issue 6 I 15 august 2025
Gutenberg Post
GISS Football Academy Launch
GRÜSSE Vom schulleiter
Liebe Mitglieder der Schulgemeinschaft,
mit großer Freude blicke ich auf die vergangenen Wochen zurück, die wieder einmal gezeigt haben, wie lebendig und facettenreich unser Schulleben an der German International School Sydney ist.
Ein besonderer Höhepunkt war die Eröffnung unserer Football Academy, die mit über 100 engagierten SchülerInnen direkt ins Programm gestartet ist. Die Begeisterung auf dem Spielfeld und die Energie bei den ersten Trainingseinheiten lassen erahnen, welche positiven Impulse dieser neue Zweig für unsere Schulgemeinschaft bringen wird. Den glanzvollen Auftakt markierte unsere Gala Cruise, ein festlicher Abend, der nicht nur die Academy feierte, sondern auch unsere Verbundenheit als Schulgemeinschaft spürbar machte. Etwas, das wir nach den gesammelten Erfahrungen in diesem Jahr, gerne im naechsten Jahr wiederholen würden - was meinen Sie?
Die Vorbereitungen für unseren Weihnachtsmarkt sind in vollem Gange und, wie jedes Jahr, werden stimmungsvolle Begegnungen, kreative Stände und eine lebendige Atmosphäre die SchülerInnen, Eltern und Lehrkräfte bestimmt wieder begeisteren. Ich hoffe, Sie alle an einem der beiden Tage begrüssen zu dürfen: Tolle Musikauftritte, Fahrgeschäft und natürlich die Bratwurst und der Glühwein warten auf Sie!
Akademisch gibt es viel Grund zum Stolz: Unsere 12. KlässlerIinnen haben die Mock Exams erfolgreich abgeschlossen und damit bei ihren Vorbereitungen auf die kommenden Abschlussprüfungen im Term 4 die Zielgerade erreicht. Ebenfalls hervorragende Leistungen zeigten unsere SchülerInnen bei den mündlichen DSD-Prüfungen – ein Beleg für ihr Engagement und die kontinuierliche Unterstützung durch unsere Lehrkräfte.
Auch außerhalb des Klassenzimmers setzen unsere SchülerInnen Maßstäbe. Die Teilnahme unserer School Captains an der Student Wellbeing Conference an der Ravenswood School hat nicht nur neue Impulse für das Wohlbefinden an unserer Schule gebracht, sondern auch gezeigt, wie junge Menschen Verantwortung übernehmen und aktiv zur Gestaltung unserer Schulgemeinschaft beitragen. Kreativität und Humor kamen dann beim durch unsere Schulsprecher organisierten Anything But a Bag Day zum Ausdruck – ein Tag, der zeigt, dass Gemeinschaft bei uns Freude macht und lebendig ist.
Besonders freue ich mich über die Einführung unseres Haussystems, das auf Initiative unserer Schulsprecher entstanden ist. Dieses neue System wird den Teamgeist stärken, Gemeinschaft erlebbar machen und unseren SchülerInnen zusätzliche Möglichkeiten bieten, sich einzubringen und Verantwortung zu übernehmen. Alle SchülerInnen und Lehrkräfte werden in eines von vier Häusern aufgeteilt (in jeder Klasse werden alle vier Häuser vertreten sein) und bei verschiedenen Gelegenheiten Punkte für ihr Haus gewinnen können.
All diese Ereignisse machen deutlich: Unsere Schule lebt von Engagement, Vielfalt und Zusammenhalt – und es ist eine Freude, dies mit Ihnen allen teilen zu dürfen. Ich lade Sie ein, diese Ausgabe der Gutenberg Post zu genießen und die Geschichten unserer SchülerInnen zu entdecken, die unseren Alltag so besonders machen.
Mit herzlichen Grüßen
Michael Cordes
Schulleiter
gREETINGS fROM the principal
Dear members of the school community,
It is with great pleasure that I look back on the past few weeks, which have once again demonstrated how vibrant and multifaceted school life is at the German International School Sydney.
A particular highlight was the opening of our Football Academy, which started the programme with over 100 enthusiastic students. The enthusiasm on the pitch and the energy during the first training sessions give us a glimpse of the positive impact this new branch will have on our school community. The gala cruise marked a splendid start, a festive evening that not only celebrated the academy but also made our bond as a school community palpable. Something that, after the experiences we have had this year, we would like to repeat next year – what do you think?
Preparations for our Christmas Market are well underway, and as always, we can look forward to festive moments, creative stalls, and a joyful atmosphere that will delight students, parents, and staff alike. I hope to see you there on one of the two days—enjoy fantastic musical performances, funfair rides, and of course, a bratwurst and a glass of mulled wine!
Our students lead by example beyond the classroom, too. When our School Captains attended the Student Wellbeing Conference at Ravenswood School, they brought fresh energy and ideas to our wellbeing initiatives, demonstrating how young people can take ownership and play an active role in shaping our school community. Their leadership, along with that of our school representatives, was also on display during the lively and imaginative "Anything But a Bag Day"—a celebration that highlighted the creativity, humour, and vibrant spirit that define our community.
I’m especially excited about the launch of our new house system, introduced through the initiative of our school representatives. This system is designed to strengthen team spirit, build a deeper sense of community, and create more opportunities for students to get involved and take on leadership roles. Every student and teacher will be assigned to one of four houses—with each house represented in every class—and will have the chance to earn points for their house through a variety of activities and events.
All of these events highlight what makes our school so special: a strong sense of commitment, rich diversity, and a spirit of togetherness. It’s a joy to share this with you. I invite you to enjoy this edition of the Gutenberg Post and explore the stories of our students—the heart of our school community—who bring energy and meaning to our everyday life.
Warm regards
Michael Cordes
Principal
staff - mitarbeiter/innen
We are pleased to welcome both new staff members and those returning to our team - Wir freuen uns, sowohl neue Mitarbeitende als auch zurückkehrende Teammitglieder willkommen zu heißen.
Anika Kober - our new Year 6 class teacher
Xenia Buschor - Primary teacher
Denise Parsons - Secondary teacher
Lilly Köster is currently interning in the marketing department.
Laureen Zeltner has joined GISS as intern for six months
Bernd Petring - Business Manager
And congratulations to Silke Bethke who is celebrating 25 years and Caro Toppoff who is celebrating five years at GISS.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch an Siilke Bethke, die schon seit 25 Jahren an der GISS ist und an Caro Toppoff, die ihr fünfjähriges Jubiläum feiert!
In the first week of Term 3, we said farewell to our Business Manager, Manuela Baumann. We thank Manuela for her dedication and contributions over the past year and wish her every success in her next chapter.
In der ersten Woche des dritten Terms haben wir uns von unserer Business Managerin Manuela Baumann verabschiedet. Wir danken Manuela für ihr Engagement und ihre Beiträge im vergangenen Jahr und wünschen ihr viel Erfolg für ihren nächsten Lebensabschnitt.
Farewell lunch with (most of ) the admin team
numerous Farewells at the End-of-Term 2 Assembly
left to right: Pfarrer Maurer, Carl K, Theresia M, Ms Annie, Ulf K, Antje R, Domenic A, Jule B
We wrapped up Term 2 with a joyful (and slightly tearful) celebration to bid farewell to our wonderful students, dedicated teachers, interns, and most notably, the incredible Ms Annie, who has been part of the GISS family for an amazing 11 years.
Alumni and former staff members from across the years returned to honour Ms Annie. The celebrations featured unforgettable performances by the students, including a cheeky and brilliant rendition of Shirley Valentine by Amélie N! The whole school came together in song to perform one of Miss Annie’s all-time favourites by ELO. It was a perfect blend of joy, nostalgia, and fond goodbyes.
Zahlreiche Abschiede zum Ende des zweiten terms
von links nach rechts: Pfarrer Maurer, Carl K, Theresia M, Ms Annie, Ulf K, Antje R, Domenic A, Jule B
Der zweite Term wurde mit einer fröhlichen (und etwas tränenreichen) Feier abgeschlossen, um uns von unseren wunderbaren SchülerInnen, engagierten Lehrkräften, Praktikantinnen und vor allem von der unglaublichen Ms Annie zu verabschieden, die während11 Jahren Teil der GISS-Familie war.
Ehemalige SchülerInnen und Mitarbeitende aus den vergangenen Jahren kehrten zurück, um Ms Annie zu ehren. Die Feierlichkeiten boten unvergessliche Darbietungen der SchülerInnen, darunter eine freche und brillante Aufführung von Shirley Valentine durch Amélie N!
Die ganze Schule kam zusammen, um eines von Ms Annies Lieblingsliedern von ELO zu singen. Es war eine perfekte Mischung aus Freude, Nostalgie und herzlichen Abschieden.
GISS Football Academy Launch Week –
Youth Development Partner of Borussia Dortmund
We were honoured to welcome special guests from Borussia Dortmund to celebrate the launch with our school and wider community. Their visit brought the spirit and expertise of BVB to Sydney – inspiring our students, connecting with parents, and sharing in the excitement of building something special for the future of youth football in Australia.
We kicked things off with an inspiring panel discussion in our sports hall, featuring
:
- Paul Lambert, Borussia Dortmund legend, UEFA Champions League winner & Technical Director BVB APAC
- Christian Diercks, Managing Director, BVB Football Academy
- Felix Schwarz, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sydney
- Alexander Baumjohann, former Bundesliga & A-League player, now Head of Player Development at Sydney FC
- Joe Lacey, Sydney FC midfielder, with the club since U13
Together, they explored “The Power of Football – Beyond the Pitch”, highlighting how sport can shape resilience, teamwork, leadership, and cultural exchange.
The celebrations continued with our Gala Harbour Cruise, where guests, partners, and friends of GISS enjoyed a night on Sydney Harbour in true black-and-yellow style.
The week rolled on with a series of student workshops on the Winning Mindset – on and off the pitch, as well as career pathway sessions showing routes into football and the wider sports industry. Parents also joined dedicated information sessions to learn more about the programme.
And of course, the moment everyone was waiting for — the very first training sessions with our UEFA-licensed BVB coach, Benjamin Galant, giving students hands-on experience in world-class football development.
As Christian Diercks said:
“Our aim isn’t just to find talent – it’s to give all children the chance to develop their skills, grow as individuals, and most importantly, have fun. We’re building a sporting ecosystem that supports them for the long term – whether or not they become professionals.”
„Es geht uns nicht in erster Linie darum, Talente zu finden – wir möchten allen Kindern die Möglichkeit geben, ihre Fähigkeiten zu entwickeln, als Persönlichkeiten zu wachsen und vor allem Spaß zu haben. Wir bauen ein Sportökosystem auf, das sie langfristig unterstützt – ganz gleich, ob sie später Profis werden oder nicht.“
A truly unforgettable start to a new chapter of football at GISS!
Click here to listen to a report from SBS Radio Deutsch. German International School Sydney eröffnet Fußballakademie mit Borussia Dortmund.
giss ALUMNI
Sasha Burquest, graduated from GISS in November 2021
Congratulations, Sasha!
Last week at GISS, students ditched their backpacks for something a little more unusual in our Anything but a Bag Day. The idea was simple: bring your books and supplies in anything that’s not a bag, have a laugh together, and raise funds for our school charity.
Throughout the day, we saw everything from a giant popcorn box and a fold-out beach chair to a group of tradies wheeling their gear around in a full-sized wheelbarrow. The lunchtime catwalk gave everyone a chance to show off their creations, and the cheers from the crowd made it clear that imagination had well and truly taken over practicality.
The event also featured a cake sale, with delicious treats selling out quickly and helping us raise over $400 for a Girl & her world, which supports girls’ education in Fiji.
It was a day full of laughter, creativity, and school spirit — and proof that a little imagination can go a long way in bringing people together.
A big thank you to everyone who supported our school charity, and to all students that brought creative alternative backpacks, and helped make the day a great success.
The School Captain Team
anything but a bag day
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
using a mood barometer
We all feel different emotions throughout the day. Sometimes we are happy and full of energy, other times we might feel tired, stressed or sad. That is completely normal. Dr Brian Marlen created a simple tool called ‘the Mood Barometer’ to help you check in with your feelings and understand how they change over time.
The barometer below shows four different zones:
Ulrike Miehle, School Counsellor
- If you are feeling angry or anxious, you might be in the Survival Zone.
- If you are excited or focused, you are likely in the Performance Zone.
- If you feel tired or down, you could be in the Burnout Zone.
- If you are calm and relaxed, you are in the Recovery Zone.
negative mood
postive mood
high energy
Survival Zone
Angry
Anxious
Irritable
Stressed
Performance
Zone
Challenged
Excited
Enthusiastic
Happy
Burnout Zone
Exhausted
Hopeless
Depressed
Sad
Recovery Zone
Calm
Peacefull
Reflective
Serene
low energy
Here are a few ways to help shift your mood and feel more balanced:
Survival Zone:
Recovery Zone:
Performance Zone:
Burnout Zone:
• Take a few slow, deep breaths
• Go for a short walk or stretch
• Talk to a friend/ teacher/parent/counsellor
• Take a brain/movement break
• Eat a snack or drink water
• Do something gentle, like listening to music
• Keep going with what’s working
• Set a small goal and enjoy achieving it
• Share your positive energy with others
• Enjoy quiet time or mindfulness
• Reflect on what’s going well
• Do something creative or soothing
Many people have found this tool helpful. Give it a try and see what works for you.
