Academics
The German School of Budapest's philosophy is to serve as a platform fostering intercultural dialogue. It is committed to act as a bridge between the German and Hungarian society, culture and language. [4]
It has a rigorous bicultural academic curriculum evidenced by a graduation rate of virtually 100% and one of the highest university admission rates (95%) in the country. [5] The primary language of instruction is German with some classes taught in Hungarian, depending on the student's academic program. Given the limited German knowledge of the majority of the Hungarian pupils, teaching is more and more moving into bilingual set-up. Given the multicultural student body, the emphasis is on nurturing independent thinking, tolerance and openness. [6]
The primary school encompasses Grades 1 to 4 and follows the national curriculum of Germany. Hungarian is offered as a regular language class for beginners, advanced and bilingual students. English is playfully introduced as a foreign language.
The secondary school is split into a German and Hungarian section. The German section follows the German national curriculum for Gymnasiums with English (Grade 5), French (Grade 6) and Spanish (Grade 9) as the foreign languages and leads to the German Abitur. Students in the Hungarian section also follow the German national curriculum but have additional classes in Hungarian literature, Hungarian history and are taught biology and chemistry in Hungarian according to the Hungarian national curriculum. In Grade 5 the focus is on acquiring proficiency in German. Students may sit the German Abitur, as well as the Hungarian Érettségi. [7] The two sections are physically divided into separate classes up to Grade 9. After that, students of both sections are mixed so that Germans and Hungarians spend the majority of their time studying side by side.
The school is especially known for its high level in mathematics, science and languages. Students frequently outperform their counterparts in standardized tests, successfully participate in international and national academic competitions, and have the possibility to earn language certificates due to cooperation with the Institut Français and the Instituto Cervantes.
Facilities
The school has a large 35-hectare campus in the Buda hills overlooking the city and is conveniently accessible by public transport. A historic hunting lodge houses the primary school and the cafeteria. The secondary school and the administrative offices are located in a contemporary, purpose-built building. Apart from several specialty classrooms for the art and science classes, there is a computer room, a library with over 7,000 books, [10] a gym and a professionally equipped theater. The outdoor facilities include a playground, a basketball and a soccer court, and a running track. All classrooms are equipped with Smart Boards.
For class trips, project excursions and training camps the school owns a holiday house in Gárdony, at the shore of Lake Velence. It can accommodate up to 36 people in en-suite rooms, has a fully equipped kitchen, a multipurpose room, and plenty of canoes and other sports equipment.
Due to increasing number of students, a major expansion project designed by BH Architects has started in August 2016. Apart from a new building amendment which will house new classrooms, an additional gym, a larger cafeteria. The new two-decked parking lot has already been completed. [11]
Traditions
Gombocz-Runde
Named after one-time school coach and PE teacher Gábor Gombocz, the Gombocz-Runde is a 1,5 km cross country run on an area near the school with extreme inclines and uphill parts. As such, it is strenuous exercise even for generally fit students. Tradition has it that every student has to run it at least once a term to pass in PE, although this has recently been abandoned. The run itself nevertheless remains part of the PE curriculum. It is partly due to the tradition of the Gombocz-Runde that DSBlers are regularly seen at various city marathons and charity runs. Gombocz doesn't run with the students, he sits on a chair at the gate.
Adventsbasar
The Adventsbasar is co-organised by the Parents' Association that takes place in early December. It is a Christmas-themed event where most classes get a stall and sell pancakes, mulled wine, and various trinkets. The profit usually goes to the class accounts of the pupils.
Szalagavató
Once seniors have passed their first semester of finals and are admitted to the leaving examinations, they are allowed to wear a distinctive bright-blue ribbon on their coats. The Szalagavató is the ceremony when the ribbons are officially handed over to the students. The Szalagavató takes place in late November or early December marking the final stage of a student's school career. It is a white tie event taking place in the school, commonly presided over by the German Ambassador to Budapest or another high-ranking state officer and attended by the students´ families, friends, diplomats and corporate leadership.
Ballagás (graduation ceremony)
Ballagás is the actual Graduation ceremony, on the last day of ordinary school schedules for the seniors. It takes place on the last Friday before the start of the preparatory and examination period, at the end of which the oral parts of the leaving examinations are taken. Seniors walk through classrooms decorated with flowers for this purpose, singing traditional commercium songs, such as Gaudeamus Igitur .
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