Olympia moment | Flag Ceremony – Vietnamese identity in a modern bilingual school

“In a bilingual school with such a strong international spirit like Olympia, do students still raise the flag and sing the National Anthem?” – That’s a question we sometimes receive.

The answer is: Yes. And much more than that.

Every Monday and Tuesday morning, students from Primary to High School solemnly place their right hands over their hearts and proudly sing the National Anthem under the red flag with a golden star. It’s not music played from a speaker, but the powerful, heartfelt voices of the Olympians themselves. For many parents who have attended our Opening or Closing Ceremonies, this moment remains deeply moving.

Last week, although the stormy weather temporarily kept Olympians from coming to school, the flag-raising ceremony was still held online for several grade levels.

At Olympia, the flag ceremony is not just the start of a new school week. It is also a moment for each student to listen to their heart beating in unison with their country. It is a reminder of the seven core values that shape every Olympian: Proud Global Citizens, Empathetic, Respectful Communicators, Perseverant, Agile Inquirers, Responsible, Excellent Thinkers & Creators.These values are not only recited but carried with honor and reflected in every look and smile.

The ceremony is also a time for the Olympia community to reflect on the past week, share plans for the new one, and kick off with vibrant, bonding activities.

With a bilingual, internationally oriented education that still preserves Vietnamese identity, the flag ceremony is a living proof: even while growing in a global environment, Olympians always take pride in their roots and national values.