TH School Students: A Different, Comprehensive School Year with Multinational Friends

The first school year of female student Nguyen Thi Quynh Chi at the pink TH School passed so quickly with so many beautiful memories and new experiences like a dream.

“It’s really different from the previous 10 years! There are so many activities in class and at school that have made me admit that after just one year of studying, I have to admit that I have changed significantly. I study all subjects more evenly, have a broader understanding, am more confident, more enthusiastic and happier...,” Quynh Chi said brightly at the closing ceremony of the 2023-2024 school year.

The school year is exciting and always busy

TH School's closing ceremony series begins with concerts, musicals and formal, warm ceremonies, designed to suit students of different ages, from kindergarten to high school.

a.jfif — Nguyen Thi Quynh Chi (middle) said the difference she experienced at TH School was not only the international standard curriculum, the multinational team of teachers and students, but also the attractive extracurricular activities for students to choose from. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

If at the "Garden of Harmony" of the kindergarten and primary school at TH School Chua Boc, the first graders confidently performed vibrant international music with the traditional Vietnamese T'rung instrument, along with other "borderless" performances, "touching" the hearts of the parents, teachers, and delegates present at the event, the High School Graduation Ceremony - opening with a vibrant musical performance performed by the students themselves with many different musical instruments - also left lingering echoes and beautiful emotions in the hearts of the students who were about to fly away, saying goodbye to the years of training and remarkable growth at TH School.

TH 2.jpg — Summer Music Festival - "The Garden of Harmony" is the stage for the "child artists" of TH School to conquer the hearts of the audience with energetic performances. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

“TH School aims for a comprehensiveeducational environment, so even the organization of activities such as the opening and closing ceremonies also aims for that goal. All graduation activities have the participation of students, from the idea generation, script writing, video making... with the support and companionship of teachers. That not only creates excitement for the students on the holiday, but also helps them practice many skills,” Mr. Stephen West - General Principal of TH School proudly said.

According to Mr. Stephen West, in addition to the curriculum, the school also has many other rich activities such as math competitions, sports festivals, music events, field trips, etc. "The diverse activities are opportunities for students to connect with each other and learn more knowledge and skills outside of life," Mr. Stephen West added.

TH 3.jpg — Mr. Stephen West - General Principal of TH School system speaks at the 2023 - 2024 Graduation Ceremony. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Looking back on the past school year, Nguyen Thi Quynh Chi - who transferred to study at TH School last school year from a public environment - shared her feelings: "The difference I experienced at TH School is not only the international standard curriculum, the multinational team of teachers and students, but also the attractive extracurricular activities for students to choose from."

“At TH School, after each class, I can choose to participate in extracurricular activities that I like with many different contents such as basketball, watercolor painting, music, musicals, after-school subjects such as business, science... Besides that, there are continuously very exciting and meaningful activities and events such as Art Exhibition, Winter & Summer Concert, Happiness Day Festival, opportunities to perform at events of embassies and formal conferences, practice being an entrepreneur in 'Entrepreuner Day'... Therefore, I had an exciting school year with many new things and was always full of energy, always busy," Quynh Chi said.

Primary school students of TH School perform musicals on stage like professional actors. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Not only extracurricular activities, comprehensive education is also integrated into each subject. According to Ms. Nguyen Thuy Trang, a music teacher at TH School, multi-ethnicity is a characteristic of the school, so students learn both Eastern and Western musical instruments, for example, international students learn and are very excited to master the Vietnamese T'rung instrument, understanding the diversity of different cultures. Subjects such as music, art, drawing, etc. help students cultivate aesthetics, love of beauty, creativity, and humanistic qualities. Having the opportunity to perform on large stages, in front of hundreds of people, also helps them practice their courage, boldness, and confidence.

Even a subject that is often considered difficult and boring like Math is taught in a special way. Elementary Math teacher Daniel Mark Moore enthusiastically shared the school's less traditional way of teaching Math such as learning through Math games, Math combined with Physical Education or combined with outdoor activities.

“They get more hands-on experience with math, less abstract and more concrete experiences that are relevant to the lesson, and they get to think lateral rather than just filling out some spreadsheet,” says teacher Daniel Mark Moore happily.

Filling the gaps, cultivating global citizens

Mr. Stephen West - General Principal of TH School system said, with the goal of training global citizens, the school knows that the world is changing very quickly so it wants to focus on cooperation skills, teamwork, critical thinking for students, helping them develop personal qualities and improve themselves before stepping out into the world.

That is also what students and parents aim for when deciding to "join" this special school.

Mr. Daniel Mark Moore, a Primary Math teacher at TH School, always combines math with thinking games and physical activities to help students love math more. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Leaving his hometown Nghe An to go to Hanoi to study boarding at TH School since he was in 7th grade, now a 12th grader preparing to leave school, Vu Nhat Anh shared that he feels his decision was the right one even though he has to live far away from his family.

“In my opinion, TH School is a worthy environment to study. International curriculum, multinational environment. Friends are friendly, willing to share everything in life, support each other to be able to progress together. Teachers are dedicated to teaching and caring. At TH School, I can develop comprehensively, improve my communication skills, my test-taking skills, absorb more knowledge, and be more confident. TH School also helps me express my ego, where I can be myself, be confident in myself and set my own values,” Nhat Anh shared with emotion as he was about to leave the school that he considered his second home.

Recalling his years at school, the Nghe An student said he had to study very hard, sometimes until 1-2 am. But the school had many activities, helping students relieve the pressure of studying and practice skills.

“After 6 years of studying at school, I have matured a lot, learned to define my own values, plan my life, and connect with friends…”, Nhat Anh said.

Vu Nhat Anh (third from left) and his friends rejoice at the Graduation ceremony of the 2023-2024 school year. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Looking at her son dressed up in a formal gown and enthusiastically performing music on his 12th grade graduation day, Ms. Bui Thi Hong Phuong, Nhat Anh's mother, was moved to tears.

“In the past, Nhat Anh was a shy boy, afraid of communication. When I decided to send him to Hanoi to study boarding school far from home, I had many concerns, but I believed in the passion of the school's founder, Hero of Labor Thai Huong, so I forced myself to leave my child and sent him to TH School. And right after the first day of school, I knew I had made the right choice when every day, the teachers updated my child's living and studying situation, taking care of everything from psychology, health to studying. What is even more meaningful is that I feel my child's maturity because for me, studying is only a part, the more important thing is that my child must develop comprehensively in intelligence, morality, physique, and aesthetics, and TH School has nurtured that for my child. I feel very satisfied and from now on, I will continue to send my second child to TH School", Ms. Phuong shared.

The joy of Madam Thai Huong and 12th grade students of TH School on the graduation day. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

“Just keep going… Be resilient! Be thoughtful! But above all, be yourself,” Thschool Principal Stephen West advised students.

As for Quynh Chi, the past school year was not only a year full of new experiences, cultivating new skills through a series of extracurricular activities, but also helped her become more confident in natural sciences, a field that she had previously studied lopsidedly in public school because she focused on social sciences.

“After a year, I have changed my perspective, I love science subjects more and can confidently participate in international competitions. Another thing I really like is that teachers encourage students to actively participate in social activities, the school also organizes charity activities, helping to raise students' sense of social responsibility,” Quynh Chi shared.

According to principal Stephen West, helping students be ready to step out into the world, compete and express themselves with international friends and bring positive values to the community is also what TH School aims for.

“The school has given them the time, space, creativity, skills and inspiration to always be able to learn anything they want to learn, to understand themselves, to have a deep sense of their destiny and the paths they can take in life. To be resilient, and to always seek to make a difference in the world by becoming positive change makers,” said headteacher Stephen West./.