Wellbeing & Safeguarding

WELLBEING & SAFEGUARDING 

ABOUT US

 

Why ISD

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At the International School of Düsseldorf, there are many levels of support 
focusing on the physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of our students, 
our parents, and our faculty and staff.

From matters of a personal nature to career exploration and higher education admissions, our team of school counsellors 
provides students and parents with comprehensive support at all grade levels. 

Our Life Skills teachers are dedicated to providing students in grades 6-10 with a flexible, experiential curriculum that 
focuses on the developmental needs of adolescents and their social, emotional and personal growth, while o​ur medical team 
takes care of the physical wellbeing of students on campus during the school day.

SAFEGUARDING & CHILD PROTECTION


At the International School of Düsseldorf we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We take seriously our moral and legal responsibility to safeguard and promote each child's universal right to protection from violence, exploitation, neglect and abuse (whether physically, psychologically, emotionally or sexually). ISD Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Procedures are established in alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and local German law. Child protection work is informed by the International Task Force on Child Protection which is a branch of one of our accrediting bodies, the Council of International Schools. ISD has appointed a Safeguarding Lead and two Safeguarding Coordinators in order to best promote and support the education and training of staff as related to child protection under German school law to ensure that all suspicions of abuse are promptly reported and appropriately responded to. If you are concerned about a child's wellbeing or safety - on or off campus - please contact safeguarding@isdedu.de. 
 

DOWNLOAD OUR SAFEGUARDING POLICY

 

HEALTH & SAFETY


The safety and wellbeing of our students is very important to us.

NURSES
A fully-qualified nurse (fluent in English and German) is available on each of our elementary and senior campuses throughout the school day. 

As well as caring for students as needed, our medical team can also answer your questions about the German medical system, and provide a list of English-speaking medical specialists in your area.

SECURITY
Each of our two campuses has a dedicated security manager on duty before, during, and after school. 

All visitors to campus, including parents, must sign in at the security desk and wear their school ID or visitor badge at all times.

COPING WITH CHANGE

Ensuring that new students have access to as much support as possible is of great importance to us. 
Some of the best people to help in this effort are the ones who are working alongside a new student every day: fellow students! 

Since 2005, our SMART Moves Ambassadors have been working with new students to help them make a good start at ISD.

Each year, 16-20 volunteers from each grade level take on the SMART Moves Ambassador role. They work together as a group to help our new students find their way around our campus, explain schedules, make introductions to classmates and teachers, share information about sports and activities one can get involved with, answer general questions about ISD, and lots more. A SMART Moves Ambassador is a friendly face and the ‘go-to’ person when new students have questions or need help with something while they are getting to know ISD and our campus. 

From time to time, SMART Moves Ambassadors also organise social activities for new students like outdoor movie nights, pizza lunches, bowling trips, visits to the local Christmas markets, ice-skating and more!

TRANSITION MENTORING

We also offer transition mentoring which is a one-on-one relationship between an older student and a younger student. Matching a new student with a more experienced student who is one or two years older can offer some comfort to the new student. 

The idea is for the older student to share their expertise as a more experienced student on all aspects of being a student at ISD and supporting the new student to adjust to their new learning and physical environment. All new students will be offered up to four sessions of transition mentoring on a weekly basis, beginning in their very first week at ISD.
 

LIFE SKILLS


Students in grades 6-10 benefit from our comprehensive Life Skills curriculum. 

The programme is focused on themes which are relevant to the developmental needs of students in each grade level. These include:

  • well-being (including mental, social, emotional and physical health),
  • drug education,
  • sexual health education,
  • and career choice and higher education planning.

In doing so, we strive to empower students to make choices that positively enhance their own well-being and that of others, now and for the future.

 

PASTORAL CARE

The ISD counselling team is an important part of the Pastoral Care system we have in place to support our students and families.

In the Elementary School, counselling is designed to promote the educational, emotional, and social welfare of each student. The counsellors meet with students in the classroom setting, in small groups and individually. Our counsellors also work closely with parents, faculty and administration. 

We are giving our children the opportunity to explore and work on common concerns such as making and keeping friends, and transitions. Emphasis is placed on the continued development of social skills such as cooperation, respect and responsibility.

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At ISD, we pride ourselves in giving special attention and support to all new students to aid in their transition and integration into the school community.

In the Senior School, our counselling team responds to the direct, immediate concerns of students usually necessitated by life events or situations and conditions in the students’ lives. These needs require, but are not limited to:

  • individual counselling,
  • crisis counselling,
  • referrals or consultations with parents or guardians,
  • teachers,
  • other in-school specialists and/or outside therapeutic support.

Some typical issues school counsellors help students to handle include:

  • friendships and peer relationships;
  • stress management;
  • time management and organisation;
  • bullying;
  • self-esteem;
  • social development;
  • family issues;
  • substance use and misuse;
  • behavioural issues;
  • conflict management;
  • bereavement and grief;
  • problem-solving
  • and responsible decision-making.

ISD COUNSELLING DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

As advocates for our students, we work in partnership with our learning community to affirm and support ISD’s mission, philosophy and educational principles. As such, we aim to develop each student’s academic, social and emotional competencies through the delivery of a developmentally and culturally appropriate counselling and Life Skills curriculum. In doing so, we strive to empower students to make choices that positively enhance their own well-being and that of others, now and for the future.


ISD COUNSELLING DEPARTMENT