Hanoi - Amsterdam High School

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Hanoi - Amsterdam High School

Motto	Nơi khởi đầu của những ước mơ (Where dreams begin)
Established	1985
Type	Public
Principal	Do Lenh Dien
Faculty	147
Students	approx. 2,000
Grades	(6-9) + (10-12)
Location	41 Nam Cao Str., Ba Dinh Hanoi, Vietnam
Website	www.hn-ams.org

Hanoi - Amsterdam High School, commonly known as Ams, is a public school in Hanoi, Vietnam that specializes in teaching mathematics, sciences and languages to gifted Vietnamese students aged 11-18. The school is recognized for its strong academic programs and the large percentage of its graduates who attend prestigious universities in Vietnam and abroad. Hanoi-Amsterdam students, who often call themselves Amsers, have won numerous awards both nationally and internationally. To name a few: International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), International Biology Olympiad (IBO) and International Chemistry Olympiad (ICO).

Admission to the school is by competitive examination only. The acceptance rate is often as low as 3% for the most competitive specializations.

1 History
2 Education Model at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School
3 School facilities
- 3.1 Academic facilities
- 3.2 Sporting facilities
4 Student life
- 4.1 Athletics
- 4.2 Clubs
  - 4.2.1 Talent Show
  - 4.2.2 Chemistry Festival
5 Alumni and Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization (H-A-O)
6 Achievements
- 6.1 College admission
- 6.2 International awards [2]
7 Notable Alumni
8 References
9 External links

[edit] History

In 1972, as the Vietnam War reached its end, Hanoi was under heavy bombardment of US Air Force. Dr. I. Samkalden, the mayor of Amsterdam, Netherlands started a campaign to mobilize his people to donate for the establishment of a modern, well-equipped high school in Hanoi to express their support to the citizens of Hanoi. Result of this campaign was the founding of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School. September 5, 1985 marked the official commencement of the first school year at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School.

View of the Hanoi - Amsterdam building A

In its first year, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School accepted gifted students specialized in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Literature from other schools in Hanoi. Thanks to an experienced teaching staff who are also selected from the top high schools, the students of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School won many prizes in national and international academic competitions. During its short history, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School has established itself as a one of the top educational institutions in instructing gifted students. Many members of the faculty have been recognized by the state as Outstanding or Excellent Teacher. Students of the school have earned many prizes in competitions, passed the annual university entrance exams with high percentages, and continued their education at many internationally renowned schools.

For its achievements, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School received the 3rd degree Labor Decoration (1995), the 2nd degree Labor Decoration (2000), the 1st degree Labor Decoration (2005), and the title of Hero of Labor (2000) from the government.

[edit] Education Model at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School

Hanoi - Amsterdam High School consists of two levels:

[edit] The middle school level

There are 17 Preparatory classes for students of grades 6 to 9. Each year, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School selects gifted students straight from elementary schools based on competitive examination. These students enjoy the same education standards and are taught by the same staff as their peers at the high school level.

[edit] The high school level

This includes 27 Specialized classes, 3 Intensive French classes and 15 Extension classes. 9th grade students must pass a competitive, rigid entrance examination organized by Hanoi's Education and Training Office. The acceptance rate is often as low as 3% for the most selective class such as English, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics/Computer Science. Students are specialized in one of the following subject areas: Literature, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Russian, English, and French. Starting with the 2002-2003 school year, Chinese and Geography have been added to the existing specializations. Students are expected to present good to excellent study results in all subjects to remain in school, and are encouraged to explore their specialized subjects to take part in national and international competitions. After three years, most students enter their favorite universities, many of which are abroad.

[edit] Results

In the school - year 2004 - 2005
Graduation exam:

Specialized classes: 100% graduated
Extension classes: 98% graduated

National collegiate entrance examination: 98% passed

[edit] School facilities

[edit] Academic facilities

Via various sources of finance, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School has built a system of modern, spacious class-rooms and laboratories to serve its students:

The main quad of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School

Library: The school's library is open six days a week, and provides thousands of books for students' and teachers' use. 14 periodicals keep the students entertained and updated on the natural and social sciences.
Physics lab: There are three physics labs in the school, which are equipped with wave and electric field generators, lasers, etc.
Chemistry lab: Two chemistry labs provide modern lab equipment and chemical substances for class-room experiments.
Computer lab: There are four computer labs with 70 computers.
Biology lab: The school has one biology lab with models, projectors, computer, etc. for projects and experiments.
Language room and media room: These two rooms are fully equipped, and have a capacity to hold 80 students.

[edit] Sporting facilities

Basketball and soccer are the most commonly practiced sports at the school. Hanoi - Amsterdam High School has two basketball courts, two tennis courts and an indoor gym with badminton and volleyball courts.

[edit] Student life

[edit] Athletics

Football, basketball, chess and ping pong tournaments are held annually. These athletics events may last from a few days to several months, depending on the type of sports and the number of competitors.

[edit] Clubs

[edit] Talent Show

The Talent Show is held at the end of every school year, in which hundreds of students are encouraged to participate and compete in many games of practical talents such as cooking, Origami making, etc.

[edit] Chemistry Festival

This activity is held by Chemistry-specialized classes,and serve the purpose of broadening the students' knowledge of this particular subject

[edit] Alumni and Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization (H-A-O)

November 20, 2000, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the school’s establishment, a group of Hanoi-Amsterdam alumni met and founded Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization (H-A-O), of which initial aim was to establish a common networking site for Hanoi - Amsterdam students and alumni.

Logo of the Hanoi-Amsterdam Organization

After more than one year of operation, H-A-O has received much enthusiastic support from not only those studying at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School but also students from other schools such as National University of Natural Sciences, Le Hong Phong High School, and many others. Owing to many contributions of its members, H-A-O developed into an active association of Hanoi-Amsterdam HS' current students, alumni, as well as students from other schools. As of November 23, 2004, Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization is officially registered as non-profit corporation under Educational Services category. It currently has more than 15,000 members (as of September 2006) and more than 1,000,000 posts on its discussion boards.

H-A-O acts principally according to these goals:

Serve as an easy-to-access bridge to form firm connections between students and alumni of Hanoi-Amsterdam High School.
Develop close relationships between the school’s students and friends from all around the world.
Form good relations and partnerships with other students' associations and organizations as well as other educational institutions.
Promote educational, social, as wel as cultural activities, organize conferences, competitions, etc. in order to enhance creativity, so as to benefit its members.

The web site of the Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization is www.hn-ams.org.

[edit] Achievements

[edit] College admission

98% of Hanoi - Amsterdam students are admitted to the top universities in Vietnam or abroad. Approximately 30%-35% of a graduating class decided to enroll at a foreign university. Hanoi - Amsterdam High School has students enrolled at MIT, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Caltech, Stanford, Dartmouth, Amherst, Brown, Williams, Swarthmore, Cambridge, Oxford, the LSE, Ecole Polytechnique and many other prestigious institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Germany and France. ^[1]

[edit] International awards ^[2]

See List of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School international awards

[edit] School year 1986-1987

28th International Math Olympiad in Cuba in 1987

1. Pham Trieu Duong - Gold Medal
2. Phan Phuong Dat - Gold Medal

18th International Physics Olympiad in German Democratic Republic in 1987

1. Nguyen Son Tung - Runner Up
2. Hoang To

Russian Olympics

1. Pham Thanh Xuan - Gold Medal
2. Dang Ngoc Hung - Gold Medal
3. Vo Viet Phong - Gold Medal

[edit] School year 1987-1988

29th International Math Olympiad in Australia in 1988

1. Phan Phuong Dat - Silver Medal
2. Ho Thanh Tung - Silver Medal

19th International Physics Olympiad in Austria in 1988

1. Phan Anh Tuan - Runner Up
2. Nguyen Manh Hai
3. Tran Hai Loc

[edit] School year 1988-1989

1st International Olympiad in Informatics in Bulgaria in 1989

1. Nguyen Huu Duc

[edit] School year 1989-1990

31st International Math Olympiad in China in 1990

1. Phan Thi Ha Duong - Bronze Medal

21st International Physics Olympiad in the Netherlands in 1990

1. Chu Toan Thang - Bronze Medal

[edit] School year 1993-1994

25th International Physics Olympiad in Beijing in 1994

1. Dinh Sy Quang - Bronze Medal
Silver Medal for Physics Theory
2. Phung Minh Hoang - Runner Up
Bronze Medal for Physics Theory
3. Tran Ngoc Khanh - Runner Up for Physics Theory