APRIL 2026
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear ISW Families,
Welcome to Term 4 — and what a term it is going to be. With twelve weeks ahead of us and so much to look forward to, this is shaping up to be a truly special final stretch of the 2025–2026 school year. The energy across our school community as we returned has been uplifting, and I could not be more excited about everything we have in store, as well as the summer weather, before we close out the year together on 2nd July.
I want to begin by saying a sincere thank you for your continued partnership and support. ISW is the community it is because of the families, staff, and students who pour themselves into it every single day — and that spirit is very much alive as we step into Term 4.
What's Ahead in Term 4
Term 4 is packed with events and experiences that will make for an unforgettable end to the school year. From IGCSE and A-Level examinations and Collaborative Conferences, to field trips, the Y12 Graduation, Arts and Cultural Exhibition, Athletics Carnival Day, Y5 Moving Up Ceremony, Academic and Achievement Awards, and our end-of-year Fun Days and Class Parties — the ISW Family Term 4 Calendar has it all. Please make sure you have your copy and review it as a family so you do not miss a moment.
A reminder also that Curriculum and Assessment Overviews are now available through Toddle for all students at ISW, our central learning platform — a simple and connected way to stay in touch with your child's learning journey throughout the term.
School Safety and Security
Thank you to our families for your patience and awareness of safety during pick-up and drop-off times. A few important reminders: please drive slowly up and down the hill, and wait for myself or a member of ISW staff to come to your car and take your child out safely.
Drop-off can only occur after 8:00am, with classes beginning at 8:25am. Please do not drop your children off at school before these times unless they are registered with Before School Care with Ms Birgit.
We are also very pleased to share that we have now had phones connected in each and every room across the building, as well as security cameras installed in all hallways and externally throughout the school grounds. These upgrades significantly enhance the safety and wellbeing of all our staff and students, and bring ISW to a high standard in school security. We are proud of this investment in our community and grateful for the support that made it possible.
Stay Connected
Between newsletters, the best place to catch photos, updates, and everyday moments from school life is the International School Westpfalz Facebook and Instagram page.
If you are not already following us, we warmly invite you to join our online community — it is a lovely way to feel connected no matter where you are.
Term 4 (and hopefully summer!) is here, and it is going to be a great one. On behalf of myself and the ISW Staff, we look forward to sharing every moment of it with you all.
It is not just what we learn, but who we become together that makes ISW one of the best international schools in Germany!
Ms. Jodi
Exciting Developments at ISW
There is a wonderful buzz around the school at the moment, and a big part of that is due to exciting development work happening across our grounds. We are well underway with our brand new ISW Gym, and our senior students in particular are absolutely thrilled — the space will allow them to work out, box, lift weights, and much more. It is a fantastic addition to our school and one we know will be very well used. A big thank you to Danny and Danny’s father Russell, who painted our ISW Logo “Dare to Do What You Dream” as well as some new inspiring prints on the Gym’s walls. We are so very lucky to have so many remarkable people support our beautiful school
You may also have noticed us beginning to clear out the old "secret garden" area — this will soon be transformed into a brand-new soccer pitch, giving our students a dedicated space to play and compete. Alongside this, we are also renovating the basketball court, which will receive a fresh new surface, updated line markings, and new basketball rings.
We are incredibly excited to see all of this coming together, and we cannot wait for our students to enjoy these fantastic new spaces. Watch this space — and our Facebook and Instagram pages — for updates as the work progresses!
UPCOMING EVENTS
- APRIL 20 | PRIMARY ASSEMBLY | 2:30pm
- APRIL 22 | COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCE | Contact teacher to sign up for time slots
- APRIL 24 | MAKER SPACE INCURSION FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS
- APRIL 27 | SECONDARY ASSEMBLY | 9:00am
- APRIL 30 | P&F MEETING | 8:30am in the Chapel - Interested parents are welcomed to join
PRIMARY NEWS
COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCE
Wednesday 22nd April
Pupil free day
Please contact your class teacher if you still haven't booked an appointment.
TODDLE
Reporting
For the Semester Two Reports, we wil be using Toddle, which will replace the previous reporting document we have used. Further information on how to access these reports will be provided closer to the time they are sent out.
Unit Plans
At the end of each term, you will now be able to view each unit plan for English, Maths, Science and Global Perspectives as well as specialist subjects. This has replaced the Curriculum Overviews. They will provide you will information about what learning objectives are covered, what strategies are used to support students
VENDING MACHINE
Year 2 and Year 3 will be allowed to use the vending machine but only during lunch time on a Wednesday. Gabe from Year 12 will be stood at the vending machine during this time to assist them. Students can bring in money if they wish to purchase anything. Please note, once they become more independent in doing this, we will open it up to more days.
SECONDARY NEWS
As we came to the end of March, our Secondary students were involved in a number of meaningful events that celebrated learning, reflection and future planning.
Students in Years 6–12 took part in the Science Expo, families joined us for the Mock Exam Results Feedback Evening, and students also had the opportunity to engage in our Career Fair. It was a strong way to finish the term and a great reminder of the effort, growth and preparation happening across Secondary.
Looking ahead, April and May will be an important time for many of our older students as the IGCSE and A-Level exam period begins on 23 April. We also look forward to our Collaborative Conferences on 22 April, which are always a valuable opportunity for families and teachers to connect and share in each student’s progress. In addition, students in Years 9 and 10 will have the opportunity to take part in Work Experience Week later in the term, helping them build confidence and make important connections between school and future pathways.
MAKER SPACE INCURSION
We are also excited that our students will take part in the Maker Space Incursion this Friday, which is a great opportunity for hands-on learning, creativity and problem-solving. Experiences like these continue to enrich learning across Secondary and give students opportunities to engage in practical, memorable ways.
SPECIALIST TEAM NEWS
DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Our students have made great progress in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program. During their recent practice journey, they hiked to Burg Hohenecken, cooked dinner, and enjoyed fun camp games, while improving their physical fitness, teamwork, and volunteer skills. The big next big step is the Qualifying Journey on June 2–3!
They are creating great memories together, and we are proud of their growth.
APPROACH TO LANGUAGES
At ISW, we take a hands-on and creative approach to language learning. A great example is the French activity led by Ms Sophie, where students actively engaged in a simulated shopping experience. Thank you, Ms Sophie, for making learning so enjoyable!
At ISW, we take a hands-on and creative approach to language learning. A great example is the French activity led by Ms Sophie, where students actively engaged in a simulated shopping experience. Thank you, Ms Sophie, for making learning so enjoyable.
COMMUNITY NEWS
COUNTRY/ CULTURAL BOOTH PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are thrilled to announce that the ISW Annual Arts and Culture Exhibition will be held on June 3rd, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
This year, we are taking things to the next level. Beyond our stunning gallery of student artwork and featured guest artists, the evening will include interactive artist demos and live student performances. It’s going to be "bigger and better"—but to truly make it a global celebration, we need you.
🏛️ The Cultural Booths - Call for Country Ambassadors
The heart of our event is the outdoor cultural booths. We are looking for parent volunteers to represent their home countries and cultures. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your heritage and pride with our diverse student body.
If you are interested in hosting a booth, here are some ideas to help you plan your display:
• Visual Identity: Proudly display your national flag and a map to show our students where your journey began.
• Traditional Attire: We encourage volunteers to wear traditional costumes or clothing that represents your culture's history.
• A Taste of Home: Offer small food samples (please include a list of ingredients for allergy awareness).
• Storytelling through Media: Use photos, postcards, or travel brochures to showcase your country's landscapes and landmarks.
• Living Traditions: Bring along art pieces, musical instruments, or even coordinate a mini-performance!
• Interactive Activities: Consider a simple craft, a traditional game, or teaching a few words in your native language.
• Currency & Artifacts: Display local currency (banknotes/coins) or everyday household items that are unique to your culture.
Tents, tables, and chairs will be provided and set up for you. Please kindly let us know if you have extra needs for your setup.
📝 How to Sign Up
Ready to put your country on the map? Please click the link below to register your booth by May 20th
Whether you want to host a booth solo or team up with other parents from the same region, we can’t wait to see the vibrant colors and traditions you bring to ISW. Let’s make this an unforgettable evening for our children!
PARENT AND FRIENDS (P&F) NEWS
The P&F is the heartbeat of our parent community. We’re here to foster a fun, inclusive environment where families can connect and collaborate.
Here are our recent highlights:
- Mastering Toddle: To support everyone with the new Learning Management System, we initiated a school-hosted Toddle Workshop to help parents navigate the platform with ease.
- Welcoming New Families: We were thrilled to represent ISW parents at the recent Open Day, greeting potential new families and sharing what makes our school community so special.
- ISW Mugs Now Available: Show your school spirit! Our custom ISW mugs are officially for sale at the Front Office. They are €10 for one, or €15 for two. Please remember to bring exact change.
- Building our Foundation: To support all this activity, we have also finalized our P&F Charter and Bylaws. While it may be "behind-the-scenes" news, these documents ensure we have the structure and guidance to support our members fairly and transparently.
- Have a project in mind? Whether it’s a small project or a big event, we want to help you bring it to life! We’ve created a quick and easy guide below to help you turn your "spark" into a P&F reality.
If you’d like to get involved, please join us at our next meeting or click the link below to join the P&F WhatsApp Community.
Next P&F Meeting
April 30th, 8:30 am
ISW Chapel
Join us:
LIFE AT ISW
Science Expo: Curiosity in Action
One of the standout moments we are carrying with us into this term is the enthusiasm and inquiry shown at our recent Science Expo. Seeing students from across every year group present their experiments, explain their thinking, and reflect on their findings with genuine confidence was an extraordinary thing. From biological studies to engineering challenges, the range and quality of work on display spoke volumes about the kind of learners we are nurturing at ISW. A huge congratulations to every student who took part, and sincere thanks to Mr. Marin and the science faculty and staff who made it happen.
Career Fair: Expanding Horizons
Our inaugural ISW Career Fair was another highlight to celebrate as we move forward into the new term. We welcomed a diverse and impressive group of professionals — from medicine and engineering to the arts, military service, technology, and entrepreneurship — who gave generously of their time to speak with our secondary students as well as students from our neighbouring BBS Schule. The conversations sparked that day were exactly the kind we hope students carry with them in their chosen pathways: new ideas, new possibilities, and a broader sense of what their futures might hold. Events like this are invaluable for our community, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the terms and years ahead. A big thank you to Ms Lili for facilitating the event and making it happen.
Open Day: Growing Our Community
We were also thrilled to host our Open Day and welcome families and community members through our doors. ISW was at its best — warm, purposeful, and full of life. Our students shone as hosts, our staff were welcoming and passionate, and the energy in the building was everything we work so hard to create. If you know a family who is considering ISW for their child, please encourage them to reach out — we are always happy to open our doors. A big thank you to our Marketing Team of Ms Natascha and Ms Hoa who did an amazing job bringing this event to life.
