2008-2009
ISR Summer Concerts create appreciation
It is school events like these where one can sit back, get away from the academics and appreciate the other talents that shine through the ISR student body. During a two-day outdoor event, students from KG to Grade 11 performed delightfully in a program that included songs from musicals, orchestral pieces, solo instrumentalists, folk music and dance, pop, modern dance and ballet.
A special thank you goes to ISR Head of Music Dr. Paula Swartz and Music Teacher Dani Semar, for organizing the event and preparing students and staff for such beautiful performances. Further thanks go to staff and teachers for their assistance, PN representatives who with their bake sales not only provide refreshments, but also continue to support our school in so many projects, Mr. Theyßen, ISR Hausmeister and Mr. Koßmann who assisted with stage, lighting and seating arrangements and SLOTM Prefects Sven K., Brian K., Doga B., and Christiane W. for their great job as Masters of Ceremony.
Gaining more football experience
On Tuesday, May 26, the ISR Under 14 Soccer Team took on Büderich SV. In a hard fought game with notable performances from Tony L., Werner N., and Matthias F., ISR lost 2 to 1 to a very good Büderich. It was a great experience, and we hope the boys will learn a lot by playing teams of this standard.
It was fantastic to see the Under 14 girls play with so much spirit in their first friendly against Weissenberg. Although losing 8:0, the outcome has had a positive effect: the girls are even more determined to train hard and win matches. A good foundation has been laid for a new start next season! A big thank you to all parents who came and supported the team.
Combining creativity, fun and Social Studies!
Grades 3 and 4 have been dilligently learning about the Aztec Empire and Egyptologists respectively. In order to make it more interesting, Primary teachers built an art project around their studies.
Family Fun Day was a Sunshining Success!
This year’s Family Fun Day had
lots of fun for everyone: climbing, a bouncy castle, remote helicopter flying (with some landing on the roof from the wind!), three-legged races, a
costume relay, a cake walk, face painting, a balloon toss, a bug race, and much, much more.
ISR’s Parent Network kindly sponsored a yummy BBQ and cake table. And, students of Head of Music Dr. Paula Swartz provided musical entertainment throughout the festival, thus making everyone
look forward to the Summer Concerts on 03 and 04 June.
Family Fun Day is also ISR’s Term 3 Charity
Fundraiser for ISR's pet charity ‘Kenya Project’. On behalf of Kenya Project's
Vingujini Primary School, ISR had a sponsored Fun Run/Walk, a Soccer Tournament for Grades 1 through 11, and a prize raffle. ISR wishes to
thank the following sponsors for donating the raffle prizes: Wellneuss,
Naturbühne Blauer See Ratingen,
Legoland Duisburg, and Herr Bogus at
Gothaer. And if that wasn't enough for Kenya,
Mr. Neas and Mr. Makowy were at it again. Instead of "Save It or Shave It" [a beard] last year,
this year it was "Cut Hair for Kenya."The two beloved teachers braided their long locks into several braids all over their heads and charged
anyone 10€ to cut them as close to the scalp as possible. Over 350€ were raised!
Denise is the best in Mathematics in all of Germany!
In June 2008, ISR Secondary students took their first external exams: the International General Certificates of Secondary Education (IGCSEs). IGCSE was developed by the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and can be taken in different subjects by students between the ages of 14 and 16. The results were released the week of 11 August 2008.
From the 10 tests taken, all received a passing grade of C ("befriedigend") or higher, with 50% receiving a perfect score of A+ ("sehr gut+"). In Mathematics, there was no score lower than A ("sehr gut") with 75% scoring A+ ("sehr gut+")
But, it was now-Grade 11 student Denise C. who received a Brilliance in Germany award from the University of Cambridge because she "gained the highest mark in Germany in the June 2008 Cambridge IGCSE examinations for Mathematics (without coursework)," wrote Ann Puntis, Chief Executive, University of Cambridge International Examinations in mid-April 2009.
A hearty congratulations to not only Denise but also Mr. Ayre, ISR Head of Math. Your hard work really paid off!
Grade 3 Gives Birth in Science Project
Reporting from Grade 3 is Hannah: We are doing a chicken project. We placed the eggs into a machine called an incubator. They needed 19 days to hatch. The chicks are so cute! I wish I could take them home. They cheep and chirp. I am happy to have them. I learned very much because of the project. I thank Ms. Glavic (The Chicken Lady) and all the teachers that we could do this project,
And, from Joyline: If baby chicks hatch out of the egg, you can feed them a mixture of minced boiled eggs and soaked bulgur wheat, You must also place a lid of a jar containing water for them.
Economics class takes a timely class trip to Opel in Bochum
Ms. Bilgin and her grade 10 and 11 students visited the Opel factory in Bochum on Tuesday, April 28. Following their visit, students will take time to reflect and share their thoughts on the impact of the world's economic situation.
ISR Open Meeting with Mr. Bistany on Thursday, April 23rd
At the 2009 Open Meeting, Mr. Carl Bistany gave parents some food for thought about what the job world will look like for current ISR Primary School students in 2025 and how important it is to "build a solid foundation of the basics" no matter what kind of technology is developed. Mr. Bistany also highlighted the major challenges facing educators as we prepare our students for an unknown future and emphasized how the "SABIS® Educational System provides a high-quality education for any century."
School Director Eileen Lyons was pleased to give parents an overview of the School Report Card 2008-09 and the leaving certificates offered at ISR. Saina K., SLO™ Head Prefect and Rico F., Deputy Head Prefect presented 'SLO™ Developments and the Future.'
The results of the 2009 SABIS® Survey, which were presented by Ms. Terhune, Head of Marketing & Admissions were posted to WebParent for parents to review at their leisure.
Thank you to those ISR parents who submitted their questions and completed their surveys to be addressed by ISR administration. Thanks also goes to Mr. Theyssen and Mr. Erlenwein who helped prepare the venue.
Grade 8-11 Students Educated on NATO During Visit from Dr. Karen Donfried
ISR was thrilled to welcome Dr. Karen Donfried, Executive Vice President of the German Marshall Fund, on Wednesday, April 01 along with Eveline Metzen, Executive Director of Amerika Haus e.V NRW. Dr. Karen Donfried visited ISR for an Information Session on NATO and related topics. The Question and Answer Session lasted for 1:30 hours, during which time students of Gr.8-11 posed questions on NATO, US and International Relations, and the G20 Summit. The students were so engaged that the session could have easily gone on for another 1:30 hours.
Directly after Dr. Donfried’s visit, the students were so excited that they went immediately to their Economics and History teacher, Ms. Bilgin, to continue with the discussion. This was a very interesting experience for ISR students and teachers, and ISR is grateful to Dr. Karen Donfried for sharing her knowledge with the ISR community, especially for squeezing her visit in between arriving from the US in the morning and then going on to an Amerika Haus event in the evening. A big thank you goes to Ms. Terhune in Marketing & Admissions and Eveline Metzen for arranging this wonderful opportunity.
Varsity Boys Basketball receives Sportsmanship trophy!
During the weekend of March 19-21, the varsity ISR boys basketball team had the privilege of traveling to the Bavarian International School in Munich for a 10-team tournament. Despite the fact that the ISR basketball team had a short training season, they played hard and showed huge improvements in their individual abilities as well as their ability to play as a team. We would like to congratulate the nine boys who joined the team for this tournament and commend their determination and hard work. The highlight of the trip was being awarded a trophy for Sportsmanship, an award that was voted on by each team and coach during the tournament. This award was truly earned by the boys who never gave up and showed a positive attitude through the entire tournament. Congratulations again to the ISR varsity basketball team. Hans N., Henry P., Christian S., Artem R., Pascal G., Philipp S., Luca S., Doga B., Mohammed M.
During the afternoon of Thursday, 19 March the members of the ISR U14 Boys Basketball team departed for Bonn International School in order to participate in the 2009 GISST Basketball Tournament. The ISR team was greeted by representatives of the school and participated in an opening ceremony that night. On Friday, the ISR boys played in 4 different games, playing sister school the International School of Frankfurt, International School of Hannover, Bavarian International School and the Berlin British International School.
The boys fought valiantly in each of these games and improved both their knowledge of their game as well as the way that they executed on the court from one game to the next. On Saturday, the ISR boys lost to Dresden International School 24-16 in a hard-fought game. Going into the 4th Quarter they were only down by two points and continued to play hard and not give up throughout the rest of the game. Unfortunately the team fell short on victories, yet greatly improved along the way and had a very fun time doing it. It was an excellent effort by the boys. Congratulations! Coach McMinn looks forward to seeing the growth of ISR's GISST program, and it is his hope that members of the ISR community continue to be increasingly involved in this worthwhile program. Congrats to Julien F., Constantin F., Milad D., Taha M., Frederic H., Dominik B., Sven F., Phil B.
ISR Students Recognized for Outstanding Achievements in Math
Over the course of the year, students of ISR have entered 2 external mathematical competitions. The following students should be recognized for outstanding achievements.
Rhein Kreis Neuss Mathematics Competition
The Rhein Kreis Neuss Mathematics Competition is locally run within the region. The competition has been operating since 1988, and is open to students in grades 4 through to 13. Students are challenged to think logically and mathematically to solve a number of problems in various ways.
This year approximately 200 students entered the first round, of which 68 students progressed into the 2nd round. Of these students who progressed into the 2nd round, Nils Z. proved successful and achieved 3rd place within Grade 8 students. Congratulations!
World Math Day Competition
The World Math Day Competition is an online mathematics competition where students test themselves in mental mathematics. The competition is run over a 48 hour period, where over 1 million students from 160 countries participated. Students had to achieve the highest possible score, by answering as many questions correctly within 60 seconds, and against other students of same age and ability, from around the world.
Mr. Ayre, ISR Head of Math, explained, "ISR had 55 students enter from Grades 3 through to 11. Of the students who entered the competition from ISR, two students stand out. Kira O. of Grade 3 achieved the highest number of correct answers of 57 within 60 seconds. Tim H. of Grade 5 achieved the highest score of 10692." Below is a list of the top students from each grade and their achievements:
| Grade | Student | High Score | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Kira O. | 57 | 1.737 |
| 4 | Moritz H. | 46 | 983 |
| 4 | Anna S. | 46 | 1.184 |
| 5 | Tim H. | 54 | 10.692 |
| 6 | Lea Dou Dou K. | 36 | 5.555 |
| 7 | Omkar S. | 32 | 1.307 |
| 8 | Nils Z. | 54 | 8.675 |
| 9 | Sven K. | 52 | 8.675 |
| 10 | Ina H. | 33 | 1.358 |
| 11 | Denise C. | 45 | 5.564 |
Well done not only to those with top scores but also to those with the courage to compete!
U.S. News & World Report honors Sister School, SABIS® International Charter School Springfield, Massachusetts
In March, ISR sister school SABIS® International Charter School located in Springfield, Massachusetts, was awarded a silver medal by U.S. News & World Report, a top magazine known for its rating of colleges and universities, for being one of the best high schools in the United States.
Charter schools are schools that receive public money and provide an alternative to public schools. They do not charge tuition and provide a better and more efficient general education than other public schools.
The SABIS® School Network provides such education in 8 charter schools across the United States. In the weekly 'Neighborhoods Plus' edition of the Springfield, Mass. newspaper The Republican, reported School Director Marietta Thomsen "said the distinction is a clear indication that the school graduates students who are well-prepared to meet future academic challenges. 'This reinforces how well our students are doing,' she said. 'Student test scores are high, and their academic performance in general has been very successful. As time goes by we continue to close in on the achievement gap for the population we serve.'"
To view the article in its entirety, it is posted here on SABIS® International Charter School's website. To view the SICS's results on the U.S. News & World Report website, click here.
ISR congratulates its sister school on its achievement. Now "it gives us a goal to strive for the gold," said Thomsen.
"Chocolate 4 Kids" Kenya Project Fundraiser Raised over €5.000!
ISR held its Term 2 Kenya Project fundraiser from 16 - 27 February. Each student, with their family's help, was asked to take home a number of chocolate bars to sell to friends, neighbors and relatives. A big thank you to Mrs. Heinen, who presented the idea and organised this Kenya Project Fundraising Event for ISR and to SLO's Mr. Tarrant for his support.
Through the ISR community's efforts selling the chocolate bars, ISR raised as of 12th March over €5.000,00. The winners of the competition for selling the most chocolate were:
Homeroom Winners: 4B – Mrs. Tarrant’s Homeroom €1.377,00
Individual Winners: Butuhan K. 4B €610,00
Christina K. 9A €412,00
Denise C. 11A €254,50
What a huge success for the Vingujini School near Mombasa! Thank you to all the ISR students, parents and staff members who made this possible.
Did You Know that World Book Day was 05 March?
World Book Day is a special event the United Nations established to honor books and reading. Sometimes one forgets that access to books and the ability to read them isn’t common everywhere in the world! In honor of this special day, the ISR library had a Book Art Competition and a Usborne book sale.
Information about both of these was distributed in ISR homerooms. The Book Art Competition challenged students in all grades to create some kind of art inspired by a book. Student winners in each age category (KG-3, 4-7, 8-11) won a free book.
Mrs. Sprague's class, 2B, decided to create an art project for World Book Day. Class 2B is very interested in Mary Pope Osbourne's series "The Magic Tree House". Ms. Sprague prepared her class by reading the first book in the series out loud to the class. The students chose to create a display of the magic tree house, which was on exhibition in the ISR library with other beautiful works of art of all grade levels that followed.
And, it just so happened that the exhibit took place on "Crazy Hat Day." In case you were wondering!
ISR Ski Week Great Success
On Sunday, February 8th, the first-ever ISR Ski Week party congregated at 05:00h to travel to St. Viet am Pongau, Austria. After an uneventful journey to Austria, ISR students and teachers arrived at the comfortable 3-star Hotel Post. The students enjoyed 5 days of skiing and snowboarding lessons as well as a complete evening entertainment package since it wasn't just about the powder!
There was even a cow milking contest. Tired but overall happy, the group returned to ISR on Saturday, February 14th to awaiting families. The week was a great success. Many thanks go to the pioneering students and parents who signed up for the Ski Week. A big thank you must also go to Mrs. Tarrant and Ms. Schneider who accompanied the students. We are already looking forward to next year!
First-Ever Talent Showcase at ISR
As a follow-up to the Kindergarten through Grade 5 Winter Concerts, Head of Music Dr. Swartz produced the opportunity for Grades 6-11 to show what they've got. ISR' Talent Showcase took place on Wednesday, February 4th from 16:30-18:00 hrs.
Over 20 teachers and students from the Secondary School participated and the audience voted on their favorites. The top three winners were Julian F. who sang, Christiane W. who also sang, and the group Pink Apple who sang and danced. Congratulations to everyone who competed. Dr. Swartz is proud of all of you!
ISR Varsity Football Fixture versus Polizei Sportverein
The Varsity Boys Football Team played a friendly against Polizei SV Neuss in the ISR Gym. The team was composed of David K., Kadir A., Robert J., Caspar B., Johannes F., Shunnosuke Y., Areeb K. and Sven K. (pictured above with teachers Mr. Ayre and Mr. Beach and Trainer/Student Christopher B.). The boys hit the ground running in the first half, with Shun and Johannes unlucky not to open their accounts. However, pressure eventually told, with Johannes breaking the deadlock in the 7th minute with a clinical finish. It was all one-way traffic for ISR leading up to halftime, with the boys going into the sheds with their tails up. Polizei went close to equalizing just before the break, but was denied by a spectacular save from Robert J.
After some oranges and a pep half-time-talk from Trainer Brill, it was more of the same in the 2nd half. But the Polizei keeper was in top form, first denying Johannes, and then Caspar. Polizei rallied late trying to find an equalizer but were held out by great defence from David, Areeb, Sven and Kadir, with ISR eventually winning a thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory. The boys showed great spirit and teamwork, and were a credit to the school. Well done!
News from Ms. Estela’s Art Studio
There will be an exhibit of artwork from grades 3-10 during the month of May on "the street" to the left of the cafeteria. The ISR community is invited to view these wonderful works of art daily. Students are creating art from traditional art media as well as recycled media. The exhibit is a product of students’ artwork that shows their personal styles, influences from art history and today’s art world. Their work is quite “Multi-Culti.”
All three sections of Grade 3 are working in teams to create one 3-dimensional arch. Artwork from teams of both sections of G8 are working on two columns that will flank this arch. Both arch and columns should reach the height of at least 2 meters. G4 is working on papier mache “Funky Pots” and animals of the sea.
The walls will also be decorated with artwork from both sections of grade five in the style of ancient Egypt. Mummies and Egyptian wall paintings will tell stories through hieroglyphs and images. We will travel to the Celtic world with artwork from both sections of G6 and hopefully by the end of March we will have some very magical dragons popping in as well.
G9 will display their Mandalas as well as their independent artwork studies. G10 is working on the art studio mural so you must come by and see how it is developing in the art studio. G10 will also display their independent artwork in the exhibit as well as the two murals that they created with the artist Juliane Kreienbaum during her visit to our school last month.
All artwork is being hung as it is completed and the exhibit will continue until the end of term three with more work added until the end of the school year. I’m so very proud of all my students. Please come and enjoy this exhibit, and show your support and appreciation for the students' work.
ISR Winter Concerts Were a Resounding Success
The ISR Winter Concerts took place on Wednesday, December 17th (KG-G2) and Thursday, December 18th (Grades 3-5). The theme this year was “Celebrations Around the World”, featuring music from various countries and in several languages.
Several students in 6th through 11th grade participated as singers, choir members, instrumentalists, orchestra members, dancers, and narrators. But, here are some impressions of Grade 1 to Grade 3 students during their Finale, the Ballet Troupe and ISR's very own Staff Choir.
The Winter Concerts were a resounding success thanks to the extraordinary work of ISR's dedicated music teachers, Paula Swartz and Daniela Semar, its talented students, and the collaboration of staff members and PN representatives. Special thanks go to: ISR parents for attending and supporting both events, ISR “Hausmeister” Volker Theyssen and his assistant, Mr. Koßman, parents Ms. Fiss for decorating the venue and Mrs. Gossner who helped to remove decorations and artwork, SLO Prefects who handed out programme, students Saina K. and Denise C. for their beautiful narration both days, staff and teachers for their assistance front of stage and backstage, choir members for setting up our first ISR staff choir, the cleaning crew, Sodexho and security.
ISR Students Read Fairy Tales Aloud on CD to Benefit Kenya Project
The final product is here! Grade 2, 3, and 4 ISR students read children's stories and fairy tales aloud for a CD project to benefit ISR's charity, Kenya Project which supports the Vingujini Primary School near Mombasa, just in time for the holidays. The CD was the brainchild of ISR Parent Mr. Frank of RTS Rieger Studio who, with a team of colleagues, recorded the children on two afternoons after school in late November. CDs can be purchased by writing projekt_kinder@gmx.de.
It's official: The International Baccalaureate Diploma will be offered at ISR starting next fall
ISR is pleased to announce that Jeffrey
R. Beard, Director General of the International Baccalaureate (IB), has authorized ISR to begin teaching the International Baccalaureate (IB)
Diploma in September 2009. The IB Diploma is recognized as an equivalent to the German Abitur.
The IB Diploma will be added as yet another university-qualifying diploma offered at ISR. With the methodology and support of the SABIS® curriculum, ISR students will have a solid foundation for success in the IB Diploma. "What many people do not know is that SABIS® was one of the founding members of the IB back in the late 1960s," said SABIS® President and ISR Managing Director Mr. Carl Bistany recently in an interview with Frank Kirchstein from the Neuss-Grevenbroicher Zeitung.
"ISR is already carving out a reputation for itself as a serious, college-preparatory school," continued Bistany. "As ISR's main route to university, the IB enhances this reputation by providing successful students with an alternative route to German university as well as other universities worldwide." Some commendations shared by the IB Authorization Visit team were "the positive attitude to team and collaborative work, particularly evident through a willingness by all to understand and contribute to TOK (Theory of Knowledge)" and "the encouragement for students to take direct responsibility for themselves and their actions through the SABIS Student Life Organization®, offering a sound base for CAS (Creativity Action Service)."
ISR Celebrates With Lantern Fest
"Laternen Fest" is a German
tradition in remembrance of Martin of Tours. Children prepare their own paper lantern and participate in a school procession on St. Martin's
Day where they light the lanterns and sing German songs.
This year's Lantern Fest at ISR was a big success and took place on Wednesday, November 12 from 16:00-17:30. Students
from Kindergarten through Grade 4 were busy making and decorating lanterns in the weeks leading up to the Fest. Leading the celebration,
Primary German Coordinator Mrs. Nowak worked tirelessly with teachers, parents and coordinators to ensure the beautiful early-evening celebration
which included a lantern parade, a bonfire, an enactment of the Saint Martin's legend, as well as culinary treats.
Since this school function was done in the spirit of sharing and compassion, the ISR community collected donations for the Neusser Tafel e.V. Three van loads of toys, clothing, plates and dishes, kitchen appliances and tools were presented to the Tafel employees. Good on you ISR families and staff!
International Day Was Here Saturday, November 8th
On Saturday, November 8th, ISR celebrated International Day from 12:00-15:00 hrs. The purpose of International Day each year is to showcase countries and regions in order to gain better understanding of their cultural inner-workings, such as history, language, and food. The 2008 Focus Countries/Regions were: Caribbean Islands, Kenya, South Korea (below right: Painting with vegetables activity), South Africa, Turkey, North America and Antarctica.
Classrooms were decorated in a team effort
made by parents, teachers and students from KG through Grade 6, each grade level having a particular country or region assigment.
Students were greeted in the ISR foyer and given passports to "travel" to the different regions. Once they accumulated all 7 stamps,
they were able to enter their passports in the Tombola (above left) to be drawn for a prize. ISR thanks Wellneuss, Neusser Allrounder
Skihalle and Jan Bogus with Gothaer for donating to the Tombola.
Turkish Consul General Hakan Kivanc took time out of his busy schedule not only to visit the Turkey Focus Room but to also meet ISR students, tour the school and listen to some students show off their musical talents.
Also warmly
welcomed was Miriam Bouwens who further informed the ISR community about where ISR's Kenya Project
fundraising euros go through her TWIGA foundation. Her stand showcased a film and
photographs of the school near Mombasa and its darling students. She couldn't say enough nice things about how Grade 1 presented their
Focus Country, Kenya.
Also part of the day was the Penny Race that was run the entire week leading up to International Day. Jars for each homeroom were assigned, and students and parents spent the week trying to get their homeroom to win by donating spare change in the jars. 6B was the winning homeroom having collected €179.34. Coming in 2nd Place was 5A with €131.96 and in 3rd Place 11A €129.75. A total of €3.411,90 was collected! The pride of ISR students and staff will surely match the joy of the Kenyan students.
Grades 9, 10 and 11 did presentations on Chile, Africa and Japan respectively in the 7A homeroom. The Parent Network held its annual Taste of the World in the cafeteria throughout the day. The ISR community did a great job with this wonderful festival that continues to grow with ISR's student body.
ISR Plays Host to Marketing-Club Düsseldorf and NeUn e.V.
ISR had the great opportunity to house two
important events. One was a Marketing-Club Düsseldorf event put on by EXTENDA, Andalusian Agency for Foreign
Trade Promotion on Saturday 25 October at 18:00. The evening started with a presentation about ISR in the cafeteria, followed by a tour. Then,
EXTENDA presented the gorgeous Spanish region of Andalusia and treated the attendees to a tasty tapas buffet and sherry bar.
La Cati, a local professional Flamenco dancer, rounded out the evening by
leading lessons in Flamenco dancing. ISR thanks Marketing-Club Düsseldorf Club-Service manager Silvia Gertler (not pictured above),
EXTENDA Director Sandra Rodriguez Gericke and Marketing-Club Düsseldorf Program Board Executive Dr. Joerg Andres for the fun collaboration.
The other event was the NeUn (Neusser Unternehmerinnen) e.V. Board Meeting on Tuesday 21 October. ISR made a presentation, and the group was full of questions, making for an interesting discussion and tour of the school. NeUn e.V. is an organization of women entrepreneurs in the Neuss region. Their ultimate goals are to strengthen business contacts and share professional experience.
ISR Featured in NRW Economic Affairs Campaign
A new campaign, We Love the New, from NRW.INVEST has been launched to win expatriate
companies to
the region. The Berlin advertising team scouted schools in the region and chose ISR based on its colorful, open and bright atmosphere.
(Take a look at our virtual tours.) “We love the new languages,” says Grade 1 student Felix in the image spot and advertising
campaign. The campaign’s accompanying brochure further reports:
Felix, age 6, has already lived in India, Japan and Bulgaria and speaks English and German fluently—a typical cosmopolitan North-Rhine Westphalian. But as a North-Rhine Westphalian, you don’t just love new impressions from foreign countries, but also an international school environment in your own country and state. That is why many people from countries all over the world feel comfortable in the metropolitan region. More than 10,000 foreign companies employ over 500,000 employees in Germany’s number one investment location. And so that their children can also settle in and make new friends quickly, [ISR] offers international university-entrance diplomas.
Apparently, NRW is just as proud of ISR as we are!
Sister School ISF wins Hessen-Champions 2008: Together in Hessen Award
On a SABIS® School
Network note, a big congratulations goes to ISR’s sister school, ISF Internationale Schule Frankfurt-Rhein-Main, for winning
the“Hessen-Champions 2008: Together in Hessen” award.
Pictured from l. to r. are Chuck Swift and Helga Weckenmann-Hart from ISF Marketing, SABIS® President Carl Bistany, ISF School
Director Angus Slesser, ISF Head of Marketing Maria Neubauer, and SABIS® Director of Corporate Communications Amy Wesley.
Hans-Joachim Tonnellier, IHK Frankfurt am Main President said that ISF has exhibited impressive support and integration of its international employees. Way to go ISF Frankurt!
Members of the ISR Family on National TV Show, "Frag Doch Mal die Maus"
ISR was honored to share different
foreign native speakers with TV station WDR/ARD for the 30 August show, “Frag doch mal die Maus," with Jörg
Pilawa. (Click here to download the video clip or right-click the link and choose
"Save Target As...") WDR tapped into the internationality represented at ISR by requesting French, Dutch, Japanese, English and Swedish native
speakers. Respectively a Grade 5 French student, students Mareen R., Koto T., Maxwell S. and parent, Mrs. Ahlgren, said slang words in their native tongue, and celebrity contestants had to decide which German translation fit.
If that wasn’t enough excitement, WDR actually paid ISR for the efforts made by its families. The Marketing & Admissions department awarded
the money 50/50 to the Music Department and the school library.
Ms. Swartz, Music Department, fulfilled a financial goal of installing a lock and wheels onto the school piano. This small feat allowed the department to wheel the piano out of the room to hold other classes.
Mrs. Ahlgren (with the help of her 2 boys in Kindergarten), and the other ISR students involved helped ISR Librarian, Ms. Walk, choose books to expand the library with the other half of the funds received by WDR.
Both Ms. Swartz and Ms. Walk are very thankful for this good fortune. Thank you, WDR!
ISR Proves Strong on IGCSE External Exams
In June 2008, ISR Secondary students took their first external exams: the International General Certificates of Secondary Education (IGCSEs). IGCSE was developed by the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) and can be taken in different subjects by students between the ages of 14 and 16. The results were released the week of 11 August.
From the 10 tests taken, all received a passing grade of C ("befriedigend") or higher, with 50% receiving a perfect score of A+ ("sehr gut+"). In Mathematics, there was no score lower than A ("sehr gut") with 75% scoring A+ ("sehr gut+").
ISR congratulates its dedicated teachers, hard-working students and applauds the SABIS® curriculum which proves to be a solid training ground for ISR Grade 10 students.
"It changed me forever!" Exclaimed Grade 11 Students Denise and Saina About Their Trip to Cairo
Grade 11 students Denise C. and Saina K. met at ISR Internationale Schule am Rhein in Neuss after summer break with ISR School Director Eileen Lyons and ISR Student Life Organization Coordinator Robert Tarrant. When asked about their trip to Cairo, both exclaimed, “It changed me forever!”
Denise and Saina were the two students selected to represent ISR at the SABIS Student Life Organization® Leadership Training Camp for Upper Secondary students in Cairo from 24 July to 04 August which involved 69 students from 50 SABIS® schools in its worldwide network. Both Denise and Saina are scholarship students but were chosen for their good academic standing, their positive attitudes and their level of involvement in the SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO).
Denise continued, “I feel more confident, and I can’t stop smiling.” Saina added, “I have returned wanting to do more for the ISR community. We both want to share our experiences with the teachers and be inspirations for the younger students.”
Both Denise and Saina presented their Leadership Training experience to teachers and ISR staff on Friday, August 22 at 09:00h with tears in their eyes when showing a video they compiled of their still photographs.
Niederrhein Musikfestival to Hold Dress Rehearsal at ISR
On 03 September from 14:00- ca. 15:00, the 4th Annual Niederrhein Musikfestival will hold a free dress rehearsal of the concert, "Classica Cubana" which will be performed at Schloss Dyck in Jüchen on the following evening (04 September) at 20:00. This is a great midday opportunity for little ones who normally are getting ready for bed at 20:00. Everyone is welcome.
Information and Calendar Dates for School Year 2008–2009
Important information in preparation for the school year can be downloaded:
Open House for 2008-09 Enrollments
Thursday, August 21, 2008
14:00 – 16:00 hrs
Open House gives parents and students a chance, if they wish, to drop by at their convenience between 14:00 and 16:00 hrs to check their homeroom assignments, to meet teachers and to look around the building.
Upon arrival, please locate the student's name and homeroom on the notice board in the Foyer just inside the main entrance. Please be aware that when forming homeroom sections at the start of each new school year, first and foremost is the goal to form groups that are equally balanced by the academic achievement level of its members based on the previous year’s performances.
Of secondary consideration is the mixture of boys and girls, new and returning students, and language abilities. Social factors are seldom a factor in forming sections as there are opportunities throughout the day for friends to meet within and between grade/section levels.
First Day of School
Monday, August 25, 2008
08:20h, Grades 5 to 11
Students in Grades 5 to 8, upon arrival, should wait for the bell on the playground and will be picked up by their teachers. Grade 9 to 11 students may report directly to their homeroom. This first day will be a full day for everyone – ending at 16:10h with the possibility of staying in the Extended Day program until 18:00h.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
08:15h, Grades 2 to 4
Grade 2 to 4 students, upon arrival, should wait for the bell in their designated area (on the Primary Playground). This first day will be a full day for everyone – ending at 15:20h with the possibility of staying in the Extended Day program until 18:00h.
09:00h, Grade 1
The Grade 1 students and their families will start their first day of Primary School at 9:00h in the cafeteria with a brief, traditional German welcome ceremony ending no later than 10:00h.
During this ceremony, Grade 1 students will receive a traditional "Schultüte" which the Primary German Department will kindly supply. This is a large conical bag of sweets and school supplies given to children on their "Erster Schultag" (first day) of school. Families are invited to join their children for this special occasion. The Grade 1 students will have a "normal" school day after the welcome ceremony – ending at 15:20h with the possibility of staying in the Extended Day program until 18:00h.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
08:20h, Kindergarten
Students and parents, upon arrival, should wait in the Foyer near the KG pinboards until called to the classrooms at 08:20. This first day will be a full day for everyone – ending at 15:20h with the possibility of staying in the Extended Day program until 18:00h.
Back-to-School Night
Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 19:00 – 20:30hrs
KG through Grade 11 parents
This is an opportunity for parents to meet teachers and hear a brief presentation about the curriculum their child(ren) will study this school year.
Latest Happenings from University Counsellor
| WHEN | GRADE | WHAT |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Feb 4 from 18:00-19:00 hrs | 9 plus parents | Transition into G10 Meeting |
| Thurs, Feb 5 | 11 | Dutch University Fair, hosted by Bonn International School with representatives from: 1) University of Groningen, 2) HZ University of Applied Sciences, 3) Maastricht University, 4) Tilburg University, and 5) Utrecht University |
| Wednesday, February 18th 17.00 – 18.00 hrs |
10 + 11 and parents |
IB & Paths to University (including information about TOEFL & IELTS). Please ask your son/daughter about this information packet and bring any questions with you to our meeting. |
| Feb 24-27 | 11 and parents | Individual meetings concerning university planning. Parents: Please contact Mrs. Grote-Beverborg to schedule a 30 minute meeting with Ms. Kalasin and Ms. Lyons on one of the 3 days. |
| NOW | 10 + 11 Parents | Parents, please visit the following website for information concerning IGCSE: http://www.cie.org.uk/profiles/parents. Registration for these external examinations will take place in February. |
| NOW | 11 | It’s time to start planning for SAT examinations. Students, please register online at www.collegeboard.com. SAT Examinations: SAT Reasoning & SAT Subject SAT Examination dates: You will find a complete calendar on the College Board Website.It is recommended that you register for the May 2 or June 6, 2009 test dates as well as the October 2009 test date. You may choose a test center convenient for you, e.g., Dusseldorf which is #57655. |
| Mar 14 | 10 + 11 | SAT Preparation: On March 14th Mr. Ayre, Mr. Beach, & Mr. Lewis will provide an intensive SAT preparatory workshop. All students in grades 10 and 11 should plan to participate. Supplies needed: Students are responsible for bringing their SAT prep book, paper, pencils, and lunch. |