City of Hamburg

Niels-Stensen-Gymnasium

Founding and Conception

Hamburg-Harburg: Impressions

NSG - The Beginning

2003 founding

of a catholic

gymnasium

in Hamburg-Harburg….

Growth• 2003 – two classes

(5th grade) with 60 pupils

• since 2006 nationally recognized high school

• 2010 – 16 classes and two high-school years with about 650 pupils

• 2011 first „Abitur“ (graduation from high school)

Our School: Conditions

• placed in a workers district• 3 catholic elementary schools in the neighborhood• at first leasehold rooms in connection and

partnership with a primary and secondary school• first as a branch of a prestigious high school • organizational framework through the

„Katholischer Schulverband“ (Catholic Education Association) in Hamburg

Pupils at our school

• many children from catholic primary schools • almost all children with a recommendation from

the elementary school for grammar school • 60 – 80 % catholic• 30 - 50 % children with migration background • many families with social problems, but also

"model families" with several children and great commitment

A gymnasium for our school population also means :

• promotion of language and reading skills• promotion of social and personal skills• learning methods• cultural activities• seminars for parents• special encouragement of our young people with

an immigrant background• ...

Catholic school

• mutual esteem and acceptance of everybody as an individual in his uniqueness

• living in the faith: prayer, service, creation of the church year

• rituals of the school are marked by the faith: services to the enrolment, to parties, in times of grief …

Catholic school

• christian commitment beyond school: Compassion, Fair Trade, …

• age-appropriate knowledge and reflection about faith: religious education

• Objective: as young adults the students can make an informed decision of faith, as they have gained knowledge and experience in the faith.

Our Mission

Niels-Stensen-Gymnasium

state-approved Catholic school in the „Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg“ Our house of learning

non-viollence motivation respect openesss transparency

to challenge and

promote

learning and

working independently

developing personality

and strengthening

community

opening and

profiling school

- Scientific Curiosity - Reflected Faith - Ecumenism - International - Responsibility

-

living and

celebrating our faith

Niels Stensen

Planning: What do young people need?

• Competence • self-effectiveness – I am able to …

• Social environment and acceptance • feeling secure – I am safe

• Autonomy • self-determined action– I can shape my

learning process

Concequences:Alteration of Learning Processes

• more monitoring - less instruction

• more individualized and cooperative learning

• variety of work and presentation techniques

• curriculum of methods

• projects, free study, periods, subject-linking learning, context-oriented tasks …

Jahrgangsbereiche (Grade Areas)

• a home of learning for all classes of similar grade• per class, a class room• for the team, a teacher workroom• the parlor: the learning studio• two group rooms• wardrobe space for outdoor shoes and jackets• reference space• media

The Learning Studio

• group work tables and study materials

• computer workstations

• reading corner

• presentation area / stage

• kitchenette

• each grade designes its "living room" itself, and can stay there permanently

Focus: Music– 2 choirs– “Wind Band” (brass ensemble)– 4 grade orchestras (with about 20

children each)– instrumental teachers in our house

every afternoon from 13.30 til 18.00 h

– different groups that play in church services

– every year a music café– performances outside of school– 2009: Carmen …………

Carmen 2009

Carmen 2009

A Midsummer Night´s Dream

Focus: Science

Beautiful is what we see,

more beautiful is what we know,

most beautiful beyond capture is what we do not understand

Niels Stensen

Focus: Science

• true to the motto of our patron saint we support the scientific education of our pupils:

• subject-linking learning during the 5th and 6th grade

• special courses starting with 8th grade

• three scientific profiles on high school level:

– Chemistry in combination with Social Science and Physics

– Biology with Religious Instruction and Art

– Biology with Geography and Computer Science

Laboratories

• Aim: multifunctional room concept• labs to use for all scientific disciplines• non-static distribution of currency, gas and

water such as exhauster and waist water• S1 laboratory• computer network• a big common preparing room for all of the

three divisions• workspace for each teacher

Impressions:

The Future:

Any Questions?

• Conditions

• Catholic School

• Our Mission

• Grade Areas / Learning Studios

• Focus: Music

• Focus: Science

Thank you for your attention

Hamburg Group

Niels-Stensen-Gymnasium

Hamburg