UNIS Hanois Weekly Community Newsletter Volume 21, Edition 3, Friday 29 August

NEXT WEEK MONDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER ASA Session 1 for MSHS ONLY Starts UMA Session 1 Starts for ALL Students ES Parent Teacher Conferences, 10:00 - 18:00 (No Classes/ASAs/Aquatics Academy for ES students)

TUESDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER Vietnam Independence Day - No School, Campus & Offices Closed

WEDNESDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER ES Parent Teacher Conferences, 15:00 - 18:00 (No ASAs/Aquatics Academy for ES Students) MYP Interactive Workshop for New Parents,

19:00 - 20:00, Black Box, Centre for the Arts

THURSDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER ASA Session 1 for ES Starts ECC Child Development Information Session with the

Counselors, 08:30 - 09:30, Library ECC Library Orientation Session, 09:30 - 10:00, Library FRIDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER New Parent Workshop with the ES Counselors, 08:30 - 10:00 New Parent Workshop with the MSHS Counselors, 08:30 - 10:00 ES Moon Festival Assembly, 14:15 - 15:15

SATURDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER Saturday Soccer Session 1 Starts

COMING SOON MONDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER MAP Testing Grades 3 - 5 (September 8 - 11)

TUESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER How to Get Involved with your Childs School, Parent

Info Session with the SCO, 8.30 - 10.00, Community Room

WEDNESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER Grades 1 & 2 Child Development Information Session

with the Counselors, 8.30 -9.30, Library Grades 1 & 2 Library Orientation, 9.30 - 10.00, Library

THURSDAY,11 SEPTEMBER Board Finance Committee Meeting, 7.00 - 8.30,

Conference Room Grades 3,4 & 5 Child Development Information Session

with the Counselors, 8.30 -9.30, Library Grades 3, 4 & 5 Library Orientation, 9.30 - 10.00,

Library PYP Interactive Workshop for New Parents, 19.00 -

20.00, Black Box Room

FRIDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER Board of Directors Two-Day Meeting

SATURDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER Community Connections Fair, 9.00 - 12.00, Centre for

the Arts

tintuc@unishanoi.org

IN THIS WEEKS TIN TUC - The Highlights...

Notes from the Head of School (p.2)

Notes from the Board of Director (p.2)

Notes from the MSHS Principal (p.3)

UNIS Hanoi Community Garden (p.7)

Tet Trung Thu (p.7)

Transition Workshop for All Parents (p.8)

Notes from the Transport Coordinator (p.3)

PYP Parentss Workshops (p.4 - 5)

Whats New in the MYP? (p.6)

Community Connection Fair (p.9)

SCO Fun This Week (p.10)

Job Opportunity at UNIS Hanoi (p.11)

I was pleased to meet a number of you at

the various Back To School Nights over the

last week or so. And I encourage you to

take advantage of the following upcoming

meetings planned:

1 and 3 September ES Parent Teacher

Conferences

3 September MYP Interactive Workshop for New

Parents

4 September Two ECC events

Child Development Session with the Counselors

Library Orientation Session

5 September New Parents Workshop with all the

Counselor (ES, MS and HS)

9 September School Community Organization

Meeting Getting Involved with Your Childs School

Please see the calendar for details

Lots going on so hopefully you will find the meetings

which match up with your interests and needs.

Welcome to UNIS Hanoi Seung Won Park, 11G

Seunghun Lee, 1TA Ryohei Harada, 3BM

I have also received several questions regarding the new

road adjacent to Ciputra which connects with the almost

completed bridge across the Red River. We have been told

that the Government has expressed a desire to have

everything operational by 10 October 2014 which is the

birthday of Hanoi. However there are many who are

skeptical about reaching this target. In any event, we

remain in close contact with Ciputra who will let us know

what they know as soon as they know more. We will then

pass this information along to you, especially some

guidance on how to enter Ciputra once the road opens.

In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend in spite of the

wet weather.

Respectfully,

Dr. Chip Barder, hos@unishanoi.org

Since the approval of the schools 2010-2015 first Strategic Management Plan (SMP) in May of 2010, the Board of Directors has requested the Head of School to prepare annual action plans (AAP) for each School Year. These AAPs help reach the goals and objectives of the SMP. Last Tuesday, the Board of Directors approved the schools AAP for the 2014-2015 School Year.

For your review and interest, click here to read the school Annual Action Plan for 2014-2015.

Over the September 6-7 weekend, the Board will be hosting a Governance as Leadership Workshop for school Boards and Heads of School from ten International K-12 Schools interested in taking their governance practice to the next level.

One of the most widely accepted leaders in the world of non-profit board governance and a Professor Emeritus at

Harvard University, Dr. Richard Chait, will lead and facilitate a two-day programme of forums and break-out sessions that emphasizes three separate but related modes of governance: Fiduciary, Strategic and Generative. The workshop will address all three dimensions with a particular focus on generative thinking and generative work.

We are so pleased with the increased interest among new and returning UNIS Hanoi community members to share their expertise and time by joining a Board Committee or Task Force this year. Memberships for the 2014-2015 Board Committees and Task Forces will be announced in next weeks Tin Tuc.

For more information on any of the above topics, please contact the Board Assistant, Jennifer Sawyer, at boardassistant@unishanoi.org.

Best Regards,

Sarah Garner, Boar Chair

Dear MS/HS Families,

I would like to thank everyone who

attended the MSHS Back to School

Parents Information Night. Rain

notwithstanding, from all accounts it was

an extremely positive event filled with

good will and enthusiasm for learning.

Please realize that parent involvement in the educational

process is extremely important. Current research is clear;

parents do play a major role in the educational achievement

of their children.

Harvard researcher Ronald Ferguson ranked the top three

influences on educational achievement as:

44% of gain: Quality of the teacher and the ability of

the teacher to establish positive relationships with

students.

22% of gain: Family support structures

20% of gain: School structures (Curriculum, facility,

technology, etc.)

Although parental influence is extremely valuable

Fergusons research found that the most important factor

is teacher quality. UNIS Hanoi spends a great deal of time,

energy and resources recruiting the highest quality faculty

possible knowing that skilled and engaging teachers are the

key to student success.

In closing I thought I would provide a link to a NY Times

article which emphasizes the importance of relationships in

the educational process. Let me be clear, I am not

downplaying the importance of high standards, parental

involvement, educational technology and comprehensive

and aligned curriculums but we cannot overlook the fact

that to optimize learning outcomes we must have high

quality teachers with the ability to forge positive

relationships with students.

Warm regards,

Pete Kennedy, mshsprincipal@unishanoi.org

Dear Parents, As our ASA and UMA Session 1 starts next week (MSHS only for ASA until September 4) I would like to remind you of our bus dismissal times:

Monday - Tuesday - Thursday and Friday 1st bus departs from school at 15:35 (For those have no ASA)

2nd bus departs from school at 16:40 (For those who have a registered ASA)

3rd bus departs from school at 17:45 (For those in MS/HS sport team training sessions)

Wednesday 1st bus departs from school at 14:45 (For those have no ASA)

2nd bus departs from school at 15:45 (For those who have a registered ASA)

3rd bus departs from school at 17:00 (For those in MS/HS sport team training sessions) We arrange buses in the afternoons based on numbers from the students' schedules. As a result, a bus home may be a combination of more than one route on a single bus.

For example: Students of Route A1 and Route A2 will share one bus at 15:35 and 16.40. The bus monitor for the combined route will have the list for all students on the A1 and A2 routes. NOTE:

If your child has no School organised activity they MUST go home immediately after school finishes.

UMA students may take the late buses but must not be unsupervised on campus after school at anytime between a lesson finishing and a bus departure.

Students with UMA Lessons or Mother Tongue classes whose finishing time does not match with the bus departure time must make their own arrangements for home travel.

If your child is registered for an ASA but has to miss it for one day and wishes to go home on the earlier bus, parents must notify me by email to transportcoord@unishanoi.org before lunchtime so any necessary adjustments can be made.

PLEASE CONTACT ME with any questions or concerns in order that we might organize an effective and safe bus service for your child. Thank you very much. Kind regards Chu Xuan Lai, Transport Coordinator transportcoord@unishanoi.org

International schools can sometimes be confusing places

for parents. The way students are taught in international

schools and the way a curriculum is organized is sometimes

very different from what parents have experienced in their

home countries At UNIS we follow the International

Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). This

framework guides UNIS about how to teach, what to teach

and how to organized our curriculum. All UNIS students

from Discovery to Grade 5 are currently experiencing the

IBPYP.

One of the key features of the IB PYP is children learn

through inquiry. They enjoy active, hands on experiences

which require critical thinking. On the 11th and 16th of

September we will be inviting parents to come in and learn

about the IB PYP. Parents will have the opportunity to

experience what learning is like for their children.

Participants will join in, active, hands on learning

experiences which will require them to think critically. The

sessions will be fun opportunities for you to meet other

UNIS parents and to try out the sort of the strategies your

children experience every day.

I encourage as many of you as possible to attend. If you

think you might come along, please could you email

Phuong eccsecretary@unishanoi.org leaving your name,

your childs name, their grade level and teacher . This is just

to give us an idea of how many participants there will be

and the number of tables, chairs and refreshments to

prepare. Dont worry if you have said you will attend, then

change your mind or you cannot make it. That is no

problem.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

Chris Frost, PYP Coordinator

pypcoordinator@unishanoi.org

Event Details Who should come

PYP Workshop for Parents New to the Programme September 11th 7.00-8.00pm The Black Box Centre of the Arts

This is a repeat of the same workshop we held last year in September and January. During this workshop parents will explore what inquiry learning means. They will also develop an understanding of how the elementary school curriculum is organized.

Parents with children in any grade Discovery to Grade 5. Parents who did not attend the workshops led by Chris frost (the PYP Coordinator) in September or January. Parents who are just interested in meeting other parents and having fun.

PYP Workshop for Everyone September 16th 7.00-8.00pm The Black Box Centre of the Arts

This is a new workshop. During this workshop parents will develop an understanding of the different ways teachers assess in the Elementary school.

Parents with children in any grade Discovery to Grade 5. Parents with an interest in assessment. Parents who are just interested in meeting other parents and having fun.

Please help us maintain our fantastic Library collection

by providing your child with an appropriate book bag.

Student MUST have a water resistant Library book

bag to carry their Library books to and from school in

when borrowing. One from home is acceptable, even

preferable, as we strive to reuse and repurpose existing

materials.

If you do not already have one SCO supported Book

Bags may be purchased at the SCO Boutique located

in the foyer of the Sports Centre for 150,000 VND.

SCO offers book bags in two sizes and in a variety of

colors.

Ms. Conroy

ES Librarian

August 2014 marks the launch of new curriculum guidelines for all subject groups in the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). After four years of programme review and piloting, the IB has released the changes to the MYP framework for implementation.

UNIS Hanoi participated in the pilot of MYP Sciences, as well as optional onscreen exams for students in MYP Year 5. Some teachers from other subjects had previously been involved in the development of pilot material, and one teacher per subject group participated in an MYP workshop last spring.

Focus on conceptual understanding

Embedding learning in relevant global contexts

Revised subject objectives and assessment criteria

Approaches to learning

The Grade 6-10 MYP curriculum handbook (forthcoming) will provide more detailed information. Parents are invited to attend an information evening in September.

*New families have received an invitation for the MYP Essentials for Parents session on 3 September, 19:00-20:00h in B10-103. However, everyone is welcome to attend the session on 16 September.

The New MYP for Parents An information evening for returning parents*

When: Tuesday, 16 September 18:00-19:00 Where: B10 103 (Centre for the Arts, Black Box)

Planning to attend? Click link to RSVP by Sep 8

At UNIS Hanoi standardised testing is one

way that we gather information to promote

and inform student learning. A

standardised test should allow students,

teachers and parents to identify a student's

strengths and areas of need in the different

subject areas that are tested. At the school-

wide level the standardised test can help to identify areas of

the curriculum that may need adapting. It will also help the

school to determine how its students are performing in

comparison to other students around the world and to

evaluate the effectiveness of our programme.

The school currently uses two different forms of

standardized tests. One of these is the Measures of

Academic Progress (MAP) which are computerized tests

in Reading, Language usage, and Mathematics. The MAP

test at UNIS Hanoi is done twice a year so that we can

check for growth in students development of knowledge

and understanding in the areas tested. Students in Grades

3-8 are going to take part in the MAP test this September.

The schedule for this semester is as follows:

Grade 3-5 students: September 9 - 12, 2014

Grade 6-8 student: September 15 - 18, 2014

MAP tests are unique - as students complete each test it

adapts to be appropriate for their level of learning. As a

result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed

and maintain a positive attitude toward testing.

Please be aware that there is no additional preparation that

students can do to prepare for these tests. It is helpful for

students to have a good nights sleep and a sufficient

breakfast prior to testing. If your child is anxious you can

help to alleviate their worries by talking, listening and

reassuring. Encourage your child to simply do their best as

he or she would do with any school assignment, test or

project.

Contact the homeroom teacher if you have a concern

regarding your childs reaction to the test. If you would like

more information about the MAP test in general please

contact Janet Field, the Director of Learning at

dol@unishanoi.org

The MS Community Garden Service Learning Group

will be selling produce directly from the MS garden

throughout the school year. Variety and availability

will vary depending on what we have in the garden

and all sales are on a first come/ first served, cash

only basis.

This is a great opportunity to get some delicious, local,

organic vegetables, give our MS students some

practical experience in business and fundraising and

help us raise money to purchase supplies for a farm

family on Long Bien Island that we have been

involved with for the past 4 years.

Available Week of September 1

(4:00- 4:30 Monday/Thursday only)

Sweet potato greens

Eggplants

Malabar Spinach

Italian Basil

TT TRUNG THU - Moon

Festival is one of the most

important festivals for

Vietnamese people, especially for

children. It is celebrated on 15th

of the eighth lunar month. This is

the time when the moon is full,

brightest and it is also when

farmers are just finishing their

harvest.

To celebrate this festival, people visit their relatives, close

friends to give them some gifts such as seasoned fruits and

BNH TRUNG THU - Moon cakes- the special cakes

that cant be missed on that day. Children get some toys

from adults such as lanterns, masks, drums

When the full moon rises, families get together to watch

the moon, eat the fruits and the moon cakes and they sing

along moon songs with their children. People also celebrate

Tt Trung Thu in their areas with neighbors. Children

get together and they wear masks, carry lanterns in parades

and do special dances such as Dragon dance.

This year, Tt Trung Thu falls on Monday 8th,

September. At UNIS Hanoi, our Grade 2, 4, 5 students

who attend the Vietnamese class will host the Tt Trung

Thu assembly. We will have two shows in the school

theater as bellow:

Show 1 for ECC students: On Thursday, September 4th at

13.10- 13.50

Show 2 for ES students: On Friday, September 5th at

14.10-14.50

All parents are invited to come. Teachers and children are

encouraged to wear O DI The Vietnamese

traditional dress on the day. Everyone will be having

Moon Festival Party at their snack time.

TT TRUNG THU

THT L VUI!

Transition Workshop for All Parents D-12 If you have just arrived in the UNIS Hanoi and

Hanoi community, please come and join us!

Friday, Sept 5, 8:30-10:00 am in The Library Projection Room

Come join us and learn about: The Stages of Transition Tips to Help Children Through Transition Suggestions for Adapting to Your New Location The UNIS Counseling Department D-12

New to Hanoi and still Getting Settled? Come to our Community Connections Fair!

WHEN? Saturday, September 13

WHAT TIME? 9.00am - 12.00pm

WHERE? UNIS Hanoi Centre for the Arts.

Are these some questions you ask yourself ?

The purpose of the Community Connections Fair is to provide useful information to our UNIS Hanoi community, espe-

cially those newly arrived expats, by bringing a variety of Hanoi's service providers and organizations together to one con-

venient location!

Who will be coming?

We will have representatives from a variety of areas (for example: medical services, vets, fitness centres, community/

cultural groups, activity groups, transportation services, to name a few) come and set up an information/display booths

and will be present on the day to answer questions.

Join us and learn more about what Hanoi has to offer and get all your questions

answered!

For more information, contact our Community Liaison Officer, Nathalie Grun in the Advancement Office.

What gym offers Zumba, Yoga or Pilates classes?

Where is the best place to buy my groceries?

What to do with ALL my free time?

Want to learn how to drive a motorbike?

Where should I go if my child has a fever?

Which dental services are available in Hanoi?

The Grades 1 5 Class Socials this week turned

out to be a HUGE success! Thank you to

everyone who joined the fun. We hope this kick-

started your year by helping you get to know other

parents in your childs class/grade early on.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to all the parents

who kindly stepped up to be a Class /Grade Level

Parent this year. You play an essential role in

helping to build community and enhancing class/

grade level events.

We are still looking for Class/Grade Level

Parents for the following classes: K2 AS,

Grades 9 and 11.

This year we brought back the popular SCO Bus Tour for new families and it was so much fun! We took

the new parents through a quick tour of Tay Ho and the Old Quarter showing them key spots around

town. It was a great opportunity for new parents to learn more about Hanoi and form new friendships.

A BIG thank you to those veteran UNIS Hanoi parents who shared their wealth of knowledge and made

this tour possible! Enjoy the pictures

Employment opportunity with United Nations International School of Hanoi

SUBSTITUTE/PERMANENT PART TIME NURSE

UNIS Hanoi has experienced steady year-on-year growth in our student population, which currently stands at over 1,080 students from 66 different countries. We are now offering opportunities to work at our School as

Substitute or Permanent Part time Nurse for Registered Nurses.

Responsibilities:

Provision of current evidence based nursing care to students and staff

Provision of appropriate health information and instruction

Promotion of a safe and nurturing school environment

Promotion of healthy eating and a food safe school

Liaise with parents and staff on health issues

Position requirements :

Bachelor Degree in Science - Nursing or equivalent

Able to communicate in and understand English

Ability to work with children across all ages from 3 years to 18 years

Application closing date : 12 September 2014 Interested applicants please send your expression of interest along with current resume outlining education and experience and a list of professional references to: jobs@unishanoi.org Successful applicants will need to provide a current registration from their country of origin and a police clearance from the last country of permanent employment.

Ms Vu Ngoc Thanh, Human Resources Officer United Nations International School of Hanoi

GPO Box 313, Hanoi, Vietnam

UNIS is a not-for-profit international school offering all three International Baccalaureate Programs from Discovery to Grade 12.

UNIS Hanoi is also fully accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Being Sun Smart at UNIS

UNIS is ideally placed to support and enhance the

health and wellbeing of students. The School

Health Centre supports the school community in

promoting the health of all students through

health promotion strategies such as being Sun

Smart.

UNIS is committed to promoting sun protection.

Being Sun Smart, can positively influence

knowledge, attitudes, skills and behavior of stu-

dents that enhance the short and long term health

outcomes. At UNIS we can promote Sun Smart

awareness through the formal school curriculum,

the environment and through regulation and prac-

tice.

Research indicates that sun exposure in the first

18 years of life contributes significantly to the life

time risk of skin cancer. Excessive exposure to

ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun causes

sunburn, skin damage and increases the risk of

skin cancer. Getting sunburnt in childhood and

adolescence will increase the risk of skin cancer in

later life. As students are at school during times

when UV radiation levels are highest, UNIS can

play a major role in minimizing students UV ex-

posure and promoting healthy sun beliefs, atti-

tudes and behaviors.

Students are encouraged to SLIP on clothing that will pro-tect their skin from the sun even when not at school. Students are encouraged to SLOP on some sunscreen to the exposed areas of their body when in full sun. Sunscreen is available from the School Health Centre. Students in the ECC and ES are required to SLAP on a hat that adequately covers exposed areas of the face. A hat that provides good shade to the face, back of the neck, eyes and ears. Broad brimmed and bucket hats provide the most UV radiation for the face and head. Wearing a hat with a brim that shades the eyes can also reduce UV radiation to the eyes by 50%. Students are encouraged to SEEK areas at school where they can play and sit in shaded areas where possible. Stu-dents in ECC and ES should play in the shade if no hat. Students are encouraged to SLIDE on sunglasses if they find the sun too bright.

A No Hat, No play outside in the sun regulation is in place at UNIS during recess and lunch. SCHOOL HEALTH CENTRE nurse@unishanoi.org