Newsletter 16.05.2026

A Week Full of Engagement and Encounters

This week once again highlighted the vibrant spirit, commitment, and strong sense of community at the German International School Accra. Whether at a major education fair, during an inspiring charity run for street children in Ghana, or through internationally recognised examinations, our students, families, and staff demonstrated the many ways learning and community life come together at GISA.

GISA at the APEX Education Fair

Today, the German International School Accra presented its educational programme at the APEX Education Fair at the La Palm Beach Hotel. Numerous families took the opportunity to learn more about bilingual education, international learning pathways, and GISA’s unique profile as a school of intercultural encounter. 🌍🇩🇪📚

81,000 GHS Raised for Chance for Children

During yesterday’s charity run in support of the NGO Chance for Children, the German International School Accra raised an impressive 81,000 GHS (approximately 6,100 EUR). This amount will enable around 80 street children in Ghana to attend school.

Following an energetic warm-up session led by Bernard Mensah and Pippa Gym, kindergarten children, students, and parents enthusiastically completed lap after lap for a good cause. A particularly special highlight was the participation of a delegation from the Ghanaian Army, alongside the support shown through the bright yellow jerseys provided by the German Embassy Accra.

Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who contributed and supported this wonderful initiative — especially Sara Debackere for the dedicated overall organisation of this special day.

Cambridge Checkpoint Exams

Some students of the German International School Accra sat for the Cambridge Checkpoint Exams in Mathematics and English this week. These internationally recognised assessments complement the school’s strong focus on the Thuringian curriculum while supporting compatibility with both the Ghanaian and international education systems.

We wish all participating students continued success for the remaining exam next week!

Nursery and Kindergarten

This week, all developmental meetings in the nursery were successfully completed. A heartfelt thank you to all parents for taking the time and for the appreciative and constructive conversations.

The nursery also started its new topic, “Water.” Through various sensory activities — including water boxes with pom-poms and sponges — the children were able to gain their first sensory experiences with water. The focus was especially on developing perception, fine motor skills, and independent exploration.

We also had a wonderful and exciting week in kindergarten! 🥰
As part of our topic “Professions,” the children welcomed visits from mums and dads and learned a lot about different jobs and working environments. 👩‍🏫👨‍🍳👩‍⚕️

There was also plenty of discovering, experimenting, and creativity throughout the week:
✨ Experiments with colours and shaving foam
❄️ Painting with Magic Ice
🥁 Making music and trying out instruments
🌿 Lots of playtime and outdoor activities

Today, we also took part in the Sponsor Run in support of Chance for Children. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️💚
We are very proud of all the children and their fantastic effort! 🎉

Primary School

Class 1/2

It was another wonderful week in Class 1/2, and it seemed to pass by very quickly. In English lessons, the children got to know the story The Enormous Turnip. After listening to the story together, they used picture cards to put the events into the correct order and then retold the story together in their own words. Through these activities, the children practised careful listening, understanding sequences of events, retelling stories, and speaking more freely and confidently. Parents are warmly encouraged to ask their child to retell the story again at home.

In Mathematics, Class 1 continued working on the topic of money. The children added amounts in cents and created money amounts according to given instructions. Class 2 focused on division. By sharing and distributing objects equally, the children developed an initial understanding of what division means in mathematics. In addition, the students were able to further strengthen their understanding of all topics through activities on the Anton app.

In Ethics, the children explored which rules are important in different situations and which rules should apply to everyone. It became clear that the children already have a very strong sense of what makes interactions fair and respectful. In small groups, they are now designing posters for different areas of school life, including the playground, classrooms, toilets and changing rooms, as well as the Tessano Club. Through this, the children learn not only to follow rules, but also to understand, explain, and take shared responsibility for their environment.

Class 3/4

In Mathematics, Class 3/4 worked on calculating time intervals. The Class 4 students also continued improving their written multiplication skills and worked increasingly independently and confidently. Class 3 successfully completed the topic of written subtraction. The varied and engaging tasks were especially motivating and were completed with great enthusiasm.

In German lessons, sentence structures and sentence elements were the main focus this week. Working individually and in pairs, the children identified different sentence elements and rearranged them to create new and interesting sentences. In this playful way, they deepened their understanding of sentence structure and language. The students also worked on distinguishing between words containing “tz” and “z,” reading carefully, sorting words, and practising their spelling skills. Of course, the children also continued working enthusiastically on their reading projects.

In English, students continued sharpening their reading comprehension skills and practised answering questions in full sentences. These activities helped learners understand texts more effectively, identify key information, and express their ideas clearly and confidently in writing.

Intensive DaF Class

This week, the Intensive DaF Class completed Lesson 8. The topics continued to focus on formal and informal ways of telling time, daily routines, and, this week, expressions of frequency. The highly motivated learners from both the primary and secondary levels developed their understanding of German time expressions through group activities, whole-class discussions, learning clocks, games, and worksheets.

In grammar lessons, the learners continued working on separable verbs and also learned how to use their first verbs in the simple past tense.

As part of team-building activities, the group reflected on the Anti-Bullying Week as well as on teamwork and cooperation within the class. Students critically reflected on their own roles and discussed possible ways to improve collaboration.

During the week, the Intensive DaF Group also completed a learning assessment covering the topics and grammar from the past two weeks.

Secondary School

Class 5

In German lessons, we continued working intensively on our class reader. Together, we read further chapters and completed a variety of tasks related to the story. We also discussed selected quotations from the book and exchanged different thoughts and perspectives. One particularly interesting discussion focused on the quote: “It is easier to be unhappy than happy.”

In English, learners continued their work on myths and legends. The students selected their own story ideas and began writing with the help of a checklist outlining the key elements their stories should include. Next week, the stories will be presented aloud and reviewed by classmates through peer feedback.

In Mathematics, the students worked on calculating area and completed various exercises on the topic. In Geography, Classes 5 and 6 explored Germany’s neighbouring countries and presented their findings creatively.

Class 6

In German lessons, we continued reading our class readers intensively and completed a range of engaging tasks related to the stories. Building on last week’s work on object descriptions, the focus this week shifted to process writing. Using the example of making pancakes, the students analysed recipes, discussed individual steps, and collected the necessary materials and ingredients. We are now looking forward to trying the process practically in the near future.

In Mathematics, the focus was on multiplying decimal numbers, both mentally and in written form. The students learned different calculation strategies and particularly practised placing the decimal point correctly in their answers. Through regular exercises, they are becoming increasingly confident in working with decimals.

In English lessons, some students sat for the Cambridge Checkpoint examinations, while others worked on biographies of famous personalities of their choice. They researched important information and practised presenting it clearly and understandably. The presentations will take place next week, and we are already looking forward to hearing about the many different personalities selected by the students.

Class 7/8

In German lessons, Classes 7/8 continued working intensively with non-fiction texts this week. The main focus was on reading strategies, writing summaries, and carrying out detailed text analyses. Step by step, the students practised identifying key information, improving their understanding of texts, and presenting their findings in a clear and structured way.

A particular emphasis was also placed on reading comprehension and spelling. Through a variety of exercises, the learners were able to strengthen their confidence in working with more complex texts and further develop precise and effective written expression.

During the joint DaM and DaF lessons, the students also continued working on their class readers. Together, they read, discussed, and reflected on the content of the books. At the same time, they worked on their reading journals, where they recorded thoughts, impressions, and creative tasks. The activities ranged from simple structured exercises to more open and creative writing tasks that allowed plenty of room for individual ideas.

The calm reading phases throughout the lessons were especially enjoyable. The students were able to withdraw, read quietly and attentively, and immerse themselves deeply in their stories. In this way, reading became not only a classroom activity but also a personal experience.

In English lessons, the students created a booklet about a public figure who has made a difference or brought about change. They explored how authors use language to create a particular effect while also practising research skills, organising information, and presenting it in an engaging way. In addition, the students explained why their chosen person is significant, with the added challenge of selecting someone who is not widely known.

In Physical Education, we trained running skills through different games and running drills. The students also worked on human pyramids, discussing important safety instructions and assessment criteria while focusing strongly on teamwork and mutual support. In small groups, they created choreographies featuring at least four pyramids combined with music, showing great energy and commitment.

In Biology, the focus was on pandemics, epidemics, and allergies. The students discussed how allergies develop and explored the different forms they can take.

In Mathematics, Class 7 continued practising percentage calculations, while Class 8 focused on interest calculations and daily interest rates.

DaF Classes 5–8

This week, the DaF students continued working on the topic “Germany.” The focus was on German car brands and the question of which brands are especially popular in Germany. At the same time, learners actively applied their knowledge of comparatives and superlatives. In the language game “Hot Potato,” students practised forming comparative and superlative structures in a playful and fast-paced way.

The students also continued working intensively on their lapbooks. Since some tasks initially proved to be quite challenging, instructions were clarified further and tasks were distributed more specifically. In addition, the learners practised using digital tools to adapt more demanding texts independently to their own language level. This allowed them to research topics from new perspectives and creatively prepare content for their lapbooks.

Next week, all DaF students will complete a learning assessment, while the lapbook projects move into their final phase.

Dates & Upcoming Events

🎶 Wednesday, 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 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 will become a stage for music, creativity, and impressive performances.

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

🎉 Thursday, 25 June 2026
End-of-Year Celebration at the German International School Accra

📄 Friday, 26 June 2026
Last Day of School & Report Card Distribution 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 language learning under the theme “A Journey Around the World.”