Hanoi - Amsterdam High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Hanoi - Amsterdam High School

motto = Nơi khởi đầu của những ước mơ" (Where dreams begin)"
established = 1985
grades = (6-9) + (10-12)
type = Public
principal = Do Lenh Dien
faculty = 147
students = approx. 2,000
address = 50 Nam Cao Str., Ba Dinh
city = Hanoi
country = Vietnam
website = [http://www.hn-ams.org/en/hn-ams/ www.hn-ams.org]

Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, commonly known as Ams, is a public school in Hanoi, Vietnam, that specializes in teaching mathematics, sciences and languages to gifted Vietnamese students aged from 11 to 18. The school is recognized for its strong academic programs and the large percentage of its graduates who attend prestigious universities in Vietnam and abroad. Hanoi-Amsterdam students, who are often called Amsers, have won a number of awards both nationally and internationally, including International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), International Biology Olympiad (IBO) and International Chemistry Olympiad (ICO).

Admission to the school is by competitive examination only. The acceptance rate is often as low as 3% for the most competitive specializations.

History

In 1972, as the Vietnam War reached its end, Hanoi was under heavy bombardment of US Air Force. Dr. I. Samkalden, the mayor of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, started a campaign to mobilize his people to donate for the establishment of a modern, well-equipped high school in Hanoi to express their support to the citizens of Hanoi. The result of this campaign was the founding of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School. September 5, 1985, marked the official commencement of the first school year at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School.

In its first year, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School accepted gifted students specialized in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Literature from other schools in Hanoi. Thanks to an experienced teaching staff who are also selected from the top high schools, the students of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School won many prizes in national and international academic competitions. During its short history, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School has established itself as a one of the top educational institutions in instructing gifted students. Many members of the faculty have been recognized by the state as Outstanding or Excellent Teacher. Students of the school have earned many prizes in competitions, passed the annual university entrance exams with high percentages, and continued their education at many internationally renowned schools.

For its achievements, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School received the 3rd degree Labor Decoration (1995), the 2nd degree Labor Decoration (2000), the 1st degree Labor Decoration (2005), and the title of Hero of Labor (2000) from the government.

Education Model at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School

Hanoi - Amsterdam High School consists of two levels:

The middle school level

There are 17 Preparatory classes for students of grades 6 to 9. Each year, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School selects gifted students straight from elementary schools based on competitive examination. These students enjoy the same education standards and are taught by the same staff as their peers at the high school level.

The high school level

This includes 27 Specialized classes, 3 Intensive French classes and 15 Extension classes. 9th grade students must pass a competitive, rigid entrance examination organized by Hanoi's Education and Training Office. The acceptance rate is often as low as 3% for the most selective class such as English, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics/Computer Science. Students are specialized in o­ne of the following subject areas: Literature, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Russian, English, and French. Starting with the 2002-2003 school year, Chinese and Geography have been added to the existing specializations. Students are expected to present good to excellent study results in all subjects to remain in school, and are encouraged to explore their specialized subjects to take part in national and international competitions. After three years, most students enter their favorite universities, many of which are abroad.

Results

In the school - year 2004 - 2005
Graduation exam:
* Specialized classes: 100% graduated
* Extension classes: 98% graduatedNational collegiate entrance examination: 98% passed

chool facilities

Academic facilities

Via various sources of finance, Hanoi - Amsterdam High School has built a system of modern, spacious class-rooms and laboratories to serve its students:
* Library: The school's library is open six days a week, and provides thousands of books for students' and teachers' use. 14 periodicals keep the students entertained and updated o­n the natural and social sciences.
* Physics lab: There are three physics labs in the school, which are equipped with wave and electric field generators, lasers, etc.
* Chemistry lab: Two chemistry labs provide modern lab equipment and chemical substances for class-room experiments.
* Computer lab: There are four computer labs with 70 computers.
* Biology lab: The school has o­ne biology lab with models, projectors, computer, etc. for projects and experiments.
* Language room and media room: These two rooms are fully equipped, and have a capacity to hold 80 students.

porting facilities

Basketball and soccer are the most commonly practiced sports at the school. Hanoi - Amsterdam High School has two basketball courts, two tennis courts and an indoor gym with badminton and volleyball courts.

tudent life

Athletics

Soccer, basketball, chess and ping pong tournaments are held annually. These athletics events may last from a few days to several months, depending on the type of sports and the number of competitors. The football and basketball teams take part in the city and the national tournaments every year, achieving good results.

Talent Show

Since extra curricular is considered an essential part of the school's education, there is a Talent Show which is held at the end of every school year. Hundreds of students are encouraged to participate and compete in many games of practical talents such as cooking, Origami making, singing etc.

Chemistry Festival

This activity is held by Chemistry-specialized classes, and serve the purpose of broadening the students' knowledge of this subject.

Alumni and Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization (H-A-O)

November 20, 2000, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the school’s establishment, a group of Hanoi-Amsterdam alumni met and founded Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization (H-A-O), of which initial aim was to establish a common networking site for Hanoi - Amsterdam students and alumni.

After more than one year of operation, H-A-O has received much enthusiastic support from not only those studying at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School but also students from other schools such as National University of Natural Sciences, Le Hong Phong High School, and many others. Owing to many contributions of its members, H-A-O developed into an active association of Hanoi-Amsterdam HS' current students, alumni, as well as students from other schools. As of November 23, 2004, Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization is officially registered as non-profit corporation under Educational Services category.It currently has more than 19,000 members (as of October 2007) and more than 1,800,000 posts on its discussion boards.

H-A-O acts principally according to these goals:
* Serve as an easy-to-access bridge to form firm connections between students and alumni of Hanoi-Amsterdam High School.

* Develop close relationships between the school’s students and friends from all around the world.

* Form good relations and partnerships with other students' associations and organizations as well as other educational institutions.

* Promote educational, social, as wel as cultural activities, organize conferences, competitions, etc. in order to enhance creativity, so as to benefit its members.

Achievements

College admission

98% of Hanoi - Amsterdam students are admitted to the top universities in Vietnam or abroad. Approximately 30%-35% of a graduating class decided to enroll at a foreign university. Hanoi - Amsterdam High School has students enrolled at MIT, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Caltech, Stanford, Dartmouth, Amherst, Brown, Williams, Swarthmore, Cambridge, Oxford, the UCL, Ecole Polytechnique and many other prestigious institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Germany and France. cite web|url=http://duhoc.hn-ams.org/modules.php?name=Members_List|title=Hanoi - Amsterdam High School students at foreign universities |publisher=Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization - Study Abroad Club|accessdate=2006-09-24]

International awards

chool year 1986-1987

* 28th International Math Olympiad in Cuba in 1987

:1. Pham Trieu Duong - Gold Medal
:2. Phan Phuong Dat - Gold Medal

* 18th International Physics Olympiad in German Democratic Republic in 1987
:1. Nguyen Son Tung - Runner Up
:2. Hoang To

* Russian Olympics
:1. Pham Thanh Xuan - Gold Medal
:2. Dang Ngoc Hung - Gold Medal
:3. Vo Viet Phong - Gold Medal

chool year 1987-1988

* 29th International Math Olympiad in Australia in 1988
:1. Phan Phuong Dat - Silver Medal
:2. Ho Thanh Tung - Silver Medal

* 19th International Physics Olympiad in Austria in 1988
:1. Phan Anh Tuan - Runner Up
:2. Nguyen Manh Hai
:3. Tran Hai Loc

chool year 1988-1989

* 1st International Olympiad in Informatics in Bulgaria in 1989
:1. Nguyen Huu Duc

chool year 1989-1990

* 31st International Math Olympiad in China in 1990
:1. Phan Thi Ha Duong - Bronze Medal

* 21st International Physics Olympiad in the Netherlands in 1990
:1. Chu Toan Thang - Bronze Medal

chool year 1993-1994

* 25th International Physics Olympiad in Beijing in 1994
:1. Dinh Sy Quang - Bronze Medal
::Silver Medal for Physics Theory
:2. Phung Minh Hoang - Runner Up
::Bronze Medal for Physics Theory
:3. Tran Ngoc Khanh - Runner Up for Physics Theory

chool year 1994-1995

* 26th International Physics Olympiad in Australia in 1995
:1. Dinh Sy Quang - Gold Medal
:2. Ngo Anh Duc - Silver Medal
:3. Nguyen Xuan Son - Silver Medal

* Russian Olympics
:1. Doan Bao Ngoc - Gold Medal
:2. Nguyen Khanh Van - Gold Medal
:3. Chu Thanh Lang - Gold Medal

chool year 1995-1996

* 27th International Physics Olympiad in Norway in 1996
:1. Nguyen Xuan Son - Silver Medal
:2. Pham Duc Son - Bronze Medal

* 28th International Chemistry Olympiad in Russia in 1996
:1. Nghiem Duc Long - Bronze Medal

* 7th International Biology Olympiad in Ukraine in 1996
:1. Nghiem Viet Hai - Diploma of Merit
* National Merit Competition: 58 prizes

chool year 1996-1997

* 28th International Physics Olympiad in Canada in 1997
:1. Nguyen Duc Phuong - Silver Medal

* 38th International Math Olympiad in Argentina in 1997
:1. Tran Minh Anh - Silver Medal

* Asia Pacific Math Olympiad
:1. Tran Minh Anh - Bronze Medal

* 8th International Biology Olympiad in Turkmenistan in 1997
:1. Nguyen Bien Thuy - Bronze Medal
:2. Tran Bich Ngoc - Bronze Medal
* National Merit Competition: 72 prizes, including 10 First Prizes

* City Merit Competition: 179, including 22 First Prizes

* District Merit Competition: 26, including 7 First Prizes

chool year 1997-1998

* 29th International Physics Olympiad in Iceland in 1998
:1. Hoang Ky Son - Silver Medal
:2. Nguyen Quang Anh - Bronze Medal

* Russian Olympics
:1. Doan Minh Nguyet Anh - Gold Medal
:2. Nguyen Thanh - Gold Medal
:3. Ly Hoang Quan - Gold Medal
:4. Vu Ha Phuong - Gold Medal

* Southeast Asian Mathematics Olympiad
:1. Ngo Van Sang - Gold Medal

* 9th International Biology Olympiad in Germany in 1998
:1. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Diploma of Merit

* National Merit Competition: 72 prizes, including 6 First Prizes

* City Merit Competition: 234 prizes, including 24 First Prizes

* District Merit Competition: 24 prizes, including 6 First Prizes

chool year 1998-1999

* Asia Pacific Math Olympiad
:1. Nguyen Hong Ha - Bronze Medal

* National Merit Competition: 53 prizes, including 7 First Prizes

* City Merit Competition: 206 prizes, including 25 First Prizes

* District Merit Competition: 38 prizes, including 7 First Prize

chool year 1999-2000

* Asia Pacific Math Olympiad
:1. Do Truong Giang - Bronze Medal

* 13th International Olympiad in Informatics in China in 2000
:1. Tran Thanh Hoai - Bronze Medal

* National Merit Competition: 58 prizes, including 2 First Prizes

* City Merit Competition: 203 prizes, including 24 First Prizes

* District Merit Competition: 60 prizes, including 7 First Prizes

chool year 2000-2001

* 42nd International Math Olympiad in USA in 2001
:1. Nguyen Hoang Dung - Honorable Prize

* 32nd International Physics Olympiad in Turkey in 2001
:1. Bui Le Na - Bronze Medal

* 13th International Olympiad in Informatics in Finland in 2001
:1. Tran Thanh Hoai - Silver Medal
:2. Hoang Duc Viet Dung - Silver Medal

* Russian Olympics
:1. Pham Minh Le - Gold Medal
:2. Ly Thuy Trang - Gold Medal
:3. Tran Van Linh - Gold Medal

* 2nd Asian Physics Olympiad in Taiwan in 2001:1. Bui Le Na - Gold Medal

* National Merit Competition: 52 prizes, including 1 First Prizes

* City Merit Competition: 323 prizes, including 26 First Prizes

* District Merit Competition: 49 prizes, including 4 First Prizes

chool year 2001-2002

* Asia Pacific Math Olympiad
:1. Tran Minh Son - Bronze Medal

* National Merit Competition: 51 prizes, including 2 First Prizes

* City Merit Competition: 371 prizes, including 27 First Prizes

* District Merit Competition: 84 prizes, including 7 First Prizes

chool year 2002-2003

* 12th International Biology Olympiad in Belgium in 2001
:1. Nguyen Binh Minh - Bronze Medal

* National Merit Competition: 42 prizes, including 1 First Prizes

* City Merit Competition: 429 prizes, including 26 First Prizes

* District Merit Competition: 91 prizes, including 13 First Prizes

chool year 2004-2005

* 16th International Biology Olympiad in China in 2005
:1. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan - Silver Medal
:2. Luu Thanh Thuy - Bronze Medal
:3. Nguyen Hoang Anh - Gold Medal

* 17th International Olympiad in Informatics in Poland in 2005
:1. Pham Hai Minh - Bronze Medal

* Southeast Asian Mathematics Olympiad:1. Tran Duc Anh - Gold Medal
:2. Huynh Trung Anh - Gold Medal
:3. Ha Phuong - Silver Medal
:4. Pham Hoang Le - Bronze Medal

* National Merit Competition: 59 prizes, including 4 First Prizes

* City Merit Competition: 556 prizes, including 34 First Prizes

chool year 2005-2006

* 17th International Biology Olympiad in Argentina in 2006
:1. Luu Thanh Thuy - Bronze Medal
:2. Pham Duy - Bronze Medal

* 18th International Olympiad in Informatics in Mexico in 2006
:1. Nguyen Khanh - Silver Medal

* 7th Asian Physics Olympiad in Kazakhstan in 2006
:1. Dang Son Tung - Bronze Medal

* National Merit Competition: 60 prizes, including 3 First Prizes

References

External links

*languageicon|vi|Vietnamese [http://www.hn-ams.org Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization official website]
*languageicon|en|English [http://www.hn-ams.org/en/ Hanoi - Amsterdam Organization official website]