ISR Elementary School – Welcome
Joining the ISR Elementary School is an exciting milestone for our students. Our Grade 1 students are proud to finally be here and are warmly welcomed at the traditional German “Erster Schultag” ceremony on their first day. Our returning students eagerly reunite with friends and teachers each school year, looking forward to making new connections while adapting to the expectations and rhythm of school life.
Our Elementary School program, spanning Grades 1-6, emphasizes both academic excellence to nurture great minds and social, physical, and ethical growth to build strong characters. During these formative years, children develop a deeper awareness of themselves and the world around them, particularly within our multilingual learning environment. They cultivate positive attitudes toward learning and establish a solid foundation for high academic achievement.
ISR takes pride in fostering a positive school environment that makes learning engaging and enjoyable for students. Our dedicated team of highly qualified teachers inspires excitement and nurtures curiosity for learning. Students in ISR’s Elementary School thrive in an atmosphere of high expectations, individual involvement, and continuous academic and emotional support.
Our diverse curriculum offers students rich opportunities to appreciate commonalities while celebrating differences. At ISR, children have the unique experience of learning alongside peers from around the world, truly embracing diversity daily.
Our community also comes together to share our varied cultures at annual ISR events, including ISR Family Fun and Sports Day, ISR Open House in October, and ISR International Spring Festival in May.
Bianca McLeod
Alexandra Vrem-Ydstie
Raluca Ghica
Megan Morris
What sets us apart
There are many aspects that set ISR apart as an exceptional school. Our highly qualified teachers place children at the center of everything we do. Students learn through various methods, including hands-on learning opportunities and collaborative partner and group work across all subjects. Our teachers excel in classroom management, allowing students to learn at their own pace and ensuring that all children feel at home in their classrooms. Our culturally diverse student population also distinguishes us, providing opportunities for students to learn, grow, and play with peers from around the world.
Our goal is to truly know your child well and use this knowledge to guide, support, and motivate them. We believe that good teaching requires continual professional development, personal reflection, and collaboration. We value parent involvement at every level and encourage you to partner with us to provide your child with the most enriching and powerful learning experience possible.
At our school, we take immense pride in the strong partnership we form with parents. This collaboration is fundamental to our community, as we view our parents as essential partners in the development and growth of their children. By working closely with families, we ensure that each student receives the support, encouragement, and resources they need to thrive both academically and personally. This collective effort helps us create a nurturing environment where every child can reach their full potential.
Transitioning to Elementary School
Kindergarteners Entering First Grade
Kindergarteners entering first grade will be warmly welcomed on their first day of school at the traditional German “Erster Schultag” ceremony. Parents, grandparents, and students gather on the morning of the first day of school to congratulate their children and wish them good luck. Our wonderful first-grade teachers present each new first grader with a traditional and often handmade cone-shaped “Schultüte” filled with school supplies and other surprises.
The “Erster Schultag” ceremony gets the first graders off to a great start as they meet their new friends and are led by their teachers to their new classrooms. Our first graders are ready to embark on their exciting school adventure at ISR.
New Children Entering Elementary School
It is common for children to join ISR during the school year. Interested families contact our ISR Admissions Team to start the initial application process.
The prospective students and their parents have an informal interview with one of the Academic Heads of Elementary School. During this meeting, they discuss the student’s previous educational experiences, interests, and any specific needs they might have. This interview is an excellent opportunity for the family to ask questions and for the school to ensure that it can provide the best possible support for the new student.
Following the interview, the student undergoes a brief knowledge check and an orientation session to familiarize them with the school’s routines, rules, and campus. They are introduced to their homeroom teacher and classmates, ensuring they feel comfortable and welcomed from the very start.
Placement in the appropriate language levels for English and German is determined based on the results of the knowledge check. This ensures that each student receives instruction tailored to their current proficiency level, allowing them to progress successfully in both languages.
On their first day of school, new children are welcomed into our ISR Community by an ambassador and a homeroom buddy who shows them around and will translate, if necessary. Our team ensures that each new student integrates into the ISR community with ease.
Adjustment Support
Most children adjust quickly to the friendly and positive environment that ISR provides. The Academic Head and our Well-Being Counsellors support and monitor the integration of our new students into our school community. For those children who might need a bit of extra support, students and parents are encouraged to contact their Academic Head. The Academic Head works individually with each child and family to develop creative and effective solutions, helping children adjust at their own pace and integrate smoothly into the ISR community.
What to Expect from ISR Elementary School
Positive Learning Environment
Our students adjust easily because we create a warm, friendly, and helpful environment in which they learn and grow. A positive learning environment helps students engage enthusiastically in their lessons and makes learning fun!
At ISR, teachers and staff use creative ways to acknowledge and reward good grades, responsible behavior, and individual achievement, laying the foundation for us to realize our vision of “Enabling Great Minds and Strong Characters.”
Reward System
Using the PowerSchool Behavior Management System, ISR Elementary staff track and record “ISR Merits” to recognize students’ positive contributions to their school environment and for demonstrating the ISR values. Teachers also recognize students for their efforts in front of their peers to encourage our students to be role models in the school.
Classroom Responsibilities
Each student is given a classroom role, such as group leader, book distributor, door holder, or attendance taker. Through performing these roles, students develop a sense of responsibility for themselves and their environment. These roles rotate amongst the students during the school year, giving everyone the chance to have different roles of responsibility.
Homework Policy
Homework is an essential part of the ISR academic program. In Grades 1 to3, students are assigned oral homework such as reading, spelling, and basic math operations. Written homework starts in Grade 4.
In Grades 5 and 6, homework is assigned daily. Oftentimes, students can finish homework in a “Homework Club” during the SEA (Students Extracurricular Activity) period. Students are not assigned homework on the day before an exam, as it is intended for students to use that time to study for the exam. Students have the responsibility to keep track of their homework and assignments in a School Planner. Additionally, homework and assignment information are available on Schoology, our school’s Learning Management System.
Starting in Grade 1, all ISR students have a School Planner to record important information to share with their parents. This approach helps our students develop essential organizational skills and prepares them for Grade 4, when they will begin recording their classwork and homework assignments at the beginning of every lesson in their School Planners.
Keeping accurate records in the planners is important, as students can refer to them when studying. Notes and comments are also written in their planners.
A daily check of the School Planner by parents is essential for students in all grade levels at ISR.
Open and Clear Communication with Parents
In Elementary School, teachers and parents communicate in a variety of ways. In general, parents are expected to reach out to the Academic Head with any questions or concerns, which can then be quickly and efficiently answered. Parents may also choose to write a note to their child’s teacher, which can be placed in the Home Folder or in the School Planner.
On the Thursday before the first week of the new school year, families are invited to ISR to find out which classes the students have been placed in and meet their teachers for the new school year. This event helps students, parents, and teachers get excited and prepared for the school year ahead. Students are encouraged to bring their school supplies to this event, making the first day of school a little easier for them without having to bring all their materials. A few weeks after the start of school, parents are invited to a Back-To-School presentation where they meet the teachers and learn about the programs and activities their child will be involved in during the school year. This event takes place after school and is for parents and guardians only.
Parents and guardians may book times with their child’s teachers regularly throughout the school year. These meetings are intended to ensure that communication can be regular and frequent between the teachers & families.
PowerSchool is our school’s Student Information System (SIS) where student grades and attendance information may be viewed.
Schoology is the Learning Management System where the ISR Elementary Team posts updates, academic information, homework, and announcements addressed to the ISR Community.
At ISR, we firmly believe that technology has an essential role in the classroom when used responsibly. We believe that technology is a valuable tool to enhance a student’s learning experience and complement rather than substitute a teacher. While we emphasize the importance of handwriting skills, we also strive to provide classroom-based opportunities for children to embrace and explore the benefits of technological advancements such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), Virtual Reality, and Programming.
ISR International School on the Rhine
Our international school near Düsseldorf
There are many reasons to send your child to our international school. The ISR International School on the Rhine is an English-speaking private high school. The international school is located in the region Neuss/ Düsseldorf in North Rhein Westphalia (NRW). ISR is easy to reach by car or public transport. Our students (even Kindergarten children) have the opportunity to use the school bus service in Neuss. The international private school has an international Kindergarten, an international primary school, and an international grammar school. We opened a second international Kindergarten in Düsseldorf-Niederkassel and a German-speaking Kindergarten in Meerbusch-Büderich. After 12 years of school, our students can acquire international and German-recognized degrees, the International Baccalaureate (IB), or further ISR High School Diplomas. Due to a large number of subjects, students have the opportunity to learn many topics. We are very proud to see that our graduates complete school with excellent grades. Our international staff comes from over 40 different countries. All staff members regularly attend training courses in which they train and deepen their leadership and organizational skills. The ISR International School on the Rhine near Düsseldorf stands for an excellent team of teachers and has state-of-the-art school equipment and classrooms. Our teachers are highly qualified, native, or near-native English speakers, and come from all over the world. They use different teaching methods to personalize their lessons and fit the need of their students. Under our guiding principle „We Enable Great Minds and Strong Characters“ our teachers bring out the best of each student, not only academically. Together with parents, we, as an international school are responsible to guide our students to become self-reliant and responsible people. ISR graduates get into top universities worldwide. The aim of the international school is to prepare the students for a successful future career and life.
The elementary school at our international school
The curriculum of our elementary school focuses both on the academic development of our students and on building strong characters. The multilingual environment which our international school offers teaches our students to be open-minded. The students also develop a positive view of learning and have fun doing it. This forms a foundation for academic and professional success. ISR Neuss is characterized by a positive school and learning environment. Our highly qualified teachers at the international elementary school near Düsseldorf use different teaching methods to foster the children’s abilities. The educators stimulate the children’s excitement and curiosity for learning.
More information about our school
Are you interested in the ISR International School on the Rhine or in the International Kindergarten? Please contact us personally. We offer many opportunities to meet and receive information in person. Our school also organizes many different festivals and events throughout the school year. Visit us also on one of these days or on one of our info days. We would be more than happy to greet you at our international school campus. Applications are accepted year-round.
