School News & Updates

Over the past two weeks, the GESM volleyball teams delivered a series of competitive matches in the Manila International Schools Athletic Association (MISAA) tournament, with strong performances across both Division 1 and Division 2. On 25 April, the Division 2 mixed team faced CISM in the semi-finals but fell short in a hard-fought match, ending their run in the final stages of the tournament. The team bounced back strongly on 2 May, securing a narrow win against Beacon Scho

based on text by Rain Galvez On Thursday, 23 April, the school celebrated World Book Day with a lively event organized by the Primary Houses in collaboration with the School Library, and hosted by Miss Lala Gamboa. Students came dressed as their favorite book characters, authors, and illustrators, proudly showcasing their costumes on the red carpet and on stage. The wide range of creative outfits reflected a strong enthusiasm for reading and storytelling. The program began wi

submitted by Kimberly Madi In late March, GESM students had the opportunity to learn more about a range of university pathways and study options through two on-campus information sessions coordinated by the Office of the Guidance Counselor. On 25 March 2026, representatives from the Australia-based Academy of Entrepreneurs visited the school to introduce their University Diploma Program. The session highlighted an alternative pathway that may be well suited for students seeki

On 30 April 2026, GESM’s Grade 5 students marked an important milestone in their Primary Years Programme journey with the successful presentation of their PYP Exhibition. The exhibition, held in the Aula and school lobby, showcased the culmination of months of student-driven inquiry. Working in six groups, students explored a wide range of meaningful and real-world topics, including renewable energy, the treatment of animals, the impact of artificial intelligence, endangered

The GESM community has reached an important milestone in its school development. The new school structure, which was approved by an overwhelming majority of the School Association’s members and supported by the German Embassy in Manila, has now also been officially confirmed by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. With this formal confirmation, GESM’s position within the network of German schools abroad is further secured. This marks the successful c

Twelve students and two faculty members formed the GESM delegation to Kulturantara - Kulturfestspiele 2026, a cultural festival by German schools in the Southeast Asian region. The event is a biannual gathering that aims to bring together students of the different German schools and provide a platform for them to celebrate music, dance and other forms of art, and exchange cultural influences, especially from each other's host countries. This year's Kulturfest was hosted by th

Congratulations to our 8th-grade student Liam Matthew Cornejo for his excellent performance at the Parañaque City Rapid Chess Tournament last weekend. Competing in a strong field of 64 players in his division, Liam consistently demonstrated focus, discipline, and solid gameplay throughout the tournament. He ultimately secured an impressive 4th place finish. With this result, he represented DESM with determination and composure. In several key matches, he showed strong tactica

by Veith Böttcher Over the past few weeks, Class 3D has been working intensively on the “Reading Box” project – and the excitement for the final exhibition is already very high! The aim of the project is not only to read a self-chosen book, but also to explore and present it creatively. The students work through several steps: 1. Choosing and reading a book Each student selects a suitable book and reads it independently. 2. Understanding and recording content Key characters,

by Jeffrey Troyer On Saturday April 25th, GESM’s basketball team signed off on their Manila International School Athletics Association season with a game at held at the Beacon School court. This game featured eleven youthful and spirited players that put their best GESM foot forward in the Under-19 “Battle for Third” place game against Singapore School Manila. Falling behind by nearly twenty points to a deep and strong SSM squad, the GESM boys fought back to cut the lead to

by Joy Schikle On Wednesday, April 29, the kindergarten group “The Little Foxes” had a wonderful trip to St. Elena Funfarm. From the very beginning of the day, the children were full of excitement and looked forward to a fun and adventurous day in nature. Together, we traveled by bus to the Funfarm, where many exciting experiences were waiting for us. At the farm, we were able to discover many different animals. The children were especially excited to see the rabbits, horses,

In a landmark decision that reflects the evolving spirit of international education, the German European School Manila has officially approved the adoption of a refreshed institutional logo, effective immediately as of 1 April 2026 . After decades of proudly featuring the iconic yellow stars that have long symbolized GESM’s European identity, the school will now transition to a new emblem centered around bright red hearts — a bold visual step intended to represent care, compa

On March 31, the Grade 2 students at GESM hosted the fourth PYP Assembly, centered this year on the theme of natural disasters and preparedness. Over the past few weeks, the students have been deeply immersed in their Unit of Inquiry, exploring how communities respond to and prepare for hazards like earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods. A highlight of their learning was a visit to PHIVOLCS, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, where they discovered how scient

by the IB Core Teachers Our Berlin audiovisual room was transformed into a vibrant hub of intellectual curiosity on Monday, 30th March, as the Grade 12 cohort hosted the inaugural IB Core Exhibit. This milestone event served as a sophisticated platform for our graduating students to showcase the fruits of their labour, marking a period of significant personal and academic growth. IBDP Grade 12 students engaged in spirited discussions with eager and inquisitive peers from Gr

The 24-Hour Swimming Challenge 2026 has now come to a victorious close! This year, alongside our partner school, Lycée Français de Manille (LFM), a wave of determination swept through our Eurocampus. Students, parents, and guests came together, swimming tirelessly for an entire day and night. Many even chose to stay on campus, keeping the energy alive in the early morning hours. This incredible effort was all part of the Eurocampus fundraising initiative. Each lap swum was ti

On March 24, our Grade 9 students moved their science class outside: right onto the parking lot. With creativity and a touch of engineering, they designed and built solar cookers from scratch. By constructing boxes lined with reflective materials, they worked to harness, concentrate, and amplify the mid-morning sun, using it to cook sunny-side-up eggs. Physics, problem-solving, and teamwork all came together -- this was science in action!

by Esther Wittstock The "Känguru-Wettbewerb der Mathematik" is one of the largest mathematics competitions worldwide. Each year, several million students from more than 80 countries take part. Its aim is to foster enjoyment in problem-solving, logical thinking, and tackling puzzles—without pressure, but with plenty of enthusiasm for mathematics. On Thursday, March 19, the competition also took place at our school—in a very special format this year. For the first time, the eve

The GESM volleyball teams gave their fans a rollercoaster of emotions over three weekends in March. On March 14, the mixed U-15 team notched their first win of the season against Beacon, setting a confident tone. On March 21, the team faced a tough loss to a different Beacon squad. Then, on March 28, the U-19 boys team took to the court, just a day after the 24-Hour Swimming Challenge. They lost a close match against Everest, and in their second game that day, despite strong

by Jeffrey Troyer On Saturday February March 14th, GESM’s Basketball team continued their Manila International School Athletics Association season with another fine showing. Facing off this time against Nord Anglia at the Beacon School court, seven spirited GESM boys jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Solid defense and timely scoring saw the team secure the win by a margin of 59-38. Leading all scorers with another 30 plus point game was Mateo A. (Gr. 11)

Based on text by Vanny Masamba On March 14, a group of 17 swimmers from Grades 3 to 10 participated in a swim competition at the British School Manila. Four of them placed in the top 8 in their events, with John Isaac P. earning an impressive 3rd place in the 200m butterfly. For some of the swimmers, it was their very first competition, making their achievements all the more special. Kudos go to the coaches, Coach Vanny Masamba and Coach Katharina Eylens, for their guidance a

After more than 50 years in education, Mr. Lawrence Buck is retiring. Since 2017, he has been a part of the German European School Manila (GESM). On 18 March 2026, students and colleagues surprised him with a heartfelt assembly, featuring poems, songs, dances, and a touching video tribute in his honor. The event concluded with students and colleagues forming a line to shake his hand, hug him, and give farewell cards. Mr. Buck joined GESM in 2017 as Head of the International S

by Alka Kumar The newly launched Clay Modelling Club is quickly becoming a favorite among students. With hands‑on activities and guided practice, learners are exploring the basics of sculpting using natural clay. They create meaningful small sculptures while understanding form, texture, and technique. The engaging sessions not only nurture artistic skills but also boost creativity and focus. As interest continues to grow, the club promises to be an inspiring space for budding

by Jeffrey Troyer GESM’s Model United Nations Club took advantage of an invitation from Chinese International School Manila to be a part of the fourth edition of CISMUN, held on March 6th and 7 th . Six GESM students participated as full delegates and an additional two attended as observers. The conference theme, “Synergy: Developing Peace Through Collective Action” was an appropriate one for today’s global tensions, set the tone for the weekend of speeches, resolutions

by Ute Massow The written MSA exams in German, Math, and English went really well – everything was well organized, and the atmosphere was focused. A big thank you to everyone who helped, supported, and pitched in! Friday is all about a well-deserved break. Take a breath, recharge, and be proud. From Monday, classes will continue as usual. In the coming weeks, we’ll cover more interesting topics to guide you toward the oral exams in June. You’re on a strong path. Keep going, t

At just 16 years old, GESM student Mio Motschmann has become the youngest Philippine‑licensed student pilot. A week fews ago, he marked a major milestone in his aviation journey by completing his first solo flight on a Cessna 152. While this was his first solo on a Cessna, Mio is no stranger to flying solo. At age 14, he soloed a Pipistrel Light Sport Aircraft in Texas, USA; at 15, he flew a glider in Oregon, USA, and an ultralight aircraft in Pampanga, Philippines. His impre