American International School Vietnam (AISVN) is the largest international school in Ho Chi Minh City with the plot area of 6.5 hectares. One more special thing about this top-tiered school which offers students the International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum programmes is that it operates not for profit. This means every revenue that the school makes will be re-invested into its development, expansions, and improvement of teaching and learning for student’s benefits.
AISVN's campus consists of the three main buildings which are assigned to the Elementary School, the Secondary School, and the Administration. In the lobby of each school level, students have their direct access to the weather reports which show the Air Quality Index (AQI) or the Ultraviolet index being updated on an hourly basis. These indexes allow teachers and students to judge for themselves whether it is safe to have outdoor activities. Lightning detectors are also in frequent use to make sure that students are safe no matter what the weather condition it is.
The average area ranges from 60-120m2 for typical classrooms and functionality with plenty of modern teaching equipment such as interactive whiteboard or projector. In each classroom of the Elementary School, there is an area for computer, iPad, and a small reading nook where students can quickly browse for information or research on their projects. Special functionality rooms are well equipped to meet the learning needs from the most basic to advanced level, allowing students to truly experience what the learn in classes.
The 3,000m2 playground for Elementary students hosts a variety of activity equipment, while their elder pals in the Secondary School have a massive area of up to 4,000m2 with basketball and foodball equipment in place. The soccer field whose area of approximately 6,0002 is definitely the place for all grade leveled students' physical education, sports practice and competitions. AISVN also offers a few more spaces indoor which are the multi-purpose gymnasiums or a swimming pool of 25-meter long with heating system maintaining the water at an appropriate temperature for students' health.
“Our cafeteria prepares food separately in and for each building, giving children a wide range of choices for lunch with 5 types of food per meal. Students are also encouraged to try food from different cultures including Asian, Euramerica, or Mexican” Mr. Barry Sutherland
Translated from the original article by Thuy Duong - Reporter of Tuoi Tre Newspaper
