Principal's Welcome

Learning is a celebration in the Elementary school at DIS. Our highly qualified and dedicated teaching staff ensures that every child's learning, both academic and social, is the key focus of all that we do in the Elementary school. Our child-friendly programme with its small class sizes and personalised attention provides each student with the appropriate instructional opportunities to meet their needs. We regard ourselves as a 'small school-big family".

The Elementary school encompasses Early Years to Grade 5 with a two form entry in our Grade 3, Grade 5 and Primary class. Our maximum class size is 24 children. We hope that every student will take a share in enhancing the quality of the school community and the international ideas we promote. 


The Curriculum

At DIS the child is at the centre of the educational process and our curriculum is based on this philosophy. Through the curriculum DIS aims to develop the intellectual, emotional and physical potential of each child. We do this with the understanding that each child learns and develops in their own way within a structured and agreed framework of behaviour and expectations.

The DIS elementary curriculum includes the core subjects areas of English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Art which are taught by the student's homeroom teacher. Specialists teach Music, Information Technology, Physical Education, English as a Second Language (ESL) and German. All students receive German instruction either as a first or second language depending on their proficiency.

Wherever possible, the above subject areas are taught within our units of inquiry, the Putting it into Practice program. This means that different subjects are often integrated into particular units, although at other times particular skills in each of these areas are taught on a stand alone basis. Our Inquiry based program builds on students' prior knowledge and experience, with a strong emphasis on - how to learn and how to find out.

It is our desire to bring the curriculum to life in as many ways as we can. Therefore our teachers employ a wide range of teaching techniques and strategies and include activities that are whole class ann small group based.

DIS has established assessment procedures for each grade level, the results of which are shared with parents at individual conferences twice a year. There is also in place for Grade 2 and Grade 5 a highly respected British assessment programme called Performance Indicators in Primary Schools (PIPS) which is designed to measure individual and whole school performance.  

As part of our curriculum each grade has a ten week swimming programme and a six week ice skating programme. A residential trip is organised for each grade from Grade 2.

The English through Mother Tongue Programme (EMT)

In our Primary and Grade 1 classes we have an English through Mother Tongue Programme (EMT). This programme enables our German speaking children to excel at English language acquisition by learning their initial literacy and numeracy skills in their mother tongue. Meanwhile their English vocabulary and understanding is being developed in the oral side of the programme. The English group have oral German lessons four times a week. There is also a school Languages Co-ordinator who oversees the mother tongue development of our students.


The School Routine

School begins at 08.25 with registration and ends at 15.05, except on Friday when we finish at 14.25. The school day consists of eight 40 minute lessons, with a 25 minute morning break and a 55 minute lunch break for Primary and Grade 1 and 50 minutes for Grades 2-5. All breaks are supervised and weather permitting the students spend break and lunch times outside.


Extra Curricular Activities

As our school philosophy is to educate the whole student we place great emphasis on the role of extra curricular activities.  

Students are encouraged to participate in these 'out of class' activities, whether they are organised by school, or by an outside organisation or club. There is also an opportunity to have privately taught music lessons. 

In addition, each class also makes frequent field trips to museums and galleries in Vienna and the surrounding areas in connection with their units of inquiry.

More detailed information is available from:

Jennifer McLaughlin
Elementary Principal/Elementary Head

Josef-Gall-Gasse 2
1020 Wien
Phone: +43 (0) 1 720 31 10
Fax: +43 (0) 1 720 31 10 40