ISF - Monthly Newsletter Issue #10 2023

Dear ISF Community,

As we bring another academic year to a close, it's time to bid farewell to the classrooms, embrace the warmth of summer, and say our goodbyes to dear friends and families. For those of us in the international school community, this has become a familiar ritual. But this year, as I personally prepare to say goodbye to ISF and move on to my next international leadership position in Rome, the significance feels even more profound.

Over the past four academic years, ISF has been my second home, a place where I have grown, learned, and forged lifelong friendships. From the first day I stepped foot on this campus, I was greeted by a diverse and vibrant community that embraced me with open arms. Together, we have shared countless moments of laughter, inspiration, and growth. It is these memories that will forever hold a special place in my heart.

To the faculty and staff of ISF, your dedication and commitment to our students’ education have shaped them into the individuals they are today. Your passion for teaching, your guidance, and your unwavering support have made our students’ academic experience truly exceptional. Thank you for believing in our students, for challenging them, and for helping them reach their full potential. Your influence will be felt for years to come.

To our families, thank you for entrusting us to the care of your children. Your unwavering support and love have been instrumental in our success. From late-night study sessions to cheering us on during sports events, to cooking yummy dishes for our international events, you have been our biggest fans. We are forever grateful for the sacrifices you have made and the encouragement you have provided.

As I embark on a new chapter in my life, I carry with me the lessons I have learned at ISF. The value of embracing diversity, the importance of global citizenship, and the power of education to transform lives. These are the foundations upon which I will build my future, and I owe it all to the incredible ISF community.

So, as we bid farewell to ISF and venture into the summer sunshine, let us celebrate the memories we have created, the friendships we have fostered, and the knowledge we have gained. To the ISF community, I say thank you. Thank you for an unforgettable four academic years, for your unwavering support, and for being the reason why ISF truly feels like home.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Corina Rader, Director

We are thrilled to announce that the graduation ceremony for the ISF Class of 2023 took place on Saturday, June 10^that the prestigious Goethe University Frankfurt - Campus Westend. It was a momentous occasion where we gathered to commemorate the achievements and bid farewell to our remarkable graduates.

The graduation ceremony was a resounding success, filled with joy, pride, and a profound sense of accomplishment. Our graduates, along with their families, friends, teachers, and staff, came together to share in the celebration of their journey and the remarkable memories they created during their time at ISF.

Finally, the moment we had all been waiting for since the beginning of the year-and perhaps since we had first set foot in a school- was here: the end of our high school career. As expected, there was a mix of excitement, nervousness, and sadness on that day, the 9^th, as we reached school for the last time. Arriving in the SLO^® room, we frantically exchanged the yearbooks we had just received to have them signed, hoping to leave our friends with a last message, and, in exchange, receive one from them. We also admired the hoodies our parents kindly decided to donate to all of us, noting that the design was as quirky as our personalities and as original as our minds. However, the tight schedule of that day wouldn’t allow any time for final, bittersweet goodbyes yet. We soon gathered in the theater, where a humorous-as-ever Mr. Williams, moving from shock to exasperation, tried to guide us through the procedure of graduation. By the end, though, that facade of British seriousness was surprisingly removed from Mr. Williams's expression. It was Florian’s touching words of farewell to him that showed us for perhaps the first time an emotional side of that beloved teacher, who was the first (but surely not last) to tear up that day.

Those emotions and those words reminded us of the finality of all of our journeys in this shared period of transition. But again, this moment of reflection was abruptly interrupted by yet another exciting, but nerve-racking tradition: we had to walk through the school under everyone’s watchful eyes. And as we did, we found ourselves overcoming the awkwardness of being the center of attention as we felt everyone’s love, support, and appreciation. Finally, it wasn’t so easy to hold back the emotions, as we realized that that would be, for many of us, the last time we’d pass through those halls or see those teachers. That day couldn’t but end on the emotional side of things overshadowing any of the nervousness we might have felt. It was the last moment we all shared together before graduation, as the entire class signed a canvas that couldn’t have represented our grade any better. And, more importantly, we watched a goodbye message video from our teachers. In the theater, watching that video at the end of such a day as that, we shared one more moment of comradery, all laughing at the same parts, and all crying at the same parts, too. It was beautiful to see the whole class growing quiet, as we remembered our times here, contemplated our legacy, and thought of how much we’d miss the people we met along the way.

-FRANCESCO SCHIAVIO

On June 21^st, we celebrated the grand opening of our stunning mural! Congratulations to our talented G12 student Carlota Seibel for her extraordinary artwork. Her CAS project truly showcased her exceptional artistic skills, resulting in a mesmerizing mural that fills our hearts with admiration and appreciation. We also extend our gratitude to the head of the Art department Mr. Richards for his invaluable guidance and mentorship throughout this incredible journey. Together, they’ve created something truly remarkable.

Dear Team India,

I can’t thank you enough for the lovely and heart-touching farewell program. This will remain in my memories forever. All of you took time and energy in preparing the wonderful dance. The emotional song from Dipti. Durga’s talent and passion for dance. Each one of you has contributed amazingly toward this farewell of mine.

My thanks to parents who joined though their children have graduated from ISF. I am blessed and thankful for having the opportunity to work all these years as a family for our traditional Rangoli and Diwali. I will try my best to be there on Diwali and help keep up the tradition.

Thanks to Suganya for managing the event and for the Speech which moved our hearts and could not stop me from being in tears.

Best regards,

Usha Srivastava

The Music Department was proud to present the Primary and Middle School concerts on May 31 and June 7. Through singing, boom whackers, ukuleles, strings, and music production everyone shared their best efforts. Many thanks to the parents who were able to attend, see, listen to, and honor the work of our young musicians!

The students learn many life-long skills through performance and observation. The performance process helps students learn that quality preparation can lead to quality performance. This quality performance is also dependent on the conditions of the day and working together with the others in the group. The observation of others and also themselves later is essential in the artistic and growth process to consider possibilities of both what they would like to repeat and also results or behaviors that they would like to intentionally change in the future. The music department is happy to share and lead students through these experiences in order to help them become better musicians and people. Of course, the efforts of those involved in other music lessons, activities and group work all contribute to their positive experience in these concerts. We are thankful for the chance to have so many musical opportunities at ISF.

After the concert, the Primary School music classes reworked a piece from earlier in the year as part of `A Singers Project.’ Singing Dona Nobis Pacem project, an attempt to share a musical performance between 3 local schools.

This video is being created in response to some of the troubling events in recent times. There will be opportunities to contribute to a few noted charities in the comment section of the video as a part of it being published through multiple schools’ social media and YouTube. The intention of sharing peace and connection with others through music has become a wonderful experience for many involved. It has been a great opportunity to share with students as we finish the year, transition into summer and consider opportunities in the future.

Best wishes and hopes for the summer and all of your musical and meaningful futures.

The ISF Music Department

In a remarkable display of athleticism and team spirit, 36 individuals from ISF, including teachers, staff members, and parents, recently participated in the prestigious JP Morgan 5K Challenge held on June 14, 2023. The event proved to be a resounding success as our dedicated participants showcased their commitment to health, wellness, and community involvement.

The ISF community takes great pride in the achievements of its participants, recognizing their outstanding performance and the camaraderie they displayed throughout the event. Each individual demonstrated their commitment to an active lifestyle and the importance of fostering a sense of unity and shared goals within our school community.

As we reflect on this achievement, we look forward to future opportunities for our community to come together, support one another, and embrace the power of physical activity and collective spirit.

This past month, Mrs. Hannon and I have had the opportunity to select the new SLO^® Leadership Team. Over 40 applicants applied to become the Deputy Heads of the SLO^®'s 9 different departments. We learned so much about these students who are our role models in the classrooms and upcoming leaders who wish to make a difference in our school and community. After much deliberation, we came to a decision. The new SLO^® Leadership Team for 2023/24 is Ivie Mirabell Matthews-Outreach, Shaurya Baliga-Discipline, Tripti Rai-Activities, Anushree Goyal-Wellness, Dongha Ryu-Sports, Yewon Chang-Management Sofia Oural Maritnez-Academics, Ipek Derin-Lower School, and Yoonseo Lee-Social Responsibility.

I am incredibly happy to see much interest from the students in wanting to make a change in SLO^®, ISF, and the community. My team and I are looking forward to offering more campaigns, projects, and activities next year for everyone to be part of.

What a Year It’s Been!

The PN’s Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast and Annual General Meeting were held on Friday, June 23. Here are your elected ISF PN officers for 2023/24:

President: Kim Dobson

Vice President: Destiny Layne

Treasurer: Citlali Martin

Would you perhaps be interested in volunteering as a PN class, grade, or country representative? Please find the job descriptions and self-nomination form and contact us at ParentNetwork@isf.sabis.net if you have any questions about these positions. We have new training material and name badges for our board members to help them better connect with parents in order to collaborate when planning exciting activities next school year.

Kick off the summer with family Mini-Golf in Frankfurt on Saturday, July 1! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f49abaa28a0fbc43-minigolf#/

If the sign-up fails, come on your own around 13:45 to tee off after our group!

Reflecting on Parent Network Activities in June 2023:

PN SHOP (prize redemption for Super Kid Awards, Bulldog Bucks) Mondays & Fridays
Weekly Zumba-style dance workouts on Thursdays
Final PN Meeting with the Director
Senior Send-Off black and gold balloon arch (June 9)
Final English Morning with potluck breakfast (June 16)
Family BINGO afternoon (June 16)
Faculty and Staff Appreciation days
- June 19: breakfast,
- June 20: popcorn,
- June 21: candy buffet
Origami Lesson for Parents (June 20)
AGM and Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast (June 23)
Preschool Graduation Cake and Decorations (June 27)
Grade 4 Graduation Gifts and Stage and Cafeteria Decor (June 29)

We hope you will visit the PN table at Welcome Day on August 25 as we promote PN membership and upcoming PN activities. We will also be collecting outgrown school uniforms for our Second Hand Uniform Sale later in the year. Please bring any outgrown uniforms in good condition with you to Welcome Day to donate.

The PN wishes all of our ISF faculty, staff, and families a wonderful summer!

Issue 10 2023