With our minds open, we need to be nourished with cumulative experiences that shape our world-view. Through opportunities, which are fully integrated into school life, we become part of a flourishing culture of new perspectives.
The school year is divided into semesters. The first term starts end of August and the second term finishes end of June. Shorter breaks of 1 or 2 weeks throughout the school year are Autumn Break, Winter Break, Fasching, and Spring Break.
The school opens at 08:15, lessons start at 08:30. The school day ends at 15:10, students in the Diploma Programme may have extended lessons until 16:00. All students have a morning and a lunch break. Early Primary students may have an additional break in the afternoon.
H.I.S. offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian lunches, delivered by a local caterer. The costs are not included in the school fees. Alternatively, students may bring packed snack and lunches from home. Water is available for all students and staff.
After School Care is offered to Primary students requiring supervision after the end of the school day until 17:30. Students in After School Care are provided with an afternoon snack and have the opportunity to take part in After School Activities once a week. Additional costs apply for After School Care.
A choice of After School Activities is offered Monday through Thursday. Activities change every semester and may include: School Band, Creative Art Class, Chess Club, Photography Club, Dance, Basketball and Football. Participation in some activities can be limited to students of certain age groups. Additional costs apply for After School Activities.
The Parent Sounding Board is an internal group of H.I.S., which includes parents and members of the school Leadership Team.
The purpose of the Parent Sounding Board is to enhance and encourage further communication within the H.I.S. community by advising, counselling and supporting the school management to fulfil the H.I.S. Guiding Statements.
There are lots of opportunities for parents to be a part of school life, such as reading to students in the classroom, assisting on field trips, becoming a Class Volunteer Co-ordinator or working within the Parent Teacher Group (PTG).
Interaction between home and school is encouraged as it enhances the learning environment of all students. The H.I.S. parent community is seen as a very rich and important asset.
Trips to the local forest are organised throughout the school year for all Primary students (Early Primary – Grade 5).
Students in Grade 3-5 take part in overnight field trips to destinations in Germany every school year.
As part of the physical education programme, swimming lessons are organised for students in Grade 3 and 4.
Cycling proficiency and road safety training in cooperation with the police is part of the programme for students in Grade 4.
The DoE Silver Award programme is offered to students in Grade 10.
Students in Grade 6-10 take part in overnight field trips to destinations in Germany every school year.
Participation in MUN conferences (Model United Nations) is open to Secondary students.
At the beginning of the school year, Grade 11 students spend an outdoor activities weekend together.
H.I.S. is committed to support service opportunities for students and the H.I.S. community to encourage learning and personal development. Some of these service opportunities arise through cooperation with charitable organisations, through voluntary work, work projects and fund-raising.
The annual H.I.S. Waldpiraten Run continues to raise substantial funds for the Waldpiraten, a local charity organisation. The Waldpiraten Camp offers adventure activities and respite from cancer treatment for young cancer patients and their siblings.
H.I.S. has a long-standing cooperation with the charitable organisation Make Change Possible (MCP). Formally founded in June 2010, MCP is a non-profit organisation, with the aim of getting people across nations and races to work together, as equal partners, by actively engaging in the local community’s life, in Namibia, Africa.
H.I.S. also supports ‘Habitat for Humanity’. In 2018 the first group of 9 Grade 11 CAS students travelled to Warsaw, Poland to assist in the building of much needed housing. The students found a number of ways to raise money to cover some costs of their visit and brought back a wealth of experiences to share with the community. Further trips are planned to develop this relationship.
If you have any questions or require further information, I will be happy to help.
Heidelberg International School
Wieblinger Weg 7
69123 Heidelberg
Germany
Anke Schumacher
Admissions Counsellor
