A bright start: school enrolment ceremony at the Berlin Cosmopolitan School
On 9 September 2024, the first graders of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School experienced an unforgettable day: the school enrolment ceremony. Children from over ten different countries of origin came together to start a new adventure.
The new first-graders were given a musical welcome by the violinists and cellists of the primary school orchestra under the direction of Bridget Kinneary. With the cheerful song ‘Three Little Birds’ by Bob Marley, which says ‘Don’t worry about a thing, “cause every little thing is gonna be alright”, the orchestra put the children and families in the mood for a carefree and hopeful start to school life. It was a moment that emphasised the importance of community and confidence and encouraged the children to look to the future without worry.
Another special ritual at the school enrolment ceremony was the ringing of the bell. Each child was allowed to perform this symbolic act themselves to mark the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. This solemn moment symbolised the transition from kindergarten to school and emphasised the importance of education and community.
At the end, the children received a sunflower – a gift that symbolises growth, joy and new beginnings. Yvonne Wende, CEO of Berlin Cosmopolitan School, emphasised: ‘The sunflower grows towards the sun, just as our children grow out into the world with curiosity and joy.’
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School’s enrolment ceremony was characterised by music, community and confidence. An exciting chapter full of new experiences and discoveries began for the new pupils, accompanied by the loving support of their families and the school.
About the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Preschool and Kindergarten
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School is changing the traditional way schools and kindergartens work with different approaches to learning in the areas of nature and environmental protection, sports, new work, culture, dance, music and art and much more. The aim of the independent school, preschool and kindergarten is to bring all students along according to their abilities.
“When school motivates, everyone learns more” is the conviction of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School. Regular outdoor learning, sports activities and competitions, digital projects such as robotics, internships from grade 6, music-making from kindergarten age, dance clubs, bilingual education and much more help the children to discover and develop their own preferences and abilities.
Important concerns of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Kindergarten and Preschool are social justice, equal opportunities in education and a balanced community. The school regularly awards scholarships to students and accepts refugees. Through its established network and internationally trained staff, the educational institution has the opportunity to explore new educational paths for every age group.
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School was founded in 2003 as a non-profit organisation by Yvonne Wende. In 2004, the first bilingual (English-German) kindergarten and preschool opened for Berlin-Mitte with 18 children. Shortly after, the primary school started and most recently, in 2009, the accredited bilingual Gymnasium of Berlin Cosmopolitan School 01P22. Since then, the number of students has steadily increased. Approximately 1,000 students from all over the world are now being taught on the Rückerstraße and Invalidenstraße campuses. The kindergarten has grown to a number of more than 300 children between the ages of 1 and 6.
In 2013, Berlin Cosmopolitan School was accredited as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, first for primary school and also for the Gymnasium. The IB Learner Profile is about developing children and young people into lifelong learners. The school and kindergarten use primary experiences to design lessons.