LIS OBSERVER Newsletter of the International School e. V. · IB World School JanuaryJanuary 20152015

Content 2 From the Head of School German Teacher Award International Day in Primary 3 Letter from the Board On 6th November the students in Grades 1-5 were able to experience a verypecial special da yday 4 PaMUN XIV where they were introduced to the cultures and customs of some different countriesntries dururin duringg Parent Forum at LIS: International Day. Many students got dressed up for the day, and there was colourfa colourfulrful “Why Get Parents Involved?” parade around the school as they travelled to a rotation of countries whichnclude includedded Australia, Mexico, Greece, Canada and Japan. During the 45 minutes that theype espentnnt at at 5 Experiencing the History of World War I each place they were able to take part in activities, find out facts, taste food andd make make handicrafts that were linked to the country they were visiting. There were also visitors to 6 School Health Newsletter sitors to the school who were able to get the students involved in activities like drumming,ming, hoola- ola-hoola- 7 Primary Student Council hoops, graffiti art and hip hop. The day was a genuine whole community ojectproject whichwhi whichch would not have been successful without the collaboration of teachers, educators,specialis specialistslists 8 Christmas in a Shoebox and parents working together. International Day was a great way of encouragingever everyoneyone First ECC-Holiday Show to appreciate and promote internationalism, and it was another highlight of ethe Primar Primaryy school year. 9 Christmas Concerts at LIS Sarah Brannon, PrimaryPrincipal Principalp 10 Hort Highlights before Christmas Why are Toy Weapons Allowed in Hort

12 Living in Leipzig

IGCSE Certifi cate Assembly

On the 20th of November 2014, the current grade explained what the students of the year group have IGCSE ’s best awards: Paula Gabriel for 11 students were presented their IGCSE-certificates learned during the two-year programme and how IGCSE History, Nils Meier and Amani Al Meklef and ICE-awards. Of the 48 students who passed this allowed their transition to the next educational for IGCSE Music, Diana Roller Brandão for IGCSE the IGCSE-exams they sat in May/June 2014, 11 step, the IB-programme in grade 11 and 12. She Portuguese and Yasmin Salam Youssef for IGCSE achieved a ‘distinction’, which means that they ended by thanking all subject teachers and of course Global Perspectives and Arabic. reached grade A or better in at least 5 subjects. the form tutors for their ongoing support and care. Well done! Yasmin Salam Youssef, the student who achieved the During the Secondary Christmas Assembly some highest grades this year, gave a speech in which she students got a pleasant surprise in the form of Dr. Susanne Schleif, IGCSE coordinator

www .intschool-leipzig.com LIS OBSERVER 1 LISIS OOBSERVERBSBSERVRRVEVER LISISOS OOBSERVERBSBSERVRRVEVER From the Head of School Letter from the Board

As this edition goes to the printers, the school Recent months have seen Secondary teachers, learning programme, the counselling support Welcome to the New Year. We are fortunate to about immigrants in Germany, juxtaposed with students and parents from so many differing has fallen silent for the winter holiday, but led by IBDP coordinator Rebecca Hillyer, available to Diploma students, and much else. live in a part of the world which is blessed with religious issues, and leading on to other cultures and creeds. That having been said, everyone’s ears still echo with a magnificent compiling a detailed self-study which examined It is more than reassuring to be told how fully peace and prosperity, and to live in a city abstruse topics which are typically the domain allow us to point to some of the Core Values week of Christmas music. The children of the both the philosophical spirit and the hard we comply with the requirements of a which is thriving and full of confidence in the of extreme right-wing activism. which your school espouses. We do not Early Childhood Centre led the way, marching logistics of our International Baccalaureate demanding organisation. However, like any future. May we count our blessings! Now, as a school, we do not take a stance on discriminate on grounds of ethnicity or with their teachers across the Karl-Heine-Straße Diploma course. This was submitted, along with other IB school we must acknowledge that Currently, the political climate in our part of political or religious issues, precisely because religion. We educate your children to be open to fill the Philippuskirche with seasonal songs a quantity of evidence about our programme, to adherence to the philosophy is half the story, the world has been hijacked by the debate our school community comprises staff and to the perspectives and values and traditions and dances. Our thanks to Herr Volker Klein the IB’s officials in November. Their recent and that in addition we must aim to ensure of other communities and cultures. and his colleagues at the Philippuskirche for response was hugely gratifying: reporting back, that in the Diploma examinations themselves, Some members of our school community have allowing us to use their beautiful building, the IB saw fit to write more than thirty distinct all students achieve at their best possible level. been disappointed that we as an institution which is under renovation and on its way to commendations of our practice. There is This will be among the many objectives for LIS have not actively opposed these populist, becoming resource and work centre for people insufficient space here to reproduce all of these, as we set to work again in 2015. right-wing tendencies in our city (which may with disabilities: we hope our Christmas event nor would modesty permit such a catalogue. even have evaporated by the time you read will become a tradition and perhaps lead to But among the highlights, LIS is commended David Smith, Head of School this!). Whilst we sympathise with that other forms of neighbourly partnership. for the value it demonstrably places on the IB disappointment, we must not allow ourselves Indeed perhaps a new venue is needed also by philosophy and learner profile, and for its to create a precedent for being mis-used as a the older students, for although the Christmas efforts in promoting the principles of pressure group to support whatever political, concert featuring choirs, soloists and the Big international-mindedness. There is also social or religious views might be represented Band was performed three times during the favourable mention of the way we have within the school community from time to final weekend of term, there were not nearly established solid partnerships in the local time. enough tickets for all of those who wanted to community. The IB knows that international For that reason we as a school stay out of the see our jazzy and witty musicians putting the schools can sometimes exist in bubbles that debate. However, we and you as members of the ‘Merry’ into Christmas. A few days later - and float free from local realities, and notes that school community are encouraged to actively how all the rehearsals were managed is a this is emphatically not the case here: the support the values which we all espouse: matter for wonder – the Lutherkirche was the school is further praised for its commitment to internationalism, non-discrimination, responsibility setting for a heart-warming Christmas message the host country’s language and culture. Our for our fellow (wo)man, and obligation to play our of carols, readings and other seasonal music. effective provision of support for students with part in building civil society. Be it in private Many thanks to director of music Paul Foulkes, special educational needs, and for those with conversation, or be it in the public demonstration to Primary music teacher Annie Hedenig, and mother tongues other than English or German, of our views. to Dana Mälzner-Lareau who organised the ECC is noted, and the report goes on to commend Best wishes event. the variety of courses offered, the service Dr Skadi Beblo, Jana Näther, Dr Nikolaus Petersen, Christopher Smith

German Teacher Award Goes to Two LIS Teachers! general topic of ‘Racism in sports’. The students prepared their lessons with the help of the Cooperation between Primary and Secondary German convinces the jury teachers and had to learn to use a variety of approaches to reach the Primary students and keep their attention: little film sequences, On 1st December 2014, Cornelia Werndl this, because as an International School we getting in contact with the sunlight. In class we discussion groups, reading aloud, doing (Primary German) and Susanne Schleif need to be sensitive to this topic and we need discussed the historical background of books handicrafts… and eating multi-coloured (Secondary German) were presented to become a good example for others. This was like ‘Pippi Langstrumpf’ or ‘Huckleberry Finn’, ‘Dickman-marshmallows’. When Frau Werndl this year`s German Teacher Award, the beginning of our project idea between and had intensive debates about possible was seriously sick, Inge Sauermann Primary precisely the special award of Primary and Secondary students. solutions. Some students presented childrens German Head of Department enabled two Thus students from last year’s IB German books that had a completely unracist approach student teams to teach their lessons in her “Die Zeit”, for their intersectional project language and literature course (grade 11) (‘Irgendwie anders’, ‘Der Regenbogenfisch’). classes; and we would therefore want to thank “Von Langnasen und Negerküssen – researched racist terms in childrens literature The highlight of the project was however the her for her support of our project! racist (German) language”. -the discussion had started in 2012 in ‘Die Zeit’’ lessons the grade 11 students gave in primary, We still regard the topic as very important and - in the area of food and in the nomination of the age group that normally reads books like hope that racist language as well as aspects of Laura Willms-Jones came one day into the groups of people. The students quickly noticed ‘Das kleine Gespenst’, ‘Pippi Langstrumpf’, intercultural communication in general will be Primary German room and was surprised about that the more they researched, the more hidden ‘Hexe Lily’ etc. The students used the method picked up as central topics at our international our learning material (Lauttabelle, Lies-mal!- racism they could find. An example would be in ‘learning by teaching’ and chose only one school, in every section and many subjects to Hefte), our songs (“Alle Kinder lernen lesen…”) the ‘.Little Ghost’ (‘Das kleine Gespenst’ by aspect of the discussion they wanted to make our students both in Primary and and children’s literature we used with politically Ottfried Preußler), where the ghost is totally communicate with the children. One lesson was Secondary aware about this issue. incorrect vocabulary that might hurt feelings of worried that it will spend its whole life as a about ‘Das kleine Gespenst’, one about others. She asked about what we can do about “black monster” after having turned black when ‘Eskimos/Inuit’ and one brought up the more Cornelia Werndl, Susanne Katharina Schleif

2 LIS OBSERVER www .intschool-leipzig.com www.intschool-leipzig.com LIS OBSERVER 3 LISIS OOBSERVERBSBSERVRRVEVER LISIS OOBSERVERBSBSERVRRVEVER PaMUN XIV Experiencing the History of World War One

At the beginning of December, ten students from grades 11 and 12 flew to Paris for Two more cemetery visits followed: one was the suffered a casualty rate of 80% and was Commonwealth Cemetery, where we had a guide the 14th Paris Model United Nations. Mr Osthof, who had previously helped us s nearly wiped out. A bronze caribou who showed us the small museum that belonged to prepare for vivid debates at the UNESCO building, accompanied us. We spent three stands on a hill of stones as a memorial it and the British graves. The other was the German of the four days talking about current issues, while representing the interests of s to these casualties. Langemark Cemetery. The gravestones there were Nicaragua and Cuba. The committees represented at MUN ranged from an t Our next visit was to the Underground squares of stones on the ground, and in the middle environmental committee to ECOSOC and the WHO Executive Board. At first it was “Helen’s tower here I stand, O museum ‘Musée Somme 1916’ in there 42,000 soldiers lie in one mass grave. rather tricky to act in favour of our chosen countries and to get used to the debating Dominant over sea and land, Albert. This museum displays weapons, Afterwards we came to our highlight of the day: the atmosphere, but we quickly adapted - and when the Ebola crisis hit, we were well Auniforms and medals of the time, and Chocolate Factory. There we got to see how Belgian prepared. The conferences allowed us to practise our debating skills, in particular the Son’s love built me and I hold, even a reconstructed trench with chocolate was fabricated into different shapes and formal language used and required by the UN delegates. This proved to be helpful on the final day, esounds and lights. forms. Everyone bought some of the delicious which we spent at the general assembly. Here we discussed ‘Measures to uphold the culture and Ulster’s love in lettered gold.” sAfter that, we viewed the observation chocolate to bring home. autonomous rights of indigenous peoples’ and after three hours of passionate debating, the Atrenches of the Canadians, where Our final stop was the Menin Gate, yet another students attending, around 1000 of us, had come up with a well-phrased resolution. tthey dug tunnels underneath the memorial to fallen soldiers. There, we watched the The time in Paris also allowed us to test our understanding of international relationships. We spent trenches for communication. Last Post Ceremony at which the bugle call ‘Last our free time with students from all around the world, thereby learning about their perspectives The last stop of the day was a German cemetery. Post’ is played every evening at 8:00pm. and ideologies, which turned out to be surprisingly similar to ours. After long hours spent in the This poem was written on the four walls in the Ulster Owing to high reparation payments and the fact committees, we walked around Paris, visiting the Eiffel Tower and the Parisian Christmas market. tower, a memorial for the 36th Ulster Division of the that the Germans had to pay the French to use their All in all, the project helped us broaden our knowledge on current world issues and how the UN First World War in France. It was the third place we land for cemeteries, they saved money and space by It was an exhausting, yet wonderful trip: a great tries to tackle them: and perhaps in a few years’ time, some of these current students will have visited on the Battlefield trip in the October holidays. burying four soldiers under each cross. opportunity for all of us to learn about the horrors advanced from MUN to working for the real United Nations. We were 38 students and five teachers, everyone We spent the second day of our visit in and around and the history of the First World War. It was a Lena Rössler and Felix Pokoy, Grade 12 eager to learn more about World War One. After our Ypres in Belgium, going first to Sanctuary Wood, moving experience, that none of us will ever forget. 12-hour bus ride and our first night in the hotel ‘Le where a part of the original trenches are preserved. So we thank all the teachers who helped and Colibri’ we met our guide, Flora, and started the The tunnels and trenches were very narrow, dark and supported this trip, and made this adventure tour, beginning with a view of the ‘Lochnagar crater’. wet. It was not a pleasure to imagine how soldiers possible for us. Thank you! It was created by 27 tones of explosives set by the had lived and fought there. British on the 1st July 1916 at the beginning of the Next we made a brief visit to a British cemetery, Laura Neumann 9NAB, Hannah Rotzoll 9NAB, Parent Forum at LIS: “Why Get Parents Involved?” Battle of the Somme, at exactly 07:28. The crater before going up Hill 62. From the top of this hill Felizitas Upmeyer 9NAB itself was later purchased by Richard Dunning, to there is a commanding view over the surrounding preserve it for future generations to see. A cross was fields, and in World War 1, soldiers who tried to built for the remembrance of the fallen, decorated Parent forums tend to refl ect the and development and most importantly here, it attack would be easily spotted and defeated. with plastic poppy wreaths, as the poppy is the fosters further parental involvement. Parental Our next stop was the Flanders Fields Museum, extent and the depth of parental flower of remembrance in Britain. – Tunnelers – support can play a vital role at all stages of our where we learnt about the beginning of the Our next stop was the Thiepval Memorial, which war, the weapons and individual people who The Runner involvement in their children’s children’s education. The whole world is at war. That was a good thing at fi rst, an honours the soldiers whose bodies have not been School parental involvement is considered to be lived or fought during the war. exciting thing. Now it is all the terrors and nightmares I have school life. Typically, parents who found yet; when identified remains are found, that one facet of ‘good parenting’, the other is the ever feared come to life. Shells hit the ground above me and attend the monthly forum meetings name is erased from the walls of the massive gate. It an explosion of sound makes the earth around me crumble. quality of the child’s life at home. Overall good are committed and devoted to also serves as a cemetery for the first 300 French But I am a soldier, I don’t fear the shells. My feet hit the water, parenting can have a large and positive impact and 300 British soldiers fallen in the Battle of the drenched to the bone. I am a runner, and right now I do what I making a difference in the quality on children’s learning. Somme, many of their bodies unidentified, their am best at, what I get payed for. I run. The tunnel is just barely wide enough to fi t through easily, but the water is up to my of their children’s education. Experts in the field of education found that headstoes reading, ‘A soldier of the great war’ and indeed, good parenting (the home aspect of it) ankles. It splashes quietly and now as the thunder of the shell ‘Known unto God’. has faded, my breathing and the sound of water is the only has a significant positive effect on children’s Next, we entered Canadian territory as we thing I hear until the next shell is fi red above me and the low At LIS, the secondary school Parent Forum is achievement and adjustment even after all visited the Newfoundland Park. The trenches thunder fades through the earth once more. organised on the strong belief that parents and other factors shaping attainment have been v in this park were 3m deep and covered Darkness makes the running more diffi cult, the lights fail every now and then. I beg and pray that the insulator work, that I families are the most important influences in a taken out of the equation. Sorin Suciu, Secondary School Counsellor in grass with solid wood to walk on, don’t get fried with electricity, but then I have to forget prayers child's life. Their support can play a vital role at It is therefore a priority to us to identify not like the actual trenches during and concentrate on breathing again. Even though I try to keep all stages of education. interventions that are effective in supporting like’ in terms of the behaviours of schools, nWW1. This, though, was the exact my mind blank, the dark threat of thousands of kilos of earth Parents who take on a supportive role in their parental involvement, particularly those parents services, practitioners and parents that have Wlocation, where the 29th lures my mind into a trap of panic. But I shut my thoughts out, become emotionless and run. child’s learning make a difference in improving who are either not significantly involved in their the greatest impact on outcomes: this will Division from Newfoundland achievement and behaviour. The active children’s education or who are not involved at all. help us start a dialogue on how things could The Miner involvement of parents in the life of the school The LIS secondary school Parent Forum was be done better at LIS. We dig in silence, only the falling of a stray rock will echo can help promote a learning environment in established with certain educational goals in We are meeting on the second Wednesday of every through the emptiness. Not a word slips from our lips but bear which students can engage positively with mind: month during the school year, starting with the strain. If we are quiet, if our work, our movement, our mere school staff and their peers. ✎ To share ideas and practices that are most September and ending in May of the following existence stays unnoticed, we might save a hundred of our comrades, of our friends, brothers, mates. If we hush and work year. The Parent Forum meetings are held in the LIS Schools, ours included, can benefit from effective in promoting good parenting fast. Only 2 more meters left according to the plans. And for developing positive relationships with parents experiences which could also lead to positive Loft and are one hour long, from 19:00 to 20:00. two more meters we must stay unnoticed. by involving them in school processes and educational outcomes If you would like to join us please send a quick activities including decisions affecting their ✎ Identifying strategies that are most effective message to Sorin Suciu, the secondary school Linda Effi nger, 10IM child’s education and learning. Engaging with in supporting parental engagement and counsellor, at . parents gives them the chance to understand improving children’s outcomes the role that they play in their child’s learning ✎ Presenting a profile of ‘what success looks Sorin Suciu, Secondary School Counsellor

LIS OBSERVER 5 LISISOS OOBSERVERBSBSERVRRVEVER S

LIS International-Family- Primary Student Council Wish Tree at LIS – School Health Newsletter Brunch on Sunday, Children Helping Children 01 February 10 Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for Kids Without any doubt at all, the ‘Wishtree’ We warmly invite you and your family to project was a big success once again this 1 I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong. the LIS International-Family-Brunch on the year. We were able to offer help, with your premises of Club International. We will generous support, by creating a wish tree. 2 I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after start off the new year with an international Following this tradition, we invited you to going to the bathroom and before eating. potluck brunch and welcome our newly help collect presents for handicapped arrived families. You are kindly asked to children living in a children’s home in 3 I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings bring along your favourite dish. Traditional Leipzig. The project was a big success! of vegetables every day, and I will drink sodas only at special times. dishes from your home country are most More than 200 presents were brought to welcome! Beverages are available from the the children, all nicely wrapped and 4 I won’t tease dogs, even friendly ones – and keep my hands bar of Club International at reasonable decorated. On Wednesday, 17th December and face away from their mouths. prices. we went to the children’s home in Grünau We are looking forward to seeing you on to hand over these presents. We were given 5 I will talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I need help Sunday, 01 February at 10:30. Please a warm welcome. All the presents were or am scared. RSVP by Monday, 19 January 2015! decorated under the Christmas tree to be unwrapped at their Christmas party. 6 I will find a sport or activity that I like, and do it at least To help us organise the event, please We also collected and donated clothes – three times a week. complete the reply form (to be downloaded surplus items your kids don’t wear anymore from website) and either drop it into the – to children living in a refugee camp at 7 I will always wear a helmet when riding a bike. box at the reception desk or send it back It was a busy first term for the Primary Student dressed up, have tricks, treats, party games and Torgauer Straße in Leipzig. 322 people and by e-mail. Council. The Student Council aims to be a to dance. It was a lot of fun. 80 children from conflict areas around the 8 I will wear my seat belt every time I get in the car. means for the students’ voices to be heard and In December a Christmas Movie Night was world live in this camp at the moment. We so acts as a communication channel between organised, where students were able to have will be having another collection of clothes 9 I’ll be nice to others, and friendly to kids who need friends – the student body and the school management. drinks, popcorn, cookies and ice cream as they and toys in spring 2015. like someone who is shy, or is new to school. It also wants to provide some extra fun for the watched a movie with their friends. Following Thank you very much for allowing us to students in the form of events and activities these two events the Student Council is continue to help all these children. With 10 I’ll never give out personal information or pictures of that will add value and pleasure to school life. donating € 50 each to the two school charities your great support we will do our best to myself to strangers or over the internet. In October a Halloween Party was held in the of Haus Leben and MCP. help them. cafeteria. This was a chance for students to get Sarah Brannon, Primary Principal Enjoy a new year of healthy possibilities! Source: The American Academy of Paediatrics (www.aap.org) Helen Myers, School Nurse Christmas in a Shoebox 2014

“Christmas in a Shoebox” is now a long tradition at LIS, organized annually by Mrs. Hampton with the help and Halloween Impressions support of a small group of students and Mr. Hampton. It is the aim of the Appeal to prepare Christmas presents for the children living in a Children’s Home in Wurzen, near Leipzig. The Children’s Home accommodates 27 children from the age of 2 to 16; each child is asked what he or she is interested in, and students then pick a name and prepare a shoebox with presents which are sometimes the only presents that these children will receive. This year we are very happy to announce that we were also able to collect more than 100 in cash donations due to the participation of teachers and students; with this sum of money we were able to buy extra presents as well as cosmetic articles and art supplies. A great number of students also agreed to donate toys, DVDs, CDs and more, for use at the Home. We, as well as the children and the carers at the Children’s Home, would like to thank all of those who have participated this year either in preparing a shoebox or donating money and materials.

Yasmin Salam Youssef 11LR

6 LLILISS OOBSERVERBBSBSESESERRVVVEER LIS OBSERVER 7 LISISOS OOBSERVERBSBSERVRRVEVER LISIS OOBSERVERBSBSERVEVER First Christmas Market at LIS Christmas Concerts at LIS Selling Crafts and Food for a Good Cause

On the 12th of December 2014 a number of grade 11 students organized the first Christmas market to be held at LIS, with the help of Frau Selbach. They started organizing this project months in advance, crafting and planning. The end product of the long hours of work was a success: The cafeteria was transformed into a cosy and nicely decorated hall and visitors were able to skirt around looking at the different stands. Besides the MCP stand that sold Christmas cards and books, there was also a stand with self-crafted goods and decorations ranging from Christmas angels to paper-bulbs to pottery and self-made jam. Another highlight was the gingerbread decoration stand, where people were able to decorate their personal gingerbread. But what is a Christmas without food and drinks? That was also planned for: mainly on the mental aspect of the illness and Again, Christmas time made a lasting there was Glühwein, Kinderpunsch, juices, helps patients and their relatives with the impression on LIS offering a number of toasties, varied Christmassy pastries and more. emotional handling of the illness and the great events to enjoy with the whole We are very happy to announce that € 706 activation of the self-healing process. The family. At the concert ‘A Christmas was earned during this event, which will now be donation will be used to provide assistance and Message’ held at Lutherkirche, families donated to the school’s local charity ‘Haus supervision of cancer patients and their families and friends of LIS enjoyed traditional Leben’, an organisation that provides in the Haus Leben – Leipzig and Haus Leben – music accompanied by organ and orchestra counselling, guidance and information for Delitzsch facilities. as well as by inspiring and exhilarating people who suffer from cancer. It focusses Yasmin Salam Youssef 11LR readings. The tickets for all three LIS Christmas Concert shows in the Auditorium sold like hotcakes again. The LIS Big Band, choirs and numerous soloists provided the enthusiastic audience with unforgettable First ECC-Holiday Show Christmas classics, and once again we were able to witness the great talent of many of our students and how sensitively they are The Philippuskirche was absolutely packed, when conducted by our fantastic music Nursery and EY children under the direction of department. Thanks to all involved for Dana Mälzner-Lareau put on a great music show bringing unforgettable moments we were on 10th December. allowed to experience! More than hundred Nursery and EY children as well as staff rehearsed for weeks and performed together – with an outcome that was spectacular and overwhelming. It was palpable how much everyone on stage enjoyed the performance; the enthusiastic audience had as much fun watching them. Thanks a lot to all those who took part in this event for all the time, effort and devotion they’ve put into the show.

8 LIS OBSERVER LISLILISSO OBSERVEROBSEBBSSESERVRVVEER 9 LISIS OOBSERVERBSBSERVRRVEVER LISISOS OOBSERVERBSBSERVRRVEVER Hort Highlights in November and December Why Are Toy Weapons Allowed in Hort?

When it comes to toy weapons, adults often Children imitate what they see in books, Hence, most children will lose interest in a toy find themselves at odds with their children’s’ comics, movies, TV and computer games. The weapon after a short time. natural tendencies and interests, and without struggle between God and Evil is part of their Research has shown that children playing with Chinese Table Tennis Tournament much guidance from science. Gun play makes role play and helps children to unravel toy weapons behave more aggressively many of us uncomfortable. We are used to complicated concepts and make sense of the compared with children playing with other toys In November our children had the chance to show their talent inin seeing violence and aggression in society and world. only in the concrete situation of a game, while playing Chinese table tennis as a table tennis tournament took placece in the media. But when our sweet, innocent Primary school children are able to distinguish in the medium term no negative change of over four days in the Hort Active Space. The tournament facedd children say ‘bang bang’ and ‘I killed you’ we between play and reality when they play with behavior occurs. Toy weapons have the children with the challenge of competing with their peers on theirr get overwhelmed with fear about whether they toy weapons. They know that you have to fall potential to increase a child’s reliance on scheduled tournament day. Children had the chance to widen theirr could grow up to be violent. when you are hit by an imaginary bullet. They aggression as a major coping strategy. This can knowledge about table tennis with recognized tournament rules. It Because Primary children are generally allowed learn to negotiate and agree on rules. become a problem if a child plays mainly with was a lot of fun for them to play their favourite outdoor game as a to bring some of their toys to Hort, also some In this regard, role games like ‘Cops and toy weapons and behaves antisocially in other tournament! toy weapons like light sabres, water guns and Robbers’ that involve toy weapons have ways. Congratulations to our winners Julius, Trixie, Sophie and Lara. The recently Nerf guns find their way to our school developmental potential. They allow us a The best way to prevent this is to offer a good tournaments werewwer a huge success and we are looking forward to playground. As much as some parents may glimpse into the child’s world, and we can variety of attractive alternatives for play. future events.. allow or help their children to do this, we could talk about it with them. That’s why child Children need to learn to control their Ms Simone likewise receive feedback from concerned psychologists will tell you that playing with toy aggressive impulses and to solve conflicts in a parents. weapons is absolutely normal at a certain non-violent way. They need to learn So why do we not simply ban toy weapons and stage of development. safeguarding their interests through discussion, gun play from our school? There must be good Besides, banning pretend toy weapons usually negotiation and compromise. Our message can reasons for us not to do so. doesn’t work. Children don’t need them to play only be ‘might makes not right’. Toy weapons aren’t about violence as much as a gun battle or war. Their imagination will turn Taking these points into consideration the Hort they are about symbols. Toy weapons symbolize everything they find from a hairbrush to a team has decided to allow toy weapons WonderfulW Christmas Time power, control, authority, strength and sandwich or just their fingers into a ‘weapon’. including toy guns exclusively in the school leadership. Not only the bad guys but also Moreover, banning toy weapons may result in playground and under the condition, that guns “It’s“ Christmas time” was the motto in Hort in superheroes, cowboys or police men have them. children hiding them and feeling ashamed of should not be pointed towards anybody who is DDecember, when we invited our children to With toy weapons you can defend yourself their desire to play with them. Finally, toy not involved in the game. paparticipate in different Christmas workshops against invaders from outer space. That makes weapons offer limited options for play. What duduring the afternoons in Hort. them attractive especially to boys. can you do with a toy gun other than to shoot? James Kotzsch In the first week our focus was on Christmas dedecoration.c Children visited the Hort Creative SpSpacea and made wonderful window pictures, crcreatedreat cards or worked very hard on folding cocomplicatedmp stars to hang up on the wall. Marie-Luise Hoffmann - Hort Educator In ttheh second week the Hort Christmas Bakery Marie-Luise was born and bred in Leipzig. After a couple of years travelling and living opopenedpene for children who liked to bake and in Australia, Canada and the UK, she is looking forward to returning to her hometown. dedecoratecoorra yummy cookies, funny reindeer moose She loves travelling, dancing, reading books, going to movies, concerts and festivals. anandd NuNutella roll-cake. 2014 has been a year full of events for her. Marie-Luise finished university, moved ThTThee thtthird week gave our children the chance to from Berlin to England to Leipzig. In the UK she has worked as an Au Pair on a farm shshowhoww ttheir creativity as we created Christmas and she has recently had a job working for a music and television company. Marie- araarrangements.r To make their own one, the Luise is ready for 2015 and she knows it’s going to be as exciting as last year. cchildren could choose between fir branches, bbells, candles, cinnamon sticks and many other wonderful decorative items. At the end, Marius Zell - Hort Educator many individual wonderful Christmas Marius is one of our new Hort educators. He is 29 years old and he comes from arrangements were made and children were Germany’s oldest city, called Trier. 18 months ago Marius moved to Leipzig - very happy when they realized that they were Germany’s most interesting city. During the last years, he has worked with mentally allowed to take them home to their families. ill kids, which he enjoyed very much. But now he is really looking forward meeting you and see how LIS works. Don’t forget: “Life is better when you are laughing.” Ms Simone, Mr. Davide, Mr. Fabian & Ms Katja

Theresa Tosch and Elisavet Tsami - Hort Covers Theresa and Elli are working in Hort as Hort covers. We are very thankful to have them as flexible and valuable colleagues. They are on call to help out, whenever help is needed. Both ladies have experiences in working with children and degrees in pedagogical work. Both are glad to Theresa Tosch Elisavet Tsami be part of LIS Hort team.

10 LIS OBSERVER www .intschool-leipzig.com LIS OBSERVER 11 LISIS OOBSERVERBSBSERVRRVEVER

Living in Leipzig – Leipzig and its Football Clubs As a born Leipziger and a passionate football fan, people frequently ask me about football in Leipzig. Most of you will have been able to see an RB Leipzig match in the or may regularly check their results in the current 2. Bundesliga campaign.

Photos of BSG Chemie: Christian Donner

Nevertheless, RB is not “everybody’s darling”g”” TheThhe Alfred-Kunze-Sportpark in Leutzsch tries to follow its adopted slogan, and not the team of choice for all of is definitely worth a visit. Even if ‘More than soccer’. All that may Leipzig’s football fans. The criticism is based noticeably decayed, it shows its unique charm sound quite complicated. Indeed, it onn thethehe constitutionco of the as one of Leipzig’s oldest football grounds. is. Leipzig’s football has much to club,clubb, as it’s not its Chemie’s old rivals have their home base in the offer in addition to the well-financed membersmem m or elected South Leipzig district of Probstheida. The 1. FC and successful Red Bulls, who hopefully will representatives, Lok Leipzig has also seen better days. be able to bring back the golden days of but the owner European Cup matches againststt InternationalInnt football to the City. That hihhimselfmsse who controls Naples, Bordeaux, Ajax would be well-deserved for Leipzig, thethe fatefatee of the club. Amsterdam, and Benfica Lisbon, the ‘sleeping giant’ of German Leipzig’s football scene is with players like Maradona, football. anything but straightforward, so I will try to Tigana, van Basten, or Eusebio – introduce you to some of the other ‘players’ just to name a few – turned the Robert Christiansen in the City’s football scene in order to get an former Zentralstadion into a shrine idea of Leipzig’s sporting history: to seat approximately 100,000 In the past decades, the City was divided into spectators. Today, the club is struggling with its Imprint the big 2 teams (similar to Glasgow, Liverpool, new fan base, right wing fans and Ultras Published by Lisbon, Rome, Madrid…). Many of Leipzig’s repeatedly tried to infiltrate the terraces. The Leipzig International School fans’ hearts pounded for BSG Chemie Leipzig. club gained notoriety. Violence at Leipzig’s Editorial head: Liane Lindenlaub The former club of chemical workers, located football matches hit the headlines of the in the West of Leipzig – in the district of national and international press. Today, the Telephone: +49 (0)341 337 558-77 Leutzsch – was considered the underdog, club plays in Germany’s fifth division, in the old E-Mail: pcc critically eyed by the GDR regime. 1964 was Bruno-Plache-Stadion, with around 2000 fans Internet: crucial, as Chemie won the championship, watching the matches, their shirts represent the Design by despite the fact that 12 of their best players City’s official colours, yellow and blue. Westend. Public Relations GmbH had been forced to leave the club and move Apart from the ‘big two’ clubs, Roter Stern Internet: www.westend-pr.de to the State’s protégée, SC Leipzig. Leipzig was established in 1999. As a start-up The legend of the ‘Rest of Leutzsch’ made project the club wanted to make a statement Photos by Chemie the most popular (and regime- against racism, sexism and homophobia in Christian Donner; Anna Fahrenkamp; © Scisetti Alfio, critical) club of the City in those days. football. Over the years the ‘red stars’ became doethion, Matthias Enter, Ig0rZh, Kitigan, Ivan Kopylov, Nowadays, after numerous insolvencies, established as the ‘third power’ in Leipzig’s Lonely, nasared, jan stopka/Fotolia.com; LIS; Kim Mason bankruptcies and liquidations, BSG Chemie football scene with a few hundred spectators has been re-established and plays in the 6th watching the matches in Stadtliga and as the administration board early childhood division. Despite the low league, the club’s club with the biggest football department fan base has a good reputation and recently (concerning members) in the City (leaving Lok primary school secondary school parents received an award of the DFB (Deutscher and RB behind). Roter Stern runs various Fussballbund) for its anti-racist commitment. projects, organises exhibitions and concerts and Color scheme – every colour staff events hort reperesents a section of our school.

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