A new school year, a new hope

Meaningful message from VAS Executive Chairman

On September 5^th and 6^th, 2021, thousands of the Vietnam Australia International School (VAS) students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 across HCMC attended the Online Opening Ceremony with many touching and meaningful moments. The start of the new school year has brought new hope to students and the whole education industry especially when Vietnam is still facing the great challenges of the pandemic.

“I hope the pandemic will soon be under control and life will return to normal – when you can go to school, reunite with your loved ones, and your plans for the future, your passions and aspirations that you have recognized and pursued, will soon come true. At the time when we are weak, stuck and confused; wisdom, resilience and hope become our lifelines and the forces that move us forward.” – Mr. Marcel van Miert, VAS Executive Chairman shared in the opening ceremony.

However, hope is not built from daydreams but from a strong foundation of initiative and perseverance. Mr. Marcel emphasized: “Like a forest that has just experienced a natural disaster, if every seed and every sapling has the motivation to rise up, sprout and head for the sun, soon we will have a cluster of trees, a wood and then revive an entire forest. That is also how we renovate our life after the pandemic, building strong communities based on the core elements which consist of each individual, each unit, and each family. From a closer perspective, a part of VAS’s sustainably developing future lies in the efforts of each teacher, each staff member, each parent and each student in the coming time!

 

Therefore, my dear students, from now on, set your goals in study or in life, whether they are small or big, short-term or long-term, to persistently pursue them and nurture your own dreams! One day you will realize how much willpower and perseverance have led you to break the limits and grow up strongly...”

This is also the theme of the new school year that VAS is pursuing: “Renovation based on true values”, with the meaning of renewing and developing oneself, family, organization and community... based on sustainable values.

The readiness of teachers and students for the new school year

In the opening ceremony, student Chung Nguyen Huynh Khang, Grade 11, Riverside campus, shared: “I know that we have suffered a lot through this couple of months. Some of us just want to give a simple hug to our friends. Some want to go out and be back to school. Some are counting the days that their parents have been away from home. Some are suffering from the loss of their most important person in their live forever.

I’m very sorry for all of those. I cannot do anything more than just telling you to try your best because I know when life closes all the doors, it will still leave one window open. That’s why please try to be strong and never to lose hope. You are never alone. You have your friends, your teachers and the rest of your family to be there for you. Please stay by side and help other friends and people who are suffering worse. Try your best to be ready for the new level of learning and be flexible for the new online platform. Everyone is having their tough time but together – you - the students, the teachers and the parents – we can help our society to win Covid-19.”

 

Before the opening ceremony day, VAS Primary and Secondary students had two weeks to warm up with friends and teachers, to reinforce knowledge and online learning methods to get ready for the new school year. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung, Grade 1 homeroom teacher from Ba Thang Hai campus, said: “From the third sessions onwards, students were almost able to join the class on their own with little help from parents. Their computer skills in using basic functions on Teams such as mute, unmute and raise hand to share ideas are growing gradually. Most students tried to finish the incomplete tasks remaining after class. Some even asked their parents for more notebooks so that they could do more practice. They were always accompanied and supported by the parents, which helps them enjoy learning.”

By having some different opportunities to familiarize themselves with the online learning platform through the school’s free online summer course and the previous school years, more than 98% of VAS students from Grade 1 to 12 participated in the first two back-to-school weeks and this number has been increasing day by day.