The AIS Messenger, issue no. 15

September 2014 | The AIS Messenger 1

Australian International School | Issue no.15 www.aisvietnam.com

Xi Campus (Kindergarten) 190 Nguyen Van Huong StreetThao Dien Ward | District 2 | HCMCt: +84 8 3519 2727 | f: +84 8 3744 6961

Thao Dien Campus (Kindergarten & Primary School)APSC Compound 36 Thao Dien Road | District 2 | HCMCt: +84 8 3744 6960 | f: +84 8 3744 6961

Thu Thiem Campus (Kindergarten, Primary, Middle & Senior School) 264 Mai Chi Tho (East-West Highway) An Phu Ward | District 2 | HCMCt: +84 8 3742 4040 | f: +84 8 3740 7361

The AIS

Message from Executive Principal

EssEngEr

School students in 2014 have access to considerably more knowledge, information and means of

communication than their predecessors. Whilst Francis Bacon said “knowledge is power,” knowledge also brings anxiety and stresses. And it is often the highest achieving students who know the most and are most affected by such anxieties. Those who are ‘blissfully ignorant’ often sleep easier.

Having had many years of experience working with senior students who are dealing with the anxieties and stresses of achieving the best possible school examination results, I know how important such results are in the competitive world of university entry. In many ways, despite increasing competition, it is becoming easier to gain entry to university, not harder.

Undergraduate courses often lay the foundation to further study in a student’s chosen field. Often, a few extra years of maturity can see a young person more aware of their areas of interest, allowing them to focus more specifically and with better long term career goals. It is very rare for a sixteen or seventeen year old to

know exactly what career they want to pursue for the rest of their lives.

An advantage in achieving good results at school is that this may save time in commencing a chosen career. A student’s uncertainty about what he/she wants to do, let alone study, after graduating from school, can compound the anxieties he/she feels at this time, and the perceived expectations of, and pressures from, parents and friends can create further stress. Parents walk an uneasy tightrope between loving and caring for their child, and guiding and encouraging them in their studies and career choices. As a parent myself, I feel for all our families at AIS as we prepare our children for life’s tests and choices.

Two key ingredients in maximising students’ academic outcomes are effective planning and organisation of time; and study effort. Ability is, of course, a third factor that can contribute significantly to better results, but many very able students underachieve when they do not use their time well and/or they are not motivated to try their hardest. A student who places themself under enormous study stress can be assisted by being given a longer term

view of the many possibilities and options that are available to them.

To that end, next week we are beginning the first of several university visits to AIS. We will host Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and the University of Auckland, from New Zealand. The purpose of this visit, and of the others that will follow, is to expose our students to the image of themselves studying and living somewhere other than home, and to look into the world of possibilities that await them. On Sunday 5 October at the Rex Hotel over 30 universities from the USA will be available to introduce themselves and meet our students. This is a great opportunity for parents to join their children in learning more about the university options that are available to them, and to support their children in making an informed decision.

The AIS Messenger | September 20142

AttEndAncE

This week sees the start of an updated attendance procedure. Parents of any student who is absent, and we have had no notification, will be contacted initially by e-mail and then by text message. In order to keep these messages to a minimum I would ask that you continue to inform the school as early as possible should your child be absent. This can either be done via e-mail to the tutor or an e-mail or telephone call to Reception.

This support from home is essential for the school to function effectively.

UniforM

Thank you to everyone for your continuing vigilance over uniform. As parents you are the first person each day to confirm that your child is dressed as per the school uniform policy. Sending a consistent message from home and school about uniform has ripple effects across behaviour, attitudes and ultimately attainment.

PArEntAl involvEMEnt

There is considerable research around the link between parental involvement in school and student attainment. The work of Henderson categorized this involvement into six broad areas:

1. Establish a daily family routine. Examples: Providing time and a quiet place to study, assigning responsibility for household chores, being firm about bedtime and having dinner together.

2. Monitor out-of-school activities. Examples: Setting limits on TV watching, checking up on children when parents are not home, arranging for after-school activities and supervised care.

3. Model the value of learning, self-discipline, and hard work. Examples: Communicating through questioning and conversation, demonstrating that achievement comes from working hard.

4. Express high but realistic expectations for achievement. Examples: Setting goals and standards that are appropriate for children’s age and maturity, recognizing and encouraging special talents, informing friends and family about successes.

5. Encourage children’s development/ progress in school. Examples: Maintaining a warm and supportive home, showing interest in children’s progress at school, helping with homework, discussing the value of a good education and possible career options, staying in touch with teachers and school staff.

6. Encourage reading, writing, and discussions among family members. Examples: Reading, listening to children read and talking about what is being read.

terry storer

stUdEnt lEAdErshiP

the past few weeks have seen some of our revised student

leadership opportunities starting to take shape. All four houses now have a male and female house captain.

our student leadership council has been elected and have started their weekly meetings. in the next few weeks the Executive from both the year 7-9 and 10-13 councils will begin meeting with me as part of their mandate to ensure student’s voices are heard. finally our head Boy and head girl are now in place. over the coming weeks we will introduce a prefect/mentor program, led by the head Boy and girl, to enhance leadership opportunities amongst students and to give them a wider range of forums where their constructive feedback can be heard.

Message from the deputy Executive Principal


Thank you

It’s hard to believe that two months have passed since the beginning of the new academic year and for some of us that has meant two months in a new school, new colleagues, a new country, new home, new friends... For me this has been a positive start to my time at AIS and Vietnam. Having been involved in many schools over the years I can safely say that our dedicated teachers, supportive parents and the motivated students have certainly help me settle in, so thank you for that.

Message from the Principal of Kindergarten & PrimaryJarlath Madine

Teaching or Learning?

I was recently showing a prospective parent around and we were chatting about our own schooling and how much things have changed over the years. For me, as a primary age student, I remember the teacher doing a lot of talking as he was standing at the chalkboard as we sat in our rows listening attentively to him. Years later when I was inspecting in classrooms I observed similar practice and on one occasion the teacher talked almost a full hour without any student participation or involvement. In both of those classrooms students were respectful and well behaved. In both of these classrooms the teacher was the centre of attention and the students in many ways were the audience. Sadly most of the children learnt very little and some didn’t learn anything at all.

At AIS and many other classrooms around the world, things have changed. The focus is now on the students or better still the ‘learners’. The learners are now the centre of attention and the teacher is

more of a facilitator. Through careful assessment, the teacher knows exactly what each child needs to learn and has a range of strategies that will enable the learners to make progress and experience success. If you walked into a successful classroom you would see some children collaborating as a group; some children learning independently; some children would be sitting at a computer engaging with an ‘adaptive learning’ programme such as Mathletics and some children would be sitting alongside the teacher or support teacher focused on a specific learning objective. At the core of effective learning is great questioning from the teacher that encourages thinking and dialogue.

We look forward to sharing with the learning journey of your child through events such as the Student Led Conferences and the PYP Exhibition.


Australian International School has a proud tradition of developing our students to

be internationally-minded leaders, preparing them for any challenges they may face both now and in the future. One of the ways we help students develop these valuable skills in the Primary School is through our Student Representative Council (SRC). Firstly, we elect two students from Year 6 who will lead the SRC as Chair People throughout the year. Secondly, each home class from Year 2 to Year 6 elects an SRC member who holds their position for two school terms.

The SRC are an important part of helping our school become a happier learning environment, as they represent the voice of the students. They are also responsible for taking part in important events and making students aware of different initiatives that are being introduced to the school. These include charity events, such as the TET Giving Tree, making sure students are following our Playground

Agreements and being ambassadors for our school when we have visitors.

Most importantly, the SRC helps students develop extremely valuable skills that they are able to use during their lifelong learning journey. This is achieved by developing a range of Learner Attitudes and Profiles that are the core of the IB PYP programme. Students are able to develop their communication and collaboration skills, becoming more caring and open-minded to the differences and needs of others, show a commitment to fulfilling all of their duty as SRC members and developing their confidence and leadership skills to name just a few.

This is an invaluable learning experience for our students as individuals, as well as having a positive impact on our school as a whole. We are looking forward to another exciting and successful year for Student Representative Council in 2014/15.

Student Representative Council (SRC) in the Primary SchoolBy Jason russell (SRC Committee Member & Year 5 Teacher)

Saigon International Mother Baby AssociationsiMBA (Saigon International Mother Baby Association) is affiliated with Family Medical Practice. The aim is to provide pre-natal advice, support and companionship in the early years of parenting. Sessions are held every Saturday morning, from 10am to 12 noon and cost 100,000 VND.

The money that is donated every week will be given to charities in the local community every 6 months.

Bike Road Safety

course (part 2)

Due to popular demand, The Bike Shop will be putting on a one hour session on bike

maintenance, riding skills and tips in a fun and interactive way, with David, the instructor who delivered the fun course on Disney Tuesday at the Sports Centre. This Bike Road Safety course is for children between the ages of 7 and 12. It’s completely free. Here are some more details:

time: 6.15pm

venue: The Bike Shop, first floor, 250 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, District 2.


By Jacqui Gaynor, Music Coordinator

Culture is an incredibly complex scientific foundation that is thousands of years old. Today,

festivals in every culture are extremely important as they show us how celebration can be a passageway to the most profound aspects of life.

The Moon Festival was celebrated at the Thu Thiem Campus on Friday 5 September with moon cake, Dragon Dancers, traditional drumming presented by the IB Music students, musical and dancing items presented by all of the Primary School students of AIS, traditional Vietnamese food prepared by Viva foods and drinks supplied by the Parents and Friends Group (PFG).

The reception area, courtyard and cafeteria areas were transformed by the Support Teachers into a colourful display of lanterns, fans and traditional Vietnamese drums as well as a mural depicting the Moon Festival story.

The Moon Festival performances demonstrated how creative and responsive the AIS children are to the Performing Arts and how vital its continued presence and practice in their education and life is.

AIS Celebrates ‘Moon Festival’


for the first time in history, the disney live! show has come to vietnam, with a series of live shows taking place between 24 to 28 september 2014.

On Tuesday 23 September, AIS was proud to host a visit from the Disney characters who came and met the AIS Primary School children, at the Sports Centre. They high-fived and took photographs with the excited children. A small group of 40 AIS students also participated in a Disney Bike Safety course to make them better and safer riders on Ho Chi Minh City roads. The magical morning ended with Let it Go by the Primary School Choir.


WALK N WHEELS 5

for further information please contact Ms Jodi swan or Mr Michael [email protected] or [email protected]

Friday, 10 October 2014

AIS Thao Dien Campus will be hosting its fifth annual Walk ‘n Wheels charity event.

When: Friday 10 October from 8.30am – 10am

Where: APSC Compound, Thao Dien

Who: Thao Dien and Xi students

Why: To help to raise money for Saigon Children’s Charity. Last year the students raised over $3,000 for SCC and we hope to match that amount this year!

If you would like to help out with marshalling, please contact Alex Ryan via email at [email protected]. Please note if you have a child in Kindergarten and would like to help out on Lotus Road only, contact your class teacher directly.

We look forward to seeing you at the event!

Walk n Wheels Committee

Documents

The AIS Messenger, issue no. 15