JFKS sophomores attend our partner school, Trinity HS, in the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex within the framework of the German American Partnership Program. Besides attending school, the students go on excursions, for example to the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas to inform themselves about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Also, they visit the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth to study Western art from Cole and Bierstadt to Russell and Remington. A day at the University of Texas in Arlington familiarized them with original documents about German Immigration to Texas as on display there in the Library, Special Collections. A day in Austin at the State Capitol and the UT were the highlite of the stay.

1. Ben Huseman’s lecture on German Immigration to Texas with original documents from the UT Arlington Library, Special Collections:

2. University of Texas in Austin, GAPP group on campus:

3. Invitation to lunch in Mrs. Blues classroom, IB French students:
4. Urban living: Sundance Square, a beautiful square downtown Fort Worth:

BRAVO musicians for a great concert!

HonorOrchestra2014

46 of our students (both ES and HS) qualified for the Vattenfall Cross Finals that took place on Saturday, 5 April in the Olympic Horse Stadium.

We are very proud to announce that Lili W. got 1st place.

Crosslauf 2014

Also, within the Top 20:

Catherine K. 4th place
Tom P. 11th place
Jaco M. 15th place
Jamina R. 13th place
Lilli S. 17th place
Pia E. 20th place

Congratulation to all participants!!

In February, Max Hentges and Nigel Rising competed in the regional „Jugend forscht“ competition. After spending the year planning, inventing, testing, and perfecting a safety monitor for bikes, they presented their device and report to the jury. The judges were so impressed with their work, they moved them up to the 15-21 year-old category where they won first place.

On March 25 -26^th, they competed Berlin-wide in the same advanced category, and again took first place. The two eighth graders are heading to the Bundeswettbewerb in Künzelsau at the end of May.

We wish them all the best and hope the two JFKS students can make it to the top in all of Germany!

http://www.jugend-forscht.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/26/03/2014/mit-milch-raketentreibstoff-und-lateinvokabeln-zum-erfolg.html

pictures by Mr. Sinkora

March 18, 2014

Dear John F. Kennedy Parents and Community,

It is Day 10 of our 2014 8^th Grade Ski Trip and the weather is sun, sun, sun! And what is the trendy new look on students´ faces? Goggle tan. White eyes and bronzed faces. You see this look everywhere: at the 8e Talent Show night last night, where various groups from all different classes sang, danced, and did skits while the rest of the goggle tanned students clapped, sang along, or respectfully listened to their classmates. The atmosphere was fun and exciting, with all students truly supporting those performing. Our goal of integration of cultures as well as the six sections is becoming a reality.

One also sees the goggle tan look on the slopes. Our beginning skier students have all made it with the gondola to the top of the mountain and are making their teachers and themselves proud by learning more each day. The advanced groups are refining their skills and seeing lots of the ski resort.

And finally, we have those goggle tanned teachers. Though sometimes tired from waking students, teaching skiing all day, helping to supervise bus rides, meals and evening activities, the staff still meets every night after ´lights out´ to talk about, what else? The goggle tanned students. The consensus? All teachers agree that this group of 2014 goggle tanned students are winners. They are a cohesive, thoughtful, positive, well-behaved, and a generally healthy bunch. They are no longer six sections. They are one group—one group that the teaching staff is very proud of.
Chris Weiss

March 16, 2014

“There are so many 8^th graders I never knew were in my class.” – a JFKS student

Except for the past two days, the sun has shone for most of the week here.  There are many bronzed faces to show for it among teachers and students.  The snow at the bottom of the mountain has been generally slushy.  At the top of the Hochfϋgen ski resort the snow is crisper and complemented with the spectacular view of the Austrian, German and Italian Alps.

This is JFKS ski trip #39. For those unfamiliar with a city of Berlin tradition, a ski trip was historically a way to get Berlin students out of the walled city, to encourage them to face and overcome new challenges like skiing, and to better their social competencies.  With the fall of the wall in 1989, the focus shifted primarily to mastering new challenges and improving their interpersonal relations.  To do this, three times throughout the trip, the 128 eighth grade students break into 14 ski groups based on their ability.  In addition, each evening one of the six classes organizes a group event to encourage further interaction and fun.  Finally, two days are “ski-free days” for students to go for a hike, swim, or shop.  With one week already past in this beautiful setting, we believe the students are forming new friendships and strengthening others that will last in their time at JFKS and perhaps thereafter.    
Jason Lang, teacher