Today is International Day of Tolerance
In 1995 the UNESCO member states adopted a declaration of the principles of tolerance. Since then, November 16 has been the International Day of Tolerance.
Tolerance is important for society and living together. Therefore, on November 16, people are encouraged to reflect on their point of view on tolerant coexistence. Tolerance is a core value of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School. The students worked on this together in 2017. Around 850 students from 46 nations are taught on the Rückerstraße and Invalidenstraße campus. The positive characteristics of the individual child and young person are promoted. This leads to a tolerant coexistence in the class community and in society.
At school, by strengthening the positive in each and every individual, motivation, autonomy and resilience are promoted. These essential qualities are needed beyond school. Yvonne Wende, founder and director of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, explains the connection: “We see the whole child and young person in the classroom and not just their academic performance. That’s why we consciously promote the positive. The students feel valued. They are doing well, they are motivated and take responsibility for their performance. A tolerant environment is the prerequisite for building this self-confidence and resilience. Our students believe in themselves and what they can do and therefore actively and sustainably shape the future in the community.”
About the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Preschool and Kindergarten
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School is changing the traditional way schools and kindergartens work with different approaches to learning in the areas of nature and environmental protection, sports, new work, culture, dance, music and art and much more. The aim of the independent school, preschool and kindergarten is to bring all students along according to their abilities.
“When school motivates, everyone learns more” is the conviction of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School. Regular outdoor learning, sports activities and competitions, digital projects such as robotics, internships from grade 6, music-making from kindergarten age, dance clubs, bilingual education and much more help the children to discover and develop their own preferences and abilities.
Important concerns of the Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Kindergarten and Preschool are social justice, equal opportunities in education and a balanced community. The school regularly awards scholarships to students and accepts refugees. Through its established network and internationally trained staff, the educational institution has the opportunity to explore new educational paths for every age group.
The Berlin Cosmopolitan School was founded in 2003 as a non-profit organisation by Yvonne Wende. In 2004, the first bilingual (English-German) kindergarten and preschool opened for Berlin-Mitte with 18 children. Shortly after, the primary school started and most recently, in 2009, the accredited bilingual Gymnasium of Berlin Cosmopolitan School 01P22. Since then, the number of students has steadily increased. Approximately 1,000 students from all over the world are now being taught on the Rückerstraße and Invalidenstraße campuses. The kindergarten has grown to a number of more than 300 children between the ages of 1 and 6.
In 2013, Berlin Cosmopolitan School was accredited as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, first for primary school and also for the Gymnasium. The IB Learner Profile is about developing children and young people into lifelong learners. The school and kindergarten use primary experiences to design lessons.