Schule  

Declan is in 5K, Emma is in 2nd grade and Serena is in 5th grade.  Although kids here attend Kindergarten, the official start of school is First grade which is celebrated in part by giving the child a Schultuete filled with candy, pencils, little gifts. They can be 2 feet long! A kind neighbor gave a mini one to each of the kids on their first day of school. 

 Here’s a closer look at our German 2nd grade experience.  The school year runs from Sept 13 to July 30.   We realize how spoiled we were with MGIS’ late start time of 9:10 as school here begins at  8.  How could we ever have been frantic in the morning in Milwaukee?  Emma leaves home at 7:30 and walks to school with some classmates.  It's under 1 km --> 10 minutes. This independence is new for us and I’ll admit, I hid behind a few trees the first few days to spy on them and to calm my nerves.   

School ends between 11:20 and 1 pm.  Each day it’s different.  Day care is available til 2 pm.  Due to budget cuts, the principal is Emma’s classroom teacher!  The school secretary stays only til 9:45 then she goes to a different school.  If your child is absent, you call your teacher directly on their cell.   

A very precise school supply list is required including Hausschuhe (slippers) and a seat cushion which is also what the kids sit on when it’s circle time on the floor.   All the kids have Schulranzen like the one in the photo with Emma.  They come with matching pencil cases, sport bags and snack/lunch box. 

The chalkboards in the classroom fold out on both sides and can be moved up and down to accommodate shorter kids.  The desks fit two students and have an opening to store the books needed for that day’s lessons.  When teacher asks  a question, theyll say “Finger zeigen!” (pointer finger up!)  Emma was wondering in the beginning why everyone kept pointing to the ceiling!  The eager kids will even snap their fingers.  

Although she's attending a public school, crucifixes hang in every room and she has Religion class.  Bavaria has a strong Catholic presence.

There are  2 recesses – the first one is 20 minutes when kids eat their snack, the next one is just 10 minutes and only happens on days when the kids have lessons beyond 11:20.  Once kids are dismissed from their classroom at end of the day, there’s no liability or obligation on the teacher’s part to make sure little Johann gets picked up. 

Parents are informed of Wandertage (field trips) but no extra permission slip is sent home.  The kids usually walk to their destination!  Two days ago, Emma's class walked the equivalent of 3 blocks to a nearby church to use their library (the school doesn't have a library as such on the premises.)

Fundraisers as we know it are a foreign concept with the exception of the sale of kids’ crafts at the Christmas Market.   As far as academics go, Emma is doing just fine.  German Reading, Grammar and Math are EXACTLY like at MGIS, her school in Milwaukee.  She was perfectly prepared! All 4 of her teachers are surprised and impressed with her proficiency in German.