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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

rachaelp@vislao.com

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.