Paula and her first day at Mamre Patmos School

Paula doesn't need to be asked for long. When her teacher calls her name at the Mamre Patmos School enrolment ceremony and invites her to the stage in the auditorium, the six-year-old is already standing there. On her first day at school, Paula approached her new classmates without any shyness. Shortly afterwards, a classmate hands her a sunflower to welcome her. Paula's grandparents Monika and Christof Güse, who have accompanied her and her big sister Luna to the Bethel special school on this special day and are watching from the spectator seats, smile happily.

The grandparents are standing in for Paula's sick parents at the school enrolment ceremony. For Monika and Christof Güse, it is a relief to see their granddaughter settling into her new surroundings so quickly. They hadn't expected any difficulties anyway, as Paula is a fun-loving, active girl. During the ceremony, she explored the assembly hall on her own, saying hello here and waving there. "When she got her knapsack and pencil case a few days ago, she was really looking forward to starting school," says grandmother Monika Güse.

Paula is one of 14 children who have now started school at the Mamre Patmos School. "We are very happy that we got a place for her here," says Christof Güse. He and his wife were impressed by the concept of the special school, he says. "For example, it's great that physiotherapy and speech therapy programmes are integrated here," says Christof Güse. They also like the open-plan rooms and the spacious outdoor area. The Güses are confident that Paula will be in good hands at the Mamre Patmos School.

In the assembly hall, teachers and pupils welcome the "i-Dötze" with a song. As headteacher Klaus-Hermann Bunte greets the new arrivals with their parents, siblings and grandparents, he says: "Today is a day of great expectations and hopes, but also a few uncertainties. But above all, it is a day full of anticipation." He expresses his gratitude to the parents and guardians "that after discussions with the school management, visits to the school, observations in the classes and discussions with the teachers, you have placed your trust in us to send your child to school".

After being admitted to their classes, the first-year pupils have breakfast together in their classrooms. Meanwhile, Klaus-Hermann Bunte provides parents and grandparents with further information and introduces the school's support organisation. A little later, the i-men's first day at school is already over; Monika and Christof Güse collect their granddaughter from the classroom. Paula yawns heartily - that's enough for now. Now it's time to go home. And back the very next day. Then the first full day of school is on the programme. Paula is looking forward to it.

Text: Philipp Kreutzer | Photos: Christian Weische