giss football academy
A New Era Begins at GISS
This amazing collaboration means our students here on Sydney’s Northern Beaches will now have access to world-class coaching, youth development programs, and international football opportunities, all powered by the BVB philosophy.
To kick things off in style, we had the honour of welcoming BVB legend and APAC Technical Director Paul Lambert. He gave an inspiring talk about the heart and soul of BVB—its culture, values, and passion—before leading an energetic training session with our students.
A special thanks goes out to the German Embassy Canberra, Ambassador Beate Grzeski, and Consul General Felix Schwarz for joining us and showing their support. Their presence was a great reminder of how sport—especially football—can bring communities together across borders.
And of course, a huge shoutout to Franziska McCarthy for making the whole event happen, to our incredible staff (especially the Admin team), and to our very own "Swiss army knife" / "Jake of all trades”—you know who you are!
Here’s to the beginning of something truly special!
- On-site BVB Coordinator at GISS
- Exchange pathways to Dortmund
- Inclusive football for all levels
- School holiday training camps
GISS students can click here to register their interest now.
Wir freuen uns riesig, endlich die großartige Neuigkeit über unsere offizielle Partnerschaft mit Borussia Dortmund (BVB) zu teilen – einem der legendärsten Fußballclubs Europas!
Dank dieser spannenden Zusammenarbeit bekommen unsere SchülerIinnen an den Northern Beaches in Sydney nun Zugang zu erstklassigem Coaching, professioneller Nachwuchsförderung und internationalen Fußballchancen – alles nach der Philosophie von Borussia Dortmund.
Zum Auftakt durften wir niemand Geringeren als BVB-Legende und Technischen Direktor APAC Paul Lambert begrüßen. Er hielt einen inspirierenden Vortrag über das Herz und die Seele des BVB – über seine Kultur, Werte und Leidenschaft – und leitete anschließend eine energiegeladene Trainingseinheit mit unseren SchülerInnen.
Ein großes Dankeschön geht an die Deutsche Botschaft Canberra, Botschafterin Beate Grzeski und Generalkonsul Felix Schwarz für ihren Besuch und ihre Unterstützung. Ihre Anwesenheit hat noch einmal gezeigt, wie sehr Sport – insbesondere Fußball – Menschen über Grenzen hinweg verbinden kann.
Und natürlich ein riesiges Dankeschön an Franziska McCarthy für die Organisation dieses tollen Events, an unser großartiges Team (insbesondere das Admin-Team) und an unser „Jake" of all trades bzw. „Multitalent“ – du weißt, wer gemeint ist!
Auf den Start von etwas ganz Besonderem!
Eine neue Ära beginnt an der GISS
GISS football academy
GISS schüler/innen können hier registrieren
- BVB-Koordinator direkt vor Ort an der GISS
- Austauschmöglichkeiten nach Dortmund
- Inklusiver Fußball für alle Spielstärken
- Trainingscamps in den Schulferien
GISS Unveils One of Australia’s Most Advanced School Science Labs in Partnership with Waldner
GISS has officially unveiled one of the most advanced and modern school science laboratories in Australia. The new cutting-edge facility was opened with a celebratory assembly and ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Greg Hartwell, Sales Director at Waldner Education, Consul General Felix Schwarz, and our Principal Michael Cordes.
The new labs mark a major leap forward in science education at GISS, featuring state-of-the-art equipment, flexible workspaces, and Waldner’s revolutionary FlyOne ceiling supply system—a first of its kind in a local school setting. Designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and inquiry-based learning, the labs set a new benchmark for future-ready learning environments in the Australian school sector.
The event marked a significant milestone in the school’s mission to enhance STEM education and provide innovative, future-ready learning environments. Following the formal opening, guests were treated to a dynamic science showcase led by GISS’s Year 11 and 12 IB students, who conducted experiments across biology, chemistry, and physics. Live demonstrations of the FlyOne system highlighted the space’s adaptability and high-tech features.
Michael Cordes reiterated the school’s commitment to educational excellence: “At GISS, we believe in empowering students through hands-on learning and access to the latest technologies. These new labs reflect our dedication to academic excellence, environmental sustainability, and future-focused education. It was fantastic to see our senior students so confidently leading experiments today—they are a credit to our IB program and to the educators who support them.
“This new science facility not only strengthens the school’s academic offering but also embodies the German-Australian partnership in technology and education. It’s wonderful to see such a strong focus on practical, inquiry-based learning. Seeing the enthusiasm of the students today was truly inspiring—they are clearly ready to take on the global challenges of tomorrow.”
Greg Hartwell, Sales Director at Waldner Education: “Waldner is proud to collaborate with GISS in shaping the future of science education. The new labs are designed to inspire curiosity, enable safe and dynamic learning, and support the next generation of scientists and innovators. With the FlyOne system, students and teachers have the freedom to interact, explore, and experiment without the physical constraints of traditional lab infrastructure. These facilities will be among the most modern and innovative school science labs in the country, and we’re excited to see how they will elevate learning outcomes at GISS.”
Waldner Education is part of the internationally renowned Waldner Group, based in Wangen im Allgäu, Germany. With more than 100 years of experience, Waldner is a global leader in the development of innovative laboratory and educational environments. The company operates in over 90 countries and is known for its advanced solutions in lab safety, flexibility, and ergonomics. From high schools to universities and research institutions, Waldner sets the standard in future-ready science facilities that empower hands-on learning and discovery.
giss flea market
Our annual Flea Market featured over 50 vibrant market stalls, as well as delicious German sausages, fresh pretzels, homemade cakes, fairy floss, second-hand treasures, books, face painting, and much more.
Adding to the atmosphere was an incredible line up of musical performances by our talented students, including the rock band, senior concert band, string and wind ensembles, and choirs. A huge thank you to all our young musicians and their dedicated teachers for making the day so special.
Thanks to the generosity and hard work of our community, we raised over $5,000 for GISS. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our amazing volunteers—whether on the BBQ and cake stall, setting up, packing down, or assisting throughout the day. Your support made all the difference. A very special thank you also goes to the organising committee from Preschool and Years 3, 3/4 and 4.
We are grateful to the CAS students who stepped in wherever help was needed, our admin and facilities team for their support behind the scenes . And of course thank you to our music staff Janine Boubbov, Anne-Catherine Froidevaux and Stefan Hendry for coordinating a full day of entertainment.
Auf unserem alljährlichen Flohmarkt gab es mehr als 50 Marktstände, leckere deutsche Würstchen, frische Brezeln, selbstgebackene Kuchen, Zuckerwatte, Schätze aus zweiter Hand, Bücher und ein Kinderschminkangebot.
Für die tolle Atmosphäre sorgte ein beeindruckendes Programm mit musikalischen Darbietungen unserer talentierten Schüler, darunter die Rockband, die Senior Concert Band, Streicher- und Bläserensembles sowie Chöre. Ein großes Dankeschön an all unsere jungen Musiker und ihre engagierten Lehrer, die diesen Tag zu etwas ganz Besonderem gemacht haben.
Dank der Großzügigkeit und der harten Arbeit unserer Gemeinde konnten wir über 5.000 $ für die GISS sammeln! Diese Leistung wäre ohne die Hilfe unserer fantastischen Freiwilligen, die am Grill und am Kuchenstand gearbeitet, beim Auf- und Abbau geholfen oder den ganzen Tag über mitgeholfen haben, nicht möglich gewesen. Ihre Unterstützung hat den Unterschied ausgemacht. Ein ganz besonderes Dankeschön geht auch an das Organisationskomitee der Vorschule sowie der Klassen 3, 3/4 und 4.
Unser Dank gilt den CAS-Studierenden, die überall dort einsprangen, wo Hilfe benötigt wurde, sowie unserem Verwaltungs- und Einrichtungsteam, das uns hinter den Kulissen unterstützt hat. Ein besonderes Dankeschön geht an unsere Musiker Janine Boubbov, Anne-Catherine Froidevaux und Stefan Hendry, die einen ganzen Tag lang für Unterhaltung gesorgt haben.
giss flohmarkt
Our Preschool and Primary School students came together in the sports hall to enjoy *The Truck Cat* by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell—a touching story that explores themes of belonging, identity, and the immigrant journey. The adventures of Tinka the cat and Yacoub the truck driver deeply resonated with our diverse, international community, beautifully reinforcing the message that “Home is everywhere.”
Thank you to our amazing Primary School team, especially Jessica Da Silva and Janine Boubbov, for organising such an engaging event. A special thank you also goes to Lotti, our Story Dog, and Nicole Rosenthal, for adding an extra layer of magic to this year’s storytime.
National Simultaneous Storytime at GISS
For the eighth consecutive year, our school proudly joined over two million children across Australia and New Zealand in celebrating National Simultaneous Storytime—a wonderful event that honours the power of storytelling and human connection.
