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Farewell to Our Headmaster: DSJ Says Thank You!
February 3, 2025
Farewell to Our Headmaster: DSJ Says Thank You!
February 3, 2025

Words of Farewell

A man in a blue shirt is standing in front of a crowd of people

Dear School Community, Dear Students, Dear Parents, Dear colleagues, Dear Staff Members:


After eight years at the German School Jakarta, the time has come to say goodbye. This school, this community, and this country have grown very close to my heart, and I look back on these years with deep gratitude – for the many encounters with wonderful people, for the experiences, and for the challenges we have overcome together.


For me, DSJ has always been much more than just a place of learning – it is a vibrant, engaged community built on trust, solidarity, and genuine teamwork. I have been especially impressed by how we have tackled challenges together, whether in everyday school life or in times of crisis like the pandemic. That period demanded a lot from all of us, but it also showed what can be achieved with commitment, flexibility, and unity.


This school has given me the opportunity not only to work with exceptional students, dedicated parents, and outstanding colleagues but also to meet many inspiring people beyond the school community. These encounters have been, and continue to be, a great enrichment for me. I am particularly pleased that we were able to establish a strong alumni network – may DSJ always remain a place where former students feel connected. I am confident that with their human qualities and all they have learned at DSJ, they will contribute greatly to their communities now and in the future.


A matter close to my heart has always been Green DSJ and our commitment to education for sustainable development. The future will only remain livable if we take responsibility for our environment, biodiversity, and nature. Seeing that sustainable thinking and action at DSJ is not just a goal but a lived reality makes me proud – and I hope this path will continue, as it is essential for future generations.


Indonesia and its people have deeply impressed me. Their warmth, humility, unwavering optimism, and sense of unity are qualities we can all learn from. This experience will stay with me for a lifetime.


And since a farewell message should also contain something personal, I would like to share one more request: Those who know me are aware that my heart beats not only for DSJ but also for the many stray cats of Indonesia. They may not always have the best reputation, but anyone who has ever looked into their eyes knows – they possess a unique dignity, yet they need our help. It is my hope that we treat these quiet, often overlooked inhabitants of our cities with respect. Because just like our school, their fate reminds us that community and care make the world a better place.


My wish for the German School Jakarta is that it continues to be a place where young people learn, grow, and develop with joy. I am confident that the future of this school is in the best hands.


I thank all of you for the time we spent together, for your support, your friendship, and the many wonderful moments. I would especially like to thank my wife Birte, who has not only taught at DSJ with full dedication but has also supported me with great patience and understanding throughout my years as school principal. Being the spouse of a school principal is certainly not always easy – which makes me all the more grateful for her support, her strength, and her own valuable contributions to this school. Without her, this journey would not have been the same for me.

 

DSJ will always be a special place for us, and we look forward to seeing many of you again someday – whether in Germany, Indonesia, or somewhere else in the world.


Terima kasih dan sampai jumpa — Thank you and goodbye!


Farewell to Students

A man is watching a band perform on a stage
A man is standing on a stage with a microphone in front of an orchestra.
A large band is playing on a stage in front of a large screen.
A group of people are sitting in an auditorium laughing
A bald man is taking a picture of a group of people on a stage
A large group of children are standing on a stage in front of a large screen.
A group of people are sitting in a theater making hearts with their hands.
Two women are standing on a stage and one is holding a microphone
A large group of people are sitting in an auditorium watching a band perform on stage.
A woman is speaking into a microphone while standing next to a young boy on a stage.
A group of people are sitting in red chairs in an auditorium.
A man and a woman are standing on a stage talking into microphones.
A group of children are sitting on the floor with a woman standing behind them.
A group of children are sitting in a theater watching a performance.
A group of children are sitting in red chairs in a theater.
A man is standing on a stage holding a microphone in front of a group of children playing instruments.
A group of people are standing on a stage playing instruments.
A man and a woman are taking a selfie in an auditorium with a sign that says p1
A group of children are sitting on the floor with their legs crossed
A group of people standing on a stage in front of a large screen
A group of children and adults are posing for a picture on a stage.
A group of children are standing on a stage in front of a drum set.
A woman is taking a picture of a group of children dancing on a stage.
A group of children wearing masks are sitting on the floor.
A boy with a cat face painted on his face
A group of children wearing masks are sitting on the floor on a stage.
A group of people are sitting on the floor on a stage in front of a projector screen.
A woman is standing on a stage holding a microphone and a guitar.
A large group of children are standing on a stage in front of a large screen.
A group of people are sitting in red chairs in an auditorium.
A group of children are dancing on a stage in front of a projector.
A woman is standing in front of a large group of children on a stage.
A man and a woman are walking on a stage
A group of children wearing cat ears are singing on a stage.
A large group of children are dancing on a stage in front of a large screen.
A woman is holding a microphone in front of a drum set
A group of people are sitting in red chairs on a stage in front of a drum set.
A woman is singing into a microphone on a stage in front of a drum set.
A large group of people are standing in a circle on a stage.
A group of people are standing on a stage in front of a large screen.
A group of people are standing on a stage talking to each other
Two girls are standing on a stage holding microphones.
Three women standing on a stage with one wearing a colorful dress
A man and a woman are playing guitars and drums on a stage.
A woman is singing into a microphone in front of a drum set.
A group of people playing saxophones in a room
A group of people are playing instruments on a stage in front of a projector screen.
A group of people are standing on a stage playing instruments and singing into microphones.
A group of young men are playing instruments on a stage in front of a large screen.
A group of people are standing on a stage holding hands.
A group of people are kneeling on the floor on a stage.
A man in a white shirt and tie is standing in front of a drum set
A group of people are sitting on the floor on a stage in front of a projector screen.
A group of people are standing on a stage in front of a screen.
A man is laying on a chair in front of a drum set
A group of people are sitting in red chairs on a stage
A man and a woman are sitting on a stage in front of a drum set
A man is holding a piece of paper in front of two girls
A bald man is standing in front of a crowd of children.
A group of children are dancing on a stage.
A group of young girls are dancing on a stage.
A man is sitting in a theatre watching a group of children dancing.
A group of children are dancing on a stage.
A group of people standing on a stage in front of a projector screen with the number 12 on it
A group of children wearing cat ears are singing on a stage.
A group of people are standing in front of a projector screen.
A man and woman are sitting in front of a large group of children on a stage.
A group of young girls are dancing in a room.
A man in a blue and white shirt is holding a child 's hand
A group of people are standing on a stage playing instruments and singing into microphones.
A group of people are playing instruments on a stage.
A large group of children are standing on a stage.
A large group of people are sitting in a large auditorium.
A group of children wearing masks are standing on a stage.
A group of people are standing on a stage in front of a projector screen.
A group of people are sitting in red chairs in a theater.
A group of children are sitting on the floor in front of a drum set.
A group of people are standing in front of a large screen.
A group of children wearing masks are sitting on the floor on a stage.
A group of children are standing in front of a projector screen.
A group of people standing on a stage in front of a crowd
A group of children are standing on a stage reading papers
A group of people standing in front of a projector screen
Two women stand on a stage with microphones in front of a drum set
A group of people are sitting in red chairs in an auditorium.
A group of people are playing a game on a stage.
A group of children are standing on a stage in front of a drum set.
A group of children are standing on a stage in front of a drum set.
A group of children are posing for a picture on a stage.
A large group of people are sitting in an auditorium watching a concert.
A group of children are sitting on the floor on a stage.
A group of children are standing around a man holding a piece of paper
A group of people are standing on a stage talking to each other.
A woman is holding a microphone in front of a group of people on a stage.
A woman in a dress is holding a microphone and a piece of paper.
A group of people are standing on a stage in front of a large screen.
A group of children are sitting on the floor and one of them is wearing a shirt that says kings
A large group of people are sitting in an auditorium watching a presentation.
Two women standing on a stage in front of a crowd
A bald man in a blue and white shirt is sitting in a red chair.
A group of young people are playing instruments on a stage.
A group of people are standing on a stage in front of a projector screen.
A group of people are standing on a stage in front of a projector screen.
A group of young girls wearing cat ears are dancing on a stage.
A group of young girls are standing on a stage.
A group of children are dancing on a stage.
A group of children are dancing on a stage with their arms in the air
A man is taking a picture of a group of people dancing on a stage.
A bald man is sitting in front of a crowd of children
A young man is standing on a stage holding a microphone.
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Farewell in the Hall

A woman is standing in front of a large screen that says dsj
A group of people standing in front of a sign that says dsj
A bald man is speaking into a microphone in front of a sign that says die dsj danke
A group of people posing for a picture with a man holding a sign that says nike
A group of women are sitting at tables in a large building.
A group of people are standing around a stage in a large building.
A man in a blue shirt is giving a gift to a woman
A man and two women are cutting a cake on a table.
A man is hugging a woman who is holding a framed picture.
A woman is holding a black sweatshirt that says ' watan ' on it
A group of people are standing in front of a sign that says dsi
A man in a blue shirt is holding a framed picture
A woman in a colorful dress is holding a painting of a woman 's face.
A man and woman are standing in front of a screen that says helping paws
A group of people are standing around a man holding a shirt with a tiger on it.
A man in a blue and white shirt is holding a cat
A group of people are posing for a picture in a building.
A group of people are hugging each other in front of a projection screen.
A group of people are posing for a picture in a building.
A sign on a table that says vip frau nissen & herr hoffmann
Three women are standing next to each other holding plates of food.
A group of people standing next to each other holding gifts
Two women are posing for a picture while sitting at a table.
Two women are hugging each other in front of a screen.
A group of people are standing around a man holding a microphone
A group of people posing for a picture in front of a wall
A group of people are hugging each other in a room.
A woman in a purple shirt is standing in a crowd talking to a man in a blue shirt.
A group of people are posing for a picture in a room.
A woman is holding a black and white cat in her arms.
A group of people are standing around a buffet table eating food.
A group of people standing in front of a large screen that says dsj
A woman is singing into a microphone in front of a crowd of people
A man in a blue shirt is standing next to a woman holding a microphone.
A group of men are eating food from a buffet line.
A man and a woman are sitting at a table with plates of food.
A group of people are standing around a table eating soup.
A group of people are standing around a table eating food.
A woman in a pink shirt is standing in front of a crowd of people applauding.
A man and woman are hugging each other in front of a crowd of people.
A large group of people are sitting at tables in a large building.
A man in a blue shirt is cutting a cake
A man and two women are standing next to a table with plates and flowers on it.
A woman is holding a microphone while standing next to a man and a woman.
A bald man in a blue shirt is taking a picture
A group of people are sitting at tables in a room with a woman holding a microphone.
A man is playing a keyboard while a woman sings into a microphone.
A large group of people are sitting at tables in a large building
A group of people are standing around a woman holding a book
Two men are standing in front of a sign that says sj se ke
A bald man is holding a black shirt that says cat oven
A group of people are standing in front of a large screen in a building.
A group of people standing around a man holding a painting
A man and a woman are standing in front of a large screen.
A woman speaking into a microphone while holding a box
A group of people are sitting at tables in a room.
A man is holding a microphone while two women stand behind him
A group of people are sitting at tables in a building.
A group of people sitting at tables with blue tables cloths
A large group of people are sitting at tables in a large building
A man speaking into a microphone while a woman holds a box
A group of people standing around tables in a large building
A group of people sitting at tables in a building
A group of people standing in front of a sign that says dsj
A large group of people are sitting at tables in a large room.
A group of people are standing in a courtyard with tables and benches.
A group of people are sitting at tables in a room.
A woman stands in front of a sign that says die dsj sagt danke
A group of people are sitting at tables laughing.
A man and a woman standing in front of a large screen
A man in a blue shirt is talking to a woman in a colorful dress
A group of people are standing around a man giving a woman a cd.
A woman speaking into a microphone in front of a large screen
A group of people are standing in a courtyard.
A group of women are standing in front of a large screen.
A woman in a colorful dress is putting a gift on a table.
A group of people are standing around a man holding a painting.
A man and a woman are holding a piece of fabric
A man is holding a framed picture over his head while a woman looks on.
A group of women standing next to each other holding papers and a microphone.
A woman in a colorful dress is looking at a piece of paper
A man and a woman are holding pictures of a cat and a man.
A woman is holding a microphone while standing next to two men.
A man and a woman are holding a sign that says danke.
A man and a woman are standing in front of a sign that says helping paws
A man is giving a woman a certificate in front of a screen that says helping paws.
A group of people are holding signs in front of a large screen in a building.
A man in a blue shirt is giving a woman a book
A group of people are sitting in front of a sign that says `` i love ''.
A group of people are sitting at tables in a large room
A group of men are posing for a picture on a stage
A man in a vest is serving food to a woman in a purple shirt
A bald man is talking to a group of women
A group of people are eating food from a buffet line.
A group of people are standing around a table eating food.
A man in a blue shirt is holding a black cat
A group of people are hugging each other in a room.
A man in a blue shirt is hugging a woman in a crowd of people.
A woman in a red shirt is holding a black and white cat
A group of people are posing for a picture in front of a large screen.
A group of people are posing for a picture in front of a large screen.
A group of people are posing for a picture in a building.
A woman is taking a picture of a group of people in a building.
A group of women are posing for a picture in front of a large screen.
A group of men are posing for a picture in front of a large screen.
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