School News & Updates

As the school year came to a close, the GESM community gathered for a special Student Send-Off to express its gratitude and bid farewell to the teachers who will be leaving the school at the end of the academic year. Students, colleagues, and staff came together to celebrate the dedication, commitment, and lasting impact these educators have made throughout their time at GESM. Over the years, these teachers have contributed far more than classroom lessons. They have guided st

Written by: Ester Wittstock The students of classes 4D, 5D, and 6D spent three unforgettable days in Cabangan, Zambales, combining adventure, teamwork, and sustainability. Accompanied by three teachers, 16 students set out to explore the beautiful Philippine coastline while learning how to protect it. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by bright sunshine and Alon, the friendly dog and mascot of Alon & Araw. During our stay with the organization, the students learned through inter

Written by: Ester Wittstock After our students took part in the Kangaroo Mathematics Competition in March with great enthusiasm, concentration, and perseverance, the waiting was finally over: A few weeks ago, the official results from Germany arrived at our school, and this week certificates and prizes were presented to all participants. The results are truly impressive! We are especially proud that four of our students received an official prize in the Kangaroo Mathematics C

Submitted by: Katharina Eylens What an adventure! Grade 1D and 2D spent an wonderful reading night together at school. There was great excitement even as the children were setting up their sleeping areas – after all, it’s not every day you get to sleep at school! The evening began with a thrilling reading rally that took them all the way through the school building. Along the way, the children had to complete various fun reading and football world cup-related tasks. Afterwa

Yesterday's Club Showcase provided students from the Ukulele, Glee, and Robotics Clubs with the opportunity to share their achievements, creativity, and passion with fellow students, parents, and staff members. Throughout the event, students proudly presented the skills and projects they have developed over the course of the school year. The audience enjoyed musical performances by the Glee Club, including Haven, and the Ukulele Group, while members of the Robotics Club demon

Written by Korbinian Hook On Thursday, 28 May, the first and second German classes, together with the preschool group, went on a trip to the Fun Farm. The shared time provided many opportunities for the children to get to know each other better and engage in conversation, making the transition from preschool to primary school in the upcoming school year even smoother and more enjoyable. At the Fun Farm, a wide range of exciting activities awaited the students. With great enth

The Robotics Competition 2026 brought an exciting wave of innovation and energy to the classroom as students from Grade 4D, 4E, 4A, and 4B showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills through hands-on robotics projects. The event combined learning, design, and friendly competition, giving students the opportunity to bring their ideas to life. In the weeks leading up to the competition, students worked in teams to design and build their own robots. From planning struc

On 28 May, the Primary community came together in a vibrant celebration of creativity, confidence, and talent during the annual Primary Talent Show. The event showcased the diverse abilities of students across different year levels, offering a joyful platform for them to express themselves beyond the classroom. Throughout the show, students impressed the audience with a wide range of performances, including music, dance, singing, comedy, and other creative acts. Each performa

On May 19, 2026, Grade 4 students recently spent time with their kindergarten buddies in a special cross-grade tandem activity that brought learning and play together. The activity focused on bringing older and younger students together through shared reading experiences and collaborative tasks. While tandem reading was an important part of the session, the event was also designed to go beyond books encouraging interaction through games and hands-on activities that made learn

The ISM Goodwill Gymnastics Meet 2026 brought together student-athletes from international schools across Manila for a day of skill, discipline, and sportsmanship. Hosted in a friendly yet competitive environment, the event highlighted not only athletic performance but also the spirit of collaboration between schools. Among the participating schools, GESM gymnasts continued their involvement in Manila’s international gymnastics circuit, contributing to a growing tradition of

By Santosh Kumar The much-awaited Art & Music Festival 2026 was successfully held at GESM from 4th to 8th May 2026, bringing together a vibrant showcase of creativity, talent, and learning. The entire school community participated enthusiastically, making it a memorable week filled with artistic expression and musical joy. Throughout the festival, the school lobby was transformed into an inspiring gallery, displaying artworks created by students across all grade levels. This

Our U11 team took part in a football tournament on Saturday May 9 at British School Manila, joining several schools for a day of matches. The tournament gave the players the chance to compete against different teams, put their training into practice, and gain more experience in a competitive setting. The team started the day well, recording a 4–0 win in their opening game. They played with confidence from the start, showing good teamwork and communication across the pitch. Th

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

This year’s Palarong Pinoy, the annual celebration of Filipino games and culture, brought together students, parents, and teachers from GESM and our Eurocampus neighbor, Lycée Français de Manille (LFM), for a day full of fun and laughter. Students eagerly tried traditional Filipino games, running, hopping, and competing in friendly challenges that had everyone cheering. The festive atmosphere was complemented by the food challenge, where parent volunteers shared a wide select

based on a text by Tina Barthel In art class, Grade 4D will be exploring the creative world of Lego printing over the next few weeks. Students will start by arranging patterns, letters, and images with Lego bricks on panels and then adding color with ink pads. These unique designs can then be printed onto paper, creating one-of-a-kind artworks. This week, the class began by experimenting with the endless possibilities of Lego bricks, discovering how shapes and structures can

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