Page 24 - FIS World JUne 2024

A New Journey Begins
For several FIS colleagues, retirement opens a whole new world of opportunities
June is a month to celebrate milestones at FIS. Grade 12 students toss their caps at graduation, while their younger classmates prepare to take the next step in their learning journeys, and our entire community reflects on the successes of the school year. But this June, eight FIS colleagues will also celebrate a unique milestone: retirement.
This year’s retirees encompass an incredible 203 collective years of service to FIS, and span departments and divisions from the Primary School to our Wiesbaden Campus. As they prepare to begin a new chapter in their lives, they will bring with them the memories, experiences and connections made on our campuses and within our community. Below are some of their reflections on what made their time at FIS so special.
Michael Bartmann – FISW Hausmeister, 21 Years
After more than two decades as FISW Hausmeister, Michael looks back on his time at the school with fondness – the sunrises on cold winter mornings, the cranes flying south over FISW in the fall and returning in the spring, and decorating the school’s Christmas tree to the excitement of students. “I could fill books with memories,” he said. In addition to the small moments, Michael also “loved the technical side and working with my colleagues from various departments.”When asked what he will miss most, Michael said“Almost everything – the variety of work, the changes, and my fellow colleagues with whom I have worked for so long.” In retirement, Michael intends to continue working somewhere in the technical sector,
“but only on an hourly basis so I can spend time with my family, my grandchildren, my dogs and my hobbies.” After all, he adds, “Retirees always have a very busy schedule.”
Hiltrud Bemmann, FIS Primary School German Teacher, 23 Years
In 2001, then Primary School Principal Cynthia Fenner gave Hiltrud an opportunity to start a new career at the Primary School. “I will always be grateful for that,” she says. In the more than two decades that have followed, Hiltrud’s wish to teach young children has more than been fulfilled, and she has enjoyed “teaching in a playful way with a lot of love and patience,” sharing the traditions and festivals of our host country, and “awakening the joy of learning German” in her students. As her career at FIS comes to an end, Hiltrud is looking toward the future with excitement – spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of nature while hiking and cycling. “I will certainly miss my students and colleagues very much,” she says. “But I will also be happy to return to PS as a substitute.”
Gareth Brewster, IT Director of Innovation, 20 Years
Anyone who has worked at FIS for more than a decade has witnessed significant change, from educational practices to the development of our campus facilities. But perhaps no other area has evolved more exponentially than technology, and for the past two decades, Gareth has been there to shepherd the integration of tech into the school’s ecosystem. As technology has changed over the years, so too has its capabilities, and as Dr. Fochtman says, “Gareth has the ability to utilize technology like a paintbrush – seamlessly and creatively – and what results is often a masterpiece.” Now, as he transitions from a fruitful career at FIS into retirement, there is excitement in what new masterpieces await.
Martina Ditthardt, FIS Upper School Teacher Assistant (Science), 28 Years
As is true for many long-time FIS colleagues, looking back at a rewarding career can almost
evoke a sense of awe.“It‘s hard to believe that for 28 years FIS was part of my life,”Martina says. “Where has the time gone?!”As a German/Canadian, Martina can still remember the excitement in joining the school’s English-speaking community, starting first in the Elementary School before moving into the Upper School to help translate curriculum for the bilingual classes in Humanities and Science. She most recently was working as a Lab Technician in the Science Department and says, “They have all been wonderful and enriching experiences.” Martina’s retirement began mid-year and while she misses interacting with such a diverse group of people, she has enjoyed “the freedom to travel outside of school holidays and to go hiking
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(one of my passions) any day of the week!”