Two weeks earlier than the public schools, accadis International School Bad Homburg started the new school year yesterday and welcomed over 150 new students. A very positive development for the school community: the Secondary School also started with two classes in Grade 5 for the first time.
Demand for bilingual education is growing
accadis ISB was established in 2004 and, at that time, started with ten children in kindergarten. Since then, the International School has been growing steadily. Today, more than 600 students study on the accadis ISB campus in Bad Homburg. After the Elementary School expanded to two classes per year group in 2011 and four by 2020, the Secondary School is now following with two classes in Grade 5. "We are pleased to welcome two student groups this year in the Secondary School as well. It makes me proud to see how the school is developing and the children are growing. We have been accompanying some of the Grade 5 students since Preschool," said Head of School Janina Sparks. "Another point that makes me extremely proud are the outstanding results that our graduating class achieved in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme this year," adds Janina Sparks. "It shows our teaching quality and we look forward to guiding many more students on the path to the IB-Diploma." With a 100% pass rate, our graduates achieved an average of 35 out of a possible 45 points. The global average is currently just under 32 points. Two graduates even achieved 41 and 43 points, which corresponds to a German Abitur grades of 1.1 and 1.0, respectively.
The welcome ceremony for the Grade 5 students was held on Monday in the school's sports hall. The students were welcomed, given an introduction to the Secondary School by the Head of Secondary School and met their class teachers. Afterwards, their first lesson as Secondary School students began.
First Day of School Celebration for Primary Class and Grade 1
The First Day of School Celebration for the new students in Primary Class and Grade 1 already took place on Friday. Divided into three groups, the youngest ones celebrated their first day of school with family and friends. The Head of School, Janina Sparks, the Managing Partner, Prof. Christoph Kexel, the Head of Elementary School, Daniel Cox, and the respective class teachers gave the children a warm welcome and presented them with their colorful traditional German school cones. Afterwards, the school newbies discovered their new classrooms together with their teachers and new classmates and got a first insight into what school life is like.
The Primary class of accadis ISB is a very gentle start into Elementary School. First and foremost, the children develop their communication skills in English and German. Art, Music, Sports and calculating with numbers up to 20 are also on the agenda.
The tradition of the school cone
The tradition of the school or sugar cone originates in Germany and dates back to the 19th century. It is supposed to sweeten the first day of school for the school starters and is often the highlight of the first day of school. Many international families are not familiar with this custom. In order to avoid tears on the first day of school and so that every child can look forward to his or her school cone, there is a certain procedure at accadis ISB: The school cones are already brought to the school by the parents before the celebration and stored there. During the enrollment ceremony, the new class teacher then presents each child with their own cone and welcomes them to the class.
Bilingual curriculum and local roots
The two classes in Secondary School and the steadily growing number of students confirm the level of quality and the concept of accadis ISB. The bilingual curriculum with lessons in German and English sets accadis ISB apart from other international schools. At Bad Homburg's SÜDCAMPUS, children from 54 different nationalities meet every day and learn with joy and motivation. At the same time, the school is proud of its local roots, as about half of the school community comes from the local region.
Managing Partner, Prof. Christoph Kexel, has embraced the growth by purchasing and remodeling the former Ameropa building at SÜDCAMPUS. "Among other things, 18 new classrooms will be created there for the Secondary School's students, as well as spacious science, art, theater and music rooms," says Prof. Christoph Kexel.
A distinctive feature in Germany
accadis ISB is part of the accadis Bildung Group, to which the accadis Hochschule University of Applied Sciences also belongs. In addition to Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in the areas of management and education, doctoral programs are also offered there. Thus, accadis Bildung offers a unique, owner-managed educational enterprise from Preschool via Elementary and Secondary Schools to university degree programs and doctoral studies.