At around 6:30 a.m., in the school cafeteria, Principal Tran Thuy An and two students from class 6/7, Le Thi Thien Kim and Pham Minh Duc, had finished ordering their breakfast.
The conversation between the three of them took place in English, from ordering food and drinks to discussing their families, studies, and their plans and aspirations for their school. Listening to the students share their thoughts, the principal also asked questions such as: "What do you think about my plan to build a soccer field on the school grounds? Would you like to plant more green plants and flowers in the school garden using recycled materials?" and "What do you think of the school's restrooms?"
Similarly, earlier, during breakfast with Châu Bác Nhã, the top-performing student in the 8th grade, Ms. Thúy An chose to discuss teenage psychology, such as how to manage friendships with the opposite sex and their future career paths. In addition, they also discussed language barriers when learning with foreign teachers, student preferences regarding uniforms, and extracurricular activities. She even suggested that Bác Nhã could treat her to breakfast with her salary someday.
Speaking about the idea of "having breakfast with the principal," Ms. Tran Thuy An shared that since the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, she has been assigned to manage Minh Duc Secondary School. When she first took over the school's management, everything was quite new to her, so she nurtured this idea so that she could listen to her students more.
Accordingly, one or two students will have a conversation with her each week, and Ms. Thuy An will flexibly change the topic of the conversation to create novelty and suit the age of each student.
The headmistress's breakfast invitation included an invitation for parents as well, so that she could listen to their concerns; what they hoped for regarding their children, the teachers, and the school.
Choosing where to have breakfast is also something Ms. Thuy An carefully considers. According to her, the school canteen is the most suitable place, with food that is guaranteed to be safe and hygienic, delicious, clean, and reasonably priced.
And what's special about that breakfast is that the teacher and students will talk to each other in English. Ms. Thuy An said: “Regarding the school, I see that the students' English communication skills are quite good, and I think using this language for conversation in the program will be extremely useful. It creates an environment for them to communicate, express their confidence and abilities, and expand their vocabulary. For those whose English isn't yet very good, through this meeting and conversation, they will also be more motivated in their studies and see how important English is in life.”
Students and parents are satisfied.
Upon receiving the principal's invitation to breakfast, the students shared that they felt very honored but also a little nervous, as this was their first time having such an exciting experience.
Le Thi Thien Kim, the top-performing student in grade 6, expressed: “This is the first time I’ve had breakfast with the principal, and it was a very interesting, memorable, and meaningful experience. I was a little nervous; I lay awake thinking about what I would talk about with her and woke up early so as not to keep her waiting. Through the conversation, I found the principal to be incredibly friendly, open, and very understanding of us. She also speaks English very well… I hope that next month I will study hard to continue to receive an invitation to have breakfast with her.”
Pham Minh Duc (6th grade/7) expressed his confidence: “When I showed the principal my breakfast invitation, everyone in my family was surprised because it was such an exciting thing. Preparing for breakfast with her was very relaxed; I didn't prepare anything at all. When we sat down at the table, I naturally chatted with her about my family, my friends, and my studies.”
Not only the students, but also the parents of Minh Duc Secondary School, upon learning about the "Breakfast with the Principal" program, expressed their strong support and approval, and everyone hoped that their children would receive an invitation from the principal.
Ms. Ta Thi Thien Trinh, parent of Thien Kim, said: “This is a very novel idea and I find it very meaningful. Each invitation letter from the principal will greatly encourage and motivate the students in their studies and training. As parents, we are also very happy and proud of our children, and it also shows us the school's educational environment, encouraging us to work together with the school to better educate our children.”
Besides the "Breakfast with Principal" initiative, Ms. Thuy An also plans many other activities to bring students interesting, beneficial, and surprising experiences. Recently, she acquired a "public orchestra" including a piano, guitar, and cajon drum so that the students can relax and showcase their talents during recess. Previously, she also worked with the students to plant flowerbeds and trees, or cultivate mushrooms using recycled materials such as used wheels and water bottles to create a diverse biological garden…
Having breakfast with the principal is a reward for students who excel in all school activities, and for those students who haven't been well-behaved, Ms. Thuy An has her own plans. "I haven't revealed them yet because I want to create a surprise for these students. Whatever the idea is, I will work with them, talk and exchange ideas so that we can understand each other better…," Ms. Thuy An shared.
Source: http://laocai.edu.vn/chuyen-de-gddt/an-sang-cung-co-hieu-truong-349436
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