It's great to have you here!

“It’s great to have you here!” is written in large, colorful letters on the screen in the auditorium. And really, this phrase could serve as the theme for the entire little celebration. Seven children are starting school this year at the Schule am Geisberg in Wiesbaden. Five of them are here this morning with their families. And they’ve brought their backpacks, school goodie bags, and probably a whole lot of excitement along with them.

After all, the first day of school is something special and always comes with questions: What will it be like? Will the other kids be nice? What happens if I struggle with something? Teacher Sandra Evers addresses exactly these thoughts. Warmly and without many words, she reassures the children: “We’ll make sure you’re doing well. Together, we’ll make it work.” Learning, she explains, ultimately means much more than just math and German. It includes listening. Learning to deal with anger. Or apologizing after an argument—“and that really isn’t that easy.”

Learning can grow in small steps

What sounds so natural and heartfelt this morning also says a lot about the educational philosophy of the Schule am Geisberg. Here, children are supported according to their individual development. In small learning groups and with as consistent a support network as possible, expectations can be adapted and learning paths shaped step by step. In addition to academic knowledge, the focus is on building confidence, developing social skills, and rediscovering the joy of learning.

Annette Wurster, principal at the Wiesbaden campus, also welcomes the children on this “special day, at a special school, and in a special place.” And she has brought a school goodie bag herself. It doesn’t contain candy, but rather small symbols of what she wishes for the children: a balloon for lightheartedness and joy, a colorful “A” for all the new things there are to discover and learn, and a teddy bear for good companionship. Since not every day will be equally good in the future, the teddy bear is carrying a small pack of tissues under its arm, just in case. 

The children’s actual school gift bags are certainly just as impressive. One father even picked up a paintbrush and some paint himself because the version that matched the school backpack was sold out. Another child helped out enthusiastically while decorating his bag. And for a little “Cars” fan, Mom and Auntie worked together to craft a very personalized one.

About angels who sometimes look quite human

Music is also part of this celebration. Simon Duwensee on guitar and Christoph Hammann on flute accompany the songs. And, once “Good Luck and Many Blessings” has faded away, EVIM Board Chairman Pastor Matthias Loyal remarks with a smile that this is actually a birthday song. It promptly turns out that there is indeed a birthday celebrant among the guests, which caused great merriment in the auditorium.

In his brief devotional, Matthias Loyal addresses the hopes and uncertainties that can accompany such a new phase of life. “Every person is unique,” he tells the children as they set out on their journey. “And everyone has a guardian angel.” He has actually seen such angels before: they are people who are there when things get difficult, who help and stand by you. And everyone can be such an angel for someone else. In keeping with this theme, the first-graders receive a small reflective guardian angel for their backpacks—a companion that even glows in the dark on the way to school. The devotional concludes with a personal blessing for the children.

Then comes the moment: The new students head to the classroom with their teachers for their first class together. For the families, there’s coffee, cake, and a little time to catch their breath.

Teacher Simon Duwensee values the fact that the children are given Christian guidance to take with them on their journey: “I think it’s important that faith is lived out,” says the teacher, referring also to the association’s mission statement. Annette Wurster is also pleased that the traditional welcome celebration at the start of the school year has now taken on an “official character” over the past three years, thanks to the addition of a short devotional. They intend to keep this tradition alive. (hk)