AIS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | Issue May 2018
Student Leadership
From the Executive Principal
Student Leadership Dr Roderick Crouch
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ecently we held both our graduation ceremony for Year 13 and our leadership assembly for new school captains. AIS has wide ranging opportunities for student leadership, from the Primary School
SRC and speaking in assemblies to the house leaders, GIN groups, SRC, prefects and school captains in the Secondary School. It is wonderful to see how the students make the most of these extensive opportunities. The following is an extract of my speech at the leadership assembly and summarises how we view leadership at AIS. George Washington, the first American President, faced terrible difficulties when he was a general fighting the American War of Independence. His armies had lost a number of battles, they were dispirited and close to giving up. However, due to his leadership, a decisive victory was won at the Battle of Trenton in1776. To win this battle, his army had to march 10 km in an ice storm, cross the Delaware River at night and attack a town defended by experienced troops. It was a remarkable victory, and one that would not have been won without a leader who inspired his troops by leading from the front. Leadership is not being the physically strongest or the toughest or the most skilful - though at times this might be necessary – it is being the strongest character; for leadership is about setting the right example, just as Washington did. As Albert Schweitzer said, (Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.) In our world we see many examples of leadership with the most common being the ‘strongman’ leader, who often says, ‘I am in charge and you must do what I say’. The reality is no one likes being aggressively told what to do. We would argue at AIS that there is a more effective model of leadership which we call servant leadership. This says that to be a good leader, students need to lead by example and demonstrate empathy. True leaders inspire, sometimes by words, but more commonly by deeds. They set the example that others want to follow. These leaders do not say, ‘you go,’ rather they say ‘let’s go together.’ By doing this, they engender respect and build trust. True leadership can only occur when we build positive relationships with each other. This is a wonderful school community and each morning I see hordes of happy, smiling faces as they descend from the buses or cars eager to see their friends and enjoy all that the school has to offer. The joy on all their faces (both young and old) as they face each new day is delightful. The challenge for our student leaders is to harness and lead that energy and enthusiasm to help the School be the best we can
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be - both our community and the world. We can start by asking, are we giving our best or are we complacent and not trying? We can then build on it by working together, rather than alone. It was once said that, our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail, so to all our students I would say this - leadership is not easy; so support your student leaders. They have earned their position, so let them lead you. It is easy to hide at the back, and complain. It takes courage and perseverance to stand out the front, make speeches, represent the School and work with others. They are not perfect, just as you are not perfect and I am not perfect, but we can all give our best. So let us all help our student leaders through our own attitude and desire to make this School the best for all of us. To our leaders I would say, congratulations, good luck and don’t despair if things are not going as well as might be hoped. Always remember that it was Einstein who said, "It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." When we persevere, like Washington, we succeed.
The new prefects, holding their prefect’s ties, join returning prefects Grace Seo, Jenny Nguyen and Jerry To
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US University Counsellor’s Tour Mark Vella Deputy Executive and Secondary Principal
F
ollowing the IC3 (Colleges Careers & Counselling)
two years at a community college, gaining an Associate
Regional Forum that we hosted at AIS in February, I
of Arts degree, and then, if they meet the required GPA,
was invited by IC3’s sister organisation, KICUnivAssist,
transfer their credits to a four-year college. In California
to participate in a college counsellors’ tour to the
this is a pathway that thousands of students use to gain
United States in late April. The aim of the tour was to
full degrees in both the California State and University
provide college counsellors with first-hand experience
of California systems. In fact one-third of the students
of the range of tertiary study options available in the
admitted each year into the UC system come from
US and to meet with admissions staff and faculty to
community colleges.
gain a greater understanding of the admissions process and the courses on offer. This was a particularly timely
The other 11 universities visited were all four-year
opportunity as over the last two years the US has
institutions. These ranged from small private Jesuit
emerged as the single biggest university destination for
founded colleges like Loyola Marymount in LA and
students graduating from AIS.
Saint Peter’s in New Jersey, to large public universities including the University of Oklahoma and the University of
The tour included counsellors from 16 schools in 13
Cincinnati, to medium size colleges like Miami University
different countries. The demanding travel schedule
(in Oxford, Ohio!) and West Kentucky University both
involved visits to no less than 13 different institutions.
located in classic American college towns. All had
The colleges and universities that we visited represented
superb facilities. Stand-outs included the football
the full range of tertiary institutions on offer in the US:
stadium and art gallery at the University of Oklahoma,
two-year community colleges, liberal arts colleges,
the research labs at UC Santa Barbara, the E-Sports
public and state universities, and private universities.
gaming centre at UC Irvine, the three Nobel laureates on the teaching faculty at Stonybrook University on
The first two visits were to Golden West College and
Long Island, and the beautiful Georgian architecture at
Orange Coast College, both community colleges
Miami University. Of course all this comes at a price and
located close to Huntington Beach just south of LA.
college education in the US is not cheap. Price points,
Community colleges offer some interesting options. They
including tuition and living expenses, ranged between
are significantly cheaper than four-year universities but
US$ 21,000 at Orange Coast College and $ 68,000 at
many of them nevertheless offer high quality programs
Loyola Marymount.
and facilities. The admissions requirements are less demanding – few require SATs/ACTs, personal essays
From a professional point of view the trip was most
or letters of recommendation - and they are accessible
worthwhile. The insights and understanding gained
to those students who do not have a full IB Diploma.
from the tour will mean that those AIS students who
They also provide a pathway into four year colleges,
are interested in studying in the US will receive better
many of which have Transfer Admission Guarantees
informed advice and guidance in the future. I would like
( TAGs ) with community colleges. Under this system
to take this opportunity to thank publicly KIC Univassist
students, including international students, can study for
who were generous sponsors of the tour.
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Leadership Assembly During week 4 of this term a special leadership assembly was held to announce the new Head Boy & Head Girl, Prefects, SRC Executives, and House Captains who have been appointed for the 2018/2019 academic year. Because our Year 13 students graduate early in Term 4, prior to sitting their IB exams, student leaders are appointed and commence their duties during Term 4, and continue in these roles until Term 4 of the following year. These positions all involve what is known as servant leadership. Through their additional efforts and responsibilities, our student leaders make life at AIS a more positive and fulfilling experience for their peers and for the wider AIS community.
New Student Leaders for 2018/2019 Head Girl: JUNG, Seung Yoon Head Boy: Blair KELLY Prefects: Ramya BALBON, Harrison CRAIG, NGUYEN Yen Nhi (Milly), NGUYEN Tran Hai Quan SRC Executive: TRINH Minh Khoi (Bill), MAI Viet Khanh, BABA Yu, CHUNG Eun Ji, Luke GILLIN
Dr Crouch, the new SRC Executive, Mr Price ( TIC of SRC ) House Captains: Senior: Rohit AMBAKKAT, Guillermo MENDEZ SOTO (Gilly), MAI Nghi (Jessica), MAI Tuong (Eric), NGUYEN Khanh Doan (Dalina), SEO Hyun Jin (Grace), Andrew TRAN, Hayley WALLER Junior: DOAN My Kim, Luke GILLIN, HIGUCHI Ryo, NGUYEN Ha My, PHAM Gia Huy, TRUONG Nguyen, Ishan VERMA, WANG Dinh Chi (Gigi)
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Supporting your child through their assessments From Rachel Perkins - Primary and Kindergarten Principal
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ver the past week the children have undertaken their end of year assessments in mathematics, reading and writing and I have been very impressed with their
positive attitude towards these very important tests. During the school year, assessments take place each term. There are a number of ways that you can maximise your child's learning capabilities throughout the school year, which can lead to confident test-taking. Please find below some of my favourite strategies: • Assist your child by ensuring that your child completes all homework set by their teacher. • Help your child develop good study habits, thinking skills, and a positive attitude towards education from an early age. • Ensure that your child has good attendance at school. • Stay in regular communication with your child's teacher. • Encourage a good bedtime routine and regular eating habits. • Talk to your child about any worries they may have about their assessments. • Encourage your child to read as much as possible, and to increase their vocabulary – even reading magazines, newspapers, and comic books regularly will help improve their reading skills. As you help your children do their best in their assessments, remind them that testing is just one part of their education. With your support and involvement, they will be well on their way to their own bright future.
Student-Led Conferences
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n Thursday 10 May we were delighted to welcome many families to share in their child's learning through our annual Student Led Conference. The children taught their parents a variety of subjects and impressed
them with their skills and knowledge. Several parents said that they were amazed by their child's progress this year. As a school we are delighted to see the children show so such great enthusiasm when sharing their learning and it was wonderful to see how proud their parents were of their child's achievement.
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International Day at AIS By Bernadette O’Sullivan
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n 20 May we enjoyed a fabulous International Day at AIS. Students came beautifully dressed in their national costumes or in outfits in the colour of their flag. The Members of the PFG at both TD and TT set
up a range of stalls from many countries that enabled the children to use their senses to explore many aspects of that particular culture. We thank the parents for their contribution as we tasted food, played games, looked at posters, learned about landmarks and animals, listened to music and watched performances and dances. The children had an amazing time and they learnt that ‘together we are stronger,’ and the beauty that sharing our different nationalities and culture brings to our school community. We were also lucky to have Queen Elizabeth from the UK, and the Sheikh from the UAE come to share our special day!! What a wonderful way to celebrate our diversity and enjoy each other’s culture.
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Lights, Camera, Action O
n Monday, 9 April, students attended the Inaugural Year 8 English Short Film Festival where they viewed ten films, voted for their choice of Best Film and received a number of awards
recognising their creative and technical achievements. During the last fortnight in Term 3, Year 8 English students produced original short films based on their study unit “Fabulous Hobbies.” Students showcased their talents and interests which included sports, music, art, aerial photography and drone operation, conducting scientific experiments, yard “sale-ing”, caring for animals and travelling. Besides revealing some impressive hobbies, the project uncovered an vast array of filmmaking skills. Students worked together in cross-cohort groups to brainstorm ideas, develop concepts, write scripts, present content in English on camera, film and edit. Along the way, they also learned about working in groups, capitalising on members’ strengths and negotiating problems. According to Year 8 English teacher Joe Brown, “The process really was as important as the products.” Another important factor in the project’s success was the fun the students had working creatively and collaboratively. One student said, “It was a really nice opportunity to work with people from the other classes. I looked forward to English classes during the week we filmed.” Another student agreed, “Working with the other classes gave me more opportunities to communicate in English.”
By Lynette Hutting
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Graduation 2018 by Andy Cartlidge - Head of Senior School & IBDP Coordinator
n Friday 27 March, our 59 Year 13 students had
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our Executive Principal. This was followed by the
their final day of school and, in celebration,
‘turning of the tassel’ and the final procession out, to
some 500 people gathered in the auditorium to
a standing ovation from their fellow students, their
witness their Graduation Ceremony.
family, friends and teachers.
As our graduates processed in to Elgar’s Pomp and
It is right and fitting that, as a School, we recognise
Circumstance, our MC for the afternoon, Mr
this occasion in the life of our students. Leaving
Armstrong, was there to announce them and to lead
Secondary School is one of the major events in one’s
the school through the event. Together we witnessed
life, a rite of passage, signalling the end of a thirteen-
emotional speeches from our Head Girl, Julia Lee,
year journey through school and the beginning of
and Head Boy, Desmond Lim, as well as Chelsea
the next phase in a young person’s life.
Degenhardt who all eloquently expressed how AIS had become more than a school, rather a second
Our graduates are currently in the middle of three
family to them. Our student leaders gave heartfelt
weeks of IB exams, the end of which we will celebrate
thanks to their families, our staff here and, of course,
at the Graduation Dinner on Saturday, 19 May at the
their peers, as well as sharing memories of their time
CEM Centre. I hope that our graduates look back on
at AIS.
their time at AIS with fondness and we all wish them luck in their future endeavours, whether at work, in
Our Executive Principal, Dr Crouch, gave a speech
tertiary education or serving in their country’s military.
that contained some excellent advice for our Year
Our school motto is ‘leading to a bright future’: this
13s as they contemplate their lives after AIS and
is indeed what we hope for all our students.
graduate. Stephanie Sua performed a beautiful version of Rachel Platten’s Better Place in honour of her family, teachers and friends. We also enjoyed a video that she had put together which highlighted the journey that our students have gone through at the school. This was followed by Mr Cartlidge who, in what is now becoming a tradition, delivered his ridiculous but entertaining poem An ode to our Graduates . TM
It was then time for the more formal part of the occasion as our students came up on stage, one by one, to be awarded their graduation certificates by The Leader ¡ May 2018
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MUSIC NOTES by Andrew Sweeney
The benefits of a quality music education
by showing them the individual techniques of playing an
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instrument. Yuna is an extremely accomplished flute
here is considerable research which shows that
player and piano player.
learning and practising music assists one’s IQ and
intellectual development. A 2007 University of Kansas study showed that students in primary schools with superior music education programs (like AIS) scored nearly 22 percent higher in English and 20 percent higher in Maths on standardised tests. Learning to read music
Our 7/8 Concert Band rehearses Friday lunchtime, it is
is another essential part of music education and it is one
growing all the time and new members are welcome to
of the few genuinely international languages.
attend to play easier music.
Recently I have been playing in the Ho Chi Minh City
Recently these smaller ensembles have been playing in
Orchestra and Mekong Delta Big Band. These groups
the cafeteria as pop up performances. They are well
consist of players from all parts of the world. They are
rehearsed and use these opportunities to showcase
medical doctors, engineers, financial analysts, advisors
what they have been rehearsing as a group.
and company directors. Most of these people have learnt their music in high school and have continued playing as a hobby. At AIS, our students are being taught exactly the same high standards of international music and the results are showing in what we are seeing and hearing from the students. The following is an update on some of our many ensembles. Our Senior Concert Band has over 60 members and they will be performing at the prize giving evening on 5 June 2018.
Finally during lunchtimes on Thursday I have been teaching a group of students jazz and the 12 bar blues. On Tuesday afternoon Year 12 student Yuna Jeong (as
This group is growing in numbers. Currently we are
part of her CAS project) helps a small group of Year 7
working on 2 jazz standard songs called “Louie Louie”
and some year 10 students improve their playing skills
and “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy”. The Leader ¡ May 2018
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Literacy Parent Workshop
t was great to see so many parents attend the Literacy workshops. The workshops focussed on assessment
and covered a range of specific issues including:
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by Megan Lavelle
n Thursday 29 March there was a Math Assessment Parent Workshop. Many parents attended at Thu
Thiem and Thao Dien and learned about the Assessment
• preparing students for external tests
tools that are used at AIS. Parents had the opportunity
• the Year 6 Checkpoint exams. • benchmark
assessment
instruments
used
AIS
including the PM Benchmark and PROBE. • whole school writing assessments and how they are differentiated for year levels. • how writing is moderated
to have some hands on problem solving by “competing” in our own Math Olympiad. Parents were able to solve problems taken from the end of year Cambridge exams in order to understand better the rigour of the Cambridge curriculum.
• the importance of ‘mother tongue’ (that is the language one speaks at home) in language learning
by Shanna Comerford
Happy Mother's Day 母亲节快乐 :
Celebrating Mother' s Day in Chinese class by Helen Zhuang
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ear 7 students recently made Mother's Day cards in Chinese. Here are some of them.
母亲节快乐（mǔ qīn jiē kuài lè ，Happy Mother's Day)
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by Minh Tam Le - U11 T-Ball team
n Wednesday 9 May, a group of T-Ballers from AIS Years 3-6 entered a T-ball tournament held at the British International School
(BIS). This was the first time our school has competed in this tournament so we were all very nervous, but excited at the same time. There were two age groups. The u10s (which were the Year 3’s and 4’s) and the u11’s (the Year 5’s and 6’s). We were due to play three games. The first we lost against a very well drilled BIS team. After adjusting our tactics to look at our opponents strengths and weaknesses, we were overjoyed that we had won our second match against ISSP! Unfortunately right before our match with BVIS, we heard thunder and had to go inside. The rain never stopped and the whole tournament was called off due to the weather. Never mind, we all had a great time and it was a good learning experience. Many thanks to our coaches Ms White and Mr Hansen for preparing us for the day.
U14 Badminton Tournament A Super Effort!
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by Charla Sweeney
n Tuesday 8 May AIS hosted the U14 SISAC
who came to watch the games after their classes
Tournament. It was a fabulous event. The students
completed. It has been a pleasure being involved with the
from over six different international schools in HCMC
U14 AIS badminton Team, who have been practising hard
excelled themselves by starting games on time, being
at lunchtimes and know how to have fun while playing
supportive of each other and keeping score of their own
sport. Congratulations to the following students who
games. Three Year 12 students (Bill, Tom and Bao Long)
received trophies for their achievements.
also played an important role in making sure the games ran smoothly and completed on time. They also provided
1st place BOYS DOUBLES : Laurence and Khoi
coaching advice during the games, which the AIS U14’s
1st place GIRLS DOUBLES : Rinon and MY
much appreciated. As we got into the finals, AIS students
2nd place GIRLS SINGLES : Jarja
played well under pressure, thanks to the enthusiastic
2nd place BOYS SINGLES : Thinh
encouragement and cheering of many of our students
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by Ben Mansell
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n Year 3 our fifth Unit of Inquiry is ‘How the World Works’. During this unit, we inquired into weather and climate and how humans have to adapt to suit their environment. With that in mind, all Year 3 children took part in an
exciting trip to Snowtown to think more about what it would be like to live in the snow! While we were there we had the chance to go tobogganing, build snowmen and play some fun games in the snow. We had to adapt to our new conditions by dressing up for the cold weather we found ourselves in. It was an interesting experience to need scarves, coats and gloves in Vietnam but we had lots of fun and learned some valuable lessons about how some people in the world live differently to us. Take a look at us in action!!
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ongratulations to the Cast and Crew for a very entertaining rendition of Roald Dahl's
comedic story about a boy and his grandmother defeating the Grand High Witch and her followers. This was the FIRST ever 'Drama' stage performance for AIS.
by Jacqui Gaynor
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