German School of Montevideo
| German School of Montevideo Deutsche Schule Montevideo | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
Av. Dr. Francisco Soca 1356 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private Coeducational |
| Motto | "Educando para un mundo mejor" ("Educating for a better world") |
| Established | 1857 |
| Director | Heidi Forneck-Schulz |
| Campus | Urban |
| Color(s) | Black, Yellow, Red |
| Website | DSM |
 | |
Deutsche Schule Montevideo (formal German name) or Colegio y Liceo Alemán (formal Spanish name). (Template:Lang-en) is one of the most prestigious schools in Uruguay. It was established in 1857 for the children of German traders, artists, engineers and diplomats living in Montevideo.
Since the second half of the 20th century, this school is located in the neighborhood of Pocitos. And since the end of the century, it has another location at Barra de Carrasco, on Av. Giannattasio (east of Carrasco). The school is also well-known for having the best handball team in the country, having won most of the national tournaments.
Organization and administration
The school is directed by Heidi Forneck-Schulz, acting as general headmistress. The specific secondary school and primary school directors are Alberto Martinez Graña and Bettina Müller-Conrad, respectively.
Bicultural Baccalaureate
One of the most notable characteristics of the school, is the availability of a German Abitur-based high school diploma program, with most lessons taught in german. It is accepted by both Germany and Uruguay universities as a valid high school certificate. It is a trilingual, bicultural baccalaureate, teaching German, Spanish, and English classes, and teaching culture (Geography, history, traditions, etc) of both Germany and Uruguay. It is considered more challenging than the standard program, and admission to it is dependent on grades and language skills.
Student Exchange Program
The student exchange program takes place every year in 4º Liceo (Tenth grade). Students must pay the two-month trip by themselves, as the school offers little to no trip scholarships. The destination is several cities in Germany, such as Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg for two weeks, after which each student is sent to live with its exchange family, separated from most others in a preset small village or major city. After those two months, they come back and house the same German student who they stayed with. Quota availability is varied and based on the amount of people that confirmed being able to offer a house for people to stay there. The financial aspect is not the only determining factor, as students are required to have a high academical and behavioral standard by the end of the year, or else risk getting banned from the trip.
Student Council
Two student-elected representatives are chosen by classroom. The objective is for them to act as a link between the school and the students, should any particular issue arise, and maintain them in constant knowledge, always putting the child's best interests in mind. Another two per grade form the permanent council which acts as the central governing body. Meetings are formed monthly to discuss themes ranging from entertainment, sports and arts to infrastructure, technology and well-being. This is later managed by the heads of each sub-council, and passed on to the headmaster and staff if required. The direction of the school is responsive and actively cooperates with the council's feedback.
Notable alumni
- Jorge Batlle, politician
- Mario Benedetti, writer
- Antonio Lussich, politician
See also
References
External links
34°54′17″S 56°09′19″W / 34.9048°S 56.1552°W
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