Our students joined more than 159,400 Diploma Programme (DP) students around the world who received their results from the May 2017 examination session. This marks a 6.42 percent increase compared with last year, and they join a community of more than 1.7 million DP graduates in 152 countries worldwide. Around the world, this year’s students received an average diploma score of 29.95 points (of 45 possible maximum). This session showcases our school’s average diploma score and pass rate, which continue to be higher than the world averages.
I send my congratulations to all of our students who have received their results, a fitting return for all the hard work and commitment they’ve shown in completing their studies.
According to Dr Siva Kumari, IB Director General, “The IB’s preparation for entry to higher education is second to none and, in recognition of this, the world’s finest universities welcome DP graduates as academically well-prepared humanists, who will make mindful contributions to our world today and in years to come.”
“These effects are also confirmed by independent studies, so we know that the IB increases students’ academic achievement, and the probability of high school graduation and college enrolment. Other independent studies prove that our students are well-prepared to succeed in post-secondary study. And, perhaps most importantly, they are set to make important and inspiring contributions to their communities, and will help achieve the IB’s mission of education for a better world.”
I am delighted to offer my best wishes to our students receiving their results following a strong commitment to learning and a great deal of hard work. I would also like to thank the teachers and staff at Heidelberg International School. Of course the students could not achieve these results without years of support and assistance.
Kevin Whitmore
(Rhein-Neckar Zeitung, Tuesday 4th of July 2017)
H.I.S. Zeitung
Grade 5 students have published their annual H.I.S. Zeitung. The newspaper is available in the internal section on our website: http://www.hischool.de
Read the students’ articles online on the H.I.S. website!
Project by Grade 5 & Frau Hohenwarter
For a few months our Grade 4 students practiced and studied hard to pass their road safety training, which marks an important stage in the life of a German school child.
Going through this process children are made aware that they are on their way to being responsible adults! In German culture we believe that children in Grade 4 are trust-worthy enough to be able to follow traffic rules seriously and to pay attention to others when they are on the road. This ritual should also help them to connect to the community they live in and become more independent by cycling to school on their own.
Congratulations to all of those who passed the road-safety training this year!
Another rite of passage that we celebrated recently at H.I.S. was a rite of passage that our Grade 4 students (AGP German group) prepared for our EP 2 students. As part of their unit: Rites of Passage, Grade 4 students researched about the tradition of „Schultüten“. After that they planned and organized the „Schultüten“ ritual for our EP 2 students.
For the „Schultüten“ the Grade 4 students rolled coloured paper in the form of a cone and filled them with little gifts and sweets for „their“ EP 2 student. This year they decided to have a scavenger hunt, where the little ones had to find their „Schultüten“ by following the signs and hints on a map. At the end our EP 2 students found their „Schultüten“ hanging in the „Schultütenbaum“.
By handing over those cones the older students wanted to make the transition into Grade 1 (which would be the beginning of school in Germany) a little bit sweeter. This ceremony also indicated that next year’s Grade 5 students care for the younger students and support them whenever needed! It was lovely to watch how proud all of the students were! Nice job, Grade 4!
text & photos SH
As culmination of their learning in Visual and Performing Arts, students from Grade 6 to 10 presented their work to an audience on the evenings of 12 & 13th June.
Students thrilled the community with an absolutely fantastic showcase of their artwork and engaging performances. Grades 7 and 9, presented their artwork in an outdoor gallery. 
They worked on two separate units of inquiry: ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ (Grade 9) in which students explored their relationship with the natural world & ‘Look Again’ (Grade 7) which involved students investigating distortions and reflections.
In Performing Arts, students of Grade 6, 8 and 10 presented three different plays, showcasing a wide range of performance skills, like acting, production management, ensemble work and musical performance.
While the grade 6 students presented a comedy, ‘Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations’ by Sir Alan Ayckbourn, the grade 8’s presented a powerful self-devised play, ‘Maybe I can Help!’ which revolved around the lives of teenagers, drawing from life experiences.
The grade 10’s presented ‘Alice!’ by Lindsay Price, a visually pleasing rendition of Lewis Carol’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’, with a mix of media theatre-film-music, moving set elements, and engaging characters.
The evening was a wonderful celebration of the talent and creativity of our students. We are very proud of their achievements and applaud their risk-taking spirit!
Kirsty Mottram, Visual Arts Rituparna Bhattacharya, Performance Arts
It was very special to see all the different grades showing their great skills on stage. EP students shared their knowledge about plants – it was fun practicing with the students to get ready to present to an audience. Grade 1 told the story of ”Peter and the Wolf” knowing the different parts of art.
Grade 2 showed some incredible risk taking skills as they practiced and performed with puppets.
Grade 3 created a masterpiece about human rights, a great performance covering all aspects of a drama play.
Grade 4 saved ecosystems in a fun way and Grade 5 put on stage a hilarious adaptation of the play ”Troy”.
It is great as a teacher to watch the students practice in the classroom and to see how they grow so much acquiring the skills to perform.
Congratulations to all PYP students, it was a fun journey to complete the summer performance.
text: JL, photos: AS
After all of their hard work, Grade 4 students celebrated their final Genre Book Project Fair.
These students have learned so much about genre, and we’ve had a lot of fun watching them show it through song, monologue, games, collages, book trailers, diaries, children’s illustrated books, dioramas and timelines.
Grace explains her Genre Book Project to Annika’s mom.
Isaac goes over his diorama for the book, “The Grimm conclusion with classmates and parents.
Jenna presents her book trailer to Ichi’s parents.
Filiz explains the rules of her game based on the book, “The Austere Academy” to Ryan, Lilly, Mrs. Douglas, and Evan’s mom.
May enjoys telling about her genre book project to Filiz’s mom, Filiz, Mrs. Novak and Leo’s dad.
It is all fun and games…. A very successful and fun closing to a very hard working group of students all year long!
Stay posted with our Facebook page! Grade 4 book trailers coming your way!!!
text & photos FW
Electronic Books Now Available From H.I.S. Library
We have just added our second set of e-books with enhanced content to our collection. Follett Lightbox books are visually appealing and include kid-friendly links, activities, videos, and more.
We have a set of 6 books about various ecosystems and have recently purchased titles about Gemstones, Crystals, Climate Change, Migrants and Refugees, Landslides, Avalanches, Blood and the Cardiovascular System, Lungs and the Respiratory System, and Disease.
Our library catalog link is now located at the bottom of the H.I.S. website. From there, search the catalog for “lightbox” and when you find one you want to read (and experience!) click on “open.” You may be asked to log in to read the e-book; if you don’t know your library log-in please contact the librarian! (Grades 3-6 should know their log-ins as we use them frequently in library class.)
The books are appropriate for middle years and up. In the library today, grade 4 students practiced note-taking while using the ecosystems e-books (Caves, Boreal Forests, Rainforests, Deciduous Forests, Deserts, and Wetlands).
These books can be read online from most devices! Enjoy!
text & photos: PC
I send my congratulations to all of our students who have received their results, a fitting return for all the hard work and commitment they’ve shown in completing their studies.
