Every year at the ESM, we celebrate our "Europe Days" around the day of the Schumann Declaration, which is considered the birth of the European Union. As a highlight of the school year, the "Europe Days" represent the ESM's unique orientation and focus on the diverse cultures of our continent in the German educational landscape and demonstrate in an impressive way what it means to live Europe in everyday school life.
The past few days have been characterized by a variety of events prepared with a great deal of passion. The students presented projects from the fields of music, theater, art, sports, science and language. The School Climate Council showed how everyday school life can be made sustainable, there was a fashion show, a charity run and various sales campaigns as part of our Outreach charity program. There was also a big European concert on May 2, not forgetting our European Hours in the primary school and the Europe Festival in the kindergarten.
A highlight of our Europe Days was the flag dance at our Neuperlach site with the inauguration of the new outdoor facilities and the subsequent ceremony in the Europahalle on May 7. The students performed the flag dance to the melody of the anthem of the European Union, the "Ode to Joy" from Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which was first heard in Vienna exactly 200 years ago, on May 7, 1824.
This was followed by an hour of "pure Europe". Speeches on the future of Europe with ESM School Director Anton Hrovath, Theano Evangelou from the European Patent Office, Thomas Mayer from the Bavarian Ministry of Culture, Dr. Wolfgang Stefinger, Member of the German Bundestag and Wolfgang Bücherl, Head of the European Commission's Liaison Office in Munich. The question "Europe - quo vadis?" was discussed with students. In light of the current global crises, it is more important than ever to discuss the future role of Europe and how we see ourselves. The bottom line is this: Taking responsibility, being ready for change, innovation and looking to the future with confidence. This is what Europe needs, the confidence that we often lack in our daily lives.
Particularly pleasing for our Neuperlach site was the following opening ceremony of the newly designed outdoor facilities of the secondary school in the presence of Brigitte Dengler from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Jürgen Ziegler from the Federal Institute for Real Estate Management (BIMA), Roberta Romano-Götsch from the European Patent Office and the school's board of directors, represented by Anton Hrovath, Director ESM, and Martin Duggen, Director of the secondary school.
A school garden, outdoor areas for the staff room and the free period room, a climbing garden, a recreation area in the schoolyard and a Calesthenics gymnastics facility will offer students and teachers excellent conditions for exchange, recreation and sports. Many thanks go to the companies carrying out the work - Gzimi Landschaftsbau and MGK Landschaftsbau - as well as the Bauamt, represented by Mathias Zierer and Andreas Bießlich, for their trusting cooperation.
We were also able to celebrate Europe at the primary school on May 7 as part of a great ceremony in the early afternoon with musical performances and a flag dance. We live Europe in all types of schools and shape the vision of working together and for each other on a daily basis.
All in all, it were again very successful Europe Days. All the work and effort was worth it. Many, many thanks to everyone who actively participated and invested so much time and energy! Our guests were thoroughly impressed by what they saw and experienced.
