View
220
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
VIS Online magazine
Citation preview
“
Dragon Tales The Vientiane International School Monthly Magazine November/December 2011 | Issue 7
Having the IB as the curriculum framework is an effective foundation for VIS to assist students develop as self-directed, internationally-minded, community-conscious citizens. CIS/WASC commend VIS on page 14
Director‟s Notes
page 1
Primary News
page 2
Secondary News
page 4
Sports News
page 12
MRISA Leadership
Summit p.10
The Spirit of Giving page 15
MRISA Junior Basketball page 12
”
Making Sense of The Grades in MYP
The low-down on report grades
Laying The Foundations for Learning
Grade 7 students report on their SALSA trip
The THIMUN Experience Confidence is built at the Model United
Nations
Swim Meet
VIS and LASA partner to promote swimming
Áskorun hrífur nemendur og un-
dirbýr þá fyrir lífið framundan.
ความทาทาย แรงบนดาลใจ และการเตรยมพรอมส าหรบผใฝรทใครคน ควาในวถแหงชวต
Paghahamon, Pagpupukaw, at Pagha-
handa sa mga Mag-aaral para sa Buhay
Mencabar, Menginspirasi dan Men-
yediakan Pembelajaran Sepanjang
Hayat
uitdagend, inspirerend, en voorberei-
dend tot een levenlang leren
चनौती को सामना गनन उतपरररत गद (ररणा ददद ) जीवन जजउन कऱाससकन सिकषाथॉऱाइ तयार पानI
Utmanande, inspirerande och
förbereder lärande för livet
的使命是为学者们 提供一个具有挑战性,激励性及终身学习的
优异环境
VIS MISSION STATEMENT
Can’t see your language? Please send in your translations to
Utfordrende, inspirerende og en
forberedelse til resten av livet
ທາທາຊ, ນບນານໃຈ ແລະ ກະກຽມ ນກຮຽນເຂາສ ຉວຌວຈງ
Stawianie wyzwań, inspirowanie i przygotowywanie uczniow do życia
Herausforderung, Inspriration und
Vorbereitung fuer ein lebenslanges
Lernen
Director’s Notes
Dear VIS Community,
I am very pleased to be able to begin this introduction with some super news.
You will recall that the school hosted a team of experienced educators from
around the world in early October, as part of the Re-Accreditation process for the
Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
That visit was the culmination of an intensive self study and report by the school which is
required to maintain the international standards expected by these agencies. I am very
happy to say that the Council of International Schools has completed their analysis of the
school's report and results of the visiting team assessment and have granted VIS a ten year
Accreditation.
To gain this level of accreditation, a school must have demonstrated quality
curriculum, management, student services and governance. I am very proud of the work
that this school has undertaken in the last five years in particular as we have established
ourselves as an International Baccalaureate World School and now been granted continued
accredited status by this international rating agency. I am very pleased for the community
as it assists us to assure new arrivals to Laos, that their child's education is within a world
class school, and helps those families who move to other countries as a receiving school
will look favourably on enrolments from schools which meet this standard. Look for the
full list of commendations from the Council of International Schools later in Dragon Tales.
This issue of Dragon Tales will highlight many aspects of the life of our school. It
has been a busy two months since the last Dragon Tales and I am confident that you will
find much to enjoy reading of the achievements of our students and school in that time. I
am always aware that our international community does not stay still throughout the year
and it is with sadness that we farewell some families as we close the semester. Each of you
has contributed to the spirit of Vientiane International School and I thank you for your
contribution to our school, and hope you will always stay connected to VIS. You can stay
in touch through our website or through our facebook page and in this way you can
continue to be part of our extended community. I would like to especially mention staff
members, Ms Carla Holmes, Miss Barbara Medynski and Miss Joy Phommahack who will be
leaving us this December for new challenges. You will always hold a place in the memory of
VIS for your work with our students and families.
Best wishes
Page 1
Primary News
Page 2
by Mr Jon Davidson
The last couple of months have certainly been
packed with activity with some truly wonderful events
including some highly entertaining assemblies and a
colourful December production to round off the se-
mester.
Teachers and students have been hard at
work with three way conferences and compiling
portfolios. Units of inquiry have led to some
interesting actions such as in grade 3, where students
went on www.freerice.com at home to play the game.
This game means that for every correct answer 10g of
rice is donated to those in dire need.
Then there was the garden that is being
planted by our Prep class. I don‟t think that Ms. Carla
or Ms. Kathy knew what they were taking on when
they encouraged their students to plan and build a
habitat outside their classrooms, but it will be a great
reminder of Ms. Carla‟s time with us and we are sure
she will come back and see how our garden is going.
Next semester looks as if it will be equally
hectic with the grade 5 exhibition. This is the
culminating activity of the PYP, during which the
students will showcase all the skills, attitudes,
knowledge and concepts that make up the
programme.
So as we head into this well-deserved break I
would like to thank the teachers and students for all
their hard work. I would also like to thank all parents
for the tremendous support they have given to the
school. Whether this was through contributing to the
events put on by our parents and friends association,
reading with students or digging gardens, it only goes
to prove that education is hugely enriched through
engagement.
Have a restful break, stay safe and I look
forward to seeing everyone in January.
Welcome to our new
Prep teacher!
As Carla Holmes goes to join her family in
Vietnam we will be welcoming a new teacher to the
VIS community. Her name is Kerryn Arthur who
comes to us from Australia.
Kerryn has a wealth of experience teaching
the Primary Years Programme of the International
Baccalaureate, having spent several years at the
Intercommunity School near Zurich in Switzerland.
We are delighted that she will be joining us in January
and I am sure everyone will make her feel at home
here in Laos.
Mathletics is a fun way to help reinforce the
mathematics we teach in school. Students have the
chance to practice skills and apply concepts in an
engaging and motivational way. They can compete with
children from around the world, earn certificates and
gain points to spend on their own on-screen character.
Grade 5 have been diving into Mathletics and
have been so enthusiastic that they have won
themselves a place in the “hall of fame” becoming two
of the top scoring classes in the world. Out of 10,000
schools they were both in the top thirty classes!
Congratulations grade 5 – we are proud of our budding
Mathletes.
Creativity
Page 3
Seasons
Concert By Hannah Muziol and Isabella Chapman
GRADE 5 STUDENTS
The Primary Music Concert was an
amazing Friday night full of lovely performances
from grade levels EY to 6. The evening was
hosted by Ms.Merrilee and the theme was
“Seasons”. There were a wide variety of
performances including songs, dances, a choir
and students playing musical instruments. It
was very international and we had music from
many different cultures all over the world. It
was such a fantastic night.
Thankyou to Ms.Anna and Ms.Merrilee for
all their hard work.
CHORAL
CONFIDENCE By Rachael Phiasanaxay
PARENT
As a parent and a member of staff at VIS, I have attended
several school concerts and have always enjoyed watching the
children building their confidence and demonstrating their
wonderful talents and abilities on stage.
Performance is a great forum for sharing what we enjoy
and what we understand of the world and it is so easy as a
member of the audience to forget how challenging it can be to
stand up in front of a large mass of people and give yourself over
to them.
So when Ms. Merrilee announced to the VIS Community
Choir that we would be included in the programme of music for
the concert a familiar butterfly began to flutter! The community
choir had only formed a couple of months prior to this event
and with rehearsals once a week we were understandably
nervous about the whole thing. Luckily Ms. Merrilee had the
greatest confidence in us as a group and despite a few concerns
we eventually agreed to take a risk, put away our music sheets
and trust in our ability to face our fears and sing beautifully!
I would highly recommend therefore to anyone who
enjoys singing, even if you think you can‟t, to come along on
Saturday mornings at 10am. The sessions are fun and laid back
and I am always amazed at how quickly we can learn a new song
and sound so harmonious! It‟s also a great way to relax, be
creative and meet new people as well as broadening your
comfort zones!
Secondary News
Page 4
by Ms Kim Green
As I reflect on the semester the VIS mission
sits clearly in my mind as the number of opportunities
for us to be challenged, inspired and prepared for
life has created the tapestry of learning that has
occurred. All of the learners in our community have
questioned, inquired and sought new understandings
over the course of this semester. There have been
opportunities to be involved in exciting sports leagues,
co-curricular opportunities such as Model United
Nations, SALSA and community and service
projects. The Secondary Student Council has
continued to demonstrate that anything is possible
through their partnership with Ban Saphanthong Tai
school and through their new connection with Bendigo
South East College. Our Grade 12 students have
submitted applications to universities around the
world, our grade 11 students have completed their
first semester of the IBDP which has ended with
the Group 4 project presentations this week.
Challenging and inspiring our learners is a
responsibility that our teaching team puts at the fore of
the planning and delivery of the curriculum and the
support and guidance they provide our
students. There is no doubt that the quality of the
curriculum at VIS is world class and provides our
students with the ability to successfully transition into
new schools when they move from VIS or into
post-secondary education when they graduate. The
high quality learning that occurs at VIS is due to the
dedication, expertise and knowledge of our teachers
and I thank them for their ongoing forward momentum
and their desire to constantly reflect and improve. It is
therefore with confidence that I can say that our
learners at VIS are prepared for life.
I wish you a all a safe and happy holiday break
and for our students and families who are relocating
over the break I wish you existing new adventures.
We will be saying farewell to several VIS families over the Christmas break. In helping with the
transition from Laos to your new home or your passport country, it is important to have some
support when making the move. To the left, you will find a comprehensive power point to give
you "Tips & Tools" for a smooth transition.
CAS
Page 5
Connections Through Service By Addie Thavisack
SECONDARY PRINCIPAL‟S ASSISTANT
Over the last month two groups of students and teachers have visited VIS from Bendigo South East
College in Australia. A relationship with this school was developed through one of the visitors that came to VIS
to complete our CIS/WASC re-accreditation. The aim of the visit was to make connections between students at
BSE and VIS. Both groups visited our sister school Ban Saphanthong Tai School and donated $1900 to VIS for
our work with our sister school. The student council received $1000 of these funds and used the money to buy
class sets of library books and text books for each grade level and stationary sets for the students. On Monday
5th December it was the Secondary Student Council‟s pleasure to accompany the second group of student from
BSE to Ban Saphanthong Tai and present the books. At BSTT Mrs. Khamlai gave an introduction and showed us
around. The Bendigo Students observed the classroom and joined BSTT students in drawing lessons. We
invited Big Brother Mouse to give instructions for how to take care of the books and then we split the BSTT
students into grade level groups for group reading with the Bendigo students. At the end of the visit Mrs.
Khamlai thanked BSE and VIS on behalf of the students and staff at. She said they were very happy and thanked
us for the support and donations.
IBMYP In Action
Page 6
Making Sense of Grades in the MYP By Jon Smedes
MYP COORDINATOR
It is about that time of year where the focus
for many students will be on the grades or final levels
of achievement they have achieved for each subject. In
the MYP, final achievement levels are awarded on a
1-7 scale, which will appear on the semester report
for each subject.
This 1-7 achievement level is determined from
teacher judgement about students‟ performance
against defined assessment criteria. This is based on
their own Individual achievement and not against the
work of other students. Teachers use the descriptors
that describe an achievement level to make a
judgment.
Each subject has its own unique assessment
criteria, thus determining levels of assessment
concentrates on identifying the appropriate descriptor
for each assessment criterion. The highest descriptors
do not imply faultless performance. A student who
attains a high achievement level for one criterion will
not necessarily reach high achievement levels for the
other criteria. Similarly, a student who attains a low
achievement level for one criterion will not necessarily
attain low achievement levels for the other criteria.
Once there have been sufficient judgments
made the teacher can make a judgment as to a final
achievement level for each particular criterion. The
sum of these achievement levels is then calculated and
measured against a final grade boundaries table in
order to ascertain the 1-7 achievement level for each
subject.
This process ensures that students‟ final
achievement levels are measured from assessments
they have completed over the whole reporting period.
This means that there is a level of consistency across
the subjects and that students‟ are not relying on any
one final assessment or examination to determine
their final achievement level. In a sense, the final
examinations make up just another assessment
through which teachers can make an informed
decision about student achievement.
Laying the
Foundations for Learning:
Grade 7 SALSA By Maggie McAden
GRADE 7 STUDENT
Our Grade 7 SALSA trip was an amazing
experience during which we got to experience the
lifestyle of the villagers in Na Pho village, just a 2
hour tuk- tuk ride from Luang Prabang.
On the very first day, first thing in the
morning, we traveled to Sop Chek high school and
started working on the foundation for a new class
room, which meant mixing lots and lots of cement.
The buckets were very heavy, and it involved lots of
shoveling rocks, sand, and cement into buckets and
different piles. We also did this on the fourth day of
the study trip.
On the third morning, we went back to Sop
Chek high school and cut, and bent iron to create a
base for the pillars of the classroom.
Another less laborious activity that we did was
going rafting in the Seung River with bamboo rafts. It
was great! We also had time to swim, which was even
more fun! On several other occasions we got to go
swimming, too. The rafting and the swimming were
definitely the highlights of our trip!
A great learning opportunity that helped us get
in touch with how the villagers lived was learning how
to weave several different types of baskets (which we
got to take home!), and also practicing the different
fishing techniques that they used.
Playing a friendship game of soccer with the
high school and with another primary school we
visited was also something we enjoyed.
All in all, the Grade 7 Study Trip was lots of fun!
VISIT THE GRADE 7
SALSA WIKISPACE
IBDP In Action
Page 7
By Todd Richer
IBDP COORDINATOR
Learning at VIS is envisaged as a life-long experience. The IB learner profile
outlines the attributes and aspirations of internationally-minded students engaged in the IB
programmes. In the Diploma Programme there is a considered approach to students‟
development beyond academic considerations. An emphasis is placed on relationships and
the learning emerging from these that takes the student beyond the confines of a content-
based education. The aim is to foster personal and interpersonal skills that will bring
considerable advantages to our learners.
During the first semester I have observed VIS Diploma students:
Take ownership of their own development and
learning through planning.
Our students take responsibility for their
own personal and academic growth. They
can set clear and realistic targets, prioritize
conflicting demands and plan for success.
Demonstrate a reflective approach and an attitude
of continuous improvement.
They consider and review their work objectively
and reflect on better ways of performing the
task and raising standards when the task is
repeated so that improvements are made in the
future.
Use effectively the Information resources that are made available to them to assist in the acquisition
of knowledge and its relevant application.
They can use data and information management
methods effectively, including electronic data
and library resources. They can evaluate
effectively the value and content of data that
they collect and use it appropriately.
Act with social and academic maturity and
integrity.
Our students are confident and at ease with
individuals and groups with which they may
be unfamiliar and show respect for the
culture, opinions and values of others. They
challenge accepted wisdom and develop
their own understanding from this
experience. They learn from their errors,
take responsibility for their actions, and
acknowledge the input and contributions of
others.
GRADE 11
SALSA TRIP By Oda Karlsen and Clara Lachet
GRADE 11 STUDENTS
IBDP In Action
Page 8
O n T u e s d a y 2 2 t h
November Grade 11 left school for
the airport at 5 am. When we
arrived at Pakse, our first
destination was the local market.
After shopping for fruits and
snacks, we were stuck with
watching Planet of the Apes during
an hour-long bus ride. We then
went on boats that sent us to our
next destination, Don Daeng. The
view was magnificent. We jumped
off the boats, where our feet sank
in the icy water. It got warmer as
we reached the sand. Apart from
the splendid beach and our
comfortable lodges, the bug
population was exceptionally
horrendous.
Early the second morning,
everyone walked three kilometers
to the Simoungkhang School. We
were excited to meet the children
and start working. When we
arrived at the school we were
touched by the children who
greeted us with their smiles and
necklaces, made of beautiful
flowers. In return we painted the
dull looking buildings in white, we
built soccer goals from scratch
using blue pipes and lastly we
taught basic English such as
numbers, shapes and colors.
T h e c h i l d r e n w e re
wonderful; they were very
cooperative, and very motivated to
learn. It brought joy to all of us.
After a long and tiring day of work,
we walked all the way back, only
this time we felt the pain aching
through our bodies. We had quite
a long rest on the smooth but hot
sizzling sand. Some of us were
gathering wood to make a massive
bonfire on the beach. Once that
was prepared, we went fishing
before sunset. It was quite an
experience. Unfortunately we only
caught five fish, but luckily they
were delicious. We had to kill time
before the usual sticky rice for
dinner. We swam in the cold and
refreshing Mekong River. Although,
not everyone did, for they were
afraid of catching parasites. Some
walked along the beach admiring
the view, while others enjoyed
burying someone in the sand. Sadly
the bonfire was postponed until the
next day, since the stormy wind
took over the night.
Day three was the last day
we had to work at the school, and
carry out some final touches.
Everyone had a lot of energy and
motivation that day. In a perfect
way, to end the last work day, we
finally made a huge fire on the
beach and laid down in the cold
sand and gazed at the sky full of
bright shimmering stars, making a
wish when we saw shooting stars.
On day four we took the
students from the Simoungkhang
School on a special trip to Wat
Phu. There we enjoyed the great
view, ate lunch and developed an
even stronger bond with the
children. The trip was very
successful. Both we and the
children learned a lot from the trip.
After a baci with the children, they
drove off in small tractors singing
„‟Head, shoulder, knees and toes‟‟;
it was rather emotional for those
who were so attached to the kids.
On the very last day we
gave alms to the monks as a „‟thank
you‟‟ for our stay on the island,
before heading back home to
Vientiane. Don Daeng is definitely a
place where students in Grade 11
would want to go back to in the
future.
THIMUN
Page 9
The THIMUN Experience By Brian Kwon
GRADE 10 STUDENT
We left school on Tuesday, 15th of
November to travel to the Singapore edition of The
Hague International Model United Nations
(THIMUN). After our tiring journey and a nice
burger from Burger King, we settled into our hotel
rooms to have a good night sleep for the upcoming
conference. However, we were all too nervous and
excited to be part of this great conference so we
actually did not get much sleep.
On the first day of the THIMUN Singapore
conference, we all separated to get to our General
Assemblies (GA). After saying good bye to our MUN
directors, we found our way to our GA. When I
stepped into the lecture room where my General
Assembly was being held it was extremely unsettling,
awkward and frightening for me, because there
wasn‟t a single familiar face I knew, and I did not
know exactly what to. After the countries‟
attendance has been taken, our GA started lobbying
which is an activity where the delegations of NGOs
and countries bring their resolutions and talk about
how to develop the resolutions in order to get them
approved by the approval panel. While participating
in bouncing ideas off other delegates and explaining
my country‟s position, I was able to make some
friends which made the experience more bearable.
Lunch was a bit of a challenge as well because there
were so many students there and I didn‟t want to
eat alone in such a large group. Fortunately I was
able to eat with some of the new friends I had met.
One major thing that I have taken from this
THIMUN Singapore conference is not to be afraid
when I am making a speech in front of people. I have always thought that I was
capable of making a speech or a presentation in front of others without having my
legs vibrating from the pressure; however it turns out that I‟m not. I was shaking
when I was giving the opening speech to the other ambassadors as they were all
unfamiliar faces. In order to restore my confidence, I made eye contact with people
that were giving me their full attention, which comforted me while I was giving the
speech. Also I tried to speak slowly in order to make sure people could understand
my English and what I was talking about.
This experience was an unforgettable one that was absolutely priceless.
After having such a delightful conference, and making more than 15 friends from all
over the world, I am planning to attend the MRISA MUN to be held in Hanoi in
February and as many other MUN conferences that I can. I urge my fellow students
to join me in January to prepare for this wonderful opportunity.
MRISA Leadership Summit
Page 10
Johanna von Behaim
When Ms. Nikki first approached me asking if I
was interested in join the Leadership conference I
was not all too enthusiastic, thinking that it
sounded like a rather boring event. However, after
giving it some thought I signed up anyways hoping
to gather some new experiences and to be honest,
just to enjoy a few days off school. It turned out to
be a lot more. Unlike in the Sports MRISAs, where
student compete with a team from their own
school against others, the leadership conference is
all about mixing up the groups and working
together with others. Although some of the
activities where focused on the specific roles of a
leader most of the time we looked more at the
role of the team and how best to achieve your
goals together. That really gave us all the
opportunity to get to know many new people.
What I also learned through this conference is that
a leader does not always have to be the one
standing in front of the group, telling everyone
what to do. There are many other types of leading.
I would like to thank ISCHMC for the organization
and the hospitality of this event and also to thank
Ms. Nikki for putting up with us for the three days,
I think we all had a great time.
Blake Gardiner
Two days, eight schools, and a room full of leaders.
The Leadership Conference was several days full of
team-building, leadership-based activities. We heard
a presentation from a representative of an NGO
known as KOTO (Know One, Teach One), learnt
about the different roles in a team and about
ourselves and our personalities, about issues to
avoid within teams and the importance of listening.
We made it practical and did some community
work with Vietnamese youth who were involved
with KOTO and worked together in teams to build
up our communication skills.
As a part of the Conference, I learnt
more about who I am and what my strengths are
and how I can contribute to a team. I learnt more
about the importance of communication within a
team to get a task done and the importance of a
well thought out plan. But, personally, I think one
of the most valuable lessons was about listening and
how important one‟s posture is when listening and
how one responds when clarifying and asking
questions.
If one were to ask the question “Was it
worth it?” I would say “yes, it was”. The things I
learnt on the trip were lessons that I needed to
learn and am glad I did. If anything, if one wants to
be a leader, instead of a follower in their life, it‟s a
Conference worth attending.
Sports News
Page 11
MRISA Senior
Volleyball
By Mark Radley-Walters
PE TEACHER
On October 27, two ambitious senior
school teams from the Vientiane International
School traveled to the annual MRISA senior volley-
ball championships, this year hosted in Ho Chi Minh
City. Saigon South International School was the
venue for this year‟s championships, and they
produced a terrific event for all participants.
The Senior Girls‟ Team, captained by
Victoria Zhou, played well throughout the
tournament showing great teamwork in many of the
games. The girls put forth valiant efforts taking two
games to three sets and leading most of one set
verses the eventual champions ISHCMC. A special
thanks to Ms. Nikki for an excellent job coaching the
team. Well done girls. Congratulations to Nina
Dereviziis for her selection to the All-Tournament
Team.
The Senior Boys‟ Team, co-captained by
Eusteen Barte and Bone Tiasiri, put together some
great team performances. All of the players made
their hits count when called upon. The boys won
two hard fought battles against UNIS Hanoi, one in
the round robin and one in the 7th place game, with
both games going to three sets. A special thanks to
Mr. Nick for an excellent job coaching the team.
Well done boys. Congratulations to Eusteen Barte
for his selection to the All-Tournament Team.
Sports News
Page 12
MRISA Junior Basketball
A wonderfully clear, cool morning at Vientiane
International School was the setting for the Opening
Ceremonies of the MRISA Junior Basketball Exchange in early
November. The day started with an air of excitement as the
colorful teams with their national flags entered the VIS front
court in parade style to applause of the whole school
community. A spirited rendition of the national anthem of Lao
PDR was led by members of the Lao staff and Grade 3.
Welcoming speeches were offered by Ms. Kim Green,
Secondary Principal, and Mr. Greg Smith, VIS Director, along
with wishes for a fun and fair tournament by Student Council
Co-Presidents, Clara Lachete and Tony Yoon.
The first game on the main court featured the VIS
Boys team versus South Saigon. Although VIS took a 24-16
lead at halftime, that was soon to melt away in the second half
as Danny Park came into the half with three fouls and soon
picked up two more, fouling out early. The boys were also
hampered by pre-game injuries to Harry Park and Nick
Lattavong. Despite these setbacks the Dragons put up a good
fight and lost by the narrow margin of 38-35.
In the first VIS girls game the Lady Dragons were
defeated by a scrappy team from Ho Chi Minh City. Though
our girls showed courage and spirit, too many bad shots and
sloppy passing proved their downfall. Perhaps it could be
chalked up to opening day jitters; the court time experience
may yet prove to be beneficial over the course of the
tournament. At the time that this article goes to press, the
VIS girls have another game later in the afternoon against
Hanoi International. We wish them the best of luck and hope
that the good attitude and great sportsmanship they displayed
continues and leads them to victory over the next few days.
The tournament is only a few hours old at this writing,
but the atmosphere is very friendly and relaxed. The
completion is sharp and the team supporters are having a
great time. The opportunity to host the MRISA Junior
Basketball Exchange is a great chance for VIS to show what a
caring, involved, and dedicated community we have at our
school. This is something that we can be proud of and
remember in the years to come.
To see the photo show of the MRISA Basketball click below ...
Sports News
Page 13
SWIM MEET By Philip Graham
Athletic Director
On Sunday 27th November, Vientiane
International School (VIS) joined partnership with the
Lao Aquatic Sports Association (LASA) and together,
they hosted a Swim Meet at the National Stadium, for
the schools in the Vientiane area.
Over sixty swimmers took part, representing
Vientiane International School, Kiettisack International
School, Panyathip International School, Lycee Francais
Josue Hoffet, Vientiane Pattana School, Sisavath
Secondary, NaHai School, Neerada School, Sengsavath
School Progress School and Vientiane Secondary.
The event was exciting and successful. Each
swimmer displayed admirable qualities of sportsman-
ship and commitment, while all the dedicated
volunteers, supporters and officials worked hard to
ensure the event ran smoothly.
VIS and LASA hope that through a continuing
partnership they may promote and develop swimming
within the city.
The event would not have been a success
without the generous and unprecedented response
from the sponsors. Vientiane International School
would like to extend their sincere thanks and
appreciation to Talat Sao Mall, Mercure Hotel, Index
Living, Dao- Heuang Group, D-Mart, ParadIce Ice
cream, Aria Culinary Arts, Dragon Café and Simply Me
Café.
Finally special thanks to Sarah Hess for all her
organization and to Angie Putt for putting so much
effort in to obtain sponsors.
LIST OF MAJOR COMMENDATIONS
Philosophy and Objectives
3. The School’s empowerment of stu-
dents to be internationally-minded,
global citizens and life-long learners.
Primary Years Program
2. The PYP section of the School for
their professional, enthusiastic ap-
proach to implementing the program.
4. The students for expressing their
knowledge and understanding of the
inquiry process and the language
of the PYP program.
Middle Years Program
2. The School Administration for pro-
viding professional development op-
portunities for its faculty in the MYP.
Diploma Program
1. The IBDP teachers for their hard
work in documenting the cur-
riculum since the preliminary report.
3. The School for providing IBDP pro-
fessional development opportu-
nities.
Read on ...
CIS/WASC News
Page 14
CONCLUDING STATEMENT Taken from the CIS/WASC Reaccreditation Report The Visiting Team applauds the journey Vientiane
International School is taking to move from good to great.
The new Philosophy and Objectives Statement provides the
community with a clear understanding that student learning must be
central to all decisions, and regular, data- informed appraisal is
needed to ensure the objectives are being met. Having the IB as the
curriculum framework is an effective foundation for VIS to assist
students develop as self-directed, internationally-minded, community
-conscious citizens.
VIS has unique challenges because of its location. Being the
only CIS/WASC and IB accredited School in Laos is simply special.
The initiative, commitment and perseverance of everyone who has
been associated with the School is highly commendable.
The School continues to grow in both its size and breadth of
programs. The Board has developed a Master Plan that provides the
capacity for the School to grow to 550 students. The Visiting Team
acknowledges the faith being shown by the current Trustees to take
on this level of expansion.
The hard work of past and present staff, administrations and
boards has brought Vientiane International School to an important
transitional point in its development. The Visiting Team encourages
all members of the community to aspire to be the model for all
Schools in Laos, and indeed Asia.
The Visiting Team leaves the School with a series of
commendations for work well done and recommendations for the
future. We are confident that the professional commitment exists
that will take these recommendations in the collegial spirit in which
they are given and use them to guide VIS through its next stages of
development.
Parents and Friends News
Page 15
THE CHRISTMAS PARTY By Kat Hamilton, P&F Member
The Giving Tree
Community donations $450
P&F donations $450
P&F Christmas Party Donation $125
Bendigo School donations $900
A grand total of $1925 will go towards upgrading the school
grounds at Ban Saphanthong Tai.
The P&F Committee would like to offer a special thank you to all the parents, staff
and students who made this year’s Christmas party a huge success and also to
everyone who donated to our sister school through the Giving Tree.
„Twas 2 weeks before Christmas
And all through the school
The students were buzzing
It was pretty cool.
Looking forward to break time,
And presents and sleep.
Dreams of family adventures
No more counting sheep.
The P&F women like Santa‟s Elves worked
Meeting and crafting…
A party with perks.
The idea around it went something like this
Our school is like family so let‟s help our
sis‟
(our sister school)
Kids played and did crafts,
Gave Santa their lists
Stuck a nose on old Frosty
Threw bean bags, wrapped
gifts,
A soccer match played
Against parents and pals
what a marvellous day, and it
ended how?
Donations were made to help
our dear sis‟
The amount in the ballpark of …
1,000,000 kip!!!!
Thank you
to e
veryone
who cont
ributed
to this
edition
of Drago
n Tales.
If you
would li
ke to su
bmit
an arti
cle for
the next
issue plea
se make
sure you
do so b
y Wednes
day 21 M
arch.
If
you are
a student
or a memb
er of
the
teaching
staff p
lease su
bmit you
r articl
e to
Mr Jon (
Primary)
or Ms K
im (Seco
ndary).
Other memb
ers of
staff or
members
of the
communit
y should
submit
their arti
cles to
Ms Racha
el.