Why Join? Because Your Child’s School Is Only as Strong as Its Community.
At John F. Kennedy School Berlin, extraordinary things happen every day — bilingual classrooms, international exchange programs, musicals, ski trips, and so much more. Behind many of these experiences is the Verein: a parent-run organization that has been quietly making school life better since 1962.
Your child goes to this school. Help shape what it becomes.
The Verein — officially The Society of Parents and Friends of the John F. Kennedy School Berlin — is run entirely by parent volunteers, just like you. Every euro raised through membership fees goes directly back into the school: new instruments for the music department, books for the library, support for AP exams, and even class trip funding for families who need a helping hand.
Whether your child is just starting out in Elementary School or navigating the final years of High School, the Verein is working to make their experience richer, fairer, and more memorable.
What does your membership actually do?
It funds the things that budgets can’t always cover — from Chrome Books and science kits to Graduation festivities and many school events. It supports teachers with professional development and classroom supplies. And it ensures that no student misses out on a school trip simply because of financial hardship.
Membership is open to all JFKS parents, and your annual contribution is what keeps everything running. Volunteering is optional — you’re always welcome to get involved.
A family membership is 75€ per year and is tax-deductible under German law. It applies to all members of the family. All children can benefit, for example those who get a locker in high school.
Benefits & Funding Achievements
Learning & Academic Resources
Resources that help every student and educator succeed
From Chromebooks and science kits to library grants and exam support, the Verein ensures every student — in both ES and HS — has the tools, materials, and programs they need to learn, explore, and achieve their best.
Campus & Spaces
Improving the spaces where our students learn & gather
A great school needs great spaces. The Verein invests in the physical fabric of JFKS — from renovations and new seating areas to water dispensers and gardening boxes — so students and staff have environments they’re proud to learn and work in.
Student Life & Events
Memorable moments that build community spirit
From the 8th Grade Ski Trip to Graduation, Culture Fest, and Courage Week, the Verein helps create the moments students and families carry with them long after leaving JFKS — including making sure no student is ever left behind due to financial circumstance.
Community & People
No Student Left Behind
The Verein supports the people who make JFKS what it is. That means funding professional development for teachers, Texas Exchange, backing parent-led initiatives like Coffee Mornings and ParentShip, and keeping the wider school community informed, connected, and celebrated.
Your High School Child Gets a Locker — Just by Being Part of the Verein.
Every Verein member family with a child in Grade 7 or above can receive an assigned High School locker as a Verein Member, a small but meaningful perk that makes a real difference in the daily school life of your teenager. No more lugging everything between classes. It’s one of the most tangible, immediate benefits of membership, and it kicks in from day one.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
Whether you’re a current member wanting to make the most of what the Verein offers, or a parent considering joining for the first time, this page covers the questions we hear most often. From membership fees and locker allocation to how funds are spent and how to get involved as a volunteer — everything you need to know is right here.