newsletter15th November 2013

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Dear ISHCMC community,

On Tuesday this week a very successful ‘On the Couch’ evening was held in the MPR at the School. Mr. Adrian Watts facilitated the discussion. Mr. Rafi Kot from the Family Medical Centre; Briar Jacques a Counselor at the Family Medical Centre; Mr. Matthew Anderson, Special Agent and Assistant Regional Security Officer at the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and Mrs. Ginny Condra, one of our enthusiastic parents and long term HCMC resident, enlightened the gathering with stories about the do’s and don’ts of Vietnam. There were some enlightening stories about the experiences that each had been involved in. We all learnt a great deal about living as guests of this wonderful country.

In addition various HCMC organizations and businessses provided information about their activities. These included:

Operation SmileLIN FoundationBodyShape GymThe Art RoomSunshine GroupSaigon Sports AcademyDancenterISHCMC PTOFriends of the Street ChildrenKOTO

Thank you on behalf of the School to each of the participants – and to Mr. Watts – for sharing their knowledge during a very enjoyable evening.

Thankfully we managed to stay dry towards the end of last week as Typhoon Haiyan threatened Vietnam. Unlike the Philippines, Vietnam was spared the unimaginable devastation that the typhoon caused. One of our GIN groups with the assistance of the ISHCMC SRC is organizing some fund raising activities to support the Filipino people. These funds will be transferred through the International School of Manila to UNICEF.

With kind regards.

Simon

Simon LeslieHeadmaster

Adrian WattsDirector of Academic Studies Deputy Headmaster

Dear Parents,

Hope you have had a good week as part of our ISHCMC community. I certainly have enjoyed this week and it has made me feel very good about being here in Vietnam at ISHCMC. Firstly, having our senior volleyball and U15 basketball teams travel to Phnom Penh last weekend for MRISA competition and our Stingrays to Hanoi this weekend brings home our connectivity as a school and the opportunity for ISHCMC sportsmen and women to compete against others and make new friends in other international schools. Secondly, it was wonderful to see the Primary School Production, The Firework Maker, the student performances were excellent and it was obvious that they had worked very hard and assisted by teachers and support staff, collaboratively created a lovely evening’s entertainment. Thirdly, the caring nature of our ISHCMC students has been exemplified by their immediate reaction to the devastating consequences of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Students throughout the school have come forward with fundraising ideas and are now in the process of raising money that will through the International School of Manila be transferred to UNICEF. Lastly, the ISHCMC on the Couch session on Tuesday proved to be a very informative evening with everyone in the audience learning something new from our four guests about health provision, third culture children, security in HCMC and getting involved in the city life as an ISHCMC parent. It was a very informative and useful evening.

Linking to ISHCMC on the Couch and I want to share an article that I would usually post on http://4u2nomore.blogspot.com/ but thought that I would link it to advice from the US consulate security officer given during ISHCMC on the Couch. During the discussion the question of security on the way to and from school was raised. It was suggested that the best thing for students to do was walk in groups with other students and to have a route which had potential stopping points along the way that could be used in the case of students being followed. In the article that I am sharing with you the following extract is taken from the conclusion and again it links to a strength of ISHCMC as a community school, that students can walk and bike to their school each day.

”Pope’s most important suggestion to raise and educate healthy, successful and curious learners is to focus on the whole body. “Kids who walk or bike to school do better than kids who drive to school,” Pope said. “That’s because they’re getting their bodies ready to learn.” If the stress and anxiety of school is causing students health problems or to exhibit signs of depression, everyone needs to re-prioritize.”

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/11/how-can-students-be-successful-in-a-high-stakes-world/

Have a good weekend,

Adrian

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

From our ISHCMC School community to our friends in the Philippines at their time of need.

THURSDAY 14TH - FRIDAY 15TH NOVWrite a “MESSAGE TO THE STARS” for the performers in the primary production “The Firework Maker” before the show tonight. Donation is 20,000VND

Drinks and food will be on sale before the primary production “The Firework Maker”. All proceed will be donated to the Urgent Appeals fund.

MONDAY 18TH NOVWhole school free dress day. Must donate!Let’s wear the colours of the Filipino flag! Yellow, Blue, Red and/or White

*Donations will also be collected at the gate on Monday and Tuesday mornings and a box will be located at Reception in the Admissions Office all day (7:30am-4:00pm) until next Wednesday.

MONDAY 18TH - THURSDAY 21ST NOV “Filipino Treats Sale” after school next week, from 2-3pm at the Rhino Hut.

Urgent Appeals Group

MYP Graduation 2013 – 55 word stories

The new king begins to choose his new knights. What an honor for a Paige like me to finally be knighted. “Christian Nguyen, are you ready to serve King IB?”“I am.”

The sword on my shoulder, finally knighted. Thunder rains down in applause!

With my head held high. I’m reborn a knight of IB!

Christian Nguyen

I was running super late. Caught a taxi as fast as a bullet. This event could not be missed as I was one of the stage people! A good, old hand shake with Mr Curran and the brightest, big smile with Mr Roberts. I opened the booklet, finally seeing what I yearned for.

Seo young Lee

A rainy evening, thunder clashing fearfully. Will I make it? Aware of how important this event was, I got ready as fast as I could, chasing and rushing my parents in order to make it on time. ‘MYP Graduation’, as said by Mr. Grist, ‘’where we come together and celebrate the achievements of our students’’

Ashley Nguyen

2013. Cloudless night. Moon shining bright at the large buildings, causing shadows to roam the ground. An event taking place at ISHCMC on November 7th - the graduation of 2012 MYP students. Few knew of these people, known only as ordinary MYP students. But after that night, they are known forever as the IB students.

Patrick Truong

isHCMC on tHe CouCH

UNTIL NEXT TIME

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