16 January 2015 | ISSUE 17

Dates for your diary

IN THIS ISSUE

From: Page

Headteacher 2

CEO and Principal 3

International Week at AP1 4

MPF Department 5

Community Service Department 6-8

PTG 9

Fundinotots - BIS Baby and Toddler Group 10

Lunch Menus 11-12

Contact information

225 Nguyen Van Huong St, District 2, HCMC

Tel: (848) 3744 4551

Fax: (848) 3744 4182

E-mail:

simonhigham@bisvietnam.com

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - HO CHI MINH CITY

AN PHU PRIMARY

Newsletter

19th - 23rd International Week

20th & 21st Global Café

23rd Parade of Nations (national costumes)

26th Term 2 clubs begin

26th - 30th School photographs are taken

January

Trying out our new EYFS playground

(left). PTG Welcome back Coffee

morning (right)

From The Headteacher - Mr Simon Higham

Issue 17/Page 2

Scan here to access the

‘AP1 Parent Blog’

AP1 Parent Blog

http://ap1parentblog.blogspot.com/

Over 20,000 page views on the AP1 Parent Blog.

What does IPC, ICT and GCSE stand for? Click on the link to the Educational Terms tab on the Home page to

learn more.

Access the Primary Parent Blog next week to follow the progress of

our International Week celebrations.

It has been exciting to welcome all of our BIS families back to school this week and I have

enjoyed hearing about the many adventures that our children have had over the break. I

would like to mention and welcome all of our new families that have joined BIS this term.

I hope that the transition into school has been smooth and please do not hesitate to ask

any member of the BIS staff if you need help or assistance to ensure that this vital set-

tling period is successful.

Thank you to all of the new and existing BIS parents that attended the ‘Welcome Back’

coffee morning on Wednesday. Organised by both the Primary and Secondary PTG com-

mittees, events such as these help to bring our thriving community closer together.

Next week, I am very much looking forward to our annual International Week celebrations. From Global Café

to room visits, opening ceremonies to final parades the week is a highlight for many as we all come together to

celebrate diversity within our international community. Thank you in advance for all of the hard work that has

already taken place in preparation for this event and I especially look forward to sharing the many internation-

al costumes that will be on offer next Friday during the Parade of Nations. Information regarding all times and

dates can be found on page 4 of this newsletter and has been communicated with you from class teachers via

their weekly learning letters.

I would like to remind parents who prepare a packed lunch for their children, to ensure that the lunches are

nut free. This is due to some of our children having severe food allergies or intolerances. All food prepared in

our Canteen is free of nuts and nut products therefore, your help in this matter is very much appreciated to

keep our children safe.

Finally, thank you for your support regarding the standard of school uniform that has been set during this first

week back - especially in terms of footwear. At BIS, we always strive for the highest standards in all that we

do, in partnership with all parents and children.

I hope that you enjoy reading through the articles in this week’s newsletter. Have a great weekend.

From The CEO and Principal - CIS 5 Year Visit

Issue 17/Page 3

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

November 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

improvement.’

The Visitors identified the following strengths for the school:

A commitment to providing high quality education for all students through classroom programmes,

teachers’ continual professional development (CPD) and resourcing

A visible commitment to facilities improvement, providing learning and recreational spaces that are eq-

uitable 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 sup-

port 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

Standards 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 congratu-

late 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

International Week

Issue 17/Page 4

Dear Parents,

We are very much looking forward to our annual International Week at AP1. Below, please find the key

dates and times for events that are happening throughout the week. Thank you to all for your support in

helping to make this a learning rich experience for all our students.

Monday 19th January 2015

On Monday we will have our opening assembly. This is for students and teachers only. The children will con-

tinue to prepare their own classes for the rest of the week as well as learning about the country they have

been studying for International Week.

Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st January 2015

The Global Café is open! Classes will visit at designated times. Teachers have been given these times. Clas-

ses will continue to learn about the country they are studying in class. The café will be open for parents on

Wednesday between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd January 2015

Classes will have the opportunity to host and visit other classes and participate in activities related to the

various countries. This is for students and teachers only. The classrooms will be open for parents to visit on

both Wednesday and Thursday between 2.30pm and 3.15pm.

Friday 23rd January 2015

Our BIS Parade of Nations will happen on this day. This is open to students, teachers and parents. Due to

large numbers, there will be two Parades. MPF and MP1 will begin at 8.30am and MP2 and MP3 will begin

at 10.30am. Both parades will take place in the gym. Children are invited to come to school dressed in their

national dress or clothes representing their home country.

Ms Deirdre Grimshaw

Deputy Headteacher

MPF - Exciting New Playground Equipment

Issue 17/Page 5

Over the Christmas holidays, our MPF front playground was completely transformed. We have replaced the

climbing frame, laid new safety surfacing, and have had a play house built. The children all love our new play

space and have had great fun exploring this week. They particularly love the fireman’s pole and have been prac-

tising on the equipment all week, really improving their skills. Well done, children!

We are all looking forward to having lots of fun outside this term.

Ms Clair Draper

Assistant Head Teacher (EYFS)

Community Service - Extra Curricular Clubs

Issue 17/Page 6

Take a look at the clubs that are still available for your Year Group, and sign up on CHQ:

See you there!

Ms Samantha Baker

EAL teacher and Community Service Leader

Club Day Year Group

Helping Hands with Thien Phuoc Foster Home

Monday Years 4-6

Get Together, Play Together, Learn Together with Binh Trieu School

Monday Years 2-6

Games Club with Mai Am Shelter

Thursday Years 5-6

The Term 2 Extra Curricular Club programme starts on Monday 26th January and

there are still spaces available in some Community Service Clubs! These clubs are

a great way to get involved with the community through making new friends from

local schools, trying new activities, and sharing experiences with other children.

Did you know that Community Service Clubs are in addition to your free club allo-

cation? That means that even if you are already a member of a free Extra Curricu-

lar club, you can ADD a Community Service Club as a bonus - every Community

Service Club is FREE!

Community Service Department - TET Collection

Issue 17/Page 7

Community Service Department

Issue 17/Page 8

The AP1 collection box is situated along the Main Office corridor.

Please place all of your NEW donated toothbrushes into the box from Monday 19th January until Friday

6th February.

AP1 and AP2 Welcome Back Coffee Morning

Wednesday morning saw parents from AP1 and

AP2 enjoying a welcome back coffee morning or-

ganised by the PTG coffee morning committees.

It was a lovely opportunity for new and returning

parents to meet and chat over great coffee and the

delicious treats on offer.

Huge thanks to all of the PTG for organising this

event and special thanks to AP2 parent, Cindy

Kazzi for opening up her beautiful home for us to

use.

PTG Coffee Morning Committee

Issue 17/Page 9

Fundinotots Programme

Issue 17/Page 10

Enrolments for Term 2 Fundinotots are now being received. For more information about our BIS Baby and

Toddler Group, please contact our Main Office. We’re looking forward to meeting you very soon.

Sarah Bonner

Fundinotots Leader

Issue 17/Page 11

MENU FOR F1 - F2 MENU 3 (WEEK BEGINNING 19 JANUARY)

DAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

MAIN

COURSE

CHOOSE

1

Ham & Cheese

Croque Monsieur,

Potato Wedges

OR

Chicken Rice

Chicken Carbonara

OR

Roast Pork, Rice

Pasta Bolognese-

Pork

OR

Sweet & Sour

Fish, Rice

Battered Fish &

Baked Potato

OR

Nasi Lemak -

Chicken & Egg

Chili Con Carne-Beef,

Rice

OR

Egg Noodle w Pork

VEGETA-

BLES

Long Beans, Car-

rot

Chinese Cabbage

& Carrot

Morning Glory

& Carrot

Spinach

Choy sum & Carrot

SOUP

Spinach & Melon

Watercress

Tomato & Tofu

Soup

Cabbage & Carrot

Mixed Vegetables

FOR

VEGE-

TARIAN

ONLY

Oriental Fried

Rice

Spinach & Melon

Soup

Braised Beans &

Vegetables, Rice

Watercress Soup

Veggie Pasta (e)

Tomato & Tofu

Soup

Vegetarian Chili

Con Carne, Rice

Cabbage & Carrot

Soup

Sautéed Vegetarian

Noodle

Mixed Vegetables Soup

MENU FOR F3 - YEAR 2 MENU 3 (WEEK BEGINNING 19 JANUARY)

DAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

MAIN COURSE

CHOOSE 1

Ham & Cheese

Croque Mon-

sieur,

Potato Wedges

OR

Chicken Rice

Chicken Carbona-

ra

OR

Roast Pork, Rice

Pasta Bolognese-

Pork

OR

Sweet & Sour Fish,

Rice

Battered Fish &

Baked Potato

OR

Nasi Lemak -

Chicken & Egg

Chili Con Carne-

Beef, Rice

OR

Stir Fry Egg

Noodle w Pork

VEGETABLES

Long Beans,

Carrot

Chinese Cabbage

& Carrot

Morning Glory &

Carrot

Spinach

Choysum & Car-

rot

SOUP

Spinach & Mel-

on

Watercress

Tomato & Tofu

Soup

Cabbage & Carrot

Mixed Vegeta-

bles

FOR

VEGETARIAN

ONLY

Oriental Fried

Rice

Spinach & Mel-

on Soup

Braised Beans &

Vegetables, Rice

Watercress Soup

Veggie Pasta (e)

Tomato & Tofu

Soup

Vegetarian Chili

Con Carne, Rice

Cabbage & Carrot

Soup

Stir Fry Vege-

tarian Noodle

Mixed Vegeta-

bles Soup

DELI BAR

OPTION

Bun

filled with Ham

& cheese

Served with

Salad

Jacket Potato

filled with Baked

Beans & Bacon

Served with Salad

Bun

filled with cheese &

egg

Served with Salad

Jacket Potato

filled with Bolo-

gnese Sauce

Served with Salad

Bun

filled with

Chicken & may-

onnaise,

Served with Sal-

ad

Fresh Fruits & Salad Bar are available daily

Issue 17/Page 12

MENU FOR YEAR 3 - YEAR 6 MENU 3 (WEEK BEGINNING 19 JANUARY)

DAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

MAIN

COURSE

CHOOSE 1

Ham & Cheese

Croque Monsieur,

Potato Wedges

OR

Chicken Rice

Chicken Carbona-

ra

OR

Roast Pork, Rice

Pasta Bolognese-

Pork

OR

Sweet & Sour Fish,

Rice

Battered Fish &

Baked Potato

OR

Nasi Lemak -

Chicken & Egg

Chili Con Carne-

Beef, Rice

OR

Egg Noodle w Pork

VEGETA-

BLES

Long Beans, Carrot

Chinese Cabbage

& Carrot

Morning Glory &

Carrot

Spinach

Choysum & Carrot

SOUP

Spinach & Melon

Watercress

Tomato & Tofu

Soup

Cabbage & Carrot

Mixed Vegetables

FOR

VEGETARI-

AN

ONLY

Oriental Fried Rice

Spinach & Melon

Soup

Braised Beans &

Vegetables, Rice

Watercress Soup

Veggie Pasta (e)

Tomato & Tofu

Soup

Vegetarian Chili

Con Carne, Rice

Cabbage & Carrot

Soup

Vegetarian Noodle

Mixed Vegetables

Soup

DELI BAR

OPTION

Baguette/Jacket

Potato

fill with ham, chick-

en, cheese, egg, tu-

na mayonnaise,

baked beans, peas

& bolognese sauce

Served with Salad

Bun/Jacket Potato

fill with ham,

chicken, cheese,

egg, tuna mayon-

naise, baked

beans, peas & bolo-

gnese sauce

Served with Salad

Wrap/Jacket Potato

fill with bacon,

ham, chicken, egg,

cheese, tuna mayon-

naise, baked beans,

peas & bolognese

sauce

Served with Salad

Bun/Jacket Potato

fill with ham,

chicken, cheese,

egg, tuna mayon-

naise, baked beans,

peas & bolognese

sauce

Served with Salad

Baguette/Jacket

Potato

fill with ham,

chicken, cheese,

egg, tuna mayon-

naise, baked

beans, peas & bo-

lognese sauce

Served with Salad

Fresh Fruits & Salad Bar are available daily