Content:
Kindergarten:
Farewell to Our Preschoolers
June is always a special month for our preschoolers. For most of them, it’s their last month in preschool. That calls for a proper celebration. For the parents, we put on a slideshow featuring highlights from the past year—from the very first days to group projects and special moments in everyday life. Afterward, the children explored the school building once more on a scavenger hunt and were able to rediscover familiar rooms in a playful way.
At the end of the event, everyone gathered in the garden. The younger children formed a guard of honor through which the preschoolers were allowed to walk with their school bags—a visible symbol of their transition to the next stage. We wish all our “big kids” a great start to school!
Final Field Trip to the Strawberry Field
This year’s end-of-year field trip took us to the strawberry field and then to the Motorikpark. Despite the drizzle, we didn’t let it dampen our spirits and set off together by bus. Once there, the children learned interesting facts about strawberries—from cultivation to harvest. Then it was time to start picking: Each child was allowed to fill their own bowl with strawberries and take them home.
Afterward, the groups visited the Motor Skills Park, where the children were able to run around to their hearts’ content. Whether it was balancing, climbing, or jumping—there was something for everyone. Although the weather could have been better, the children had a great day!
Primary School
Pen-pal friendship
Since the beginning of this school year, a wonderful pen-pal friendship has developed between the students at PVS St. Elisabeth and the 2nd-grade class. The children were always thrilled whenever they received mail from the kids in 2a and Timo the raccoon. In June, a final meeting was held where the pen pals were able to meet in person.
A Book of Fairy Tales About Good Habits
For each guiding principle of our monthly “Good Habit” program, the second-grade students listened to a related fairy tale and created artwork based on it. For example, *The Star Money* represented generosity, *The Three Little Pigs* represented diligence, and *The Frog Prince* represented the good habit of honesty. Little by little, a collection took shape, which was bound into a small book of fairy tales.
Art and Crafts Class
They’re finally finished—the 2nd-grade bear bulletin boards! With a lot of patience, the children sawed and sanded their pieces before they could paint their bears exactly as they wanted.
Secondary School
“Mary Poppins” Musical Project – A Huge Success!
For the first time this school year, Ms. Gomez-Fiegl (Theater) and Ms. Kitz (Music/Vocal) launched a joint musical project. After overcoming some initial organizational challenges, rehearsals for the musical *Mary Poppins* were finally able to begin.
Numerous students in grades 1 through 5 participated with great enthusiasm. After the roles were assigned, everyone grew more and more into their characters during rehearsals and discovered many hidden talents in the process. In the first semester, rehearsals were held in two groups; in the second semester, everyone finally worked together on singing, acting, and dancing.
With a great deal of dedication, the students also created costumes, set designs, and props in collaboration with the art and crafts teachers. Starting in May, we received support from our language assistant, Lilly, who helped with the choreography, set design, and music playback.
To create a real theater atmosphere, new curtains, additional stage props, headsets, and a mixing console were purchased. Several dedicated mothers also supported the project by doing the actors’ makeup and hair. Four students from Class 4A worked tirelessly as stagehands and ensured that everything ran smoothly. We also had two specialists on hand to handle sound and lighting.
At 1. and On June 2, *Mary Poppins* was performed in the original English. The first performance delighted the students from the high school and elementary school, while the second delighted the parents, families, and friends of the Stella community. Both performances were a resounding success, and the months of rehearsals were rewarded with thunderous applause.
A heartfelt thank you to all the participants and supporters who made this special project possible!
Confirmation at St. Peter’s Church: Sunday, June 20, 2026
Kunsthalle Wien: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Class 1B attended the “Alltagsglitzer” workshop at the Kunsthalle Wien. During an engaging guided tour, our students learned fascinating facts about the Vienna Festival. We visited the accompanying exhibition with interest but also asked critical questions. Afterward, our students created jewelry using craft supplies in the Kunsthalle Wien studio.
Bisamberg Hiking Day: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
In the morning, we took the rapid transit train to Langenzersdorf, and in the sunshine, we hiked up a fairly steep path toward Elisabethhöhe. At the playground, the kids played soccer, explored a “treehouse,” and ran around energetically. At “Woody’s Waldheurigen,” we met some parents from our class and took the opportunity to look back on the year. The food was excellent, and the students were very happy that their parents covered the cost. On the way back, in a side street, our fastest kids tried to sprint past the speed limit at the speed measurement point (maximum speed 22 km/h). As a reward, we had ice cream after the hike. Afterward, we returned to school exhausted but happy.
A particular highlight of both weeks was cooking together. The pupils prepared their own meals with great dedication, helped set the table and tidy up and experienced how wonderful community can be in everyday life. These hours together in the kitchen contributed significantly to the classes growing together.
Fun & Sports Days in Tulln on the Danube
During the last week of school, classes 2A and 2B, along with their teachers Prof. Rössle, Prof. Comisso, Prof. Pozoga, and Prof. Volochschuk, spent three eventful days full of sports, fun, and camaraderie in Tulln an der Donau.
During this time, the students were able to further develop their athletic skills in basketball, beach volleyball, and soccer, as well as learn about and try out new sports, including stand-up paddleboarding, Speedminton, Indo Board, Bassalo Cupball, and Crossboccia.
The sports days not only provided plenty of exercise and fun, but also strengthened the group’s team spirit and cohesion. It was an enriching and unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
Heiligenkreuz: Tuesday, June 30 / Wednesday, July 1, 2026
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the highlight of the trip—”Heiligenkreuz”—was on the itinerary. The trip there was challenging because the buses were overcrowded, and the hike to Mayerling was very strenuous due to the high temperatures.
The guided tour there, which focused on Crown Prince Rudolf’s tragic story, was led by a retired elementary school principal in a very child-friendly manner, and the class received much praise for their inquisitive questions. Despite the heat and the strenuous hike, the kids still spent a lot of time on the sports field, and in a completely conflict-free atmosphere, they played soccer with children from the village until the last rays of sunlight faded. Once again, it became clear that our students are capable of interacting with others in a very respectful and peaceful manner. That night, some of the children simply refused to go to sleep and, according to rumors, were still chatting with one another well past midnight.
On Wednesday, the students played “Werwolf” in the coolest room in the building or headed back to the sports field. This was followed by an exciting guided tour of the sacristy. They learned about the monks’ lives and duties and saw the hidden courtyards inside the monastery.
Shared Experiences During the Last Week of School (5A)
The last week of school was all about community and team building. Through a variety of activities, our students had the opportunity to get to know each other and their teachers in a different light, even outside of class.
For example, the students made ice cream together in the school cafeteria, exploring fascinating chemical processes along the way. Another highlight was the group trip to the Stadionbad for a swim. The program concluded on Thursday, June 25, with a trip to the high-rope course at Kahlenberg, where team spirit and courage were put to the test.
We really enjoyed these days together. Experiences like these not only strengthen the class community but also create opportunities for personal interactions and conversations outside of the daily school routine. This lays a valuable foundation for a positive atmosphere in the coming school year.
Our School Development Team at the ECVA Character Conference 2026
From June 24 to 26, 2026, a team from the School Development Group at Stella International School attended the ECVA Character Conference 2026 in Trnava, Slovakia. The international conference was held under the theme “Bridging the Knowledge–Action Gap in Character Development” and brought together researchers and educators from various countries to discuss current developments in the field of character education.
As part of the conference, our team presented the initial findings of an ongoing study in two scientific presentations:
- Mentoring as a Bridge Between Moral Knowledge and Moral Action: A Qualitative Exploration of Character Leadership in Two Schools
- Service Learning as a Bridge Between Moral Knowledge and Moral Action: A Qualitative Study of Character Formation in Two European Schools
The research findings presented here show how mentoring and service learning can help bridge the gap between moral knowledge and moral action and promote the long-term personal development of students.
Participation in the conference provided a valuable opportunity for international academic exchange and once again confirmed our school’s commitment to values-based education and the ongoing development of its pedagogical work.
