News for Parents

IB Certificate

Posted on25 Mar 2019

The next big step towards becoming an authorized IB school has been taken by IGS this week with three teachers participating in official subject specific IB workshops in Bangkok and Singapore. All participants agreed that, besides consolidating their IB understanding, they were able to gain in-depth knowledge and benefit from best practice examples by meeting with and learning from experienced IB practitioners. With their additional expertise, the prospective IB teachers are enriching the weekly collaboration meetings of future Diploma Programme teachers, which plan our pre-IB grade 10 and is concerned with the implementation of the programme.

Franziska Barnickel

IB Coordinator

“What is actually chemistry “

Posted on22 Mar 2019

grade 4 has been looking for answers for 3 weeks.
With the help of exciting experiments, the students delt with the question and got closer
to the core questions of chemistry.
For example, they recreated their own temporary lava lamp.

Shadow theatre artist and picture book illustrator – Patricia Thoma

Posted on21 Mar 2019

Even as a child I was fascinated by shadow theatre, which originated in India and also became popular in Germany in the 18th century.
After the performance of my own shadow theatre “Die zertanzten Schuhe”, based on the Brothers Grimm, the students of grades 1-6 designed their own imaginative figures.
From simple black cardboard arose dragons, princesses and monsters.
Thank you very much for inviting me to your school.

Introduction of Mr. Reisdorf

Posted on15 Mar 2019

Mr. Reisdorf is going to teach in grade 10 (and other grades) in the coming school year and would like to introduce himself at this point.

“I grew up in Aachen (Germany) at the border to Belgium. During my time as a pupil, I gathered first impressions of pedagogical work while looking after youth groups on holiday camps and decided to become a teacher. At the RWTH Aachen University I passed my first state examination in mathematics and physics and subsequently supported the teaching at a partner university in Oman for 6 months.
I got to know the advantages and challenges of working in an international environment during my stay.
I completed my training with a training internship and a second state examination in Münster.

In the course of a trip to Vietnam, I gained first impressions of the country and insights into the work at the IGS during a three-day internship. From these impressions my wish to work with you at the German School in Ho Chi Minh City has grown. I am looking forward to the start of the coming school year .”

The Threat and Promise of the 4th Industrial Revolution

Posted on15 Mar 2019

Public Lecture: 25 March, 18:30 – 19:30, Villa H IGS-Campus (Entrance from the street)

4IR has emerged as a major talking point over the past few years. Much of the conversation has been over the ‘inevitability’ that it will transform the future of humanity. It is no surprise, then, that the challenged posed – or thought to be posed – by this issue has engaged educators and their institutions across the world.
Amongst the questions that have been raised are linked to the curriculum, the role of technology in the home and class-room, and the future of the human-centred disciplines.
This talk (and the Question and Answer Session that will follow) will consider these, and other, issues associated with the 4IR.

Peter Vale is the Founding Director of the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS), and Professor of Humanities at the University of Johannesburg. Until 2010 he held the Nelson Mandela Chair of Politics, Rhodes University – he continues to hold this title as Emeritus Professor.
Vale has been a Professor/Scholar in Australia, Mozambique, Namibia, The Netherlands, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil and Singapore where he is currently a Visiting Professor in Global Affairs and Public Policy at Nanyang Technological University.
He is Member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAF); and Fellow of the African Academy of Science, the Royal Society of South Africa, and the World Academy of Arts and Science. He is also a Member of Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns.

Tea will be served after the lecture. You will have the chance to meet Prof. Peter Vale after the lecture.

Brieffreundschaft Schweiz Vietnam IGS HCMC

Letters from Switzerland

Posted on14 Mar 2019

This week a package caused a lot of excitement in class 5. The pupils received individually written letters from the primary and day school, Ziegelried, in Switzerland.
Now our students will answer the questions from Switzerland and perhaps this will be the start of a Vietnamese-Swiss pen friendship!

“Diercke WISSEN”. The geography competition

Posted on14 Mar 2019

25th place out of 6000 participants goes to Vietnam

With over 310,000 participants, Diercke WISSEN is the largest Geography competition in Germany. A total of 6000 pupils in the German schools abroad took part this year.
The school winner, Laudan Terence Hughes, took 25th place against the other German schools abroad.
Congratulations, we are proud of you.

Philippe Roesler at IGS HCMC

Posted on12 Mar 2019

Former Vice-Chancellor Philipp Rösler and Head of Deutsches Haus, Horst Geicke visiting the IGS Campus. Philipp Rösler gave the opening speech at the foundation of International German School HCMC (IGS) in 2012.

Chemistry? What exactly is chemistry?

Posted on08 Mar 2019

This question will be set to students in class 4.
As in medieval alchemy, our students will also observe and experiment.
Our students will learn that substances can exist in different states of aggregation.
When can gas freeze? Is that possible?
Based on the weekly project lesson, the students will carry out experiments on the 4 elements and prepare the first experimental protocols in preparation for the scientific investigation.
The first experiment will be on the subject of water.
In order not to betray too much at this point, here is just a hint: “lava lamp”.

Art with Jack Clayton, Lee Wessels & Ben Wayman

Posted on07 Mar 2019

Last week Klasse 7 were lucky to be visited by Jack Clayton; HCMC-based printmaker and illustrator for a short presentation and workshop. The students were able to present their own lino prints as well as learn and print alongside the artist himself.

For more creative content we highly recommend the Spectrum group show taking place in Thao Dien this Thursday- where Jack will be displaying work alongside previous IGS collaborators: Lee Wessels (graffiti bear painter) and others at the wonderful Noirfoto Darkrooms (pinhole camera workshop).

Study of anatomy

Posted on06 Mar 2019

For students of medicine or biology, it is a particular challenge to recognize images of nerves and blood vessels which you have learned about when you see them in reality life.
Clarity is one of the basic principles of science education at the IGS. The section Human Biology includes dissecting a pig’s heart.
Because of its similarity to the human heart, it is well suited for the study of the cardiac anatomy.
First, the outer structure of the heart was analyzed and labeled with flat pins.
Subsequently, the heart was opened to study the internal anatomy.
All structures from the textbook could be identified.
Finally, the students followed the path of the blood through the heart with red and blue thread.
The understanding gained of the structure stimulated animated discussions about the functioning (or malfunctioning) of the heart.
Science education is a focus at the IGS and is already prepared in the U6 area by appropriate lessons.

Merry-go-round-open day at IGS Kindergarten 2

MERRY-GO-ROUND / OPEN DAY at Kindergarten, Preschool, Nursery

Posted on05 Mar 2019

Saturday, 9 March from 14:00 – 17:00

* open outdoor playground

* free merry-go-round

* coffee, tea and cotton candy

* KettCars

Friends with young kids were welcome to join.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Posted on05 Mar 2019

between Goethe University Frankfurt and International German School HCMC (IGS)
The purpose of the MOU is to intensify the cooperation between the two educational institutions in the area of international teacher training.
Following a pre-selection by the Academy for Educational Research and Teacher Education,
IGS HCMC offers student teachers of Frankfurt University to participate in the trainee programme.
This way, the student teachers gather experience for a potential international career at a German school abroad at an early stage.
At the same time, a regular educational exchange between Frankfurt University and IGS HCMC will be established.
The MOU was signed in March 2019 by Prof. Elsner, Deputy Executive Director of the Academy for Teacher Training and Educational Research, Andreas Hänssig, Head of International Teacher Education and the Head of International German School HCMC (IGS), Dirk Thormann.

Carnival

Posted on01 Mar 2019

Cologne is considered the German nation’s carnival hotspot. The annual colourful hustle started on Friday. At the IGS preschool, kindergarten and nursery the parade on “Weiberfastnacht“ has become a tradition. Shouting typical carnival slogans, the younger and older carnival fools walked around the villas. On Carnival Monday, there will certainly be kids in the classes 1-4, who will show up in carnival costumes, too.

Carnival U6

Trainee Programme at IGS

Posted on28 Feb 2019

As already announced in the last newsletter, we would like to introduce ourselves. Some of us have already finished the masters programme to becoming a teacher. The others are still studying at different universities in Germany

Our courses of studies are: Teaching, Social Work, Public Management and Child Education and Development.

At the IGS we are employed in the school, the U6 area and in the administration. Our tasks consist of supporting the organisation and execution of working groups, administrative tasks, but above all, the individual support of pupils.

.Kübra Sari, studying (B.A.) der Social Work, duration: 5 months

Maylin Nickl, studying (B.A.), Child Education and Development, duration: 4 weeks

Ha Mi Jeanette Luu, studying (B.A.), Child Education and Development , duration: 4 weeks

Lea Neth, studying (B.A.), Public Management, duration: 12 weeks

Sophie Anh Lê, teacher (M.A.) Secondary school, duration: 1 year

Benjamin Leupold, studying teacher (5-year course), Secondary school, duration: 7 weeks

Katharina Schulz, teacher (M.A.) Secondary school, duration: 7 weeks

Laila Wink, studying teacher(B.A.) bilingual Secondary school, duration: 9 weeks

Ramona Löppenberg, teacher (M.A.) Primary school, duration: 6 weeks

Working with your children in this stimulating learning environment is an enriching experience. We are grateful for the opportunity to gain experience at a recognized German school.

School psychological care

Posted on31 Jan 2019

We would like to thank Mrs. Kaier – our external partner in the field of school psychology – for her consultation and support. She will leave Vietnam next week to face a new challenge. As a contact for learning or school psychological questions, we recommend the International Center for Cognitive Development – ICCD (http://www.iccd.info) in Thao Dien.