Letter to Mr Ricky Tan and Ms Lesley Walker

[Huong Nguyen]

Dear Mr Ricky Tan and Ms Lesley Walker,

 

Thank you for your letter to the parents and the explanation of the need to increase tuition at SIS Da Nang.  Even though some justifications in the letter sent on 27 May are not satisfactory as highlighted in Ms Thoa’s recent email to Mr Ricky Tan, we appreciate your information sharing about the school’s financial challenge to continue its presence here.

 

With the fact that some parents may decide to withdraw their children in the next school year, this letter only represents those who are considering continuing to enroll their children at SIS and with common concern about the school’s quality which should be improved, especially as the new school fees are introduced.

 

With good intention that parents can play an active role in collaborating with the school, this letter identifies some major quality issues that need to be addressed as well as some suggested solutions for each.

 

Area	Issues	Recommended Solutions
School Safety	Playground: Safety assurance is one of the key concerns of all parents as there have been quite a number of accidents happened to the students recently.  The main reason is because of the small playground in which students of all ages play at the same time.	·       Separate play areas for different age groups (more nets might be needed). ·       Use more rubber mats around the “sand playing” corner to prevent slippery surface. ·        Set regulations for students while playing in the playground.  These regulations should be informed to all students and put on a notice board near the play area to increase their awareness. ·        Always ensure the presence of “teacher on duty” during play time.  Name of “teacher on duty” should be informed on the notice board for each day.
	School traffic: at the moment, the shuttle bus is allowed to park in the school yard to drop-off and pick up students.  This is not safe for the students as the bus driving in and causes pollution for classes on the ground floor.	·        School shuttle bus can only park in front of school gate to pick-up and drop-off students. ·        No taxis should be allowed to park in the school yard (this has happened a couple of times as observed by parents).
	Security: there have been cases that students were picked up by personnel who were not registered family members.  So far, there hasn’t been any problem but this should not be allowed for security reason.	·        Unless being informed by parents in advance, only family members who are registered with the school can pick up students.
	Health care	·        Students who are sick during their time at school should always be accompanied by a teacher to the Med Unit.
Teaching quality	Reporting: many teachers have been very good at sending weekly reports to parents.  This is highly appreciated by the parents as they can be informed of their children’s progress and collaborate with teachers to remind their children as noted in the reports.  However, some teachers failed to do this or only sent reports when there were problems.	·        All teachers should send weekly reports to parents. ·        Reports should identify both positive and negative feedback if any.
	Handwriting skill: we understand that good handwriting skill might not be a focus of international program.  However, it’s important to educate students, especially those who are at primary level about tidiness and carefulness through their neat handwriting and presentation of work as these early years would be the foundation for the formation of their character.	·        Teachers should re-enforce the requirement of neat handwriting.  For Vietnamese program, additional handwriting class should be added or integrated in other classes.
	English speaking environment	·        To promote an international study environment and improve the students’ English speaking skills, the school should apply “No Vietnamese speaking” policy at school, except during the Vietnamese program class time.
School facility	Generator: it was observed by parents and reported by students that there have been many cases that there was no back-up power when the city power was cut-off.  This really affected teaching and studying as there was not enough light in the classrooms, plus the rooms are very hot.	·        The school should be equipped with a generator, or if there have been one already, the general should function properly to ensure school’s normal operation, especially when city power cutting off can happen very often in Da Nang during summer.
Nutrition	Meal quality: there have been complaints from many parents and students about the poor food quality recently, especially for kindergarten and primary students.	·        A survey should be conducted among the parents and students for feedback. ·        Weekly menus should be posted on the notice board.
	Drinking water: as requested, each student has brought his/her own water bottle to school.  However, in many cases there’s not enough clean cups and water supply in each class room and public areas.	·        Ensure adequate and timely supply of water bottles in each class, especially during summer, ·        To ensure water hygiene, only use water bottles produced by reputable suppliers. ·        Provide cup rack for each class and ensure that cups are cleaned daily. ·        For heath safety and hygiene, recommend the use of disposable cups.  However, disposable cups should be disposed, not cleaned and reused.

 

We believe that the above requirements are reasonable and most of the issues can be easily resolved at SIS Da Nang management level.  However, we find it’s necessary to bring those concerns to Kinderworld management’s attention so that adequate fund for quality improvement can be allocated in the school’s budget as required. 

 

We also want to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to Ms Lesley for her great effort in ensuring continuing enhancement of teaching quality and creating a better studying environment for the students, given the limited condition of the current campus.  We, the parents and students, feel very lucky to have her back.  However, with the higher fees applied, further quality improvement is necessary.  This is not just for the sake of our children but also for the sake of the school as it’s an important factor to retain current students and attract new students.  

 

We hope that with these continuing improvement,  SIS would continue to be the best choice for our children’s education for many further years to come, not just because it’s the only choice for international education in Da Nang so far, but also because of our trust of the school’s quality and commitment.

 

Thank you for your attention and we look forward to receiving SIS’ confirmation with a specific plan of actions to be taken to address those issues identified.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

ON BEHALF OF PARENTS

Nguyen Lan Huong

Parent of Bui Thien Minh - Year 5 Integrated, Bui Thien An - Year 1 Integrated

 

[Huong Nguyen]

Dear cả nhà,

Gửi mọi người bản dịch của thư mình vừa gửi ông Ricky Tan và cô Lesley
(có cc' cho tất cả phụ huynh) để tiện tham khảo.

Trong thư mình cũng có nói rõ là thư này chỉ đại diện cho "những phụ
huynh đang cân nhắc việc tiếp tục cho con học tại SIS" thôi.

Best regards,
Hương

[Than Cat]

Tks chị Hương rất rất nhiều

--
THÂN NGỌC HẢI CÁT
Managing Director
0905.508.528 - 0913.404.668

-------------------------------------------------

                                         
   Head Office: 
                   70 Thanh Long Str., Hai Chau Dist., Da Nang City, Viet Nam. 
                         Tel: 0511.3 898 228 - 3 503 463. Fax: 0511.3 531 815. 
                                     Email: con...@cati.com.vn
        Ho Chi Minh branch:
                   109/14 Tran Khac Chan Str., Tan Dinh Ward, HCM City, Viet Nam.
                         Tel: 08 38437083
                                     Email:  conta...@cati.com.vn
                                     Website: www.cati.com.vn

[dung phan]

Dear All,

As discussed this morning with Lesley, I am really concerning the quantity of kids who will stay back with my kids at their class! Will be good for them if their community has only 3-4-5 students? Or their environment looks so super with only some people and maybe the number of students is equivalent to the number of their teachers???

 

Who will assure me that it will be good for them in such environment? Will SIS Danang have more students next few years from such noisy case ? Newcomers are willing to join?

 

Plz re-consider your policy!

 

Rgds,

John Phan

 

2011/6/6 Huong Nguyen <nlh...@gmail.com>

[dung phan]

Dear cả nhà,

sáng nay tôi có gặp và trao đổi với Lesley.

 

Theo Lesley thi kg còn chọn lựa nào nữa cả, phải tăng học phí thôi, nhưng còn cơ sở vật chất của SIS hiện hữu thì cũng chỉ biết tiếp thu ý kiến đóng góp của phụ huynh chứ kg có cách nào cải thiện hơn nữa.

Chỉ khi nào về trường mới, mới có thể chứng minh cho phụ huynh thấy chất lượng của SIS. Còn hiện giờ, công tác giáo dục của SIS kg thể phàn nàn đc. Tôi có nhắc lại nhưng accidents vừa rồi thì Lesley phân bua thôi.

 

Tôi cũng có đề cập đến các trường hợp rút lui của nhiều phụ huynh thì Lesley xác nhận là có nhưng tập trung vào các lớp mẫu giáo, và đặc biệt là lớp 5 (sang năm là lớp 6). Còn lại lớp 4 (sang năm là lớp 5) thì có 2cases nên kg đến nỗi quá lo âu. Cái này thì về mặt kinh doanh thì ngta kg bao giờ tiêt lộ con số bao nhiêu cases cho mình biết đc.

 

Tôi có đề nghị một buổi gặp gỡ giữa phụ huynh và nhà trường. Lesley thẳng thắn là kg giải quyết đc vấn đề gì cho dầu có tổ chức. Cái này thì tôi thấy bà ấy cũng có lý nhưng tôi cảm nhận là có sự né tránh vì như thế chẳng phải là tạo cơ hội cho 1 sự bùng nổ thực sự hay sao, vì các phụ huynh sẽ lên tiếng đồng loạt và áp đảo nhà trường ngay.

 

 

Thực ra thì trong nội bộ các cô giáo của nhà trường cũng có sự bất đồng quan điểm với lãnh đạo của SIS. Tôi có trao đổi với một số giáo viên thì họ cũng thẳng thắn lên án policy này. Kể cả các cô giáo ng nước ngoài.

 

 

 

Như vậy, theo đánh giá của tôi thì họ kg nhượng bộ rồi đấy. Mình vớt vác về chất lượng cơ sở vật chất thì họ cũng phân bua thôi chứ cũng kg thể hứa hẹn gì với chúng ta đâu.

Qua đây, chúng ta sẽ suy nghĩ xem mình nên handle nó ra sao tiếp theo đây

 

John Phan

 

2011/6/6 dung phan <dungph...@gmail.com>

[Huong Nguyen]

Dear parents,

 

Please find the below email from Ms Lesley which was sent this morning.

 

Sorry for not forwarding it earlier because I forgot that her email cannot reach SIS parents' group mail.

 

Regards,

 

Huong

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lesley Walker <lesley...@danang.sis.edu.vn>
Date: Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Subject: RE: Letter to Mr Ricky Tan and Ms Lesley Walker
To: Huong Nguyen <nlh...@gmail.com>, rick...@kinderworldgroup.com
Cc: Dinh Thi Phuong Lan <lan.dinh...@kinderworldgroup.com>, sis-parents-danang <sis-paren...@googlegroups.com>

Dear Ms Huong and Parents,

 

Thank-you for your email and for pointing out some issues that we can look at addressing.

 

I have not, as yet, had a proper chance to go through the issues and suggestions, however, I will discuss these with Mr Tan  and Ms Lan as soon as possible.

 

I shall be in touch with you again soon.

 

Regards,

 

LESLEY WALKER

Principal

 

 

Singapore International School, Danang

139 Le Loi St., Hai Chau Dist., Danang City

Tel: (84 511) 3840495       Fax: (84 511) 3840496         Mobile: 01278.271.750

Website:http://www.kinderworld.net              Email: lesley...@danang.sis.edu.vn

 

 

NOTICE: This message may contain confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that you must not disseminate, copy or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this message in error, we would appreciate if you could notify the sender immediately by return email and delete all copies. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender has the authority to issue and specifically states them to be the view of the Company.

 

 

From: Huong Nguyen [mailto:nlh...@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2011 12:17 PM

To: rick...@kinderworldgroup.com; lesley...@danang.sis.edu.vn

Cc: Dinh Thi Phuong Lan; sis-parents-danang
Subject: Letter to Mr Ricky Tan and Ms Lesley Walker

[dung phan]

Dear Lesley n Ms. Huong,

 

On be half of my kids, plz receive my appreciation for your consideration. I wish my kids are not facing this issue very seriously.

 

Best regards,

John Phan

 

2011/6/7 Huong Nguyen <nlh...@gmail.com>

[dung phan]

Xin mọi ng hãy vì cộng đồng, hãy làm theo tôi, hãy nhân tiện thư của Ms. Hương gửi cho Lesley mà cứ trả lời Ms. Hương nhưng chủ yếu là trình bày nguyện vọng của mình trực tiếp với Lesley và Ms. Phuong Lan.

 

Có lẽ họ sẽ nghỉ lại phần nào đấy.

 

Trân trọng

John Phan

 

 

 

2011/6/7 Huong Nguyen <nlh...@gmail.com>

Dear parents,

[Trang Nhung Vo]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Craig Anderson <cr...@scubavietnam.com>
Date: Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Subject: School Fee's
To: miar...@gmail.com

Dear Group,

 

Maybe Nhung has informed you, a friend of mine has a 13 year old daughter in the Vietnam Australian School (HCMC), http://www.vas.edu.vn/ he showed me the fee outline on the weekend for 2012. This school has quiet a nice campus and a very good reputation, maybe slightly higher student to teacher ratio, however, the school is consistently sending students around ASIA and winning academic competitions.

 

Keeping in mind that his daughter is 13 years old and not 5 or 6 so she is in junior high I think.

 

$5300 for the School Fee's for 2012 - regardless if you pay in instalments or in a single amount. So $1325.00 if you pay quarterly, currently SIS fees are substantially higher and we are offered a discount if we pay in the full amount.. if we pay the full amount for Casey we would still be paying $5400.

 

*     I would also be concerned with paying the entire amount in one instalment, there are previous example of Singapore Academic Companies leaving Vietnam with all the fee's and without paying their debts. I believe that a portion of the amount paid should be held in an escrow account for security.

 

The only other fee's for the Vietnam Australian School (HCMC) were the meals and the books and uniforms and they were similarly priced to SIS Danang.

 

The school VAIS has also given guarantees and estimates on increases for fee's over the coming years with regards to cost of living, inflation etc, something that SIS has simply failed to do, if you believe what Ricky has written then he has not increased the fee's each year as he should have, and this is what has caused the problem, so to avoid future problems, I can only suggest that he must increase the fees each year in line with inflation etc, this is something that he has also not been clear about, he has also not guaranteed another increase when they move to the new campus, (something I have asked for many times), if he continues to increase the fee's at 9 or 10% a year then we will be paying in excess of $10,000 a year before long, with inflation running at 20% if he chooses to increase at that rate then it is something I don't want to think about.

 

I also am very sceptical about the development of the new campus, I have heard dates like the middle of next year,!!  many of you have built houses and offices in Vietnam, we all know that these things do not go to plan, especially something on this scale, and especially with our rainy seasons etc, I wish him all the best with the new facility but I believe that they are overly optimistic on the construction dates, I visited the proposed land recently and I can't see anything happening.

 

I suppose that my point is that when we compared the fee's at SIS Danang, regardless of the increase in fee's and the poor public relations job that SIS done, on further investigation and comparing SIS with other facilities around Vietnam, it becomes a question of value for education, yes there are other schools that are much more expensive and there are other schools that are cheaper, but if you compare apples with apples, the Danang SIS is simply not providing and not capable in the current location of providing what I consider value when compared to other schools in Vietnam.

 

We all want to give our children the best opportunity in life, our decision is to move schools and with the additional funds that we are saving we will provide additional support and tutoring for Casey on our own.

 

I am sure that many of you know friends and even possibly many of you studied overseas for university, and you and people you know achieved this with just basic government education, extra tutoring and hard work, I believe that our decision to move to SKYLINE is best for our situation.

 

We have made some great friends with the parents of SIS children since we moved to Danang, some of the kindest and most generous people I have met in my 11 years living in this country, I am sure we will all stay friends and our children will also. Our decision to move to another school was a hard one not just for us but for the future of Casey, it is something we are comfortable with and I hope you all make decisions that work the best for your families.

 

We wish you good luck and will certainly see you around town with the kids. Thanks you all for your support.,

 

 

Regards

Craig and Nhung.

 

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[dung phan]

Dear Lesley,

 

It is really unfair to blame you abt the new policy which is surely out of your hand. However in any case, it is becoming a bigger concern for me everyday as I am thinking to next years' situation and wondering whether my budget can afford my lovely kids as years coming as well as their new environment.

 

It will also be a bad impression for their childhood if this issue comes to serious status.

 

Best regards,

 

John Phan

 

 

 

 

2011/6/8 Lesley Walker <lesley...@danang.sis.edu.vn>

Dear John,

 

Although there has been a fee increase, I do not think that we will lose so many students from the primary school.

We will do everything we can to ensure that you children get quality education.

Next year we will have more foreign staff to cater for your children’s needs.

I am sorry that I cannot be of further help regarding the fee increase, that is something that is totally out of my hands. It has been a decision made by the accountants if this school is to continue.

I hope you can feel more at ease with this situation.

 

Sincerely,