Berlin, Germany Report of what it's like to live there - 10/17/15
Personal Experiences from Berlin, Germany
School Name:
Berlin International School (BIS)
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Our children were here for 5th - 7th and 3rd - 5th grades.
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2013 - 2016
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
US Government
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
We were looking for a school with the PYP/IB curriculum and BIS also offered some differentiation for math, which was important as one of our children was in AAP in Fairfax and was working well above grade level. The proximity of the school was also important -- it's only 2km from our housing -- because our kids were on a bus for 1+ hour each way at our last post.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
I would recommend contacting the school about admission as early as possible to increase the chances of getting in -- due to its size, there is a finite amount of space. Admissions were straight-forward, and we had a final interview with the children upon our arrival.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
There is a buddy-family program and the school offers a special Student Ambassador program and welcome day for new families before the school year starts to help ease new students in.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
The Primary School is very welcoming, the school even has a counselor specifically to help children in transition. Emails to the principal are answered directly, and even our experience in the Secondary School has been positive.
2. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A (excellent) to F (unacceptable/terrible) and provide comments:<br><br>Overall fair and equitable treatment of all students and families:
A+ Concerns are immediately addressed, communication is good and open with teachers, principals, and staff.
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Fantastic. All teachers have been responsive to emails.
4. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
Bus service is sub-contracted and the bill comes separately (ours is sent directly to the Embassy for payment). For communication with the bus company, we contact the school's transportation coordinator.
5. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
Primary School offers differentiated groups/classes for math, German, and English. Secondary teachers also differentiate, but all within the same classroom.
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
See above.
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
I think their grading is more lax than in a US system, but if your child is internally-motivated, they will be fine. Even those who needs more encouragement to get engaged at school will find a supportive environment.
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
Not as much homework as in the US. Primary school has assignments sent home on Tuesday, due the following Monday. Children have to figure out how to manage their time so they're not crashing on Sunday night. Fifth grade is a pivotal point on time/work management with the "Exhibition."
9. Administration-parent communication:
Even the principal writes back, knows all the kids, etc.
10. Teacher-student communication:
Good.
11. Academics, answer the following questions "yes" or "no" with an explanation if appropriate:<br><br>Are there any classes or subjects where students are not appropriately challenged?
We still struggle with ensuring one of our children is challenged in math.
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
Just additional challenging work for one child.
13. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
Yes.
14. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
Yes.
15. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes, the art/music program is robust and valued.
16. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Starting in 5th grade, the school includes a week-long class trip as part of the curriculum. There are also many class day field trips throughout the year.
17. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
Yes, sports and other programs.
18. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Absolutely.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
Special counselor for transitions, she also works with children on anti-bullying and other issues.
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Library is well-stocked and they run a book exchange every year. When we leave, we'll be donating our outgrown English language books as well.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
All grades have ICT classes in their week schedule. Starting in 5th grade, children engage in a long-term group project culminating in "Exhibition" in May -- all work is done on the computer and worked on at home with a USB stick. School also uses Mathletics, which is a computer-based math practice program.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
There are two sports teachers, one of whom is super-involved and runs most of the after school and GISST teams as well. The teachers also arranged for BIS kids to run in the Berlin Mini-Marathon and in tournaments throughout Germany and Europe.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
Maximum number of children per classroom is 24, and only three classrooms per grade. The school is smaller than the other alternatives (BBIS, JFK, BBS) and is wonderfully cozy and friendly. There may be difficulty getting into an open slot, as the school doesn't know about availability until the spring for the following year.
6. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
IB programme at the HS level. Middle Years Programme for middle school and PYP for Primary.
7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes.
8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
Lots of after school activities are available: music, sports, other activities (such as cooking, experiments, woodworking) in the Primary School. Activities for Secondary students are more limited to sports (soccer, volleyball, badminton, etc) but additional activities such as Model UN and Drama are available for HS students. The Primary School also holds a full-on dramatic production every year.
9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes, all teachers can speak English. Our children have had teachers from Ireland, England, Wales, Jamaica, Poland, and Germany.
10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Noted above.
11. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
Yes.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Our children have friends from all over the world here. Perhaps 40% of the school are local German children whose parents want them to attend an English-speaking school. The rest are expat and diplomatic families.
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
No, there is decent turnover every year at the school -- almost everyone has been new at one time.
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
Its small size and inclusive atmosphere.
2. Greatest challenge?
BIS is now being challenged by the local Berlin Senat for school accreditation for not offering enough German-language education (they are trying to ensure against other ethnic schools preventing lack of assimilation, ie they don't want the Turkish immigrants attending Turkish-only schools and then not learning decent German). This has resulted in recent changes to the curriculum to include more German course work at the upper grades for Mother-tongue and advanced German language students: ie our older child receives Ethics instruction in German (though the teacher also provides guidance in English). This is to meet the local government's requirements and remain an accredited school. Some local German parents are upset (as they're paying for English-language education at a private school) but the school is trying to do what it can to pacify the politicians AND keep the parents happy.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Absolutely. We are one of only three U.S. Embassy families at this school. Most others attend BBIS or JFK (also good choices), but we are so thankful we found BIS as it has been the perfect fit for our family.
