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

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

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)

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

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 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

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

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 22 January 2026, in celebration of the Élysée Treaty's 63rd anniversary, the German European School Manila (GESM) and the Lycée Français de Manille (LFM) hosted a special visit from two distinguished guests: German Ambassador Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke and French Ambassador H.E. Marie Fontanel, the official representative of France to the Philippines. The ambassadors were welcomed at the Eurocampus and given a guided tour of the day’s activities by GESM Academic Director M

The Cinematics Club -- a project by Grade 11 student Zoe for her CAS requirement -- is excited to announce the release of their first short film, "Where Time Slows". The short film was screened for the first time on December 17, the last school day of the calendar year. It featured the acting performances of several GESM students from different grade levels. "Where Time Slows" explores the theme of being constantly rushed, reminiscent of chasing the White Rabbit in Alice in W

by Demi Üngör Over the past few weeks, our MUN students prepared for their first-ever MUN simulation. The topic, “Should single-use plastic be banned globally?”, helped students learn how countries can work together to solve global problems. This mini simulation was an important step in preparing for our first MUN conference in March. For many students, it was their first time speaking in a formal debate and representing a country. The session was led by Diego (Gr. 11 – Secre

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 The German Language Diploma (DSD): Learning German. Shaping Future Opportunities. For more than 50 years. For five decades, the ZfA (Central Agency for Schools Abroad) has been taking the German language around the world – and opening countless doors along the way. In addition to overseeing 136 German international schools, it supports around 1,100 DSD schools worldwide. Each year, approximately 85,000 students rise to the challenge of the German Language

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

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

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