Dear Parents,
On behalf of Anne Hill International (AHI) Preschool, I am very pleased to welcome your family as we embark on a life-long journey of learning ahead.
This handbook serves to introduce school life at AHI Preschool and what you can expect for your child as he/she joins our community.
Our founding principles are to ensure quality education priced affordably, and we aim to provide a safe and conducive environment for students, teachers and all staff members.
We have a mission to:
Last but not least, I look forward to welcoming you and your child to our campus.
Anne Hill
Preschool Principal
At AHI Preschool we believe in providing quality care in a safe and nurturing environment. Our homeroom and specialist teachers have experience in working in various educational settings. They will work closely with their teaching assistants to ensure that each child receives the support needed during this early years development stage.
For the full AHI faculty, please refer to: https://annehill.school/meet-our-team/
AHI Preschool is committed to the successful learning of all our students by offering the highest quality private education. This means an effective teacher-student ratio and good class size, taught by an academic team of competent and caring teachers from different parts of the world. The main curriculum is IEYC complemented by other teaching approaches including Montessori, Jolly Phonic and Numicon.
Our vision is to nurture well-rounded, globally-minded, lifelong learners.
Our mission is to deliver affordable, high-quality international education in a safe and caring environment.
School is where children begin understanding what it means to be a member of an interconnected and global community. Responsible citizenship is an underlying element of our school programmes. Our four school values at preschool are:
Integrity (Ethical)
Empathic
Humility
Respectful
International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC)
International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) is the main preschool curriculum at AHI. It helps to meet the educational needs of our children and ensure that teachers are providing the best learning environment and opportunities for their community.
The International Early Years Curriculum is a research-based curriculum recognising global best practice in early childhood education and the developmental needs of students 2-5 years old. It supports key areas of learning through holistic enquiry and play-based approaches that cover all curriculum areas including personal, social and emotional development. Learning is largely based on exciting themes that capture children’s interest and spark their imaginations.
IEYC is designed around eight learning principles for our preschoolers who will find this curriculum exciting, fun-filled, and intensely educational. The IEYC also provides learning outcomes to describe the knowledge, skills and increasing understanding children will have as they progress.
For more information please refer to the following link: https://fieldworkeducation.com/
Montessori Method
AHI Preschool also adopts the Montessori Method in its Montessori classes. The emphasis is on self-directed activities, child-led learning and discovery. The five key areas of learning in the Montessori environment include Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics and Culture.
Practical Life – Exercises for the child to learn how to perform activities independently and in a purposeful way in their daily life routine e.g. peeling/cutting bananas, watering plants, etc. These activities will also help children develop coordination & control, concentration, environment awareness and good work habits.
Sensorial – Exercises that help the child to develop and refine his/her sense of smell, touch, taste sight and hearing. This translates to the child being able to perceive size, shape, colour, loudness, texture and smell. Like many other materials in the Montessori classroom, sensorial learning materials have what is called a “control of error’. It is a method that allows the child to check the work himself/herself rather than seeking out for teacher’s help. Working with sensorial materials lays a firm foundation for subject learning in the future such as Mathematics, Geometry, Geography, Botany, Art & Music.
Language – Multi-sensory exercises that combine phonics, stories and language experiences to bring meaning to reading and writing.
Mathematics – This activity-based programme complements our Numicon programme where children will have a hands-on experience in learning mathematical concepts. It is taught through the manipulation of concrete subjects.
Cultural – Cultural areas of studies that are introduced in the Montessori classroom range from Science, Geography, History and Botany & Zoology. It helps to facilitate the child’s exploration of the world around them i.e. observing, inquiring, researching and communicating his/her discovery. The child is introduced to different countries, cultures and environments. Complementing the 2nd language subject, cultural topics introduced during Montessori also encourage AHI students to appreciate the diversity within their school.
Jolly Phonics
Jolly Phonics is a fun and child centred approach to teaching literacy through synthetic phonics. It is systematic and teaches the letter sounds in an enjoyable and a multi-sensory approach. Jolly Phonics teaches children the five key skills for reading and writing:
Numicon
Numicon is a multi-sensory approach to teaching math suitable for all ages. It is designed to help children understand connections between numbers. Through a hands-on approach (by seeing and feeling), children will develop a foundation that underpin their understanding of numbers later on in school. Numicon utilises learning equipment that provides a range of sensory experiences such as pegs, shapes and kinetic sand. The equipment:
AHI Preschool tailors its programme for children of different age groups:
Playgroup (18 months – 2 years)
At this age group they require both a stimulating and nurturing environment to develop their independence and motor skills. Practical Life activities and manipulative play help to develop their motor skills, sense of order, concentration and responsibility in their environment. Through Sensorial Activities (i.e. learning through the five senses), they will also be engaged in activities that stimulate their senses to learn early number concepts and language skills e.g. Phonics.
Nursery (2 – 4 years)
Continuing from the early learning experiences in Playgroup, children of this age group are able to work with more complex exercises in Practical Life and Sensorial Activities and engage in thematic learning. These will help guide the basis for later development in abstract concepts. Early mathematical concepts, word building and early writing skills are taught at the Nursery stage. Foundation is also laid at this stage for good work and social habits.
Kindergarten (4 – 5 years)
Kindergarten consists of children who are 4 to 5 years old. At this stage, children are ready to take on more complex exercises in a more disciplined way in preparation for primary school. Mathematics, language and writing skills will be further developed in fun and manipulative ways. They will also be involved in early science and cultural activities, which will introduce them to the surrounding environment.
Subjects and activities introduced at AHI Preschool aim to provide a holistic development of the child. In addition to knowledge and understanding, children will also engage in activities and daily routines that focus on developing their loco-motor skills, social & emotional well-being, cultural awareness and moral compass. Learning is conducted across different settings – inside and outside of classrooms.
Subjects & Activities Introduced*:
*Certain activities may only be introduced starting from older age groups. Please check with your class teacher for your child’s class timetable.
AHI Sample Preschool School Timetable
Please note that meal times and weekly duration of each subject or activity may differ depending on each year level.
The exact class timetable will be provided to you by the class teacher.
2.1 Document Submission
Please ensure that all requested recommendation forms and/or reports from previous schools are submitted on time. You may be requested to fill in and submit an AHI Recommendation Form as below.
Any delay in submission of the documents above may result in a delayed school start date.
2.2 Health Check & Medical Record Form
Starting from AY 2022-2023, all parents (new and existing AHI parents) are required to submit their child’s general health check report following the standard Health Check & Medical Record Form provided by the school. The school strives to keep all medical records up to date in the interest of students’ safety on campus.
For AY 2022-2023, the school will sponsor all students for this general health check at Raffles Medical International Clinic, HCMC. A complimentary voucher for each child’s health check at Raffles Medical will be issued to parents upon confirmation of enrolment.
AHI Health Check & Medical Record Form
Important Note – The form has to be completed by parents and the clinic’s doctor. Please bring a hard copy of the form, your child’s immunisation record and the complimentary voucher to Raffles Medical on the day of your child’s health check. Parents will be required to accompany the child to the health check. The child should be in good health before presenting for his/her health check at the clinic.
Submission Deadline – Submission of health check report for new enrolling students will be required before the official enrolment. For existing students, their health check reports can be submitted within 30 days after the school physically opens. Parents are required to submit the original hard copy of the completed form to the school. The school and Raffles Medical reserve the right to keep a copy of the child’s medical record within their premises; however, sharing and submission of medical records can only be done by the parents. This is to uphold patient’s confidentiality on both sides.
Health Check Locations – Parents will have the option to take their child for the health check at one of the following places. Examinations will be conducted by the medical team from Raffles Medical at both locations:
RAFFLES MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL CLINIC HCMC
(Mon – Fri: 8:00AM – 8:00PM, Sat: 8:00AM – 5:00PM, Sun: 8:00 AM – 12.30PM) 167A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (028) 38240777 | Email: frontdesk_hcmc@rafflesmedical.com
Fit for school – Students must be deemed fit for school after the health screening and medical examination in order to confirm their enrolment. Please note that enrolment may be revoked in cases where the student is deemed unfit to attend schooling at AHI.
Vaccination policy – All students registering at AHI must be fully vaccinated to ensure the health and safety of the school community. Moreover, they need to have their vaccination documents approved and update the school.
2.3 STAR PORTAL
Parents will need to complete their child’s registration by registering their account on the school’s STAR PORTAL. A registration link will be sent to your email. Please follow the registration steps and upload all necessary documents.
Parents are responsible for updating their personal information on the STAR PORTAL including any changes to personal contact information, authorisation, allergies, dietary requirements and other student details. Please ensure that your latest email address is updated on the STAR PORTAL. A reminder email will be sent to parents every six months, and it is the parents’ responsibility to update the portal should there be a change in any information.
2.4 Start Date
The start date for your child will be communicated to you by our Admissions & Student Care team in the letter of enrolment. Please note that any delays in document submissions, payment of fees, health checks or any other delays in the admissions process will result in a later start date.Fit
The school partners with learning support experts to address developmental and learning challenges that the students may be facing. As such, the school reserves the right to request for additional support from parents e.g. shadow teachers as and when deemed essential at any point during the enrolment of the child. Kindly note that parents are responsible for the fees incurred for additional support. In circumstances where these additional supports are not provided due to various reasons, the school may involve parents to review their child’s enrolment and discuss a suitable course of action.
The following number of uniforms will be provided FOR FREE at the beginning of the academic year:
Additional uniforms can be purchased at the AHI Uniform Shop. Students must wear the correct uniform every day when they are at school including caps, shoes, socks, jumpers and other outerwear and accessories. For more information, please refer to the Dress Code section of School Life of the Parent-Student Handbook. AHI school caps, socks and jumpers are available for purchase at the AHI Uniform Shop.
2.7 Personal Items – What to Bring?
Preschool:
All water bottles, towels and clothing are to be brought home daily for washing for hygiene purposes. Please label all children’s uniform and personal items.
2.8 Class Assignment
The Student Care team will inform you of your child’s class assignment upon completion of the enrolment process. The class teacher will reach out to you via email to follow-up on class activities and other academic matters.
2.9 Seesaw – Parent Account
For more information on how to use Seesaw as a parent, please refer to AHI Seesaw Parent Guide below.
Seesaw is an all-in-one platform that connects parents, students and teachers. Through this app, we hope to keep in touch with parents and allow you to closely follow your child’s learning journey at AHI. A weekly update on classroom activities, class photos, school menu and your child’s learning experiences will be posted to you via this platform.
Student Digital Assignments
For digital assignment during online learning, the students will log on to the student account for the assigned work in Class Dojo. More details will be shared by the class teachers separately. Details on online learning will also be shared separately.
2.10 School Bus Routes
Currently we have bus routes that operate in various neighbourhoods namely Thao Dien, An Phu, Vinhomes Central Park, Diamond Island and District 9. We are open to new routes / addresses.
Depending on the bus route and traffic, the students will arrive at school before their morning class schedule starts. In the afternoon, students will depart upon completion of their school day. The exact pick-up/drop-off time will be communicated to you by our Student Care team. Timings may be subject to changes and our Student Care team will inform you should this occur.
2.11 One Way versus. Two-Ways
One way: Student only take the bus once a day at a fixed session – either during pick-up in the morning OR drop-off in the afternoon.
Two ways: Student takes a round trip on the bus each day – during pick-up and drop-off times.
2.12 School Bus Fees
For more information on bus fees, please refer to our Schedule of Fees at: https://annehill.school/school-fees/
Bus fees are non-refundable under any circumstances. There will be no deductions for holidays or any other reason(s) during any given month. If a child takes the bus less than 5 days a week, the bus fees specified in the Schedule of Fees will still apply and will not be pro-rated.
2.13 School Bus Registration
To register for the bus service, please contact our Student Care team for more information.
All parents and students are to observe the school bus procedures and rules stated in the Parent-Student Handbook under School Life section when taking the school bus.
3.1 School Calendar
Please refer to the school calendar on our website for more details on holidays and events: https://annehill.school/term-dates-holiday-breaks/
3.2 School Hours
Full-day Students: 8am – 5pm
Half-day Students: 8am – 1pm
3.3 School Timetable
The link to each class timetable will be updated before the academic year begins. The class teacher will provide parents with the class timetable for any new enrolment or if there is any change to the timetable. Please reach out to the class teacher if you have not received the timetable.
3.4 Student Drop-Off Procedure
3.5 Student Pick-Up Procedure
Our school will not release any child to any person without prior consent from the parent. This also includes parents of other children attending the school.
Last minute arrangement via phone call before the pick-up time is not allowed to avoid confusion by all parties and to ensure the safety of the child. Should parents or guardians anticipate being away from home for extended periods, the school must be informed for the safety and security of the student.
3.6 Punctuality
Being punctual for school is a form of discipline and respect, these are attributes which are important in life. As such, your child is expected to arrive at school no later than 8.15 am.
To encourage early arrival, please note that from Friday, 11th November, your child will not be allowed entry after 8.20am without following our protocol for late students (displayed at the gate). If you know in advance that your child is going to be late or going to leave school early on a particular day, please inform the teacher and Student Care Team.
3.7 Absence from School
In order to ensure the safety of our students, we are updating the students’ attendance protocol. Please refer to the followings:
Sickness: Parents must notify the school if the student is absent for medical reasons. A dated medical certificate must also be submitted to the school following their absence due to sickness. For the protection of all children in our school, any child with communicable diseases, such as Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), Measles, Chickenpox, Lice, or Conjunctivitis (e.g. eye infection) will not be allowed to attend school. Our school has the right to stop any child from entering the school to minimise infection and spread of viruses to other children. For communicable diseases, upon expiry of the dated medical certificate, there must be a follow-up doctor’s note to certify that the child is fit before returning to school.
Example of a typical dated medical certificate. Details and layout may differ depending on the clinic, hospital or medical practitioner.
Other reasons: If there are other exceptional circumstances where students have to be absent, parents or guardians are required to inform the class teacher and school in advance.
Parents/guardians of students who have repeated absences without reason will be contacted by the school and will be invited to discuss on an appropriate course of action.
At AHI Preschool, we start to introduce students to the qualities that are aligned with our core values: Integrity, Empathy, Humility and Respect. Being able to conform to the rules of the school and observe the expected conduct is important as an AHI student.
3.8 School Library Rules
3.9 Damage to School Property & Equipment
Staff, parents and students are responsible for the condition of the items or equipment that they borrow or use from the school. These include but are not limited to learning materials, books, devices and equipment. If an item is damaged, vandalised or lost, the borrower or user is responsible for paying the necessary compensation to fix or replace the item.
3.10 Dress Code – Uniform
The AHI uniform is a means of showing our identity and school pride to the wider community as well as being practical school wear.
Students of all ages are required to wear their uniforms to campus at all times provided by the school:
From time to time there will be days where students are allowed dress-up for various school occasions and events. The school will inform parents of such occasions; these are the only times when students may not wear their uniforms.
3.11 Dress Code – Shoes & Socks
Students are required to wear comfortable shoes with their toes covered. Appropriate sports shoes and grip socks must be worn for PE lessons. Grip socks are available for purchase at the school’s uniform shop.
Left to right: example of shoes (toes covered) and grip socks.
NOT ALLOWED:
In the interest of safety, children who are not wearing appropriate shoes or attire will not be able to take part in certain activities such as PE lessons. The school will only permit students with grip socks to use the trampoline and rock wall.
3.12 Dress Code – Additional Accessories & Attire
To ensure the safety of the child, only the following accessories are permitted:
The wearing of jewellery/costume jewellery, outer wear and hats (that do not contain the school’s logo) is not allowed during school hours.
Art Attire
Art aprons are provided at the school. However, students may choose to bring an additional T-shirt with cut off sleeves to protect their uniforms during art activities. This attire is not to be worn during other times at school.
3.13 Dress Code – Personal Grooming
Students with long hair are required to tie their hair up with a simple and soft hair tie (no large decorations) in order to avoid health hazards.
In the interest of students’ safety during playtime and P.E., please use soft hair ties only.
3.14 Prohibited Items
Students are not allowed to bring personal/valuable items such as:
The use of mobile phones is not allowed during the school day. Use of these will result in confiscation and disciplinary action. Students who bring these to school must have them turned off and may only use them off campus. Parents are advised to refrain their child from bringing any valuables including money to school.
The school accepts no responsibility for the loss or damage of electronic equipment and other valuable items brought to school.
3.15 Birthday Celebrations
We recognise that birthdays are important for every child and that they should get a chance to celebrate with their classmates. Please inform the school and the child’s teacher at least one week in advance if you would like to organise a small birthday celebration at school. Celebrations will be held at the canteen/classroom. To ensure the safety of all children while celebrating, please take note of the following measures that will apply for birthday celebrations:
ALLOWED
Not ALLOWED
A sample of the treats will be kept for 24 hours following food safety inspection procedures. Please feel free to contact our Student Care team for recommendations on birthday treats.
3.16 Child Safety & Welfare
Anne Hill International School is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children by taking all reasonable steps to protect them from neglect, physical, sexual or emotional harm whether these occur physically or on virtual platforms. All staff, volunteers as well as external individuals, clubs or groups will at all times adhere to the rights, safety and welfare of our students and conduct themselves in a way that reflect the principles of the school.
3.17 AHI Behaviour Policy
Our Behaviour Policy aims to facilitate the attainment of the following core objectives:
Our Behaviour Policy also supports the following School Core Values:
3.18 Adult Behaviour Policy
The school recognises that staff, parents and children are entitled to a safe environment on campus. Behaviour that will cause harassment, alarm or distress to users of the premises is contrary to the aims of the school.
Aim: All members of the AHI school community are to treat each other with respect.
Expectations:
Listed below are types of behaviour that are considered serious and unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This is not an exhaustive list but seeks to provide illustrations of such behaviour:
Please note that the school reserves the right to take necessary actions to ensure that members of the school community are not subjected to abuse. School premises are private property; parents and other adults have been granted permission from the school to be on campus. However, in case of abuse or threats to staff, students or other parents, the Principal may ban the person responsible for the abuse or threats from entering the school.
IMPORTANT: Mandatory Submission/Resubmission of Health Check Report
Starting from AY 2022-2023, all parents (new and existing AHI parents) are required to submit their child’s general health check report following the standard Health Check & Medical Record Form provided by the school. The school strives to keep all medical records up to date in the interest of students’ safety on campus.
For AY 2022-2023, the school will sponsor all students for this general health check at Raffles Medical International Clinic, HCMC. A complimentary voucher for each child’s health check at Raffles Medical will be issued to parents upon confirmation of enrolment.
AHI Health Check & Medical Record Form
Important Note – The form has to be completed by parents and the clinic’s doctor. Please bring a hard copy of the form, your child’s immunisation record and the complimentary voucher to Raffles Medical on the day of your child’s health check. Parents will be required to accompany the child to the health check. The child should be in good health before presenting for his/her health check at the clinic.
Submission Deadline – Submission of health check report for new enrolling students will be required before the official enrolment. For existing students, their health check reports can be submitted within 30 days after the school physically opens. Parents are required to submit the original hard copy of the completed form to the school. The school and Raffles Medical reserve the right to keep a copy of the child’s medical record within their premises; however, sharing and submission of medical records can only be done by the parents. This is to uphold patient’s confidentiality on both sides.
Health Check Locations – Parents will have the option to take their child for the health check at one of the following places. Examinations will be conducted by the medical team from Raffles Medical at both locations:
RAFFLES MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL CLINIC HCMC
(Mon – Fri: 8:00AM – 8:00PM, Sat: 8:00AM – 5:00PM, Sun: 8:00 AM – 12.30PM) 167A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (028) 38240777 | Email: frontdesk_hcmc@rafflesmedical.com
3.19 Updating of Personal Records
Parents are responsible for updating their personal information on the STAR PORTAL including any changes to personal contact information, authorisation, student health & dietary requirements and other student details. Please ensure that your latest email address is updated on the STAR PORTAL. A reminder email will be sent to parents every six months, and it is the parents’ responsibility to update the portal should there be a change in any information.
3.20 Diet & Nutrition
Children are fed nutritionally on daily basis with morning snack, lunch and light afternoon snack (full-day students). We do not encourage cookies, cakes or any other confectionery, except for special occasions and events. Please inform the school if your child has any special dietary requirements and we will work with our kitchen accordingly to ensure that those requirements are met.
For preschool’s students, fresh and/or formula milk is allowed. However, there is no lunch box allowed.
Please note that the school is a NUT and PORK FREE environment. This includes food items with traces of nuts, nut oils and nut milk. In addition, food from home including morning snacks, lunch and afternoon tea is not permitted to be brought to school with the exception of birthday celebrations.
3.21 Drug Administration
The School WILL NOT administer any form of medicine including antibiotics until there is a medical practioner’s note (dated) certifying that the student is deemed fit to return to school. In cases where children are deemed fit to return, all medicine must be clearly labeled – name of the medicine and dosage – in English and will be administered by the School Nurse. A Medication Administration Authorisation Record must be filled in and signed by the parent/guardian upon arrival of the student at the health check station in school.
The School reserves the right to refuse administering medication if it is deemed unsafe to do so during school hours including high risks of side effects. The School will not be held responsible for any consequences arising from the medicine.
We encourage parents to administer medication before or after school hours where possible.
3.22 Sick Bay
If a student feels unwell during school, he/she will be escorted to the sick bay for resting and follow-up treatment. The school will notify parents by a phone call and SMS if their child needs to be picked up.
3.23 Criteria for Students to Be Sent Home
The school will notify parents to take the child home if he/she is deemed to be unwell and unable to continue with their school day. The following symptoms and medical problems are the school’s criteria for a child to stay at home:
To ensure the safety of your child and other students, please arrange the pick-up within one (1) hour of notification for non-emergency cases. Students will wait for their parents at the sick bay. If parents are unable to arrange for the pick-up, they must inform the school to discuss an alternate arrangement.
3.24 Returning to School Following Absence Due to Sickness
There must be a medical certificate with a fit-to-return date from the doctor before the student returns to school. Please view the Student Attendance section for a sample medical certificate.
3.25 Emergency Contact & Treatment
In case of an accident/emergency, the school is authorised by the parents through their signing of the Registration Form to seek appropriate medical consultation and treatment for the child. The authorisation is valid until the child is withdrawn from our school. All expenses incurred by our school or staff (e.g. transport, medical fees) arising from such an event that are not covered under the accident insurance plan will be borne by the child’s parents.
Our Nurse will contact one or both of the parents concerned on the telephone to inform him/her of the steps to be taken. In the event that BOTH parents cannot be reached by telephone, the school will contact the Emergency Contact listed in the STAR PORTAL.
The school will direct all emergencies to *9999 (24/7 Emergency Hotline by Family Medical Practice Vietnam). The school will follow all instructions directed by Family Medical Practice Vietnam.
FMP DISTRICT 2 MEDICAL CENTER
(Mon – Fri: 8:00AM – 5:00PM, Sat: 8:30AM – 12:30PM)
95 Thao Dien Street, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 28 3744 2000
Fax: +84 28 3744 6382
Email: d2.reception@vietnammedicalpractice.com
3.26 Accident Insurance
All children registered at our school will be covered under the students’ accident insurance plan. The insurance is capped at 150,000,000 vnd (inclusive of compensation for injury and medical expenses arising from accidents) and is subject to the terms and conditions specified in the insurance plan and annual revision. This insurance is only effective during the period of enrolment, and we encourage parents to be familiar with the coverage and purchase their own insurance if they would like coverage beyond this. Please contact our Student Care team for more information on the insurance plan.
3.27 Smoking & Substance Abuse Ban
Smoking is strictly prohibited on campus. This includes electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes. All parents, teachers, staff and visitors are prohibited from engaging in the illegal manufacture, possession, use, distribution or purchase of illicit drugs, alcohol or other intoxicants, as well as the misuse of prescription drugs on campus.
3.28 Air Quality
The school will keep track of the air quality daily. Each classroom is equipped with an air purifier. If the outdoor reading exceeds the level that is deemed safe for children, we will keep students indoors as much as possible. Parents must inform the school if their child has respiratory problems or conditions including those that are sensitive to air quality.
3.29 Student Supervision
To ensure a secure environment, the school provides supervision of students throughout the school day:
Students are not allowed in classrooms, library, outdoor facilities (rock-climbing area, football field, playground), sports hall and hallways when there is no supervising adult around. Likewise, students are not allowed at all premises after school hours if there is no supervision. Please refer to our After School Care for more information.
3.30 Visitor Policy
To minimise disruption to our programmes, visitors are requested to make an appointment. All visitors who enter the school must produce identification (ID card, passport, etc..) and will register their visit at the security booth. Visitors will receive a visitor card attached to a lanyard that must be displayed at all times while on school premises.
Visitors without an identification card will be escorted from the gate by the employee whom they are going to meet.
During certain school events, subject to the school’s prior approval, parents can invite family and friends to join the event. Parents must be present at the school gate to register their guests with the security guard.
Anyone who is suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be allowed to enter the school premises. If a person is displaying inappropriate and/or offensive behaviour, the person will also be escorted outside of the school. The school has a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and aggression.
To ensure our students’ privacy, visitors are not allowed to take photos on campus unless permitted by the school.
3.31 Photograph & Video Taking
Following the authorisation obtained from the Registration Form, parents agree to give the school permission to take photos and videos of students during school activities. These photos and videos may be used for the school’s promotional materials and platforms such as Facebook, website and brochures/flyers.
Parents may take photos of their child on campus; however, they are NOT ALLOWED to take photos when other children are in the background including Singing Assemblies. The only exception for parents to take group photos is when there is a special school event beyond the weekly timetable. Please follow our security and staff guidance to ensure that our students’ privacy policies are upheld during their school day.
3.32 Fire Drill
Fire drill will be conducted twice a year to familiarise students and staff with evacuation procedures. During the fire drill or in case of real fire emergency, everyone present at the school will exit the building following the fire escape plan. Students and teachers will line up according to class at the designated assembly area where attendance will be taken.
3.33 Vehicles
Parents are requested to drive slowly and carefully when arriving or leaving the school premises. In addition, please avoid double parking and parking in-front of ramps. The security guards will guide vehicles surrounding the school premise. We appreciate if you can follow their guidance to ensure the safety of the students on campus.
If deemed suspicious, any vehicle stopping in front/besides the school gates may be subjected to a search conducted by the school security guards.
3.34 Pets
To ensure the safety of all students, pets are not allowed to be brought into school premises at all times.
3.35 Lost & Found
A Lost & Found box is placed at our reception for any personal items found to be left on campus after school hours. Please make sure to label your child’s items that are brought to school. The school is not responsible for the loss of personal items.
3.36 Confidentiality
All students’ records (personal, academic and medical) are kept strictly confidential. The school will not share this information to other parties. We do not give out parents’ contact information to other AHI parents. The sharing must be done by the parents personally or in emergency cases – after the school has obtained written permission from the parents.
3.37 School Events
Anne Hill International School is not affiliated in any way with any religious organisations. Nevertheless, cultural diversity and community awareness play important roles in our curriculum. The school will organise events including cultural festivals and charity fundraisers. Please refer to our School Calendar for more information: https://annehill.school/term-dates-holiday-breaks/
3.38 Field Trips
As a part of our school’s curriculum, the children will be brought on field trips to visit places of interest or other events outside of the school. The purpose of field trips is to provide students with opportunities to apply what they have learnt in class to real life situations. Field trips are curated to deliver key learning goals and foster students’ awareness of the environment they live in. We encourage all parents to allow their children to take part of the excursions as these activities form part of the holistic education. Alternative arrangements have to be made by parents if a student is unable to attend. There will not be any staff member to supervise the child at school.
Kindly note that field trips are not included in the school fees for preschool. The fees will be communicated to parents once the field trips are confirmed and organised.
3.39 Open House
Anne Hill International School’s Open House serves to provide new parents with a glimpse of the student life on campus. The agenda includes school tours and activities for students to experience what a day is like at Anne Hill International School. If parents and students want volunteer for this event, they may contact the school administrator for more information. The Open House is usually held in March. For more information, please refer to our previous Open House 2022:
2022 OPEN HOUSE ONLINE EVENT AT AHI!
3.40 Admissions & Student Care Team
Our Admissions & Student Care (ASC) team is stationed at the reception of the primary school building during school hours. For any general enquiries, appointments, enrolment procedures or other administrative support, please reach out to our ASC team via email/hotline and they will direct you to the relevant contact person. In cases of emergencies outside of school hours (8am – 5pm; Monday – Friday), please contact our hotline via message.
3.41 Email
Our school will email you regular updates to keep you informed of important school announcements and other student care matters. For weekly menu and class activities, please refer to Seesaw. Should you have changed you email address, kindly update the STAR PORTAL and inform you class teacher.
3.42 Hotline
Should an urgent message need to be communicated to parents, you will be notified via the hotline number to get your response. To reach our hotline number, you may call or leave a message via SMS/WhatsApp. The hotline number is not available on other messaging applications.
3.43 Seesaw
Seesaw will be used as a communication application between parents and teachers. In addition to class updates, you may also communicate to the class teacher during school hours with regard to academic matters. This can be done via the messaging function within the app. Please note that caring your child is the teacher’s priority and the class teachers are not always on their devices; responses may not be immediate.
Except for their child, parents are advised not to post photos (downloaded from Seesaw) of other children on to their public profiles or websites due to privacy reasons.
3.44 Social Media & Website
We will update our social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube) and website regularly with photos and videos of our school activities.
3.45 Parent’s Volunteer Group
Parents have a wealth of experience, knowledge and ideas which can be a huge asset to the school and the students. We welcome parents to join the Parent’s Volunteer Group, which will help organise field trips, events and other activities in school. For more information, please contact the school’s administrator.
3.46 Parent-Teacher Meetings
You are invited to attend the Parent-Teacher meetings, which will be held twice a year. The meetings will be an opportunity for parents to meet with the teachers to discuss the progress of their children. A written report will also be given during the final meeting before the academic year ends. The official Parent-Child-Teacher Meetings are scheduled and publicised in the School Year Calendar. Parents are also encouraged to take initiative in meeting and communicate with teacher during the school year.
3.47 Feedback & Communication
Open communication between parents and teachers is vital. No matter how trivial it may seem, if you have any queries or issues concerning your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to the school.
Kindly schedule an appointment with our Student Care team if you would like to meet a teacher, the Preschool Principal or Head of School. Should you require translation from English to Vietnamese, kindly inform the school in advance.
3.48 School Bus – Pick-up/Drop-off Procedures
3.49 School Bus – Student Rules
Parents are encouraged to remind their children of the school bus safety rules and their roles and responsibilities while taking the bus:
3.50 School Bus – Other Information
3.51 After School Care
After School Care is extended to parents who are unable to pick up their child on time due to work or other unforeseen circumstances. This is a chargeable service (which is charged per hour) and is not included in the school fees. For primary school students, the After School Care programme begins from 3pm (no CCAs) and/or at 4pm (enrolled in a CCA). As for preschool students, the After School Care programme will begin at 5pm. Please note that students will automatically be enrolled in the After School Care programme if they are not picked up on time.
For more information, kindly refer to https://annehill.school/after-school-care-service/.
3.52 General School Closure
Detailed information on the closure of the school will be shown in our school calendar. Confirmation of the dates for closure will be given to parents at least two months in advance. Our school may change the closure date, and parents will be notified of such changes at least one month in advance.
In the event where the school is closed due to unforeseen circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to epidemic outbreaks, Acts of Gods and government directives the school will not be liable to make any refunds. The school will ensure timely notice to parents before such closure.
3.53 School Closure Due to Epidemic Outbreak
In cases of unforeseen circumstances and infectious outbreaks, depending on the number of cases and government directives, the school or class may be required to close to stop further transmission. The primary school campus will close if there are ten (10) or more cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) or chicken pox within the same year level. As for preschool where the risk of transmission for such diseases is higher, the preschool campus will close when there are ten (10) or more cases across the school.
Please also be advised that we encourage parents to keep their child at home in the event of coughs and colds, runny nose and flu to avoid further transmission to other children. During the school closure, our staff will be doing thorough cleaning and disinfecting of our premises, equipment, material and toys. In view of this, please arrange an alternative care arrangement for your child.
4.1 Withdrawal Procedure
A 60-days written notice must be given prior to the child’s last day at the school. Parents must complete and submit Anne Hill International School’s Withdrawal Notification Form on time, 60 days before the withdrawal date. Failure to do so will result in the forfeit of the refund amount.
Parents may download the form below and send the completed form to our Student Care team via email.
4.2 Refund Policy
Refunds can only be made for payment of Annual Tuition Fees. The refund amount is calculated on a pro-rated basis as below:
Daily Refund Rate = Annual Tuition Fees / The Number of School Days
Refund Amount = Daily Refund Rate x Number of School Days Remaining From the Last Day At School until the End of the Academic Year x 75%
The following fees and payment plans are non-refundable at any point in time:
*Note: Should there be any exceptional circumstances, the School shall inform parents in writing of the changes in policy to suit the situation at the time. However, the above is a default policy for all school closures.
Amounts will be refunded to the company or individual that made the payment at the beginning of the enrolment. All refunds will be in VND.
4.3 Academic Recommendation, Report & Certificate of Attendance
Anne Hill International School will assist students with their transition to other schools as much as we can. Kindly inform the Student Care team if you would like our Preschool Principal, Head of School or teachers to provide a recommendation or fill in academic templates. AHI Academic Report and Certificate of Attendance are also available upon request; however, please inform the school at least one (1) month in advance.
4.4 Return of Borrowed School Books & Other Items
Students must return all borrowed school books, learning devices and other items that belong to the school (if any) before their last day. Staff, parents and students are responsible for the condition of the items or equipment that they borrow or use from the school. If an item is damaged, vandalised or lost, the borrower or user is responsible for paying necessary compensation to fix or replace the item.
4.5 Disconnecting Seesaw Account
Parents’ Seesaw accounts will be disconnected from the class after the student’s last day. Please email the administrator if you would like to contact the school or the class teacher.
4.6 Re-enrolment
AHI students are always welcomed to re-enrol at the school, and we will prioritise re-enrolments subject to availability of the class. Kindly note that students will still have to go through the student registration procedure again. This is the ensure that all student information is up to date. A non-refundable Registration Fee (following the Schedule of Fees for the Academic Year that the child is enrolling in) is applicable for all re-enrolments.
For more information on the student registration procedure, kindly refer to our Admissions Process at https://annehill.school/admissions-process/ and Preparation for School section of the Parent-Student Handbook.
