Newsletter 08.05.2026

King’s Day at the German International School Accra

On 25 April 2026, the German International School Accra once again celebrated King’s Day together with the Dutch community. Families, students, and guests enjoyed a lively afternoon filled with intercultural exchange, community spirit, and joyful activities. Highlights included the children’s flea market, interactive games and activities across campus, and an impressive cultural performance by the Universal Wonderful Street Academy (UWSA). Special thanks go to all organisers, parents, and helpers who contributed to this successful celebration.

Anti-Bullying Week at GISA

From 27 to 30 April, the DaF Intensive Class organised a successful Anti-Bullying Week focused on promoting respect, kindness, and mutual support within the school community. Colourful student-created posters, kindness awards recognising positive behaviour, and a joyful music-and-dance break activity created a strong sense of togetherness throughout the week.

Leadership Retreat for School Development

At the beginning of May, part of the extended leadership team took part in a retreat dedicated to strategic school development and planning for the 2026/27 academic year. Key topics included language-sensitive teaching, additional support opportunities for students, teaching quality, and the continued development of the secondary section.

Farewell to Katharina Kaufmann

The German International School Accra said goodbye with great appreciation to Deputy Administrative Manager Katharina Kaufmann, who is returning to Germany with her family after five dedicated years at GISA. Through her commitment, professionalism, and creativity, she contributed significantly to many areas of school life, including marketing, events, onboarding, campus development, and family communication. Her warm and emotional farewell reflected the deep appreciation of the entire school community.

Workshop “Balancing Teaching and Wellbeing”

The teaching staff participated in a practical workshop on stress regulation, resilience, and mental wellbeing in everyday school life, organised together with “Art of Living Ghana” and “Mind Matters.” The combination of scientific input, personal reflection, breathing techniques, and meditation exercises was particularly well received by participants.

Welcome to the Team

A warm welcome to the German International School Accra: Isaac Yaw Adzraku has joined our team this week and will take over responsibilities in IT administration. With his support, we aim to further strengthen the school’s digital infrastructure and expand technical support in everyday school life. We are very happy to have Isaac on board and wish him a successful start and a smooth transition into our school community.

GISA Teen Club – Laser Shooting at Cypher Zone

The GISA Teen Club invites students to an exciting and action-packed afternoon at Cypher Zone X in Spintex on Saturday, 9 May. From 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, participants can look forward to laser tag battles, games, and lots of fun with friends. Meeting point is at the Spintex-side entrance near Palace Superstores. We are looking forward to an energetic afternoon full of teamwork and great atmosphere.

Cambridge Checkpoint Exams

Next week, some of our students will begin their Cambridge Checkpoint Exams. The exams will start with Mathematics on Monday, 11 May, followed by English on Wednesday, 13 May, and Science on Wednesday, 20 May. Over the past weeks, students have prepared intensively through revision sessions, practice exercises, and working with past papers. The teaching team feels very positive and sees the learners as confident and well prepared for the exams. We wish all participants the very best of success and thank parents for their support and encouragement during this important period.

Meet the Board

On Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 6:00 PM, the Board of the German International School Accra warmly invites parents to an open discussion in the school’s main hall. Due to organisational changes, the originally planned General Meeting will take place in a different format this year. The Board would like to use the opportunity to share updates on various topics and looks forward to open exchange and feedback from the parent community. Please note that no childcare will be provided during the event.

Kids’ Sponsor Run at the German International School Accra

On Friday, 15 May 2026, the German International School Accra, in cooperation with Chance for Children, will host the “Kids’ Sponsor Run” in support of street-connected children. The event aims to help children return to school while also promoting solidarity, physical activity, and social responsibility.

The programme begins at 8:00 AM and will include warm-up exercises, sports activities, the sponsor run itself, and a small award ceremony. We are looking forward to an active and meaningful morning with our students, combining movement, teamwork, and social engagement.

GISA at APEX 2026

The German International School Accra will participate as an exhibitor at the APEX 2026 education fair on 16 May at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. The fair offers families and visitors a valuable opportunity to explore different educational programmes, schools, and institutions.

We are very pleased to present the German International School Accra at this important event and would like to thank all volunteers who will support us at the booth. Visitors are kindly asked to register online in advance. We look forward to many inspiring conversations and encounters.

🎶 Music Evening “Not Only Classical”

On Tuesday, 20 May 2026 at 6:00 PM, the German International School Accra warmly invites guests to a special music evening under the motto “Not Only Classical.” The audience can look forward to a diverse musical programme ranging from classical composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms to modern artists like Billie Eilish and Alex Warren.

Students, teachers, and special guests will showcase their musical talents and create an evening full of creativity, variety, and joy in music. Admission is free, and we look forward to welcoming many guests.

Anigyeɛ – The School Musical

On 4 and 5 June 2026, the German International School Accra will present this year’s school musical, “Anigyeɛ.” Visitors can expect an inspiring evening filled with music, creativity, energy, and impressive performances by our talented students.

The performances will begin at 6:00 PM on both evenings on the school campus. Tickets cost 50 Cedi, while children under 12 enter free of charge. We are very excited to share this special community project with our families and guests.

New DaF Summer Programme at the German International School Accra

For the first time, the German International School Accra will offer its own German as a Foreign Language (DaF) Summer Programme during the summer holidays. The programme is designed for all DaF learners at the school and combines language learning with creative and interactive activities.

From 6 to 24 July 2026, students will take part in an exciting programme under the theme “A Journey Around the World,” aimed at strengthening speaking and communication skills in German. Through projects, games, creative tasks, and age-appropriate vocabulary and grammar activities, students will experience German in a motivating and practical way.

The programme focuses on joyful learning, shared discovery, and providing students with additional opportunities to further develop their German skills beyond the regular classroom setting. The German International School Accra is very much looking forward to launching this new holiday programme together with the students.

😴 Nurse’s Letter – Focus on Sleep Hygiene

Sufficient sleep is an essential foundation for health, concentration, wellbeing, and successful learning. In her latest “Nurse’s Letter,” our school nurse Nancy Twieku highlights the importance of healthy sleep habits for children and young people and shares practical tips for everyday family life.

The informative parent letter addresses topics such as consistent bedtimes, the use of digital devices before sleep, and age-appropriate sleep requirements for children. Many thanks to Nancy for these valuable insights and for her continuous commitment to health education at the German International School Accra.

German Evangelical Church in Accra – Services in German language

The German Evangelical Church in Accra warmly invites the community to its upcoming German-language church services before the summer holidays.

Sunday, 10 May 2026  10:30 AM  Service at Ridge Church
Sunday, 14 June 2026  10:30 AM  Service at Ridge Church

Where? At Ridge Church on the 1st floor of the main building (barrier-free access). The church grounds are located directly next to the Kempinski Hotel.

We are looking forward to welcoming many familiar and new faces. All denominations are warmly welcome, and no prior registration is required.

For enquiries please contact:
Doris Bloniarz (Parish Board) – 0544 336 181 (WhatsApp)

Nursery and Kindergarten

Over the past few weeks, there has been lots to celebrate, discover, and enjoy together in the nursery. Alongside cheerful birthday celebrations with songs, movement games, and small treats, community, language development, and motor skills were at the centre of everyday activities. As part of the topic “My Body,” the children explored and learned about their bodies in a playful way while strengthening their perception through finger plays and movement activities. One child was also lovingly farewelled from the nursery as they moved on to kindergarten. In addition, the children created beautiful Mother’s Day gifts, expressing both creativity and appreciation through their artwork.

This week in kindergarten was once again full of wonderful experiences, creativity, and shared moments 😊💛
We were happy to warmly welcome a new child to our group 🥰. During circle time, the children explored different professions and learned about their roles and responsibilities 👩‍🚒👩‍⚕️👨‍🍳.

With lots of imagination and joy, the children also completed our colourful papier-mâché project 🎨✨, creating many wonderful little works of art. A particularly musical highlight was our sound story about rain 🌧️🎶. The children enthusiastically experimented with instruments and even turned everyday objects into little sound-makers 🥁😊

One of our preschool children was also celebrated and farewelled this week during a joyful ceremony 🎓💛. Of course, the children also worked very hard and with lots of love on beautiful Mother’s Day gifts 💐💝.

Despite the changing weather, we spent plenty of time outdoors 🌳☀️ — and naturally there was also lots of fun, laughter, and a little silliness along the way 🤪💚

We wish all families a wonderful weekend 🌸😊

Primary School

Grade 1/2

In German lessons, the students in Grade 1/2 learned what an acrostic poem is. Although the word sounded difficult at first, the children quickly understood how to use the first letters of a word to create their own short poems or matching sentences.

In Mathematics, the children learned about the Euro and practised calculating with money amounts. They added and subtracted values and also worked on word problems. A particular focus was placed on the structure: question – calculation – answer.

In Music, we explored different sounds using our new Ghanaian xylophones. Together with the European xylophones, the children created rhythms, practised them in groups, and later presented their work to the class.

The Mathematics support programme continues to give the children the opportunity to revisit classroom content in a playful way. They support one another, explain different solution strategies, and deepen their mathematical understanding together. In the Reading and Writing support programme, the children once again practised speed reading and “silent dictation.” Depending on their individual needs, they were able to improve either their reading fluency or their spelling skills.

Grade 3/4

In Mathematics, Grades 3 and 4 continued working intensively on the topic of time this week. The learners converted different units of time and calculated time intervals.

Grade 3 also further practised written subtraction. A special highlight was the maths walk in and around the classroom, where the children solved tasks while moving around and searching for the correct answers with great motivation and enthusiasm.

In Grade 4, the learners practised written multiplication step by step. Calculation methods were repeated and reinforced so that the children became increasingly confident and faster in solving problems.

In German lessons, the children continued working on their reading portfolios and engaged intensively with their books. They also practised distinguishing between words using “ck” and “k.” Another focus was learning about sentence elements and rearranging them, helping the children further strengthen their language awareness and sentence structure skills.

In English, the focus was on reading and exploring different forms of written communication. Learners studied the layout of a letter and began writing formal complaint letters of their choice. Lessons combined spoken and written activities, as the children discussed their ideas and later presented their letters.

In Science, Grades 3 and 4 explored the fascinating world of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. The learners studied the structure of these celestial bodies, learned about the distances between them, and discovered how they orbit one another. To deepen their understanding, the class also watched a short documentary about astronauts who travelled to the Moon and learned more about their missions and experiences in space.

As part of the lessons, the pupils created posters showing models of the Earth and the Moon, including the distance between them. These engaging activities sparked great excitement and curiosity among the children. Many of them developed a strong interest in space exploration and now dream of becoming astronauts and travelling into space themselves one day.

In addition, the children took part in the VERA comparative assessments in German and Mathematics.

DaF Intensive Class

This week, the DaF Intensive Class reached Lesson 8. The current focus is on formal and informal ways of telling the time as well as daily routines. The motivated learners from both primary and secondary levels worked in pairs using practice clocks and gradually familiarised themselves with German expressions of time.

In Grammar, the learners began working with separable verbs, a topic they will continue exploring intensively over the coming weeks.

As part of their team-building activities, the DaF Intensive Class organised an Anti-Bullying and Kindness Week last week. In groups, the learners visited different classes and actively promoted kindness, respect, and positive interaction throughout the school community. Midweek, they organised the Kindness Awards ceremony, during which the two most helpful students from each class were chosen and honoured by their peers. The week concluded with a colourful “Crazy Dress-Up Party Break” on Thursday under the theme of tolerance and acceptance — a true celebration of colour and diversity.

This week, no team-building activities took place. Instead, the learners prepared for the upcoming Mother’s Day celebration by creating Mother’s Day cards in German.

Throughout the week, the DaF Intensive Group also completed their first assessment covering all four language skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. This served as an initial preparation for the final tests that will take place later during the DaF Intensive Course.

Secondary School

Grade 5

In German lessons, we began reading the novel “35 Kilo Hoffnung” by Anna Gavalda. Alongside the reading, the students are working on individual reading journals. Each child reads at their own pace and completes different activities related to the chapters. These tasks range from creative writing assignments to artistic and design-based activities, ensuring that every learner can engage in a way that suits them best.

In English, the students presented their “cartoon strip stories” based on the texts they had read. This provided a valuable opportunity for peer evaluation and feedback. The learners also continued practising how to answer reading comprehension questions in complete sentences. A vocabulary game focusing on key words and new expressions made the reading activities especially engaging and enjoyable.

Next week, the focus will shift towards developing creativity through writing myths and legends.

In Geography, Grades 5 and 6 travelled virtually across Germany and explored the landmarks and attractions of the different federal states. In addition, the Grade 6 students examined common stereotypes about neighbouring countries and creatively presented their findings using informative shoebox projects.

Grade 6

In German lessons, we continued working intensively on objects and their descriptions throughout this and the previous week. After taking a detailed look at bicycles and their many individual parts, the students revised their own object descriptions during a writing conference and gave each other constructive feedback on their texts.

Using illustrations and the description of a smartphone, the learners repeated and further practised the process of writing clear and structured object descriptions. Particular attention was paid to writing precisely, understandably, and logically.

In English lessons, the focus this week was on intensive revision for the upcoming Checkpoint examinations. The students identified individual areas for improvement and familiarised themselves with tasks from previous exams. Another group of learners worked intensively on reading comprehension and practised answering questions in complete sentences.

Rules, as well as their importance and implementation in everyday school life, were once again at the centre of Ethics lessons. Together, the students reflected on the GISA card system, shared their opinions and ideas, and discussed them as a class.

Creativity also continued in Art lessons: the snakes are still winding their way across the students’ drawings — becoming more numerous and creating increasingly amusing patterns and confusion. The first completed snake artworks are already impressive little masterpieces, and we are looking forward to presenting them to the GISA community soon.

Grade 7/8

In English lessons, Grades 7 and 8 enjoyed an exciting week of project presentations. The aim was to explore and discuss different types of schools, apply persuasive writing techniques, and deliver persuasive speeches. Working in teams of four, the students designed and presented creative ideas for a new school. After presenting to their classmates, the two best teams will now present their concepts to invited guests and demonstrate their persuasive speaking skills.

In Biology, the students explored the topic of diseases and health in depth. Presentations covered illnesses such as COVID-19 and malaria, as well as important hygiene measures and behaviours to prevent infections. The learners also explored how healthcare and medical treatment have changed over time. Another focus was the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic. As a current example, the Hantavirus was also discussed and analysed together.

In Mathematics, collaborative learning between Grades 7 and 8 was at the centre of the lessons. The Grade 7 students presented the topics percentage value, base value, and percentage rate to the Grade 8 students as a revision and consolidation activity. Through cooperation between the two year groups, concepts could be revised, explained, and deepened together. Building on this, the Grade 8 students worked on increased and decreased base values and were introduced to interest calculations, including the concepts of interest, capital, and interest rate.

In Social Studies, the students took part in several short discussions about current topics related to media. They exchanged opinions, reflected on the influence of media on everyday life, and practised expressing and defending arguments in a factual and respectful way.

History lessons became truly revolutionary as the students worked in groups on different revolutions throughout human history. Their goal is to create a wall newspaper showing recurring characteristics of revolutions using examples such as the French Revolution, the American War of Independence, Hitler’s rise to power, Ghana’s independence, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

In Geography, the topic of tourism was completed. The students were tasked with choosing the ideal location for a hotel in South Asia. In doing so, they had to consider and balance various criteria while also strengthening their map-reading skills. Using the method “Where is what?”, the learners discussed and justified their decisions with well-founded arguments.

In German lessons, Grades 7 and 8 focused intensively on summarising and analysing non-fiction texts. Different reading strategies were practised to help students better understand texts and identify key information. From analysing text structures and organisation to writing their own summaries, the learners gradually expanded their skills step by step. Topics covered ranged from volcanoes and volcanic eruptions to the question of what happiness actually means.

In the joint DaM and DaF lessons, the students also began working on class novels. Grade 7 has started reading “Holes,” while Grade 8 is working with the novel “Tschick.” Together, the learners explored first impressions, read the opening chapters, and completed initial written assignments. Everyone is now excited to see how these very different stories will continue to develop.

DaF 5–8

Over the past few weeks, our DaF students have been working intensively on Germany, different German cities, and the grammatical topics of comparatives and superlatives. With great creativity, the learners are currently designing thematic lapbooks containing information, pictures, and short texts about Germany. The finished projects will later be displayed within the school community.

Dates & Outlook

🗣️ Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 6:00 PM
Meet the Board
Open discussion on current topics at the German International School Accra in the school’s main hall. No childcare provided.

🏃‍♀️ Friday, 15 May 2026, from 8:00 AM
Kids’ Sponsor Run at the German International School Accra
Together with Chance for Children, our students will promote solidarity and social engagement while supporting street-connected children.

🎓 Saturday, 16 May 2026, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
APEX 2026 – Education Fair at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel
The German International School Accra will participate as an exhibitor and looks forward to many inspiring encounters and conversations.

🎶 Tuesday, 20 May 2026, 6:00 PM
“Not Only Classical” – Music Evening at the German International School Accra
A diverse musical evening featuring performances by students, teachers, and special guests.

🕌 Wednesday, 27 May 2026 (subject to confirmation)
Eid al-Adha – No school 🏫❌

🎭 Thursday & Friday, 4–5 June 2026, 6:00 PM each evening
Anigyeɛ – The School Musical
The German International School Accra becomes a stage for music, creativity, and inspiring performances.

⛪ Sunday, 14 June 2026, 10:30 AM
German-language Church Service at Ridge Church
All denominations are warmly welcome.

🌞 Friday, 26 June 2026
Last Day of School before the Summer Holidays 🏫🎉

🌞 Monday, 29 June – Friday, 3 July 2026
Summer Camp & Holiday Care 🎒🏕️

🇩🇪 Monday, 6 July – Friday, 24 July 2026
DaF Summer Programme at the German International School Accra
Playful German learning under the theme “A Journey Around the World”.