Graduations and New Beginnings 2026

The past few weeks have once again reminded us just how quickly time flies. There were many graduations to celebrate: first the Abitur, then the Mittlere Reife, then the end of Elementary School for our grade 4 children, and the end of Kindergarten for our preschool Pearl children. Our learning partners are moving toward their bright futures. We celebrated not only these successful graduations but also the exciting new beginnings that lie ahead for each and every one of our learners. These transitions may vary, but none is any less significant than the others. We are incredibly proud of the achievements of all our students.

The beginning of the end started in June with a painstakingly detailed and non-destructive Abitur graduation prank that covered our whole learning house generously with balloons and vocabulary confetti. Then the time had come, and we sent the Abitur Graduate Class of 2026 off into the world. For some, this marked not only the end of their school days, but also the end of a long journey at JVC—one some of them began as far back as elementary school in first grade at JVC’s founding in 2013. So it’s not just a chapter in the graduates’ lives that’s coming to a close—it’s a chapter for us, too! But their legacy will remain with us: all graduates leave their mark on the Graduate Wall, and their silhouettes help the wall grow a little bit fuller each year. Congratulations, Abitur graduates!

We are also incredibly proud of the achievements of our grade 10 Earth learning partners as they celebrate an important milestone on their educational journey, the successful completion of their Mittlere Reife! With a 100% pass rate, an outstanding overall average grade of about 2 and two learning partners achieving top 1 averages, they have every reason to celebrate. In the Jules Verne universe, Earth is not the final destination. These learning partners now move one step closer to the Sun in the upper grades in Grammar School in preparation for the Abitur. We are so proud of all of them: not only did they succeed academically, but the character and resilience they showed in the process was exceptional!

Then, cheered on by their classmates through a magical tunnel and welcomed with a symbolic diamond and applause from parents and learning guides, our grade 4 Diamonds celebrated the end of their Elementary School journey. We are incredibly proud—not only of their achievements, but also of the kindness, respect, and strong values they have shown along the way. As they take the next step into secondary education, 72% will continue to Gymnasium, including 42% here at the JVC Grammar School. Congratulations, Diamonds—we know you will all continue to shine!

Finally, our two preschool groups, the Atlantic and Pacific Pearls, also experienced a very special transition. They celebrated their farewell from Kindergarten with a very special program—one that symbolizes just how quickly time can fly. On a final group outing to the Altmühltal Dinosaur Park, the children showed just how much courage they already possess. They encountered the T-Rex and his dinosaur friends with impressive courage! We have nothing to worry about—they’re perfectly prepared for the adventure of school. Their farewell was capped off by a joint celebration with family and friends. In a cherished tradition, the Pearls were symbolically “kicked out” of Kindergarten by the caregivers who guided them throughout their time here and sent off into this new chapter of their lives with sunflowers and confidence.

We wish them a wonderful start to their school years and, to all our graduates: we wish you joy, courage, and success for the adventures that lie ahead. We’re excited to see the wonderful places your journey will take you in the future!