Noticeboard 27 March 2009

March 27th 2009
This month’s Noticeboard has much to report.

PA meeting with class reps on 25th March
Cindy Van Velzen welcomed everyone to the first joint meeting between the committee members and the class representatives. There were two meetings, one in the morning and another in the evening so every class rep had a chance to attend. The official minutes of the meetings will be put together and will be available soon on the website. In the meanwhile here is a short report of the main issues.
The main item for the joint meeting was to prepare for the Education Council meeting so that the PA could present parents’ concerns.

The main discussion focused on L2 teaching in primary and secondary schools. It was recognised that the issues for Primary were different from Secondary but the following is a summary of the problems voiced at the meetings:

• There is a great variation between language levels within a class.
• L2 is very demanding from class 3 upwards in secondary school.
• L2 problems are not the same across the language sections.
• Parental support in L2 varies enormously from zero knowledge to mother-tongue.
• Parental expectations differ widely
• L2 teaching is very different from L1 teaching
• Different levels of ability within a class demands differentiated teaching.

For students starting with no previous L2 knowledge, extra language support is not enough and overall teachers need training and experience to manage all the complexities of language teaching for all abilities.

Other items to be raised at the Educational Council included:
• Elections for Student reps took place in March when they should have taken place at the beginning of the year. Why was this so and why does it seems as if only L1 or L2 English students are involved with the MEP programme. Please see “News from the Oberschule”.
• The Common Room for year 7 was vandalised and is now closed to everyone. Even though the culprit is known the whole year is being collectively punished and now there is nowhere for c.80 students for study and recreation. Why is this?
• Security – how about the Harmonic Tower in Secondary school to promote respect for others.
• The amount of missing teaching hours in secondary school is unacceptable. What are the schools plans to reduce this?
• Half the students in year 5 Italian section will have to repeat the year. Why are so many failing, some even for the 2nd time?
• What has happened to Open Day projects in secondary school?

If you have any comments about any of the issues raised here, please contact your Class Representative.

Sport – we are the champions!

Eurosport this year was fantastic and the competitions were very exciting for all those who took part. Karlsruhe came third overall, after achieving first place in the girls’ football and basketball finals. Finals day was sunny and fine and many students and parents turned up to cheer on our teams. The sports teachers’ hard work and the generosity of parents involved certainly ensured that everyone had a great time and I certainly think that Karlsruhe have set a new high for future interschool competitions. The PA won an award too! The Creativity Award, presented to us by the School. Many thanks for this. Also, big thank you for all those involved: teachers, City of Karlsruhe, police escorts, Transport, Canteen and host families and parents.

22nd Schools’ Light Athletic Championships
Eurosport was not the only sport competition ESK have had this year. On 3rd February 2009, in the Europahalle, the 22nd Schools’ light Athletic championships took place and there were more than 1000 pupils from 57 different schools taking part. 25 students from the Grundschule and Oberschule represented ESK in the sprint, middle-distance race, high jump and long jump. Marcel Trebici won first place in both the 50m run and long jump and together with the rest of the ESK team, the European School Karlsruhe were the champions of the whole competition. Well done to everyone who took part!

News from the Grundschule

There have been many class trips so far this year, including the Kunstmuseum, the Landesmuseum (1D, 1E, 1F), the Eisbahn (5E), Bäker+ Pompiers à Lauterbourg (1F, 1E), Naturkundemuseum (class 4).

Also in February, classes 1 – 4 GS went to a theatre production at the Stadttheater. Many thanks to Frau Meyer for organising our own transport and to the police for the escort to ensure everyone’s safety.
The whole of the Grundschule attended a play in the Aula performed by the Schwarzes Theater in February and it was enjoyed by all who were there.
Classes 1D, 2D and 3D entered a painting competition, organised by Waldstadt Citizens Club. There were 7 medalists who were given their awards by Frau Löwe from Waldstadt.
Pupils from the Grundschule also took part in the European Competition organised by the city and B-W state. 10 pupils were awarded prizes and the award ceremony is taking place on 6th May in Karlsruhe Rathaus with Mayor Denecken and Herr hoyem. Further details can be obtained from Frau Marmillot.
At the end of March many pupils took part in the fun run – Children running for Children -
which was organised by the city or Karlsruhe. Many thanks to Frau Streul who coordinated the event, and well done to all those who took part.
The ESKADO choir gave a lovely performance for the official opening of the new Canteen Mensa building on 27th March. We all enjoyed the performance very much. Thank you.
The pupils of 5E, 5D and 5F all went skiing in Radfeld, Austria for a week in March. With perfect weather, delicious food and no injuries everyone had a fantastic time – and some of the teachers came back fitter as well – wow!
Class 3F and the Grundschule from the European School Strasbourg are visiting each other. Thanks to Frau Spenle for organising this outing.
The PA would like to thank Frau Pavlicikova for this news from the Grundschule.
News from the Oberschule
Year 6 OS were in Brussels for MEP from the 25th -28th March. The PA financial assisted this project because we believe in the benefit of inter-school activities and want to support them.
European Schools’ Model European Union Programme celebrates its 25 anniversary this year. Founded in 1984, the Programme offers students the chance to deepen their understanding of the working of the institutions of the European Union. Since that inaugural Model European Council in the Patent Office in Munich in November 1984 some 3000 students have taken part. All the European Schools participate and is one of the rare occasions when the Schools cooperate in a joint project.
2009 is a historic year as it will see the first direct cooperation with the European Parliament with a session of a Model European Parliament actually taking place in the EP building. 2009 is election year for the European Parliament and a particularly good moment for students to learn about the Parliament’s important role in European Union decision-making.

May 9th. European Day. The Princess of Denmark will be visiting our School. Afterwards, there will be a ceremony at the Marktplatz in Karlsruhe. Herr Høyem will be presenting a CD with all the national anthems on it, which has been recorded by children from our school.
27th - 29th March, the skiing championship for ESK took place in Laax, Switzerland. About 50 students from secondary went on this short trip together with 4 sports teachers. Great fun was had by all who went.
1st April - the whole of Year 6 OS is going to Struthof Concentration Camp in the Alsace.

School Security

The contract with the current security company runs out this summer and ESK are in the process of tendering for a new company. This should be completed by 1st September ready for the new school year. The new security booth is very near completion and the temporary desk inside the administration building will be removed. There is much concern about general security at the school following the dreadful events at Winneden, and clarification of all security measures are currently being discussed by the school management. The Parents’ Association are also involved with these discussions and will inform all parents of the progress made over the new few weeks.

School Canteen

The grand opening of the new canteen took place on Friday 27th March. Although the new building is very welcomed by all who eat at school, there are still decisions to be taken about the quality and value of the food served, and the long queues that build up on certain days of the week. Despite numerous requests for information from the Canteen Committee, the PA has not received anything. There have been heated discussions about the lack of transparency and the need for urgent action as we are committed to ensure the best possible solution for providing hot meals at a fair price for children who chose them.

Visiting inspectors

21st and 22nd January 2009 - Mme Mattossi (French Inspector)
Team inspection : Discovery of the World 19th - 23rd January 2009
3rd and 4th February 2009 - Mme Huismann (FI), Musilova(CZ), D. Towl (UK)
12th and 13th March 2009 - M. Rieff (SEN) Mme Zanatta (Italienische Insp.)
04 + 05.05.2009 : Mme Lortz, (Deutsche Insp.)
For further information please contact Frau Marmillot.

Interparents

Interparents is the umbrella association for all the European Schools’ Parents’ Associations. Representatives from each school’s parent association meet about once every two months to discuss issues that affect all schools. Interparents can influence decisions made by the Board of Governors in Brussels so it is important that we keep involved with Interparents. Currently, Interparents are involved with the planned reform of the Europeans Schools, and this is a very complicated topic. ESK’s PA reps are Cindy Van Velzen, and Ana Gorey (reserve: Sarah Winthrop) and if you wish to find out more about Interparents or wish to read the reports of their meetings, please visit their website, www.interparents.eu

Social News

Celtic Evening - Mrs Lesley Thomson reports:
On Friday 27th March, kilts were flying and feet were tapping at the Celtic Evening in the new canteen. Over 130 staff, parents and friends of the ESK enjoyed a convivial Celtic atmosphere. 'Zeitenwind', an Irish / Scottish folk band, were so authentic many people thought they were really from Ireland; Els van Eijk, from the kindergarten, impressed us all with her bagpiping skills; sketches, songs and poems were performed from Welsh, Irish and Scottish members of staff; food and drink was abundant and tasty and most people gave the ceilidh dancing a go (even if some had a few difficulties distinguishing left from right!). All in all, a great night. Many thanks to the members of staff who made it possible.

Forthcoming Events

Open day
The ESK Open Day is on Saturday 25th April

Details of the day for all pupils will be sent to parents shortly but here are the main points for your information:
• Pupils must be at school at 8.05am and can travel their normal way as school trams and buses will be available.
• Parents must take their own children home as there will be no School trams or busses
• Classes from the Oberschule will follow a normal Tuesday teaching day.
• Classes from the Grundschule will present their projects at 10.00am to parents
• The European School Munich Choir will be performing in the Aula at 1.00pm
• Class 6 will be offering coffee and cake in the Permanence OS from 8.30am – 12.00am and the proceeds are going towards the Abi ball.
• The PA will be offering coffee and cake in the new canteen building from 8.30am, and lunch from midday on (sausages +bread rolls)
• There will be a School Information Centre for new parents from 10.00am – 12.00am in the new canteen building.

Please note, the PA does not accept any responsibility for changes that may occur in this programme as shown above.

Orchestral Concerts
On 3rd April 2009 the European School Varese will be visiting the school with their orchestra. They will be performing twice for the school, once of the Oberschule and again for the Grundschule. Both Concerts are in the morning. Please contact Herr Da Torre (Mario.da_torre@eursc.org ) for further information.

Holiday Camps

Tennis 6th – 9th July
There is a Summer tennis training camp for students from the ESK from 6th – 9th July. This camp has been organised by a parent of ESK students, together with Jürgen Fassbender in Eggenstein for the exclusive benefit of students from the ESK. This programme has been running for two years now and is held in the first school holiday Please register early as the maximum number of participants is 20.
If you are interested in the Summer tennis camp contact Jürgen Fassbender,
tel: 0172 7438677 Email: Fassbendertennisschule@web.de.

There is also an Easter tennis camp and another summer tennis camp which are open to all children in the area.
Details of all the programmes are on the School PA website. Or alternatively contact the PA by email and we will forward the programmes to you.

Summer Holiday Adventure Camps 2009
for children from the European School
ZIP has set up an active holiday programme for the summer for children from the European School. ZIP is an event and training centre in the Hardtwald, Karlsruhe and has its own camping centre in France (Vosges). They have canoes, kick bikes, GPS, Monkey Climbing
and a lot more. The programme is built up in a way to allow everybody to participate.
You can expect to experience: water activities, low and high rope course,
team work, kick biking, barbecue, gps-games and more.

If you are interested please go to http://www.zipteam.de/download.php?f=9b7964104d8da29a70d9eb9ae454b729
http://www.zipteam.de/download.php?f=55f7b8801033f4b696877eb06d08284a
http://www.zipteam.de/download.php?f=aef7d19d2677f72081de58cc1754c9dd http://www.zipteam.de/download.php?f=383d68513727d1b79a879d6a0cd863d7
for further information in English, French, German and Dutch
Special Requests

Exchange students desperately seeking host families
There are several exchange students from outside Germany who are going to study at the European School Karlsruhe for a short time. These students are looking for a host family to live with during their stay at the school. There’s one student from Varese who is urgently looking for a host family for a longer period as he wants to enter S6 now and finish his BAC at Karlsruhe next year. Another girl from Allicante has had permission to come in May. She’s 13 years old, 3E with L2 German. Please contact us if you think you might be able to accommodate these students and we will forward you all the details.
Many thanks for your help in this matter.

Eurosport cake boxes
There are still a few cake boxes left over to be collected from the PA office. Please do not forget them – the office is open every Wednesday morning.

Urgent – we need translators – can you help?
The PA urgently need mother-tongue translators for information being sent to parents. Often the work has to be done quickly and accurately so that the latest news is available as soon as possible, however, at the moment, there are also reports that are currently in the archive that need to be translated into French, German and English, which need to be done ready for the new PA website.
If you think you might be able to help, please contact us at the PA. Many thanks.

Dates for your diary

Saturday 25th April - Open Day
Sunday 21st June - School Fete and the Etoile Education Bike Ride/Festival
Exam dates
The exams are from 26th May to 18th June for classes 5, 6 and 7. The school requests that we are all as quiet as possible outside the Aula during these times. Many thanks.
 

Your Parents’ Association, March 27 2009