The first day at School

The big day finally arrived yesterday: our daughter started school.

The day started at 9am with a church service, where the children were blessed and the satchels were sprinkled with holy water.  From there, it was a 20 minute walk to the primary school.

Starting school: with the Schultüte in front of the Church

Starting school: with the Schultüte in front of the Church

Inside the school, we were crowded into a side area of the entrance hall where, after a few words from the headmistress, the children were called up one-by-one to join their new teachers, who then led them in groups off to their classrooms through an aisle of over-sized raised pencils.

Thus began the long wait outside, during which we were fed and watered by the Förderverein (a sort of “Friends of…” association).

And while we waited, our daughter was being told the rules of the classroom, was given her first homework (!), her timetable and even a school T-Shirt.  Her satchel was also loaded up with various papers for us to read, and some to sign.  Finally, we were allowed to collect her and take her home to open her Schultüte and, of course, for her to do her first homework.

The day is a major event for German schoolchildren, much more than the first day of school in many other countries.  The children are accompanied by their parents, grandparents and even godparents who, where possible, spend the whole day with them.

It means that the children are at the centre of attention on their big day, and our daughter mastered the event brilliantly.  We are so proud of her!

 

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About Graham

Graham Tappenden is a British ex-pat who first came to Germany as a placement student in 1993, returning in 1995 to live there permanently. He has been writing for AllThingsGerman.net since 2006. When not writing blog posts or freelancing for the Oberurseler Woche and other publications he works as a self-employed IT consultant solving computer problems and designing websites. In 2016 he gained German citizenship.

Comments

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  2. Thedailyreviewer says

    Congratulations! Our selection committee compiled an exclusive list of the Top 100 german Blogs, and yours was included! Check it out at
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    You can claim your Top 100 Blogs Award Badge at
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    Angelina…

  3. Alles Gute auf dem neuen Lebensweg!
    (How would you translate that?)

    This we were told in the 60s when we started first grade.

  4. Alles Gute auf dem neuen Lebensweg!
    (How would you translate that?)

    This we were told in the 60s when we started first grade.

Trackbacks

  1. […] Homework in German primary schools Did you know that primary school children in Germany have homework (”Hausaufgaben”) – from DAY ONE! […]

  2. […] wir einen schönen Einschulungstag mit Gottesdienst hatten,  geht es jetzt so richtig los. Auch mit den Hausaufgaben. Ich bin froh, […]

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