The first day of school for the new first graders at CSK began with a festive service in the Wollbach church. Principal Nathanael Pantli and Vice Principal Monique Koene warmly welcomed the children, parents, and families and opened the ceremony with prayers and songs. The highlight was the cheerful play performed by the second graders “Why do I have to go to school?” in which jungle animals humorously discovered that learning is diverse and that everyone can contribute their own talents – a message that was summarized at the end: School is about knowledge, community, and joy.
Nathanael Pantli picked up on this in his speech: "At CSK, elementary school means basic education: reading, writing, and arithmetic – in German and English from the very beginning, and with quality.“ At the same time, school is more than just imparting knowledge: ”We learn together, with respect for one another and according to Jesus' ‘Golden Rule’: Treat your classmates as you would like to be treated." Afterwards, the first graders were called forward one by one by name. Pastor Häffner blessed the children for this new phase of their lives and prayed for them. A group photo with the school bags on the church steps rounded off the festive service.
Finally, the children gathered with their teachers for their first lesson in the classroom, while their parents got to know each other over coffee and cake at the school.
It became clear that starting school is not only the beginning of learning, but also an invitation to grow in a community based on trust, respect, and God's love.
Claudia Schäfer
Head of Communications