Newsletter 15.08.2025
The first week of the 2025/26 school year has come to a successful close.
With beaming faces, festive music, and many good wishes, GISA began the new school year on Monday, 11 August 2025. Under the motto “Wachsen | Growing”, the entire school community welcomed new students in Grades 1 to 8 as well as new staff members.
A special highlight was the welcome for the new first graders, who – together with their parents – came up on stage, received their school cones, and wrote down a personal wish for their start in school life. All new children also received leaves, which were later attached to the Calabash Tree – a colourful symbol of new beginnings, community, and growth.
Following the official welcome and a cheerful sing-along, all teachers introduced themselves before the homeroom teachers called their new students to start the school day together.
The school is growing – in every way
In his address, Principal Rainer Kropp-Kurta emphasised that growth is not just for the children:
- 76.4% increase in student numbers over the past two years
- Growth in quality and profile: Campus School of the University of Potsdam, active involvement in teacher training and school development
- Recipient of the Excellence Award in Multilingual and Cross-Cultural Education
- Outstanding Cambridge Checkpoint results, far above the international average
Another milestone: for the first time in many years, GISA now has a Grade 8. In addition, a stand-alone, non-combined Grade 5 with 17 students has been established – a clear sign of the school’s positive development.
Honouring Cambridge success
The ceremony concluded with Clemencia Mayoga presenting the Cambridge certificates to the successful students – a moment of pride for everyone involved.
With new faces, strong results, and a clear vision, GISA embarks on the new school year ready to continue growing: boldly, diversely, and together.
Changes in the team
Naabil Cyprian has joined the team as the new caretaker, starting his first day this week.
Administrative assistant Lucy is currently on maternity leave, so the reception desk will remain unstaffed for the time being. The administration team, however, remains available.
During the summer holidays, we bid farewell to Kate Amenyah and Veronika Piller, two of our early years educators. Warm thanks go to both for their valuable work at GISA.
We also welcome Jasper Barwasser: The 26-year-old social worker from Würzburg has been living in Cologne since 2018. He brings experience from primary school after-school care as well as from working with refugee children and young people. His focus is on creating a safe and open environment where children can learn and develop freely.
Visit from former colleagues
A special moment was the visit of former Principal Ariane Pentz (2013–2017) and former teacher Manuela Rieke (2014–2016).
During a tour of Kindergarten, Primary, and Secondary, they spoke with teachers, early years staff, and students, expressing their delight at the many positive changes and the warm, open atmosphere that defines the school today.
They were particularly impressed by the rapid language progress of students in the Excellence Scholarship Programme. The joyful reunion with members of the long-serving support staff brought emotional moments and fond memories – a clear sign that GISA builds lasting connections well beyond active service.
Class representatives
Class representatives have been elected today and will soon meet to formally establish the Student Council (SMV).
Parent evenings
Start: 4:00 p.m., childcare will be provided.
- Kindergarten & Nursery – Thursday, 28 August 2025
- Grade 1/2 – Monday, 25 August 2025
- Grade 3/4 – Tuesday, 19 August 2025
- Grade 5 & 6 – Thursday, 21 August 2025
- Grade 7/8 – Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Return of important forms
On Monday, a form was distributed to all students. Please return it promptly to the homeroom teachers or to the administration office.
Download PDF first day of school
School lunch programme
The school lunch continues to be provided by Ava and her team at the Northridge Café.
To register, please email 📧
Sharing information on allergies or dietary restrictions helps ensure all children are well catered for.
Swimming and sports
Swimming lessons will start next week according to the timetable.
Until the renovated pool at Tesano Sport Club is ready, lessons will continue at the La Palm Hotel.
For Grades 5–8 until the autumn break:
- Boys: Swimming
- Girls: PE lessons
Football pitch
Gardeners Dominic Adamu and Isaac Ayamga have been caring for the football pitch all summer.
It will be playable again from early October.
After-school activities
While Sara Debackere is on maternity leave, Amanda Farouk will oversee the after-school programme.
From 11–15 August, students enjoyed a free trial week of all activities. The selection form should be returned by 18 August.
Download PDF afterschool activities Kindergarten
Download PDF afterschool activities school
Baby Club – restart after the summer break
The Baby Club will restart on 21 August 2025 for children aged 0–4 years. Each week features a new theme with creative and playful activities.
Visit from Winneba students
On Thursday and Friday, seven students from the University of Education Winneba will visit GISA for classroom observations as part of a DAAD cooperation, strengthening the educational link between Ghana and Germany.
Evangelical Church of Accra – Summer Programme 2025
The final service of the summer series will be held on Sunday, 17 August 2025, at 10:30 a.m., Ridge Church.
Led by Pastor Martin Mustroph.
Save the Date – German Language Day
📅 Saturday, 18 October 2025 – 130 Million – German Connects: A day full of language, culture, music, food, art, and activities.
Kindergarten and Nursery
In the first week after the summer break, two new children joined the nursery. Together, the children played, laughed, and got to know one another. This settling-in period after the holidays helps them ease back into the group routine, build trust, and feel secure within the community.
An eventful first week at kindergarten has already flown by, and the new school year has begun in a cheerful and lively way ☀. This week offered plenty of time for playing, arts and crafts 🎨🖌🧶, and getting to know each other. Many after-school clubs could be tried out. In the movement room, the children enjoyed energetic play ⛹♀, made music together 🎶, and spent lots of time in the garden playing with friends and making new ones.
Several new children joined the groups and were guided through the routines and activities. A warm welcome to Philippa, Eliah, David, Kofi, Jonah, Nathan, Ella, and Candida – here’s to a wonderful and exciting time together 💐!
Next week will still be dedicated to playing, singing, and crafting together to deepen connections before the preschool programme, regular activities, and after-school clubs begin again.
Primary School
Grade 1/2 looks back on an exciting first week of school. The festive enrolment ceremony for the new first graders was a special moment – with school cones, beaming faces, and colourful leaves on the tree bearing good wishes for the start of their school journey.
The first and second graders have already settled in well. Grade 1 learned the first letters L and O in German. In Mathematics, they focused on comparisons: Which is more? Which is less? Grade 2 worked on the topic of syllables in German and crowned their “Syllable Kings”. In Mathematics, they tackled analogy problems – for example: How does 7 – 3 help me solve 17 – 3?
Another highlight was the school rally: Together, the children explored the campus and now know exactly where to find the nurse, the security staff, and the library. The week ended with class representative elections in all classes.
Grade 3/4 also got off to a successful start. On the first day, new and returning students, along with their teachers, met to embark on an exciting year ahead. The start of the projects and their selection brought a lot of anticipation. Class representative elections were also held – an important step for building class community.
This week’s support programme, under the motto Strengthening Strengths, took the children on an exciting journey into the world of writing systems. Students in Grades 3 and 4 designed their own fantasy alphabets, which only insiders can decipher, and used them to write secret messages. It quickly became clear how important it is to give each symbol a precise meaning so that the message can be understood in the end.
Secondary School
Grade 5 began the school year with a focus on social interaction: Together, the class discussed what is important to them and what they expect from each other and their teachers. Academic work also started well: In German, the students read a “reading trail” story and designed the cover page for their vocabulary portfolio. In DaZ, they practised verb conjugation. In Mathematics, they worked on Fermi problems and reviewed the number line. The class has started the year with great motivation and is looking forward to the weeks ahead.
Grade 6 began with introductions to their new homeroom teacher. Together, they explored and settled into their newly designed classroom. The class took responsibility for their community by electing class representatives. Class duties were also assigned, rotating weekly so that everyone has a role. This positive start has laid the foundation for a successful year of learning together.
Grade 7/8 started the new year with a varied “getting-to-know-you” day. Together, they created class rules, assigned duties, and strengthened team spirit through a variety of group games. In Mathematics, they reviewed fraction calculations before moving on to Biology, where they explored the topic of the human eye. At the end of the week, the class council elected new class representatives – an important step towards active participation in school life.
🔮 Outlook
📅 Parent-Teacher Meetings
🕓 Each at 4:00 pm – Childcare will be provided
- 👶 Kindergarten & Nursery: Thu, 28 Aug 2025
- 📚 Grades 1/2: Mon, 25 Aug 2025
- 📖 Grades 3/4: Tue, 19 Aug 2025
- 🧮 Grades 5 & 6: Thu, 21 Aug 2025
- 🔬 Grades 7/8: Wed, 20 Aug 2025
⛪ Sunday, 17 Aug 2025 – 10:30 am
Summer Service – Evangelical Community
⚽ Tuesday, 16 Sep 2025
“Football Meets Finance” – Workshop for Girls
with Faces of Football & the Sparkassen Foundation
🇩🇪 Friday, 3 Oct 2025
Day of German Unity – No school
🍂 Mon, 6 Oct – Fri, 10 Oct 2025
Autumn Break
🗣 Saturday, 18 Oct 2025
“130 Million – German Connects”
Day of the German Language at the GISA Campus
with numerous German-speaking institutions
🕯 Thursday, 13 Nov 2025
St. Martin Lantern Walk
📖 Friday, 21 Nov 2025
Reading Day & Maths Night
