Newsletter 16.12.2025
The final newsletter of an eventful year
With this newsletter, we come to the end of an intensive, dynamic and very successful year 2025. We would like to wish all parents, staff members, friends of the school, visitors to our website – and especially our students – a joyful Christmas season and a happy start to the New Year, whether spent under palm trees or in the snow.
The first day of school after the holidays is scheduled for Monday, 12 January 2026. On Thursday, 8 January, supervision will be provided for the registered children. As soon as it is confirmed whether Constitution Day will be moved to Friday, 9 January, we will inform parents via the usual WhatsApp channels.
Passion, Team Spirit and a Hard-Fought Victory
GISA Football – a strong end to the year
Last Saturday once again showed what football at GISA is all about: commitment, solidarity and giving everything until the final whistle. Under the guidance of coach David Detzler, our teams played intense and competitive matches, gaining valuable experience and celebrating a well-earned success to close the year.
Our younger players faced the well-coordinated and physically strong Arc Academy team. Despite a determined comeback and great fighting spirit, a draw was just out of reach. Nevertheless, the performance marked an important step in the team’s development.
A true highlight followed in the U14 match. After a challenging first half and a 2:5 deficit, tactical adjustments, effective substitutions and exceptional team spirit turned the game around. With great determination, the team secured a deserved 7:5 victory – an impressive collective achievement.
With this result, the team heads into the break full of confidence. One final training session will take place before the winter break, with further information about the planned camp to follow in the New Year.
Our sincere thanks go to all parents and supporters for their encouragement and support. We look forward to a sporty and successful 2026 at GISA. ⚽
Table Tennis Takes Over the Breaks
Beyond football, another exciting development has emerged in recent weeks: growing enthusiasm for table tennis. Before school, during breaks and after classes, students of different ages gather around the table to play together. We are curious to see whether this enthusiasm continues into the New Year – and perhaps inspires even more students to join in.
Mandalas, Music and Magic
Advent spirit at GISA
The GISA Advent calendar once again brought many special moments this week: beautifully designed Christmas mandalas from project lessons, a cheerful break-time party with hot cocoa and craft activities, and finally the GISA Advent Cinema during the first courtyard break. Small moments of calm, joy and togetherness – and growing anticipation for the final surprises of the Advent season.
Christmas Joy in the GISA Baby Club
This week, our GISA Baby Club celebrated its Christmas party. Every Thursday, our youngest guests and their parents meet to sing, play and explore together.
The celebration focused on music, free play and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. As a small surprise, parents received a Christmas gift as a thank-you for their trust and the wonderful sense of community. We are already looking forward to many more cosy Thursdays with our little explorers. 🎄
An Evening of Appreciation
GISA Staff Christmas Celebration
In a festive setting, the entire GISA team came together to reflect on a demanding yet highly successful year. Teachers, educators, administrative staff, support teams and extracurricular instructors celebrated a year marked by growth and school development.
Head of School Rainer Kropp-Kurta expressed his heartfelt thanks to all staff members for their dedication, flexibility and team spirit. Each colleague received a small gift as a token of appreciation.
A particularly moving moment was the recognition of Millicent Abradu, who has been part of the school community for ten years. Her commitment and reliability were honoured with warm applause.
The evening was skilfully hosted by Clemencia Mayoga and Svea Matt, accompanied by a DJ and an entertaining quiz. A special surprise came from the Parent Council, who expressed their appreciation with a thoughtfully prepared gift.
Former Board Chair Lukas Brauchbar joined as guest of honour. During the evening, the school’s nearly 60-year history was reflected upon – from its founding in 1966 as the RMS Swiss School to today’s GISA as a growing encounter school with a strong future vision. The handover of key land and ownership documents further strengthened the transparent and legally secure foundation for future cooperation with the Ramseyer Foundation.
🌱 Putting Down Roots Together
Bamboo planting campaign at year’s end
Shortly before the Christmas holidays, parents, students and staff came together for a hands-on sustainability project. Initiated by parents, pedagogically guided by Ve Fredrich and Russell Adu, and supported by our gardeners Dominic Adamu and Isaac Ayamga, 40 bamboo plants were planted along the inside of the school wall.
The project was generously funded by our Support Association, to whom we extend our sincere thanks. Bamboo is especially valuable in Ghana: it grows rapidly, binds CO₂, protects against erosion and serves as a sustainable raw material. For our students, sustainability became a tangible learning experience – with hands in the soil and community at the heart of the activity.
Notices & Dates
Classical Concert – Invitation
The Accra City Singers and the Accra International Quartet, supported by the Hungarian Embassy, invite you to a classical concert at the Legon Hall Chapel.
The programme includes works by Vivaldi, Bach and Rossini, concluding with Vivaldi’s Magnificat.
We warmly thank Jakob Platzek, our new music teacher, for making this invitation possible.
ADLK Vacancy
We continue to grow – with strong support from the Federal Republic of Germany.
For the 2026/27 school year, our school has been granted an additional ADLK position, funded by the Federal Republic of Germany. This support is not only a major structural and educational advantage for our school, but also a clear endorsement of the positive development and quality of our work.
As part of our continued growth, we are seeking an Internationally Posted Teacher (ADLK) with a flexible subject combination, with Mathematics and Science being particularly welcome. We are looking for an engaged, team-oriented teacher who is eager to actively contribute to school development, especially in the preparation of the German Secondary School Certificate (MSA) from 2028 onwards.
Applications – and recommendations – are very welcome.
Christmas Eve Family Service
The German Evangelical Congregation in Accra warmly invites families, individuals and guests of all ages and denominations to a German-language Family Christmas Eve Service. The service offers a festive yet welcoming setting to celebrate Christmas together.
The service will take place at Ridge Church, located directly next to the Kempinski Hotel. The venue is situated on the first floor, is clearly signposted and fully accessible.
When:
Christmas Eve, Tuesday, 24 December 2024, at 4:00 pm
Where:
Ridge Church, 1st floor
(next to the Kempinski Hotel, barrier-free access)
As attendance on Christmas Eve is traditionally high, while many congregation members may be travelling, the German Evangelical Congregation in Accra kindly asks guests to briefly indicate their attendance and number of participants via WhatsApp:
📱 +233 544 336 181 (Doris Bloniarz)
Registration is not mandatory, and guests are also very welcome without prior notice. People of all denominations are invited.
The German Protestant Congregation of Accra wishes everyone a blessed Christmas and a happy and healthy 2026.
Save the Date
Thursday, 29 January 2026, 5:00–6:30 pm (online)
Information session for the school community regarding the upcoming Bund-Länder Inspection (BLI 3.0).
60th Anniversary – Event Framework
- Thursday, 26 February 2026
Ghana Day meets TriNation Celebration - Saturday, 28 February 2026
GISA Cup - Monday, 2 March 2026
GISA Cup – Kids Edition
International Friendly Football Match
Monday, 30 March 2026, 7:45 pm
Germany 🇩🇪 vs Ghana 🇬🇭
Venue: Stuttgart
Nursery and Kindergarten
This week was especially creative in the crèche. The children crafted, painted and decorated Christmas gifts, playfully strengthening their fine motor skills and concentration.
In addition, there was plenty of shared playtime in the garden – a wonderful opportunity for movement, discovery and practising social interaction.
During the past week, as usual, we spent a lot of time in Kindergarten playing, crafting and singing 🎨🎶🤗.
In the middle of the week, we also baked delicious cookies together – a wonderfully fragrant highlight that brought great joy to all the children 🍪😄✨.
The days were filled with a pre-Christmas atmosphere, the upcoming travels of many families ✈🎄, and of course great excitement about our trip to the indoor playground “Play Accra”, which turned out to be a truly special experience for everyone 🌟🚶♀🚶♂.
We wish all families who are now starting their holidays a Merry Christmas 🎄✨ and a happy New Year 🎆🥳.
We are already looking forward to a wonderful new year together with you and your children 💛😊.
Trip to the indoor playground “Play Accra”
On Friday, 12 December 2025, the kindergarten children went on an excursion. Full of excitement, we travelled together in a large bus to the indoor playground “Play Accra” in East Legon. Even during the journey, there was plenty for the children to discover on the streets of Accra – from street vendors and police cars to ambulances and even a digger.
Upon arrival at the playground, a wide range of play and movement opportunities awaited the children. There was so much to explore and enjoy: various slides, a zip line, a ball pit, climbing frames, balance stations and a trampoline. The children had a wonderful time and were able to run, climb and play to their heart’s content.
The trip was a great success and will surely remain a happy memory for everyone for a long time.
Primary School
One of the highlights in Class 1/2 this week was the planting activity on Monday. We have already started wondering how tall the bamboo will be by the time the children reach Class 5.
In addition, the children worked with great enthusiasm to reach the goals they had set for themselves for this year. As a result, some tasks that had been left unfinished were completed very quickly.
In keeping with this, we also had a small carnival kick-off. As a reminder, the school carnival celebration will take place on 13 February. Please make sure that your child comes to school in costume on that day.
Working with the iPads continues to be great fun for the class. More of the children’s own stories were recorded using Puppet Pals.
For Class 2, the fountain pen licence will begin after the holidays. Please ensure that your child brings a fountain pen and suitable ink cartridges to school after the break.
In the days leading up to the Christmas holidays, Class 3/4 once again learned intensively, worked creatively and greatly enjoyed spending time together.
In Mathematics, we worked again with geoboards. We constructed, explored and calculated the perimeters of various rectangles. We then moved on to parallelograms, identified perpendicular lines and, building on this, even calculated areas. By investigating perimeters and areas of parallelograms in many different sizes, we deepened our understanding of geometry.
In English lessons, we completed our Christmas stories. With a great deal of creativity and humour, the children wrote their own texts. It was particularly lovely to see the care with which they wrote and decorated their stories. We are very much looking forward to reading these stories aloud to our families during the Christmas season – a wonderful way to end the year.
In German lessons, we also focused intensively on writing stories. Using various picture prompts, we collected many ideas in small groups by answering the key questions: Who? Where? When? What? Based on this, the children wrote their own stories and then read them aloud to the class. It was especially important to us to listen attentively, ask interested questions and give the authors constructive feedback.
We once again enjoyed our Monday reading time in the library with great pleasure and relaxation. For the books they chose themselves, the children created individual reading journals with their own cover designs and short blurbs.
The children in Class 3 enthusiastically used geoboards and rubber bands to create different quadrilaterals. They experimented with how small a square can be and how large a rectangle can be. Together, they discussed questions such as: Is this shape really a parallelogram? Afterwards, the students drew parallelograms and learned about their typical properties. They practised drawing perpendicular and parallel lines and checking them carefully. Another highlight was tessellation, during which the children discovered how areas can be completely covered with geometric shapes without gaps.
In Class 4, everything revolved around area. One key question was: How big is a square metre really? To make this tangible, square metres were drawn on the playground with chalk. The children then tested how many students could fit into one square metre. Building on this, they calculated the areas and perimeters of various shapes and strengthened their understanding of working with area.
In Science, we had our practical test in the laboratory this week. Working in small groups, the children carried out experiments and carefully documented their observations using a questionnaire.
Looking back, we can say that it was a varied, intensive and enjoyable final week of school. We are now heading into the well-deserved Christmas holidays.
From design to fabric – creative work on the weaving frame
After building our mini weaving frames last week, each child proudly held their own small frame in their hands, ready to finally bring it to life.
With focused attention, everyone remembered the important rule for setting up the loom, and we agreed on a common number of warp threads so that our pieces can later be sewn together like small puzzle pieces to form a larger whole.
Some children already had very clear ideas about the pattern they wanted to weave. Their eyes lit up as they put their ideas on paper and created the first sketches – sometimes delicate, sometimes colourful, sometimes bold and adventurous.
In the next step, these designs were transferred onto the weaving frames. Little by little, a collection of small, personal works of art is emerging – each one unique and full of expression.
In the end, all of these individual pieces will be joined together like colourful mosaics to form one large shared blanket – a quilt that brings together each child’s creativity in a warm and vibrant collective artwork.
Secondary School
This week, lessons in Class 5 were particularly creative and collaborative.
In German as a Medium of Instruction (DaM), the children took part in an exciting escape room game in which they had to rescue Santa Claus together. With strong teamwork, logical thinking and mutual support, the class successfully solved all the puzzles.
In French this week, we reviewed all the topics we have learnt so far. On Thursday, we played a ludo game in which students had to answer questions before being allowed to move forward in the game. In a fun and engaging way, they revised the topics we had covered. On Friday, the students shared what they had learnt during this term. Beautiful work from the Class 5 students.
In Ethics, the focus was also on togetherness. To conclude the year, we ended with a so-called “warm shower”. During this activity, students had the opportunity to give compliments to their classmates and express what they appreciate about one another. This appreciative atmosphere created a very positive and meaningful end to the year.
In Geography, the class travelled to the moon and explored its many mysteries, uncovering them step by step.
In Class 6, students worked intensively in many subject areas this week, engaging in discussions and discovering new topics.
In German lessons, we continued working on sentence elements, focusing in more detail on objects. This eventually led us to Baron von Münchhausen and his famous tall tales. After a brief look at his biography, the students researched some of his best-known stories online, read them and extracted key information. Afterwards, they stepped into the role of the Baron themselves and presented small “fabricated stories” to the class. This sparked many critical questions as well as lively and engaging discussions.
Our view of planet Earth and beyond was further sharpened. In Geography, we delved even deeper into the vastness of the universe and expanded our knowledge step by step.
In Class 6 Mathematics, the focus was on calculating with measures. Students practised finding fractions of quantities, added and subtracted fractions with the same denominators, and gradually learned how to add and subtract fractions with different denominators. Through numerous examples and exercises, it became clear how essential a secure understanding of fractions is for further mathematical learning.
In Ethics, in line with the topic of media, we explored a current and highly relevant example: the social media ban for children and young people under 16 in Australia. Students discussed arguments for and against the ban, talked about the opportunities and risks of social media, and engaged in thoughtful and lively discussions. Current social issues were clearly at the centre of the lesson.
Physical activity was, of course, not neglected. In Physical Education, we used the entire schoolyard as a running area for our tag games. The sessions were fast-paced, energetic and full of enthusiasm.
Looking back, we can say it has been a varied and intensive period. We are also feeling tired after the past weeks and are looking forward to a restful holiday break. At the same time, we are excited and curious about the new calendar year and the time after Christmas, when we will all meet again.
A special thank you goes to Levi and Aadil, who used a creative break to design a new poster for our class, providing the basis for our most recent class photo.
A wonderful achievement to end the year: Hannes won the Class 6 reading competition and has now been registered for the national reading competition in Germany, including German international schools. Congratulations!
In Class 7 Mathematics, students worked on special lines in triangles. In pair work, they created posters on the different subtopics. Two students explained the construction of medians and the centroid to the class, while two others presented perpendicular bisectors and the circumcircle, clearly illustrating the relationships involved. The students independently took on the role of young experts and explained the content to their classmates.
In Class 8 Mathematics, the focus was on calculating the area of triangles and parallelograms. Students derived the relevant formulas themselves and learned how to rearrange them in order to solve different types of problems with confidence.
In Physical Education, Brennball was played with great commitment and team spirit. Movement, fairness and cooperative play were at the heart of the lesson.
In Ethics lessons in Classes 7 and 8, everything revolved around the topic of identity. Students reflected on their own character traits and considered how they are perceived by others. During a “warm shower” activity, each student wore a sheet of paper on their back, on which classmates and teachers wrote positive qualities. This appreciative method strengthened both the sense of community and students’ self-confidence.
In Geography, the topic of energy sources came to a close with individually developed visions of “Ghana 2100”. As a bonus activity, students also explored the concept of the butterfly effect.
In Social Studies, students presented their career posters. This was followed by a discussion comparing professions in Ghana and Germany, which led to engaging conversations about different living environments and perspectives.
A heartfelt thank-you goes to our intern Jonas. With many creative ideas, great commitment and valuable support, he enriched our lessons. Thank you for taking on several teaching hours and contributing so actively to school life.
Grammar, puzzles and Christmas cookies
DaF Class 7/8
The DaF students in Classes 7 and 8 demonstrated this week that they already have a strong command of German grammar. The task “The Perfect Pair” was therefore manageable: starting from an infinitive verb, they had to find the correct perfect tense form and then write a suitable sentence.
Our DaF Advent calendar also included challenging tasks and puzzles, which students were usually able to solve quickly – for example identifying ingredients that are essential during the Christmas season or creating word chains using Christmas-related vocabulary.
To conclude the week, students researched the best Christmas cookie recipes. These will be baked together next week and shared with the other classes on the last day of school before the Christmas holidays as a final festive treat. 🍪🎄
The Return of the Racing Reporters
On today’s last school day before the Christmas holidays, the Racing Reporters were back in action. Full of energy and curiosity, they kicked off their second phase of reporting and interviews. While others were already in holiday mode, the GISA reporters were still fully engaged.
In addition to preparing further interviews, the reporters visited various workshops to gather first impressions, ask questions, and uncover exciting stories. They gained a wide range of insights into ongoing projects and developed many new ideas.
But that wasn’t all: the GISA reporters also used the day to think together about what they would like to report on from January onwards. Plans were made, ideas discussed, and topics collected so that they can continue at full speed after the holidays.
One thing is certain: after the Christmas break, the Racing Reporters will be “racing” again – with new topics, fresh impressions, and exciting reports.
Interview 1: Journey Through Ghana – Project
Date: 16.12.2025
Reporters: Papa Oti and Levi
Question: How do you like the project?
Answer: Most students like the project very much, including Yaw.
Question: Why did you join the project?
Answer: They joined the project because they want to keep something as a memory and because they really enjoy it.
Question: What have you done in the project so far?
Answer: First, the students had to focus on the topic of Ghana and do research about it.
Question: Have you liked the projects so far?
Answer: All students answered this question with “Yes”.
Question: How does the school feel at the moment, with the holidays starting tomorrow?
Answer: The answers were mixed. Some students felt good, others felt neutral. Decisions made by the school are partly seen as good and partly as average.
Conclusion:
That was our report. We wish everyone who is reading this – and everyone else as well – a wonderful holiday.
Interview 2: Workshop “Ga-Afro-Ganza”
Date: 16.12.2025
Reporters: Julie and Arcani
Question: What is the story behind the dance?
Answer: The story of the dance is about King Agokoli.
Question: What do you like about your project?
Answer: I like that we are dancing in the project.
Question: What is the goal of your project?
Answer: The goal of the project is to gain a deep understanding of the dance and to inspire people with it.
Question: What different movements have you learned?
Answer: I learned how to walk backwards and stamp with my feet while moving my hands like a chicken.
Question: What kind of music do you use?
Answer: We use traditional Ewe music.
Interview 3: Reigns of Thorns – The Story of Agokoli
Date: 16.12.2025
Interviewers: Sarah and Frieda
Question: What do you do here?
Answer:
We practise theatre and perform a small play. (Keona)
I help the students play their roles properly. (Mr Russell)
Question: How do you like the project?
Answer:
I think the project is good. (Zoe)
I find the project exciting. (Yanis)
I find the project interesting. (Nii)
I think the project is good. (Wisdom)
I find the project interesting and inspiring. (Mr Russell)
Question: Why did you choose this project?
Answer:
I chose the project because it interests me. (Yanis)
I chose the project so I can see the talents and creativity of the students. (Mr Russell)
Question: What is the goal of the project?
Answer:
The goal is to perform a theatre play. (Nii)
The goal is to bring the history of the Ewe to the stage. (Mr Russell)
Question: What do you like most about the project?
Answer:
What I like most are the roles. (Wisdom)
Dates & Outlook
🎓 Tuesday, 16 December 2025
Last day of school before the Christmas holidays
🏕 Wednesday to Friday, 17–19 December 2025
GISA Winter Camp
Three days full of creativity, shared activities and a special visit from the Grinch.
🎁 Wednesday, 17 December 2025 to Friday, 9 January 2026
Christmas holidays
🏫 Monday, 12 January 2026
First day of school after the Christmas holidays
💻 Thursday, 29 January 2026, 5:00–6:30 pm (online)
Information session for the school community regarding the upcoming Federal-State Inspection (BLI 3.0)
📄 Friday, 30 January 2026
Distribution of mid-year reports
End of the first school term
🎭 Friday, 13 February 2026
School Carnival
🎉 60th Anniversary – Event Framework
🇬🇭🇩🇪🇨🇭 Thursday, 26 February 2026
Ghana Day – Celebrating Three Nations Together
🏆 Saturday, 28 February 2026
GISA Cup
🏆 Monday, 2 March 2026
GISA Cup – Kids Edition
⚽ International Friendly Match
Monday, 30 March 2026, 7:45 pm
Germany 🇩🇪 vs Ghana 🇬🇭
Venue: Stuttgart
