After the article about CIS and SSV, quite a few people asked me: How is CIS/SSV different from other international schools?
In truth, there are many differences. But if I had to choose the single most important thing, to me it is the word “Caring.” Because the acronym for CIS stands for: Caring – Integrity – Success. Many people ask me: Is “Caring” real, or is it just a slogan made up by you executives?
To answer that, I would like to tell a few small stories as follows:
1) The First Story: Safety Netting Along the Stairwells.
Right upon taking over CIS/SSV, one of the very first things we did was install an additional protective safety net system along all the stairwells in the school. In reality, the safety standards of the international school were already very solid at that time. But what the leadership thought of was: if there were even a very small probability that a young child running around might lunge toward the stairwell area, the consequences could be huge.
Our perspective is very simple: risks that can be reduced must be brought down to the lowest possible level. And so, right within the first month of taking over, we implemented all of that work. That was the most important thing we did.
2) The Second Story: Lunch for the Security Guards.
The second thing we did immediately upon taking over CIS/SSV was to invite all the security personnel in the system to eat lunch free of charge at the school canteen. We did not want the security guards to merely be “people standing at the gate.” We wanted them to truly be a part of the organization, sharing the culture and values of the school. Therefore, the leadership decided to fully subsidize all meals for the security guards.
And to be honest, the buffet at CIS/SSV is extremely delicious. I dare say it is among the best in the international and bilingual schools that I know.
The security guards once confided in me: “Thanks to your policy, I have been able to save enough money to pay for my child’s tuition.” Another guard said: “Ever since eating at the canteen, we always get to eat delicious food; we are deeply touched and ready to do everything for the school.”
3) The Third Story: Transcripts Submitted for Study Abroad and High School Diploma Issuance.
Many international schools in the same segment as CIS/SSV usually issue only about a dozen transcripts and limit the number of universities a student can apply to. Part of the reason is that they want to optimize the acceptance rate into “well-suited” schools to maintain a pretty record for the school. But that inadvertently prevents many students from daring to challenge themselves with higher-ranked universities.
At CIS/SSV, we do not want students to be limited like that. If you want to try your hand at better, higher, and tougher schools—the school will support all of it. And the school has a very strong university counseling department that always accompanies students to prepare the best possible applications for major universities around the world.
Similarly with the IB or IGCSE programs: IB or IGCSE is a very difficult program. And in reality, not every student is suited for it. There are many who try extremely hard yet still face immense pressure and struggle. Many schools mandate that students must complete the IB/IGCSE with a minimum score to graduate. That causes many students to suffer severe stress.
CIS and SSV do not choose that path. The school always encourages students to pursue the IB or IGCSE. But if a student is genuinely not suited or cannot keep up, the school still recognizes their efforts and creates conditions for them to take internal program assessments to complete high school graduation requirements.
Because CIS and SSV are fully accredited schools, the school has full authority to issue high school diplomas to students. That helps a great many students relieve pressure and avoid feeling like “I failed” simply because they were not suited for a highly specialized curriculum. (Personally, I find the IB a bit too difficult, and not everyone can complete all the exams).
Those are a few small examples of the word “Caring” at CIS and SSV. To us, “caring” means not leaving anyone behind; not ignoring small details; and not placing achievements or marketing above the students. “Caring” is not a slogan hanging on the wall.
Nguyen Quoc Toan
