Author Archives: Herr Eule

EUROPEAN SCHOOL!

June 12, 2025. - A special day at Bremen City Hall! - Today the time had finally come: together with pupils, parents' representatives, colleagues and our school management, we were able to receive our European School certificate at a celebratory event in Bremen Town Hall!

What began in March with the visit of the expert commission has now come to a crowning conclusion. Our commitment to European values, international cooperation, intercultural learning and lively school partnerships has been recognized - and that fills us with great pride!

A big thank you to our European School Representative, Dr. Angela Hoffmann, who has always kept an overview and pulled all the strings - as well as to all those who have contributed over the past years to our school being able to follow this path today - through projects, exchange programs, teaching concepts and personal commitment. This would not have been possible without you!

Particularly impressive was the festive setting with great presentations by the other award-winning Bremen schools: Gymnasium Horn, Gerhard-Rohlfs-Oberschule, Altes Gymnasium and Helmut Schmidt Schule.
Congratulations to all of you on your (re-)certification as a European School! Together we are bringing Europe to life in our schools!

School partnership with Krakow

As part of the third joint project week in Krakow, the upper secondary school of the Carl von Ossietzky Gymnasium Bremerhaven concluded an official school partnership with the Zespół Szkół Elektrycznych nr 1 (ZSEL1) in Krakow, Poland. The partnership agreement was signed during the exchange, which took place from 26 to 31 May 2025 as part of the Erasmus+ program.
The aim of this cooperation is to promote the values of tolerance, human dignity and mutual understanding and to work together on European projects. The partnership creates space for a lively, intercultural exchange between pupils and teachers from both schools and stands for a peaceful and democratic Europe.
We are very much looking forward to working with our Polish friends in the future and look back with gratitude on the three encounters so far, during which we have always greatly appreciated the warm hospitality of our partner school. - We look forward to many exciting projects in the future!

Further impressions of the current project week at:
🔗 https://erasmus.cvo-gyo.de/en/2025/05/31/greetings-from-krakow/

Impressions of previous project weeks at:
🔗 https://erasmus.cvo-gyo.de/en/our-projects/learning-from-the-past-for-the-future/
🔗 https://erasmus.cvo-gyo.de/en/our-projects/2400-2/

Greetings from Krakow!

Five days, two nations, one message. As part of our Erasmus+ project “Together against racism and anti-Semitism”, a group of our students traveled to Krakow from 25 to 31 May 2025 - and returned with many new impressions, moving experiences and a clear message: NEVER AGAIN is now!
The very first day showed that this is not just about theory, but about real encounters. Language speed dating quickly turned “strangers” into laughing friends - and language barriers into little adventures. In the first work phase, we dived straight in: What is racism? How do we encounter it in everyday life and what can we do about it - not just with words, but with attitude?
The second day brought discussions, insights - and pierogi. Between reflections on historical racial theory and current forms of discrimination, there was also time for a visit to the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz. And because Erasmus+ is sometimes a matter of luck: our teachers suddenly had dinner sponsored - thanks to Krakow burger advertising! But then came day 3.
Auschwitz-Birkenau. A place that changed everything. A day that none of us will forget. Our pupils encountered the horror of history in respectful silence. The images, the words, the silence - they remain. It was a day that deeply touched and connected us all. Never again - that is not just an empty phrase. It is a responsibility and a promise. And we will carry this promise forward. Together. Across borders. For a future without hate!
On the fourth day, we combined creativity with depth: German-Polish groups came up with project ideas on options for action against everyday racism, music as resistance and the question of how to make anti-Semitism visible - including on Instagram. The rally across the site of the former Plaszow concentration camp provided further impressive moments - and the subsequent walk up Krak Hill not only cleared our heads, but also blew a little piece of the North Sea through our hair (“Greetings from Bremerhaven!”).
The last day was a colorful mix of farewell, reflection and hope. A visit to the Oskar Schindler factory once again revealed stories that must not be forgotten: moving, impressive and a worthy conclusion to our educational trip. Afterwards: Bigos, souvenirs, last hugs - and a little melancholy.
Our conclusion: this week was more than just an exchange. It was a statement. A togetherness. A beginning. Because respect knows no boundaries - and commitment doesn't end when you go home! - Dziękujemy, Kraków. Thank you, Erasmus+. We'll see you again!

Water Unites – Student mobility to Thessaloniki

Research meets encounter. Together with students from the Second Lyceum of Kalamaria, the participants worked on scientific issues relating to water quality, climate change and sustainability. In an interdisciplinary workshop, they developed presentations, carried out measurements and reflected on the relevance of shared environmental responsibility. “It was exciting to see how similar our questions are - even though we come from different countries,” said Ana after the joint project work with Greek young people.

Micara added: “I would never have thought that an Arduino workshop could be so much fun - especially when you write the codes together with someone you didn't even know the day before.”

Experiencing Europe together. In addition to the technical work, the focus was on cultural exchange and experiencing Europe. During the Greek language lessons, the city rally through Thessaloniki and the visit to the EU workshop, it quickly became clear that Europe means more than borders and politics - it thrives on togetherness. “The Greek students welcomed us immediately. We laughed, learned and even discussed politics together. I have rarely felt Europe so directly,” Franziska reported. The joint garbage collection campaign on Kalamaria beach was particularly impressive for many: “It was nice to realize that environmental issues concern us all - no matter which country we come from,” said Lili.

Small anecdotes, big memories. In addition to scientific curiosity and European solidarity, there was no shortage of fun and adventure: whether it was the first flight (“Michelle still mourns the lost cheesecake on the plane”), getting lost in Thessaloniki's old town (“We just followed the cats - and actually arrived at the hotel”), or the hotly debated cookie test (“The cookie from Cookie Man was honestly the best of my life,” said Hülya) - this trip left lasting impressions.

One conclusion in many voices. Even if the technology didn't always work smoothly, the participants managed to find creative solutions - a strong sign of problem-solving skills and teamwork. “After five days of failed attempts, we were finally able to take measurements - I was just relieved,” said Leonie. And she put it in a nutshell: “I learned more about Europe in that week than in a whole school year.”

Conclusion: “Water Unites” - and so does Erasmus. “Water Unites” was not just the title of a project, but a European principle come to life. It showed how young people can learn together across national borders, take on responsibility and make friends - on an equal footing and with a view to a shared future.

Polish guests visit Bremerhaven!

03.04.2025. From 31 March to 3 April 2025, a special Erasmus+ project week took place at our school with students from the ZSE in Krakow, Poland. Under the title ‘Can We Build Up a European Eco Society?’, the participants focussed intensively on the challenges of climate change and the role of individuals and entire societies in the fight against environmental threats.
Exciting workshops and discussions were on the programme during the week. A particular focus was on sharing possible solutions for a more sustainable future in Europe. The students developed ideas for a more environmentally friendly society and actively addressed the question of how Europe can act together in a more ecologically sustainable way.
A highlight of the week was the very exciting presentation by Victor Smetacek on carbon capture strategies with algae moulds. Mr Smetacek, Professor Emeritus at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), gave fascinating insights into his research work and discussed the potential of these technologies for climate protection with the participants.
In addition to the content-related work, there was also time to explore Bremerhaven. A special experience was the guided tour of the city by pupils from Bremerhaven, who showed their guests the sights and history of the city with great commitment. The programme also included a visit to the Klimahaus and a tour on the harbour bus.
The project week was an inspiring experience for everyone involved and raised awareness of ecological issues. We would like to thank our Polish friends for the enriching time and look forward to many more project weeks together!

Do zobaczenia w Krakowie w maju, przyjaciele! // See you in Krakow in May, friends! // Wir sehen uns in Krakau im Mai, Freunde! 🙂

Digital tools in intercultural projects

During the training, which lasted several days, the increasing relevance of AI-based tools for teaching and their potential for individualising learning was emphasised.
We gained valuable knowledge and insights into a variety of tools, including interactive learning platforms, creative applications for project work, SUNO for music creation, NotebookLM for podcasts, Greenscreen for video creation and PresentAI for generating presentations in a matter of seconds.
In the dialogue about best practices and challenges in the education sector, we not only developed new ideas, but also made contacts that will create a basis for future cooperation. Particular highlights were the intercultural exchange with colleagues from various European countries and our own projects on site:

2nd meeting of the EUrope AG

03.12.2024. The second meeting of our EUropa AG took place yesterday. After a brief review of the founding meeting in mid-September, one group dealt with the application documents and the registration procedure for Erasmus student mobilities, which we want to implement immediately for subsequent trips. Another group worked on project ideas for activities in our school and as part of Europe Week in the state of Bremen - as well as for participation in competitions such as ‘Europe? But safe!’ and “Act democratically”. In the coming weeks, another group will also be working on the logo for our working group. The next meeting will take place in 2025, invitation will follow soon!

Schule:Global network meeting

Simulation of the United Nations 2024

22.11.2024. 20 students from the E-phase, accompanied by Ms. Engel and Mr. Schmitt, were in Hamburg from November 13th to 15th to participate in a two-day simulation of the United Nations.
This simulation was organized by HAUS RISSEN, a non-partisan non-profit institute. In this simulation, young people slip into the role of delegates from various countries as realistically as possible and represent their country's position in joint diplomatic negotiations.
In the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council, we represented five out of 34 countries (Chile, Japan, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria) to fight for girls' rights and the right to education for all.
In addition to us, students from the following Hamburg schools participated: Brecht-Schule, Bugenhagenschule, Jenisch-Gymnasium, STS Bergedorf, and STS Poppenbüttel.

It was a very intense time, but it was also great to see how we grew together as a group. We faced the challenges and grew a lot!