Grade 5 to 6 Transition Booklet

WELCOME TO
GRADE 6!
LEIPZIG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
2025-26

WELCOME TO SECONDARY SCHOOL AT LIS!
MY NAME IS MR. MCWILLIAMS
We are so excited to welcome to you to
the Secondary School at Leipzig
International School as you enter Grade
6 this fall! The transition from Grade 5 to
Grade 6 is a big one -- this booklet is
designed to help share important
information about your transition as well
as answer some of your questions about
what it will be like to be a Grade 6
student and how you can prepare for the
exciting journey to come!
You will find information about the Grade 5 Transition Day here at LIS as
well as some useful contacts that you’ll soon get to know very well as you
start Secondary School. You’ll learn about our Bring-Your-Own-Device
program, Student Council, our Secondary School newspaper “The Leipzig
Lens,” and other ways you can get involved with our co-curricular
offerings including GISST and clubs and activities!
Most importantly, we hope that you review this information with your
family and feel excitement for the opportunities that lay before you in this
new, exciting chapter of your education. We look forward to meeting you
in person shortly!
Sincerely,
Mr. McWilliams
Assistant Principal (Students)

WELCOME TO SECONDARY SCHOOL AT LIS!
MY NAME IS MR. WILKINSON
I often feel that Secondary School life is a bit like the
‘hero’ stories we watch in movies and read about in
books (think Star Wars, Harry Potter, Hunger Games
etc.) Most of the heroes we read about start in a safe,
warm environment but are called to adventure.
When they respond to that call, they step into the
unknown and face many daunting challenges which,
after several mistakes and failures and only with the
help of mentors and friends, they finally overcome.
We may not have stormtroopers or wizards in
Secondary School, but you are about to embark on a
hero’s journey!
A few things to bear in mind:
As you encounter new subjects and new teachers
you will also face challenges and, at times, make
mistakes – but it’s OK because this is how we learn.
Please embrace the challenges ahead and be sure to
ask for help when you need it; not many of your
teachers will have long white beards, but they are
your mentors and we are all here to help. If you need
any help with your schedule, classes, homework, or
general progress, please do come and see me!
Secondary school requires levels of organization that may be new to you. Take the time
to get to know Google Classroom, as this is where your work and homework will be
located.
Try to get into the habit of using your Google Calendar—it will have all your homework
deadlines on and is a super easy way to plan your time and homework.
Homework is an important part of Secondary School life, but the real learning happens in
class. Make sure you are ready to learn and sitting where you can focus best (your best
friends may not always be your best study partners!).
Every semester, we send reports to your parents with feedback on your communication,
collaboration, commitment, and self-management. If you work well with your peers,
communicate with your teacher, stay engaged and on task, and keep on top of your work,
you will do very well. In short, hard work, honesty, and respect will get you far – and so
will a smile!
Good luck, and I look forward to working with you all.
Sincerely,
Mr. Wilkinson
Director of Curriculum & Innovation

WELCOME TO SECONDARY SCHOOL AT LIS!
MY NAME IS MS. SARAH
My name is Ms Sarah, and I am the school counsellor.
Moving from primary to secondary school is an
exciting step, but it can also feel a little overwhelming
at times. I’m here to support you through this
transition and throughout your time at secondary
school.
Where to Find Me
You can find me in my office, room 404 located on the
4th floor. If you ever feel worried, stressed, or just need
someone to talk to, you’re always welcome to come
and see me. You can also reach out to me through
sarah.lamswood@leipzig.is to book a time to chat.
What I Can Help With
Settling into Secondary School.
Making new friends and handling social challenges.
Managing stress and schoolwork.
Building confidence and resilience.
Any other worries you may have!
Top Tips for a Smooth Transition
Stay Organised: Use a planner or Google Calendar to keep track of your timetable,
homework, and important dates.
Ask for Help: If you’re unsure about something, don’t be afraid to ask your form tutor,
teacher, older student or me.
Get Involved: Join clubs, sports, or activities to meet new people and find things you enjoy.
Take Your Time: It’s okay if everything feels new and different at first. You’ll settle in before
you know it!
Be Kind to Yourself: Everyone adjusts at their own pace, so be patient and give yourself
time to grow.
Remember, you’re not alone! There are lots of people here to help make it a positive and
rewarding experience for you. I look forward to meeting you soon!
Sincerely,
Ms Sarah
Secondary School Counsellor

WELCOME TO SECONDARY SCHOOL AT LIS!
MY NAME IS MS. ALLEN
There are lots of exciting sporting opportunities ready for
you when you join secondary school. Whether you’ve been
playing sports for years or are just thinking of trying
something new, there’s something here for everyone.
We have an amazing team of coaches who are passionate
about their sports and ready to help you develop your skills,
boost your fitness, and have lots of fun. You might have heard
about GISST (German International Schools Sports
Tournaments)—we’re proud to be active members and
regularly send teams to compete all over Germany.
The best part? Everyone is welcome to join a sports club! You don’t need to be an
expert—just sign up on Engage, come along, train, and enjoy being part of the team.
Our coaches will help you improve and prepare you for tournaments. When the time
comes, they’ll select teams to represent our school, which can be exciting (and yes, a
little nerve-wracking too!).
Even if you’re not chosen for a tournament right away, you’ll still learn new skills, stay
active, and make great friends along the way. Sports help us grow stronger—not just
physically, but mentally too. And there’s always another chance, whether it’s next year
or in a different sport altogether.
If you do get selected for a tournament, get ready for an adventure! You’ll travel with
your team, usually spending a couple of nights away in a hostel or hotel, bonding with
teamates and meeting students from other schools. It’s always a highlight of the year
and a lot of fun!
So be brave, give it a go, and most of all—enjoy it! You might just discover a sport you
love and a talent you didn’t know you had.
We can’t wait to see you out on the field, court, or track!
Sincerely,
Ms. Allen
Athletics Director at LIS

WELCOME TO SECONDARY SCHOOL AT LIS!
MY NAME IS MR. POPPE
Welcome to the Afterschool Activities program of
Leipzig International School for the school year
2024/25. Included in this exciting selection of activities
are a variety of sports, arts, languages orientated
choices.
The Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) are part of the
school programme made possible by the Leipzig
International School community. The community
includes parents, students, teachers and external
providers
Participation in CCA is voluntary and open to all students at LIS. CCAs are
activities that take place mainly after school and during the opening hours of
15:15 - 17:00, although some activities are also offered at weekends.
CCAs are generally in 45min, 1hour or 1.5hr blocks depending on the activity.
Sincerely,
Mr. Poppe
Student Co-Curricular Activities Coordinator

LANGUAGE
CHOICES
As part of the transition from Grade 5 to 6, we ask students to select a 3rd language
to study -- students can choose between French and Spanish.
Learning a 3rd language is a fun and rewarding experience which encourages
students to learn new structures, rules and vocabulary which in turn develops their
understanding of cultures and perspectives.
To help make an informed decision, students will attend a 30 minute French lesson
as well as a 30 minute Spanish lesson in April. Students will then discuss and reflect
on these sessions at home and decide their course of study for this fall.
Contrary to other subjects in Middle School (Grade 6-8), the 3rd language choice is a
class that is compiled through student choice rather than form class grouping, as
such, in these classes students will be together with students from other forms.
All Grade 5 Families will receive a digital course selection form on May 16th via
Engage (after having had a chance to experience a French and Spanish lesson earlier
in the week) and we appreciate you submitting that form to us as soon as possible
after receiving so we can make every effort to give students their preference in
language choice.
Sincerely,
Mr. Lane
Time/Day
French w/
Madame
Bludau
Spanish w/Mr.
Garcia
12/5 - 9:00-9:30am 5A 5B
15/5 - 9:00-9:30am 5B 5C
16/5 - 9:00-9:30am 5C 5A
Please note that students who have a background in French or Spanish (for
example, a native speaker parent) should not select these languages in Grade 6.

TRANSITION
TIMELINE
Here is a list of all the upcoming dates that will help
you learn more about your transition into Grade 6 at LIS.
APRIL
2025
MEET MR. MCWILLIAMS IN G5
CLASSES.
WEEK OF
MAY 12TH
FRENCH & SPANISH TASTER LESSONS W/
DIGITAL FORM TO RETURN ON MAY 19.
WEEK OF
MAY 19TH
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH LIS
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
MAY 28
2025
STEP UP DAY FOR GRADE 5
STUDENTS.
JULY 2
2025
GRADE 5 GRADUATION.
AUGUST
2025 WELCOME TO GRADE 6!

TECHNOLOGY &
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
MY NAME IS MR. GLENN
Dear Grade 5 Students & Families,
In Secondary School at LIS we believe that it’s important for
students to understand how to use technology responsibly and
we teach digital citizenship across Form Group, Pastoral
Lessons and throughout the year.
We have a Bring-Your-Own-Device policy which means that
every Secondary School student brings their own laptop to
school every day so that they can use it as directed in lessons.
For this fall, please think about the type of device you will bring
to school - you will want a device that has enough memory to
run applications you will use on a daily basis and a large enough
battery to get you through the day. If you need any help with
choosing a device, please feel free to reach out!
Sincerely,
Mr. Glenn

STEP UP DAY
May 28th 2025
Dear Grade 5 Students & Families,
Step Up Day is an opportunity for Grade 5 students to
get a taste for what a day in Secondary School is like at
LIS. Students will be supported in meeting new
teachers, experiencing a number of subject-specific
classrooms. They will also have breaks at the same
time as Secondary School students to help them get a
feel for the rhythm of the day.
Please have a look at the things to bring for Step Up
Day and also the schedule on the next page.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach
out to your class teacher or Mr. McWilliams for help.
What to bring for Step Up Day:
A pen/pencil.
A notebook.
An open mind.
A backpack.
A smile.
What not to bring for Step Up Day:
A phone.
A laptop/computer.
Worries/fears.

STEP UP DAY
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 28th 2025
5A 5B 5C
8:00am
Registration w/Ms. Edger
in 312
Registration w/Ms.
Odom in 201
Registration w/Mr.
Emmanouilidis in 207
8:10am (D)
English w/Ms. Raggett in
313
English w/Ms. Edger in
312
English w/Ms. Konwar
in 314
9:35am
10:15am
Welcome Assembly in the AULA
Morning Snack
10:35am (C)
Science w/Ms. Hayn in
204
Science w/Mr.
Emmanouilidis in 207
Science w/Mr. Achkar
in 216
12:00pm (B)
Individuals & Societies w/
Ms. den Dekker in 114
Individuals & Societies
w/Mr. Bell in 113
Individuals & Societies
w/Ms. Postma in 215
1:15pm
Lunch & Break
2:00pm (A) Math w/Mr. Wong in 211
3:15pm
Math w/Ms. Odom in
210
Dismissal
Math w/Mr. Elms in
208

Is there a dress code for
Secondary
School students in
Students should dress comfortably
but also should be respectful of
others and dress so they’re ready
for learning.
Middle School? There is no prescribed dress code.
Are cell phones
allowed in
Secondary School?
Do all Secondary
Students get a locker to
keep their belongings?
YES! You’ll get your locker and
your chip (what you use to open it)
during your first few days of school.
It will help you stay organized!
Students are not allowed to use cell
phones during the school day and are
advised to keep them in their locker
from 8:00-3:15pm daily.
Can students buy food
during morning break
and lunch at the outside
snack stand?
YES! You’re allowed to purchase
snack at the snack stand and can
use the cafeteria or outside
playground to consume them
responsibly!

TO-DO LIST
FOR GRADE 6:
(For students’ use)

BEST WISHES FROM
THE GRADE 5 TEAM
Advice and Well Wishes!
Dear Grade 5 Students,
You have received such a lot helpful
information already earlier in this
booklet.
We just want to wish you the best of
luck and time in Grade 6.
But please always remember this
valuable Chinese proverb:
A teacher can open the door but you
have to walk through the door
yourself.
Make yourself proud and be your best
selves.
Sincerely,
Mr. Andresen,
Ms. Buckingham
Ms. Leiskalne