What do WISers think about the school's new policies?

by Trần Thy Vân

Credits: Pinterest

A new school year brings students three main surprises: new students, new teachers…and new policies. In the 2025-2026 school year, Wellspring Saigon has announced and applied various rules for students and teachers—ranging from dress codes and field times to electronic device usages. Some argue that they take away students' comfort at school, while others say that they're an amazing help towards their academic journey. Today, we'll dive into a WISer's world—to see what they feel about the new policies! Here at Wellspring Saigon, the term "WISers" doesn't only apply to teachers, students, and staff—it also applies to parents and guardians! Hence, the editor and reporter team have come together to ask around the school—seeking both students' and parents' honest opinions.

1. How has your life at school changed? Nguyễn Thuỳ Mi, a student from class 7.3, said, “For me, life at school has gotten less entertaining and more restricted. I can no longer make calls to my family when I need help by myself. Meanwhile, Trương Nguyễn Phương Anh, 10.3, reported: “I actually don't feel or see any changes. However, in my opinion, some of the new policies are a little silly and unrealistic.”

2. Are the new rules fair and how? Mai Lâm from class 7.1 confessed, “For me, they’re not very fair. Personally, there are times when I need my devices to complete schoolwork—but I cannot bring and use them anymore.” In addition, the student athlete community here at Wellspring Saigon has also voiced their frustrations with the new rules applied for sports fields and stadiums. Huỳnh Anh Khôi, 8.5, stated, “I strongly believe that they're not fair. Students should be able to use their devices during leisure time, too. More importantly, I'd also like to change the policies in the sports stadium and the pickleball court.”

3. As a parent, what do you think about the new policies? On the other hand, the parents and guardians of students hold more positive, supportive beliefs about the school's new policies. An Thy's (2.5) mother told us, "I fully understand the school's concerns and visions for the dress code. However, I believe that it's alright for skirts to be slightly shorter than 4 cm, because students are still young and active. Just make sure that it's at a school-appropriate length and that it's comfortable." Furthermore, Trang Anh’s mother (7.5) added, “I wholeheartedly support the policies about using devices in school. They bring many benefits, such as improving concentration during class and encouraging students to have conversations undisturbed by social media or addictive short clips.”

4. What would you change as an ex-student? Don't forget that our parents and older siblings have been our age at some point in their lives too! Down below, our reporters have collected comments from both guardians and ex-students of Wellspring Saigon. Đỗ Phương Dung’s (9.6) brother, who used to be a WISer, expressed, “Coming from an ex-student, the new policies are all very reasonable. Overall, I don't have any alternatives to suggest since these are positive changes.” To complete her previous statement, An Thy’s mother suggests, “I would change the dress code, especially the 4 cm rule, to be more flexible for shorts. After all, the uniforms are tailored by the school—they cannot be too short or long.”

At the end of the day, there is always a good reason behind the establishment of school policies. Not only do they ensure the safety and professionalism of the learning environment, but they also foster students' sense of responsibility, discipline, and academic growth. We hope that WISers will continue to adapt to the new circumstances and collaborate with the school—to make Wellspring a Happy School for everyone!