VAS Executive Chairman’s Speech at Year End Ceremony SY 2017-2018

Dear parents, teachers and students at VAS!

There is no greater pleasure or privilege for me today than to share the joy and happiness with all parents and teachers in seeing the growth and development of every individual VAS student.

Today, we not only congratulate our students on their academic achievements, but also praise every effort and progress, large and small, and above all, the good work they have done and the joy that they have brought to themselves and the people around them.

I thank them very much for that and let’s give a big applause to all our fantastic VAS students!

Dear parents and students,

I would like to briefly highlight a few new developments in the school year 2017-2018:

• The improvement of the management structure with the appointment of the Executive Cluster Directors, Moet and Cambridge Heads in each cluster to ensure consistency in operation and increased quality of education and service on all campuses;
• In early May 2018, VAS officially signed an MOU to become a strategic partner with CIE and set up the CAIE’s Training and Education Centre to support professional training for all our teachers and potentially for other international schools that teach CAIE's program in Vietnam;
• The expansion of 2 new mega campuses: Riverside District 7, increasing the places and facilities for our current Sunrise students and future new students.  Also the transfer of all TCV students, teachers and staff to our new school in Sala District 2. Both with programmes and facilities for Kindergarten to High School.

I hope that our dedication and commitment together with our plans for the next school year will continue to deliver lasting value to our current and future VAS students.

Great results in the Cambridge exams that you have today, better each year, many VAS students are leading in many subjects throughout Vietnam and the world. In the eyes of many people outside VAS, this is probably the most valuable thing we achieve.

But for my colleagues and I, our joy is to inspire and create a unique experiences in the journey to maturity of each student; our happiness is when we see in our students the self-confidence, the ability to lead their lives, cultivating their bravery, love and gratitude; and the proudest thing in our profession is that when VAS students grow up, they will become a kind generation with strong core values.

I would like to thank you for letting us stay by your side to educate and care for your children and give them a wonderful memory of their school lives. Although there are very few occasions that we can meet in person like today, know how much we respect and appreciate your faith in VAS's educational perspective and teachers and staff.

For the 5th grade students here, I look forward to seeing you again at VAS as you enter high school – where more challenges and new exciting things are waiting for you to discover. Many unique activities dedicated to high school are also waiting for you to participate in. I wish you a fun and exciting new journey with your friends and teachers!

I would like to share this with 12th grade students: "The path is under your feet". The path you choose, whether covered in roses or bumpy rocks, all will be a valuable experience.

Do not forget that on your stable feet, your beautiful, passionate soul, your confident and respectfully nature can take you to where you are expected to be. At the age of 18 or 20, please continue to dare to fail, to make mistakes is a path to learning and success.

I thank all of you for reminding me of my youth years ago - when I also was so eager to throw my cap in the air at the graduation ceremony and excited to enter the next stage of my life with more self-reliance and independency but also more responsibility. Please continue to have the confidence to overcome all challenges in your way and always maintain your enthusiasm and passion to move forward to the destination you have chosen!

Thank you for being a VAS Graduate!

Finally, I would like to thank our teachers and staff for their dedication and for always working responsibly and creatively with love for VAS students to bring them a school year full of learning, joy and excitement. Once again, congratulations to all beloved students of VAS!

We hope you enjoy this meaningful ceremony. But above all we wish all parents, teachers and children good health, and a great summer! 

I look forward to seeing you in the summer classes of 2018 in June!

Thank you!

Marcel Van Miert

VAS Executive Chairman