AIS Saigon's well-rounded education extends far beyond the classroom. Our diverse range of extracurricular activities plays an essential role in enriching the student experience. It complements the academic curriculum while fostering personal growth and enhancing academic achievement.
Participating in these activities allows students to explore their interests, discover their passions, build character, and develop new skills and talents. Whether through sports, arts, music, technology, or community service, our programmes are designed to cultivate leadership, teamwork, and resilience—qualities essential for success in both academic pursuits and life beyond school in Vietnam or abroad. Our holistic extracurricular programme will nurture each child's mind, body, and spirit, preparing them to excel in all areas of life.
Extracurricular school activities are scheduled Monday to Friday from 2:50 pm to 3:50 pm.
Our extracurricular programme is designed to introduce students to a range of special interest areas, namely in sports and the arts, which are essential pillars of our educational approach. The activities focus on participation and gaining new experiences as well as reinforcing developing skills. Activities are conducted by AIS teachers, teacher assistants and externally hired specialist instructors.
Australian International School (AIS) is committed to educating students in their entirety, aiming to provide opportunities for them to discover and develop their interests and abilities across a wide range of options. The school supports the development of both their intellectual and creative abilities, offering outstanding visual and performing arts programmes including music, drama, and visual arts. Discover the full range of programmes available.
Sports activities promote physical fitness and well-being, teamwork, and a healthy competitive spirit, helping students develop discipline and perseverance. Additionally, taking part in sports at our school contributes to the mental alertness necessary for successful study and a love of learning.
The sports programme at AIS offers over 12 different sports competitively, with more than 50 competitive sports teams and over 30 experienced coaches. The Sports programme includes basketball, football, table tennis, volleyball, swimming, tennis, badminton, bench ball, netball, touch rugby, cricket, tee-ball, and athletics. By participating in sports activities, students acquire technical skills and develop teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy habits for life.
Additional Opportunities for Personal Development
Australian International School is committed to offering a wide range of personal development activities that empower students to achieve their potential and develop new skills and talents. Our learners can explore their interests through various clubs, leadership groups, interschool competitions, camps, field trips, and community fundraising, fostering self-expression and social engagement.
Our diverse enrichment provision, led by specialist school staff, includes activities such as hip-hop dancing, cooking, sports, and robotics, with options varying by age. Students can participate in as many activities as they wish. Full details and registration information are available on the My AIS site, with activities rotating each term to maximise learning possibilities.
Enrichment activities at AIS also provide opportunities for students to connect with peers who share similar interests, fostering friendships and a strong sense of community.
In addition to other extracurricular opportunities, AIS students can take part in a wide range of clubs spanning diverse disciplines. These include GLEE Club (music and drama performance), Dance, Chinese, Spanish, Art & Craft, Maths Club, Robotics, STEM, Chess, Magic Club, Judo, Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting, and various sports such as in-line skating, acro/gymnastics, tennis, basketball, cricket, football, netball, and swim squad.
AIS House System
At AIS, students will be allocated to one of four houses for their time at school: Sphinx, Griffin, Phoenix, and Pegasus. House activities include sports, cultural events, and other competitive activities. These House-based programmes provide additional opportunities for learners to build relationships with other pupils across the school and to develop a spirit of camaraderie, collaboration, and leadership. Just like in families, older students will always care for their younger House peers.
At AIS, the English as an Additional Language (EAL) Department supports children in becoming proficient English language users, enabling students’ social development and academic success across all areas of the curriculum.
Children whose first language is not English must take a language assessment before admission to AIS. Based on their English level skills, it will be determined if they need to receive English as an Additional Language (EAL) support to access the school's curriculum, and how much support is needed. AIS caters for EAL students with two different language immersion programmes to best adapt to their specific needs:
English as an Additional Language (EAL) Programme
AIS' world-class EAL programme is offered from Years 2 to 11. The focus of EAL is to develop students' English language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) as well as their understanding of the vocabulary from subject areas such as Science and Humanities. The programme aims to help students become confident in English and ultimately excel in the Cambridge IGCSE or IB Diploma programmes. The progress of EAL students is continuously monitored, and once they achieve sufficient English proficiency, they are no longer required to attend the EAL programme.
The Intensive English Language Programme (IELP)
The IELP is a more intensive programme that aims to quickly develop English skills to a level that enables students to access the mainstream curriculum. IELP students will be in English lessons for fifteen or more periods per week with EAL specialist teachers. Students in IELP do not attend Humanities and only begin attending Science and minor core subjects once they have reached an adequate level of English proficiency. The lessons are very structured and follow the globally respected Cambridge Second Language Course curriculum. The programme enables students to gain a solid foundation of English literacy skills. Upon concluding the programme, students can excel in the mainstream curriculum independently.
Vietnamese Courses
From Kindergarten to Year 6, all pupils study Vietnamese at AIS. Vietnamese nationals complete the Vietnamese National Curriculum, and non-Vietnamese students undertake the Vietnamese Language & Culture course.
In Years 7-11, in addition to taking the Vietnamese language as a subject, Vietnamese students at AIS study Vietnamese National Studies after school (only applicable to Vietnamese students). During these lessons, students cover a set curriculum throughout the academic year, which includes four key areas: Vietnamese Culture, History, Geography and Literature. This curriculum is completely taught in Vietnamese.
Years 12 and 13 students can opt to complete their IB Diploma using Vietnamese as their Language A, entitling them to a bilingual diploma.
Celebrating Vietnamese Culture & Traditions
Across our campuses, AIS students fully participate in national celebrations, including Tet and the Moon Festival. The annual AIS Tet festival is a highlight in the calendar, with decorations and Hoa-Mai trees placed throughout the school.
AIS is committed to developing digital skills and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) programmes of study with a commitment to teaching and learning across a broad, dynamic, and innovative environment with cutting-edge tools and resources. AIS' dedicated digital learning programme is led by a team of ICT specialists and runs from Primary up to Secondary School, including a digital citizenship and professional development programme.
Years 12 and 13 students can opt to complete their IB Diploma using Vietnamese as their Language A, entitling them to a bilingual diploma.
The goals of the digital learning programme include:
At AIS, we focus on developing strong leadership qualities in all students throughout their education, providing a competitive edge throughout their lives. Whether by leading an assembly in the Primary School or taking on a formal student leadership role, there are multiple opportunities for students to lead others and contribute positively to the school community. Leadership is also fostered through the IB Learner Profile attributes from the early years. From Kindergarten to Year 13, these attributes guide students' personal development and relationships.
Leadership opportunities include:
Primary School:
House Captains
PYP Exhibition Organisers
Class assemblies
Student Representative Council (SRC)
Secondary School:
House Captains
Head boy, Head girl
Global Issues Network (GIN) groups
Student Representative Council (SRC)
Prefects
School Captains
Sports Council
Model United Nations (MUN
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Discover how AIS' exceptional extracurricular programmes can enhance your child's outcomes, develop invaluable life skills, and pave the way for future academic and professional success.
