School News & Updates

GESM marked German Unity Day on 2 October with activities across the school, giving students an opportunity to learn about the history behind Germany’s national holiday and reflect on the meaning of unity. Celebrated annually on 3 October, German Unity Day commemorates the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. At GESM, the occasion brought students together to explore this history through classroom activities, sports and presentations. In Primary, students from the

October 9 2026 GESM Primary and Kindergarten pupils joined LFM Early Years students for a visit to the Eurocampus Science Fair, where Grade 11 students presented a variety of experiments. The fair gave the younger children an opportunity to see science in action and learn from older students beyond their usual classrooms. Moving from station to station, the children explored microscopes, watched a Chladni plate experiment, and observed demonstrations of elephant toothpaste an

People in the photo: Adriana (Grade 11) & Constantin (Grade 11) On 19 September, Grade 11 GIB students Adriana and Constantin took part in Speak Dating 2026 at One Ayala in Makati. As speakers at the German booth alongside the Goethe-Institut Philippinen, they introduced visitors to German words and phrases and answered questions from people curious about the language. Speak Dating brought speakers and visitors together for short conversations about European languages and cul

Student Council Advisors: Razalee Magpily & Mike Macasaet from left to right: Veith Boettcher (Interim head of school), Iago, Kaiwen, Zoe and Julien Ferrandon (Academic Director) On September 4, 2026, GESM students elected their Executive Student Council for the new school year. The election gave students in Grades 5 to 12 the opportunity to choose who would represent them and speak on their behalf. The process began with each grade level selecting two class representatives.

Parents often have questions about what their child is learning at GESM and where that education might lead. We created Germany in Focus to bring those conversations together in one series of events. Teachers and partners will explain the school’s programmes, introduce opportunities in Germany and give families the chance to ask questions as they plan for their child’s future. The series begins with the School Trip to Germany Information Night on 1 October at 6:00 PM. Familie

On August 24, students at GESM had the opportunity to meet Professor Julian Droogan, Head of the School of International Studies at Macquarie University, during an information session on International Studies. Professor Droogan brings extensive experience in the field of international security and contemporary global challenges. His research focuses on online extremism, disinformation, South Asian violent extremism and terrorist cultures. Throughout his career, he has also wo

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: Santosh Kumar The CAS mural project at Surinaam has become a wonderful example of creativity and teamwork. The project was started by Grade 11 students, Kohwoon and Precious, who had the idea to paint a mural on an outside wall. They first planned everything carefully. They designed the layout and made sure to get permission for the project. After all the planning was complete, the painting work began in February 2026. At the start, the wall was plain and white. S

As the academic year comes to a close, the GESM community proudly bids farewell to our Grade 12 graduates. Throughout their years at GESM, they have demonstrated resilience, determination, and growth, overcoming challenges and embracing opportunities that have shaped them into the individuals they are today. Their contributions have left a lasting mark on our school community not only through their academic achievements, but also through their participation in school life, th

The Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony was formally planned on the 22nd of May through a collaborative effort between teachers and Grade 11 students. This year’s celebration took place at the Acacia Hotel in Alabang City, providing a meaningful setting for an important milestone in the students’ academic journey. Graduation represents far more than a ceremonial tradition; it serves as a bridge between who students are and who they are becoming. As graduates crossed the stage w

By Mara Quesada – Grade 11 A few weeks ago, IB students took part in a CSP-CAS field trip to Panguil River Eco Park. CSP is a mandatory, interdisciplinary 10-hour team project in the IB programme that requires students from different sciences (such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and ESS) to work together to solve a real-world issue using scientific methods. It is connected to CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service), which the class went on a hike as well as planting trees. T

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

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

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

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