The appalling attacks in Paris on the 13th of November 2015 elicited an enormous response from our school, the recent devastating explosion in Beirut almost none. We as an international school must show solidarity to all peoples. In this light, the fundraising action undertaken by our Lebanese pupil Sina and her colleagues is all the more important to mark in Buzz in our fight against injustice and discrimination at the NMS. Please read her report below.
David Brown

On the 4th of August 2020, an explosion ripped through the Lebanese capital city, Beirut. The cause of the explosion was 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in the port without any safety measures. Who is to blame? A negligent government that cares about money more than human lives. The result: 180 deaths, 300 000 people displaced. I am the daughter of Lebanese parents and have been emotionally and mentally strained by the Beirut Port Explosions. 

The Nelson Mandela School is part of the programme "Cultural Agents for Creative Schools". The cultural agent, Katharina Stahlhoven, the artist, Thomas Wienands and Detlef Wingerath came up with a project before the holidays as part of the project "Urban Botany III: Places of Community Creation /Subproject: GartenVersuchsFeld, Nelson Mandela School", which was to be implemented directly in the first week of school.

Let's stick together.  Let's keep NMS a good place for our kids!!

Dear all, some parents have asked what the Friends are about and how we help the school.  

What do Friends stand for:
We stand for community. We stand for each and every child at our school. We stand for financial and community support. We stand for you.

Who we are:
The Friends are the Förderverein of NMS. We are volunteers from within the community, parents, teachers and donors who dedicate time and money, to support our school and children when regular school funds are not enough. With the beginning of this school year, we have about 350 members, which is only ONE THIRD of families. All children benefit, and so if you are not contributing and you are able, please play your part. If you cannot support financially, can you help with time and energy?

What we do: 

Hello, musical students wanted!

Welcome to the new school year 2020/21.

The NMS orchestra is now trying a comeback. The practice sessions are now in sections.

If you are interested in playing within our group  - then, come, see and join us. We look forward to seeing you!

Practice: Thursdays 3:05-4:40 P30, Music Department

 We were recently sent a very cool music video by NMS' Kamil Ahmad, who is 16 and a Q1 student. This video has some been given some serious work and love; it even has drone footage. We showed it to a few people, and they loved it. Check it out, enjoy it and if you like it then give him a thumbs up and think about subscribing to his Youtube channel where he can be found under the name AKAY. Video: Corona Times here on youtube

Kamil told us: "I wrote a song about the Covid-19 pandemic and my personal experiences in the last couple of months. Hopefully I can use this song to spread some positive and uplifting vibes in these complicated times and motivate the NMS community for the new school year. "

NMS student Loy Popp  was interviewed in June during the Black Lives Matter protests in Berlin by DAZED. His image appeared widely on social media around the world. He talked about various issues, including the experience of living in Germany as a black person.

Loy is now in grade 13, and taking the Abi Q3. See the video of Loy on Youtube here.

We reached out to Loy for a comment and he had this to say: "While my brother and I were moving through the crowd of the Black Lives Matter protest a lady approached us and asked if we wanted to take part in an interview. She briefly gave us some questions to guide our discussion, but they slipped my mind as soon as she held out her microphone. However, when she said go, it was as if the frustration that has been building up within me for the past 19 years could finally be released, and the words came to me...

In spring, the WirBerlin initiative invited submissions for a poster competition on the topic “keep our waters clean” that received more than 900 entries.

Two of NMS‘ former 4th graders, Esther and Siri, had their posters selected for the 36 finalists that are currently shown on the scaffolding at Rathaus Tiergarten. 

Dear students, parents and teachers,

This has been a crazy school year. We could never have imagined that a worldwide pandemic would paralyze our schools. In a few days we had to switch from regular school operation to online teaching.

Not everything worked immediately, but thanks to our wonderful IT team we were able to respond quickly to questions and suggestions. The gradual return to school lessons in the form of attendance times was a particular challenge. A lot was demanded of our students and teachers, but above all of the families of our school community.

Dear Year 6,

Once upon a time, there was a classroom.

You got this. You did it. We're proud of you. You worked hard and finished primary school.  End of year events didn't happen as they could have, but that doesn't mean this is not an important event in your life. We know you've missed a lot due to Covid 19 and lockdown so we wanted to create a leaving tribute for you. We came together online and each did a little bit - hope you enjoy watching it.

 
Here is the video for you and a song sheet here.

Wishing each and every year 6 pupil luck in your journey to secondary school, wherever you will be.

Yours, Year 6 teaching team

Elizabeth Birmingham is an interesting mix of humour, intelligence, grace and common sense.

She has been with the Nelson Mandela School from the very start and it is thanks to her that we have a primary school at all. As one of the pillars of the school, she first started out as a primary teacher and later became the Acting Head of Primary. Later on, after achieving a doctorate during her sabbatical, she decided to transfer to Middle School and Upper Secondary where she not only taught English from grades 7- 13 but also SOCs (social sciences) and then later on geography.

This week we received a lively art piece that is especially good from up high: Nelson Mandela on Schoolyard by 10d. "It always seems impossible until it's done" -

 The current learning situation under Covid- 19 provided us with the possibility to work outside with fresh air and in smaller groups. 10d lived up to the task in Art class and drew a large portrait of Nelson Mandela with chalk onto the concrete of the schoolyard at P30 - come by to have a look before the rain hits!

Berlin landmarks were studied as part of a project in Environmental Studies. Many pupils had to work hard to find motivation and focus to follow through and finish each stage. 

There are lots of larger pictures here

Pupils chose and researched a landmark, studying its location, history, special features, original use and place in modern times. Next they needed to write a speech in the style as if they were a tour guide. Much talk went into possibly having to give this speech online to tourists as everyone had to stay at home.