Saigon South International School

Saigon South International School, shortened as SSIS, is an international school in Ho Chi Minh City offering an American standards based curriculum for grades EC-12. They offer both the IB diploma program and AP coursework, and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The school is also member of East Asia Council of Overseas Schools, National Association of Independent Schools, and Mekong River International Schools Association (MRISA). SSIS was recently designated an Apple Distinguished School.

From its foundation in 1997, SSIS is known as one of the most prestigious international schools both in Ho Chi Minh City and nationwide.

It is located in District 7,^[1] Ho Chi Minh City.

Profile

Saigon South International School (SSIS) was founded in 1997 by the Phu My Hung Corporation to accommodate an increasing need for American education for both local residents and expatriate families. Located in the Phu My Hung Urban Area, SSIS is two and a half miles south of the current city center - District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. SSIS is owned by the Phu My Hung Corporation but operates as a non-profit entity within the company. A three-member School Board governs the school in consultation with the Phu My Hung Corporation.

SSIS enrolls over 1000 students from over thirty-nine countries. The professionally certified and experienced teachers are career educators. Most come from North America, Australia and the United Kingdom and as specialists in their subject area, over 70% hold advanced educational degrees. More than 65% have more than 12 years teaching experience. SSIS offers an American standards-based curriculum, augmented by the rigorous Advanced Placement Program (AP) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), in the high school.^[2] SSIS students also has the highest average IBDP points in Ho Chi Minh City.

In recent years students graduated from SSIS have continued their university education in leading schools in the United States such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, University of Virginia, and the University of California at Berkeley.^[3]

The students who continued their education outside of the United States studied in prestigious schools such as the University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, King's College London and University of Edinburgh in England, and Seoul National University in South Korea.

Mission statement

SSIS is a college preparatory school committed to the intellectual and personal development of each student in preparation for a purposeful life as a global citizen.^[4]

Facilities

Saigon South International School was awarded best facilities by MOET.

Saigon South International School has a large, 6-hectare campus with three main buildings that will contains around over 1,000 students in Early Childhood 3 (EC3) – Grade 12. The newer purpose-built high school building was completed in January 2011 and includes general classrooms, purpose built science labs, a library, a gymnasium, changing/locker rooms, and a kiosk .

The other two school buildings contain two libraries for elementary and middle, an auditorium, a double-sized gymnasium for 2 basketball courts, a swimming pool and a shared cafeteria. The outside playing fields have 3 football (soccer) fields, and separate play areas for the early childhood program and elementary students.^[5]

A "Bring Your Own Macbook" program in grades 4-12, Makerspace and computer science, programming and robotics classes ensure that SSIS students obtain 21st century skills.

Extra curricular activities

SSIS offers a range of programs and activities beyond the classroom.^[6] The major clubs and activities are:

• Student Council
• National Honor Society
• Athletics: basketball, volleyball, soccer, badminton, tennis, and swimming, where the students compete against other schools in the Mekong River International Schools Association (MRISA Sports Exchange) ^[7] and Saigon International Schools Athletics Competition (SISAC)
• Visual Arts, with projects for fundraising events, and an exhibition at the end of the school year, and taking part in the MRISA Arts Exchange for Middle and High School students ^[8]
• Music, with two performances per school year for Elementary, and taking part in the MRISA Arts Exchange for Middle School and High School students^[9]
• Dance, with two dance teams, and regular performances throughout the school year, also taking parts in MRISA Arts Exchange ^[10]
• Model United Nations
• Dragon Tales

•Dragon Broadcast Club

• Fundraising initiatives ^[11]
• Operation Smile Club ^[12]
• HeartSaysFreeMove Club^[13]
• Global Issues Group ^[14]
• Minecraft ^[15]
• Many other such as ballet, badminton, soccer, basketball, art club, swim club, computer club, cooking, crafts, math games, board games, digital animation, newspaper, origami, sewing, chess, piano, martial arts and writing, offered by the staff and community members.^[16]

External links

• Saigon South International School website
• Power School Log on for Saigon South International School
• Saigon South International School eNews
• Saigon South International School Blog
• Apple Distinguished School

References

Coordinates: 10°43′26″N 106°42′32″E / 10.7238°N 106.7090°E / 10.7238; 106.7090