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inspire each other –grow together

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BERLIN METROPOLITAN SCHOOLconsistently aims to build an inclusive culture of

learning that inspires and challenges every indivi-

dual to develop to their full potential and be active

and responsible participants in our global society.

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Infrastructure2

Libraries

2Science Labs

DigitalInfrastructure

Apple Technology for students: Apple MacBooks & Apple ipads

Library with stationary iMacsAll classrooms equipped with

display technologyOffice 365 accounts for all

students

After School Program

123 ClubsArts - Ballet, HipHop, Theater

Languages - Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Sports - Capoeira, Fencing, Sailing, STEM -

Coding, Minecraft, Tinkering

Sport teams11

Student participation in national and international

competitions

Academic Achievements

32.2Average IB DP Score

65%pursue a bilingual IB Diploma

100% of 2017 graduating class

received acceptance at first university choice

52Student nationalities

University Studies Abroad70%

of students pursue university studies abroad

Top declared Majors:Medical Sciences, Business

Studies, Engineering, Fashion Design & Arts, International

Relations & Law

40Different home languages

Student Leadership

52Students in student leadership positions

LocationCentral location in Berlin Mitte

Pastoral Care & Student Well-

BeingCareer & University Counselor

Student Support ServicesLearning SupportLanguage Support

3 School CounselorsSchool Nurse

Class Excursions & Camps

Hands-on learning through daily field trips to museums

and exhibitions

Class trips to national and international destinations

National & International Diploma Programs

International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)

German National School Diploma (Mittlerer Schulabschluss MSA) Grade 10

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) Grade 12

International Community1,000 students & 200 staff members

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meaningful and inspirational program. Our students make real-life connections and gain different perspectives on local and global topics. The idea of establishing connections can be found in all areas of our program and is also included in our school motto which underscores our main focus: inspire each other – grow together. We truly believe that inspiration is the main impetus for change and growth, as much as we believe that learning and stri-ving within a community is the most powerful tool we can harness for leading an ambitious school program.

As a school we place tremendous focus on institutional building to become a strong, sustainable, and trustful partner for our students as well as for their families. We aim to role-model our actions for students and build strong learners who have a: - Natural thirst for critical reflection - Dedication for ongoing learning and further development - Passion-driven and ambitious attitude - Sense of commitment and integrity

These characteristics are deeply woven into the fabric of our school culture and are reflected in the ambition of our institutional development as well as the dedication of our school community. BMS offers a truly contemporary education based on a set of strong values, and an aspiring academic program, both of which are embedded in a caring and committed school community.

BMS is authorized by the following international institutions:

Berlin Metropolitan School (BMS) was founded in 2004 in former East Berlin and as such, was the first private school initiative in an area where private schooling was largely unknown. BMS was created to offer students and families a broader and a more de-manding curriculum based on the understanding of international education as a key to a modern world.

From this idea, which started with 40 students in 4 classes, Berlin Metropolitan School developed to be one of the most success-ful school development cases in Germany, with more than 1,000 students of 52 nationalities and over 200 members of staff who represent 18 different nationalities, accredited by local educational authorities, and the most important international curriculum authorization bodies. BMS is the oldest international school in the city center of Berlin with a modern, urban campus for teaching and learning, located in the triangle of the most well-known area of Torstraße, Friedrichstraße und Linienstraße, the so called “Spandauer Vorstadt”.

The inner-city location within an area which is known internatio- nally for its art scene, museums, galleries, theaters, as well as its culture of entrepreneurship, has a tremendous influence on the culture and school program at BMS. The outreach into our com-munity as well as the partnerships we build with institutions and or-ganizations in Berlin-Mitte, form a strong baseline for an engaging,

Introduction to Berlin Metropolitan School

OUR MISSIONBMS consistently aims to build an inclu-sive culture of learning that inspires and challenges every individual to develop to their full potential and be active and responsible participants in our global

society.

Inspire each other – grow together

OUR COMMUNITY VALUESAs community members of BMS, we seek to establish strong ties within our school community by ensuring that the actions we model reflect our school character. In doing so, we commit to actions that ask the following questions:

Is it safe? Is it fair? Is it respectful?Is there a positive attitude in our

interactions?

OUR EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Inquiry based teaching and learning

International Mindedness

Character Building

BMS TEACHING &LEARNING STANDARDS

Professional Knowledge and Context

Professional Practice

Professional Engagement

CODE OFPROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Present as a professional member of BMS Staff and role model at all times.

Engage in ethical and professional relationships.

Demonstrate accountability and integrity.Create and maintain a secure and

engaging environment.Communicate effectively and

respond responsibly.

OUR SCHOOL POLICIES

Whole School Behavior Policy

Teaching and Learning Policy

Child Protection Policy

Health and Safety Policy

© BMS

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INTERNATIONAL AND LOCALOur aim is to provide our students with the best possible program which allows every single student to find their talents, passion, and to challenge themselves in all that they do. To achieve this goal, we combined the best features of national and international curricula for our students. In doing so, we allow our students to benefit from an education which is based on international standards and the most modern teaching practices, but still offer them the local state curriculum. BMS is proud to be an IB World School, a Cambridge Exam Center, as well as a Staatlich anerkannte Ersatzschule. As the culmination of these three curriculum programs, we offer our students gateways to both local and global aspirations, where they can be awarded the IGCSE Diploma and the Mittlerer Schulab-schluss (MSA) in grade 10, as well as the IB Diploma in grade 12.

K-12We believe in the power of a strong and holistic community and see this mirrored in our K-12 school program. Our goal is to build the foundation for a smooth and confident transition between the different divisions of our school and to facilitate the ease of family management for siblings of different ages. We offer in our Early Learning Center childcare for children ages 3-4 years old in our Kindergarten classes. Students begin learning at the age of 5 in our Preschool classes and focus on developing the foundational skills for grade 1. Our Primary School consists of 4 classes in each grade level from grades 1-6, with grade 6 preparing our students for

Secondary School studies. Our Secondary School consists of Grade 7-12. Grade 7 and 8 are the preparation years for the diploma years in grade 9 and 10 which lead to the IGCSE and the MSA at the end of grade 10. The years 11 and 12 are the diploma years which culminate into the IB Diploma at the end of grade 12.

ALL-DAYTo support our families in the management of their complex tasks as best as possible, we offer an all-day program for students of all ages. Our students have the possibility to stay with us from 7:30am to 6pm from Monday to Friday. The core school day varies between 8:30am to 3:30pm in Primary School and 8:30am to 3:45pm in the Secondary School. In the morning we have an early-bird pro-gram for all of our students in our Early Learning Center and in the Primary School. In the afternoon we run a dynamic and enga-ging after-school program with 123 clubs and offers in the areas of movement and sport, arts and design, digital tinkering and coding, as well as competitive sports. The afterschool program is open to all students from K-12, allowing our students to engage in their own interests and talents. Our aim is to develop our program in line with the interests of our students and the changing needs of our families. To this end, we are in close exchange with our community to adapt to their ideas, wishes, needs, and experiences.

PRESCHOOL (AGE) PRIMARY SCHOOL (GRADE) SECONDARY SCHOOL (GRADE)

3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Primary Years Programme (PYP) aligned with Berliner Bildungsprogramm (BBP)

Primary Years Programme (PYP)aligned with Berliner Rahmenlehrplan

Middle School Core Program aligned with Berliner Rah-menlehrplan

Cambridge International Education (CIE) - Cambridge Universityaligned with Berliner Rah-menlehrplan

International Baccalaureate DiplomaProgramme (IBDP)

Diplomas:MSAIGCSE

Diploma:IB Diploma

BMS Framework

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With the onset of globalization and the rapid development of technology, knowledge increases at unprecedented pace without any boundaries of countries, heritage or culture. It becomes im-possible to keep track of knowledge in the form of content. This development also enables a new way of individualism to emerge. If everyone can do everything simultaneously, it becomes important to define individualism. This societal development has a profound impact on systems of education at all age levels.

Students in classrooms learn together as individuals with different nationalities, who are interested and versed in completely different narratives of history. As such, language becomes a critical tool to engage with one another and necessary to bridge the gaps bet-ween nationalities. Technology skills become mainstream instead of a form of niche knowledge.

Indeed, globalization has transformed the way we live and in turn the way we educate the future. What does this mean for education? Modern education has to mirror these developments to be able to support first graders in 2017 with the necessary skills and con-cepts, as well as values, to be successful in 2029 when they gra-duate. By supporting our students in their schooling years and for life beyond BMS, we aim to instill a passion for learning about their own character and growth as an individual. In doing so, we aim to guide our students through academic achievement as well as so-cial and emotional growth. Our main focus is to teach our students how to learn, how to connect knowledge through interdisciplinary learning, how to respect and appreciate diversity of language and culture through international mindedness, how to understand both content and skills based on their individual learning needs, and how language acquisition shapes and supports academic attainment.

Educational Ethos

BALANCEDWe understand the importance of balancing different as-pects of our lives – intellectual, physical, and emotional – to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.

CARINGWe show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

COMMUNICATORSWe express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

INQUIRERSWe nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

KNOWLEDGEABLEWe develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of discip-lines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.

OPEN-MINDED We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal his-tories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

PRINCIPLEDWe act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

REFLECTIVEWe thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weak- nesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

RISK-TAKERSWe approach uncertainty with fore-thought and determina-tion; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

THINKERSWe use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

THE IB LEARNER PROFILEAt Berlin Metropolitan School, we strive to instill character building and positive attitudes in our teaching and learning in order to foster individual growth and as such, imbed the IB Learner Profile in all that we do:

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International Mindedness and Global EngagementInternational mindedness and global engagement at BMS are reflected in our respect and apprecia- tion of diverse cultural beliefs, values, attitudes, and languages and our acceptance of the complexi- ties that these present. We challenge one another to consider and negotiate our understandings of other views and ways of thinking as we develop as individuals and enrich our community. Openness to other perspectives is fostered at BMS through learning experiences, which inspire curiosity and empathy, and educators who role-model reflective thinking and debate. Our curriculum presents all learners with opportunities to engage in positive action based upon their knowledge of and compas-sion for our global society.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning based on the IB PrinciplesAt BMS, teaching and learning challenges students to become engaged learners who are curious about the world around them, knowledgeable and skillful in pursuing their own inquiries and who take actions to bring about positive change. At the heart of our pedagogical approach is the pro-cess of inquiry (thinking, questioning, formulating, reflecting and taking action) which is inspired by teachers through meaningful provocations. Learning experiences are scaffolded to ensure that all students achieve ambitious learning outcomes. We believe that teaching and learning is a colla-borative process in which all members of the BMS community are involved and is enriched by the diverse experiences of students and educators. Learning is driven by each person‘s desire to grow and succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Character BuildingAt BMS we recognize that character building is an ongoing process of individual growth. Character building is embedded in our school culture through the IB Learner Profile with all members of the BMS community seeking to exemplify attributes associated with strength of character. Growth hap-pens as students learn to face challenges and adversity with resilience, strive to become mindful and self-aware, and develop those values that we promote as a school. This process involves being aware of and respecting differences between oneself and others. We believe that character building is encouraged and developed by presenting all members of our community with meaningful chal-lenges, choices, opportunities, and explorations with an emphasis on reflection and revision of one’s thinking or approach.

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EARLY LEARNING CENTER - One Native German and English speaking teacher

per classroom for full language immersion - Kindergarten Groups with 12 students, Preschool

classes with 18 students, collaborating across shared learning spaces

PRIMARY SCHOOL - 4 classes per grade level with 22-24 students per

class - Native English speaking classroom teachers - In-class assistant per class to support social and

emotional growth

- An engaging program based on the Primary Years Programme of the IBO and the local Berliner Bildungsprogramm

- A child-center approach of purposeful inquiry adapted for students from 3-5 years of age

- Scaffolding the initial stages of collaborative lear-ning between students and teachers

- Differentiation in each classroom to support every child as an individual learner with a tailored approach to early intervention

- Learning through play and using inquiry in the classroom and in the local neighborhood to instill a passion for learning

- Empowering students to raise their self-awareness and guiding their social-emotional growth

- Class excursions to build awareness of teamwork inside and outside the classroom

- Commitment to language acquisition at the ear-liest stages

TRANSITION FROM PRESCHOOL INTO GRADE 1 - Close collaboration between Preschool

and Grade 1 to provide a positive start to Grade 1 for each student

- Using similar strategies and teaching methods within the same program and teaching methodology

- Agreement on the same values and guiding principles to support a natural transition

- A learning environment which models the same set of attitudes consistently

- Strong team of specialists for German, Music, Art, Drama, Movement, and Physical Education

- An engaging program based on the Primary Years Programme of the IBO and the Berliner Rahmen-lehrplan

- An interdisciplinary program to develop and instill a passion of lifelong learning

- Empowering students to take ownership of their learning through student-led inquiry

- A balanced curriculum to address the needs of a whole child and to teach both character and academic development simultaneously

- Purposeful inquiry to train and build the most impor- tant skills necessary for future academic success

- Strong set of values to build character and attitu-des around the learner profile of the IBO

- Instilling a strong set of engagement through student leadership

- Commitment to student support services including language support for EAL and GAL, Counselor, learning support teachers

ELC Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6

Timeline of Learning

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- International student body with 22 to 24 students per class

- Strong team of teachers with different backgrounds and each an expert in his/her field

- House Tutor System to support the academic and pastoral needs of our students

- Small classes of 12-15 students to foster differenti-ation and a tailored approach to learning

- Instruction from subject experts, differentiated between higher and standard level studies

- Subject selection spanning over 6 different subject groups

TRANSITION FROM GRADE 6 INTO SECONDARY SCHOOL - Close collaboration between 6th grade team and

Secondary School team to align curriculum - Transition program to support students for a suc-

cessful start to Grade 7 - Agreement on the same values and guiding prin-

ciples to support students - A learning environment which models consistent

attitudes and approaches to learning

GRADE 10 - Mittlerer Schulabschluss (MSA)

- International General Certificate

of Secondary Education (IGCSE)

- Personalized support through one of the most rigo-rous and respected Secondary School Diplomas, International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP)

- Equipping students with the necessary skills and attitudes required for success in university or voca-tional pursuits

- An engaging program which offers students a tra-ditional liberal arts curriculum, matched with three important features at its core: the Extended Essay, Creativity Action and Service (CAS), as well as a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course

- Supporting empowered learning through a wide breadth and depth of knowledge, focusing on de-veloping both skills and character to excel after graduation

- Supporting vocational and university pursuits through a full-time university and career counselor

Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

GRADE 12 - IB Diploma

- Various subjects composed around the idea of providing a well-rounded education and aspiratio- nal program

- A life-skills program to complement skill and content mastery

- An engaging program based on the principles of inquiry-based learning and the Berliner Rahmen- lehrplan

- Selection of a foreign language to further promote international-mindedness

- Commitment to student leadership through House Captain and Vice Captains

- Equipping students with a large breadth and depth of knowledge to successfully transition to DP years

- Mastering assessment techniques for Gr. 11 & 12 - Commitment to both a national and international

worldview through local and global curriculum themes

SECONDARY SCHOOL

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By exploring new ideas and investigating critical issues, we focus on studying the complexities of the human condition through six key questions.

Who we are

Where we are in place and time

How we express ourselves

How the world works

How we organize ourselves

Sharing the planet

These questions guide our thematic studies from ELC through to Primary and allow our students to study knowledge through a structured and transdisciplinary thematic lens.

Subject content is incorporated into the units using the six guiding themes as a compass, thus laying the foundation for the entry into primary school. Music and expressive movement classes also pro-vides our young learners with the opportunity to become familiar with their bodies and to express themselves through singing and acting. Preparing for school also means getting to know school procedures and rituals such as the morning circle, project work and group work as well as visiting the school library. Visiting a classroom and having older students come read to them, helps the youngest students to perceive themselves as part of the school community.

In the Early Learning years, we seek to empower students to feel secure in exploring their immediate school environment, start the journey of self-discovery, and begin to build the critical skills nee-ded for a successful start to their Primary years.

In our kindergarten, two educators, teaching in their respective native languages of English and German, work with small classes of 12 to 18 students. Our kindergarten is comprised of 2 large col-laborative spaces, each containing two small classes of 3 & 4 year old students. This mixed-age collaborative space allows teachers and students from each age group to work together seamlessly on the same 4 units of inquiry, with each child inquiring at a depth and breadth that is appropriate for their developmental stage.

The framework of our kindergarten education consists of intense group work in order to transfer the first social competences, pro-vide a bilingual environment in order to focus achieving language acquisition in both English and German, and the first unit work to discover and learn about how knowledge is linked.

Through creative forms of expression such as drawing, handcrafts, theater, music, and expressive dance, children reflect on what they have learned, making connections between the knowledge and trying to illustrate and present it in an age-appropriate man-ner. Experienced teachers create a warm and inspiring learning environment that guides students’ natural curiosity and provides them with a feeling of security in the classroom and in the group. Here, children can try new things and have fun as they go on a voyage of discovery.

The year prior to entry into school is used to actively prepare child-ren for this next step. Two educators teaching in their respective native languages of English and German work with groups of up to 19 students. Our Preschool educators work closely together with the colleagues from the Primary School in order to provide all students with the best preparation possible for the transition. Due to the fact that every child develops differently, has a different learning style, and has his/her own learning speed, the educators focus on this preparation with the greatest care and work closely together with parents.

Early Learning

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With up to 22-24 students in 24 classes, the Primary School com-prises the largest section of the Berlin Metropolitan School. Stu-dents from all over the world join our school and build a community of international, open-minded and respectful students.

Whether in the classroom or after school, learning is supported in the Primary Years by intensive practical application of knowledge and by the active inclusion of students in the learning process. The point of departure for each unit or project is the students them-selves, with their previous knowledge and their questions. Within the framework of our school program, we incorporate children’s natural thirst for knowledge from the very beginning, foster this unchecked curiosity, and steer them towards essential learning outcomes.

By revisiting the transdisciplinary themes taught to students in Early Learning, our students are now able to apply their learning through these six fundamental themes at increasingly advanced levels throughout the Primary Years:

Who we are

Where we are in place and time

How we express ourselves

How the world works

How we organize ourselves

Sharing the planet

The Primary School curriculum is based on a local and internatio-nal curriculum program, encompassing the Berliner Rahmenlehr-plan (Berlin Framework Curriculum) as well as the Primary Years Programme (PYP). At its core, the primary school program seeks to allow students to acquire content knowledge through core sub-jects such as German, Math, Science and English through the lens of purposeful, structured inquiry. By tapping into the questions students naturally pose throughout the learning cycle, our students are empowered by having a decisive voice in the cycle of inquiry. By building on the knowledge and skill built within the Early Learning years, our students revisit the six main questions within the Pro-gramme of Inquiry (POI) and acquire subject-content knowledge as well as skills through structured units of study. In doing so, we harness the power of student-led inquiry and transfer subject knowledge simultaneously.

With this approach, our students visit transdisciplinary themes as a natural outcome of learning and master subject knowledge through meaningful connections across all primary school sub-jects. In addition, students are able to consolidate this learning through a meaningful and articulated education technology pro-gram. The use of information technology, education blogs, and much more allow our students to experience their skill and content mastery first hand. These academic and skills-based building blocks are the foundation upon which advanced, academic suc-cess is built in the Secondary School years.

We work exclusively in age-homogeneous classes in order to sup-port the development of each individual student. Classes consist of students who learn at varying speeds and who have different strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, we focus on a differentiated method of teaching, to take into account individual needs of our students. To this end, we create an inclusive culture of learning, striving to fulfill both the needs of our students and provide path- ways of success for each type of learner in our student body. Students can choose from a myriad of pathways in order to ac-tively engage in their direct environment or within the wider school community. Our BMS House System is an integral part of Primary School life as students from Grade 1 - Grade 6 are members of a house and actively promote their house values and mission through initiatives and school events. Moreover, our Student Support Ser-vices Team is a holistic team of skilled specialists who support student development and progress both through work with stu-dents within the classroom environment and also through small group or individual support. In addition, our CCEP educators work with classes to support both social emotional development and learning during the school day as part of an In-Class Assistance Program. At the heart of our school program is the mission to create a learning environment of meaningful engagement, rich with a strong commitment to purposeful inquiry. At BMS, we aim to allow this mission and vision to unfold in every primary school classroom and in each initiative we as a school community pursue. Our goal is to allow each student to access our school program in its many facets by opening up each channel of learning and in supporting our students with the necessary feedback to grow both in intellect and character.

Primary School

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The Secondary School aims to be a center of academic excellence that follows a preparatory program combining the local and inter-national curriculum standards in Grades 7 and 8 leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the Mittlerer Schulabschluss (MSA) in Grades 9 and 10, as well as the rigorous IB DP (Diploma Programme) in Grades 11-12. Parallel to its rigorous academic curriculum, BMS Secondary School has an extensive Pastoral Care System in which students are given guidance regarding their academic, social and emotional needs. At the same time, we aim to foster students´ ambition, help them realize their potential, accompany them in exceeding their limits, and expect them to demonstrate respect and responsibility in their actions. Each student is a member of our Vertical House System where the Head of House and House Tutors focus on hel-ping each student to achieve their potential intellectually, acade-mically and emotionally. In Grades 7 and 8 students study a uniquely designed program that draws from the best curricula around the world and draws on the local curriculum of the Berlin Framework Curriculum. Sub-ject-specific skills, transdisciplinary skills and general learning acquisition techniques are explicitly taught, ensuring students develop an effective toolbox of strategies needed for the IGCSE, MSA and the Diploma Programme. This curriculum provides an exciting, stimulating and challenging course of study that focuses on building both the knowledge base and skills. The program: develops and encourages vital educational skills; develops investi-gative skills; problem solving, teamwork; recall of knowledge, and initiative; exposes students to a range of assessment techniques; provides training for sitting formal examinations; provides accurate and ongoing feedback on student performance, and provides the perfect platform for undertaking the IGCSE program. Subjects include German, English, Mathematics, Science, Geogra-phy and History, Ethics, Sports, Performing Arts and Visual Arts. In Grade 7, students will begin the study of a third foreign language, choosing between Spanish and French. For students who require help with the language of instruction, English, or the language of the host country, German, we offer a Language Support Program through our student support services. In Grades 9 and 10 students study the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) which is a globally recognized educational qualification. Additionally, all students complete the German MSA (Mittlerer Schulabschluss) in Grade 10.

Both leaving certificates allow students to enter vocational training programs in Germany. A student who has passed the IGCSE is eligible for any Senior School leaving qualification or any interna-tional pre-university program, such as the IB Diploma, Advanced Placement Diploma (US), and A/AS Level & AICE (UK). The IGCSE offers a wider range of subjects and encourages high academic standards through a practical approach to teaching and learning. Most subjects offer a choice between core curri-culum and extended curriculum. This gives students of all ability levels the freedom to choose subjects that are right for them and, thereby, the opportunity to succeed. The curriculum provides an exciting, stimulating and intelligent course of study for Grade 9 and 10 students. It develops and encourages vital educational skills, including oral skills, investigative skills, problem solving, team work, recall of knowledge, and initiative. The IGCSE has worldwide status and credibility due to moderated external assessments.

In Grades 11 and 12 we offer our students the IB Diploma, which is considered to be among the most rigorous and therefore most respected Secondary School programs, due to its demanding requirements. The IB Diploma equips students with the necessary skills and attitudes required for success in university or vocatio-nal pursuits. The program offers students a traditional liberal arts curriculum, matched with three important features at its core: the Extended Essay, Creativity, Action and Service (CAS), as well as a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course. In exposing our students to a wide breadth and depth of knowledge, we aim to develop both skills and character to excel in international settings after gra-duation. Students take ownership for their learning and are given the opportunity to choose subjects from a diverse subject offering, ranging over six groups and completing 6 courses to receive their diploma.

Our students are supported through rigorous academic assess-ment during these senior years and are guided by academic advi-sors for both the Extended Essay and CAS initiatives in addition to their DP Subject teachers. Moreover, students receive 1-1 support from our university and career counselor for their formal university applications and admissions assessments, as they plan for life beyond secondary school.

As a whole, we mentor our students in the pursuit of excellence through academic achievement and support the pursuit of this outcome for each and every student.

Secondary School

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Diplomas at Berlin Metropolitan School offer our students pathways to success and gateways to vocational or university pursuits at cri-tical stages along their journey as a student at BMS. Our commitment to rigorous academic attainment matched with a strong support system, acts as the backbone of both the formal and hidden curriculum at BMS. Indeed, our commitment to successful academic achievements can be seen in a myriad of ways at BMS; be it in the 100% positive acceptance rate of students obtaining their first choice in university placement, the consistent results amongst our 3 diploma programs, or our achievement of obtaining DP outcomes in line with the world average each graduating year. In Grades 11-12, BMS offers students the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which is one of the most rigorous and respected Secondary School Diplomas due to its demanding requirements and holistic framework. The IB Diploma offers our students a compre-hensive liberal arts education with an emphasis on skill and content mastery at an advanced level. The diploma acts as a passport to studies abroad and to local universities. In Grades 9-10, BMS offers students two diplomas from both national and international curriculum programs. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), a globally recognized and sought-after leaving certificate, allows our students to pursue such senior school diplomas such as the IB DP, the Advance Placement Diploma (US), and A/AS Level (UK), as well as the German state Diploma, Mittlerer Schulabschluss, recognized throughout Germany as a leaving certificate.

Academic Success

MSA GRADE POINT AVERAGE (BMS)

SUBJECT BMS 2015 BMS 2016 BMS 2017

English 1,2 1,0 1,0

German 2,6 2,5 2,7

Mathematics 2,7 2,2 2,0

Presentation 1,7 1,8 1,8

MSA Grades are assessed on a German-grading scale system, 1,0-6,0, with 1,0 representing the highest level of achievement and 6,0 representing the lowest level of achievement.

IB DIPLOMA

DP RESULTS OVERVIEW 2016 2017

Cohort Size 44 38

Full Diploma Students 41 36

BMS Average Score 31.1 32.2

BMS Highest Score 42 42

Subject grade 4 or higher* 84.3% 88.6%

* DP Students pass the program by collecting a minimum of 24 points and a maximum of 45 points, as an accumulation of obtaining a numerical grade from 1-7 for each individual subject. The scale of assessment is set a 7 as the highest level of achievement and 1 as the lowest level of achievement.

IGCSE GRADE SCALE (BMS)

PERCENTAGE 2016

PERCENTAGE 2017

Students gaining at least one A* or A grade

67.4% 68.4%

Students who achieved 20% or more of their grades as A* or A

52.2% 52.6%

Students who achieved 50% or more of their grades as A* or A

17.4% 26.3%

Students who achieved 100% of their grades as A* or A

2.2% 2.6%

Students who achieved 5 or more A* to C passes

65.2% 84.2%

Cambridge IGCSE subjects are assessed on an eight-point grade scale: A*, A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Grade A* is for the highest level of achievement. Grade G is for minimum satisfactory performance.

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CLUBS Our club program for students from K-12 offers our students a dynamic and diverse selection of clubs, workshops, and sports to create an after school program based on the interests, needs, and creative talents of our students. Moreover, our club program allows students to explore areas of their own personal interest, be

it dance, music, language courses, science, team sports, or any of the other diverse offerings for every age group. Our club program features clubs for students of all ages, offering activities to suit our students in ELC, Primary and Secondary school. By striking the best balance between life beyond the classroom, our students can explore their talents and passion with their peers. Each year, students can choose from over 60 courses during the school year, with more than 1,000 places available, ranging from science and technology, to languages, sports and the arts. These courses last either the entire year or area divided up into semesters, depending upon student interest. Our program supports our commitment to educating the whole child, by offering the structured opportunities outside of the classroom to become engaged in their local and glo-bal world and supporting the very individual process of character growth and development.

BMS SPORTS TEAMS – “BMS HAWKS”Sports teams at BMS represent the culmination of school spirit and community pride. Students who join HAWKS Sports represent the BMS school community at official events and compete against

other schools and institutions in both league and tournament ga-mes. The players for the teams often first participate in our after school sports clubs, develop key skills as young students, and then join a formal team later in the Primary years. Our experienced coaches, comprised of BMS teachers and educators as well as

external experts, support our HAWKS in building key skills and endurance for the sport of their choice. BMS HAWKS participate in both regional and national leagues and tournaments, representing BMS in local games and tournaments in Germany and in neigh-boring European countries. Our sport teams compete in the follo-wing sports based on a yearly schedule: Soccer, Basketball, Cross Country, Table Tennis, and Chess. IN-CLASS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMOur CCEP educators fulfill a key role in our Primary Years Program-me by providing additional support for academic and pastoral care issues. By acting as a key source of pedagogical support for our teachers and students, our educators assist with daily activities in the classroom, help our students navigate the academic demands of the school day, ease the transition between grades, and ensure that our students feel safe and inspired to learn each day. Since its inception, the focus of the In-Class Assistance Program (ICP), has supported our Early Learning and Primary school students in successfully managing their school day.

Co-Curricula Educational Program

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BMS provides a modern education and focuses on the topics and values that are important to young families who explicitly seek to provide their children with an excellent education in a natural, open environment.

The numerous opportunities in our district are reflected in our school program, which represents everything that children want, teenagers like and parents look for – an inexhaustible pool of art, culture and sports and a melting pot of different cultures. Having all this on offer in the center of Berlin makes our campus a dyna-mic location with a lively school life.

Alongside a strong curriculum, a dedicated team of teachers and educators, and a stimulating learning environment, we promote a balanced, international and open-minded community to ensure the success of our school and each and every student. We find it particularly important to create a strong community of families and employees with different backgrounds that identify with the values and aspirations of the school.

We place a keen focus of importance on meaningful channels to facilitate a strong sense of community for our students and parents. To this end, we have a BMS House System from Primary through Secondary school to foster bonds between students and to promote awareness for local and international initiatives. Upon entry to BMS, each student is assigned to a house, named after the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

Our calendar of events, both for academic, house, and greater school community themes, allow for the expression our approach

to education beyond the classroom. Be it the information evenings we offer to our parent community, our international day to celebrate international mindedness, or events from the “Friends of BMS”, to house challenge days. Regardless of the event or goals, one central theme remains at the forefront: empowering our students to fulfill their full potential. For more information on our calendar of events, visit our website at www.metropolitanschool.com.

Community members have various possibilities to be actively invol-ved in shaping and developing our school. It is important that our school community practice what we communicate to our students on a daily basis in our program – cultural openness, respect, tole-rance and teamwork.

The community hub is our campus which is designed as a place to meet and to mingle. Our cafeteria, where we serve daily a warm meal and offer our students a fresh salad bar and unlimited fruits, is a main meeting place for our community. This space is designed to host an enjoyable lunch for our students and staff. Between 12 and 2pm the Cafeteria is buzzing at BMS! Berlin Metropolitan School is located on the northern edge of the Berlin suburb of Mitte in the triangle between Linienstrasse, Fried-richstrasse and Torstrasse, in one of the most diverse and vibrant areas of the city.

We find it a privilege that many of the major sights of the city are nearby, such as New Synagogue, the Hackescher Markt market square, Museum Island and much more. Our neighborhood is situated in the arts-and-culture scene of Berlin Mitte, surrounded by prominent galleries and theaters that enjoy a high regard even far beyond Germany’s borders. Torstraße, which marks one of our two school entrances, is internationally known as Germany’s Silicon Valley. Of course this interesting neighborhood has a large impact on our program as we have strong ties to our our local community. Our school environment is both an inspiration to our school as well as one to which we are deeply committed.

Campus & Community

Earth Air Fire Water

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UOranien-burger Tor

Torstr.

Linienstr.

Am Kupfergraben

Auguststr.

Johannisstr.

Ziegelstr.

Sophienstr.

Rosenthaler Str.

Gipsstr.

Oranienburger Str.

Friedrichstr.

Tucholskystr.

Tucholskystr.

Hackescher Markt

Oranien-burger Str.

Friedrichstr.

HackescheHöfe

Museums-insel

S

S

S U

Berlin Metropolitan School, Linienstraße 122, 10115 BerlinPhone +49 30 8872 739 0, Fax +49 30 8872 739 20

info@metropolitanschool.com, www.metropolitanschool.com

Berlin Metropolitan School is located at the crossroads between Friedrichstrasse and Torstrasse and has two entrances – one at Linienstrasse 122 and one at Torstrasse 216. The school is also easily accessible from all parts of the city via the public transport network the U-Bahn (U6, Oranienburger Tor), S-Bahn (S1, S2 and S25, Oranienburger Straße), tram (M1, M6 and M12, Oranienburger Tor), and the bus (240, Torstraße/Oranienburger Tor) are all within walking distance.