Danila Kumar International School

On Friday 29 November, our Grade 8 students showcased their talent through a series of love sonnets, monologues, and soliloquies, drawn from their recent unit on Shakespeare. The students presented these works with confidence, passion, and energy, demonstrating a strong understanding of iambic pentameter and the beauty of the English language. Each student carefully crafted their performance, bringing both the rhythm and meaning of the texts to life. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, creativity, and dedication in preparing for this special event. Congratulations to all the students for making this recital such a success!

On Friday 22 November, Ms Brenčič, the MYP science teacher joined the 2M students and introduced mindfulness. The students explored animal sounds and the calming technique of listening.

Our school hosted a British author, Louie Stowell, best known for her children books about the Norse god Loki. In her words, “I write books about magic, Gods and monsters (mostly).” She then presented her stories to our audience of seventh and fourth graders in a fun and interactive way. The students then acted them out, took a quiz to decipher which God from the stories they are, contributed to illustrating a story and learned a lot about Norse mythology. This was a great opportunity for the students to meet a famous author as well as to learn as much as possible about writing stories – connected to their current units of inquiry. All in all, this was a wonderful experience and we are very grateful to the author for joining us. The wider school community is invited to meet her at the 40th Slovenian Book Fair, which will be held at Gospodarsko Razstavišče from 26 November to 1 December, where she is also a guest speaker. Tina Frelih

The five-day field trip to Debeli rtič for the 3M and 6M students was an enriching experience filled with opportunities for growth and fun. In the picturesque town of Koper, the students explored historic streets, and settled into the Hotel Bor at the youth spa resort, beginning the week with a swimming test. Each day offered diverse activities aimed at developing self-management, social skills, and independence. The students took responsibility for their rooms, supported each other, and worked together during scavenger hunts, sports games, and creative presentations of their rooms. Cultural workshops, such as crafting traditional Istrian instruments, enriched their experience, while swimming sessions highlighted their progress. Other activities included forest adventures, empathy workshops, a magic show, and a disco. The trip concluded with a final swimming assessment, where the students showcased their improvements. Overall, the week promoted friendships and independence, leaving students with lasting memories and skills that reflect their enthusiasm and growth.

At ATL lessons we collaborate with Ms Tina Frelih, who prepares interesting library lessons on different topics. From research skills to following instructions, and the importance of reading, library lessons complement the skills developed and reinforced at ATL.

We are excited to announce that our students in Grades 1 and 2 are joining the wonderful Slovenian project Naša Mala Knjižnica (Our Little Library), a literary initiative that aims to foster a love of reading and storytelling in young children. This project is not only about books, but also about creating meaningful connections between students, their families, and the world of literature. As part of this project, the students will be introduced to a special literary character named Buba. Buba is an adventurous little character who will be travelling to the homes of our students, spending a week full of exciting experiences with them. During her visit, Buba will take part in various adventures alongside each student, inspiring their imaginations and helping them engage with stories in new and creative ways. We are asking parents to join in the fun by helping to document Buba's journey. Together with your child, please take photos, write reflections, and record the various activities and adventures that take place during Buba’s stay. This can include anything from reading stories together, going on outings, creating artwork, or simply spending quality time sharing in the adventure of the week. A Reflection Notebook will accompany Buba on her travels, and we kindly ask that you add your reflections and any photos or drawings that capture the special moments during her visit. This notebook will allow us to share and celebrate the wonderful experiences Buba has with each student. At the end of the week, please return the Reflection Notebook along with Buba, so the next student can continue the adventure. This project not only supports the development of literacy skills but also encourages family involvement and creativity. We hope that it will spark a lasting love of books, stories, and imagination in our students. We look forward to seeing the many exciting adventures Buba will have and to the wonderful memories that your family will create together. Thank you for your support in making this project a success! Klavdija Čuk and Teja Klavs Grade 1 and Grade 2 Homeroom Teachers

On World Kindness Day, November 13, the 1M students participated in the 'Kamenčki Prijaznosti' (Kindness Pebbles) movement. They painted stones with uplifting messages like "Be kind" and "You are loved" and placed them around the school, to spread positivity. The project, designed to inspire kindness, encourages students to share small acts of goodwill. By creating and hiding these colourful pebbles, the young students hope to brighten the day of anyone who finds them, promoting a ripple effect of kindness throughout the school and fostering a more positive and supportive community.

Dear DKIS community,

In Slovenia, and therefore also at our school, we marked Slovenian Food Week from November 11 to 17, which we concluded on Friday with the "Traditional Slovenian Breakfast." Throughout the week, and especially on Friday, we connected our lessons to topics related to traditional Slovenian dishes, the importance of local production, seasonal foods, broader culinary traditions, as well as the responsible and respectful handling of food and meals.

The 7M and 7I students visited Kinodvor today 18 November to see a film – included in the 35th Ljubljana International Film Festival – entitled The Riddle of Fire. The film tells a story about a group of friends who go on an adventure to find the last ingredient to bake a blueberry pie, a speckled egg. The students generally liked the film, especially the look and sound, though they could not understand why anyone would go to so much trouble for an egg. When they returned to school, they were able to choose from a variety of tasks connected to the film, from writing a review and creating a film poster to drawing a storyboard or researching the mythology in the film, amongst others. By the end of the cultural day, the students were also able to connect the film to their current unit in English – World Mythology.

The students attending Danila Kumar International School invited there parents to attend Curriculum Night on Thursday 14 November. The focus of the evening was to define the key characteristics which distinguish IB schools from other educational institutions. The evening started with an introduction by the headmaster and the coordinators in the auditorium, and then progressed to individual year classrooms, in which the students themselves, presented the various aspects of the curriculum. For more information about the curriculum, please go to the menu heading Programmes.

We are delighted to share that our two exceptional students, Princesa J. and Klara Z. had the opportunity to present their inspiring Community Project today, at a small assembly at the British International School in Ljubljana. Their project focuses on promoting dog adoption and advocating for responsible pet ownership—topics they are both deeply passionate about. Through thoughtful research and a heartfelt presentation, they shed light on the importance of adopting pets from shelters and the responsibilities that come with pet ownership. As an IB community, we could not be prouder of their dedication and positive impact they are striving to make in our community.

On 11 November Ms Anka from the celebrated project Kuhnapato again visited our cooking club. The project is focused on reviving and refashioning Slovene culinary tradition. We prepared dumplings with red cabbage and pumpkin-apple štrudel.  

On Monday 4 November, 5M had a sports day focused on "Systems," led by renowned Slovenian basketball coaches Dejan Milenkovič and Aleš Fabjan. The students learned a great deal, covering both fundamental and more advanced topics and techniques. We ended the day with some gameplay, and the photos in the gallery below tell the rest of the story.

As a treat before the autumn holidays, but still in connection with their unit of exploring customs and traditions around the world, the 6M students spent their final English lessons before the break researching how different countries celebrate Halloween. They were surprised at the variety of different celebrations from China, Japan, Nigeria, Haiti, Mexico and The UK. The customs vary from celebrating the holiday on different dates, eating a diverse range of food, donning different costumes, lighting bonfires, as well as with singing and dancing. They also found connections to the way they celebrate as well.

"Our students braved a haunted class this week,
Where puzzles lay in wait for them to seek.
With sonnet forms and rhythms to decode,
And tropes and schemes that down dark pathways strode. They cracked each clue with teamwork and might, Escaping shadows, racing toward the light. Through verse and meter, every line explored— Halloween in class they won’t ignore!"

Thursday 25 October saw all manner of goblins, ghouls, ghosts and demons descend down on the dome at Danila Kumar to frighten the life out of the school community. Tug 0' war, the potato sack race, and the dance freeze event amongst others all kept the attendees entertained, while jack o' lanterns were carved, faces perishingly painted, with many a sweet treat to keep the tummies full. Thank you to the PTA for organising this electrifying event.

On Wednesday 23 October, the 5M brought the Solar System to school through measuring and calculating each planet's distance from the sun, drawing the planets, and recreating each planet's orbit around the sun to scale in the playground.

Dear Parents,

At DKIS, we celebrate the rich diversity of our students and the unique cultural heritage that each of you brings to our community. We invite you to donate books in your mother tongues to our school library. Whether it’s children’s books, classic literature, or educational resources, we will be happy to take them. These books will help our students connect with their heritage and explore different cultures. If you have any books to share, please drop them off at the reception. The books can be used although they should be in good condition. You may also suggest books in your mother tongues the students could read. Please send your suggestions to freliht@os-danilekumar.si. Thank you! Tina Frelih

Today, robots can clean, dance, socialize, assemble, imitate, and much more. While they are becoming increasingly human-like, they are still far from replacing us. How…

Congratulations to all those who took part in the Ljubljana Marathon for younger competitors. They competed well on a busy autumnal day, showing their character in the damp conditions. Thanks also go to the PTA for donating their running t-shirts.

On October 10th, our kindergarten had an unforgettable Sports Day!  The adventure began with a train ride to Trzin, which was thrilling for the kids, followed by a van journey to Dobeno. At the forest kindergarten -  "Gozdni svet", the children enjoyed a day filled with exploration and play on the forest playground.  They engaged in hands-on activities using hammers, saws, and shovels, participated in a scavenger hunt, and even made a bonfire to grill delicious hot dogs.  The entire day was a blast, filled with laughter and learning in nature!

On Friday 4 October, the 2M students had a cultural day dedicated to social skills, communication and building a positive class climate. Here are some phots of the day.

The students first had a chance to get up close and touch a snake, a rabbit, and a stick insect in the Tropical House. They reviewed the concepts of who's the prey and who's the predator, the typical features of these animals, and the connections between the animals and plants. Later, they viewed chinchillas, tortoises, spiders, frogs, monkeys, snakes, and other exotic animals. They also entered the room with lemurs and observed the environment where they lived. We had a great day enjoying the company of tropical animals and their living environments.

On 2 October, the MYP Cultural Day enabled students to try out different art forms. They printed napkins, painted aprons, tried food pop art painting and worked with clay. They also researched world and Slovenian cuisine, created posters, and illustrated their favourite recipes.

A rainy day played host to our annual Language Acquisition day on 26th September, when we celebrate the European Day of Languages. Nevertheless, we refused to let the weather rain on our parade and embarked on a scavenger hunt enthusiastically, . Multilingual clues sent each group on a hunt for famous Ljubljana monuments and gave them interesting tasks to perform. The day ended at Ljubljana Castle, where inhabitants of varying historical periods from Ljubljana's history, took us on a journey through time with an interactive tour of the castle. Wir somos veldig zadovoljni with comment der dia turned out å være! Language Acquisition Team

On your marks! Get set! Go! The 60 metre sprint tests your speed and acceleration. The high jump allows you to assess your leg strength and technique, raising the bar yet again! While the long jump also requires leg power as well as speed. The vortex measures the upper body's vigour and skill, and to conclude, the 600 metres shows you how much endurance you have. How much has the MYP got?

The 1M students were invited to a big celebration of travelling safely, as part of European Mobility Week, at the main Police Depot of the Slovene Police Force. The police band, the fire brigade, Ribič Pepe, who sang, danced and drew, keeping everyone entertained, and the Mayor of Ljubljana were also there to welcome the little troopers, from many of Ljubljana's schools. The students felt what it would be like on the frontline when sitting on police bikes, in the driver's seat of a police van, and wearing protective shields, while also saying hello to some very friendly police horses, finding out about putting out fires, and, most important of all, learning how to get safely to and from school.

Library under the Treetops is a Slovenian project which has already been a fixture in the school calendar for 20 years. You may find reading islands all over Slovenia, which encourage everyone to grab a book and dive in. Our school also participates in the project as it combines reading, which is fun and educational, and time outside, which can be relaxing and good for our health; the PYP and MYP students, therefore, spent some of their language lessons reading outside this month. In their reflections, the students noted that the activity was beneficial for the aforementioned reasons, , it’s a different and unusual kind of lesson, and they like the environment and the fresh air. We encourage the entire school community to participate in the project as well and spend some time reading outside, while the sun is still shining.

On 17 September, the 3M students went to visit different public services in Ljubljana: the fire department, police, ambulance and traffic security services, which keep the city safe, healthy and organized. We also watched a small concert by the Jože Potrebuješ (Čuki band) and Ribič Pepe. It was interesting, educational and it promoted the ideas behind the week of (sustainable) mobility.  Sustainable mobility is one of the key factors in preserving our planet. Ms Živa and Ms Katarina

On 12 September some of the classes from the MYP and PYP joined the dance workshops, organized by the KAZINA dance school and the Ljubljana Municipality. These workshops are organized to support the European Week of Mobility and the initiative to be active and live sustainably. The students (and teachers) had lots of fun. Ms Jasna and Ms Katarina

Already on the second Monday of the new school year, the classes from 1M up to 7M and 7I attended a ballet performance at the Slovenian National Musical Theatre and Ballet Ljubljana. First, they learned about the story of The Little Prince during the first two lessons at school. Some students explored the ballet performance production, some designed a promotional poster for the performance, and some taught others about concert etiquette. Finally, they took the bus to the Ljubljana Opera House and experienced the story told through choreography and special effects. The performance allowed us to witness how storytelling and art can blend together to create a powerful experience. The ballet transformed a familiar tale into a visual and emotional journey, reminding us of the universal themes of love, friendship and innocence. The ballet was very expressive and memorable and could attracted every pupils' attention. The ballet version of The Little Prince was not only a display of skill and talent but also a reflection of life’s deeper meanings. It reinforced how important it is to stay connected with the inner child in all of us, to be curious, and to value the small, essential things in life. It was definitely an inspiring start to the new school year.

The 6M, 7M and 7I students spent the past two days learning about their Service as Action project. 6M will be visiting the Retirement home in Bežigrad and, throughout the year, 7M and 7I will be visiting our international kindergarten. During their collapsed days, they received some general information about the project, brainstormed ideas, posed questions to Ms Maja and Ms Sonja to learn more about the places they are visiting and researched their two topics. After the busy days, their projects are successfully under way.

The MYP 3 students embarked on their Community Project journey at the collapsed day. In groups, pairs or individually, they brainstormed and investigated options for helping various communities and identified the possible problems or challenges ahead of us. Each pupil formed a research question that will guide them through the project. Soon they will be assigned mentors and start planning further steps in their endeavour. The Community Project is an obligatory part of service learning in MYP 3 and culminates in a TEDx style event, open to the public in January. 

The importance of following rules
was the order of the day
A they put on their shoes
And went out to play
But they actually went to hear
Using the power of their ear
What rules they must obey Or the monster will have his way And gobble up the naughty one While all the good kids stay Sheltering from the sun Under the tall treetops like on a sunny day in May

Good morning, everyone—students, parents, teachers, and members of the DKIS community! It brings me great joy to welcome all of you for the start of a brand-new academic year. Today marks a special day, not just because we are kicking off another year of learning and growth, but because it gives us an opportunity to reflect on how far our community has come and to look forward to the exciting journey ahead. As many of you know, DKIS began its journey approximately 30 years ago, with a small, yet passionate group of students and educators. From those humble beginnings, we have grown into a thriving community of more than 200 students and their families. This is a remarkable achievement, and it is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and shared vision of everyone involved. I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to our incredible teachers. The growth and success of DKIS would not have been possible without your commitment to providing a modern, challenging and engaging curriculum. You inspire our students to reach new heights, to think critically, and to embrace the joy of learning. Your efforts have created an environment where students are not just educated but are empowered to become the best versions of themselves. To the parents who are here with us today—thank you. Your trust, support, and partnership are the pillars that uphold our community. You play an essential role in your children's education, and your involvement is crucial in fostering their success. We are privileged to have such a dedicated group of parents who are invested in the growth and well-being of our students. And now, to our dear students—welcome or welcome back! You are the heart and soul of DKIS. Each of you brings unique talents, ideas, and energy that make our school vibrant and dynamic. This year is another opportunity for you to learn, explore, and challenge yourselves. Embrace it with enthusiasm, curiosity, and an open mind. Remember, you are part of a community that believes in you, supports you, and is eager to see you succeed. As we begin this new school year, let us continue to build on the foundation of excellence that has brought us to where we are today. Let us work together to create a year filled with learning, growth, and positive experiences. With the continued dedication of our teachers, the support of our parents, and the enthusiasm of our students, I am confident that this year will be one of the best yet. Thank you all for being here this morning, and let's make this school year one to remember! Have a wonderful day, and welcome back to DKIS!

Dear DKIS Community,

At DKIS, we are committed to continuous learning and growth, not just for our students, but for our staff as well. At the end of August, our team took part in two IB professional development workshops that focused on enhancing our educational practices.