Focus Areas of the School (Portrait)

PORTRAIT: Das Gymnasium Rahlstedt

 

Overview of the school's focus

• The guiding principle: educating people
• The school history and the building
• School modernization
• Networking in the region
• The school day at Gymnasium Rahlstedt
• Food and time in the breaks
• Individually tailored learning
• Individual support
• Scientific initiative – NaT
• Foreign languages
• International encounters
• Theater and culture
• Music
• Chorus in cooperation with Cantemus
• Social engagement
• Climate-conscious school
• Preparing for the “true life”

 

You will find on our homepage more precise information, examples and concretizations on all topics and focal points.

Have fun reading!

 

The guiding principle: Educating people

“Educating people”: This is a formula that reflects many facets of the school's guiding principle at Gymnasium Rahlstedt:

Our view of humanity is not shaped by a single idea, but embraces the diversity of our city and our district Rahlstedt, in which almost 90,000 people now live. It is defined by the goals of humanity, cultural interest, social commitment and diversity.

We want our students to be able to find their own path on this basis. We are a school that consciously does not impose early predefined focal points and instead wants to give young people the most diverse possibilities over eight years to search for their individual focal points themselves (sometimes via side paths), develop and solidify them.

An important part of our work in the observational stage is therefore initially in strengthening core competencies in German, English, Mathematics and (from grade 6) the second foreign language. We deliberately refrain in this early phase of learning development from profiling through additional lessons in further subjects. This happens in the middle school.

We want to “educate” people, and also to educate people, we want to help them acquire demanding key qualifications, support them in developing an independent, unique identity and a healthy self-confidence built on that, but also assist in seeing education as more than instrumental skills:

The truly human aspect is not primarily fixed by the spirit of the times and short-lived exploitation interests, but looks at the whole person and, alongside expertise, demands education according to holistic principles.

And we also want to be a collegial body in which people educate our students. Our teachers want the students to approach them on an equal footing and feel that our school is a space where people meet each other with humanity, care and empathy.

Florian Frankenfeld, head of the Gymnasium Rahlstedt since 1 February 2017

 

The school history and the building

Our school was created on the initiative of parents in 1921 and became a gymnasium with a fully developed upper level in 1937. It is thus the oldest gymnasium in Rahlstedt. The Hamburg School Development Plan foresees five strands for us, and this will be pursued gradually as the size of the school after the extensive construction measures. The intake year 2017 consisted of 6 classes; in general we regularly establish five first classes per school year.

We are a school that indeed relies on traditions but also places great value on students and teachers facing new developments, e.g. in teaching development or in the digitization of school and teaching.

For the future, all classrooms in our completely newly built teaching block as well as in the core-renovated administration building will be equipped for digital learning with all possibilities of projection (projector or smart board) as well as comprehensive WLAN access.

As part of our school program from 2000, a group of students from the SV, parent representative and the teaching staff worked out the above-sketched guiding principle in the 2008/09 school year in a comprehensive process (including online survey of all students, parents and teachers). This guiding principle has since been decisive for the upcoming processes of our school and teaching development and at the same time forms the basis of our 'target and performance agreements', which we, like all Hamburg schools, conclude annually with the authorities.

In the school year 2019/20, 85 teachers and our after-school care team (currently 3 fixed staff members as well as freelancers and cooperation partners) were responsible for implementing our educational and parenting mandate with around 1,000 students.

The grades are usually five-stream, but sometimes four-stream or even six-stream. The upper secondary school comprises about 200 – 250 students.

Thus we are still a gymnasium of medium size, characterized by clarity and personal attention. In the above-mentioned large survey of students, parents and staff (and in 2013 also via the school inspection) it became clear that this is highly valued by everyone.

  

School modernization

In spring 2010, work began on the comprehensive modernization of our school. The first and second construction phases (new building of the school sports and multi-purpose hall, renovation of the existing building on Heestweg with administration and science center, construction of an upper secondary trunk, new music and theater rooms) were completed in summer 2014.

With the handover of the 3rd construction phase (new building) of the school to the users in spring 2017, the redesign of our school is largely complete. What remains to be done in the outdoor areas is to be completed in early summer 2019, as promised by Schulbau Hamburg.

In the 1st construction phase (completed August 2012) a large multi-purpose hall (3-field sports hall with telescopic tribune for 200 spectators as well as additional theater and concert stage and 500-1000 seats) was built.

The “Science Center” in the architect-designed building (2nd construction phase) offers modern equipment modeled on industrial laboratories (all connections and the Internet connection run via tool elements under the ceiling. The laboratory tables underneath can be arranged as desired.)

We have in the technical equipment three fully equipped computer rooms; all classrooms also offer projection options (via smartboard or projector), WLAN is ccessible throughout the school with modern access points, and a large number of mobile tablets complement the modern digital equipment of the school

Spatially we have, in addition to highly modern classrooms, an auditorium (ATRIUM) with a stage, a break hall, a modern and nicely furnished cafeteria as well as a highly equipped three-field sports hall. On short and safe routes, our students also reach nearby sports grounds and the newly modernized indoor swimming pool in Rahlstedt.

A new, large parking lot for staff and visitors is directly accessible via the B75 (behind the Forum).

The entrance Doberaner Weg is already in use and will be our main entrance in the long term, but the access from Scharbeutzer Straße will also remain.
In late summer 2019 the school will officially celebrate the complete completion of Gymnasium Rahlstedt after more than ten years of construction.

 

Networking in the region

Our student body comes from the entire Rahlstedt area, from over 20 neighboring primary schools, with the following schools traditionally contributing many students to us: Rahlstedt Heights, Old-Rahlstedt, New-Rahlstedt, Brockdorffstraße, Am Sooren, Bekassinenau. For the core Old and New-Rahlstedt and the new development area "Rahlstedter Höhe" we are particularly well located; but we are also easily reachable for students from the Boltwiesen.

With the primary schools in our catchment area we maintain a trusting and friendly relationship as well as with the Stadtteilschulen Oldenfelde and Alt-Rahlstedt. We are in close contact with the above-mentioned schools so that the transition of students from primary schools to Gymnasium Rahlstedt or to the city-wide schools operates in a way that offers every Rahlstedt student the highest possible level of education.

 

The school day at Gymnasium Rahlstedt

Hamburg gymnasium students take their Abitur after 12 school years. This means the school day for students from grade 7 onward has become longer. A continuous double-period principle and the possibility for learning groups to schedule necessary breaks individually and without a gong allowance create relief in everyday school life.

Moreover we have decided – for the current school year initially in a pilot phase – to further rhythm the day with three longer breaks (30 minutes each) and two eating times (30-35 minutes), and to align more closely with the after-school program.

The teaching week is organized so that students entering grade 7 know on which two days of the next four school years they have afternoon classes; they keep these two "long days" until grade 10. Otherwise classes usually end at 1:30 PM.

 

Food and time in the breaks

At Gymnasium Rahlstedt all students have had the possibility for more than 30 years to participate in a tasty midday meal – originally an initiative by engaged parents – now in cooperation with Alraune, a professional caterer who runs the cafeteria independently and prepares lunches with a trained cook daily fresh on site.

“Alraune” is certified by the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) and accordingly offers dishes and drinks according to their standards (at least one dish per day following DGE guidelines, every day at least one vegetarian dish). This also means that fish dishes are offered regularly. Vegetarian dishes are available daily.

In our cafeteria the workflows follow the Free-Flow System: Students enter the cafeteria, pay the fixed price, go to the serving area, receive the meat or meat-free main dish, and then help themselves, unlimited and in any combination, at two large self-service stations with salads, various side dishes, rice, pasta or potatoes, and dessert. A water dispenser with still or sparkling water is provided free of charge.

The cafeteria is also a meeting place during long breaks or free periods.

In the ATRIUM (new building) in all breaks an additional bistro is set up, where students can continuously supply themselves with filled rolls, small snacks, drinks and bakery goods.

 

Individually tailored learning

In the observational stage and the middle school we see our strengths in the breadth and variety of the instructional and extracurricular offerings. It is not the school that needs a profile here; rather, students should have the opportunity to continually develop their own profile:

• by selecting various courses in the elective area (e.g. GLOBE, Graffiti or Informatics)
• by participating in the choir, in the school orchestra or in a theater group
• by testing one's own strengths in working groups (e.g. robotics, sports or environment)
• by school involvement in the student council (project Democratic School)

From the start it is possible to set focal points, but also to reorient after a year. Above all, it should be about solid foundations in the core subjects German, Mathematics, foreign languages.

In grade 10, students are offered profile-preparation courses that give them initial insights into our upper secondary profiles.

The following upper secondary profiles are established:

1. Profile Cultural Heritage in the subject combination Visual Arts with History, Religion and Seminar
2. Profile System Earth-Human with Geography and Biology as well as Chemistry and Seminar
3. Profile Technology in Focus with the integrated natural sciences, especially Physics and Informatics, with PGW and Seminar, cooperation with the “Scientific Initiative NaT”
4. Profile Internationality / History, with History and Theater in English, as well as Philosophy; Seminar: Model United Nations,
5. Profile WirtschaftsWeisen, with Economics and Business Studies (own student company), Biology and Psychology as well as close linking with the subject PGW, Seminar,
6. Profile Future Worlds, with PGW (Politics, Society, Economy), Biology and Philosophy.

In cooperation with neighboring gymnasiums there is the possibility for students from other schools to participate in our profiles, and vice versa. Because of regionally coordinated teaching days for profile courses this is also organizationally very feasible.

For students in grade 10 we offer profile-preparatory courses in which they can test which profile suits them best.

 

Individual support

As part of a methods curriculum developed at our school, our students learn systematic working, central presentation forms and dealing with new media.

Through numerous school performance studies, the special importance of reading as a core competence for understanding contexts, for the sustainability of learning and for retention has been sufficiently proven. Gymnasium Rahlstedt begins its concept of reading support (reading mentors, reading coaching, book boxes) in grade 5 and also offers the following year groups in many subjects age-appropriate training forms to improve reading competence. This benefits both stronger and weaker readers alike.

Students in grade 5 who have not yet fully kept up in Mathematics and English or who are at risk of losing ground can also participate in a coaching system: e.g., in a group led by a Math or English teacher or with an individual coach (student from the upper level).

The measures for promoting excellence mandated by school law are secured for all major and many minor subjects in all grade levels (up to upper secondary) by older students or teachers

Talent development: Students who are particularly capable in certain subjects or areas have the opportunity to participate in special subject-based in-depth offerings and/or prove themselves in competitions (for example at the Mathematics Olympiad, at Youth researches or Youth trains for the Olympics, chess competitions etc.), guided, advised and trained by subject teachers.

 

Natural science initiative – NaT

Since the beginning of the profile upper level in Hamburg, Gymnasium Rahlstedt has been working with the Natural Science Initiative (NaT). The result is numerous cooperation partners: Hamburg companies in the field of measurement and control technology, software development, logistics, etc. Through visits and internships, our students have the opportunity to look behind the scenes.

In April 2014 Gymnasium Rahlstedt was awarded the official title “NaT Cooperation School” for the dedication of the colleagues, especially in the Profile Technology in Focus.

For the Profile System Earth-Human, in which chemistry is taught with four hours per week, a cooperation with AURUBIS, the largest copper producer in Europe, was agreed in September 2014: plant visits and internships are part of the cooperation.

 

Foreign languages

Language sequence for us is as follows: From grade 5 English, from grade 6 optionally Latin or French. From grade 8 Spanish can also be newly chosen as a third foreign language.

Spanish can also be studied as a AG in the after-school program from grade 6, and we also try to offer other “exotic” languages (Japanese, Chinese) depending on interest, currently for example Norwegian.

Bilingual courses we offer, apart from the profile Internationality (preparatory for grade 10, then 11-12 as a profile), in grade 7 (Physics in English) and in grade 8 (Geography) or 10 (PGW in English) as options.

We also offer our students preparation courses for the three language certificates Cambridge Certificate, DELF (French) and DELE (Spanish) and accompany them confidently up to the exams.

 

International encounters

• Classes: The social subjects History and Theater are taught in the profile Internationality of the upper level entirely in English.
• Participation in three Model United Nations (MUN) projects (Copenhagen, Hamburg, Lübeck)
• International encounters within the framework of the ERASMUS-Plus program of the EU (currently in a project with