Our school in numbers

Founded	1966
Number of pupils	129 pupils from an international background
Classes	4 primary school classes, 4 secondary 1 classes, 1 nursery group, 3 kindergarten groups
Teachers	17 teachers and 6 kindergarten teachers, principle of class teachers

GSIS von A-Z

(Pedagogical) Lunch
The pedagogical lunch is taken in the school lunch hall together. The parents order and pay for the lunch on a monthly basis at the nearby Swiss Club or give their children packed lunch for school. Pupils in class 7 and above are permitted to have their lunch at the Swiss Club.
Academic year schedule
At the beginning of the academic year, the parents will receive an email with the schedule. It can be found on our homepage as well.
Accidents
During school time, class trips and excursions the pupils are eligible for emergency medical attention through the GSIS’ coverage by the WARA (West African Rescue Association).
Administration
The office of the administration is open daily from 7.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The secretariat is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from7:30 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. Telephone numbers: Secretariat and administration: 030 222 3522, head of school: 026 326 1491
After school care
School pupils can be registered for After School Care during term time on Wednesday afternoons from 1: 15 p.m. – 4 p.m. and on Fridays from 1:15 p.m. till 3 p.m. Nursery and Kindergarten can be registered for after school care every Monday – Thursday during term time from 1p.m. – 4 p.m. and on Fridays from 1 p.m. till 3 p.m.
All Day School
The GSIS-Accra is an All Day school, with a balance between phases of concentrated learning and relaxation. School begins at 8 a.m. each day and ends at 3:40 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. For the primary school, there is the option of participating in the Study Time on two days. For classes 5/6 this option is available on one day. On Wednesday afternoons, pupils have the opportunity of choosing from a variety of extra curricular activities. On Fridays, school ends at 12:30 p.m. Lessons like “Study Time” and “Time for Talents” are included in the timetable to ensure that there is a balance between concentrated work and phases for relaxation.
Appointments
The teachers are always ready to meet with parents for a scheduled appointment in addition to the Parents-Teachers meetings which take place twice each year.
At the beginning of the academic year
On the first day of school for the year, all children meet on the school compound at 8 a.m. for the celebration of the first day in school. The class teachers distribute the time tables to the children. For the pupils in class 1 school will end at 12:30 p.m. daily for the entire first week in school. For the pupils in classes 2-9 lessons will follow the time table. (school will end at 3:40 p.m. on the 1^st day in school). All parents are invited to a cup of coffee in the nearby restaurant, the “Swiss Club” on the first day of the school year.
Breaks
There are three breaks in all, two before noon and one lunch break.
Class trips
Classes 1/ 2 have a day’s trip. Classes 3/ 4 go on a 2 –days’ trip, classes 5/6 on a 3-days’ trip and classes 7-10 on a 4-days trip. The class trips are planned together with the respective class teachers.
Clothing
The pupils should come to school appropriately dressed (i.e. no mini -skirts, hot pants, belly tops and the like). Pupils can play bare-footed in the sand- pit area. On the rest of the school compound, the pupils are required to wear their footwear for safety reasons. On sports and swimming days, pupils are required to bring an extra change of clothes.
Communication
All important information is communicated via e-mail and is also displayed on the movable pin wall and on the notice board. At the GSIS-Accra, we prefer direct communication: Issues are to be discussed first with the class teacher before proceeding to the head of school. The e-mail addresses of the school are as follows: administration@dis-accra.org, headmaster@dis-accra.org You can contact the teaching team via their official e-mail address: first name.surname@dis-accra.org
Computer
Each classroom has a computer with a printer. In the computer room 12 work stations are available for the pupils.
Counsellor
A counsellor is available at the GSIS, on specified days and advises the pupils, colleagues and parents in different areas (e.g. conflict resolution).. Please speak to your child’s Class Teacher for additional information.
Electricity supply
The school’s own generator and the solar plant ensure that the school’ electricity supply is mostly guaranteed.
Embassy
The GSIS-Accra cooperates closely with the German Embassy
End of academic year celebration
Parents inform the administration concerning who is permitted to pick the pupils after school (e.g. driver, nanny) on a document provided at the start of each academic year for each child. This needs to be updated by parents as required.
Excursions
Pupils go on excursions and visit places for learning outside school. (e.g. Botanical Garden, ecological farm, bakery, museums, Goethe-Institute, book fairs)
Excuse notes
If a child should fall sick, the class teacher is to be informed on the very day, or secretary’s office -0302 223522 called in order to excuse the pupil. On returning to school after more than three days, the class teacher will require a doctor’s report. For all other reasons, a written application addressed to the headmaster is required to grant permission to be excused.
Feasts and celebrations
The school community celebrates feasts following the calendar e.g. lantern walk and carnival.
First Aid
There a First Aid Room available on the school compound. The school has a trained nurse who is available daily for the children. Each year, the teaching team and the members of the local staff participate in a First Aid Training during the preparation week. All pupils are automatically covered for emergency medical care with the WARA (West African Rescue Association) during school time.
Folder system
Pupils in class 3 and above use a folder system. Class 1 and 2 pupils write in their exercise books or books and have red folders for German, blue folders for Maths, green folders for science, white folders for Ethics and a purple folder for English.
Guiding principles
During the 2013/2014, the school community presented the Guiding Principles of the GSIS and considers the 10 guidelines as the basis for the success of our work as a school. The Guiding Principles can be found at the entrance to the middle and secondary school block and can also be found on our homepage.
Holidays
The public holidays on which there is no school can be found in the schedule for the academic year on the school‘s homepage. Some Ghanaian holidays which are normally announced shortly beforehand will be communicated at the appropriate time by the head of school.
Homework
Homework is entered in the homework diary on the day that the assignment is due to be checked. The pupils normally complete their “homework” during study time.
Lice
The school must be informed in case of an infestation with lice. The affected pupil is allowed to return to school as soon as the appropriate report from the doctor or nurse has been presented.
Lost & Found
Items that have been left lying around will be kept in a lost and found box for a limited period.
lunch break
The lunch break is from 12:30 p.m. till 1:15 p.m.
Materials
Materials are partly provided by the school. The children are to bring a complete pencil case with case with coloured pencils, ruler, a pair of scissors, glue, pencils and an eraser.
Methods training
At the beginning of the academic year there is Methods Training for several days in all classes within the school to teach the children organisational skills. Cumulative and ongoing during the academic year, there are different points of emphasis as children progress through their schooling at the GSIS and the methods are continued and consolidated accordingly.
Mobile phones
The use of mobile phones by students on the school compound is not allowed.
Monday Ritual
On scheduled Mondays, the school community meets on the basketball court. Pupils present some results from their lessons as from 8 a.m.
Occupational Therapist
A trained Occupational Therapist is present in the school. For more information, please speak to your child’s Class Teacher.
Organigramm
The assignments and functions of various individuals within GSIS can be found on the organigram at the entrance to the administration block
Parents -Teachers Meetings (Learning Progress Discussions)
Each semester, Parents-Teachers Meetings are organized to give the parents an opportunity to talk with all the teachers. Detailed information is given in advance and is displayed on the movable pin wall or on the door of the respective classroom.
Parents Group
The parents’ group meets once every month at the nearby Swiss Club. For any queries on this, please speak to a Parents Representative, or ask a fellow parent.
Pedagogical Day
There is a pedagogical day scheduled once or twice each academic year. The teaching team works on school development and the pupils get some assignments to be done at home on that day.
Performance assessment
There is a concept on performance assessment which is available on request.
Phone numbers
Secretariat and administration: 030 222 3522, Head of School: 026 326 1491
Picking up Children from the GSIS
Parents inform the administration concerning who is permitted to pick the pupils after school (e.g. driver, nanny) on a document provided at the start of each academic year for each child. This needs to be updated by parents as required.
Project week
A project week on a selected topic is organized once every year.
Reading mentors
Reading mentors work with pupils on an individual basis.
Reports
In class 1 and 2 the pupils receive a report at the end of the academic year. At the end of class 1, the pupils receive a written report. As from the second semester of class 2 and above all pupils receive a report card with grades. Pupils from class 3 and above all receive a graded report card at the end of each semester.
School bags
The school bags should be checked regularly for parents’ letters and to ensure that all the school materials required are available (e.g. cross-check to see if the pencil cases are filled with the appropriate items)
School compound
The school has a basketball court, a football field with showers and changing rooms, a playground, a science laboratory, an ICT room, a music room, a craft room, a library and a lunch hall.
School holidays
The school holidays in the annual plan can be found on the homepage
Security
There are members of our security personnel on the school grounds 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The school has established a security concept in coordination with the German Embassy.
Starting class 1
See point A, at the beginning of the academic year
Supervision
During the lessons, break-times (including lunch break) and during school excursions and class trips. the teachers are responsible for the supervision of the pupils. Once school is over for the day, there is no supervision available for the pupils.
Support and Challenge
The school’s internal support and challenge plan is used as a means of promoting the children’s learning progress
Time for Talents
In class 1 and 2 the pupils receive a report at the end of the academic year. At the end of class 1, the pupils receive a written report. As from the second semester of class 2 and above all pupils receive a report card with grades. Pupils from class 3 and above all receive a graded report card at the end of each semester.
Time table
The pupils receive their timetable on the first day of school from their respective class teachers.