News for Parents

art field trip

Posted on24 Mar 2023

Last Friday, the class 2 students were excited to embark on their first art field trip. We were invited by the brilliant artist Yohei Yama to meet with him at his exhibition ‘Resonate State’ at the Vin Gallery in Binh Thanh. The children greeted Yohei with a big bouquet of flowers and then they were ready to explore. Class 2 have recently been exploring colour theory and surrealism, so they were ready with many questions and interpretations. We took time to look at the work from different angles and Yohei was happy to answer any questions they had. Their favourite part of the exhibition was his light installation, a white room with hanging eucalyptus leaves adorned with fairy lights. The children sat quietly and enjoyed watching the lights, they were then quite surprised when Yohei began to play music for them. They listened carefully and many of them decided to draw him and the paintings as they sat and observed. We finished our visit by sitting together in a circle, taking turns to play the instruments and Yohei kindly gifted each of the children with their own unique drawing.
We are so grateful to Yohei Yama and the Vin Gallery for their support.
If you would like to see ‘Resonate State’ the exhibition will be on display until April 28th. You can find the Vin Gallery at 35/8 Nguyễn Văn Đậu, Ward 6, Bình Thạnh.

Kangaroo of Mathematics

Posted on24 Mar 2023

On March 16th, all students from Classes 3 to 11 had the opportunity to prove their mathematical skills as part of the 2023 Kangaroo of Mathematics Competition.

Math Kangaroo is:

  • a multiple-choice math competition for over 6 million participants in more than 80 countries worldwide
  • a competition that takes place once a year on the 3rd Thursday in March in all participating countries and is written as a voluntary exam competition at the schools under supervision
  • an event that supports mathematical education in schools, arouses and strengthens the joy of working with mathematics and promotes independent work and work in the classroom by offering interesting tasks
  • an individual competition in which 24 tasks each in Classes 3/4 and 5/6 and 30 tasks each in Classes 7/8, 9/10 and 11-13 have to be solved in 75 minutes.

Great certificates and prizes await the students!

Coffee with us

Posted on24 Mar 2023

Working closely together with the parents is an important part of our pedagogical work at the IGS to ensure the best possible transparency and communication.
For this reason, the parent representatives of the U6 area met on Monday and had the opportunity to contribute their ideas and suggestions for the next topics of the upcoming “Coffee with us” meetings. 
The focus of the suggestions was clearly on the criteria for school readiness, the promotion of the German language at home as well as regular and topic-related excursions.
We thank you very much for your input and look forward to welcoming you again soon at our “Coffee with Us” with information and answers to your topics and questions.

International Science Olympiad – 2023

Posted on23 Mar 2023

Six students reached the second round of the International Science Olympiad (IJSO) on March 17th, 2023 in the form of a quiz under supervision. The quiz consisted of 24 tricky multiple choice tasks, a colourful mix of questions about the natural sciences.
The student Tran Thuong Van was so successful with her answers that she has reached the third round, the exam round. This will take place in the first week of May.
The Faculty of Natural Sciences congratulates Van on this outstanding success and thanks all participants for the motivated participation in this year’s IJSO.

Poetry week

Posted on23 Mar 2023

Well, poetry week 2023 is done and dusted. This year we had many entries from all age groups throughout the school which were posted all over the school. In some cases, students jumped onto the bandwagon during the week, and their poems were added to the collection as welcome additions.
A big thanks goes to all the teachers who made space in their calendars and schedules for encouraging students to write the poetry.This would not have been possible without their cooperation.

Co-Teaching Workshop

Posted on17 Mar 2023

“A school internship – a school assistant – How do I best organize the time of the students?”
To answer this question, the teachers at the IGS were offered a workshop this week. Andreas Hänssig, contact person for International Teacher Education at our long-standing cooperation partner, the Goethe University in Frankfurt, was able to explain the importance of co-teaching and forms of implementation in a very practice-oriented manner.
We would like to thank Mr. Keller and Ms. Schaffer for organizing the workshop and for their commitment to our school’s internship concept. Special thanks go to Mr. Hänssig for the time he has spent conducting the workshop.

Poetry Week

Posted on17 Mar 2023

By Monday morning, March 21, the entire school campus will be flooded with an abundance of poetry, ranging from love poems to French poems, to poems about dragons and identity. This year, there are already numerous poems ready to be displayed around the school this Saturday.
Poetry is a powerful form of art that uses language to evoke emotions, convey ideas, and capture the essence of the human experience. It can be a valuable tool for personal development and self-discovery, helping us explore different perspectives and connect with others. Through poetry, we can tap into our deepest feelings and experiences, from joy and love to sorrow and loss. Poetry also inspires creativity and imagination in both writers and readers, promoting empathy and a sense of community.
Poetry can play a vital role in shaping our sense of identity by reflecting our personal experiences and cultural background. Next week, the entire IGS community will have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of poetry in all its forms.

Open Day U6

Posted on17 Mar 2023

After weeks of planning, an Open Day for the U6 area finally took place on Saturday, March 11th, 2023. At 9 a.m. the campus opened its doors to interested parents: and they weren’t long in coming. The many rooms with displays met with great interest. Rounded off by a great supporting program consisting of Zumba, treasure hunt, sculpting and creative activities, the parents were able to get a holistic impression of everyday events at the IGS. Thanks go to the help of the SV and the parents of our kindergarten and preschool children.

support for U6 open day

Posted on17 Mar 2023

In order to show that the IGS school community belongs together, regardless of age, some pupils of the SV and Class 9 attended this year’s “Open Day” of the U6 area to sell delicious waffles.
The sale was also part of a charity campaign that was planned and organized independently by the students. All sales of waffles go to Vietnamese orphanages in order to be able to make at least a small contribution to equipping them. Charity work is an integral part of our SV.
At this point, a very special thanks goes to Yesunzul, Michelle, Viet, Hami, Alice and Jo, who made the sale possible with their active support!

a gallery visit

Posted on10 Mar 2023

Class 9 had the opportunity to visit Galerie Quynh in Da Kao this week. In our art classes we have been discussing aspects of ‘Magical Realism’ through character creation and world building. The gallery’s current exhibition ‘All Aboard’ celebrates 25 years of work from the artist Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng; it was the perfect opportunity for the students to explore this subject further. We were welcomed by the gallery staff as they gave the students a personalised tour of the exhibition and discussed the artist’s creative processes and influences. The students were very engaged in debating the meanings behind the work and took time to explore and sketch studies of their favourite pieces from the show.
We would like to say a huge thank you to the gallery team for welcoming us and being so accommodating. If you would like to see the exhibition it is on display until the 1st of April at Galerie Quynh, 118 Nguyễn Văn Thủ, Đa Kao, District 1.

German as a Foreign language Workshop

Posted on09 Mar 2023

Language and technical learning are always considered together at the IGS. This also became clear during the pedagogical days. For example, the colleagues took part in an internal training course on language-sensitive subject teaching (DFU) on these days. As part of a series of workshops, the teachers at the IGS are working intensively on making it possible for students to work in more stress-free subject lessons. The aim is for our students to be able to follow the technical context of the lessons despite language barriers and thereby expand their language skills.
The leaders of the workshop were enthusiastic about the diverse ideas and the didactic and methodological approaches that the teachers incorporated into their elaborations.
We would like to thank all participants and are already looking forward to the next workshop!

SPORTS LESSONS INTEGRATED

Posted on08 Mar 2023

“The world opens up to the child through movement. Step by step it takes possession of her. With the help of bodily and sensory experiences, it forms concepts: in acting it gets to know and understand causes and interrelationships”
 Renate Zimmer

In this context, the daring and fearless explorers held their first sports lesson together on Monday in cooperation with the third graders from the elementary school.
The explorers were warmly welcomed by the students and their teacher Mr. Tietz. As soon as the water bottles were put down, it started!
Together with one of the students, the explorers were allowed to stand in a hoop and the children became little birds who had to exchange their nests by speaking or nodding at their counterparts with flight movements.
Afterwards, Mr. Tietz wanted to know from the explorers which foods are healthy and which are unhealthy. Healthy foods were assigned a white cone and unhealthy ones a red one. The U6 area is very happy to be able to integrate into the sports lessons with the Primary students.

Pedagogical Day

Posted on08 Mar 2023

On Monday and Tuesday, the entire staff and parts of the administration met to work intensively on current educational topics. These time windows in the middle of the current school year are important in order to continuously develop the IGS as a “learning institution”, to be able to reflect on current issues issuing from the classroom and to intensify collegial cooperation.
The exchange took place in a wide variety of teams on the following topics, among others: IB, primary school, library, U6, art & music, school office organisation, English in the orientation level, language certificates, the school’s birthday celebrations, DFU, natural sciences, social sciences and sports and media.
The results of all these consultations will make an important contribution to improving the quality of teaching here at IGS.

Open day U6

Posted on02 Mar 2023

Reminder

Open Day in the U6 area. Saturday, March 11, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
There are activities for children and insights into everyday life in the U6 area.
The U6 team is looking forward to your visit!

Gardening workshop + problem-solving workshop

Posted on01 Mar 2023

Since the beginning of the second semester we have been offering a gardening club and a problem-solving club every week.
In the Gardening Club (every Wednesday, 4.20-5.20pm) the students have been doing a variety of activities: together we have been sowing seeds, re-potting seedlings, and building a snail-shaped plant bed from bricks and cement. Our goal is to build a lush vegetable garden with lots of vegetable varieties. Thanks to Ms. Polzin, Ms. Jurischka, Mr. Kmiecik and Van (Class 8) for helping in the first few weeks. We would love to welcome new students, especially those from higher grades, to join the gardening fun anytime.
In the Problem-Solving club (every Tuesday, 4.20-5.20pm) we have been looking at interesting tricky problems from maths and science olympiads such as the IJSO. The students are puzzling over age-appropriate questions while learning new problem solving strategies and natural science concepts.
In der Problemlöse-AG, die jeden Dienstag von 16.20-17.20 Uhr stattfindet, haben wir uns mit interessanten und kniffligen Problemen aus Mathe- und naturwissenschaftlichen Olympiaden, wie der IJSO, beschäftigt. Die Schüler*innen knobeln an altersgerecht ausgewählten Aufgaben, wobei sie neue Problemlösestrategien und eine Vielzahl an naturwissenschaftlichen Konzepten erlernen.


International Mother Language Day

Posted on01 Mar 2023

International Mother Language Day, on 21 February every year, is a day to celebrate and protect all the languages of the world. A language is much more than just a way of communicating: language, and particularly our mother tongue, is an important part of our culture.
In order to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism, our primary and secondary students had an opportunity to work through the “International Mother Language Day Project” in their library hours where they could write the stories, record some idioms or sentences in their own mother tongue language by voice, then create QR-Codes. Finally, they got together to design some unique posters which were related to their work content.
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” –  Nelson Mandela

HISTORY MUSEUM HCMC

Posted on01 Mar 2023

Thinking of education holistically also means expanding the place of learning. The integration of extracurricular learning locations and the associated change of location enables the development of a wide range of skills. Against this background, the GFL history course for Class 6 went on an excursion to the Historical Museum in Ho Chi Minh City last Wednesday. With the help of an app, the students examined the structure of the museum. As part of a scavenger hunt, various tasks had to be completed, questions answered and solutions found. The children were able to explore the museum intensively while learning professionally and creatively. The knowledge gained here will be reflected in the ongoing history lessons and then further developed as part of the design of a small internal school exhibition.

Heart dissection in Class 8 Biology Course

Posted on28 Feb 2023

Last Thursday our Class 8 did an exciting heart dissection. But why did we do this?
Our biology teacher wanted to introduce us to the structure and function of the human heart. During the dissection, we were able to take a closer look at the various components of the heart, such as heart chambers, valves and arteries.
Before the dissection, we were given lab coats and gloves at the beginning of the lesson. Then our biology teacher started giving each group a heart, which we cut open and prepared under supervision. For example, we examined the atria and ventricles and found the differences in the thickness of the heart walls.
Through this practical experience, we have not only deepened our knowledge, but also learned to work with precise instruments and to use the right technique.
I personally found the heart dissection very exciting and interesting. I had previously expected it to be an exciting experience, but I was surprised at the level of detail we had to work to properly dissect the heart.
Overall it was a great opportunity to put into practice what I learned in class and I think the heart dissection gave me a better understanding of the structure and function of a heart. I am curious to see which practical experiments we will have to face in future biology lessons.
Hieu, Class 8

MATHS OLYMPIAD

Posted on28 Feb 2023

The state round of the 62nd Mathematics Olympiad in the time window took place from February 24th to 26th, 2023 at the IGS. A one-day exam was scheduled for Classes 3-5 and a two-day exam for Classes 6-13. 11 students from Classes 3 to 9 faced the challenging tasks of the Math Olympiad and gave their best. So on Saturday, 3 secondary school students came to complete the 2nd day of the exam. We had delicious pizza for lunch.
Pupils from class 8 and up who have successfully passed the state round can be nominated to participate in the national round, which will take place this year from June 11th to 14th, 2023 in Berlin. Every year, five guests from the German schools abroad are invited, who, together with around 200 Olympians from the 16 federal states, experience not only exciting exam days but also a colorful supporting program all about mathematics.
We’ll see who hopefully made it to Berlin.



Carnival at U6

Posted on22 Feb 2023

What was going on in the U6 area on Monday? No sign of the children. Pirates, princesses, bears and dinosaurs cavorted in the groups. That can only mean one thing: it’s carnival season in Germany and it’s a very special time of year for children.
You slip into other people’s roles and enjoy the hustle and bustle to the fullest. When else are you allowed to throw confetti around and wear creative costumes? A celebration of Carnival, Fastnacht or Mardi Gras is therefore almost mandatory – and of course this also applies to Researchers and Discoverers. Great carnival games, balloons and of course exciting costumes, celebrating together was a great pleasure for everyone involved and a nice change from everyday life. 
The carnival party, allowing the children to slip into new roles and playing with the costumes, encourages self-confidence and imagination and of course the “fifth season” is just a lot of fun. The focus of the celebrations were familiar games and activities such as the trip to Jerusalem, which put a smile on the faces of all the children.
There are many regional differences in the carnival celebrations in Germany: Carnival or Fasching? Hey or Alaaf? However, everyone agrees on one point: the festive season includes pastries made from yeast dough, fried in fat and filled with jam. Whether donuts, pancakes or donuts, the sweet delicacy is simply part of the foolish time. And the Researchers and Discoverers could also enjoy the sugary yeast balls on Monday.

Orphanage

Posted on18 Feb 2023

On February 11, 2023, Class 11 and 12 (and some members of Class 10) returned to the Suoi Sao Orphanage to continue our charity work. This is part of our year-long Service project of the CAS program (A compulsory program that sees students performing various activities in the fields of creativity, activity and service that aims to develop a holistic learning-/lifestyle for students.) Charity is a continuous process and requires regular attention. We wanted to continue this work, as well as to visit the friends we had made there before Christmas.
Upon our arrival, the sisters greeted us warmly at the door. The children were very excited to see us. They ran around and played with us, this time  a bit more confident than last time. Though at first, we had to work and bring in the generous donations indoors, we did not hesitate to immediately join in the fun afterwards. A spark of friendship had been rekindled between the IGS students and the children at the Suoi Sao orphanage.
However, it was not only students and parents who helped with donations. The IGS had donated gingerbread houses, Lebkuchen Allerlei and other Christmas baked goods to the orphanage. Though it was a small gift, it made the children very happy. We hope that the school as a whole will continue working towards helping Suoi Sao!
We would also like to thank Class 12 for donating the sum of money they had made on the Christmas market selling baked goods to the orphanage, as well as the Tillsner group for their fundraising action. Their kindness and action meant a lot!

Internship class 9/10

Posted on18 Feb 2023

As in every year, the students of Classes 9 and 10 will complete an internship at the end of the semester to gain an insight into the world of work. In the coming month, during German lessons, the students will receive support in writing a complete and coherent application. These application documents, prepared by the students themselves, will be then submitted to the company of their choice in order to win an internship.
This year the internship takes place in the week 19-23. June 2023.

Parents-Play-Day

Posted on18 Feb 2023

The U6 area invited all interested parents to play, do handicrafts and splash around with the children on Monday. Parents Play Day is always a highlight for young and old. The children greeted their parents with a big “Hello” and showed them the rooms and their favorite toys with a beaming smile. The paddling pool was prepared in the preschool building and the researchers let off steam in the cool water together with their parents.
In kindergarten, the children and their parents designed colorful flowers using fingerpaint.
The end of the visit was crowned with singing together in the final circle – in which some parents showed themselves to be very sure of the lyrics!

Open Day at Kindergarten / U6 area

Posted on14 Feb 2023

Invitation to the “Open Day” of the U6 area of ​​the International German School. Visit us on Saturday, March 11th, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. on the green campus of the IGS.

  • diverse educational program for little explorers and researchers
  • Information on how to encourage your child to learn in a playful way at home
  • Information about the registration process
  • get to know the pedagogical team of the IGS

The following activities are waiting for you and your child/ children:

  • Zumba kids
  • Treasure hunt
  • A day in preschool
  • “Clockwork Art”
  • Painting and graphic art station
  • Coffee, juice, snacks and ice cream

Benefit from the early-bird discount when you register your child for the next school year 2023-24. Valid until 03/31/2023.
  Saturday March 11, 2023
  9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m

📞  +84 (0) 28 37 44 63 44
📧  Denise.Schoechert@igs-hcmc.org
🏠 12 Vo Truong Toan Street, An Phu Ward, D.2
      71300 Thu Duc City
      Ho Chi Minh City

Da Lat trip

Posted on09 Feb 2023

Classes 9 to 12, accompanied by Mr. Kmiecik, Mr. Reisdorf and Ms. Mai, went on an unforgettable school trip to Đà Lạt during the trip week. With a packed bus and joyful anticipation, we started our journey at night and fog on January 30th, 2023.
Our accommodation The Nest was a dream, we were warmly cared for: no wish remained unfulfilled.
Our five days were filled with a lot of sporty, interesting and fun activities: bike tour, high-rope course, countryside tour, coffee plantation, but the moments we shared, when we played, talked and ate together, will definitely be unforgettable, not to mention the nights of chatting, which drove the teachers almost to despair 😉

Please find here the daily reports written by our students. 

We’ve grown into a great team as a result of these days spent together.
One for all, all for one!

Jungle Trip – Classes 7 and 8

Posted on09 Feb 2023

Classes 7 and 8 set out on the Madagui Forest City adventure with teachers Mr. Kehm, Mr. Schmidt, Ms. Quynh Anh and Ms. Bui. Located between the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat, Madagui Forest City is an area with wild jungle and nature and the opportunity for a wide variety of sports activities. The 27 young people were able to prove themselves in various sporting disciplines, from the classic ball sports such as football, basketball and volleyball to climbing and ziplining to water sports such as banana boating and kayaking.
The students had the opportunity to move freely and explore this area independently, but also to cross the jungle together during group activities.
All in all, there were four successful days, during which the class community grew stronger and, above all, everyone had fun.

FNU in the U6 area

Posted on09 Feb 2023

Young children are naturally curious. The educators are therefore usually bombarded by numerous questions about how things work and why they happen. Young learners are naturally curious about the world around them. This natural curiosity drives them to explore and investigate, and it is the most important reason they learn.
I was even happier this week in the U6 area that FNU (formerly science lessons) can finally be offered weekly again. That’s why things got underway in House G on Monday: The explorers marveled at the effect of heat and cold on the very simple example of how water can change.
Science is an extension of the child’s everyday world. Science encourages and teaches children to discover and wonder about everything in the world around them. As children experiment and talk about what they are doing and what they have discovered, they expand their oral expression in a fun way. Having to experiment and record their investigations gives children an understanding of their world.
The U6 area is looking forward to many more great experiments and is happy to be able to firmly integrate FNU back into the curriculum.

Collaboration in Sports

Posted on09 Feb 2023

For a long time, there has been an offer at the IGS that has unfortunately died out somewhat due to the pandemic – every Tuesday, interested colleagues met on campus for teacher sports. In the future, we would like to renew interest in college sports within the college, especially for the many new young members of the college. Because the same applies to teachers as to all professional groups: only those who are healthy and well-balanced can achieve outstanding performance in their profession. That is why teacher sport is so important. As part of this interest in renewing teacher sport times together, some colleagues created a survey in order to determine the levels of interest amongst the collegium in offering football, volleyball, yoga etc. for the teachers again.

GROWTH IN THE U6

Posted on08 Feb 2023

The first week of the year of the cat is behind us. It was great to see how the children stormed the schoolyard waving happily and occupied the group rooms on the first morning. However, some small news awaited them. The U6 area had grown during the break. The educator Jennifer Ottofülling is now supporting Ms. Schoechert with the resourceful Researchers. But the clever Researchers have also grown. In addition to Tim Hoppe and Yen Nhi Nguyen, who have been supporting us for 12 months as part of a voluntary service, the U6 area is happy about the additional help of two other interns – Wiard Schmidt, who supports the pre-school building for 4 weeks as part of his teacher training, and Simon Jungbluth, who actively helps in the kindergarten.
The first week flew by! The focus was on Spring and, as is the case in the calendar, the next public holiday is not far away either: Carnival is just around the corner.

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