Newsletter 20.06.2026

The final weeks of the school year are traditionally filled with special encounters, examinations, events, and many shared experiences. This week was no exception, highlighting once again the diversity of life at GISA – from international school partnerships and language assessments to preparations for our end-of-year celebrations and upcoming football evenings.

Building Bridges Between Accra and Gelsenkirchen

This week, GISA had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from Gesamtschule Berger Feld in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Evans Ankomah Kissi, Kevin Kisyna, and Sebastian Lorenz spent several days on our campus and in Accra to learn more about our school and explore opportunities for future cooperation.

The visit began with a breakfast meeting at the residence of the German Ambassador, Frederik Landshöft, attended by Cultural Attaché Dagmar Fehr. In a welcoming atmosphere, participants discussed topics such as German-Ghanaian relations, international education, and the important role schools play as bridges between cultures.

Following the meeting, the delegation toured our campus and gained insights into the development of GISA, our educational approach, and the unique role of the school as the only recognised German school abroad in West Africa. Conversations with our students were a particular highlight. Many were especially impressed to learn that seven participants in the 2026 FIFA World Cup are former students of Gesamtschule Berger Feld.

Another major focus of the visit was football development. Together with the five coaches of the Gerald Asamoah Football Academy, the guests engaged in an intensive professional exchange on talent development, training methods, and the role of sport in the personal growth of young people. They observed training sessions, shared their own experiences, and even led selected training activities. As a generous gift, the delegation also presented the Academy with numerous footballs.

Classroom visits formed another important part of the programme. Through lesson observations in different classes, the guests gained valuable insights into daily school life at GISA and exchanged ideas with teachers on teaching methods, school development, and international educational pathways.

Beyond the school environment, the visitors also explored Accra and its history. A particularly memorable experience was their visit to the Universal Wonderful Street Academy in Jamestown, which provides educational opportunities and support for children from challenging backgrounds.

The visit was characterised by openness, mutual interest, and many inspiring conversations. Both schools gained valuable insights and identified numerous shared interests. The experiences of the past few days demonstrated how education, sport, and personal exchange can connect people across borders – perfectly reflecting our school motto: Building Bridges.

International German Language Assessments (IVA)

This week marked an important milestone for our learners: 16 primary school students and 30 secondary school students took part in the International German Language Assessments (IVA) at levels A1 and A2.

The assessments gave learners the opportunity to demonstrate their German language skills in the four key areas of listening, reading, writing, and speaking. They completed a variety of tasks requiring them to understand listening and reading texts and answer related questions. In the written section, students wrote a letter describing either a holiday experience or a birthday celebration.

The assessments concluded with the oral examination. While A1 learners explained and described a given term, A2 learners presented a topic of their choice and answered follow-up questions.

Our students impressively demonstrated what they have learned in German as a Foreign Language lessons over the past months. With commitment, concentration, and confidence, they showcased their language abilities and can be proud of their achievements.

Now it is time to wait for the results and enjoy the final weeks of a successful school year.

⚽ Football Evening at the Swiss Club: Germany vs Ivory Coast

Our first football evening was a great success – and we learned a lot from it. Thanks to valuable feedback from our community, we have further improved the experience.

Look forward to a large projection screen for a true stadium atmosphere and a new sound system so that no goal celebration goes unheard.

On today´s Saturday, 20 June 2026, Germany will face Ivory Coast. Kick-off is at 8:00 p.m. at the Swiss Club on the GISA campus.

For those feeling hungry, the grill will be fired up with sausages, chicken, and beef available throughout the evening. Alongside exciting football action, we look forward to good conversations and a wonderful evening together.

The event is open to the German-speaking community in Ghana, our GISA families, and friends of the school.

We look forward to seeing you there.

GISA Got Talent, End-of-Year Celebration and Football Evening on 25 June

On Thursday, 25 June 2026, we warmly invite our school community to a special afternoon and evening on campus and at the Swiss Club.

The programme begins at 1:15 p.m. with our talent show, “GISA Got Talent.” This event is exclusively for our students. Working in groups, they will showcase their unique talents – from music and dance to drama and creative productions. A jury made up of students and teachers will evaluate the performances and select a winning act, which will perform again during the end-of-year celebration.

Parents, family members, and guests are invited to join us from 3:00 p.m. for our traditional End-of-Year Celebration. Together, we will look back on an eventful school year, celebrate special achievements, and bid farewell to students and staff members who are moving on to new opportunities.

Dance performances from various age groups and Addis’ photo exhibition will provide a festive setting for the occasion.

Following the official programme, we warmly invite everyone to stay for refreshments and conversation. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our Parent Council and all families contributing to the shared buffet, helping to make the afternoon a success.

From 7:00 p.m., the event transitions into our football evening. At 8:00 p.m., we will watch Ecuador take on Germany in Germany’s final group-stage match of the FIFA World Cup.

Important Information Regarding Childcare

For children who are regularly registered for aftercare, the usual arrangements remain in place:

• Kindergarten children will be supervised until 4 p.m.
• School students will be supervised until 5 p.m.

For children who are not registered for aftercare, as well as for all children after the above supervision times have ended, responsibility and supervision rest with parents or legal guardians.

We look forward to an enjoyable afternoon and evening filled with talent, community spirit, and shared experiences.

Last Day of School and Report Cards

Friday, 26 June 2026, marks the final day of the 2025/26 school year for our students.

Classes will take place according to the regular timetable. At the end of the school day, students will receive their report cards before beginning their well-deserved summer holidays.

Nursery and Kindergarten

This week, everything in our Nursery group revolved around books. During a special reading day, the children brought their favourite books from home and shared them with one another. Together, they explored pictures, told stories, and strengthened their love of language and imagination.

This playful experience supports language development, encourages a love of reading, and fosters positive social interaction.

The children also created a small Father’s Day gift.

🌟 This week in Kindergarten was filled with imagination, creativity, and many wonderful shared experiences. The children immersed themselves in the world of fairy tales and also discovered fascinating stories from Ghana. They explored numbers in a playful way and recreated them using building blocks. Creativity flourished as they designed bookmarks using flowers and leaves, creating beautiful little works of art. 🎨🌸🍃

Music also played an important role throughout the week. Through an exciting musical story, a variety of instruments, and first insights into musical notation and rhythms, the children were able to discover and develop their musical side. 🎵🥁

A special highlight of the week was the Kindergarten sleepover for our preschool children, which brought many smiling faces and created unforgettable memories. 🌙✨ To round off the week, the children enthusiastically designed thoughtful Father’s Day gifts with great care and creativity. 🎁💙

It was a joyful and varied week full of learning, discovery, and shared experiences! 😊

Primary School

Class 1/2

In Class 1/2, we are using the final weeks of the school year to complete unfinished projects while also exploring new topics. One of the most rewarding aspects is that the children can pursue their own interests. Some are researching fascinating facts about the countries participating in the World Cup, while others are learning their first signs in sign language or exploring topics they have been curious about for a long time.

Science lessons also took the children on a journey of discovery. They learned about the planets, their unique characteristics, and fascinating facts about our solar system. Working in pairs and groups, the children completed worksheets, exchanged ideas, asked one another questions, and shared their knowledge. This not only sparked an interest in space but also strengthened collaborative learning. Whether discussing Mars as the Red Planet or Saturn with its impressive rings, the children's curiosity was clearly visible throughout the classroom.

The highlight of the week was, of course, our school sleepover from Thursday to Friday. The children had a wonderful time and were able to grow even closer as a group. They spent the night together in the classroom, while the Swiss Club provided the setting for dinner and breakfast. It was a very special experience filled with friendship, fun, and lasting memories.

Class 3/4

This week was all about the FIFA World Cup. The children are enthusiastically participating in our World Cup prediction game. Naturally, the day after Ghana’s match was particularly exciting, as the class eagerly checked their predictions and calculated their points.

In German lessons, the students proudly presented their completed reading rolls. They also worked on words featuring final devoicing and completed a reading activity pack centred on the FIFA World Cup. Through a variety of questions and tasks, they expanded their knowledge of this major sporting event.

Mathematics lessons were equally productive. Grade 4 students began exploring written division, while Grade 3 students were introduced to semi-written multiplication methods and the multiplication grid. Together, all learners tackled an exciting combinatorics challenge: How many different jersey-and-shorts combinations can football player Timo create? In this way, students were introduced to the basic principles of combinatorics through playful problem-solving.

In English, creativity took centre stage after the examinations. The children wrote their own stories while becoming more familiar with commonly used sight words. They also learned how to structure an engaging story using key elements such as characters, setting, conflict, solution, and ending. Next week, students will exchange their stories and provide feedback to one another through a peer-review activity.

Science lessons continued our journey into space. Students explored how the Earth, Sun, and Moon move in relation to one another and how these movements create day and night as well as the seasons.

Using a hands-on worksheet, learners drew diagrams of the three celestial bodies and illustrated their movements. They also studied the different phases of the Moon, from new moon to full moon, and learned why the Moon appears to change shape when viewed from Earth.

Through teamwork and peer-to-peer learning, the children transformed complex scientific concepts into creative drawings, clear explanations, and engaging discussions.

Intensive German Language Class (DaF)

This week, the Intensive German Language Class reviewed Units 1 to 10. Topics ranging from personal information and family to food, clothing, and fashion were revisited, while particular emphasis was placed on developing speaking confidence and fluency.

The highly motivated learners from both the primary and secondary sections revised important grammar concepts, including verb conjugation, auxiliary verbs, and the use of the perfect tense. They also continued to work on German sentence structure.

In preparation for Father’s Day on Saturday, 21 June 2026, the students practised writing letters and postcards. Thanks to the support of our intern, they also enjoyed an exciting journey into the world of the senses, focusing particularly on the sense of taste. Exploring adjectives such as sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy, they discovered that taste perception can vary greatly from person to person.

During the week, the Intensive German Language Class, together with other learners whose first language is not German, also completed the International German Language Assessment I (IVA) in the four skill areas of reading, listening, writing, and speaking.

Secondary School

Class 5

In German lessons this week, we stepped into the role of sports journalists. The students designed pages for a sports magazine and developed their own stories around a World Cup final. They decided which teams would face each other, how the match would end, and how the game would unfold. This resulted in many creative and exciting ideas. Next week, we will continue developing our magazine pages and write interviews with players and coaches connected to the final.

In French, we reviewed the topics covered during the term. Students played puzzle games to discover hidden action verbs. Once they had identified the verb, they practised writing it correctly.

We did it – our snakes are finished! Over the past few weeks, we have worked on our artworks with great creativity and patience. First, the snakes were drawn, then carefully cut out, and finally mounted on colourful paper.

Since this week, the colourful tangle of snakes can be admired in the Secondary School corridor. Displayed behind the glass panels, they create fascinating visual effects and optical illusions. Anyone who looks closely can try to follow the individual snakes and “untangle” the display.

We are very proud of the result and hope everyone enjoys exploring our exhibition!

Over the past few weeks, Class 5 has composed original pieces of music for their own imagined planets. In the final lesson, these musical planets were performed together with great enthusiasm – and a touch of creative chaos.

In Geography, Classes 5 and 6 worked creatively and independently on comparing Germany and Ghana. The result was a collection of beautiful and informative maps.

Class 6

This week, we had the special opportunity to welcome three guests from Gesamtschule Berger Feld in Gelsenkirchen to our classroom. Evans Ankomah Kissi, Kevin Kisyna, and Sebastian Lorenz are currently visiting the German International School Accra (GISA) to learn more about our school and engage in discussions with us.

Naturally, we wanted to make the most of this opportunity and prepared thoroughly for the visit. In advance, we explored the Ruhr region and the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, gathering fascinating information about the area, its history, and its significance within Germany.

We were particularly interested in football. As a result, we took a closer look at FC Schalke 04, learned about the club’s history, and discovered how the famous rivalry between Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund developed. It quickly became clear that football in the Ruhr region is far more than just a sport.

Afterwards, we worked in groups to develop interview questions for our guests. These ranged from informative and thought-provoking to humorous and challenging. Well prepared, we conducted the interviews and gained fascinating insights into life in the Ruhr region, everyday school life in Germany, and the importance of football in Gelsenkirchen.

Here is a small sample of our questions for football and Ruhr-region experts:

The answers will be revealed in the next newsletter.

In addition to general questions, we also asked some more personal ones, including:

• What is your favourite colour?
  • Dortmund or Bochum?
  • Dortmund or Munich – where would you rather live?
  • Have you ever played football with Gerald Asamoah?
  • Who do you support – Schalke or BVB?

True football fans may already be able to guess the answers.

We also worked hard in Mathematics this week. We explored how to present and analyse data, learning how to create bar charts from frequency tables and how to interpret information from different types of diagrams. We also calculated averages and worked with absolute and relative frequencies.

To make the topic more practical, we conducted an exciting probability experiment involving coin tosses. The results were collected, analysed, and displayed using both absolute and relative frequencies. This helped us apply mathematical concepts in a meaningful way.

In Physical Education, the focus this week was volleyball. Our intern, Helena Gleis, enthusiastically led a variety of small-group activities designed to improve ball control. She then introduced the technique of setting and practised it with us through different exercises. We gained our first experience with volleyball techniques and had great fun along the way.

In Geography, our comparison of Germany and Ghana concluded with a highly creative presentation. During the final week of lessons, we will explore a topic chosen by the students themselves.

In English, we focused on summer-related vocabulary. Through crossword puzzles and word searches, we expanded our vocabulary and improved our spelling and word recognition skills. The varied activities helped us better understand and remember new words.

We also completed the final presentations of our biography projects. Students shared the results of their research and presented interesting information about the people they had chosen. These presentations provided an excellent opportunity to practise English, develop public-speaking skills, and learn from one another.

In Health Education, Class 6 continued learning about pregnancy and parenthood.

Through guided discussions and worksheets, students explored the different stages of pregnancy, learning how a baby develops, how a mother’s body changes, and what happens after birth. They also discussed the many responsibilities involved in parenting, from caring for a newborn’s basic needs to creating a loving and supportive environment for a growing child.

Through discussion and peer learning, students shared ideas, asked thoughtful questions, and developed a deeper understanding of the important role played by parents and caregivers. The lessons successfully combined scientific knowledge with life skills, helping learners understand growth, care, and responsibility.

We would like to thank our guests from Gelsenkirchen for their visit and look forward to many more exciting encounters and conversations in the future.

Class 7/8

In Ethics, students from Classes 7 and 8 presented their self-produced explanatory videos on Judaism, Islam, and Christianity to the students of Classes 3 and 4. The presentations were informative, creative, and provided the younger learners with fascinating insights into the three world religions.

In Social Studies, we focused on the FIFA World Cup, particularly examining where the host cities and stadiums are located and what significance they have for the host country.

In History, students independently explored the Industrial Revolution and discussed the troubling issue of child labour.

In Mathematics, we worked on collecting and analysing data. Students learned what to consider when gathering data in order to obtain meaningful results. They then analysed different datasets, calculating the maximum, minimum, median, mean, and range while comparing important statistical measures.

In our final Mathematics lesson with Mr Platzek, we explored probability experiments. Through coin tosses and by rolling six-sided and ten-sided dice, we collected data and calculated absolute and relative frequencies. Another exciting activity was the LEGO brick experiment, in which we investigated which side of a LEGO brick was most likely to land facing upwards. We compared our predictions with the actual results and discussed which events were equally likely.

In Biology, we explored different methods of contraception. Students learned about the advantages and disadvantages of each method and gained a broad overview of the topic.

A particular highlight of the week was our trip to play padel tennis at Padel Town GH. Special thanks go to Coach Josh for his support and enthusiasm. The students had the opportunity to try a new sport, stay active, and enjoy a memorable experience together. The outing promoted teamwork, movement, and plenty of fun.

In English, students focused on making predictions about stories using textual and visual clues, exploring the plot of a fantasy text, and responding creatively to fictional literature. They also participated in a team brainstorming activity where they designed their own word-search puzzles using summer-themed vocabulary and high-frequency sight words.

We also continued reading our class novels and worked intensively on the tasks in our reading journals. With the summer holidays approaching, we expect to finish our novels by next week. We are especially looking forward to watching the film adaptations of the youth novels Tschick and Holes and comparing them with the books.

In our remaining lessons, we continued exploring various aspects and challenges of German spelling and grammar. Through revision activities, explanations, exercises, and games, we reinforced important concepts and strengthened our understanding of the language.

Finally, we would like to express our sincere thanks to our intern, Patience Amankwah, who has supported and enriched our German lessons over the past weeks. Thank you for your dedication, your commitment, the enjoyable conversations, and the varied learning activities. We wish Patience all the very best and every success for the future.

🔜 Upcoming Events & Important Dates

⚽ 🇩🇪 Germany – 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 8:00 p.m.
Join us for Germany’s second group-stage match at the Swiss Club on the GISA campus. Enjoy the game on a large projection screen with our new sound system, as well as food and drinks in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The event is open to the German-speaking community in Ghana, GISA families, and friends of the school.

🎭 ⭐ GISA Got Talent
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 1:15 p.m.
Our students will showcase their talents in music, dance, drama, and creative performances. This event is exclusively for GISA students.

🎉 End-of-Year Celebration
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 3:00 p.m.
Join us as we celebrate the end of the 2025/26 school year with awards, farewells, dance performances, and a photo exhibition. Following the official programme, families and guests are warmly invited to enjoy a shared buffet and social gathering.

⚽ 🇪🇨 Ecuador – 🇩🇪 Germany
Thursday, 25 June 2026, 8:00 p.m.
Let’s come together once again to support the German national team in their final group-stage match of the FIFA World Cup. The match will be shown at the Swiss Club as part of our football evening.

📄 Friday, 26 June 2026
Last Day of School & Report Cards
Lessons will take place according to the regular timetable. At the end of the school day, students will receive their report cards before beginning their summer holidays.

🕵️ Monday, 29 June – Friday, 3 July 2026
Summer Camp 2026 – “Everyone Is a Suspect”
A thrilling week filled with mysteries, adventures, creative activities, team challenges, and detective work for children and young people aged 5 to 15.

🇩🇪 Monday, 6 July – Friday, 24 July 2026
German Language Summer Programme 2026
An engaging and interactive German language programme featuring projects, language games, and individual support for learners of German as a foreign language.

🏫 Monday, 17 August 2026
First Day of the 2026/27 School Year
We look forward to welcoming all students back to the German International School Accra after the summer break.