prepared for university and entering the
job-market. Geography is a pivotal subject, widely
recognised for its academic robustness, and as such is a
qualification held in high regard by a vast range of
employers
(See the articles found here at
http://bishngeography.blogspot.com/2015/01/geographic
al-skills-and-success-in.html )
Issue 17 | 5
Secondary Geography
Mr Jim Schofield
Geography Teacher
With this in mind, I would welcome any student, but
particularly any Year 9’s or 11’s, to come to ask me any
questions they might have about the IGCSE or A-Level
programmes, as option choices are coming up soon. Or,
indeed, ask their Subject Ambassador for more
information.
In Key Stage 3, Year 7 has been busy learning and
practising their map skills, as well as understanding how
and why places become places. Why are settlements
located where they are and what factors influence if
they will grow or not? Year 9 has recently finished a
musical project about conflict diamonds in Sierra
Leone. You can see some examples of excellent
performances here at:
http://bishngeography.blogspot.com/2015/01/year-9-con
flict-diamond-presentations.html
They are also currently developing their extended
essay writing skills on the topic of diamond trading and
the positive and negative issues surrounding this. Year
8 are also getting deep into the costs and benefits of
tourism, and are also learning about how to plan and
write concise extended essays. Both the Year 8’s and 9’s
have also been taught how to be honest when
researching and how to quote research they find, rather
than just copying and pasting from websites. This will
be a vital skill to master as they move further through
the school, because showing Integrity in their academic
pursuits is imperative for them to mature with the BIS
Aide Memoire in their minds.
BOLD
INQUISITIVE
STUDENTS
PICK GEOGRAPHY
Issue 18 | 5
12/year-11-coursework-field-trip-into.html).
(http://bishngeography.blogspot.com/2014/

6. Issue 18 | 6
KS2 HOUSE SPORT

7. Visit by Lord Puttnam of Queensgate
UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
Oscar-winning Movie Maker
Monday, 26th
January 2015
Issue 18 | 7

8. SPONSORED BY:
JOIN US FOR
TET FAIRHỘI XUÂN 2015
SATURDAY, 7th
February 2015
10.00am - 2.00pm
Lucky Draw (Up to the value of 18 million VND)
Water Puppets & Magic Show
Students’ Performances
Traditional & Modern Games
Food & Drinks Corner
Hoa Lan Road, Vinhomes Riverside,
Long Bien, Hanoi
Ngũ cốc ăn sáng Nestlé
INTERNATIONAL GROUP

10. Issue 18 | 10
BIS HANOI MENU
Week Beginning 26th January
Monday
26th
Jan 27th
Jan 28th
Jan 29th
Jan 30th
Jan
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
From Year 3 to Year 12 : All meals come with a salad or salad bar choice along and 2 choices of vegetables, rice, Vietnamese soup.
From Year 7 to Year 12: We have introduced our NEW Sandwich bar with assorted cheeses, fresh tuna, egg salad, roast meats and
other daily specials on our homemade bread, dark rye, whole wheat, oatmeal, french bread, Vietnamese rolls, raisin bread and
other fresh baked bread every day.
Morning
snack
Morning
snack
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Afternoon
snack
EYFSPRIMARYSECONDARY
Sticky rice with
pork cake
American
doughnut
Steam bun
Rice soup with
chicken
Pate sandwich
Milk Juice Milk Juice Juice
Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit
tomato sauce
Pork Omellete
Chicken
fries
German sausage
with mashed
potatoes
Grilled pork with
BBQ sauce
Strawberry crepe Egg sushi roll Yogurt Oatmeal cookie
Pan cake with
nutella
Juice Juice Fruit Soya milk Juice
Sticky rice with
pork cake
American
doughnut
Steam bun
Rice soup with
chicken
Pate sandwich
Milk Juice Milk Juice Juice
Pork caramel
with egg
Grilled chicken
with pepper
sauce
Chicken
fries
German sausage
with mashed
potatoes
BBQ pork burger
tomato sauce
Pork Omellete Assorted pizza
Braised pork
with daikon
Fried mince pork
Noodle from the
central
Irish beef pie
noodle
German sausage
with mashed
potatoes
BBQ pork burger
(v) Vegetarian
shepherd’s pie
Grilled chicken
leg with pepper
sauce
(v) Roasted
vegetable
calzone
Stauteed chicken
with lemon
grass,bell pepper
(v) Sautteed
soy cake with
vegetables
Pork caramel
with egg
Pork Omellete
Chicken
fries
Braised pork
with daikon
Fried mince pork

11. Issue 18 | 11
Good communication is important to us and we would like to ensure that you have the correct contact
information in order for you to call the school:
School Number: 04 3946 0435
Extention number:
Receptionist: 0
(For all general enquiries)
Principal’s Office: 208
principaloffice@bishanoi.com
(If you wish to contact the School Principal)
Business Manager’s Office: 109
thaonguyen@bishanoi.com
Primary Office: 220
primaryoffice@bishanoi.com
(For all enquiries regarding the Primary Section)
Secondary Office: 215
secondaryoffice@bishanoi.com
(For all enquiries regarding the Secondary Section)
Admission Department: 222/122/555/777/888
bishanoi@bishanoi.com
dessydelevaux@bishanoi.com (Admission Manager)
jinnyjung@bishanoi.com (Korean Liaison Officer)
hatruong@bishanoi.com
trambui@bishanoi.com
Marketing Department: 189
huyennguyenngoc@bishanoi.com
(For all enquiries regarding Marketing)
Finance Department: 202
(For all enquiries regarding school fees)
Medical Room: 117/303
linhdieu@bishanoi.com (Main school)
liennguyen@bishanoi.com (Early Years Building)
(For all enquiries regarding Medical Issues)
Uniform Shop: 221
tamle@bishanoi.com
nhungpham@bishanoi.com
(For all enquiries regarding School Uniform)
School Buses: 218
nganguyenthithuy@bishanoi.com
(For all requiries regarding School Buses)