This document provides a summary of upcoming events at the British International School in Ho Chi Minh City for the week of March 6th. It includes details about a visit from Professor George Hart to teach students about mathematical sculpture using everyday objects like playing cards and chopsticks. It also summarizes a design competition in collaboration with Mekong+ where Year 8 students submitted designs for Lunar New Year products, and previews the upcoming announcement of winners. The document closes with the menu for the upcoming week from the school cafeteria.

1. BISbuzz Issue 24 | 1
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - HO CHI MINH CITY| SECONDARY CAMPUS
MARCH 6 | ISSUE 24
IN THIS ISSUE
From the Head Teacher 02
Professor George Hart Visit 03
Year 8 Design Compe on in associa on with Mekong + 05
Sport News 06
PTG 07
From The BIStro & Underground 09
March
6th ‐ 8th DoE Interna onal Award Bronze Training Expedi on
7th ABRSM Theory Exam
7th Prefect Training Day
10th ‐ 14th U13 FOBISIA Games (Tapei)
13th PTG Mee ng, 8.15am
18th PTG Lost Property Display, 12.30pm
20th PTG Quiz Night, 4pm
UPCOMING EVENTS

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From The Head Teacher
Although the Bri sh curriculum is divided into tradi onal and familiar subjects, the reality is that
knowledge and human endeavour crosses these boundaries. In fact, the subject disciplines we see in
schools today originated in the 19th
Century in Europe. Before that, areas of knowledge were much
broader.
This week, at BIS, we celebrate the trans‐disciplinary nature of learning
and knowledge. Professor George Hart is an inventor, engineer,
computer scien st, mathema cian and sculptor. He even ventures into
the realms of food in his work (see, for example, his mathema cally
correct breakfast: http://georgehart.com/bagel/bagel.html). On
Thursday, Prof Hart spent a day at BIS, teaching our students to sculpt
with chops cks, playing cards and cardboard. The results were
spectacular and, I hope, added a new dimension to our students’ love of
mathema cs
Our Mekong+ collabora on is drawing to its conclusion with the awards celebra on next week. This
collabora on invited our Year 8 students to submit a Tết design for Mekong+ products. Combining
elements of culture, art, design technology and linking with community service, this was a fine example
of trans‐disciplinary learning. The winning designs will be on display at the Mekong Quilts store at 68, Le
Loi from Thursday 12th March.
Richard Dyer
Head Teacher, Secondary
From The Head Teacher
Whimsy, by George Hart

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Professor George Hart Visit
George Hart Visit Thursday 5th
March
BIS welcomed Professor George Hart from New York City as part of his visit to the region. George is an
American geometer and also a research professor in the department of computer science, State
University of New York. Recently, he has spent me travelling the world working with students of all ages
to create exci ng mathema cal sculptures and also founded the Na onal Museum of Mathema cs
(MoMath) in New York City.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Hart
George spent the morning working with Year 7 students making sculptures from standard playing cards.
The playing cards were pre‐cut on our laser cu er from a template provided by George. The students
faced the challenge of correctly assembling the sculpture and were encouraged to work together. A er
many unsuccessful a empts, the students persevered and were able to build their sculptures by
repea ng the ac on of adding one card at a me. They were certainly proud of their finished sculpture!
A er break, George worked with Year 8 students to create chops ck hyperboloids. They learned about
hyperboloids and their applica ons in the real world as well as the interes ng shapes found within their
cross sec ons. They then used 24 chops cks and many rubber bands to create their own hyperboloid. The
hyperboloids were surprisingly sturdy and everyone, including Mr Dyer, enjoyed wearing them as hats at
the end! Take a look at the pictures and try to make your own!
George spent the a ernoon with 25 Year 9 students in the auditorium. The students worked together us‐
ing 60 pre‐cut iden cal cardboard pieces to create a giant cardboard sculpture. Using great teamwork and
problem solving skills, the students were able to successfully execute the task and the resul ng piece was
simply “awesome!” We hope you enjoy the finished piece when it goes on display.
Many thanks to Mr Chandler for his help preparing the materials for the day.
For more informa on on George, please visit check out his website www.georgehart.com and also the
Na onal Museum of Mathema cs www.momath.org.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Hart
Ben Sillitoe
Assistant Head of Mathema cs

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Year 8 Design Competition in association with Mekong +
The Judging Panel
We introduced an exci ng new Design Compe on back in Issue 19, in collabora on with Mekong + all
our Year 8 students were challenged to come up with a design for a cushion, tote bag or drawstring bag.
Only having a few weeks to come up with a final design, the students chose their product and went about
researching what the Lunar New Year and especially the Year of the Goat meant to them. In class me
they made preparatory studies and have now submi ed their completed designs for judging.
The teachers of the Art Department selected the best of the Year and handed them over to the judging
panel. This Tuesday, the independent teaching panel of Mr Ball and Ms Horne were joined by Hoi Tran
(Sales & Marke ng Manager) & Gam Pham (Designer) from Mekong + and accompanied by Phong Lai
(Marke ng Adviser) and myself, they started the difficult process of deciding the top three designs. The
panel men oned how they were surprised by the quality and amount of work that many students had
produced in such a short space of me.
As the winning design will actually be produced and sold in Mekong + shops, considera ons such as ease
of produc on, asthe c appeal and originality were all taken into account. The shortlisted designs were
soon reduced to just ten pieces – with various media used and differing subjects of design it was even
trickier deciding the best three and finally their ranking.
An exhibi on of all the shortlisted designs will be run for the next two weeks in the Mekong Quilts store
at 68, Le Loi at 17:00 on Thursday 12th
March – all Year 8 students, parents and teachers are welcome alt‐
hough space and therefore numbers will be limited.
A presenta on and unveiling of the prize winning designs will start at 17:30 and refreshments will be
available. The final winning designs will feature in next week’s BISbuzz.
Ian Wilson
Community Service Projects

6. BISbuzz Issue 24 | 6
Sport News
We would like to wish the 26 students travelling to the U13 FOBISIA Games, hosted by Taipei European
School, the best of luck in their respec ve compe ons. Students will par cipate in athle cs, swimming,
football and basketball.
Results will be published in BISbuzz next week.
Phil Drake
Director of Sport/Ac vi es & Trips Coordinator
U13 FOBISIA Games 10th – 14th March 2015

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PTG

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From the Underground & BIStro
Menu 3 (9 March)
From the Underground & BIStro
DAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
MAIN
COURSE
CHOOSE 1
Chicken Carbona-
ra
OR
Roast Pork, Rice
Pasta Bolognese-
Pork
OR
Sweet & Sour Fish,
Rice
Battered Fish &
Chips
OR
Nasi Lemak
(Chicken & Egg)
Chili Con Carne -
Beef, Rice
OR
Won Ton Noodle
Soup
VEGETABLES
Bok Choy & Car-
rot
Salad
Long Bean, Carrot
Salad
Morning Glory,
Carrot
Salad
Choy sum &
Carrot
Salad
SOUP Choy sum Spinach & Melon
Tomato & Tofu
Soup
Mixed Vegetable
DESSERT Mixed Fruit Mixed Fruit Mixed Fruit Mixed Fruit
VEGETARIAN
Braised Tofu &
Beans, Rice
Choy sum Soup
Mixed Fruit
Veggie Pasta
Chickpeas Salad
Mixed Fruit
Vegetarian Chili,
Rice
Tomato & Tofu
Soup
Mixed Fruit
Tofu Noodle
Soup
Choy sum &
Carrot
Mixed Fruit
DELI BAR
OPTION
Baguette & Wrap
Fill it with a variety of choices including ham, chicken, cheese, tuna mayonnaise, beef, baked
bean, mixed bean, bolognese sauce
SNACK MENU
Curry Puff
Samosa
Fruit Cup
Chocolate Mud Cake
Swiss Roll
Fruit Cup
Curry Puff
Samosa
Fruit Cup
Banana/Carrot
Muffin
Sponge Cake
Fruit Cup
FRIDAY
Honey Lime Chick-
en,
Sautéed Potato
OR
Beef Rendang, Rice
Broccoli & Carrot
Salad
Watercress
Mixed Fruit
Dhal
Broccoli & Carrot
Mixed Fruit
Donut
Creame Puff
Fruit Cup