issue 7 I 12 september 2025
Gutenberg Post
Munich - Year 9 and 10 students on their German exchange.
GRÜSSE Vom schulleiter
Liebe Mitglieder der Schulgemeinschaft,
der Übergang in die zweite Hälfte des Schuljahres hätte kaum ereignisreicher sein können – und kaum schöner, wenn man auf das zurückblickt, was wir in den letzten Wochen gemeinsam erlebt und gestemmt haben.
Allen voran: unser Weihnachtsmarkt – oder besser gesagt: Christmas in August, wie es bei uns heißt. Der Freitag war geprägt von echtem „legendärem“ Wetter – aber ist es nicht genau das, woraus unvergessliche Geschichten entstehen? Rund 1.000 Besucherinnen und Besucher trotzten dem Regen und verwandelten den Markt in ein echtes Community Event. Und selbst als das Dach des Pavillons, unter dem unser Chor sang, unter der Last des Wassers nachgab und einige Kinder eine kalte Dusche abbekamen, wurde mit Begeisterung weiter musiziert – professionell, mit Haltung, mit Herz. Hut ab!
Am Samstag dann zeigte sich der Winter von seiner besten Seite: fast frühlingshaftes Wetter und über 2.500 Gäste machten diesen Tag zu einem wahren Fest. Das war genau das, wofür der GISS-Weihnachtsmarkt steht. Mein herzlicher Dank gilt allen, die dieses Event möglich gemacht haben: den vielen engagierten Eltern unter der Leitung des PRC, unseren Lehrkräften – und nicht zuletzt unserem großartigen Admin-Team. Sie alle haben erneut bewiesen, was in dieser Schulgemeinschaft steckt.
Ebenso bunt und lebendig war unsere Book Week in der Primary. Kinder wie Lehrkräfte reisten – fantasievoll kostümiert – durch die Welt der Geschichten, und das mit Begeisterung und Tiefgang. Es war eine Freude zu sehen, wie viel das Lesen unseren Schülerinnen und Schülern bedeutet – und wie sehr auch unsere Lehrkräfte das Kind in sich bewahrt haben. Die Kostümparade war ein echtes Highlight!
In sportlicher Hinsicht läuft unsere GISS Football Academy inzwischen auf Hochtouren. Die vielen glücklichen (und gelegentlich erschöpften) Gesichter zeigen: Wir haben mit diesem Angebot den richtigen Nerv getroffen. Mein besonderer Dank gilt Benjamin Galant, der mit seiner Expertise die ersten Wochen der Akademie geprägt und wichtige Grundlagen gelegt hat. Er reist nun wieder zurück an seine Akademie in Warschau – aber nicht, ohne uns einen Besuch im nächsten Jahr in Aussicht zu stellen.
Willkommen heißen dürfen wir nun Abdullah Tabarrant, der ab sofort die Leitung der Akademie übernimmt und sie in den kommenden Jahren weiterentwickeln wird. Schön, dass du da bist, Abdullah! Und ein großes Dankeschön an alle Eltern, die die ein oder andere Umstellung mit Geduld mitgetragen haben. Die letzten Feinjustierungen sind auf dem Weg – und im neuen Term werden weitere Verbesserungen umgesetzt. Versprochen! (Wir vergessen auch nicht die Zeit zwischen Schulende und Fussballbeginn – hier arbeiten wir im Hintergrund auf Hochtouren an einer (noch) besseren Lösung.)
Während all das läuft, stehen unsere Zwölftklässlerinnen und Zwölftklässler an einer wichtigen Schwelle: Mit dem Ende dieses Terms beginnt für sie die finale Vorbereitungsphase auf die IB-Final Exams. Ab Ende Oktober wird die GISS für drei Wochen ganz im Zeichen dieser Prüfungen stehen. Wir werden gemeinsam alles dafür tun, damit unsere Class of 2025 optimale Bedingungen vorfindet und sich ganz auf das konzentrieren kann, worauf es jetzt ankommt.
Bei allem Trubel zeigt sich einmal mehr: Lernen ist weit mehr als das, was zwischen zwei Buchdeckeln oder auf einem Arbeitsblatt steht. Es ist Begegnung, Erfahrung, Entfaltung – im Klassenzimmer, auf dem Sportplatz, im Chor, auf dem Markt. Und genau das macht unsere Schule so besonders.
Ich wünsche Ihnen eine anregende Lektüre dieser Gutenbergpost – und danke Ihnen allen für Ihre kontinuierliche Unterstützung, Ihr Vertrauen und Ihr Engagement.
Mit herzlichen Grüßen
Michael Cordes
Schulleiter
gREETINGS fROM the principal
Dear members of the school community,
The transition into the second half of the school year could hardly have been more eventful – or more uplifting, when we look back at everything we’ve experienced and accomplished together in recent weeks.
First and foremost: our Christmas market – or rather, Christmas in August, as we call it. Friday was marked by truly "legendary" weather – but isn’t that exactly what unforgettable stories are made of? Around 1,000 visitors braved the rain and turned the market into a true community event. And even when the roof of the pavilion under which our choir was singing gave way under the weight of the water, giving a few children an unexpected cold shower, the music continued with enthusiasm – professionally, with poise, and with heart. Hats off!
On Saturday, winter showed itself from its best side: almost spring-like weather and over 2,500 guests made the day a true celebration. This was exactly what the GISS Christmas Market is all about. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who made this event possible: the many dedicated parents under the leadership of the PRC, our teachers – and last but not least, our outstanding admin team. Once again, they all showed the strength and spirit of our school community.
Equally colourful and vibrant was our Book Week in the Primary School. Both students and teachers – dressed in imaginative costumes – journeyed through the world of stories with enthusiasm and depth. It was a joy to see how much reading means to our students – and how well our teachers have preserved their inner child. The costume parade was a real highlight!
From a sporting perspective, our GISS Football Academy is now in full swing. The many happy (and occasionally exhausted) faces show that we’ve really struck a chord with this program. My special thanks go to Benjamin Galant, whose expertise helped shape the first weeks of the academy and laid important foundations. He will now return to his academy in Warsaw – but not without promising us a visit next year.
We are pleased to welcome Abdullah Tabarrant, who will be taking over the leadership of the academy and continuing to develop it in the years to come. We're glad to have you with us, Abdullah! And a big thank you to all the parents who patiently supported the various adjustments along the way. The final fine-tuning is in progress – and further improvements will be implemented in the new term. Promise! (And yes, we haven’t forgotten about the time gap between the end of school and the beginning of training – we’re working hard behind the scenes to find an even better solution.)
While all of this is going on, our Year 12 students are standing at an important threshold: with the end of this term, they will begin their final preparation phase for the IB final exams. Starting in late October, GISS will be fully focused on these exams for three weeks. Together, we will do everything we can to ensure that our Class of 2025 has the best possible conditions and can fully concentrate on what matters most right now.
Amid all the activity, one thing becomes clear once again: learning is so much more than what’s written between the covers of a book or on a worksheet. It’s about connection, experience, growth – in the classroom, on the sports field, in the choir, at the market. And that is precisely what makes our school so special.
I wish you an enjoyable and inspiring read of this edition of the Gutenberg Post – and I thank you all for your continued support, trust, and commitment
Warm regards
Michael Cordes
Principal
We are pleased to welcome a new casual teacher, Claudia Calvi, as well as Laura Noeffler, who is doing an internship in Primary School.
staff - mitarbeiter/innen
Claudia Calvi
Wir freuen uns, Vertretungslehrerin Claudia Calvi, sowie Laura Noeffler, die ein Praktikum in der Grundschule absolviert, willkommen zu heißen.
Farewell lunch with (most of ) the admin team
Congratulations to Ann-Kathrin and Andrew on the birth of their daughter Matilda Elizabeth McLoughlin, who entered this world on the 25.08.25 at 11:56 pm with 3170g and 51cm.
Laura Noeffler
A special thank you goes to the classes, parents, and staff volunteers who prepared hundreds of litres of waffle dough, pea soup, Glühwein and Kinderpunsch, and to those who helped serve thousands of sausages, pretzels, and sweet treats. Thanks also to our dedicated parents and staff who sorted and sold thousands of books with tireless energy.
The traditional lantern walks, face painting, marshmallow roasting, art & craft stall, and the rides for kids brought smiles to our younger visitors, while the older ones enjoyed fantastic performances by our Junior and Senior Choirs, Concert and Rock Bands, Wind and String Ensembles – and a performance by the 60 piece Coolum State High School Orchestra from Queensland.
The traditional lantern walks, face painting, marshmallow roasting, arts & crafts stall, and fun rides brought plenty of smiles and excitement to our younger visitors. Meanwhile, the older crowd was treated to an incredible lineup of performances, including our talented Junior and Senior Choirs, Concert and Rock Bands, and Wind and String Ensembles. A special highlight was the stunning performance by the 60-piece Coolum State High School Orchestra all the way from Queensland. Thank you for coming to our market!
Most importantly, we want to thank every one – our parent and student volunteers, GISS staff, stallholders, and community supporters – who made this event possible. Your contribution of time, energy, and spirit helped create a magical weekend for us all.
In true European Christmas market weather (although we did wish it was snowing instead of raining!) our Christmas Market was bustling with life and joy thanks to our amazing school community. The new layout brought a fresh atmosphere, and it was amazing to see so many families, friends, and visitors come together to experience the market.
From delicious waffles, hot pea soup, sugary Berliners, and spiced mulled wine to sizzling German sausages, Kartoffelpuffer, and pork knuckle, the food alone was a festival for all tastes! Meanwhile, the market stalls buzzed with charm, offering all sorts of treasures in true market fashion.
A special thank you goes to the classes, parents, and staff volunteers who prepared hundreds of litres of waffle dough, pea soup, Glühwein and Kinderpunsch, and to those who helped serve thousands of sausages, pretzels, and sweet treats. Thanks also to our dedicated parents and staff who sorted and sold thousands of books with tireless energy.
The traditional lantern walks, face painting, marshmallow roasting, art & craft stall, and the rides for kids brought smiles to our younger visitors, while the older ones enjoyed fantastic performances by our Junior and Senior Choirs, Concert and Rock Bands, Wind and String Ensembles – and a performance by the 60 piece Coolum State High School Orchestra from Queensland.
The traditional lantern walks, face painting, marshmallow roasting, arts & crafts stall, and fun rides brought plenty of smiles and excitement to our younger visitors. Meanwhile, the older crowd was treated to an incredible lineup of performances, including our talented Junior and Senior Choirs, Concert and Rock Bands, and Wind and String Ensembles. A special highlight was the stunning performance by the 60-piece Coolum State High School Orchestra all the way from Queensland. Thank you for coming to our market!
Most importantly, we want to thank every one – our parent and student volunteers, GISS staff, stallholders, and community supporters – who made this event possible. Your contribution of time, energy, and spirit helped create a magical weekend for us all.
giss Christmas market
In true European Christmas market weather (we were hoping for snow instead of rain!) our Christmas Market was bustling with life and joy thanks to our amazing school community. The new layout brought a fresh atmosphere, and it was amazing to see so many families, friends, and visitors come together to experience the market.
From delicious waffles, hot pea soup, sugary Berliners, and spiced mulled wine to sizzling German sausages, Kartoffelpuffer, and pork knuckle, the food alone was a festival for all tastes! Meanwhile, the market stalls buzzed with charm, offering all sorts of treasures in true market fashion.
Senior Secondary
(IB)
Senior Secondary (IB)
Junior Secondary
Junior Secondary
Primary
Primary
Preschool
Preschool
WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT GISS? | was WAR los an der giss?
WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT GISS?
was WAR los an der giss?
wellbeing
action for happiness
Action for Happiness is a UK-based charity and global movement focused on spreading happiness and kindness. Their goal is to help people create a happier world by encouraging a culture where wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do, whether as individuals, communities, organisations, or governments.
Their approach is based on the "10 keys to happier living," a set of practical tips rooted in positive psychology.
Ulrike Miehle, School Counsellor
They’re built around the acronym "GREAT DREAM":
- G iving: Do things for others.
- R elating: Connect with people.
- E xercising: Take care of your body.
- A wareness: Notice the world around you.
- T rying out: Keep learning new things.
- D irection: Have goals to look forward to.
- R esilience: Find ways to bounce back.
- E motions: Take a positive approach.
- A cceptance: Be comfortable with who you are.
- M eaning: Be part of something bigger.
These principles help people make choices that improve their wellbeing and create a kinder society.
To access their resources, or learn more about creating a happier life, visit their website: https://actionforhappiness.org/
