Field Day was fun for all ages!

CONCORDIA NEWSMAY 2013

2-3 INTERIM STORIES

Climbing rock walls, exploring the countryside by bike, and reaching the peak of a mountain- all part of the great fun and challenges our Middle School students face on their Interims!

4-5 FIELD TRIPS & FIELD DAY

The month of April provided plenty of out- of- class fun from sports events to science discovery. Check out how the Concordia students took their experi-ences out of the classroom.

MAI CHAU, VIETNAM

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Seventeen Concordia students and two teachers traveled to southwest of Hanoi to Mai Chau, a rural district of Hoa Binh Province that is home to the many ethnic groups such as the Black Thai and Hmong people. Below are the Middle Schoolers’ accounts of their time there.

By 8th grader, Will Breedon:Climbing instructors have been showing and guiding students from Concordia International School who have come to Mai Chau for their spring interim trips. Some say that this might be too extreme for kids of their age, but apparently not. Kyle Breeden, a middle school student from Concordia, was seen taking on the most extreme wall. He went on to finish, not just that wall, but every other wall they had.

As the day went on, more and more people were starting to become better and more successful. Some people started to realize that the wall that was rated the “easiest” was actually the hardest and the “hardest” was the easiest. A total of four hours was spent climbing and by the time they got back to the home stay, they were all talking about how tired or sore they were.

Added by 8th grader, Esther Jeong:During the trip, some students got to experience a bonfire for the first time. Every time you experience new culturalcustoms, you will feel that it is more effective than havingindirect experiences by reading books. How about you go on an adventure and experience Mai Chau?

Pics- Top: Middle School students help each other balance while walking along the narrow rice paddy walls; top left: exploring the villages by bicycle; middle: posing in traditional ethnic garbs; bottom: students test their raft building skillsCONCORDIA NEWS MAY 2013 2

AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD (Cont. by Grace Ong)

Yahoooooo!!!! Did you hear that? It’s the sound of the victory of summiting a 3,300m peak. This was achieved by 12 middle school students from Concordia Hanoi and Shanghai on their 2013 spring interim trips to the mountains of Dali, China. Nothing feels better than feeling like you’re at the top of the world.

YUNNAN, CHINA

12 KIDS SUMMIT A 3,300M PEAKWritten by Concordia 8th Grader, Grace Ong

It was a tough hike up through the cold high-speed winds, but each of them took their time as they slowly made their way closer to the summit. “Yeah we made it!” It seemed like the shouts and cheers of victory and success could be heard from below. It certainly was a spectacular sight with a 360 view of surrounding mountains and the minuscule villages below.

“I felt like I could accomplish anything.” commented Andrew Jones, a Concordia Hanoi student. “I can’t believe I have hiked 3300 meters in only a few days!” exclaimed Josh Winkelman, another Concordia Hanoi student.

For these kids, it was an unforgettable experience. Their shouts of victory tell the world they have earned the bragging rights to say that they have reached the summit of a 3,300m peak.

Pics- Top: Concordia Hanoi and Shanghai students on the mountain summit; Right: Concordia Hanoi girls take a break on the hike; below: climbing to the summit

CONCORDIA NEWS MAY 2013 concordiahanoi.org 3

This year’s field day was another great day of sports, games, and lots of outdoor fun.

RECEPTION AND GRADE 1 GO ORGANIC

Making a commitment to healthy eating is a great start towards a healthier life and students in Reception and Grade 1 set out to learn more about the food they eat and where it comes from. At first glance, the Thanh Xuan Organic farm was much like visiting a traditional farm in Vietnam- large fields of crops and a few cows roaming looking for grass to eat. However, as the students toured the grounds and listened to their farmer guide, they learned more about how this farm was incredibly different- and in a good way, too!

Farmers at Thanh Xuan take special precautions to ensure that the crops grown at the farm are protected from pollutants and other possibly harmful contaminants that could affect the quality of the produce grown. Each farmer must follow strict rules to protect their growing area against pollution and impurities, such as maintaining hedgerows. Water must come from a well, not the river, and is regularly tested. Instead of chemicals, farmers must use natural fertilizers, employing a method known as hot composting with plant residue, rice straw and manure.

The students had a chance to listen to the farmers talk about their unique farming process as well as try their own hand at it by feeding the animals and picking tomatoes. What better way to learn about farming than to go and meet a farmer yourself!

FIELD TRIPS & FIELD DAY

CONCORDIA NEWS MAY 20134

QUESTACON WITH THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY

The best way to learn about Science is to dive right in and experiment for yourself. Concordia students had a wonderful day out at the Questacon Science exhibit to do nothing but just that.

Besides the hands-on exhibits, the Questacon crew gathered all the students together to talk about the history of movement and how it has evolved out of necessity to be what it is today. Student volunteers came to the stage to help demonstrate the use for leavers, pulleys, reducing friction when trying to move something, and the invention of the wheel.

The interactive games and puzzles throughout the entire

library on the Bach Khoa University campus were both entertaining and educational. Students not only learned about movement, but also how the mind works, electrical charges, and how sound travels.

A huge THANK YOU to the Australian Embassy in Hanoi for extending the invitation to Concordia students and teachers. The Questacon exhibit is part of the Embassy’s celebration of 40 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam.

Pics- 1: Learning about centrifugal force and the center of gravity by balancing a bike tire on a helmet; 2: How do the gears in a clock work?; 3: Can your brain figure out this ‘mouse house’ puzzle?; 4: Experimenting with sounds from varying sized pipes; 5: A huge 3D block puzzle that is more fun to figure out with friends; 6: Daisy the human fortress tests the newest invention in movement- the catapult!

SCIENCE DISCOVERY DAY

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AROUND THE SCHOOL

Reception and Grade 1 students get a little dirty learning all about biology as they learn how to plant their own garden on the playground...and just in time for Earth day too!

HAVE A GREAT PHOTO OR STORY TO SHARE?

We love seeing what your family has been up to, so please share your stories and photos with the Concordia community! Email communications@concordiahanoi.org with your news and great pics.

One way to make a good

book better is to find a

great place to read it!

Students enjoyed this year’s

Concordia Book Fair in the

‘book nook’.

Families had the chance to

not only enjoy buying great

books, but a portion of

the book fair sales will go

towards buying more books

for Concordia, making the

event not only fun but also

for a good cause.

SPRING CONCERT- DATE CHANGE!Please note that the Spring Concert date has been moved to one day later to Saturday, May 11 at 3:30pm. Students need to be at the school by 3pm and the concert will be held in the auditorium on campus.

SUMMER PROGRAMS ON THE CONCORDIA CAMPUSThis summer Concordia is hosting The Learning Project Asia on our campus, who will offer a program of activities and workshops based around Digital Storytelling. Students from ages 12-18 can join for between one and six weeks to develop research, collaboration and problem solving skills through short photo and film projects. To register, visit The Learning Project Asia website for more information: http:/ /thelearningproject.asia/. Open to the Hanoi community.

To share an event in the next newsletter, please contact Lia Garcia at communications@concordiahanoi.org

MAY EVENTS:

Welcome back from Spring Break!

Teacher Appreciation Day by Parents/ Session 4 ASAs

MS Girls & Boys Basketball Game vs. UNIS- GO CONCORDIA!

All-School Spring Concert @ 3:30pm (Auditorium)

Mothers Day (USA)

Swim Unit begins for PE classes

MS Girls & Boys Volleyball Game vs HIS- GO CONCORDIA!

PSO meeting for Korean Moms (Concordia Board Room)

Hanoi Schools Tech Group Meet up/ Scouts

Ho Chi Minh’s Birthday

Session 4 ASAs

Last PSO Coffee Morning of the Year/ Teacher Prof. Dev. (1/2 Day)

Ladies Golf Day & Luncheon Fundraiser at Van Tri (Men welcome too)

Boy and Girl Scouts

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8th European Food Festival4h00 pm—10h00 pm, Saturday, May 18, 2013At The Garden of National Library,31 Trang Thi, Hanoi

www.foodfestival.com.vn

Why not join us in 2013 again?

Program4.30 pm: Venue opens

kid’s activities, DJ5.00 pm: Games6.00 pm: Opening ceremony,Food stalls open6.15 pm: Live music

7.15 pm: The 1stround Lucky Draw7.30 pm: Live music

8.30 pm: The 2ndround Lucky Draw8.45 pm: Music by DJ

• To enjoy truly European atmosphere inside Hanoi

• The biggest annual social event of EuroCham. It is bigger and even better

than before to celebrate 15 years of EuroCham in Vietnam• To celebrate European Month in Vietnam

• To feature European food/drinks and other productsfrom our leading brands in this industry