Academic Year End Ceremony 2018-2019 – VAS Executive Chairman’s Message

It is my greatest pleasure to welcome all of you, parents, teachers and VAS students!

The first and most important words I would like to share are for our beloved students - you are the reason that your teachers, parents and family, and I are here together today and to congratulate you on the successful completion of the 2018-2019 school year with excellent results especially those who have exceeded their own expectations and last year’s achievement. 

As a father who, like all parents, also has many obligations, I am extremely grateful to all parents for spending your valuable time to come and share the joy and happiness of these achievements with your children. Your presence today is not only one of pride, but also a great source of encouragement and building of precious childhood memories.

At this time 15 years ago, VAS held the first Year End Ceremony with 430 students.

This year, we have nearly 8,600 students, 20 times the number of students we had when the school was first established. We also have a total of 7 modern, well equipped campuses delivering a high quality education to international standards.

However, numbers are not enough to tell the true story and heritage of an educational organization. Please allow me to recognize our dedicated teachers and staff, for making an effort every day to create a safe educational environment that inspires our students' passion for learning and nurtures their humanistic values.

For the past 15 years VAS has constantly improved; from offering a full range of study pathways to orienting the future career path for our upper secondary students. On this special occasion, I would like to share my sincere gratitude to all parents, teachers and students in this auditorium - thank you for being an important part of VAS’s 15-year journey!

These achievements should motivate us to continue moving forward because the noble mission of education is foretelling the future! We are living increasingly in a world that changes every day; where technology, robots and artificial intelligence are gradually replacing and/or changing human labour in numerous areas. How can our students compete with high technology products for accuracy, independence, and productivity when working? The key to integrating into the future world lies in the sound foundation of knowledge and skills but especially the humanistic values and social skills, with which students are constantly equipped and nurtured everyday at VAS!

In the next academic year 2019-2020, VAS would like to encourage our students to take more responsibility as global citizens by implementing a huge community project – the "Green School Year”.  Garbage and plastic waste are global problems and Vietnam faces some of the greatest challenges. Through this project, I hope that every VAS student, teacher, and staff member can become “ green warriors" – pioneers taking action and spreading the message of reducing non-recyclable plastic to protect our environment, especially marine life.

I also look forward to cooperating with VAS parents so that the project will be spread and be sustained for the long-term in our community!

Dear 5th grade students,

I look forward to following your progress at VAS as you enter the secondary level where you will get acquainted with new learning methods, broaden your horizons, and conquer challenges through unique activities developed for secondary students. I hope you have an exciting and passionate journey with productive experiences at VAS!

For the 12th grade students here, I have a few words to share with you before you step onto a new stage of life - the stage of independence and growth: Explore different fields of study, experience all aspects of life and this world, and integrate social and personal skills in all you do. 

Today, I wish you to remember that life is not exclusively about building a glorious career or earning degree after degree or making as much money as possible. Please also focus on yourself and your own personal development, because after all, real inner happiness is still the most valuable prize to aim for.

Once again, congratulations to all students from for a successful school year! I hope you all enjoy the wonderful holidays. See you again at the 2019 VAS Summer Camp with an exciting and fulfilling exploratory overnight trip in Thailand, Japan and Vung Tau.

Finally, I would like to thank all parents, teachers and wish you a very joyful and memorable ceremony!