Newsletter 28.11.2025
Looking forward to the Christmas Market on Saturday, 29 November 2025
Tomorrow, the GISA campus will once again transform into a festive Christmas Market from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Forty-two stalls, a wide selection of gift items, food and drinks, mulled wine, children’s activities, and live music will create a warm and joyful atmosphere. The anticipation is high.
Special Guests: Peace Bike Tour – 4:00–5:00 p.m. at the Swiss Club
During the Christmas Market, a remarkable visit will take place at the Swiss Club. Dieter Sehburger and Christoph Roller, who began their journey in Germany and Switzerland, arrived in Accra on 28 November. They are currently on the Peace Bike Tour, an extraordinary cycling journey from Europe to Madagascar.
Under the motto “give me 30 seconds,” they collect personal statements about peace. People from all backgrounds share their thoughts on the questions: How does peace work? What does peaceful coexistence require? Their encounters highlight the value of intercultural dialogue and the simple ways peace can begin.
All members of the school community are invited to meet the two cyclists and contribute their own short reflection on the idea of peace.
Download PDF Give me 30 seconds
Project Time at GISA: From Christmas Magic to “Made in Ghana”
This week, students selected their projects for the next round of Project Time under the theme Made in Ghana. Options include Weaving, Ghanaian Cooking, Get to Know Your VIP Ghanaians, Crocheting, Ga-Afro-Ganza, Journey Through Ghana, Reigns of Thorns, The Story of Agokoli, and Return of the Reporters. The variety of choices reflects the culturally rich, hands-on learning that Project Time continues to foster.
Review of the Christmas Project Phase
The Christmas Market marks the conclusion of the current project cycle.
In Primary, baking, Christmas songs, Advent calendar preparations, and the Christmas elf workshop strengthened creativity, coordination, and teamwork.
In Secondary, students worked in the woodworking studio, produced a multilingual Nativity Play mockumentary, painted, investigated as roving reporters, and created various DIY Christmas decorations.
Next week, a new project cycle begins with Ghana as its central theme. Primary students will choose between Crocheting, Get to Know Your VIP Ghanaians, Weaving, and Ghanaian Cooking. Secondary students will choose between Ga-Afro-Ganza, Journey Through Ghana, Reigns of Thorns – The Story of Agokoli, and Return of the Reporters.
ESP Taster Days: Insight, Engagement, and Inspiration
The taster days for candidates of the Excellence Scholarship Program (ESP) took place this week. The sessions were lively and engaging. Candidates explored different subjects, became familiar with the campus, and were warmly accompanied by students from GISA, who served as guides.
Creative language games, thinking challenges, teamwork activities, and shared tasks created an enriching experience. Many GISA students enjoyed taking responsibility, supporting newcomers, and offering a welcoming introduction to the school day.
The coming weeks will reveal which candidates will join the GISA community in January 2026.
Long Night of Mathematics – Energy, Creativity, and Teamwork
Last Friday, nine students from Grades 5, 6, and 7/8 took part in the international Long Night of Mathematics, joining 551 schools and more than 7,000 teams.
From 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., students calculated, explored, sketched, and experimented. Creativity and cooperation shaped the evening. Appreciation goes to the parents who supported the group and provided snacks and pizza—ideal fuel for intensive problem-solving.
Several challenging tasks were successfully solved, showing how enjoyable collaborative mathematics can be.
Grow with Football – Review of Last Saturday’s Matches
The first friendly matches of the Grow with Football teams took place last Saturday and offered exciting sporting moments.
In the U10 match against the JFC selection, the team showed strong early momentum and secured a 1:1 score at halftime. Despite fighting hard until the final whistle, the game ended 3:1 for JFC. The team’s effort remained outstanding.
In the U13 match, GISA’s team dominated from the beginning, leading 5:1 at halftime and ultimately winning 9:3. It was a convincing first victory and a strong display of teamwork and confidence.
Looking ahead to tomorrow: Saturday, 29 November 2025
The next match will take place as follows:
Meeting time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Ridge School Church
Match: 1 game, 2 × 20 minutes (U13)
Expected finish: 11:45 / 12:00 noon
Growing together. Playing together. Strong together.
Advent Service on Sunday, 30 November 2025
A German-language Advent service will take place this Sunday at the Ridge Church (next to the Kempinski Hotel). The service begins at 10:30 a.m. on the first floor (accessible), followed by a small Advent buffet.
The visit of Christoph Roller and Dieter Sehburger, who are currently cycling from Takoradi to Accra as part of the Peace Bike Tour, is also expected. After the service, there will be an opportunity for conversation over drinks and Christmas treats.
DaF Grade 7/8 – Online Exchange with the University of Potsdam
On Wednesday, 3 December 2025, Grade 7/8 will take part in an online exchange with students from the University of Potsdam as part of the German as a Foreign Language programme. The session will be accompanied by Dr Torsten Andreas, Head of German as a Foreign and Second Language Didactics.
The theme of the meeting is “Music as a Language.” Students have been preparing for this topic during the past weeks. The University of Potsdam would like to record the session for teacher-education purposes. A consent form has been distributed; parents are asked to return it by Tuesday.
Winter Camp 2025
The Winter Camp will take place from 17–19 December. Children aged 5 to 15 will enjoy creative activities and a special encounter with the Grinch.
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (lunch optional)
Contact:
Collection for Chance for Children
Donations of gently used children’s clothing, shoes, and toys continue to be collected for Chance for Children. Items can be dropped off at the security gate at any time.
Lunch North Ridge Café
We’re happy to announce that the December menu from North Ridge Café is now available!
Nursery and Kindergarten
At the beginning of the week, the children celebrated a third birthday. Through singing, dancing, and the movement game
Later in the week, the children created winter-themed window decorations with snowmen and Christmas trees using finger paint, as well as colourful candles made from transparent paper. These activities allowed them to explore sensory experiences, develop fine motor skills, and express their creativity.
A Festive Week in Kindergarten 🎄🕯✨
This week, our kindergarten was filled with a wonderful Christmas atmosphere.
Alongside our usual daily routines 🧸🌼, parent–teacher development meetings continued—many thanks to all who have already taken part 🤗💛.
With great enthusiasm, the children transformed our classroom into a small Christmas world ✨🎄🌟—with lights, stars, glitter, and handmade decorations 🎨🖍❄.
In the English Club 🇬🇧✨, the focus was on transportation 🚗🚌✈️🚲🚂. The children had great fun and learned many new words 🎁😊.
There was also lots of practice for our performance at tomorrow’s Christmas Market 🎶🎄⭐. The children are incredibly excited, and we look forward to seeing many of you there 🤩❄
Primary School
Class 1/2
In German, the children in Class 1/2 are becoming real experts in structured learning. The second graders regularly complete a learning unit and then write a small test completely on their own. The topics change in a steady rhythm: first spelling, then grammar, followed by writing texts, and finally reading.
The first graders continue to focus on developing their literacy skills. They get to know each letter, practise writing it, recognise it in words, and identify it in spoken sounds.
There is also a special highlight ahead: next week, Saint Nicholas might visit our school. To prepare, the children are learning a short poem by heart so they can welcome him properly.
In Mathematics, we continued our work on the topic of telling the time and practised addition and subtraction intensively this week. The children solved tasks using concrete materials, in their notebooks, and in their heads, becoming increasingly confident in handling numbers. We also used the iPads: with the Anton app, the children could playfully deepen their addition and subtraction skills and practise at their own pace.
In English, Class 1/2 worked on Christmas vocabulary. The lesson included short warm-up activities, a picture–word matching task, and a Kahoot game in a Think–Pair–Share format. The session encouraged teamwork, creative thinking, and the acquisition of new vocabulary. Highlights included an impressive collection of Christmas words, good discussions about matching images and words, and strong collaboration during the Kahoot.
At home, you can build on this by matching Christmas words from books or cards with your child and creating a small quiz inspired by Kahoot. Next week, the children will learn new festive words from different cultures and complete a short writing activity to apply the vocabulary in context.
In Science, Classes 1 and 2 went on an exciting discovery journey through the human body. First, we named the different body parts, before looking more closely at the five senses. The children were able to explain very well what each sense does for us—both inside the body and in everyday life. To consolidate this knowledge, we watched a short learning video and completed a matching worksheet.
Class 3/4
Class 3/4 experienced another eventful and productive week filled with learning and creativity. The focus this time was our classroom itself. We cleaned, reorganised, and redesigned our seating area. Everyone contributed creative ideas, which resulted in a wonderfully cosy reading and learning corner.
In German, we rediscovered our classroom in a new way. Working in small groups, we chose our own workspaces and set them up in a way that helped us learn best. We also learned many new verbs in the past tense and collected exciting ideas for the “who”, “where”, and “when” of a story.
On Tuesday, we were delighted to welcome our new classmate Daniel. We are very happy that you are now part of our community, Daniel, and we wish you lots of joy as you learn with us.
Wednesday and Thursday brought even more activity to our room: six additional pupils visited our class. With great enthusiasm, we showed them not only our classroom but the whole GISA campus. It was wonderful to see how openly and interested everyone interacted with one another.
We look back on a rich and lively week and are excited for everything we will discover and learn together next week.
Project Time
The moment is almost here: the pre-Christmas season is about to begin, and with the new month, the GISA Advent Calendar will celebrate its premiere. This week, the students added the final touches to the calendar’s decorations, tested the craft activities once more, and, most importantly, organised the responsibilities.
The children’s joyful faces as they completed the last details—knowing which surprises await them starting next week—were simply priceless. Their excitement is contagious, and we are very much looking forward to making each Advent day a small highlight together with them. 🎄✨
Secondary School
Grade 5
This week, Grade 5 received special visitors: the ESP candidates joined our lessons for a taster experience and were warmly welcomed. Our students showed great openness and enthusiasm in giving the guests insight into their daily school life.
In Geography, the focus was on the solar system. Together, we explored the planets, their characteristics, and their positions – a fascinating journey through space.
In French, the class worked on seasons and days of the week. Students practised new vocabulary, short dialogues, and everyday expressions.
In English, learners trained their listening comprehension with tasks designed to promote critical thinking – listening carefully, analysing, and reflecting.
Sports lessons provided active balance: during endurance running to German pop music, the class showed remarkable stamina and plenty of good spirits.
Grade 6
The final week of November was once again full of activity: Grade 6 learned many new things, refreshed what they already knew, and shared many positive moments.
In German, we successfully completed the unit on “expressing and justifying an opinion in a letter.” Students wrote their assessment, showing not only their knowledge but also expressing their wishes for the destination of our next class trip. Afterwards, we focused on sentence structure, revisiting subject, predicate, and object and sorting them anew.
In Art, we continued working outdoors in our “open-air studio” together with Grade 5. We discussed emotions and reflected on which colours might express certain moods. Students then translated their own feelings onto paper using colours and their many nuances. Mixing primary colours and creating a wide range of reds, yellows, blues, and greens once again posed a creative challenge – but with experimentation, courage, and teamwork, impressive works emerged.
We look back on an intensive, creative, and educational week and look forward to all that the Advent season will bring.
In Science, we observed and discussed how seeds are positioned inside different fruits. One key observation was that seeds vary greatly in appearance, showing the diversity of plant anatomy.
In a hands-on activity, students sketched various fruits in cross-section to show how their seeds are arranged. We also reviewed the stages of fertilisation in flowering plants. Finally, we examined the parts of fruits and learned how their structures protect the seeds.
Grades 7–8
In Grade 7 Biology, students completed a small microscopy test. They examined a tomato under the microscope, observed its cell structures, and produced neat biological drawings.
In Grade 7 Mathematics, we used Plickers to conduct an interactive quiz reviewing important topics for the upcoming test. Grades 7/8 also used class time for individual practice to prepare as well as possible.
In Social Studies, our “Career Lottery” took centre stage. Each student drew a profession and will present it over the coming weeks together with its associated skills and requirements.
In Ethics, students worked intensively on their submission for the national student competition in political education. They created their own children’s news broadcast – the “GISA 67 News.”
For the political segment, several students attended a demonstration for children’s rights and interviewed the organiser. For the sports segment, the team even interviewed Ghana’s best and sixth-best surfers. For the culture and society segment, a group of girls produced a report on the history of Afrobeats and performed a self-choreographed Afrobeats dance at Independence Square. Another group of boys visited the Nima market, bought ingredients for fufu, and later prepared the traditional dish themselves. The humour segment was tested beforehand in Grade 5 – with great success.
Throughout the project, the class showed strong teamwork and gathered valuable experience. They learned how demanding filming and editing can be and how essential patience, collaboration, and mutual support are. Many discovered new strengths – whether in presenting, speaking on camera, researching, filming, organising, or editing.
Now we are keeping our fingers crossed that our submission will win in the competition.
Project Time in the Secondary School
Whether crafting, baking, experimenting, making music, or performing – the Christmas season at GISA is lively, creative, and full of enthusiasm. The many projects show how much joy students take in working together and how much the school is looking forward to a warm and festive Advent season.
Speed Reporters – Project Interviews
Interview – Project: DIY
Reporters: Hannes K. and Kwadwo O., 25/11/2025
Q: Do you actually like your project?
A: I like my project because it’s fun.
Q: How many bottles are you using for the Christmas tree?
A: Definitely more than one.
Q: What will you do at the Christmas Market?
A: We will present our plastic bottle tree… and there will be a surprise!
Q: Which other project would you choose?
A: We would stay right here.
Q: Do you like the result of your project?
A: Yes! Very much!
Upcycling Project – Christmas Tree from Plastic Bottles
What began as a simple sustainability idea has grown into a true celebration of creativity at GISA. This year’s Christmas project revolves around upcycling, teamwork, and practical craftsmanship – and the result is impressive.
Over the past weeks, students transformed countless plastic bottles into a spectacular Christmas tree. From collecting and sorting to drilling, wiring, assembling, and finally spraying the bottles in bright colours – every step was full of joy and strengthened team spirit.
Alongside this, a second creative team built small plastic Christmas trees and festive decorations made from bamboo sticks. Here too, sustainability, skill, and imagination were at the centre.
The entire project shows how something beautiful and meaningful can emerge from materials that might otherwise be thrown away – a strong message for environmental awareness and responsible action.
Interview – Project: Painting
Reporters: Papa Oti and Rafael, 25/11/2025
Q: What are you painting?
A: Christmas-themed pictures.
Q: What materials are you using?
A: Canvas, markers, different paints, and brushes.
Q: What tasks do the children have?
A: They paint their own Christmas pictures.
Q: Will you sell the pictures?
A: Yes, we will.
Q: What surface are you working on?
A: We work on canvas.
Christmas Joy through Painting
In this project, students transformed blank canvases into colourful Christmas artworks. With creativity and teamwork, they created festive pieces that now bring holiday spirit to our campus.
Interview – Project: Baking
Reporters: Wil and Yaw, 25/11/2025
Q: Did the project work well?
A: Yes, very well. We would give it 9 out of 10.
Q: What was your goal – and did you achieve it?
A: Our goal was to create a recipe book. And yes, we achieved it.
Q: Would you choose this project again?
A: Yes, because baking is fun – and you get something tasty in the end.
Q: Did you enjoy the project?
A: Yes, because it’s like working and playing at the same time.
Q: What did you make?
A: We baked Mailänderli, butter biscuits, jam thumbprints, marble cookies, cinnamon stars, cashew chocolate cookies, and chocolate chip cookies.
Workshop – Woodworking
Reporter: Arcani – 25/11/2025
Nine students from the woodworking project visited the military’s woodworking workshop. Due to heavy traffic, the bus ride took longer than expected, giving us slightly less time on site.
Andre Maaß guided us through the workshop, explained different types of wood and growth rings, and demonstrated various tools such as planes, chisels, and wood glue, as well as machines including the circular saw, jigsaw, planer, and jointer.
We learned how to saw safely, keep a stable stance, and fix the wood with clamps. Three students even had the chance to cut a round shape with the hand jigsaw. We learned many new things.
A big thank-you goes to Andre Maaß for showing us the workshop and to Ms. Fredrich and Jonas for organising the excursion.
Dates & Outlook
⚽ Saturday, 29 November 2025 – 10:00 a.m.
Grow with Football – U13 Match at Ridge School Church
Meeting time: 10:00 a.m.
1 match, 2 × 20 minutes
Expected finish: 11:45 / 12:00
🚴 Saturday, 29 November 2025 – 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Peace Bike Tour – Visit from Dieter Sehburger & Christoph Roller (Swiss Club)
Meet the cyclists on their journey from Europe to Madagascar and share your “30 seconds for peace.”
🎄 Saturday, 29 November 2025 – 3:00–7:00 p.m.
GISA Christmas Market
⛪ Sunday, 30 November 2025 – 10:30 a.m.
German-Language Advent Service at Ridge Church
Followed by a small Advent buffet and conversations with the guests from the Peace Bike Tour.
🧑🏫 Wednesday, 3 December 2025
Online Exchange – Grades 7/8 with the University of Potsdam
Theme: “Music as a Language”
🎅 Thursday, 4 December 2025
Visit from Saint Nicholas
🌾 Friday, 5 December 2025 – Farmer’s Day
Public Holiday – No School
Ghana’s national day celebrating farmers and agricultural workers.
🎓 Tuesday, 16 December 2025
Last School Day before the Christmas Holidays
🏕 Wednesday–Friday, 17–19 December 2025
GISA Winter Camp
Creative activities and a visit from the Grinch.
🎁 Wednesday, 17 December 2025 – Wednesday, 7 January 2026
Christmas Holidays
🏫 Thursday, 8 January 2026
First School Day after the Christmas Holidays
Winter Camp
Grow with football
Teen Club
German classes for beginners
