October 11, 1960
First day of School at the German-American Community School, housed initially in rooms of the Mühlenau-Schule with two preparatory classes consisting of 15 American and 15 German 6-year-old students and two 3rd Grade classes.
May 1962
The Society of Parents and Friends of the German-American-Community School In Berlin (The Verein) is founded.
April 1963
The School moves from the Mühlenau-Schule to its own provisional buildings on Teltower Damm in Zehlendorf with 360 students and 13 teachers.
December 1963
After the assassination of John F. Kennedy in November, the school is renamed John F. Kennedy School, German-American Community School.
October 1964
The Berlin State Law applying to the John F. Kennedy School is adopted.
June 1970
The new school buildings are dedicated. Architect: Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Harald Deilmann
June 1971
First High School Graduation
January 1972
First Abitur Graduation
1983
The John F. Kennedy Friendship Center is founded.
October 1985
The John F. Kennedy School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
1987
The renovation and expansion of the school’s buildings begins, taking eight years to complete; Architect: Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Harald Deilmann
September 1989
The new gymnasium is dedicated.
November 9, 1989
Fall of the Berlin Wall
October 3, 1990
German Reunification
End of Allied Occupation Laws in Berlin
May 1991
The new buildings for Elementary and High School are dedicated.
January 1992
The JFKS program and goals are reevaluated due to the changed political situation.
November 1992
Berlin Model United Nations (BERMUN) is established.
1993
The school bus service hitherto sponsored and provided by the U.S. military ends. Privately contracted bus service begins.
January 1994
The role of JFKS as a bicultural German-American school is reaffirmed by the faculty; the new school philosophy is published.
July 1994
Ms. Hilary Rodham Clinton and Frau Hannelore Kohl speak at the JFKS graduation ceremonies and present the diplomas to the graduates.
September 1994
US forces officially leave Berlin. The first school year without students from US military families begins.
September 1995
First JFKS Information Fair for the Berlin German-American community
October 1995
The Senate of Berlin and the American Embassy begin negotiations concerning the future support of the JFKS.
September 1997
The JFKS network is created and the school’s first website goes online.
May 2005
Renewal of the Accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
May 2009
Col. Gail Halvorsen and fellow US Airlift Veterans visit JFKS in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.
November 2009
US Ambassador Philip D. Murphy visits JFKS to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall; a segment of the Berlin Wall is unveiled.
June 2010
The school’s 39th Abitur class honors JFKS with the school’s best graduation results ever.
October 1, 2010
Official Ceremony celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the John F. Kennedy School.
November 2016
BERMUN celebrates its 25th anniversary with the conference theme “Ending Human Suffering: Reassessing the United Nation’s Role in a Globalized World”.
February 2018
Installation of the Britto Bear – a donation to Berlin by JFK’s sister, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver.
June 2019
Col. Gail Halvorsen visits JFKS in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.
September 2020
Celebrating 60 years of JFKS with a small group of guests due to Covid-19 regulations. Special speakers include HS Principals, Fr. Dr. Franziska Giffey (Bundesministerin für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend) and Ms. Robin Quinville (US Embassy Chargée d’Affaires).
November 2021
BERMUN celebrates its 30th anniversary with the conference theme “Pursuing Peace in a World of War and Conflict” with over 800 participants attending the third online conference.
May 2022
JFKS is awarded the title “‘School without Racism/School with Courage’” in a ceremony on campus. Lorna Hartling is the Schule mit Courage mentor.
