Dear ISW Families,

There is a real sense of excitement across the school at the moment, and for good reason.

This week, our long-awaited Arts and Cultural Exhibition finally arrives. This year’s theme, Weave, captures something deeply meaningful about who we are as a community. It reflects the way our diverse cultures, experiences, and identities come together to form something stronger, richer, and more resilient.

This will be a true cultural feast. Our students have been working with creativity, care, and pride to showcase their stories, perspectives, and talents. We will celebrate the many different cultures of ISW through our cultural booths presented by our families and we are especially delighted to welcome members of the Landstuhl community to join us in celebrating this vibrant expression of art and culture.

So, dust off your cocktail gear for a bit of glitz and glamour, and join us next Wednesday 3rd June at 5.30m and expect to be dazzled!

A heartfelt thank you goes to the team who have brought this vision to life: Ms Kasia, Ms Maia, Mr Jo, Ms Hoa, Ms Natascha, and Mr Danny.

Athletics Carnival – 18 June

Looking ahead, our ISW Athletics Carnival is fast approaching. For our newer families, this is one of the absolute highlights of the school year. It is a day where the entire community comes together to cheer, compete, and celebrate.

And yes, the dress-up element is very much part of the fun. Think coloured tutus, coloured hair, and coloured zinc cream. The more committed the outfit, the louder the cheers. It is a day full of energy, laughter, and school spirit, and everyone is encouraged to start planning now and get involved.

Food packages for the day will be available for pre-purchase and organised jointly by the school and our P&F. Please keep an eye out for communication from Ms Natascha and Ms Viki with full details, and please share this information within our community once it arrives.

International Children’s Day – 1 June

On 1 June, we celebrate International Children’s Day, recognising the unique and precious qualities that make every child special. It is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the joy, curiosity, and individuality our students bring to our school every day.

Our P&F Community

A sincere thank you to our Parents & Friends (P&F), who continue to go above and beyond in supporting the school. Their work not only strengthens our sense of community, but also plays a vital role in helping the school successfully hold the many events that bring us together.

If you are interested in getting involved, even by attending just one meeting or offering support in a small way, we warmly encourage you to reach out. Working alongside the P&F is both impactful and rewarding, and they are also an important part of the communication and partnership that families value with the school.

Looking to 2026/27- Classes and Staffing

Over the coming weeks, I will also be finalising and sharing the classes and teacher allocations for the new school year. There will not be a great deal of structural change, but as in any dynamic international community, we will be both farewelling some staff and welcoming new colleagues.

Once everything is confirmed, I will share the full overview with you as soon as possible, so that families have clarity and time to talk with their children about the year ahead. Next year is already shaping up to be an exciting one, and from where I stand, it has every chance of being one of our best yet.

Our Strategic Direction – Future Skills at ISW

As we look ahead, ISW is taking important steps to strengthen its identity as a future-focused, student-centred international school. Our simple guiding idea is that every student should be known well, challenged appropriately, and supported to develop the skills they will need for a changing world, not just for their next exam.

In the coming years, our work will be shaped by a Future Skills 2050 mindset. This means building strong academic foundations and, at the same time, developing capabilities such as critical and creative thinking, collaboration, digital and AI fluency, resilience, global awareness, and the confidence to navigate new situations. You will see this increasingly in classrooms through inquiry projects, real-world problems, and opportunities for students to present, reflect, and take greater ownership of their learning.

A key feature of this direction is a stronger focus on coaching and personalised pathways. Instead of one fixed route that every student follows in the same way, ISW is being designed as an adaptive learning environment where all students share a core entitlement, but their pathway can flex according to their strengths, interests, progress, and future plans. Coaching conversations will help students set goals, reflect on who they are becoming as learners, and make informed decisions about subjects, projects, and future directions.

The school is also expanding the range of pathways in the secondary years, under Mr David’s guidance, so that students can follow different forms of recognised learning while remaining part of one coherent ISW culture. This includes traditional academic routes such as Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels, more applied and vocational options, and pathways that connect to German and international higher education. The aim is not to push students into a single narrow choice, but to keep doors open while helping them build a meaningful portfolio of skills, experiences, and qualifications.

All of this remains closely aligned with the SBW Haus des Lernens philosophy already embedded in ISW’s mission, especially the idea that “Curriculum Follows Passion”. In practice, this means student interests and talents are taken seriously and used as powerful entry points into rigorous and exploratory learning. The goal is for ISW graduates to be multilingual, ethically grounded, globally competent young people who can create value, work well with others, and adapt to new challenges throughout their lives.

ISW is also deepening partnerships with universities, regional organisations, and initiatives and this will be the new portfolio Ms Lili will be driving. The goal is to bring the wider world into the school so that students can engage with real research questions, community issues, internships, mentors, and projects long before graduation. Over time, this will support the development of a Future Skills Passport that documents not only grades, but also projects, experiences, and evidence of growth as learners.

All of this will be brought together in the ISW Strategic Plan, which I will share later this year. It is an ambitious but grounded roadmap designed to keep ISW academically rigorous, deeply caring, and genuinely future-ready for every child in our truly international community.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. The coming weeks are some of the most vibrant, and exciting of the year, and we look forward to sharing them with you.

Warm regards,

Ms. Jodi

To help us achieve this, please ensure your child arrives at school with sunscreen already applied and a filled water bottle to ensure they stay properly hydrated. Additionally, please provide a packed lunch and snacks to keep their energy levels high, unless you have already pre-ordered a school meal for the day.

Thank you for helping us keep our kids sun-safe, well-hydrated, and fueled up for a fantastic day of fun and games!

There will be no school, morning club, after school care nor lunch at the school on this day.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Link to sign up for volunteering will be sent out shortly.

• PARENT CHAPERONES for EY to Y3: Sign-ups for chaperone slots will be sent out directly by your child's homeroom teacher.
• PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR STATION SUPPORT: we need support at various event stations, including: - Field Events - Athletics - Ball Games - Finals (Sprints) - House Relays The day is split into two convenient time blocks, and you are welcome to sign up for one or both: ⏰ Block 1: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM ⏰ Block 2: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM No experience is necessary! Further details and instructions will be sent out along with the sign-up link.
• PARENT RELAY RACE: Parents can sign up to run in the relay races based on their child's house colors. It’s a great way to show your team spirit!
• While the school will be providing tents, parents are more than welcome to bring their own tents or pop-up gazebos to ensure everyone has plenty of extra shade throughout the event.

HOUSE COLORS

Students are grouped into houses by colors and will need to wear a t-shirt for their colored house for that day. Since this will be a day of sports and movement, a lightweight shirt would be best.

If you have yet to find out what color house your child is in, please reach out to your homeroom teacher.

There will be awards for students, parents and staff for best house color dress up selected by P&F representatives

• RED
• BLUE
• WHITE
• GREEN

PRE-ORDERED MEALS

To help with the food preparation and distribution flow, it is recommended that you pre-order lunch meals for your child and yourself with payment directly paid to the school's IBAN. We have sent out a separate email/ Toddle announcement regarding the payment information on Toddle shortly.

All meal options are €5.

• 1 hotdog + 1 water bottle
• 1 burger + 1 water bottle
• 1 veggie burger + 1 water bottle

P&F BOOTH

The P&F will be providing waters, fruits and snacks at their booth.

FIELD TRIPS

Year 3, 4 and 5 visited Kurpfalz Park

Check out the Year 3, 4 and 5 on their latest field trip to the Kurpfalz Park. Adventure was had by all! We got to ride on bumper boats, paddle swan boats, and even ride a ski lift across the park. I think the most fun was had on the alpine coaster. Students were able to practice their understanding of force, friction, and gravity as they navigated the coaster. To top it off, we got to explore a few different large playgrounds, including a pirate themed one. It was a great day!

Year 1 and 2 visited Neunkirchener Zoo

The Year 1 and 2 students had a wonderful field trip to the Neunkircher Zoo. Even though the weather was cold and wet, everyone still had a fantastic time exploring the zoo in small groups with our parent chaperones.

During the trip, we saw many amazing animals including lions, giraffes, elephants, peacocks, penguins, orangutans, zebras, and more. One of the highlights was visiting the petting zoo, where we got to meet and feed the goats.

We also enjoyed playing at the different playgrounds throughout the zoo and eating our lunches together in the picnic area. It was a fun and exciting day filled with learning, laughter, and great memories for all the students.

Early Years and Reception's Trip to Kaiserslautern Zoo

Early Years and Reception had a wonderful day on their trip to the zoo in Kaiserslautern. The children thoroughly enjoyed spending time outdoors in the sunshine while exploring the zoo and discovering a wide variety of animals from around the world.

Throughout the day, the children were excited to see many different animals up close, sharing their observations and asking lots of thoughtful questions. The visit provided a fantastic opportunity to develop their curiosity about the natural world while creating special memories with their friends.

One of the highlights of the trip was the adventure playground, where the children had great fun climbing, balancing, sliding and playing together. Their smiles and laughter could be seen throughout the day as they enjoyed the different activities and spent time with their classmates in the beautiful weather.

The trip was a wonderful learning experience and a lovely way for the children to build confidence, independence and friendships outside of the classroom.

MOVING UP MORNING | YEAR 5 | TUESDAY JUNE 30th | 5PM

We are delighted to invite parents to our Year 5 Moving Up Ceremony, a special event celebrating the hard work, achievements and personal growth of our students throughout the year.

This ceremony marks an important milestone as our Year 5 students prepare to take their next exciting step into Year 6. It will be an opportunity to reflect on their successes, celebrate memorable moments from the year, and recognise the effort and determination they have shown across all areas of school life.

The evening will include celebrations of student achievements, special presentations, and time to look ahead to the exciting opportunities and responsibilities that come with becoming Year 6 students.

We look forward to sharing this memorable occasion with our families as we celebrate the students’ accomplishments and their journey into the final year of primary school.

Further information regarding the event will be shared with parents closer to the date by Mr. John.

May has been an incredibly full and rewarding month across Secondary, with students taking part in a wide range of experiences that supported learning, personal growth and community connection.

RESIDENTIAL TRIP

One of the highlights of the month was the BeVenturesome Residential Trip to Morzine, France. During the last week of May, students in Years 5 to 8 spent four days immersed in outdoor adventure activities including hiking, kayaking, white water rafting, rock climbing and high ropes challenges. It was wonderful to see students step outside their comfort zones, encourage one another and develop confidence and resilience through new experiences. These opportunities play an important role in helping students grow socially and emotionally, while creating lasting memories with their peers. A huge thank you to the teachers, parent chaperones and the BeVenturesome team for supporting our students throughout the trip.

YEAR 9 AND 10 WORK EXPERIENCE

Our Year 9 and 10 students also recently completed their Work Experience placements. We have received very positive feedback from many employers regarding students’ professionalism, attitude and willingness to learn. Work experience remains an important opportunity for students to explore possible career pathways and better understand the skills and expectations of the workplace. We thank the many businesses, families and community members who helped make these placements possible.

EXAMS

Meanwhile, our IGCSE, AS and A-Level students are now approaching the final stage of the examination period, with exams concluding on 9 June. We would like to acknowledge the resilience, focus and preparation students have shown over the past weeks and thank families for the support they have provided during this demanding period.

FUTURE SKILLS EXPO | Y6-Y8

The Future Skills Expo will be held on June 26 from 9:00am to 10:15am. Parents are invited to join us to learn more about what our Year 6-8 students have been working on this term. More information regarding the event will be sent out shortly.

YEAR 12 GRADUATIONS

Finally, we are also looking forward to celebrating our Year 12 Graduation, an important milestone for our graduating students as they prepare for the next stage of their journey beyond ISW. It is always a special moment for the entire school community to recognise the achievements, growth and contributions of our graduating class.

As always, thank you for your continued support of our Secondary students and staff.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

We are very excited for our five students, who are working for their Bronze Award and will set out for Gelterswoog Campsite in Kaiserslautern to complete the Adventurous Journey section of the Duke of Edinburgh programme.

During the expedition, the group will hike to Burg Hohenecken while building outdoor skills like camp craft, navigation, map reading, and collaborative research.

They will be fully self-sufficient, carrying all necessary equipment, food, and tents, and spending a night camping while taking full responsibility for themselves.

On June 1st and 2nd, the team will follow carefully planned routes, testing their determination and skills in warm conditions. We look forward to seeing how their sense of teamwork, resilience, love for nature and curiosity develop throughout the experience.

As part of their Team Goals, participants will document and identify different tree and plant species through photography.

A DAY IN THE BIOLOGY LAB

Take a sneak peak of Year 9 students' hands-on learning by dissecting pig hearts in the Biology lab.
They have learnt about valves, ventricules... and if a picture is worth a thousand words, an experiment is worth a thousand pictures!