On the 9th of September 2000, Heidelberg International School opened its doors for the very first time to a handful of First Graders. Each student carried a sunflower. Happy 23rd birthday H.I.S.!
AS
Bundesgartenschau
MYP Field Trip to Mannheim
All students in Grade 6-10 went on a field trip to the BUGA (Bundesgartenschau). BUGA 23 is a not just a flower show as the name may say, but will improve the sustainable quality of life and lifestyle in Mannheim.
The Bundesgartenschau is a stretch of green over 7km long, creating new walkways, places to play and relax. At the same time, it will improve the city`s air quality and climate. BUGA is also part of Mannheim`s North East Green Corridor Project, connecting 230 hectares of green areas forming a corridor stretching into the city centre.
BUGA 23 is an innovative experimental field for living together in the city sustainably. It complies with the UN sustainability goals which are incorporated in Mannheim`s mission statement for 2030. Solutions to problems and challenges of our time will be explored relating to climate, the environment, sustainable agricultural production and food security.
One of the major highlights was the 2 km long overhead cable car system spanning the river Neckar, and connecting Luisenpark with the BUGA-Grounds, which the students rode from Luisienpark. With the clear weather there were some spectacular views.
Students then had the opportunity to explore the grounds in small groups and take time to see and reflect on several purposely built small gardens that represent the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) which are integrated into the school curriculum.
Students were asked to consider and reflect upon what the garden looked like, how it represented the sustainability goal and then write down their thoughts and ideas.
SAB
Community Fun Fest
At the Community Fun Fest everybody had the chance to become gladiators, racing car drivers and red carpet celebrities.
It was wonderful to have H.I.S. students, parents and staff come together for the Community Fun Fest this week. Everybody enjoyed the activities and the chance to spend time together. A huge thank you to our parents for providing food that allowed us to take a journey around the world in just 3 hours!
Until next time!
AS
We are one!
Celebrating Diversity at H.I.S.
Our Middle Years Homeroom classes got more acquainted this week by sharing their cultural viewpoint through artistic expression. With a trace of their hands, their work represents the rich diversity of our student body, with so many cultures and places that we have called home. Assembled together in a mural, this collective work celebrates that “we are one!”
Artwork by Sophia, Grade 8
LF
Chromatography Trolls
Grade 5 students experienced a MYP science class in June.
The students learned the basics of paper chromatography, a simple separation technique used in science and in various fields in real life. They experimented with different coloured markers on paper chromatography strips to see how different pigment components are separated.
Afterwards the scientific investigation was taken a step further with a fun activity: Using the same technique, students created their own chromatography trolls.
ECK
Mein Sport – Mein Heidelberg – Meine Zukunft
H.I.S. Students Win Award
How should the city of Heidelberg develop as a sports city? This was the question the students had to answer in the form of a creative writing task.
The competition was initiated by the sports department of the University of Heidelberg. 5 students of the grade 7 German Language & Litearature class (Neils, Sanpi, Philipp, Aiden and Marta) sent in their short stories. On the 18th of July the award ceremony took place on campus in the Neuenheimer Feld. All participants were invited and the short listed students received the message that they were likely to win a price.
Aiden won third price in the category “Jugendliche”. His story was about a big youth sports event, like a video game, in the city of Heidelberg, including famous places like the Neckarwiese and the Alte Brücke. Martha couldn’t attend the ceremony, but was able to pick up her first price some days later. She submitted a very sensitive story about a teenager who has no interest in sport and in the end makes up his mind to get involved in sports activities.
The prices were sponsored by institutions in Heidelberg. Next to the certificates Marta and Aiden received vouchers for the Heidelberg SoccArena, tickets for the BasCats USC Heidelberg for the season 2023/24 and vouchers for the Heidelberg funicular.
Congrats to the happy winners and thanks to the other grade 7 students who made the effort to write and submit a story!
BK
Explore Science
Since 2006, the Klaus Tschira Foundation has been organising the annual scientific adventure days Explore Science in Mannheim.
The aim of the event is to give students the opportunity to discover scientific phenomena themselves, to increase interest in scientific topics among young students and to promote networking between scientific institutions and schools. This year’s theme was “Mathematics”.
Students from grades 6-9 took part in the Explore Science competitions, which involved preparations over several weeks. Grade 8 showed off their bridges made from paper. Grade 9 students were asked to perform calculations to work out an area based on work they had done in class, and Grade 6 & 7 students presented their kaleidoscopes.
This year, H.I.S. was particularly successful in the competitions. Martin, Mykola, and Ako from Grade 9 won 9th place in the land surveying competition. They received €100. In the kaleidoscope competition, three groups got special mentions from the jury: Philipp, Canon, Neil and Lucas from grade 7 impressed everyone with a kaleidoscope that worked in the dark since they incorporated a smart phone inside.
Aiden, Niels and Warren from grade 7 had built a kaleidoscope, which you could look through with both eyes. Hannah, Bernard and Joan created a kaleidoscope for “lazy viewers” with a motor and a switch. It was a tough competition, but the Grade 6 group ended up winning the first prize and had the opportunity to explain their motorised kaleidoscope in front of a big audience on stage at the Herzogenriedpark. It was the first time, H.I.S. won the first prize, which included a prize money of €500!
Overall, the days were fun and exciting and enjoyed by the students. Congratulations to all our young H.I.S. scientists!
SAB
Schultüten for Early Primary Students
Grade 4 Action
In PYP, taking action doesn’t just mean implementing new ideas to help the HIS community or the global community.
Taking action can also mean passing on already existing traditions. This year, our Grade 4 students wanted to bring a German tradition to our school.
To do this, they chose the tradition of handing over a „Schultüte“ to all students entering 1st grade after the summer break.
The tradition of the „Schultüte“ goes back to the 19th century and is still very much alive today. The content of the „Schultüte“ is supposed to sweeten the 1st day of Grade 1. This tradition is also a right of passage to move from Kindergarten into school.
The Grade 4 students not only handed over the „Schultüten“ to our EP 2 students, but they will also keep an eye on their “friends“ when the EP 2 students will be in Grade 1 after the summer holidays.
SH
Congratulations Class of 2023
Our Class of 2023 featured in the annual Rhein-Neckar Zeitung Abitur special edition:
A huge thank you to Frau Seele for putting together the newspaper article!
AS
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
This past weekend, was the final assessed expedition for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award.
The students have worked towards this throughout the school year, with two practice expeditions and several day hikes as well as a camping workshop and a first aid course. It has been an intense journey for most of them and many of them really challenged themselves during the expedition and their hard work has paid off. Despite the heat which made it even more of a challenge, the students were successful in showing what they had learnt in terms of being independent in their route planning and camp crafting skills.
Upon reflection at the end of the expedition many of the students commented on the skills that they had developed, such as camp crafting and map reading skills. The students also reflected on their own personal development. They talked about how they all motivated each other throughout, whether by singing, cooking, talking to each other and playing volleyball, or by learning more about each other and developing unexpected friendships.
Despite the challenges, it was a positive and fulfilling experience that the students will without doubt never forget.
We hope that the students will complete the other parts of the Award, including the physical recreation service and skills sections and that they will continue to record them in the online record books. We will then be able to hand out the Silver Award at some point next school year.
We also look forward to starting the Award with some of the Grade 9 students who would like to embark on this challenge and have already had an introduction to the Award in their class.
SAB