January 2015 | The AIS Messenger 1

Australian International School | Issue no.18 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

“You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.”

(Winston Churchill)

How much are you willing to give? Yes, a difficult question to answer, because most of us would say, “It depends”. Everyone is different; some people seem to give endlessly while others give very rarely or not at all. Some people give unstintingly of their own time, while others prefer to give money.

Volunteering is a common ethic at AIS, with people giving their time without any expectation of compensation. While these volunteer activities may be performed with the core intention of helping others, research indicates that there is a common wisdom that those who give of themselves also receive.

Oprah Winfrey has been known to comment that her favourite moments were in her ‘give-away shows’. She says that “every gift I’ve ever given has brought at least as much happiness to me as it has to the person I’ve given it to.” Significantly, volunteering also provides individuals with a sense of purpose and life satisfaction. What could be better than having a sense of purpose and a sense of well-being by helping someone else less fortunate or in need of our assistance?

Volunteering has other benefits too. It can assist people in making new friends and contacts, it can increase and improve social and relationship skills, it increases self-confidence, it can provide improved skills and knowledge and ultimately help in some peoples’ career pathway.

Our Parents’ and Friends’ Group do an outstanding job and are first to volunteer generously of their time and energy. Without hesitation, some parents are always involved in the organisation of some of our biggest and most successful events.

In this Messenger there is an article about the students not just giving money but volunteering their time and efforts, the Shoe Box Appeal. This will involve many of our children and staff and will be very special for the children who receive a Shoe Box. As Andrew Masterton wrote to parents recently:

Tet is a time of the year for joy and happiness, where families come together and give gifts. Unfortunately many children will not have this wonderful opportunity. With the help of Aid For Kids, we are pleased to be able support three organisations this year: June 1st School, The Tu Xuong Centre for Rehabilitation and Ba Chieu Orphanage for girls.

We are giving each AIS student in Years 1-8 a shoebox and asking them to fill this with gift items to a maximum value of $10USD. Students will decorate their shoebox in class and then take it home. We ask that, as a family, you consider what could be placed in the shoebox, and then return it to school between January 30 to February 5.

Thank you for getting involved in this programme and I am sure that you will also get much more back than you put in.

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The AIS Messenger | January 20152

Looking ahead!

I hope you all had an enjoyable and restful holiday back in your home countries or here in Vietnam. Even though we are in full swing with the new semester I would like to formally wish you all a Happy New Year and hope that the months ahead are prosperous and happy for you and your family. (Having said that, I was in a fantastic Year 2 Vietnamese lesson last week and the teacher reminded me that it was still the “old” year according to the Lunar calendar, until we celebrate TET in a few weeks.)

One of the many positive features of working and learning in an international school is the opportunity to celebrate not only our home country festivities but our host country’s festivities and other nation’s home festivities. This not only gives us an opportunity to have a good time but also to learn about each other’s culture and beliefs. This certainly will give all of us a greater chance of becoming more internationally-minded.

A while ago I let you know about a service that can be accessed via video conferencing such as Skype or Face Time. ‘Telespeech Australia’ will visit us on 3 March 2015 and give a talk on their service and wider issues surrounding speech therapy. This will take place at 7pm in the Cherry Blossom Campus in Thao Dien. For more information regarding the service please visit the website at this link http://www.telespeech.com.au/.

As a school we welcome all feedback whether it is positive or negative, which helps us to improve our provision for you and your children. If you have any concerns, the class teacher is always the first person to contact. If your concern is not resolved by talking with the teacher then please contact any of the Senior Management Team. In the Kindergarten and Primary School that is Jayne de la Haye (PYP Coordinator); Robert Crowther (Deputy Principal) and myself, Jarlath Madine (Principal). By working together

we can resolve almost everything.

In the previous issue of Messenger I recommended a link for books that parents should read to their children. Unfortunately the link didn’t work but it should do this time. Just click here: 50 Books Every Parent Should Read To Their Child. Have fun!

There are some exciting events planned over the next few weeks and months. Please check the Schedule of Events for details: School Calendar 2015 - 2016

I look forward to seeing you all over the coming weeks.

Message from the Principal of Kindergarten & Primary

JAr

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Our band originally came together in the Summer of 2014. The band was first named “Babe

Magnets” however with the intention of entering the 2014’s Battle of the Band (BOB), we decided to give a band a more serious name. As a group we decided on “Untitl3d”, partly because it was unique but mostly because we were too lazy to come up with another name to satisfy all of the band members!

Untitl3d consists of 7 people, with Jay on the drums, Janine on the piano, Khoa and Long on the guitar, Huyng Jun on the bass, and Dawson and myself as the vocalists. In order to prepare for BOB we met up every weekend for two hours to

practice our chosen songs. We were confident with our performance of “Rude” (Magic!) and “My Happy Ending” (Avril Lavigne) and chose to perform both songs on the night of BOB.

BOB was held on 13 December at ISHCMC. Getting to perform on stage in front of a crowd of friendly audiences and seeing the faces of our friends, who were there cheering us on, was a great feeling. Then finding out that we won the competition was the highlight of the night and the peek point of the creation of our band. After all the tears (of joy that is) and the laughter, we all decided to reward our efforts and victory with some McDonalds!

Through all the ups and the down, the late nights of rehearsals, we achieved the goal that we had originally set out for. So on that note, I (on the behalf of the band) would like to say a massive, massive thank you to everyone who has supported us. A huge ‘thank you’ to Mr. Hoddinott for getting us into some local gigs (e.g the Terry Fox Run) and giving us feedback on what to improve. Last but not least, thank you to all my fellow band members. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to work with such talented and amazing people.

May there be many more McDonald meals to come!

Battle of the Bands – a triumph for AIS!By Jamielle Mckinnon, Y12 student

3January 2015 | The AIS Messenger

The AIS Messenger | January 20154

“Dad, why is Thanh wearing the same t-shirt today as he was yesterday?” So asked my eldest son when we visited family friends in a small village during Tet. The answer was easy, but a hard to one to explain, as Thanh could only afford that one t-shirt. While we had a great Tet that year, visiting Vietnamese families, eating delicious food, giving lots of gifts and enjoying the festivities, it was a reminder that not all people have the same opportunities.

AIS TET APPEALAndrew Masterton, IB CAs Coordinator

Tet is a time of the year for joy and happiness, where families come together and give gifts. Unfortunately many children will not have this wonderful opportunity and experience. With this understanding, AIS is having a Tet Appeal to make life a little easier and happier for those in need.

With the assistance of Aid For Kids, we are pleased to be able support three organisations this year: June 1st School in District 4, The Tu Xuong Centre for Rehabilitation and the Ba Chieu Orphanage for girls. All organisations have the aim of providing support to children and young adults who are economically disadvantaged. In the case of Tu Xuong, the children also have to learn to live with a physical and intellectual disability.

We are giving each AIS student in Years 1-8 a shoebox and asking them to fill this with gift items to a maximum value of $10USD. Students will decorate their shoebox in class and then bring it home. We ask that AIS families consider what could be placed in the shoebox, and then return it to school between January 30 and February 5. In class, your child’s teacher will also discuss some possible gift ideas:

• Years1–6aresupportingJune1standBaChieu Orphanage. Suggested gift items are: educational needs such as pens, pencils, ruler, coloured pencils; toiletries such a shampoo and soap.

• Years7–8aresupportingTuXuong Rehabilitation Centre. Gifts need to be robust and strong or a soft toy, a simple puzzle or game.

For the students and families in Years 9 -13, we are asking them to give their support to the on-going Loreto “Build a Library” Appeal where by April we are hoping to reach the target of USD $5000.

We thank you for your generous support.

THE JOY OFTET HOLIDAY SHOEBOX PROJECT

350

W O R T H E A C H S H O E B O X

COLLECTING DATE

30 JAN - 5 FEB06 FEBGIVING DATE

Happy Lunar New Year 2015

USD $10

GIVING

shoeboxes needed for disadvantaged children at:

June 1st School, District 4

The Tu Xuong Centre for Rehabilitation

Ba Chieu Orphanage.

Primary students Year 1-6:

Gift ideas for students at June 1st School and Ba Chieu Orphanage: pencil case, ruler, pens, pencils notebooks, toiletries and toys...

Middle School students Year 7-8:

Gift ideas for children at The Tu Xuong Centre for Rehabilitation: clothes and indestructable / educational toys.

The AIS Messenger | January 20156

As the son of English immigrants to Australia, it is perhaps not surprising that Andrew Masterton likes to travel. Born and raised in Melbourne, Andrew first travelled to Europe and the UK in his mid twenties. A few years later, he worded in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burmese border. After finishing a Masters in Development Studies at Oxford University and Monash University, Andrew worked for World Vision in Rwanda (shortly after the genocide there) and Kosovo (while bullets were still flying!) in 1998. Andrew’s wife, Jaom, is half-American, and lived in Vanuatu for 5 years as a child. With their two sons, Flynn and Hamish, they moved to Saigon in July 2009. Andrewisnowinhis6thyearofteaching at AIS.

“I love Vietnam for lots of reasons”, says Andrew. “It’s culturally exciting, friendly and welcoming. Saigon is a fascinating mix of the old and new, for instance street food next door to modern restaurants. And I can see that the experience of living here is helping to develop in Flynn and Hamish a very broad perspective on life. Their awareness of cultural differences and international issues is truly remarkable.”

Living in Saigon has also allowed Andrew to pursue his interest in fashion. “I have always had hobbies outside of my career”, says Andrew. “In Melbourne, it was mostly gardening. In Saigon, I started designing shirts for friends after they said they liked the colourful shirts I had designed for myself. Now, under the brand ‘Masto’, I meet people from all over the world who live in Saigon and who would like help designing some shirts, whether for daily use or a special occasion. I’ve always loved colour and fabric, and this hobby gives me a good excuse to travel Saigon looking for the right fabric, and to help others to express themselves creatively. I get a real buzz when I see someone walking around town in one of my shirts.”

While ‘Masto’ may be rewarding, Andrew is quick to emphasise that teaching is his real passion. Why? “It’s such an important profession, and I like getting kids excited about learning. I encourage them to ask questions, and I believe that I make a positive difference in their lives”. There can surely be no greater reward than this.

Parent Portal

As the son of english immigrants to Australia, it is perhaps not surprising that Andrew Masterton likes to travel.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Andrew first travelled to europe and the UK in his mid twenties. A few years later, he worded in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burmese border. After finishing a Masters in Development studies at Oxford University and Monash University, Andrew worked for World Vision in rwanda (shortly after the genocide there) and Kosovo (while bullets were still flying!) in 1998. Andrew’s wife, Jaom, is half-American, and lived in Vanuatu for 5 years as a child. With their two sons, Flynn and Hamish, they moved to saigon in July 2009. Andrew is now in his 6th year of teaching at AIs.

If you have a story to share with over 4000 members in the AIS community, please contact myco.tran@aisvietnam.com and an interview will be arranged.

‘I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then.’

Lewis Carroll

ALICE ... the Musical

There is great excitement within the halls and walls of AIS as the newly recruited cast and crew gear up for the start of production for the AIS School Musical depicting the Lewis Carroll story: The Adventures of ALICE in Wonderland.

With a modern twist, the famous Lewis Carroll characters use contemporary songs and dancing styles to tell a re-scripted version of the strange Alice story. Don’t miss what promises to be a spectacular AIS stage performance event. Mark your calendar for Friday April 3 or saturday April 4; curtains open at 6pm.

By Jacqui gaynor, Music Coordinator

January 2015 | The AIS Messenger 7

Alice is coming...

Alice inWonderland

AIS School Production 2015 • Place: AIS Auditorium

Mad Hatter - Elspeth Green (9GN)

The AIS Messenger | January 20158

TEACHER FEATURE

For a boy from Louisiana, Gabriel Price does not have much of an accent. Born and raised in Marksville, a small town in the

centre of the state, Gabriel’s speech rarely betrays his southern roots. This is probably an advantage for an international school teacher with a penchant for public speaking.

Gabriel got his undergraduate degree in Political Science & Sociology from Louisiana State University, and his teaching degree from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

He first visited Vietnam for a few weeks in 2001, on a missionary tour, and returned in 2003 to teach English. Heintendedtostay6months,but(likesomany)“caught the Vietnam bug” and has remained here ever since, now over 11 years.

Shortly after ACG International School opened, Gabriel joined as an ESL teacher in early 2008. A year or so later, at the Deputy Principal’s suggestion, he started teaching Geography. He now teaches IGCSE Geography, IB Geography and English.

When asked why he stays, Gabriel replies “I moved to Vietnam when I was quite young, and so I feel like I’ve done much of my growing up here. I love teaching and this is such a stimulating place to live”. While he misses the “gumbo” (fried rice) for which Louisiana is famous, Gabriel loves his phở!

He also loves teaching Geography, especially for the International Baccalaureate. “The IB looks at Geography very broadly, focusing on people and their environment, migration and disparities in development. We don’t just study capital cities and major rivers!”

As for his approach to teaching, Gabriel invests a lot of time building a relationship with each of his students. “Students listen and learn when they trust you. I try not to overdo direct instruction. I want my students to take responsibility for their learning, and to learn to work collaboratively.”

In addition to teaching, Gabriel is an active participant in school life, organising the AIS team for the Terry Fox Run (which, this year, drew over 200 runners from the AIS community), facilitating the Student Representative Council, and MCing important school events, like the annual Graduation & Awards Ceremony.

Louisiana is a special state in the US, with its rich mixture of Creole (French, Spanish, African and Native American) influences and unique history (bought by the US from France for $8m at the start of the 19th century). So too, Gabriel Price, “the boy from Louisiana”, occupies a special place at AIS.

(This is our first Teacher Feature. More will follow, providing readers with an insight into the backgrounds, approaches to teaching, and interests of some of the teachers at AIS. Like our Parent Portal, which also appears in The AIS Messenger, these Teacher Features are intended to help the members of our school community get to know each other better.)

By Gabriel Price

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January 2015 | The AIS Messenger 9

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