School News & Updates

On February 4, Grade 1E led our latest PYP Assembly to celebrate the end of Unit 3: How We Express Ourselves. Focusing on the idea that people connect through stories, students presented short stage performances highlighting kindness, sharing, and other important values. Highlights included a lively reenactment of the Filipino folktale “Si Pagong at si Matsing” (The Turtle and the Monkey) and songs that tell stories in English, German, and Tagalog. The assembly was a joyful w

submitted by Florian Simmelbauer On Saturday, February 14, GESM’s Division 2 and Division 3 football teams fell short of winning the championships but competed with determination and performed strongly in the Manila International Schools’ Athletic Association (MISAA) tournament. The Division 3 (U‑11) team reached the finals but were defeated 8‑0 by The Beacon School, earning 2nd place overall and silver medals. The Division 2 (U‑14) squad lost 3‑1 in the semi-finals to Everes

Helau and Alaaf from GESM! Our campus came alive as the elementary students celebrated the German Karneval in a fun and creative way. Karneval, a traditional festival celebrated in many parts of Germany before Lent, is known for colorful costumes, parades, music, and lots of laughter. The children paraded across the school grounds in playful costumes, visited the administrative offices and hallways, and finally gathered in the auditorium for games, treats, and plenty of fun.

submitted by Kathlene Juliano On February 1, 2026, four talented young gymnasts from GESM brought home an impressive collection of medals from the 4th LTSA Invitational, an accredited artistic gymnastics competition held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. The LTSA Invitational is a respected event in the gymnastics calendar that draws clubs and competitors from across the Philippines and beyond, featuring multiple age categories and apparatus events for artistic

by Rebecca Gillen Grade 3E has been learning about heroes and how everyday people can make a positive difference in the lives of others. After welcoming real-life hero Kyle Javier, founder of the Tiny Blessings Foundation, into the classroom for an interview, Grade 3E were inspired to take action. Following his visit, students enthusiastically collected donations based on his suggestions, focusing on items that would truly help the children at Tiny Blessings. These included c

submitted by Rain Galvez On the morning of February 10, Grade 2E students of GESM took learning beyond the classroom with an exciting community walk to a nearby convenience store. The visit gave children a hands-on opportunity to practice real-world communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills. Inside the store, students observed how products are displayed, how advertisements influence choices, and how convenience stores serve the needs of the community. Polite greetin

by Julien Ferrandon, Academic Director, GESM On 22 January 2026, the Eurocampus community came together to celebrate the anniversary of the Élysée Treaty, signed 63 years ago. This landmark agreement laid the foundations for lasting friendship, reconciliation, and cooperation between France and Germany, and continues to shape their partnership today. This year’s celebration was especially meaningful. Throughout the day, students from both schools took part in a rich programme

Students from Grades 1 and 2 of the German European School Manila (GESM) and the Lycée Français de Manille (LFM) joined in the celebrations for the Élysée Treaty anniversary with a morning of outdoor activities designed to encourage teamwork and collaboration. On the school field, children competed in relay races organized in mixed GESM-LFM groups, giving them the opportunity to work together across schools while enjoying friendly competition. The second activity involved a l

As part of the activities marking the anniversary of the Élysée Treaty, students from Grades 3 to 5 of the German European School Manila (GESM) and the Lycée Français de Manille (LFM) came together for a joint musical activity. The students gathered in the Aula, where they were welcomed by the music teachers of both schools, supported by several older students holding musical instruments. Together, they worked on learning the European Hymn, singing it in both French and Germa

Submitted by Florian Simmelbauer On January 17, the football teams of the German European School Manila (GESM) celebrated two impressive victories at the MISAA tournament. Both the Division 3 and Division 2 teams delivered excellent performances and were rewarded with well-deserved wins. The GESM Division 3 team secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory against Beacon International School in an exciting and competitive match. Showing determination until the final whistle, the team ea

On December 12, our Grade 3E students had the privilege of welcoming Mr. Kyle Javier, founder of the Tiny Blessings Foundation, as a guest speaker. During his visit, Kyle shared inspiring insights about his school for homeless children, sparking curiosity among the students as they engaged with thoughtful questions about its operations. This visit was particularly relevant to our current unit on "Heroes," as Kyle’s work exemplifies the importance of community support and comp

GESM’s Christmas Bazaar 2025 took place on Saturday, December 13, and it was a day filled with fun and community spirit! The event featured lively performances throughout the day, offering plenty for everyone to explore. Stands brimmed with fun games, colorful knickknacks for sale, baked goods, drinks, BBQ, books, and much more. One of the highlights was the opportunity for parents and students to meet the beneficiaries of Children of the Dump Manila, who entertained the crow

In the weeks leading to December, the GESM community united in a heartwarming effort to prepare nearly 150 wrapped shoeboxes for our partner charity, Children of the Dump Manila. This annual Shoebox Project saw students, parents, teachers, and community partners come together to collect toys, books, school supplies, and other donations. Each item was carefully packed into shoeboxes and wrapped in festive Christmas paper. Tuesday, December 9 marked a special moment as we deliv

by Volker Schlieske As a recognized German school abroad and a key intermediary organization in the Philippines, GESM has been an integral part of Germany’s foreign cultural and educational policy for many years, working closely with partner institutions such as the Goethe-Institut. This collaboration is built not only on tradition – for example, through the annual German Teachers’ Conferences in Manila, which we organize together with the Goethe-Institut, DAAD, and the Germa

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

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.

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

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

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 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

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