Newsletter 07.11.2025

What a week it has been at GISA!

While our students were away on exciting class trips across Ghana, we also experienced truly special moments here in Accra. During his state visit, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honored two individuals closely connected to our school – Gerald Asamoah and Martin Wilde – for their outstanding dedication to understanding and humanity.

At the same time, our school community supported the medical team of the Gerald Asamoah Foundation for Children with Heart Disease, which carried out life-saving surgeries at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

When Hearts Connect – The Gerald Asamoah Foundation in Action

As part of the ongoing Peace Heart Mission, the foundation’s team successfully completed 15 heart surgeries this week for children with congenital heart defects.

Doctors and nurses from Germany and Ghana are working side by side – voluntarily and with great expertise and compassion.

GISA parents and staff expressed their appreciation with small but meaningful gestures, delivering fresh coffee, fruit, cakes, and snacks to the hospital every day. ❤️☕🍍

Headmaster Rainer Kropp-Kurta emphasized:

“This collaboration reflects what we live at GISA – building bridges, taking responsibility, and giving hope.”

During the official reception, he also had the opportunity to brief the President on GISA’s positive development, growing student numbers, and new partnerships that foster education and intercultural understanding.

Our administration team, Katharina Kaufmann and Katrin Krüger, visited the hospital project in person and were deeply moved by what they witnessed:

“The dedication and professionalism of the doctors and nurses is truly inspiring. It touched me especially to see that many of the children are the same age as my own.” – Katharina Kaufmann

The week concluded with a heartfelt celebration at the Swiss Club Accra, where Gerald Asamoah shared his gratitude and reminded everyone that true achievement comes from teamwork and compassion. 💛

A heartfelt thank-you goes to the 20 dedicated GISA parents and children who actively supported the medical team throughout the week at the hospital – with coffee, cakes, fruit, snacks, warm words, and genuine hospitality.

This commitment was met with sincere gratitude and appreciation from Gerald Asamoah, the Foundation’s leadership, the school management, and the entire medical team.

It was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a school community comes together across boundaries and brings humanity to life. ❤️👏

Looking Ahead: Lantern Festival on Thursday, 13 November 2025 🏮✨

Excitement is already building among our youngest students – our annual Lantern Festival is just around the corner!

Join us on Thursday, 13 November 2025 for an evening full of lights, music, and community spirit:

• 4:00 p.m. – Open start with coffee & cake on the basketball court
• 5:00 p.m. – Stage performance and singing of traditional St. Martin’s songs (musical help is warmly welcomed!)
• 5:45 p.m. – Lantern walk after sunset
• Afterwards: Dinner offered by North Ridge Café (two pasta options, 70 GHC per portion)

Friends and families of the GISA community are warmly invited to join us.
We look forward to glowing lanterns, happy children, and an evening filled with light and togetherness. 🕯️🌙

Peace Bike Tour 2025 – Stopover in Accra

The German Protestant Church in Ghana has announced the upcoming visit of retired pastor Christoph Roller, who served the German-speaking congregation in Nigeria from 2008 to 2014 and temporarily supported the Accra congregation in 2009.

Pastor Roller is currently on the second stage of his “Peace Bike Tour,” cycling from Senegal to Abuja (Nigeria) with the message: “How does peace work?” – “Give me 30 seconds.”
The tour is supported by his home church, the city of Kamp-Lintfort, and the Moers church district. After completing the first 6,700 km stage from Kamp-Lintfort to Senegal in 2024, he plans to continue to Rwanda (2026) and Madagascar (2027).

He is expected to reach Accra on the 1st Advent weekend (29–30 November 2025) and will join the Advent service of the German-speaking congregation.

The congregation is currently looking for accommodation for two to three nights (28 November – 1 December 2025) for Pastor Roller and a Swiss companion – ideally along the route from Cape Coast through Accra to Tema, with a secure place to store their bicycles.

Those who can offer support or accommodation are kindly asked to contact Doris Bloniarz directly:
📞 +233 544 336 181 | 📧 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

GISA values its warm partnership with the German Protestant Church but wishes to clarify that the Peace Bike Tour is not a school-organized activity.

The next GISA Newsletter will be published on Friday, 21 November 2025, featuring highlights from the Lantern Festival and more stories from our vibrant school life. 🌍✨

Kindergarten and Nursery

In the Nursery, everything this week revolved around Saint Martin.
🏮 The children happily crafted colorful lanterns, strengthening their fine motor skills and creativity.
📖 Through a picture book, they learned about the story of Saint Martin and talked about sharing and kindness.
🎶 With great enthusiasm, they sang our lantern songs – the excitement for the upcoming Lantern Walk is growing!
👶 We were also very happy to welcome a new child to our group – a warm welcome! 💛

This week, we continued our preparations for the St. Martin’s celebration with lots of joy. The children worked eagerly on their lanterns – it’s wonderful to see how unique and creative each little artwork turned out. 🕯🎨✨

During our learning time, we focused on shapes, rhythm rhymes, and songs. The children enjoyed exploring new things, singing together, and learning through play. 🔺⚪🎶

A special highlight was our indoor picnic, shared by both groups. The cozy atmosphere and cheerful togetherness made this a very special experience for the children. 🧺😊✨

In our English Club, everything centered around greetings and emotions. The children learned, through playful activities, how to express simple greetings and name different feelings. 🇬🇧💬🙂

Towards the end of the week, the weather became more and more rainy. ☔
Inside, we made it all the cozier – with free play, crafts, and many small moments of comfort and joy. 🏠💛

Class 1/2 – Exploring, Creating, and Doing Good Deeds

It has been a beautiful and eventful week for our youngest learners. On Monday, Classes 1 and 2 joined the Kindergarten to rehearse their St. Martin songs – Laterne, Laterne; Durch die Straßen auf und nieder; Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; This Little Light of Mine; Ich geh mit meiner Laterne. The children already knew most of the lyrics by heart!

They also listened to, read, and illustrated the story of St. Martin, creating wonderful storyboards to retell the tale. This led to lively discussions: When was the last time you did a good deed? The children came up with many small but meaningful ways to show kindness and helpfulness – perhaps some of them will be spotted doing a good deed over the weekend!

A Trip to the Aburi Botanical Gardens

While the older classes set off in different directions for their class trips, our youngest explorers ventured into the mountains – to the beautiful Aburi Botanical Gardens.

Even the bus ride felt like an adventure: cheerful faces, sparkling eyes, and a touch of excitement as we drove into the green hills. Upon arrival, we enjoyed a breakfast picnic in the shade of tall trees before setting out on a guided discovery tour with our park guides, Martin and Maxwell.

We made wishes beneath the mighty God Tree, cracked nutmeg seeds and smelled their spicy aroma, and even stained our fingers red from rubbing leaves rich in natural iron – traditionally used to make a healthy soup!

One of the most impressive sights was the Tree of Life sculpture, showing people, animals, and plants intertwined – a powerful reminder that everything in nature is connected, and that we, too, are part of that great circle of life.

We learned about bromeliads, male and female nutmeg trees, and why monkeys may not be the smartest—but definitely the greediest—creatures when it comes to food!

After our tour, there was time to rest, play, and enjoy nature before returning home, tired but happy and full of new stories and discoveries.

Class 3/4 – Adventures at Mount Afadjato

Excitement filled the air on Wednesday morning as Class 3/4 set off for their long-awaited trip to the Volta Region. Once all bags were safely tied to the bus roof, the six-hour journey began – filled with laughter, singing, and stories.

After a fun stop with trampoline games and archery, the group finally arrived at Tagbo Falls Lodge, where they pitched their tents, invented creative camp names, designed flags, and even created secret entry codes!

The next morning, after pancakes and hot cocoa, the group began their big challenge: climbing Mount Afadjato, the highest mountain in West Africa. The path was steep and slippery, but teamwork and encouragement carried everyone to the top – and the stunning view made every step worthwhile.

Back at the lodge, students enjoyed games, group challenges, and a delicious dinner cooked by “Chef Philo.” The day ended around the campfire with songs, dances, and roasted marshmallows under the stars – a perfect finale to an unforgettable trip filled with courage, laughter, and friendship.

Class 5/6 – Exploring the Volta Region

For Classes 5 and 6, the class trip was pure adventure! Their hotel was reserved exclusively for the group – perfect for sports, swimming, and fun together.

After afternoons of pool games, football, badminton, and evening karaoke sessions, the group set out on excursions around Akosombo.
At the Akosombo Dam, the students were fascinated by the power of water and the engineering behind the dam. Later, at the Bridge Garden, they encountered various animals and reflected on the importance of animal welfare.

An unexpected thunderstorm during their planned paper-boat activity turned into an exciting adventure – everyone ran for shelter, got soaked, and laughed together before jumping back into the pool once the skies cleared.

Another highlight was a boat ride on the Volta River, followed by a joyful pool party and, of course, Karaoke Night.

At the end of the trip, the group packed up – after an intense “treasure hunt” for lost socks and shoes – and returned to school tired but happy.
As Ms. Angy Mamodaly wrote in her farewell message:

“We had no big quarrels, lots of laughter, true team spirit, and unforgettable moments. Your children are simply wonderful – full of energy, humor, and heart!”

Class 7/8 – Teamwork, Adventure, and Reflection

Classes 7 and 8 spent their excursion week at the Madora Lodge – a time for friendship, challenge, and discovery. The four-hour journey to the lodge was filled with music, laughter, and games.

After settling in, students enjoyed sports, dance, and evening shows featuring singing and drumming. Meals of Jollof Rice, yam, salad, and chicken gave everyone plenty of energy for the week’s activities.

Each morning began with yoga sessions led by Miss Mayoga – a routine that soon became a favorite. Excursions included waterfalls, mountain hikes, and cultural encounters with local children, who joined in dancing and performances.

One of the highlights was the climb up Mount Afadjato, where everyone learned the value of teamwork and perseverance. Evening activities like board games, spaghetti-tower challenges, and bonfires with s’mores made every day special.

On the final evening, students reflected under the stars, expressing gratitude for new friendships, shared adventures, and the chance to grow together.

“We had so much fun, made new friends, strengthened our teamwork, and recharged our energy. Thank you to our teachers – Mrs Fredrich, Miss Mayoga, Mr Bernard, and our intern Jonas – for making this week unforgettable!”
– Wolf & Jaiden

📅 Dates & Outlook

🕯 Thursday, November 13, 2025
St. Martin’s Lantern Walk

📖 Friday, November 21, 2025
Reading Day & Maths Night

🔫 Saturday, November 22, 2025
Teen Club – Laser shooting at Cypher Zone

🎄 Saturday, November 29, 2025
Christmas Market

🎅 Thursday, December 4, 2025
Visit from St. Nicholas

🎓 Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Last school day before the Christmas holidays

🏕 Wednesday, December 17 – Friday, December 19, 2025
Christmas Camp

🎁 Wednesday, December 17, 2025 – Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Christmas Holidays

🏫 Thursday, January 8, 2026
First school day after the holidays