The messages of VAS Executive Chairman at 2016-2017 Year-End Ceremony
Welcome, Parents, Teachers, and VAS Students!
How fast does time pass by! I cannot believe it has only been 12 months since I attended the last VAS closing ceremony and shared the joy with parents and teachers on congratulating our beloved students.
I do see many familiar faces, but also every year many new faces, and today has become a milestone for all of you, on the journey of exploring knowledge, developing your skills and perfecting the core values of being a VAS student.
Mr. Marcel Van Miert – VAS Executive Chairman
We at VAS are thankful for the partnership between VAS teachers, staff and parents in the past few years that contributes so much to our students’ happiness and success.
Please can I have a big round of applause for all of VAS students!
Ten months ago, I was writing a letter to the students on the occasion of the new school year to talk about national pride. I still remember how hard it felt to describe this, but wanted to communicate how important this is to my colleagues and I, and that our core values programme is to ensure VAS students can be global citizens with a strong cultural base of being proud Vietnamese.
Today, being here with you again, it is obvious to us all that many of you have grown in the last year in confidence and that pride.
Our wishes at VAS are relatively simple: We wish to see students’ happy smiles - for having had such a good school year with friends; for having learned many meaningful lessons; for having the teachers share and motivate you to explore the world; for the fortune of being the child of your parents, who are sitting behind you, who always try to hide their hardships to create a place we call “home sweet home”, who always support and protect you no matter what happens.
Please always remember to look at the people behind knowing that they are crying and laughing along with you! Please send your gratitude and love to your parents every day, and give them around of applause now!
Students' success has greatly contributed by teachers and parents
For me, on behalf of all my colleagues, I would like to sincerely thank you, the parents, for trusting VAS to be with your family, providing a second home for the children with wholehearted love and caring. Your interest and goodwill to contribute ideas have always been a motivation for us to constantly improve.
I have some words for the 5th grade students. Another new exciting journey will start in a few months as you enter the high school. This is the beginning of countless surprises! You will face new challenges and will be required to become more self-disciplined and self-reliant on your path to becoming the best you can be. You will go on more school trips and be exposed to wider and deeper knowledge, be oriented to choose the right career and work with a lot of great VAS teachers. I hope all of you will continue your path at VAS. But first of all, I wish you an enjoyable and wonderful summer ahead!
I have some words I would like to share with the 12th grade students as this ceremony may be my last chance to directly congratulate you. I believe that all you have learned at VAS during your time with us will support you on your future journey - where you will be called "the youth". This is where you will have the freedom of an adult, but are also required to be more self-reliant, more responsible, and increasingly more serious about your future.
"Using 7 core values to make the right choices and stand up whenever you stumble"
I wish you the strength using our core values to make the right choices and always have the courage to stand up for what is right and whenever you stumble in this is a big world of sometimes harsh realities. If there is one thing I would like to share with you, it is that successful people are the ones who make lots of mistakes, but they never give up, they learn and improve not making the same mistake again. I hope all of you will make your dreams and ambitions come true!
I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the VAS teachers and staff for their devotion and always working responsibly and creatively to deliver an inspirational year for VAS students.
Once again, congratulations students on your academic achievements in the past school year!
I hope you enjoy your ceremony today and wish you a great summer ahead!
Thank you!
Marcel Van Miert
VAS Executive Chairman
