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Day: 24 October 2026

Winter Break Activities for Kids

Posted on by Gary Ly

Discover winter break activities for kids that encourage creativity, build practical skills and bring families closer together. When the school term comes to an end, children’s structured days of learning and enrichment give way to an open-ended holiday. However, winter break does not have to mean catching up on schoolwork or spending hours glued to devices. A balance of rest, learning and entertainment can help children enjoy a meaningful break and feel recharged for the next school term.

Every parent has been there: the school term ends, and suddenly, the usual routines of lessons, activities and learning give way to days with fewer plans. So, how can parents make the most of the winter break without filling every moment with activities?

The key is to create space for rest, exploration and meaningful time together.

Learn more: AHI Meaningful Family Summer Activities

Relax, Rest and Recharge

After a busy school term, winter break gives children a chance to step away from the pressure of lessons, projects and tests. Not every moment needs to be productive, and children should feel free to enjoy their holidays without having to meet goals or achieve specific outcomes.

According to Yogman et al. (2018), preschool children who were allowed to explore objects with minimal adult direction came up with three times as many unconventional uses for them as children who were given specific instructions. This highlights how giving children room to experiment can encourage creative thinking.

Photo: Students enthusiastically reading a storybook during break time.

Parents can make room for this kind of exploration by letting children build with blocks, draw, create stories or play with everyday household objects at their own pace. Reading, listening to music or journalling are other ways to enjoy quiet, self-directed activities.

While it is natural to want to make the most of the holidays, giving children the freedom to choose how they spend their time away from screens can help them enjoy a well-deserved break from their usual routine.

Bake Up New Skills

Learning can happen in unexpected places, and the kitchen is a great place to start. Baking is one of many educational activities for children that turn everyday experiences into opportunities to practise practical skills. Winter is also a wonderful time to bake festive sugar cookies together, giving families a chance to bond while children learn through hands-on experience.

According to CEHD Communications (2025), measuring ingredients introduces mathematical concepts such as fractions and quantities, while following a recipe helps children practise sequencing and learn new vocabulary.

Photo: Exploring a kitchen toy set during a Toddlers Club session at AHI Preschool.

Find a simple holiday cookie recipe online and let children get involved in measuring ingredients, mixing the dough and decorating the finished treats. Older children can take on a bigger challenge by doubling the recipe to make enough for the whole family, practising multiplication while learning to adjust ingredient quantities.

This winter break activity for kids is a fun way to put classroom skills to use and create something from scratch together.

Photo: Colourful Christmas cookies with festive decorations. Source: Pexels.

Enjoy a Movie Night Together

After an afternoon of baking, gather for a festive film with freshly baked cookies and a warm glass of milk. Revisit timeless classics such as *Home Alone* or *How the Grinch Stole Christmas* and share a few laughs while making new memories along the way.

Photo: Home Alone, a classic holiday film for a family movie night.

A family movie night can be about more than the story on screen. According to Common Sense Media (2025), watching films together gives parents and children opportunities to talk about characters’ feelings, understand different perspectives and learn about experiences beyond their own.

A simple question about a character’s choices can open the door to meaningful conversations, helping children develop empathy while giving families a chance to understand one another a little better.

Long after the credits roll, it may be these small moments together that children remember most.

[Choosing What Works for Your Family]

The holidays are a time for celebration, relaxation and spending time with loved ones. Whether you are baking festive treats, enjoying a favourite film together or discovering something new, these shared experiences can become cherished family memories. Choose the winter break activities that suit your family best and enjoy making the most of your time together.

For families looking for school holiday activities in Ho Chi Minh City to add some structure to the break, AHI’s Winter Camp offers children opportunities to learn, explore and connect with others during the holidays.

Find out more about AHI’s Winter Camps.

Book a School Tour to discover AHI’s approach to holistic learning.

References

Yogman, M., Garner, A., Hutchinson, J., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2018). The power of play: A pediatric role in enhancing development in young children. Pediatrics, 142(3), Article e20182058.

Read the research paper: The Power of Play

CEHD Communications. (2025, December 19). Learning through baking. Texas A&M University, School of Education and Human Development.

Read the article: Learning Through Baking

Common Sense Media. (2025, July 17). Why watching TV and movies is better together.

Read the article: Why Watching TV and Movies Is Better Together

Facility Updates for Term 1 – Academic Year 2026 – 2027

Posted on by Gary Ly

Anne Hill International School (AHI) has introduced new and upgraded facilities for the Academic Year (AY) 2026–2027 across its campuses in Ho Chi Minh City. These include the new Vo Truong Toan Campus, the Administration Area and Primary Campus in Giang Van Minh, and the Preschool Campus in An Phu. The updates feature refreshed classrooms, new sports areas and enhanced amenities to provide a more conducive environment for learning and outdoor activities.

Photo: The new football field at AHI’s Vo Truong Toan Campus, one of the school’s new facilities.

AHI School Facilities: What’s New

The opening of AHI’s new Vo Truong Toan Campus marks a key development for the school in AY 2026–2027. Alongside this milestone, improvements to existing facilities across its campuses help better support the day-to-day needs of the school community.

Photo: The new library at AHI’s Vo Truong Toan Campus, giving students access to a wider range of books and reading materials.

Each update addresses practical needs across the school community, whether by providing more space for physical activity, making movement between classes more efficient or creating more welcoming spaces for students and families. These facilities and amenities reflect AHI’s continued commitment to developing its campuses in line with the needs of its growing community.

Learn more about AHI’s new Secondary Campus: Anne Hill’s New Campus in Ho Chi Minh City for AY 2026–2027.

Facility Updates Across AHI Campuses

Administration Area: More Space for Sports and Recreation

The Administration Area at 19 Giang Van Minh now features a new multi-purpose court, playground and outdoor gym. The gym includes pull-up bars, monkey bars, a climbing net and parallel bars, giving students more options for outdoor activities and physical exercise.

Photo: The renovated outdoor gym area at AHI’s 19 Giang Van Minh Administration Area, featuring climbing equipment.

Photo: The outdoor multi-purpose court at AHI’s 19 Giang Van Minh Administration Area.

Students and families are welcome to use the football field, multi-purpose court and playground after school on weekdays, from 3 pm to 5 pm, subject to school guidelines. As AHI staff will not be present after school, students must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult when using these facilities to help ensure a safe environment.

Primary Campus (31 Giang Van Minh): Refreshed Learning Spaces

At the Primary Campus, classrooms and corridors in Block A have been refreshed with new lighting and freshly painted walls, creating brighter spaces for daily lessons. A connecting door between Blocks A and B makes it easier for students and staff to move between the buildings. A new covered walkway between the canteen and the Year 5 classrooms also provides shelter during rainy weather.

Photo: The upgraded playground at AHI’s Primary Campus, featuring a covered play structure with a slide.

Block D has received additional outdoor gym equipment, including a multi-play structure, alongside improvements to the connecting shelter. These upgrades help make everyday movement around the campus more convenient and enjoyable.

Primary and Secondary Campus (12 Vo Truong Toan): New Facilities and Amenities

The new Primary and Secondary Campus at 12 Vo Truong Toan opened for AY 2026–2027, extending AHI’s learning pathway to Secondary education. Its facilities include purpose-built classrooms, science laboratories, a Design and Technology Lab, a library, a Multi-Purpose Hall and a 25-metre swimming pool. Equipped with specialised resources, these facilities support innovative and independent learning while catering to students’ different interests and learning needs.

Learn more about our Secondary curriculum.

Photo: Facilities at the Vo Truong Toan Campus.

Photo: The renovated administrative building at 14B Vo Truong Toan, housing the Admissions Office, uniform shop and EM Café.

The renovated administrative building at 14B Vo Truong Toan houses the uniform shop, Admissions Office and Admissions Test Room. Another exciting addition is EM Café, AHI’s new on-campus coffee shop, available at both 12 and 14B Vo Truong Toan. With indoor and outdoor seating, EM Café offers parents and visitors a comfortable place to relax, enjoy a thoughtfully handcrafted drink and stay connected with school life at AHI.

Photo: EM Café at 12 Vo Truong Toan.

Photo: Biometric access gates at AHI’s Primary Campus entrance.

Biometric access gates have also been installed across the Giang Van Minh and Vo Truong Toan campuses to support secure entry.

Photo: New personalised lockers to safeguard students’ belongings.

Additional premium lockers have been introduced in Building H of the Vo Truong Toan Campus to accommodate students alongside the lockers provided at the start of the academic year. Fitted with combination locks, each locker features a personalised name label and House sticker, giving students a secure and easily identifiable space to store their belongings.

Preschool Campus (32 An Phu): Upgraded Outdoor Spaces

Photo: The upgraded playground flooring at AHI’s Preschool Campus.

At the Preschool Campus at 32 An Phu, the playground has been upgraded with new swings and a seesaw, alongside rubber flooring. These additions give younger students more opportunities for outdoor play and movement.

Photo: The eco-garden mural at AHI’s Preschool Campus.

Photo: A lively birthday mural for AHI Preschool students.

New eco-garden and birthday-themed murals have also brought colour to the Preschool environment. The hand-painted birthday mural features a three-dimensional design that allows students to interact with the scene and take memorable birthday photos. This thoughtful addition brings a personal touch to birthday celebrations at AHI, giving students a special backdrop to mark their day.

Large canopy umbrellas provide additional shelter outdoors, while a reorganised parking gate and dedicated staff parking help support the daily arrival and departure routines of the school community.

Supporting Students’ Learning at AHI

Every space on campus plays a part in a student’s school journey. In refurbished classrooms, learning continues each day; on the playground, friendships take shape; and on the sports field, students discover new interests and abilities. The updated facilities at AHI provide welcoming spaces for students to learn, explore and spend time with their peers, while offering more opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

As AHI continues to develop, we would like to thank our teachers, staff and parents for being part of this journey. Their support and contributions have been integral to AHI’s growth. As Mr Noel, Vice-Principal – Curriculum & Student Life, noted, we “look forward to continuing to provide our students with opportunities to learn, participate, lead and grow throughout the year.”

Looking ahead, we are excited for another year of community-driven opportunities for our students. We will continue to share the latest updates on our school facilities as AHI grows and develops.

Book a School Tour to discover AHI’s campuses and learning facilities.



October 2026 Coffee Morning: Phonics and Reading Habits for AHI Families

Posted on by Gary Ly

Anne Hill International School (AHI) held its October Coffee Morning sessions on 6 and 8 October 2026 at An Phu Campus (Preschool) and Vo Truong Toan Campus (Primary & Secondary), Ho Chi Minh City. The two sessions, “Helping Your Child to Read: The Power of Phonics” for Preschool parents and “Developing Reading Habits” for Primary parents, offered practical insights and group discussions on supporting children’s reading development at different stages. As part of Coffee Morning at AHI, parents also connected with the Academic Leadership Team and explored ways to encourage learning beyond the classroom.

Photo: Mr Benjamin Cracknell, Vice-Principal (Lower Primary), introducing the topic of developing reading habits during the Primary Coffee Morning at AHI Multi-purpose Hall.

Coffee Morning with the Leadership Team: Connecting Home and School

Coffee Morning at AHI is held monthly across the school’s three campuses, giving parents opportunities to connect with the Academic Leadership Team (ALT). In addition, quarterly sessions with the Executive Management Board (EMB) provide first-hand updates on key school initiatives and developments, alongside insights into upcoming plans and strategic priorities. Parents can also share their perspectives through two-way discussions, with their feedback helping shape AHI’s continued growth and development.

Photo: Coffee and refreshments prepared for parents during Coffee Morning at AHI.

In October, the Preschool session explored the role of phonics in early reading, while the Primary session focused on developing reading habits and motivating children to read. Led by Ms Leean Woodland, Vice-Principal (Preschool), and Mr Benjamin Cracknell, Vice-Principal (Lower Primary), respectively, the sessions combined insights from the hosts with group discussions. Over coffee and refreshments, parents shared their experiences and discussed practical ways to support their children’s learning at home. The intimate, small-group setting also gave parents opportunities to hear different perspectives and learn from other families’ experiences.

One parent shared how much they appreciated the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from other families facing similar situations. The sessions deepened parents’ understanding of their children’s development and how to support their growth both in and beyond the classroom.

Preschool Coffee Morning (6 October): The Power of Phonics

Photo: Ms Leean Woodland introducing phonics at the Preschool Coffee Morning.

Fun and laughter filled the Preschool Coffee Morning workshop on 6 October at Room F.004, An Phu Campus. Hosted by Ms Leean Woodland, the session, “Helping Your Child to Read: The Power of Phonics”, introduced parents to practical approaches for supporting their children’s early reading development.

Ms Leean first introduced parents to basic yet effective guidelines for helping children learn to read more quickly and enjoy the process. She then demonstrated the approach by guiding parents through reading unfamiliar Russian letters, showing how quickly adults could learn when using the right techniques. For parents, the task offered a glimpse of the challenges children face when first learning the alphabet and blending phonetic sounds into words.

Through this exercise, parents experienced first-hand the challenges of learning an unfamiliar writing system. Ms Leean’s demonstration showed how the right techniques can make reading feel less daunting, highlighting the value of patience and encouragement as children build confidence and develop a lasting enjoyment of reading. Parents left the workshop feeling empowered to support their children on their reading journey.

Learn more about our Preschool curriculum.

Primary Coffee Morning (8 October): Developing Reading Habits

In the “Developing Reading Habits” session, Mr Benjamin Cracknell, Vice-Principal (Lower Primary), explored why some children read independently while others need more encouragement. He highlighted that developing reading skills is only part of the journey. Motivation, curiosity and autonomy are equally important in helping children become regular readers. Rather than following a rigid routine, families were encouraged to find what works best for their child. As Mr Ben explained, “There is not one perfect reading routine. The best one is the one that works for you, your child and your family.”

Photo: A selection of books used in the Primary curriculum at AHI.

Photo: Parents connecting over discussions about books at the Primary Coffee Morning at AHI.

Finding the right time is a crucial part of establishing a reading routine. One parent reflected on how children’s energy levels affect their willingness to read, sharing, “That also correlates to energy levels. It is much harder to get them to read after a long day at school, whereas it is easier if it is a weekend activity like spending a Saturday afternoon at a bookstore.”

The discussion highlighted how reading can become a more natural part of family life when it fits a child’s interests and daily schedule.

Parents put these ideas into practice through a role-play activity, working in smaller groups to discuss scenarios involving students with different reading habits. These included a Year 1 student who enjoyed being read to but avoided reading independently, a Year 3 student who preferred comics and graphic novels, and older children who had lost interest in books or increasingly turned to screens. The activity encouraged parents to consider what might be behind a child’s reluctance to read and how they could respond to their individual needs.

Photo: Parents taking part in a role-play activity, exchanging ideas and perspectives.

Mr Ben encouraged parents to let children explore different types of reading material, including comics, graphic novels and magazines, rather than limiting them to chapter books. As he put it, “Life is too short to read books that do not interest you.”

Giving children the freedom to choose what they read can help sustain their interest, while reading together allows parents to share that enjoyment with them. Even when children can read independently, sharing stories introduces new vocabulary and more complex texts without the pressure of reading alone. Together, these approaches can help make reading an enjoyable and lasting part of family life.

A Shared Conversation: Building Home-School Partnerships

Photo: Parents presenting their key takeaways following small-group discussions.

Coffee Mornings at AHI reflect the value of a strong home-school partnership. By exploring relevant topics together, these sessions encourage parent engagement and help families gain a clearer understanding of how children learn and the different ways they can be supported at home and at school.

Thank you to all the parents who joined us and contributed to the October Coffee Mornings. We look forward to welcoming more families to future sessions as we continue learning and growing together as one community.

Want to explore more? Take a look at our Events Calendar.

Book a School Tour to discover AHI’s learning environment.