History
The early years (1992 to 1994)
In August of 1992, Leipzig International School opened in Leipzig-Gohlis on Kirschbergstraße, with only 6 students and 3 faculty members, as a Kindergarten – thanks to the initiative of Ursula Lehmann-Grube, Elke Urban and Todd Becker (U.S.Consul General).
In 1993, the school served as a Kindergarten and a grade 1. McDonald’s was the school’s first cooperate sponsor.
In 1994, the school grew to house grades 1 through 5 and had 25 students. The Ministry of Education in Saxony recognised LIS as an approved Primary school. Mr. Harry Gould joined the school as its principal.
The middle years (1995 to 2000)
In 1995, the school housed grades 1 through 6 and had 40 students. LIS changed its location to the Ratzelstraße in Leipzig-Grünau in order to accommodate the growing numbers. Also, the City of Leipzig recognised LIS as “Träger der freien Jugendhilfe”.
In 1996, there were 65 students in grades 1 through 7. In this year, the U.S. company DOW chemical invested in the Leipzig-Halle region, bringing many new families to the school. DOW has been the major sponsor of LIS ever since.
In 1997, there were 70 students in grades 1 through 8.
In 1998, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) was introduced to grade 9.
In 2000, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme was introduced in grade 11 even though the numbers of students in the school were about 75 and the first prospective IB Diploma class consisted of 3 students.
The growing years (since 2001)
In August 2001 Mr. Michael Webster took over as Headmaster of the whole school while Mr. Harry Gould continued to be responsible for the Primary section. There were now three kindergarten groups. The school moved into new facilities – sharing a Gymnasium building with the Carl-Gördeler-Gymnasium in the Könneritzstraße. By the end of the school year the number of students had grown to 120 and we celebrated our first graduating class of 5 students and our first full IB Diploma candidates were successful.
In 2002-03 the educational programme was developed further the IB Diploma programme was expanded to include IB Biology, more German courses and Computer Science. Mr. Iain Garioch was appointed as IB/IGCSE coordinator and Secondary coordinator. Ms. Anne Aalders led the Primary School as its coordinator. And Ms. Katrin Parker was the Pre-School coordinator. The total student numbers rose to 220.
2003-04 saw the further expansion of student numbers to 310 and an improvement in the educational programme to include a lively assembly programme in all three of the school sections. In the secondary section new courses involved the introduction of IB Art and PSHE (Personal Social and Health Education). In the Primary section separate classes at each grade level operated for the first time and a richer extra-curricular activity offering was developed.
During this year a building programme was developed by the Board of Governors under the Chairmanship of Mr. Christopher M. Smith and the school administration and it was then submitted to the government authorities for approval.
With 350 students in 2004-05 the Pre-school expanded to 6 kindergarten groups. Principals for the Primary section, Ms. Kirsty Fuller and for the Secondary section Mr. Steven Wilkerson were appointed, together with subject Heads of departments in the secondary section.
In 2005-06 the school was pleased to be notified of the receipt of a grant of 7.5 million Euros to renovate the building and build a new Gymnasium and associated rooms. Enrolment rose to an all time high of 420 and the planning for the new school and preparation for the move to interim accommodation for the duration of the building programme intensified.
In June 2006 on the last day of the school year the move out to the interim accommodation in the Schönefeld section of the city started and took most of the summer. Where the school was to remain for the next 15 months. Everybody dealt well with the flooded classrooms of the start of the 2006-07 school year! The programme of studies was maintained in a difficult environment (we came to love it in fact!).
The year in the interim involved a slight drop in enrolment to 390 students, it was a year of consolidation of educational programmes and one involving the Board of Governors and school administration in the huge task of supervision of the building process, and the financing thereof and the planning of the fine detail and furnishing requirements of the new building.
We were overjoyed to move back into the new building in October 2007 with enrolment back up to 440 and everyone pleased with the new building and optimistic about the future.
After 8 years of leading the school Michael Webster retired in July 2009 and handed the school over to the care of Roel Scheepens who had been the Secondary Principal since 2007. The next stage in the school's development includes the Council of International Schools (CIS) Accreditation that begins in February 2010, the landscaping and building of a more versatile and interesting playground and the continuing growth of the secondary section as the students from primary move up the school.