SSIS News 
Reading Week & Book Fair @ SSIS
November 22, 2011
Reading week is happening at SSIS. Today's theme is pajama day, this helps children get comfy when they read. Students are enjoying the Schoolibook book fair at SSIS. There are a wide range of books and educational games to choose from. What a great addition to reading week.
MS MRISA basketball
November 07, 2011
The boys and girls basketball players played a great tournament in Laos, from November 4th through the 5th. The players were accompanied by Mrs. Wittery, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Johnston and all teams got 5 games of tight tournament play. The girls placed 4th and the boys placed second in the final confrontation between VIS; a team which they had actually beat earlier in the tournament. The players all exhibited great teamwork by supporting and encouraging one another and keeping a good positive attitude. The coaches are very proud of all the participants and thank all parents that allowed their children to participate. Way to go Dragons!!
HS Walk on Wheels
October 24, 2011
HS students and teachers were able to experience a day in a wheelchair as part of an awareness campaign and fundraiser for Heart Says Free Move.
CAS Clothing Drive & Fashion Show
October 13, 2011
A group of dedicated CAS students hosted a fashion show culminating their clothing drive. All clothing and proceeds will go to the students at the Ahn Linh Love school.
HS WWW Celebration
October 12, 2011
The WWW celebration gave parents the opportunity to see what their children experienced on their WWW trips. It was a fun filled evening with food, music and dance.
HS Volleyball City Championship
October 07, 2011
Go Dragons!! Congratulations to the boys and girls high school volleyball teams for winning the City Championships.
MS Basketball City Championship
September 30, 2011
Congratulations to the MS boys and girls basketball teams for the great showing at the City Championships. The girls took second place losing to TS by one point. The boys came in third in their tournament. Go Dragons!!
PTA Family Day Picnic
September 21, 2011
Last Saturday more than 1000 people came to this year’s Family Day. With Santa Fe’s bouncy castle, Saigon Sports Academy’s athletic and chess activities, great food from the Caterers, Simrans, Bega’s and Dole there was something for everyone. The plaza was transformed into a stage and parents picnicing on the grass were able to enjoy dance and musical performances from students and teachers. Hard Rock Cafe’s Sound on Fire had everyone dancing well into the afternoon. Thanks to the PTA for such a great event. What a way to kick off the year!
Click here to see the video
They had a BLAST
August 25, 2011
Over 100 middle school students came back to school last Friday for 3 hours of activities. The enjoyed basketball in the gym, soccer on the field, Karaoke and board games. The team activities gave some friendly competition and helped build new friendships.
Instrumental Lessons @ SSIS
August 06, 2011
Dear Parents,
Registrations are coming in for instrumental lessons at SSIS in the coming year. Please read below for details on how your child can be part of this exciting new project.
PLEASE NOTE: To begin with at least, lessons are available ONLY to Grade 2 students or older. We are, however, looking at the possibility of offering group lessons to younger students at a later date.
Lesson Details
· 40 minute private lesson from HCMC Conservatory professional teacher/musicians.
· Optional hire of instrument.
· Cost is $25 per lesson (10 lessons payable in advance).
· Lesson times are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school.
· Lessons will commence in early September.
Email Bob Johnston for full details and a registration form (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Bob Johnston. Head of Arts and High School Music Teacher. SSIS.
UNIS Swim Meet
May 30, 2011
The swim team had a great finish to their year at the UNIS Meet this past weekend. They had lots of personal bests and earned many medals. Jo-an Chen, Alberto Wilson and Brian Lin finished first in their age groups. Congratulations Coach Jill for your efforts with the kids this season.
Rock-Out a Big Success
May 10, 2011
The first Rock Out! concert ever, organized by members of the HS Global Issues Group, was a huge success. The bands were fantastic - big applause to our own school band Undecided, who were awesome. To all of you who attended the event, thank you for your generous support and superb behavior. We raised 3,372 USD! This means that 21 poor students around HCMC will be able to attend school for a whole year. Also a big thank you to the adults helping us organize the event: Ms. Featherstone, Ms. Zimmerman, Ms Haugbro, Mr. Ada, Mr. Johnston, and Mr. Johnson. I hope that this is the first of many Rock Out! concerts to come. True sustainable development would be if we could continue sending these 21 students (or more) to school every year. So join the Global Issues Group next year to help us organize this event again.
Congratulations to MS boys and girls soccer teams
May 09, 2011
The MS boys soccer team are the MRISA champs this year. They defeated the hosting team of ISPP in a dramatic final game. Well played boys!!
The MS girls team made a great showing by winning the Plate. Good job girls.
Summer Program Registration Now Open
May 05, 2011
SSIS is proud to once again host a Summer Program. For details and the registration form please use this link http://www.ssis.edu.vn/learning/summer-program/
Join us for a summer of fun and learning.
HS Spring Music Concert
April 27, 2011
Entitled It's About TimeThe HS spring music concert was performed last night and time stood still. Concert goers were delighted by performances from the ochestra, instrumental music classes, rock band, choir and even the dance team. Another fine night of entertainment brought to us from our superb music department and talented students.
MRISA Champions
April 25, 2011
Congratulations to the HS boys basketball team for winning the 2011 MRISA Championships. A round of applause goes out the the boys and to coaches Murphy and Bass on a job well done.
MS Music Concert
April 20, 2011
Parents and community members were entertained by the musical talents of our amazing middle school students last night. There was something for everyone with music ranging from classic to contemporary. Thanks for a great show.
International Week
March 07, 2011
The campus was awash with colors and folktales as the PTA in conjunction with the elementary teachers held another incredible international week here at SSIS. A big thanks goes out the the committee, the parent volunteers and the teachers for all of their hard work. The children benefitted from all of your efforts as through pride in their home country they develop Sense of Self and by learning a little more about other cultures they build stronger Respect for All.
Many of the parents in the community came together to enjoy the evening reception hosted by the PTA.
Talent Show
February 27, 2011
The HS student council hosted a successful Talent Show last Friday night. The evening really showcased some of the amazing student we have a SSIS. Everyone truly enjoyed the student council's special act.
MRISA MS Volleyball Tournament
February 21, 2011
The SSIS community did an excellent job hosting the MRISA MS volleyball tournament. Thanks to a great effort from the coaches, athletes, teacher, student and parent volunteers the event was enjoyed by all.
MRISA Soccer Tournament
February 14, 2011
Congratulations to the boys and girls soccer teams for a great effort in the MRISA HS soccer tournament. A big thanks to the coaches
Together we Build
January 25, 2011
Together We Built
By Lisa Featherstone-Community Action Program Coordinator
Saigon South International School
After two years of dedicated fundraising, the SSIS community, lead by the SSIS Global Issues students, was able to raise enough money to build sanitation facilities and a UV filtration system for the My Luong Primary School, located in Cho Moi district, An Giang province. Working in conjunction with the East Meets West Foundation, approximately $8,000 was raised as part of ongoing efforts to improve access to education for disadvantaged communities in Vietnam. The East Meets West (EMW) Foundation has initiated a Clean Water and Sanitation in Schools program to enhance rural schools’ lack of access to clean water and sanitary latrines; which would otherwise lead to difficult learning conditions as well as the potential onset of serious waterborne illnesses for poor children who already face many obstacles to staying in school.
The UN world report has indicated that access to potable water is a crisis of epic proportion. Some facts about water:
• “Currently, a staggering 2.6 billion people live without a safe toilet and 884 million people lack access to clean water. These problems combine to make a massive crisis for developing countries - undermining health, education, economic and gender equality progress.
• “Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Children are especially vulnerable, as their bodies aren't strong enough to fight diarrhea, dysentery and other illnesses.”
• “Sadly, children suffer heavily from this crisis. 4000 die from preventable water related diseases every day making it the biggest killer of young children, killing more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and measles combined every day.”
On January 18, a ceremony took place to celebrate the culmination of our combined efforts. The local teachers, parents and students were all very grateful to have such beautiful new facilities and they were quite proud to show it off. Education through community service is a way to break the cycle of poverty and SSIS’s dedication to this service has made this possible through the dedication of all its contributors.
Be sure to browse the photos of this wonderful event
MS Basketball MRISA Tournament
December 10, 2010
Congratulations to the MS boys and girls Basketball teams. Both teams placed 4th in MRISA and the boys team won the Sportsmanship Award.
Go Dragons !
Charity Bazaar is a Great Success
November 26, 2010
This year's Charity Bazaar was a great success. The PTA had a record breaking attendance of over 2200 people. We raised approximately 17,000 USD for our selected charities. A big thanks goes out to all the teachers, parents, students and community members who helped make this event possible. It was a great display of our Core Values in action.
MRISA Volleyball Tournament
November 14, 2010
Go Dragons!!
Our HS volleyball teams once again made a great showing at their MRISA. For the second year in a row, the boys finished 2nd and the girls 3rd. The quality and skill level of volleyball throughout the conference is quickly improving. Our teams played very well and it was an exciting place to be. We had a lot of students there for support which made it even more fun for the kids participating.
Congratulations to our student athletes and well done coaches MacRury & Smith.
SSIS Idol competition
October 29, 2010
You could really feel the energy in the auditorium as the near capacity crowd was treated to the talents of our MS/HS. It was a great effort from all participants and congratulations go out to the winners.
High School Week Without Walls
September 28, 2010
The 9 &10 graders have left for their WWW trips. They will be learning outside of the classroom in Thailand, Bhutan, Hong Kong, China and Borneo. Please check the enews for updates on their trips.
PTA Family Day
September 16, 2010
With over 900 community members in attendance the Annual PTA Family Day was a great success. The kids had fun on the bouncy castle, in the arts and crafts center and playing on the field with Saigon Sports Academy. Parents were entertained by the talented performances of our students and teachers in the auditorium. Everyone enjoyed the food, drinks and snacks on offer.
Middle School Week Without Walls
September 15, 2010
Middle school student have begun their Week Without Walls trips this week. Students will be having amazing adventures in Laos, Dalat and the Mekong Delta. Teachers are providing the students with wonderful educational experiences outside of the classroom. Great examples of authentic learning will be happening everday.
Middle School New Students’ Welcome Party
August 30, 2010
The middle school student council sponsored a welcome party for their new classmates. Student ambassadors, student buddies and new students enjoyed an afternoon of fun. They worked together to solve clues and perform challenges in great teambuilding activities.
First Day Success
August 30, 2010
Smiles have returned to campus. Over 700 students started school on the 11th of August and the classrooms were full of excitment and energy as the students got ready for a new school year. At elementary recess the fields were of children and the swings were in full action after a long summer break.
First Day Fast Approaching
August 06, 2010
The Campus is a buzz with activity and excitement as the teachers prepare to welcome the students back to school next week. Everyone is eagerly awaiting the first day; a chance to see old friends and meet new friends.
Tea for Parent Volunteers
June 04, 2010
As a token of our appreciation for all that parents do to make SSIS a better place, we honored them at a tea on Wednesday, June 2. The Head of School, Mr. Barton, offered his specific thanks, listing the many events that were only successful because of PTA support. Both principals, Mr. Woodford and Mr. Johnson, also offered kind words to the parents.
Graduation Ceremony 2010
June 02, 2010
The SSIS Auditorium dressed up well for the Grad Class of 2010. The flags representing the many nations of graduates were on display, along with many plants and flowers. It was an elegant ceremony with remarks from Mr. Barton, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Cottrell. Paula Vo, Dao Cai and Linh Pham spoke on behalf of the students. Congratulations to the 43 students who are headed all over the world for further studies. We will miss you!
Habitat for Humanity Build
May 28, 2010
From May 23rd to May 27th, 2010, Mark Isley and Karinna Jones accompanied 21 seniors from SSIS to My Tho to build houses with Habitat for Humanity. From 8:00 am to 4:00 pm students, teachers, and volunteers built walls, constructed bathrooms, laid foundation, smashed rocks, mixed mortar while laughing and sweating side by side. As a group, we worked on two sites. One house was completed at 80% and the other, 50%. At the end of the week, we dedicated our work to the home owners who received our effort with great pride and enthusiasm.
The Habitat for Humanity trip gave SSIS’ seniors the opportunity to give back to their community and be a part of positive change within the world. With glowing smiles and a few tears, our SSIS team left the work sites with feelings of accomplishment and gratitude. This is a trip we will never forget. It is a trip that changes lives forever.
MIT Professor Gives Workshop
May 26, 2010
On May 20th, our school had a dance/theater arts work shop. We were very grateful to have had an MIT dance teacher; Professor Thomas F. DeFrantz lead this event, and share his knowledge. This workshop consisted of a lecture on the history of American modern dancing, as well as a demonstration of Professor Thomas F. DeFrantz skills in tap dancing. It was a wonderful experience for all who attended. We were all very inspired by this professional demonstration and hope this won’t be the last time we have the pleasure to have a dance professor attend our school.
Middle School BLAST
May 25, 2010
On Friday, May 14th, 92 middle school students came back to school for a BLAST! They enjoyed basketball and dodgeball in the gym, karaoke, ping pong and hanging out with their friends. Pizza, popcorn and soft drinks were served. This event was organized by the PTA and school administration. Thanks to all the parent and teacher chaperones. Everyone had a BLAST!
Operation Smile Gala Dinner and Art Auction
May 24, 2010
Ten teachers enjoyed a wonderful evening to support Operation Smile Vietnam on Saturday, May 22nd. Ten students kindly volunteered their time to welcome guests and help with the silent auction. This evening provides one-third of the funds for Operation Smile Vietnam.
Philip Pincus Wins Lehigh University Summer Scholarship
May 17, 2010
Philip Pincus has received a prestigious scholarship at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA.
The Pennsylvania School for Global Entrepreneurship (PSGE) is a unique, five-week, residential summer program for high school students (ages 16-18). The students who are accepted to PSGE are highly motivated, thoughtful, hard-working, and entrepreneurial in character.
Philip volunteers at a local women's shelter and orphanage and has taught English at a summer camp in HCMC. He enjoys volleyball and swimming and participates in the Model United Nations club.
PSGE students will attend sessions on topics pertaining to entrepreneurship, global networking, team building, project management, leadership and working in a culturally diverse environment that are taught by Lehigh faculty members as well as entrepreneurs and leaders of the business community. All students will attend core courses, as well as have the option to select elective courses each week.
Working in teams according to skill and interest areas, students are assigned to a real-world company where they will spend Monday afternoons working on a project and problem-solving for that organization. Students prepare a formal marketing or business plan and presentation for the company executives.
A unique opportunity for program participants is the chance to attend a variety of Global Village Country Presentations and Globalization Session. These interactive seminars, presented by interns from Iacocca Institute’s Global Village, focus on a particular region of the world and are led by interns from individual countries within the region.
Philip will have opportunities that few high school students will have a chance to experience. We look forward to learning more from him in the new school year. Congratulations, Philip, and we hope you enjoy your studies in Pennsylvania!
Grade 5 Students to Buu Long Park
May 06, 2010
The SSIS 5th grade classes, working with Embers Asia, had an exciting and eventful overnight camping trip to Buu Long Park in Dong Nai Province. The trip focused on team building, trust, and leadership skills where students were challenged to work in groups and individually. Through a variety of experiences students had an opportunity of improve their interpersonal relationships through outdoor activities in a fun and safe environment. Students were given the opportunity to abseil down a 30 meter rock face and fly down a 100 meter zip line. Other activities included a night hike, fishing, boating, sketching and poetry writing, campfire songs, and numerous team building activities. The natural setting of Buu Long Park also allowed us to reinforce the concepts from our "Ecosystems" unit completed last semester. For many students this was their first overnight camping experience.
Grade 3 Spring Concert
May 04, 2010
On Wednesday, April 28th, the third grade presented a concert to the SSIS community. They performed a host of songs that included every student singing, dancing and playing instrumental accompaniments. Some of the highlights included a song from Hawaii called Epo I Tai Tai which featured Ms. Wolslegel's class playing percussion; a song with recorders and xylophones led by students of Mrs. Markowitz's class called All Through the Night; Sarasponda from Holland that had Ms. Yoshizuka's students providing the beat with drums and other instruments; a song from Ghana called Sansa Kroma that got all of the 3rd grade teachers involved and included Ms. Taoli on the piano while the students sang two vocal parts. The children also repeated the song Together We Can Change the World which the elementary school learned for International Week.
The next performance will be on May 13th when the 4th grade takes the stage. Come, hear and see the wonderful things that are happening in music in the elementary school!
Spring Dance Recital Showcase
May 04, 2010
On April 27th, the SSIS Spring Dance Recital Showcase was presented by MS/HS dance students, Dance Team & The Dance Crews, founded by students. The showcase was a way to show how much they learned, how they gained skills and how they created their own dances. Students performed well and were appreciated by the full house in the SSIS auditorium. Congratulations to all!
Athletic Banquet
May 04, 2010
High school athletes were honored on Wednesday, April 28th with 95 parents and students at the banquet.
This year we won 2 MRISA Tournaments and had three 2nd and three 3rd place finishes. We had 152 out of 275 HS/MS students involved in extracurricular athletic activities which is 55% of our student body. Congratulations to all participants!
Major award winners:
Female Athlete of the Year - Silvia Sebiring
Male Athlete of the Year - Aaron Bertoia
Volunteer of the Year - James Tarrobal & Khang Ton
Dragon Heart Award for Outstanding Committment, Effort and Enthusiasm - Clara Ki, Saba Mundlay, Chi Binh Dang, Dolly Huang, Rafael Muliawan, Sonya Eom, Jane Lee, Diep Le, Joseph Chiang, Alex Leng, Daniel Lee, Jun Hwa Lee
Grade Athlete of the Year -
Grade 9 Female Outstanding Athlete
Mara Ramos
Grade 9 Male Outstanding Athlete
Steven Thai
Grade 10 Female Outstanding Athlete
Kaylyn Allen
Rimta Sembiring
Grade 10 Male Outstanding Athlete
Mano Ramos
Liem Phan
Grade 11 Male Outstanding Athlete
Michael Nguyen
Grade 12 Female Outstanding Athlete
Silvia Sembiring
Grade 12 Male Outstanding Athlete
Aaron Bertoia
International Week
April 26, 2010
It was a very exciting week for the early childhood and elementary students. International Week was celebrated with a wonderful opening ceremony on Monday where many students dressed in national costume. Tuesday had the auditorium full of booths from many countries. Children sampled foods from around the world. There were classroom activities with an international them on Wednesday and a closing ceremony on Thursday. Dances from students from several countries were preformed and teachers modeled clothing from around the world. A special thanks to the committee of parents and teachers who made the week educational and fun for all.
Distinguished Visitors from Fay School and Harvard
April 22, 2010
SSIS welcomed Mr. Robert Gustavson, Headmaster of Fay School, and Mr. Logan McCarty, Assistant Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University on April 15th and 16th. Mr. Gustavson met with the 20/20 Challenge group as they partnered with Fay School students. He also spoke to interested middle school students and teachers - Why middle school matters and how to get the most from it. Mr. McCarty shared with interested high school students and teachers - How to best prepare for university and 21st century workplace. Both guests met with parents and passed on tips for preparing their children to attend US schools. We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to learn so much from these gentlemen.
MRISA Basketball at SSIS
April 12, 2010
MRISA High School Basketball proved to be as exciting as ever on April 1 - 3! Both the girls' and boys' finals were extremely exciting and the competitive level throughout the tournament was very high. The MRISA conference includes ISE from Thailand, ISPP and NISC from Cambodia, HIS and UNIS from Hanoi, and ISHCMC and SSIS from Saigon. UNIS ended up winning both finals over SSIS in games that could have gone either way. Next year SSIS will host the MRISA Middle School Volleyball Championship in February. Thanks to the SSIS community for making this such a great event!
Health Alert - CHOLERA
April 12, 2010
In Ho Chi Minh City, there were four patients confirmed positive to cholera bacterium last week, and another three people admitted to the hospital with typical symptoms of this disease. The Health Public Authority worries that an outbreak of cholera is potentially happening in HCMC as it is in the northern areas of the country.
How cholera is spreading?
- The transmission of cholera occurs through direct fecal-oral contamination or through ingestion of contaminated water and food.
- Vibrio Cholerae bacteria stays in patient’s feces for 07 to 14 days, are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other individuals.
- Incubation period from two hours to five days enhances potential outbreaks, as the number of cases can rise very quickly.
- Severe watery diarrhea.
- Diarrhea has fishy odor.
- Stool looks like water with flecks of rice in it.
- Nausea and vomiting: Occurring in both the early and later stages of cholera; vomiting may persist for hours.
- Muscle cramps: These result from the quick loss of salts such as sodium,
chloride and potassium.
- Dehydration: This can develop within hours after the onset of cholera symptoms.
- Depending on how much body fluids have been lost, dehydration can range from mild to severe.
- Signs of cholera dehydration: irritability, sunken eye, dry mouth, thirsty, dry and shriveled skin, low blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.
- Fever.
- Shock.
- Cholera can be simply and successfully treated with oral rehydration solution (ORS): a package mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. This solution is used throughout the world to treat diarrhea.
- Severe cases may also require intravenous fluids replacement.
- Antibiotics may be considered by physicians to shorten the course and diminish the severity of the disease.
- Drink only boiled water or safe beverages such as tea and coffee made with boiled water and carbonated; bottled beverages with no ice.
- Eat only foods that are thoroughly cooked or fruits that you have peeled yourselves.
- Avoid undercooked, raw fish or shellfish.
- Make sure all vegetables are cooked, avoid salads.
- Avoid foods and beverages from street vendors.
- The use of cholera vaccine has not been recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) due to its low protective efficacy and the high occurrence of severe side-effects.
- You develop severe watery diarrhea.
- You have signs of dehydration: dry mouth, dry skin, sunken eyes, rapid pulse, thirst, reduce or no urine…
References:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000303.htm
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs107/en/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholera/DS00579
http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20100411162423.aspx
SSIS Has Top Mathematicians
March 08, 2010
Congratulations to You Jin Kim, Sung Hun Cheong and Won Shik Choi who took top honors Saturday, March 6th at the Saigon Junior Mathematics competition. They beat out 22 other teams from Ho Chi Minh City's top international and local schools. The competition was tough, but in the the last round we snuck ahead of Tran Dai Nghia School for the Gifted to take the victory! Nice job also by Han Lam and Kyu Won Kang who also represented SSIS well. Great job team! GO SSIS MATH!
Tet Assemblies
February 11, 2010
Tet assemblies for all school divisions were exciting, colorful affairs! At the elementary school assembly, the teaching assistants wore bright ao dais and sang a lively song. Of course, the lion dancers were there to scare away any bad luck from the old year and welcome good luck and prosperity for the new year.
Guest Musician
February 11, 2010
Mr.Mai Dinh Toi entertained students in the elementary school on Wednesday, February 10th. He used ordinary objects like bowls, bottles and a garden hose to make music. Mr Toi performed some Vietnamese folk songs with his special instruments. It was a most interesting and enjoyable performance.
Early Childhood/Elementary School Sports Day
February 08, 2010
A great time was had by all on Wednesday, February 3rd! The young children started the day, followed by the students in Grades 2 - 5. The field was buzzing with fun! There were many stations testing the limits of coordination, balance and motor skills. The morning was very well organized, thanks to the help of the teachers and parents and many volunteers on the day.
Tet Raffle for Long Hoa Orphanage
January 25, 2010
Tickets for the 7th Annual SSIS Tet Charity Raffle to benefit the Long Hoa Orphanage will be on sale starting January 27th. Draws will take place on February 10th and 11th. The Grand Prize vouchers are valued at 5,000,000 VND, 2nd prize vouchers valued at 3,000,000 VND and 3rd prize vouchers valued at 2,000,000 VND plus over 100 other prizes. Tickets (20,000 VND each) are available at the Admissions Office and Elementary School Office.
SSIS Visits Tam Duc Hospital
January 13, 2010
On Friday, December 18, representatives of the students, parents and teachers visited Tam Duc Cardiology Hospital. We visited the children who's heart surgery we supported, along with VinaCapital's Heartbeat Vietnam. It was very rewarding to see how our service efforts made a direct impact on saving lives. Two of the seven children we sponsored were recovering in intensive care. Of the five children in the picture, two had their surgery and two were preparing to for theirs the next day. All the children and families were extremely grateful to SSIS.
Grade 2 Students Visit Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station
December 16, 2009
Students from 2nd grade visited the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station in order to see animals native to the habitats of Vietnam. Of the endangered species that were introduced to them on that day such as gibbon and Loris, some were returned to their native habitats after being assisted by the good staff at the station. Student donations enabled the purchase of radio collars for the Loris re-release program in Cat Tien National Park. Other native animals for this science study included the Sun Bear, the Temple turtle, the Great Hornbill.
Bazaar Funds Save Lives
December 16, 2009
Seven children from Soc Trang province are having open heart surgery this week at Tam Duc Hospital. Heartbeat Vietnam and SSIS are paying for these children to have a new start for a healthy life. It is so exciting to see the difference SSIS is making in the lives of others! Proceeds from the Halloween Carnival and SSIS Charity Bazaar are being put to such good use. Representatives from SSIS will visit the children on Friday, December 18th.
Music Concerts
December 14, 2009
Audiences were entertained with wonderful music from students in Early Childhood 3 through Grade 12 during the week of December 7th. Talent abounds at SSIS! All groups showed poise on stage and are to be congratulated, along with their dedicated music teachers.
Red Shoes Dance Performance
December 10, 2009
Following last year's "Cinderella" and "James Bond - 007" performances, this year's winter dance showcase, "The Red Shoes - SSIS EDITION 2009", was held on December 3rd in the SSIS Auditorium, directed by Sophie Mason. It was another major success! Our cast of 90 students from middle school and high school were able to entertain in a crowd of more than 500 people. The performances were creative and entertaining. Well done, Ms. Mason and students!
Charities Overwhelmed!
November 30, 2009
At the Bazaar Reception on Tuesday, November 24th, volunteers were thanked for their contributions to the SSIS Charity Bazaar. Students, parents and teachers worked together on the SSIS Charity Bazaar and were able to donate $12,840 to the charities. Representatives from Operation Smile, Anh Linh Love School and Heartbeat Vietnam gratefully accepted their donations. It was very exciting to hear how our efforts will go to help so many impoverished children.
Week Without Walls a Success!
November 30, 2009
Although some were a little chilly, the Grade 9 and 10 students returned from their Week Without Walls. They enjoyed new cultural experiences in Thailand, Hong Kong or Bali. These SSIS student ambassadors exemplified the core values of Sense of Self, Dedicated Service, Balance in Life and Respect for All.
Reading Week Sets Record!
November 30, 2009
Last week SSIS celebrated Reading Week across all divisions. School-wide efforts in providing extra silent reading time brought our RAP-ometer to an all time record of 1,820 minutes! The ES kids were delighted in singing the "Catch the Reading Bug" song all week as they found the little critters hiding all over the school. All in all, it was a lot of fun for everyone, as each day we celebrated reading, whether it was favorite books, poetry or bedtime stories in our cozy pajamas! The highlight was the culminating assembly with a special version of Goldilocks - a reality show make over of the three bears' house, played by talented teachers for sheer entertainment value. Once again the kids heard, "Reading your 'just right' level book is 'just right' for you!" Thanks to all who helped making Reading Week a success!
Professional Development with Ardith Cole
November 24, 2009
On Nov. 19-20, 2009 SSIS hosted a workshop on "Literate Response across the Curriculum" with Ardith Cole. Members from International School of Ho Chi Minh City, American International School, Lawrence Tsing Vietnamese School, and International School of Saigon attended this workshop along with our SSIS teachers. During these two days, Ardith provided several practical structures to use in helping students to respond to text and prompts for authentic purposes. This is one of many workshops and discussions focusing on literacy practices and methodologies at SSIS.
SSIS Charity Bazaar
November 17, 2009
SSIS was alive with activity on Saturday, November 14th! There was something for everyone with the very busy Kiddie Korner, Santa's visit, over 70 vendors and delicious food at the Food Court.The proceeds of the SSIS Charity Bazaar will be going to support Operation Smile, the Anh Linh Love School and Heartbeat Vietnam. Many thanks to the SSIS community for their support of this event.
Students Return from SEOMUN
November 10, 2009
Nine students from Grade 10 - 12 participated in the Model United Nations (MUN) in Seoul from November 5 - 7. For some students, this was their third experience at SEOMUN, while others enjoyed meeting with 400 other participants for the first time. It is quite an overwhelming experience and a lot of preparation goes into learning about the political views of the countries represented by the students. SSIS delegates did well and students look forward to their next MUN experience in Ho Chi Minh City in March. This will be the second annual Saigon Model United Nations (SAIMUN) conference.
High School Student Council Halloween Party
November 09, 2009
The high school student council organized an exciting event on Friday, October 30th. There was great participation from the older students who provided a wonderful evening for the younger children. It was a very exciting and well attended event...games, prizes, food, fun! As a result, over $600 will be donated to Heartbeat Vietnam, a charity of the VinaCapital Foundation. As our funds will be matched by VinaCapital, a child's life will be saved with a desperately needed heart surgery. Congratulations to the High School Student Council for this worthwhile event.
Elementary School Halloween Parade
November 09, 2009
There were many ghosts, goblins, witches, super heroes and more as the Early Childhood and Elementary School students paraded around the atrium on Friday, October 30th. Teachers and students alike enjoyed trying to guess who was who as many costumes gave no clues as to the owner. Well done, everyone!
Native American Museum
November 06, 2009
Grade 4 students turned the library into a Native American Museum on Wednesday, November 4th. The student groups wowed visitors with their knowledge of the native American tribe they studied. There were colorful posters adorning the walls and a full-size paper teepee was on display. Student art work complemented the theme. Great job, Grade 4 students and teachers!
A Successful Night of College Info
October 01, 2009
Representatives from 25 colleges/universities visited SSIS on Tuesday, September 29th. Approximately 150 students and parents learned about: The College Search: What Makes for a Good Match?, Financial Aid, Submitting a Great Application and The College Essay. A wealth of information was gained by all participants.
Mr. Lawrence S. Ting Memorial Concert
September 30, 2009
On September 23rd, 250 SSIS students joined students from the Lawrence S. Ting School to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the late chairman of CT & D, Mr. Lawrence S. Ting. He was one of the founders of Saigon South International School. Our high school choir performed a song specifically composed for the anniversary by SSIS music teacher, Darren Morely. One of our Grade 11 pianists, Kyuree Kang, played a duet (four hands) with the featured pianist, Eric Chen. Students and staff were honored to participate in this ceremony.
A Healthy Environment at SSIS
September 21, 2009
As SSIS is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our students and staff, we have been carefully monitoring student illness. When there have been ‘pockets’ of students sick with flu-like symptoms, as a precautionary measure, classes or grades of students have been asked to stay home for a set period of time.
Temperatures of students in Early Childhood 3 through Grade 2 have been taken at the beginning of the day since the school year started. Starting September 23rd, all children and adults entering SSIS will have their temperatures taken.
Thank you for your patience as this process is implemented. The health and safety of our school community is a priority.
SSIS eNews
September 18, 2009
Saigon South International School Newsletters can now be found online. To access the SSIS eNews please click the link located at the top of the web site.
PTA Back to School Family Day
September 14, 2009
The PTA hosted a very successful "Family Day" for the SSIS community on Saturday, September 12th. There was delicious food from BlackCat, refreshments from Pepsi and Highlands Coffee and auction items kindly donated by Ben Thanh Art & Frame and Hassan's Carpets. Children had fun in the 'bouncy castle' donated by Santa Fe, and everyone enjoyed the dance performance by the students under the direction of Ms. Sophie Mason and live music from our very own teachers' band. Many thanks to the PTA for organizing this wonderful event that really brought the school community together. To view more photos, please visit the Community Events section of the Photo Gallery under About Us, or go to http://www.ssis.edu.vn/gallery/category/C9/
Back-to-School Nights
August 31, 2009
Parents of early childhood and elementary school students were welcomed to SSIS on Wednesday, August 26th and parents of middle and high school students on Thursday, August 27th. There were many positive comments heard among the crowd, as parents met with teachers and learned about the classroom routines, expectations and curricular plans. It also gave parents the opportunity to meet the new administrators at the school, Gary Woodford, EC-ES Principal, Adam Dodge, Associate Principal of EC-ES and Paul Johnson, MSHS Principal.
There was a great turn-out with approximately 80% of parents on Wednesday night and over 200 parents on Thursday night. Thanks for your support!
The 2009-2010 School Year Begins
August 18, 2009
8:00 AM Wednesday, August 12th brought the smiling faces of 720 Saigon South International School students. The new school year has begun! We continue to grow, and were pleased to welcome 150 new students and 26 new teachers to our school.
Orientation Day, August 10th
August 12, 2009
SSIS welcomed 150 new students to our Orientation Day on August 10th. Students and parents had the chance to meet teachers and new administrators and have a tour of our wonderful facilities. Uniforms and supplies were bought and new friendships made.
SSIS cited in USA Today
August 08, 2009
SSIS is cited in USA Today, July 13, 2009 for the great work done on the Challenge 20/20 project. Middle and High School Global Issues Group students from SSIS were partnered with Fay School students in Massachusetts. They have worked together for the past two years with topics of natural disasters the first year and education last year. To read the article, please go to http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-07-13-right-brain_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Art Show 2009
June 10, 2009
The opening the SSIS Art Show was on Monday, May 25th. Halls, entry ways and walls around the school held amazing works of art from the Early Childhood creations to complex masterpieces of those at the Grade 11 and 12 level. For the opening, students served drinks and snacks to the hundreds of parents and students who came out to see the wonderful progression of art work of SSIS students. The displays remained for two weeks and were enjoyed by all.
Graduation at SSIS
June 10, 2009
Graduates of SSIS held their commencement ceremony in the auditorium of the Ferdindand Tsien building on Friday, May 29th. There were flowers and plants decorating the room and it created a formal yet welcoming atmosphere. Graduates, Noah Kang and Tra My Le represented the class of 2009 and gave speeches filled with memories, humor and hopes for the future. Bill Johnstone, retiring Canadian Consul General, was the guest speaker and encouraged the students to make a difference in the lives of others. Staff member, Mark Isley, addressed the crowd with a similar, inspiring message. A reception was held in the cafeteria following the ceremony and a poem was presented to the school on a plaque as a gift from the class of 2009.
Habitat for Humanity
June 02, 2009
SSIS Grade 12 students recently participated in a Habitat for Humanity build in the Mekong Delta. Through many hours of mixing cement, shaping metal strands into re-bar, laying brick, replacing tile floors and digging a hole two cubic meters for a septic system, the students succeeded in transforming one local school into a much brighter educational environment. Perhaps the most memorable moments on the trip were the interactions between the local school children and our SSIS seniors playing various games and singing songs. Smiles were abundant and spirits were high despite the extreme heat and hard work involved. All who attended regarded the trip as a great team builder. Bridges were crossed between cultures and foundations were laid for future endeavors.
Food Drive for Anh Linh Love School
June 02, 2009
Anh Linh Love School, located just outside the Phu My Hung border and just 2 km from SSIS has approximately 230 students. As a "free" school, students at Anh Linh come from families who have been unable to pay the minimal tuition costs of the local Vietnamese schools. During the school year, students are provided school meals including fruit and rice. During the summer months when the students are not at school and therefore not receiving the school meals, many eat very little as many of the families are very poor and unable to provide sufficiently for the family. The Anh Linh teachers have explained that as a result, many children return to school in September thinner than when they left for summer holiday.
It was our goal to collect basic food supplies and provide summer packages to each of the Anh Linh students. In this way, we hope to support the students so that they can return to their classes nourished and better able to concentrate on their studies. The support from SSIS parents was overwhelming, with many families donating whole boxes of food. This show of "Dedcated Service" will surely make a difference to these children.
Grade 4 students on overnight field trip.
May 22, 2009
Students in the 4th Grade had a wonderful experience on their overnight field trip to Nam Cat Tien National Park. Some of the highlights of the trip included an early morning bird watching trek, a night safari, a hike through the rain forest, feeding the bears, and roasting marshmallows over a camp fire. A great time was had by all!
Saturday Soccer at SSIS
May 11, 2009
The Saigon Sports Academy is offering free soccer to SSIS students for the month of May. For the first week, May 9, everyone had a fantastic time! There were drills, skill development and games. Ages 4 - 6 from 8:00 - 9:00, 7 - 10 year olds from 9 - 10:30, and 11 years + from 3:00 - 5:00. For more information, contact Greg at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Grade 5 Students Overnight Field Trip to Buu Long
May 11, 2009
As part of the elementary field trip program, the 5th graders had an overnight camping trip to Buu Long Park, just outside of Ho Chi Minh City. There were numerous curriculum connections including poetry and sketching, ecosystems and animal studies, and creative and reflective writing. However, this trip had a strong focus on team work, leadership, cooperative learning situations, and building individual responsibility. SSIS worked closely with Embers Asia to organize games and activities, including zip lining and abseiling, in a safe and fun environment. This trip was an excellent intermediary phase in our 5th graders transition to the middle school environment.
Global Issues Group to Geneva
April 28, 2009
Ten students had an amazing trip over spring break as they travelled to Switzerland to attend the Global Issues Network conference. They did so well in their presentation about our November 6th ‘A Day in the World’s Shoes’. At the end of the conference, they were able to experience snow and explore Interlaken, Lucerne and Zurich for a few days.
Reading Week
April 22, 2009
Reading Week at SSIS! April 13 – 17 was Reading Week! Every day of the week had at least one exciting event. We had skits, buddy reading, author posters, a continuing story, bedtime story day, poem in your pocket day and more! Well done to all who made the Rap-meter quickly reach the top.
MRISA Senior Basketball Exchange
April 13, 2009
SSIS was host to a successful Senior MRISA Basketball Exchange this past weekend with all 8 member schools of our Mekong River International School Association bringing boys and girls teams to Ho Chi Minh City. Teams from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and other parts of Vietnam were participating in a weekend spent renewing old friendships, meeting new people and exciting games of competitive play.
