School News & Updates

On December 8, GESM celebrated Nikolaustag, a beloved German tradition for children. This festive day is marked by the arrival of Nikolaus, who spreads joy and goodwill among students. Dressed in his traditional robes, complete with a staff, a tall hat, and a long white beard, Nikolaus made his way around the classrooms, engaging with the children. He asked them if they had been good this year, a playful reminder of the spirit of the season. In recognition of their efforts to

Grade 12 student Anatolii K. has published an online compilation of book reviews titled "Word.World." The reviews were written by his peers and collected as part of his CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) requirement for the IB Diploma Programme at GESM. The project grew out of Anatolii’s own love of reading; he also handled the digital design and layout of the publication. The collection showcases diverse tastes and voices from the student body and aims to encourage more rea

On Thursday, December 4, GESM’s Houses of Primary decorated gingerbread cookies and learned about a Christmas tradition while having fun. Using colored icing and sprinkles, the children practiced creativity, sharing supplies, waiting their turn and self-control (no eating the cookies straight away!). The activity also encouraged teamwork as they worked together on their designs. A simple, hands-on way to build social skills and celebrate the season.

by Nicole Stahl In Grades 5D+6D, we are currently focusing on the topic of animal ethic: specifically, how we can treat animals with respect and why their protection is important. We are learning about the needs of animals, how we can improve their quality of life, and what responsibilities humans have towards them. To not only discuss what we’ve learned theoretically but also to put it into practice, the students are organizing a bake sale at school on December 8. The goal i

by Esther Wittstock From December 1 to 4, the GESM secondary students set off on this year’s retreat. A total of 122 students from Grades 5 to 12, accompanied by 19 teachers, took part in the four-day adventure. Our destination was the Caliraya Resort Club, which we reached after a three-hour bus ride followed by a short boat trip across the lake to the resort. We were incredibly fortunate to enjoy three full days of sunshine and warm weather, creating the perfect setting for

On December 1, 2025, GESM celebrated the lighting of the Adventskranz (Advent wreath), marking the beginning of the Christmas season. Mr. Veith Böttcher led the primary students and preschoolers in the lobby, sharing the heartwarming story of the first Adventskranz, which was created in an orphanage in Hamburg, Germany. This tradition has since become a cherished part of Christmas celebrations for children across Germany. At GESM, a candle will be lit each Monday leading up t

based on a text by Stephanie Steinberg On December 6, 2025, former GESM students and teachers gathered at a bar in Berlin for a reunion organized by former Deputy Head of School, Stephanie Steinberg. Several attendees traveled from Bayreuth, Tübingen, and even Vienna to reconnect. The event saw participation from a number of graduating classes, including the classes of 2024 and 2025, along with former teachers who enriched the gathering with their presence. This reunion marks

by Jeffrey Troyer On Sunday November 23rd, our U-15 Boys Basketball team faced their mightiest opponent yet: the Titans Elite Basketball Academy. Seeking a fourth straight victory in a row, seven hearty GESM boys battled a tall, experienced and skilled 13-player deep opponent in the semi-finals of the BSM Tournament. For three quarters, the game was hotly contested before fatigue set in resulting in a final tally of 61-36. Proudly representing GESM were Santi A., Iago A., Seb

by Grisela Ruiz Marti On November 26, a small group of students from Grades 10 to 12 had the opportunity to attend the first AlterCOP in the Philippines, invited by students from the International School Manila. The pioneering event brought together young minds and experts to discuss pressing issues on climate change and climate justice. The program featured lectures from several distinguished speakers, including representatives from the Oscar M. Lopez Center, who provided a

The MISAA (Manila International Schools Athletic Association) football games have kicked off, and the GESM football teams have made a strong impression over the last two weekends. Division 1 (U11) Success The Division 1 (U11) team has shown remarkable skill, winning both of their matches decisively. Their scores of 9:0 and 3:0 highlight their dominance on the field and set a positive tone for the season ahead. Division 2 (U14) Battle In contrast, the Division 2 (U14) team fac

by Jeffrey Troyer Recently, GESM’s Model United Nations Club continued the tradition of appointing acting leadership roles to ensure the continuation of conference selection, in-school simulations and so much more. This also ensures that the outgoing leadership in Grade 12 can focus on their final year of IB. With that, we are proud to announce that Diego B. (Grade 11) and Mohammad S. (Grade 9E) will be assuming the roles of Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General resp

Empowering Learning Through New Lab Equipment by Grisela Ruiz Martí and Sebastian Schaffer The science lab buzzed with excitement as students experienced their first use of a brand-new set of student microscopes in the past weeks. Students eagerly examined slides, discovering the intricate details of plant and human cells up close for the very first time. The latest addition of a teacher’s microscope with camera allows now for more effective demonstrations, ensuring that less

On the early evening of November 20th, the German European School Manila (GESM) celebrated Martinstag, a cherished tradition in German schools that highlights the values of sharing and kindness. The event began with an engaging play performed by students of Grade 4D and 3D, depicting the historical figure Martin of Tours, who is known for his generosity and compassion. Following the play, selected students from Grades 1 to 3 (E & D sections) dazzled the audience with a lanter

The German European School Manila (GESM) left a strong, highly visible mark at Mabuhay Germany 2025. Held at Bonifacio High Street in BGC on November 7-8 under the theme "In High Spirits", Mabuhay Germany is the flagship trade fair of the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI). It featured the participation of the German embassy, Bosch, Lufthansa Technik, and other institutions and companies. The occasion revived GESM school spirit and earned warm praise f

by Ute Massow In recent weeks, our students in Grade 5D & 6D read the adventures of the "Kurzhosengang" — four eleven‑year‑old boys from a small Canadian town: Rudolpho, Snickers, Island and Zement. Traveling incognito, they each tell their version in a TV interview of how the gang got its name; every story shows courage, solidarity and real heroics — which version is true remains open. Rudolpho recounts a winter hurricane that destroys the school, the rescue from the buried

by Tarana Babayeva This term in Science, Grade 1E dove into the fascinating world of rocks. Through hands‑on investigations, sorting and classification activities, and guided discussions, they learned about the rock cycle, how rocks change over time, and what these changes reveal about Earth’s history. Parallel to this, our Unit of Inquiry examined landforms: mountains, valleys, volcanoes and plains. Students studied how these features form, how they differ, and why they matt

by Lawrence Buck, Marc Landau and Em Macasaet As part of the culmination of their Unit of Inquiry on Ancient Civilizations, our Grade 5 students embarked on an enriching field trip to the National Museum of Anthropology. This visit offered them a meaningful opportunity to connect their classroom learning with real-world historical evidence. During the trip, students explored galleries showcasing artifacts that date back hundreds, and even thousands, of years. These remarkable

by Rebecca Gillen On 13 November 2025, our Grade 3 students shared their learning at the Unit 2 PYP Assembly, and they did such a great job retelling the story of Magellan’s voyage around the world. We started with a fun German song about exploring, which helped set the mood for the presentation. The children then acted out the moment when Magellan asked the King and Queen of Spain for ships so he could sail west to find the Spice Islands. From there, they took everyone throu

News from the DaF Department by Volker Schlieske On November 5, our 11th- and 12th-grade students had the exciting opportunity to take part in the German B2 beta test at the Goethe-Institut Manila – a first look at the institute’s new exam tasks on B2-level. The test went beyond a simple trial: it let students assess their skills in reading, listening, and writing, gain experience in an official exam setting, and receive detailed feedback. While no official Goethe-Institut di

On November 20, 2025, GESM’s primary schools held their annual Geo Bee Challenge: an inter‑house competition that tests students’ map skills, country knowledge and geographical reasoning. The event brought together house teams made up of pupils from across the primary grades, competing for house pride and important year‑long points. At GESM primary, students are grouped into six houses named after German cities; each house includes members from every grade and students are as

by Kathlene Juliano Last November 15, 2025, our GESM Chess Club proudly participated in the inter-school chess tournament held at Beacon School Makati. We were represented in two divisions: Under 11 (U11) and Under 14 (U14). Among 12 competing schools, our U11 team earned an impressive 2nd Place overall, showcasing great skill and teamwork. Our U14 team also delivered a strong performance, finishing 5th out of 10 teams. All our players demonstrated exceptional talent and dete

by Jeffrey Troyer Sometimes lunchtime is just lunchtime on the Eurocampus. But on Monday November 17th, it was a chance to have a competitive basketball game between the German European School Manila (GESM) and our sister-school Lycee Francais de Manille (LFM). For 30 minutes the two sides gave it their all in the gymnasium. The final score was GESM: 28, LFM: 14; but the win was less important than the chance to have our boys test their mettle against LFM who played their hea

by Kathlene Juliano From October 26 to 30, the annual Batang Pinoy National Youth Games was held in General Santos City, Mindanao. This prestigious competition brings together young athletes ages 14-19 from Local Government Units across the Philippines to compete in various sports at a national level.  Representing GESM, Pablo Juliano (Grade 9) proudly joined the Parañaque delegation in the Jiujitsu category, supported by Prof. Jason Schilbach, GESM’s dedicated Jiujitsu coach

We are delighted to announce that the German European School Manila (GESM) will be participating in Mabuhay Germany 2025: In High Spirits , a flagship trade fair organized by the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) and supported by the German Embassy in Manila, among other partner institutions.   As the Chamber’s premier annual event, Mabuhay Germany  highlights German-Filipino partnerships, innovation, and collaboration across various sectors, includi