The document provides information about upcoming events and activities at the British International School in Ho Chi Minh City for the month of January 2015. It includes: - Dates for school photographs, Teddy Bears' Picnic, start of clubs and activities, and sports day - A summary of the 5-year accreditation visit from the Council of International Schools - A report on a Year 1 class trip to Snap Café and their experiences playing and eating ice cream - Details of a Year 3 class visit to Thien Phuoc orphanage to play with the children - An announcement of upcoming events in Term 2 such as a science day, concerts, and term ending date

1. 21/1 - 23/1 School Photographs
22/1 Teddy Bears’ Picnic @ BVIS
26/1 Clubs Start
26/1 - 30/1 Healthy Week
28/1 F3 - Y6 Sports Day
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - HO CHI MINH CITY
16 JANUARY 2015 | ISSUE 17
Dates for your diary
IN THIS ISSUE
From the Head of Campus 2
Summary of the CIS 5 Year Visit to Parents 3
Year 1 to Snap Café 4
Year 3 visits Thien Phuoc + Coffee Morning 5
PdV visits Year 6 + Dates of Term 2 6
Clubs 7
BISbuzz 8
TET Collection Poster 9
January
TU XUONG PRIMARY
Newsletter
Contact information
43-45 Tu Xuong St, District 3, HCMC
Tel: (848) 3932 0210
Fax: (848) 3932 0770
E-mail:
suehill@bisvietnam.com
Newsletter Issue 17|1

2. From the Head Teacher - Ms. Sue Hill
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year to you all! As we start a new year, the children are beginning new IPC
topics and setting new targets for the term ahead.
This morning, our Year 6 children introduced our new BISCAT pillar in assembly,
„adventure‟. All children have been asked to think of how they can have new adventures by
trying new hobbies and setting themselves new challenges. Coupled with „adventure‟, our
aide memoire characteristic for this half term is „perseverance‟. When starting new
adventures, children are encouraged to persevere to achieve and overcome fears.
A big thank you to our French and Italian parents who delivered a wonderful gourmet coffee morning on
Thursday. Those parents present enjoyed finding out more about the European celebrations of Befana and
Epiphany and tasting the Pandoro cake and the „Galette des Rois‟.
Finer Diners
Well done to Cadhla, Sushi, Kyu Won (Year1) and Joean, Duc Anh and Toshi (Year 2).
Newsletter Issue 17|2

3. Newsletter Issue 17|3
Summary of the CIS 5 Year Visit to Parents
Dear Parents
Council of International Schools Five-Year Visit
You may be aware that BIS was granted full accreditation by the Council of International Schools (CIS) in No-
vember 2009. This accreditation was awarded for 10 years subject to a review after five years.
Last November a CIS team visited the school for three days to conduct the Five-Year review. I am delighted to
inform you that the visit was successful and that we continue to be a fully accredited school.
The visiting team was very complimentary about the school and as a summary statement wrote „BIS knows
itself exceedingly well and is not satisfied with the status quo at any level of its operation. This attitude is
shared by the range of stakeholders in the school and ensures that the school will continue its growth and im-
provement.‟
The Visitors identified the following strengths for the school:
A commitment to providing high quality education for all students through classroom programmes, teach-
ers‟ continual professional development (CPD) and resourcing
A visible commitment to facilities improvement, providing learning and recreational spaces that are equita-
ble across all campuses
Its commitment to the care and support of all staff
The high quality of senior management
A serious commitment to the accreditation process exemplified by the exceptional progress the school has
made in meeting the Visiting Team‟s recommendations
A Mission Statement that is clear and truly serves as a focus for all school operations
Owners and a Principal who are focused on students‟ learning and to creating an environment to support
the school‟s aim to be one of the best international schools in the world
The Visitors also identified a small number of areas for improvement that are linked to changes in the Stand-
ards for Accreditation under which we will be assessed in five years‟ time. A full report is available in each
campus reception for parents to read.
For the parents of the school this award provides further confirmation that their children are receiving a high
quality education from a caring and skilled team of educational professionals. I would like to congratulate all of
my colleagues at school and thank them for their continued dedication and commitment. The whole school
community can take great pride in retaining this formal recognition for the school.
Yours sincerely
Shaun Williams
CEO and Principal

4. On Tuesday we went to Snap café because we are learning about pushing and pulling. (Yun Seo)
First we went to the huge purple bus. (Ingrid)
I sat with Kyu Won, Ingrid and Yun Seo. (Michael)
When we got there, I went on the green swings (Rena)
Next we played. I loved sliding down the pole. (Tupo)
Then we climbed on the monkey bars but they were too hard to climb. (Jolie)
After we ate cold ice cream. My flavour was strawberry. It was yummy! (Lucas)
Finally we went back on the bus. (Ada)
My favourite part was playing in the sand because we found treasure. (Kyu Won)
My favourite part was eating ice-cream because it was yummy! (Lily)
What a fun day! (Sushi)
Year 1 to Snap Cafe
Newsletter Issue 17|4

5. Newsletter Issue 17|5
On Wednesday, eleven children from Year 3 visited Thien Phuoc orphanage with Ms Jess and Ms Tam. The
children from Thien Phuoc regularly visit us here at TX, and our students enjoy preparing food, setting up play
areas, and playing with the children during their visit. This was the first time that this group have visited their
Thien Phuoc friends at their home, and the trip was a great success! The Year 3 children were all extremely
caring, respectful and persevering. Katie, from 3X said “I was really nervous at first but then I had so much
fun”. Pucca, 3T, agreed “It was so much fun and I enjoyed being helpful”.
Ms. Heather
Year 3 children visit Thien Phuoc Orphanage
Coffee Morning
As the children are back at school, the wider TX community of parents, teachers and staff are once again able
to join together to meet, chat, and learn about our different cultures and traditions. This time we learned about
seasonal traditions in France and Italy. Did you know for example that in Italy the 6th
of January is „La Befana‟,
a day of celebration which also signals the end of the festive season and the return to school and work? In
France, a similar celebration is called „La Galette des Rois‟. Of course traditional food was also served and we
enjoyed tasting specially prepared „Pandoro‟, „toronne‟ and „galette‟.
In the next Parents Coffee Morning, Korean parents will share with us some of their traditions and culture.
Everyone is welcome, and we would love to see you there. Watch the TX newsletter for the date of this
upcoming event.
Ms. Heather

6. PdV visits Year 6
On Wednesday the children from PdV came to TX to continue our community project. Children from 6X led
the activities with groups of PdV children, including an ICT task and a modelling task; both with Vietnam
culture and history as the theme. Another group developed communication and leadership skills through
play. The final group was a film making group who interviewed each other to find out more about their
partners and then edited the film for the group to watch at the end of the session. This year the focus is very
much on the children mixing and getting to know something about their partners whilst developing their group
leadership skills. All the children approached the afternoon positively and showed that with each session,
their skills as group leaders are progressing.
Mr. James
Dates of Term 2
Date Year Group/s Event
21/1—23/1 All School Photographs
22/1 EYFS Teddy Bear’s Picnic at BVIS
26/1 All Clubs start
26/1—30/1 All Healthy week
28/1 F3—Y6 Sports Day
5/2 EYFS Activity Day
9/2—12/2 Y5 Residential Trip to Hoi An
12/2 EYFS Tet Celebration
13/2 Y1—Y6 Tet Assembly
16/2—24/2 All Tet Holiday
26/2 All Science Day
26/2 Y3 Sleepover
9/3—11/3 Y4 Residential Trip to Long Hai
19/3 All Parents’ Evening
1/4 Y3-6 Spring Concert (evening)
5/4 All Term 2 Clubs Finish
8/4 MP2 Speech Competition
14/4 MP3 Production—’Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (evening)
17/4 All Term 2 finishes @ 11.30am
Newsletter Issue 17|6

7. Have you heard about the exciting NEW club being offered
at TX this term?
Day: Wednesday afternoons (starting 28th
January)
Time: 2.40pm - 3.40pm
For: Year 4, 5 and 6 students
Venue: TX Multi-Purpose Room
Membership Fee: 154,000 VND per week x 8 weeks = Total cost :
1,232,000 VND
Dress: Children can wear their PE kit or any suitable dance clothing
from home for this club
What is Zumba Dance Club:
“Zumba Dance Kids” is designed for our younger Zumba® fans! Kids 6-11 years old get the chance to be
active and jam out to their favourite music. Classes feature kid-friendly routines based on original Zumba®
choreography. Our Zumba instructor will break down the steps; add games, activities and cultural exploration
elements into the class structure. Classes help develop a healthy lifestyle and incorporate fitness as a natural
part of children's lives by making fitness fun. In addition to the fun/fitness aspect, classes incorporate key
childhood development elements like leadership, respect, team work, confidence, self-esteem, memory,
creativity, coordination & cultural awareness.
All classes are run by an Australian qualified Early Childhood teacher, internationally certified as a Zumba
instructor for both adults & children.
Please see or email Ms Emma emmawestman@bisvietnam.com in the TX office to register for this club for
Term 2. First in first served as always as places are limited.
Zumba for Kids
Basketball Club
Do you love playing basketball? Would you like to learn to play or perhaps improve your skills?
If you answered yes to either of these questions, why not consider joining in with Mr Richard Soriano‟s (our BIS
PE coach) TX Saturday Morning Basketball Club?
Cost: 1,232,000 VND for x 8 weeks total
Time: 10.00am – 11.30am
Start Date: Saturday 31st
January
If interested please see Ms Emma and Ms Oanh in the TX Office
Newsletter Issue 17|7

8. BIS Buzz
Newsletter Issue 17|8

9. Newsletter Issue 17|9
Tet Collection