School News & Updates

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

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 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

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

Our student-athletes had an action-packed couple of weekends competing in basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics. Highlights include a MISAA win for our Division 1 Boys Basketball team on February 28, and the Division 1 Boys Volleyball team’s first MISAA victory. Our Girls Volleyball team made their season tournament debut at the BSM Volleyball Tournament, while the U15 mixed volleyball team took the court for the first time on March 7. Gymnasts impressed at the BSM Gymnastic

by Kathe Ysabelle F. & Kohwoon S. (Gr. 11) Last Saturday, March 7 GESM participated in the 2026 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) led by the Philippine Reclamation Authority and the City of Parañaque, hosting our booth at the Ultimate Power Catch Up ni Juana. During the event, the GESM collaboration group of secondary level, showcased wonderful performances. The first to perform was the Popband group, members of which are Grade 9E students Pablo J., Robin B., Lincoln

by Santosh Kumar Grade 6 students recently explored the imaginative world of collage artist Hannah Höch, discovering how everyday images can be transformed into meaningful stories. Drawing inspiration from Höch’s innovative style, each student created a unique collage using cutouts from old magazines. Their artworks beautifully showcased creativity, storytelling, and a deep understanding of composition. It was wonderful to see how confidently students experimented with color,

by Merry Zoe S. & Mateo A. (Gr. 11) Last Thursday, our film Off-Grid  had its special screening for the younger grades, and it was an unforgettable experience! Though we only showcased about 50% of the completed film, we were happy to share our work with everyone. To add to the fun, we also showed some bloopers that brought some smiles to the audience. Off-Grid  tells the story of four distant friends who stumble upon an online post about a hidden treasure deep in a forest tr

submitted by Coach Ferdie Reyes Students from the German European School Manila (GESM) continued their strong run at the second leg of the Manila International School Athletics Association (MISAA) Chess Tournament, held on March 7, 2026. Following their encouraging results in the first leg earlier in the season, GESM’s young chess players once again demonstrated focus, strategy, and determination at the board. In the Under-8 category (32 players), Mark N. (1E) delivered a sol

by Jeffrey Troyer On Saturday February 28 th , GESM’s Basketball team continued their Manila International School Athletics Association (MISAA) season campaign with another game at the Beacon School. The strong and deep opponent this time was Chinese International School Manila.  Battling through nearly four quarters with  nip and tuck close scoring, the boys held the lead for much of the game before falling behind by a point in the final minute. Not to be deterred, they must

Written by Grisela Marti on behalf of the Science Teachers at GESM Between 1901 and 2025, the Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, Chemistry and Physics in Memory of Alfred Nobel were awarded to 635 men, while only 24 women received this prestigious recognition. These numbers illustrate a vast gender gap in laureates, particularly in chemistry and physics, where fewer than ten percent of all winners have been female. Marie Curie became the first women to receive a Nobel Pr

On February 12, GESM celebrated love, music, and community at our Valentine’s Day Concert! Organized by Grade 11 students, the event welcomed parents, teachers, students, and friends for an afternoon of dance and live music performances. Highlights included performances by our Grade 9, 11, and 12 rock bands, the Collaboration Period Performing Arts Group, GCSE Music students, and a special class performance by Grade 5D/6D. Guests also enjoyed food and drinks while soaking up

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

by Jeffrey Troyer On Saturday February 7 th , GESM’s Basketball team kicked off their Manila International School Athletics Association season with a game at Held at the Beacon School court, eleven eager players started off in fine fashion by getting an early lead of 16-11 at the end of the first quarter. But a deep and strong SSM squad surged back to take a 7-point lead into the third quarter.  However, the GESM boys would not give up!  They fought back to secure a narrow th

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

On January 22, as part of celebrations for the Élysée Treaty anniversary, students from Grades 6 and up of the German European School Manila (GESM) and the Lycée Français de Manille (LFM) came together for a Franco-German Sports Day, marking the occasion through friendly competition and teamwork. The sports teachers organized mixed teams, forming four groups with students from both schools. Matches were played in four rounds of 10 minutes each, giving everyone multiple opport

Submitted by Vincent Mortillero We are proud to share that one of our Grade 7 students, Alessandro Puno, has been shortlisted for the Junior Scholars Essay Contest, an international competition organized by the Lumiere Education that received more than 1,000 essay submissions from 53 countries worldwide. This recognition highlights Alessandro’s ability to present original ideas, construct clear and compelling arguments, and support them with strong evidence. Being shortliste

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