tintuc@unishanoi.org UNIS Hanoi’s Weekly Community Newsletter
Volume 21, Edition 3, Friday 29 August
NEXT WEEK…
COMING SOON
MONDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER
MONDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER
ASA Session 1 for MSHS ONLY Starts UMA Session 1 Starts for ALL Students ES Parent Teacher Conferences, 10:00 - 18:00 (No Classes/ASAs/Aquatics Academy for ES students)
TUESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER
TUESDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER
Vietnam Independence Day - No School, Campus & Offices Closed
ES Parent Teacher Conferences, 15:00 - 18:00 (No ASAs/Aquatics Academy for ES Students) MYP Interactive Workshop for New Parents, 19:00 - 20:00, Black Box, Centre for the Arts
THURSDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER
ASA Session 1 for ES Starts ECC Child Development Information Session with the Counselors, 08:30 - 09:30, Library ECC Library Orientation Session, 09:30 - 10:00, Library
New Parent Workshop with the ES Counselors, 08:30 - 10:00 New Parent Workshop with the MSHS Counselors, 08:30 - 10:00 ES Moon Festival Assembly, 14:15 - 15:15
SATURDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER
Saturday Soccer Session 1 Starts
Grades 1 & 2 Child Development Information Session with the Counselors, 8.30 -9.30, Library Grades 1 & 2 Library Orientation, 9.30 - 10.00, Library
THURSDAY,11 SEPTEMBER
FRIDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER
How to Get Involved with your Child’s School, Parent Info Session with the SCO, 8.30 - 10.00, Community Room
WEDNESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER
WEDNESDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER
MAP Testing Grades 3 - 5 (September 8 - 11)
Board Finance Committee Meeting, 7.00 - 8.30, Conference Room Grades 3,4 & 5 Child Development Information Session with the Counselors, 8.30 -9.30, Library Grades 3, 4 & 5 Library Orientation, 9.30 - 10.00, Library PYP Interactive Workshop for New Parents, 19.00 20.00, Black Box Room
FRIDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER
Board of Directors Two-Day Meeting
SATURDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER
Community Connections Fair, 9.00 - 12.00, Centre for the Arts
IN THIS WEEK’S TIN TUC - The Highlights... Notes from the Head of School (p.2) Notes from the Board of Director (p.2) Notes from the MSHS Principal (p.3)
UNIS Hanoi Community Garden (p.7) Tet Trung Thu (p.7) Transition Workshop for All Parents (p.8)
Notes from the Transport Coordinator (p.3) PYP Parents’s Workshops (p.4 - 5) What’s New in the MYP? (p.6)
Community Connection Fair (p.9) SCO Fun This Week (p.10) Job Opportunity at UNIS Hanoi (p.11)
I was pleased to meet a number of you at the various Back To School Nights over the last week or so. And I encourage you to take advantage of the following upcoming meetings planned: 1 and 3 September – ES Parent Teacher
Conferences 3 September – MYP Interactive Workshop for New
Parents 4 September – Two ECC events Child Development Session with the Counselors Library Orientation Session 5 September – New Parents Workshop with all the
Counselor (ES, MS and HS)
I have also received several questions regarding the new road adjacent to Ciputra which connects with the almost completed bridge across the Red River. We have been told that the Government has expressed a desire to have everything operational by 10 October 2014 which is the “birthday” of Hanoi. However there are many who are skeptical about reaching this target. In any event, we remain in close contact with Ciputra who will let us know what they know as soon as they know more. We will then pass this information along to you, especially some guidance on how to enter Ciputra once the road opens. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend in spite of the wet weather. Respectfully, Dr. Chip Barder, hos@unishanoi.org
9 September – School Community Organization
Meeting – “Getting Involved with Your Child’s School” Please see the calendar for details
Welcome to UNIS Hanoi Seung Won Park, 11G Seunghun Lee, 1TA Ryohei Harada, 3BM
Lots going on so hopefully you will find the meetings which match up with your interests and needs.
Since the approval of the school’s 20102015 first Strategic Management Plan (SMP) in May of 2010, the Board of Directors has requested the Head of School to prepare annual action plans (AAP) for each School Year. These AAPs help reach the goals and objectives of the SMP. Last Tuesday, the Board of Directors approved the school’s AAP for the 2014-2015 School Year. For your review and interest, click here to read the school Annual Action Plan for 2014-2015.
Over the September 6-7 weekend, the Board will be hosting a Governance as Leadership Workshop for school Boards and Heads of School from ten International K-12 Schools interested in taking their governance practice to the next level. One of the most widely accepted leaders in the world of non-profit board governance and a Professor Emeritus at
Harvard University, Dr. Richard Chait, will lead and facilitate a two-day programme of forums and break-out sessions that emphasizes three separate but related modes of governance: Fiduciary, Strategic and Generative. The workshop will address all three dimensions with a particular focus on generative thinking and generative work.
We are so pleased with the increased interest among new and returning UNIS Hanoi community members to share their expertise and time by joining a Board Committee or Task Force this year. Memberships for the 2014-2015 Board Committees and Task Forces will be announced in next week’s Tin Tuc. For more information on any of the above topics, please contact the Board Assistant, Jennifer Sawyer, at boardassistant@unishanoi.org. Best Regards, Sarah Garner, Boar Chair
Dear MS/HS Families, I would like to thank everyone who attended the MSHS Back to School Parents Information Night. Rain notwithstanding, from all accounts it was an extremely positive event filled with good will and enthusiasm for learning. Please realize that parent involvement in the educational process is extremely important. Current research is clear; parents do play a major role in the educational achievement of their children. Harvard researcher Ronald Ferguson ranked the top three influences on educational achievement as: 44% of gain: Quality of the teacher and the ability of
the teacher to establish positive relationships with students. 22% of gain: Family support structures
Although parental influence is extremely valuable Ferguson’s research found that the most important factor is teacher quality. UNIS Hanoi spends a great deal of time, energy and resources recruiting the highest quality faculty possible knowing that skilled and engaging teachers are the key to student success. In closing I thought I would provide a link to a NY Times article which emphasizes the importance of relationships in the educational process. Let me be clear, I am not downplaying the importance of high standards, parental involvement, educational technology and comprehensive and aligned curriculums but we cannot overlook the fact that to optimize learning outcomes we must have high quality teachers with the ability to forge positive relationships with students. Warm regards, Pete Kennedy, mshsprincipal@unishanoi.org
20% of gain: School structures (Curriculum, facility,
technology, etc.)
Dear Parents, As our ASA and UMA Session 1 starts next week (MSHS only for ASA until September 4) I would like to remind you of our bus dismissal times:
Monday - Tuesday - Thursday and Friday
1st bus departs from school at 15:35 (For those have no ASA) 2nd bus departs from school at 16:40 (For those who have a registered ASA) 3rd bus departs from school at 17:45 (For those in MS/HS sport team training sessions)
Wednesday
1st bus departs from school at 14:45 (For those have no ASA) 2nd bus departs from school at 15:45 (For those who have a registered ASA) 3rd bus departs from school at 17:00 (For those in MS/HS sport team training sessions) We arrange buses in the afternoons based on numbers from the students' schedules. As a result, a bus home may be a combination of more than one route on a single bus.
For example: Students of Route A1 and Route A2 will share one bus at 15:35 and 16.40. The bus monitor for the combined route will have the list for all students on the A1 and A2 routes. NOTE: If your child has no School organised activity they MUST go home immediately after school finishes. UMA students may take the late buses but must not be unsupervised on campus after school at anytime between a lesson finishing and a bus departure. Students with UMA Lessons or Mother Tongue classes whose finishing time does not match with the bus departure time must make their own arrangements for home travel. If your child is registered for an ASA but has to miss it for one day and wishes to go home on the earlier bus, parents must notify me by email to transportcoord@unishanoi.org before lunchtime so any necessary adjustments can be made. PLEASE CONTACT ME with any questions or concerns in order that we might organize an effective and safe bus service for your child. Thank you very much. Kind regards Chu Xuan Lai, Transport Coordinator transportcoord@unishanoi.org
International schools can sometimes be confusing places for parents. The way students are taught in international schools and the way a curriculum is organized is sometimes very different from what parents have experienced in their home countries At UNIS we follow the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). This framework guides UNIS about how to teach, what to teach and how to organized our curriculum. All UNIS students from Discovery to Grade 5 are currently experiencing the IBPYP. One of the key features of the IB PYP is children learn through inquiry. They enjoy active, ‘hands on’ experiences which require critical thinking. On the 11th and 16th of September we will be inviting parents to come in and learn about the IB PYP. Parents will have the opportunity to experience what learning is like for their children. Participants will join in, active, ‘hands on’ learning
experiences which will require them to think critically. The sessions will be fun opportunities for you to meet other UNIS parents and to try out the sort of the strategies your children experience every day. I encourage as many of you as possible to attend. If you think you might come along, please could you email Phuong eccsecretary@unishanoi.org leaving your name, your child’s name, their grade level and teacher . This is just to give us an idea of how many participants there will be and the number of tables, chairs and refreshments to prepare. Don’t worry if you have said you will attend, then change your mind or you cannot make it. That is no problem. I look forward to meeting you soon. Chris Frost, PYP Coordinator pypcoordinator@unishanoi.org
Event
Details
Who should come
PYP Workshop for Parents New to the Programme September 11th 7.00-8.00pm The Black Box Centre of the Arts
This is a repeat of the same workshop we held last year in September and January. During this workshop parents will explore what inquiry learning means. They will also develop an understanding of how the elementary school curriculum is organized.
Parents with children in any grade Discovery to Grade 5. Parents who did not attend the workshops led by Chris frost (the PYP Coordinator) in September or January. Parents who are just interested in meeting other parents and having fun.
PYP Workshop for Everyone September 16th 7.00-8.00pm The Black Box Centre of the Arts
This is a new workshop. During this workshop parents will develop an understanding of the different ways teachers assess in the Elementary school.
Parents with children in any grade Discovery to Grade 5. Parents with an interest in assessment. Parents who are just interested in meeting other parents and having fun.
Please help us maintain our fantastic Library collection by providing your child with an appropriate book bag. Student MUST have a water resistant Library book bag to carry their Library books to and from school in when borrowing. One from home is acceptable, even preferable, as we strive to reuse and repurpose existing materials. If you do not already have one SCO supported Book Bags may be purchased at the SCO Boutique located in the foyer of the Sports Centre for 150,000 VND. SCO offers book bags in two sizes and in a variety of colors. Ms. Conroy ES Librarian
August 2014 marks the launch of new curriculum guidelines for all subject groups in the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). After four years of programme review and piloting, the IB has released the changes to the MYP framework for implementation. UNIS Hanoi participated in the pilot of MYP Sciences, as well as optional onscreen exams for students in MYP Year 5. Some teachers from other subjects had previously been involved in the development of pilot material, and one teacher per subject group participated in an MYP workshop last spring. Focus on conceptual understanding Embedding learning in relevant global contexts Revised subject objectives and assessment criteria Approaches to learning
The Grade 6-10 MYP curriculum handbook (forthcoming) will provide more detailed information. Parents are invited to attend an information evening in September.
The New MYP for Parents
An information evening for returning parents* When: Where:
Tuesday, 16 September 18:00-19:00 B10 – 103 (Centre for the Arts, Black Box)
Planning to attend? Click link to RSVP by Sep 8 *New families have received an invitation for the MYP Essentials for Parents session on 3 September, 19:00-20:00h in B10-103. However, everyone is welcome to attend the session on 16 September.
At UNIS Hanoi standardised testing is one way that we gather information to promote and inform student learning. A standardised test should allow students, teachers and parents to identify a student's strengths and areas of need in the different subject areas that are tested. At the schoolwide level the standardised test can help to identify areas of the curriculum that may need adapting. It will also help the school to determine how its students are performing in comparison to other students around the world and to evaluate the effectiveness of our programme. The school currently uses two different forms of standardized tests. One of these is the Measures of Academic Progress™ (MAP) which are computerized tests in Reading, Language usage, and Mathematics. The MAP test at UNIS Hanoi is done twice a year so that we can check for growth in students’ development of knowledge and understanding in the areas tested. Students in Grades 3-8 are going to take part in the MAP test this September.
The schedule for this semester is as follows: Grade 3-5 students: September 9 - 12, 2014 Grade 6-8 student: September 15 - 18, 2014
MAP tests are unique - as students complete each test it adapts to be appropriate for their level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. Please be aware that there is no additional preparation that students can do to prepare for these tests. It is helpful for students to have a good night’s sleep and a sufficient breakfast prior to testing. If your child is anxious you can help to alleviate their worries by talking, listening and reassuring. Encourage your child to simply do their best as he or she would do with any school assignment, test or project. Contact the homeroom teacher if you have a concern regarding your child’s reaction to the test. If you would like more information about the MAP test in general please contact Janet Field, the Director of Learning at dol@unishanoi.org
Available Week of September 1 (4:00- 4:30 Monday/Thursday only) The MS Community Garden Service Learning Group will be selling produce directly from the MS garden throughout the school year. Variety and availability will vary depending on what we have in the garden and all sales are on a first come/ first served, cash only basis.
Sweet potato greens Eggplants Malabar Spinach Italian Basil
This is a great opportunity to get some delicious, local, organic vegetables, give our MS students some practical experience in business and fundraising and help us raise money to purchase supplies for a farm family on Long Bien Island that we have been involved with for the past 4 years.
“TẾT TRUNG THU - Moon Festival” is one of the most important festivals for Vietnamese people, especially for children. It is celebrated on 15th of the eighth lunar month. This is the time when the moon is full, brightest and it is also when farmers are just finishing their harvest. To celebrate this festival, people visit their relatives, close friends to give them some gifts such as seasoned fruits and “BÁNH TRUNG THU - Moon cakes”- the special cakes that can’t be missed on that day. Children get some toys from adults such as lanterns, masks, drums … When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the moon, eat the fruits and the moon cakes and they sing along moon songs with their children. People also celebrate “Tết Trung Thu” in their areas with neighbors. Children get together and they wear masks, carry lanterns in parades and do special dances such as Dragon dance. This year, Tết Trung Thu falls on Monday 8th, September. At UNIS Hanoi, our Grade 2, 4, 5 students who attend the Vietnamese class will host the “Tết Trung
Thu” assembly. We will have two shows in the school theater as bellow: Show 1 for ECC students: On Thursday, September 4th at 13.10- 13.50 Show 2 for ES students: On Friday, September 5th at 14.10-14.50 All parents are invited to come. Teachers and children are encouraged to wear “ÁO DÀI – The Vietnamese traditional dress on the day. Everyone will be having “Moon Festival Party” at their snack time.
“TẾT TRUNG THU THẬT LÀ VUI!”
Transition Workshop for All Parents D-12 If you have just arrived in the UNIS Hanoi and Hanoi community, please come and join us! Friday, Sept 5, 8:30-10:00 am in The Library Projection Room Come join us and learn about:
The Stages of Transition Tips to Help Children Through Transition Suggestions for Adapting to Your New Location The UNIS Counseling Department D-12
New to Hanoi and still Getting Settled? Come to our Community Connections Fair! WHEN? Saturday, September 13 WHAT TIME? 9.00am - 12.00pm WHERE? UNIS Hanoi Centre for the Arts. Want to learn how to drive a motorbike?
What gym offers Zumba, Yoga or Pilates classes?
Where should I go if my child has a fever?
Where is the best place to buy my groceries?
Which dental services are available in Hanoi?
What to do with ALL my free time?
Are these some questions you ask yourself ? The purpose of the Community Connections Fair is to provide useful information to our UNIS Hanoi community, especially those newly arrived expats, by bringing a variety of Hanoi's service providers and organizations together to one convenient location!
Who will be coming? We will have representatives from a variety of areas (for example: medical services, vets, fitness centres, community/ cultural groups, activity groups, transportation services, to name a few) come and set up an information/display booths and will be present on the day to answer questions.
Join us and learn more about what Hanoi has to offer and get all your questions answered! For more information, contact our Community Liaison Officer, Nathalie Grun in the Advancement Office.
The Grades 1 – 5 Class Socials this week turned out to be a HUGE success! Thank you to everyone who joined the fun. We hope this kickstarted your year by helping you get to know other parents in your child’s class/grade early on. A SPECIAL THANK YOU to all the parents who kindly stepped up to be a Class /Grade Level Parent this year. You play an essential role in helping to build community and enhancing class/ grade level events.
We are still looking for Class/Grade Level Parents for the following classes: K2 AS, Grades 9 and 11.
This year we brought back the popular SCO Bus Tour for new families and it was so much fun! We took the new parents through a quick tour of Tay Ho and the Old Quarter showing them key spots around town. It was a great opportunity for new parents to learn more about Hanoi and form new friendships. A BIG thank you to those veteran UNIS Hanoi parents who shared their wealth of knowledge and made this tour possible! Enjoy the pictures…
Employment opportunity with United Nations International School of Hanoi
SUBSTITUTE/PERMANENT PART TIME NURSE UNIS Hanoi has experienced steady year-on-year growth in our student population, which currently stands at over 1,080 students from 66 different countries. We are now offering opportunities to work at our School as Substitute or Permanent Part time Nurse for Registered Nurses. Responsibilities: • Provision of current evidence based nursing care to students and staff • Provision of appropriate health information and instruction • Promotion of a safe and nurturing school environment • Promotion of healthy eating and a food safe school • Liaise with parents and staff on health issues Position requirements : • Bachelor Degree in Science - Nursing or equivalent • Able to communicate in and understand English • Ability to work with children across all ages from 3 years to 18 years
Application closing date : 12 September 2014 Interested applicants please send your expression of interest along with current resume outlining education and experience and a list of professional references to: jobs@unishanoi.org Successful applicants will need to provide a current registration from their country of origin and a police clearance from the last country of permanent employment.
Ms Vu Ngoc Thanh, Human Resources Officer United Nations International School of Hanoi GPO Box 313, Hanoi, Vietnam UNIS is a not-for-profit international school offering all three International Baccalaureate Programs from Discovery to Grade 12. UNIS Hanoi is also fully accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Being Sun Smart at UNIS
UNIS is ideally placed to support and enhance the health and wellbeing of students. The School Health Centre supports the school community in promoting the health of all students through health promotion strategies such as being Sun Smart. UNIS is committed to promoting sun protection. Being Sun Smart, can positively influence knowledge, attitudes, skills and behavior of students that enhance the short and long term health outcomes. At UNIS we can promote Sun Smart awareness through the formal school curriculum, the environment and through regulation and practice. Research indicates that sun exposure in the first 18 years of life contributes significantly to the life time risk of skin cancer. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun causes sunburn, skin damage and increases the risk of skin cancer. Getting sunburnt in childhood and adolescence will increase the risk of skin cancer in later life. As students are at school during times when UV radiation levels are highest, UNIS can play a major role in minimizing students UV exposure and promoting healthy sun beliefs, attitudes and behaviors.
Students are encouraged to SLIP on clothing that will protect their skin from the sun even when not at school. Students are encouraged to SLOP on some sunscreen to the exposed areas of their body when in full sun. Sunscreen is available from the School Health Centre. Students in the ECC and ES are required to SLAP on a hat that adequately covers exposed areas of the face. A hat that provides good shade to the face, back of the neck, eyes and ears. Broad –brimmed and bucket hats provide the most UV radiation for the face and head. Wearing a hat with a brim that shades the eyes can also reduce UV radiation to the eyes by 50%. Students are encouraged to SEEK areas at school where they can play and sit in shaded areas where possible. Students in ECC and ES should play in the shade if no hat. Students are encouraged to SLIDE on sunglasses if they find the sun too bright.
A “No Hat, No play outside in the sun“ regulation is in place at UNIS during recess and lunch. SCHOOL HEALTH CENTRE nurse@unishanoi.org