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Our Y13 leavers took to the roof for a friendly, yet competitive, football match ⚽ against a team of cross-stream faculty. There were goals and tackles, but most importantly, laughter and handshakes all around. Best of luck to our Y13 final-year students as their journey in Secondary soon comes to an end.
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GSIS Gazette – Issue #7
11th October 2019Principal's Column
Dear Parents
Today I would like to update you on the upcoming Bund-Länder-Inspektion (BLI - Federal State Inspection) which will take place during the week of 18 to 22 November 2019 at our school.
The BLI is a quality management and assurance tool for German Schools Abroad. On behalf of the ZfA (Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen - Central Agency for German Schools Abroad), an inspection team evaluates systematically and data-supported the work of our school.
Through a systematic appraisal based on a quality framework, the team will assess to what extent quality standards are being met. Accountability and evaluation are essential since the Federal Republic of Germany and the Federal States support German Schools Abroad in terms of personnel and financial resources. However, initiating new impulses for the further development of quality assurance in schools is of greater importance than controlling.
The upcoming BLI 2.0 is the second round of the Federal State Inspections during which schools have to meet significantly higher standards.
Prior to the inspection, a comprehensive analysis of school documents was carried out by the three-member inspection team. During the audit they will supplement their information resources with lesson visits in as many classes as possible and with numerous interviews with School Management, Board of Directors, School Administration, Teachers, Students and Parents.
The inspection will primarily focus on classes in the German International Stream but will also look at German lessons in the English International Stream. Initial findings and results of the inspection will be presented to the relevant bodies as well as to the entire school community at the end of the inspection week.
I would like to invite you on 6 November at 6 pm in the IB Hall to an information session where we will provide more details about the Federal State Inspection.
The BLI team will give feedback to the school community on 22 November at 5 pm, to which you are also cordially invited.
Ulrich Weghoff
Principal
Parents@GSIS
It was great to see so many of you at the effective feedback workshop this week. As well as supporting and sponsoring educational, cultural and wellbeing events for the whole GSIS community (students, staff and parents), the Parents@GSIS team runs a number of monthly activities. This week I would like to introduce you to Dominic Langer and Zoe Rikkerink who have recently taken over co-ordinating the much loved hiking group. The group offers a wonderful variety of hikes from the gentle walking trails for beginners to more challenging hikes for the enthusiastic. As well as a great form of exercise and some stunning views, it is a wonderful opportunity to meet and chat with other members from across both streams and all classes. The walks are designed to be accessible for all and allow an early exit for those who need to get back for pick-ups, or if time allows, to enjoy a well-earned group lunch.
Plans for the coming months include:
Wilson Trail - Tuesday 15th October. Please click the link to join us on our next hike, part of the Wilson Trail, an undemanding 9.3km Stage 3 in reverse followed by lunch. https://forms.gle/LAuGe9j7deVQtgiLA
Fun family hike with a treasure hunt in Lantau - Sunday 3rd November. Students, siblings, parents, teachers, staff, friends and even dogs are very welcome. Please complete the form to join in the fun https://forms.gle/gLQD7iTzj98sdirSA
Maclehose Trail - We will be tackling the stages of the famous Maclehose trail (over several hikes, not in one go!) Stage 4 and 5 are planned for Monday 18th November and 9th December respectively. You are welcome to pick and choose which hikes you can join whenever you are available.
As always if you have ideas and suggestions for future hikes or other events that you would like to see hosted by Parents@GSIS - please email us at parents@gsis.edu.hk
Anouska Mutreja
Chair of Parents@GSIS
Updates and Announcements
Engage GSIS
The Marketing and Communications Department is excited to announce our new GSIS network called ‘Engage GSIS’. Its aim is to develop an active GSIS network for past students, past and current staff and parents. We consider you all our Alumni.
Engage GSIS will support our community with careers advice and mentoring, alumni reunions, events, publications and so much more. It is a way for you to stay in touch with each other wherever you may be around the world and to get involved with the school and support its future.
We are enormously grateful for our network of talent and knowledge in our community and we hope you will be interested in getting involved.
Suzannah Denness
Director of Marketing & Communications
Parent Information Days
This year the Kindergarten and Primary parents will make their bookings through the SchoolsBuddy app. In previous years parents made their bookings through the GSIS Portal but after the successful deployment of SchoolsBuddy for after-school activities and discovery week booking, we are also moving the PID to SchoolsBuddy. Secondary parents will continue to use the existing portal for this term only. Hopefully, we will be able to move them over to the new system next term. Detailed instructions on how to use the booking system will be sent out before booking opens.
Here are some important dates/times for parents to remember:
- Tuesday, October 29th 10 am: Peak primary opens for booking using SchoolsBuddy.
- Wednesday, October 30th 10 am: Secondary opens for booking using GSIS Portal.
- Thursday, October 31st 10 am: Kindergarten and DVOR booking opens using SchoolsBuddy.
The Parent information Days will take place on the following days:
- Primary Peak: Monday 4th November 4 pm – 7 pm & Tuesday 5th November 8 am – 1 pm
- Secondary: Tuesday 5th November 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm & Wednesday 6th November 8 am – 1 pm
- Kindergarten & DVOR: Thursday 7th November 3 pm – 6 pm & Friday 8 November 8 am – 1 pm
Declan Burke
Director of Technology
Yearbook 2018-2019
Further to our announcement in the Gazette last week, the Yearbook for 2018-2019 is unfortunately experiencing a slight delay and will now be available next week.
From Head of German International Stream
Dear Parents
In the last issue of the Gazette I introduced the Counselling and Support Network of our School Counsellor Mrs Geisel. Today I would like to focus on our Learning Support and Enrichment programme in the German International Stream.
Every child learns differently and we aim to ensure that our lessons are flexibly structured to meet individual needs and requirements. In order to support and challenge all students holistically and individually according to their abilities, potential and interests, we offer special support programmes, which are developed and facilitated by qualified teachers.
| Kindergarten Simone Jerisch sjerisch@gsis.edu.hk |
Primary Department Julia Becker sbecker@gsis.edu.hk |
Secondary Department Susan Rötsch sroetsch@gsis.edu.hk |
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Our support teachers work closely with the respective students as well as their teachers and parents to ensure that they receive the best possible support and are adequately challenged. They create individual education plans with concrete measures based on the current progress of learning. The measures are implemented in class in the form of team teaching as well as through individual or small group support. Students requiring additional learning support or enrichment are provided with tools and learning strategies in order to acquire skills, strategies and competencies and to best reach their full potential.
Our support teachers perform a wide variety of tasks, which can be outlined as follows:
We understand Learning Support and Enrichment as an ongoing process, which is closely monitored and continuously adapted by our support teachers in order to meet the individual needs and strengths of each student on a daily basis. We are particularly grateful to them for their commitment.
Grit Cichon
Deputy Principal / Head of German International Stream
Kindergarten Corner
The autumn holidays are approaching and we would like to take the opportunity today to draw your attention to 2 events which will take place beginning of November:
- on Friday, 1 November 2019 our GSIS Kindergarten German International Stream will have a beach outing to Repulse Bay
- on Tuesday, 5 November 2019 our annual Parents-Children Lantern making session will take place.
Further details and registration can be found below under “ Updates and Announcements”.
Yours sincerely
Sophie Burdel
Head of Kindergarten
Eileen Mah
Deputy Head of Kindergarten
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Looking for what's been going on in class this week?Check out the class Weebly blogs. |
Primary Corner
Box of Hope
As in previous years, we are collecting again shoe boxes filled with a little hope for underprivileged children.
This is a great opportunity to talk to your children about what we can afford and what other children do not have access to. By filling a box you can make a child's dream come true.
Sports Day
Following our first weeks of school, the Sports Day will take place next Thursday and Friday. You can find all relevant information in Gazette #6.
Please indicate in the survey how your child will go home after the Sports Day. There are several options.
Parents‘ Information Days
The first parent-teacher meetings are coming up soon after the holidays. Detailed information on how to register for the Parents' Information Days will be posted in the Gazette next week.
Please take note when the booking system is open as the Autumn break will be between.
Priska Erni
Head of German Primary Department
Updates and Announcements
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Looking for what's been going on in class this week?Check out the class Weebly blogs. |
Secondary Corner
Dear Parents
For the upcoming week we have planned a special program:
While K10 will do an internship and K12 will sit three exams, all other students and teachers will embark on a discovery tour during Discovery Week. I would like to wish your children a wonderful and exciting time and hope that they will share many new experiences and stories with you when they return home.
Important Dates:
- 14 - 18 October: Discovery Week
- 21 - 25 October Autumn Break
- 28 October: CPD-Day/INSET Day (no lessons)
- 5 November: Parents‘ Information Day (4:30 pm – 7:30 pm)
- 6 November: Parents‘ Information Day (8 am – 1 pm)
- 13 November: Sports‘ Day
Wiebke Langer
Head of German Secondary
Updates and Announcements
Kindergarten Corner
Updates and Announcements
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Looking for what's been going on in class this week?Check out the class Weebly blogs. |
Primary Corner
Dear Parents,
Thank you to the parents who attended the Specialist Night on Wednesday. For those who were unable to attend, you will be able to sign up for specialist conferences during our Parent Information Days on the 4th/5th of November for Years 2-6 and 7th/8th of November for Year 1. These meetings will focus specifically on your student. For information regarding information taught during a specialist lesson, please check the specialist Weeblys.
Just a reminder that next week is Sports Day. Information on these days is in the Updates and Announcements.
Attached you will find the presentation from the Curriculum Night.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kim Cunningham
Head of English Primary Department
Donna Morley
Deputy Head of English Primary Department
Attachments
Updates and Announcements
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Looking for what's been going on in class this week?Check out the class Weebly blogs. Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6DaF/GermanSportInformation Literacy |
