The Friends of the Charles Dickens School Association, or Förderkreis, ensures that children at the Charles Dickens School receive better support and more diverse enrichment than at other Berlin schools through its native-speaker program, school library, lunchtime activities, and extracurricular clubs, or AGs.

We offer numerous opportunities to solidify proficiency in both German and English and to use the languages actively. Playing and learning in two languages ​​during the early school years gives children an educational and knowledge advantage that will benefit them throughout their schooling and later in their vocational training and careers.

This foundation for children’s success is funded exclusively by membership fees and donations. Therefore, all children at the school are encouraged to become members of the Förderkreis and work together to ensure that life and learning at the Charles Dickens Primary School remain at an exceptionally high level.

Native Speakers

The native speakers at the Charles Dickens School support teachers in the classroom and provide students with additional exposure to the English language. They are funded exclusively by the Förderkreis.

School Library

The German-English school library offers a wide selection of non-fiction books, children’s mysteries, humorous books, and storybooks and picture books for beginning readers.

All classes visit the library once a week during their English or German lessons. Children can also browse the books during the lunch break and afternoon recess. They may borrow up to three books – free of charge, of course. The standard loan period is one week, but students who need more time can request an extension.

The library staff and the books are funded by the Förderkreis.

Lunchtime Activities

During the one-hour-long lunch break, children have plenty of time before and after eating in the cafeteria to spontaneously participate in our Lunchtime Clubs. Our native speakers currently offer basketball, soccer, waveboarding, board and card games, origami, Pokémon, and a science club.

Afternoon Activities

In the afternoons, all children who do not have classes during the last two school hours can register for the following extracurricular activities for free: Art, baseball, Bollywood dance, chess, and theater.

The membership form and all information about the association and our programs can be found on the Förderkreis website.

International Picnic

The Förderkreis will revive the annual International Picnic in May 2026.

The idea is to share – bring, and eat – culinary specialties from the many different countries our students and their families come from. Bring a food item typical of your home country (or region of Germany) and come taste what your neighbor has to offer!At the event, there might be some additional programs from our AGs.

Don’t miss this event! Make sure your country or region is well represented!