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Parents Teachers Association (PTA)
| Parent Teacher Association at UNIS Hanoi |
The UNIS Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is an organisation made up of all parents and teachers of UNIS school. By enrolling your children in school at UNIS, parents automatically become members of the PTA.
The PTA’s main objective is to enhance the educational environment and learning experience for our children at UNIS. The PTA supports the whole school community through the following: coordinating volunteers for activities that support school programmes; organising social activities; setting up support/communication networks; and raising funds to finance PTA activities that support school development. You can be involved in the PTA in many ways:
| Volunteers |
Fundraising |
- Being a class parent
- Being a member of a PTA committee
- Helping at school events
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- Spring Fair
- Book and Bake Sales
- Snack Sales
- PTA Boutique
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Social Activities |
Support Networks |
- Parent/Teacher Social
- UN Day International Lunch
- Welcome coffee morning
- Annual appreciation lunch for staff
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- Welcome Committee
- Class parents
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| PTA Executive |
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The PTA Executive consists of two co-chairs, one to represent the Early Childhood Center and Elementary School and one to represent the Middle/High School, a Vice-Chair for the Middle/High School, a Treasurer and a Secretary. You can contact the Executive through pta@unishanoi.org. |
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Sarah Devotion Garner, Elementary School
(ECC to Grade 5) Co-Chair
Sarah is from the United States and is a lawyer and law librarian.
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Susanne Gromotka, Middle/High School Co-Chair
Susanne is from Germany and lived in Hanoi from 2000-2002 and again since 2006. She has been involved in the UNIS German Mother Tongue Programme during this time. |  |
Robin Hendra, Middle/High School Vice-Chair
Robin Hendra is a Canadian and has worked in public relations in Toronto, Hong Kong and New York before coming to Hanoi in 2006. |
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Annie Hirabayashi, Treasurer
Annie is from Malaysia and is a financial analyst by profession. She was PTA Treasurer in the previous school year. |  |
Anh Quan, Secretary
Anh is a Vietnamese-American who trained as a chemist and worked as a scientist before moving to Vietnam. |
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PTA Committees |
The PTA Committees are: Class Parents, Events (Spring Fair, UN Day, Book and Bake Sale), Food Services, Fund, PTA Boutique, Snack Sale, Social, Welcome. The PTA welcomes volunteers. Please don’t hesitate to contact the PTA at pta@unishanoi.org or come along to the next meeting.
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PTA Meetings |
The PTA meets once a month, on a Tuesday morning at 8:30 am, usually in the Drama Room, upstairs in the Administration Building. The dates are listed on the UNIS School Calendar or contact pta@unishanoi.org for the next meeting date. |
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Class
Parents |
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Each class has a nominated class parent.
Teachers are appreciative of this assistance particularly
when presenting special programmes, planning parties etc.
Invitations are sent out at the beginning of the year requesting
the assistance and involvement of parents. Parents who take
on this responsibility are listed in the school directory
published this year in October. Class parents provide a vital
link between families, classrooms and the PTA. |
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Welcome
Committee |
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The UNIS Welcome Committee consists of volunteers
representing the different nationalities that make up the
student body at UNIS - Hanoi. The UNIS Welcome Committee
is part of the Parent Teacher Association and its primary
goal is to welcome new UNIS families to Hanoi. In addition
to the materials given to new families upon admission to
the school, some members may be willing to provide occasional
translation services. |
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Parent
Volunteer Programme |
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Parents may also be invited to regularly
support the teaching and learning programme offered in classrooms. |
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School
Board of Directors (BOD) |
UNIS Hanoi is a not-for-profit
private school that is governed by the Board
of Directors (BOD). The BOD is composed of nine board
members, of whom four are elected by parents, three are appointed
by the United Nations Resident Representative, and two are
appointed by the parent- elected directors and UN-appointed
directors. Click here for
more information. |
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Parent-School
Communication |
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Channels of Communication
Parents and school personnel are committed
to developing sound communication between the School and
parents. The School communicates in a variety of ways.
The following are some examples:
- Tin
Tuc (the School's weekly bulletin),
- class newsletters,
- homework or communication diaries,
- weekly assemblies,
- special events,
- website,
- phone calls, emails.
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- report cards, and student profiles,
- Parent-Teacher Association meetings,
- parent information sessions,
- open house,
- class parents,
- scheduled parent-teacher conferences
and student-led conferences between school personnel,
parents and students,
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Parent
Inquiries, Complaints and Grievances
The Board of Directors recognises the need
for proper communications between and among students, parents,
teachers, administration and the Board. To assist in achieving
this objective, the following general procedures are recommended
for all concerned parties.
- When a problem concerns your son or daughter and his/her
work in School, the best person to see is the classroom
teacher. An appointment to see a teacher may be made
by calling the Elementary Principal's Secretary or by
sending a note to the teacher.
- Problems which cannot be resolved through a conference
with the teacher and questions of a more general nature
concerning the operation of the School may be discussed
with the Principal. Appointments may be made by calling
the Elementary Principal's Secretary.
- The Principal is responsible for the daily functioning
of the School and works directly with teachers and parents.
The Head of School is the executive officer of the School
and reports to the Board of Directors. The Head of School
is responsible for the organisation, operation and administration
of the total school programme; therefore, the Head of
School is the normal channel of communications between
the Board and the public. Questions about school policy
should be addressed to the Head of School. Normally,
communications directed to the Board will be referred
to the Head of School for reply or action. Individual
Board members will refrain from directly involving themselves
in administrative matters involving students, teachers
and administrators but they may act collectively when
such matters are formally brought before them.
- Requests for changes in school policy and appeals
regarding decisions made by the Head of School may be
addressed to the Board. All communications to the Board
should be in writing and should be addressed to the Chairperson,
UNIS Board of Directors. Decisions about school policy
shall be made only by the Board acting as a whole in
a regular or special meeting.
- Any parent may request a subject be placed on the
agenda of any Board meeting by submitting the request
in writing to the Head of School's office at least one
week prior to the meeting. The Board will honour such
requests if the schedule permits.
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Contacting Teachers
Parents may visit the classroom prior to
the start and conclusion of the school day. However, if a
discussion is required, arranging a specific time can often
be more appropriate. Generally, this is best achieved by
sending a note with your child. If you wish to contact your
child's teacher during the school day, a message may be left
with the School's Receptionist or with the Elementary Secretary.
In the case of urgent messages, it is advisable to talk directly
to the Elementary Secretary. Please remember that it is very
difficult for teachers to come to the telephone between 8:00
a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Teachers will make their email address available
at the beginning of the year. |
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