VFIS in 2020
An Unusual School Year
2020 has been an unusual school year with a great deal of confusion caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thank you, Parents, for taking on more responsibility for your child’s learning at home and so quickly adopting new technologies during distance learning due to school closures in Vietnam last spring.
Thank you, Teachers and Teaching Assistants, for accepting the challenges of transforming your teaching into a whole new medium. Thank you, VFIS and TDTU Staff, for watching over the school and for keeping the campus in good condition.
Last but not least, Thank you, Students, for your perseverance, your joy of learning and your child-like ability to live through such a strange time in 2020.
The VFIS 10-Day Challenge
“10-Day Challenge with VFIS” came to an end with excellent work submitted by our energetic parents and students. The challenge was not simply about the recording of everyday activities within the family during online learning, but also an opportunity for families to discover their children’s abilities and create good memories together.
Book Week at VFIS
To help build a reading culture at school as well as at home, VFIS celebrated Book Week on March 2nd-8th. The activities included lessons around books, readings by parents and teachers, guest authors and DEAR-moments (Drop Everything And Read). Although the school building was closed, online activities were sent homefor students and families to enjoy.
New Version of VFIS Website
vfis.tdtu.edu.vn
In May 2020, we were delighted to officially launch the new version of our website. Faster to access, easier to navigate and more friendly to use are what you can expect from it, we hope this new version will bring you a more delightful and exciting experience while updating information from our community and school life.
The First Graduation Ceremony
On June 26th, 2020, VFIS held its first graduation celebration for Grade 5 students. It was also the closing ceremony to mark the end of the Academic year 2019-2020, a year rich with memories.
VFIS Summer School 2020
Our Summer School “Healthy Mind, Healthy Body” emphasised the need for physical as well as mental activity for healthy, normal growth. In English, STEAM, music, dance, drama and sports, our summer school students explored what it is to be a human being, through challenging projects and fun activities. After a challenging spring, it was a pleasure to witness how much the teachers and students achieved together in just a few weeks of focussing on well-being.
Field Trips
On Saturday, June 13th, VFIS students had the opportunity to explore Ton Duc Thang University. The field helped our young students better understand the variety of study and career paths open to them in the future.
Reading is a personal habit, but it is also an important part of school culture. At VFIS, we want to show our students the social aspects of reading, and that was one reason for the field trip to the Book Street on Saturday, June 13th, 2020. Through such activities, we hope to inspire in our students a love of reading and strengthen VFIS as a community of book lovers.
The field trip to Joy Farm in Cu Chi by VFIS students on June 20th, 2020 gave students an opportunity to explore rural life. The trip also provided students with fun memories together with classmates before the summer holidays.
VFIS Students Making New Friends
In 2020, VFIS students participated in many academic and sports events with other schools. These events provided our students with valuable experience and a chance to make new friends from other international schools. What a great way to test their skills through friendly competition. Go turtles!
Welcome to New Finnish Teachers!
Flying our teachers from Finland to Vietnam last July required the concerted effort of many people and organisations in 2020. We’d especially like to thank the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, various Vietnamese authorities, NordCham, EuroCham, Finland’s Ambassador to Vietnam Kari Kahiluoto and Qatar Airways for their support.
On August 15th, the Finnish teachers completed their government-regulated quarantine and were able to start work at the school, offering high-quality education from Finland to VFIS students. Under such difficult circumstances, the school is grateful to all our teachers—new and old—for coping so well during a challenging year.
Getting Ready for the New School Year
In 2020, the school entered its second phase of completing the facilities to provide the best learning environment for our students in the Academic year 2020-2021. Let’s have a quick look at the newest VFIS facilities.
The Secondary School Library
Explore Library was designed and built according to Finnish standards and in consultation with the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). All materials will be searchable through the online cataloging system provided by Ex Libris.
The Science Labs
In the Science Unit, one can find Geography, Chemistry, Physics and Biology labs, rooms for group study and preparation, rooms to store materials and equipment and an outdoor area for growing plants. The Science Unit is equipped with the most modern technologies and tools in accordance with IBO and Finnish standards.
Solar Energy
As the effects of climate change become more and more apparent, organisations are turning to alternative energy sources in order to slow down global warming. So too here at VFIS, where solar panels were installed on the roof of the school building to supply energy to the school. Such improvements send a powerful message to our students about how much the school is committed to protecting the environment and curbing climate change. Other projects at the school also raise environmental awareness.
Welcome new school year 2020 - 2021
On August 19th, 2020, VFIS warmly welcomed new and old students on the first day of the new school year. With the spirit of sisu (resilience in the face of adversity), our community of staff, parents and students work together to make each school year successful and memorable.
Successful International Baccalaureate Consultant Visit
On October 26th-28th, 2020, the IB Consultant’s visit took place at VFIS. Due to the pandemic, the visit was conducted via the internet with the Consultant being in France.
The Consultant’s report will help the school to complete preparations for the Application for Authorisation. The visit was a major milestone in the school’s progress to becoming authorised as an IB World School in the near future.
VFIS Sharing
As a part of community service, VFIS held many workshops and talk shows for parents and the general public. Such events are free of charge. Topics included “𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 T𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴y D𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 H𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 S𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 W𝗮𝘆𝘀”; “𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Can Befriend Their Teenager”; and “Why Should We Read”.
The school also welcomed many television stations (VTV; HTV) and educational organisations to share about our unique teaching and learning environment at VFIS.
A Colourful Year at VFIS
Despite the effects of the pandemic, 2020 has still been a colourful year at VFIS with many exciting academic and extra-curricular activities, such as Sports and Well-Being Day; Hyvää Summer Day; The Mid-Autumn Festival; Halloween; Vietnamese Teachers’ Day; and the Christmas Celebration.
Such activities allow the students to practice their creativity and become more self-confident and dynamic. They also strengthen school spirit as students of different ages work and play together.
