Hello and welcome!

The time has come! - Since 01 March 2021 we are accredited with Erasmus+. This means that we can benefit from a very far-reaching funding program of the EU, which offers us completely new opportunities and ways of learning and teaching.

Erasmus+ aims to enrich lives and create openness to other(s) and is therefore a great fit for us: we too are characterized by openness, a diverse, engaged school community and a desire to promote values and strengths.

The slogan of the Erasmus+ program is "Enriching lives, opening minds" and we think that fits really well with our school: We feel diversity is an enrichment - we would like to expand this even further with Erasmus+.

Experience report Athens 11/2023

Krakow Review

14.04.2024. We were guests in Krakow between 8 and 12 April 2024 and worked with pupils and teachers from our Polish partner school ZSEL No1 as part of a joint project week entitled "Together against Racism". We focussed on the forms, foundations, concepts and challenges of Racism and Anti-Semitism - with reference to the German-Polish past (including the "perpetrator people" and "victim people" under National Socialism). In addition, we have developed possible courses of action and ideas against Racism and Anti-Semitism. - See also: https://erasmus.cvo-gyo.de/en/our-projects/2400-2/

We are currently making a video about this project week. More here soon 😉

Day of Responsibility

26.01.2024. This year, our Day of Responsibility was all about interculturality - and the GDL strike, which meant we had to turn this event into a hybrid event at short notice.
We were awarded our "Schule:Global" seal by Ms. Lena Westermeier (from Partnership International e.V.). This award and partnership is intended to help us to strengthen the intercultural and global competence of our student body, whereby we want to make our contribution to creating and promoting the foundations for peaceful coexistence in a cosmopolitan, sustainable and diverse society.
Afterwards, Mr. Dario Morazán, an interdisciplinary designer with a focus on social power structures and racism, gave a lecture on the basics and challenges of racism in everyday life and schools.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Lena Westermeier and Mr. Dario Morazán for their flexibility and willingness to enrich our Day of Responsibility in this way.

“Democracy & You”

25.01.2024. Yesterday, pupils from four learning groups took part in the "#Democracy & You" project day (organised by EUROSOC#DIGITAL from Berlin).
With the help of engaging and activating methods, the first aim was to educate students about democracy and to strengthen their understanding of and trust in our political system. Afterwards, the participants developed their own fields of action and opportunities for participation and presented and discussed campaigns to the plenum. The representatives of the Bremerhaven City Council who were present also provided a very nice framework for this round of discussions.

We would like to thank the EUROSOC#DIGITAL team from Berlin - consisting of Mareike Meyer, Charlotte Klosterberg, Sina Oesterling and Janosch Ptassek - and the members of the Bremerhaven City Council Astrid Milch, Sönke Allers, Mirko Miholic and Claudius Kaminiarz for this all-round successful event as well as the two representatives of the Youth Parliament and our Head of Schools Michael Frost for their words of welcome.

Job shadowing in Tallinn

09.12.2023. We were guests at Viimsi Gümnaasium in Tallinn from December 4 to 8, 2023 and also visited Tallinna Saksa Gümnaasium for one day. Essentially, we exchanged ideas with colleagues, sat in on classes and compared education systems.
We noticed that both schools have excellent facilities, which means that open learning concepts can be implemented very well. This is certainly also due to the fact that the school in Viimsi was only rebuilt five years ago and Tallinna Saksa Gümnaasium was completely renovated four years ago.

We received a warm welcome and were treated to cultural highlights such as a guided tour of the city during the week. Ruth Rappold, the German teacher at Viimsu Gümnaasium, gave us excellent support with all our plans.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Erasmus coordinator Liisu Jallai, the students Hugo and Oliver from Viimsi Gümnaasium for their presentation on school and Alexander Voss, who gave us a valuable and informative insight into the Estonian state education system at Tallinna Saksa Gümnaasium.

As a result, we had many positive experiences, including the fact that we planned a 70-minute unit together for the German lessons of an E phase and a Q1 class and taught together as a foursome for the first time in our lives.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ruth Rappold once again for her support in this project and for the insight she has given us into the history of Viimsi. If the Estonians ever sing in snake language, we will also come to the rescue!
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Supplement: As part of the network meeting of language counsellors from lower and upper secondary schools, an exchange about the visit took place afterwards. A presentation was given on the autonomy of the school and aspects of language sensitivity in the Estonian education system.

Visiting Athens

06.12.2023. Between 06 and 10 November we were guests in Athens. At the birthplace of democracy, the aim was to explore the basic understanding of popular rule and compare it with the forms of democracy currently practised in Europe (Erasmus+ project: 2022-1-DE03-KA121-SCH-000054131). This made the pupils realise that concepts of equality, justice and freedom have changed considerably over time and have developed differently in different cultures.
Together with pupils from the 1st Model High School in Athens, we explored the future of democracy (Erasmus+ project: 2023-1-DE03-KA121-SCH-000126926). The presentations showed that prosperity and quality of life worldwide depend heavily on the role and implementation of democratic values. In joint activities and endeavours, we adopted a European, solidary and diverse perspective and established that where the rule of law is guaranteed and human rights are consistently respected, opportunities for the future are secure.

Awarded the “Schule:Global” seal

Schule:Global – Together for more diversity
Schule:Global is an initiative to promote intercultural education and internationalisation in schools. The aim of the initiative is to strengthen the intercultural and global competence of the student body in all types of schools and to support teachers. This creates and promotes the foundations for peaceful coexistence in a cosmopolitan, sustainable and diverse society.
The Schule:Global seal is awarded to schools that are active in the areas of intercultural education and encounter, diversity and international exchange or want to become active. During the three-year term of the seal, the school receives long-term and individual support from the Schule:Global coach. The School:Global Coaches provide professional input, advise on school development, but also support in the practical organisation of projects and actions. Together with the schools, they develop individual, needs-oriented concepts and measures that firmly anchor intercultural learning, diversity and diversity in the school programme. In addition, teachers receive access to exclusive teaching materials and become part of the nationwide Schule:Global network.
Schule:Global is an initiative of the AJA Arbeitskreis gemeinnütziger Jugendaustausch. For more information on the initiative, please visit the website www.schule-global.de.

Event “Rule of Law in Europe”

23.09.2023. Yesterday, the advanced course 3WIR1b, led by Ms Hoffmann and accompanied by Mr Ehlert and Mr Schmitt, took part in the event "Learning European - How to strengthen justice and freedom in the EU: Symposium 'Rule of Law in Europe'" in the House of Parliament in Bremen.
After a welcoming speech by EU Commissioner Didier Reynders and a keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Funda Tekin on the topic of "Efficiency of EU instruments to strengthen the rule of law", we were also able to play the new simulation game "Democracy under pressure" by planpolitik. A successful day all round!

SoR Action Day 2023

08.09.2023. As part of today's "School without Racism" day of action on the topic of "Respect", 23 pupils from our E-Phase, led by Mr Schmitt, took part in the workshop "My Europe. Yesterday's idea or tomorrow's vision?" and worked out how the Erasmus+ programme can help them to achieve their personal and school goals. Topics included the question of European identity, goals and possibilities of the Erasmus+ programme, the planning of an Erasmus+ trip on the topic of "Respect" by the students present in small groups - but also the question of the personal significance of Europe.

Dear People! Europe is facing many challenges and changes today. Our continent is struggling with problems, from political problems to economic difficulties. Nevertheless, we must not forget that Europe is a place of great importance for us. We owe Europe peace and cooperation after the conflicts of the 19th century. However, Europe is also a place that offers room for improvement. We should not only see Europe as a place, but actively work for positive changes and work together for improvements. For me personally, Europe means a mix of peace and opportunities. Possibilities with our diverse history and culture and peace in terms of the possibilities the future holds. In this speech I would like to encourage everyone to look at Europe with a positive view. Let us preserve our values and at the same time take advantage of the opportunities that Europe offers us. Together we can work towards a better future for Europe. Thank you very much.

Author: Anonymous.

For us, Europe means diversity, culture, history and cooperation. It is a continent that encompasses many different countries and languages. Europe is also known for its impressive architecture, rich art scene and culinary delights. Many people associate Europe with famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Europe also stands for political and economic cooperation, like the European Union. Overall, Europe is a place of diversity and opportunity, attracting people from all over the world.

Author: Anonymous.

My Europe. Europe, just a word? Or rather much more than that. Just a continent like any other? Or rather something more significant. If it is not just a word, not just a continent like any other, then I wonder how many Europeans once gave serious thought to the subject. Does the meaning of this word carry over to each individual? "Europe, synonymous with peace and cohesion!" is what many say, but my perception makes my mind evaluate something else. Does cohesion mean the domestic conflict over the admission of migrants? War and exploitation? Racism or even simple violence? Definitely not! Cohesion means something else to me. "Nothing whole, nothing half!" is, in my opinion, a more appropriate synonym for Europe. Union of countries - yes. One continent - yes. One word - yes. A continent of far-reaching cohesion, certainly not.I wouldn't be talking about it if it wasn't an issue that made us think. The word cohesion behind Europe's shadow is much more the desire of each individual who does not look away but wants to change something about this situation. About 746 million inhabitants and each one an individual. Diversity and difference is not a topic to discuss. The answer is clear. Nevertheless, we are talking, so there are also individuals with different desires than cohesion. The meaning of Europe is something everyone makes up with themselves.

Author: Caine Deichmann.

European Workshop in Bremerhaven and International Conference in Braga

We welcome our new beginning teachers in Bremerhaven with a Europe workshop called „Europäische Lehrkräfte als Vorbilder für lebenslanges Lernen, demokratisches Denken und gemeinschaftliches Handeln”. The workshop deals with the results of the EU-funded LOOP project (No. 2020-1-PT01-KA201-078764) and the implications for our school Schulzentrum Carl von Ossietzky - gymnasiale Oberstufe (CvO GyO).
Our participation in the LOOP project and especially in the international conference "Teacher learning through e-mentoring - a contribution to the future of Education" in Braga, Portugal significantly strengthens teacher collaboration within our school and with other European educators and stakeholders, as well.
The Erasmus+ team at our school has grown, the role of European values such as democratic thinking and collaboration further increases. We learn a lot about innovative teaching and learning approaches and discuss new concrete ideas of conceptual development potentials. Working on the LOOP project makes room for teamwork, critical discussion, creativity and participation. More teachers are involved in school development like digitalization, interdisciplinary and inter-grade projects and the revision of our school concept. We specify our visions about teaching and learning and start to establish a European cooperation network. Let’s stay in contact as friends and, hopefully as project partners, as well:

Presentation for the Europe Day Workshop in Bremerhaven: PDF
Review of the international LOOP conference in Braga: YouTube
Learn more on the project homepage