4 minute read
Austrian school events
AS YOU ALL KNOW, sitting in class all day long can be boring and frustrating. Fortunately, there are several events throughout the school year, that bring some action and entertainment to the otherwise monotonous school life.
In this article, we (the Austrian exchange students) are going to present the Top 8 events from the “Bundesgymnasium Rein” in Austria.
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Skiing week
The highlight for every student in lower secondary is the annual skiing week.
The fun already starts when entering the bus on Monday morning and remains all week.
The 11- to 13-year-olds have the chance to improve their skiing, because in Austria it’s very important to know how to ski.
Our teachers, mainly sport teachersbut also our regular professors, offer courses for all different levels. After hitting the slopes all day long, there is also some action in the evenings like sledging, bowling or dancing in the disco.
Christmas tournament
In the last week before Christmas our school representatives organise one of the biggest sports events in our school. While the whole school is in a Christmas mood the lower secondary students compete in a football tournament.
The day after, the upper secondary students and teachers do the same. The final game is the highlight of the day. Tag der offenen Tür (=“day of the open door”)
This day takes place every year in January, and many take the opportunity to get an insight into the educational programme of our school. At various interactive stations, mysteries in physics, chemistry and biology are uncovered.
While some students play football, some are watching and enjoying the games with drinks, some fresh waffles and toasts. Most students love this occasion because the atmosphere is magical.
Video projects
It’s time to mention one of our most ambitious teachers, Emmanuel Feiner. He founded our school’s choir and is ambitious in making our school known. Every once in a while, he organizes big video projects at our school.
Sometimes it’s just the choir, but we’ve also had the whole school participating. It’s always very exciting when the camera team is filming you and a drone is flying above your head.
By scanning the QR-code below, you can check out our choir’s last project. If you have more time, go and check out our schools YouTube channel! The future pupils and their parents can also take part in a demonstrational lesson where mathematics, Latin, German, English or French are taught. This is a highlight especially for the children and at the end both parents and children go home with many great impressions of our school.
Maturaball
The most important event of the whole school career is the final exam and the “Maturaball”. The “Maturaball“ is a prom organised by the graduating students. The event starts usually at 6 o’clock and the actual prom will last until 2 in the morning, including a lot of dancing, snacks, speeches and some funny shows.
Everyone who is participating at the dances must wear either a suit or a prom dress in the same colour. Right after the prom most of the students
and younger adults will go to a club and celebrate until the sun rises.
After the party the graduating students will have a Champaign-breakfast until noon when the whole ceremony ends.
Sports day
The annual sports day in the last school week before the long-anticipated summer holidays is similar to the Christmas tournament, only that it is in summer, outside and even better.
Besides football, your teammates and you can also compete in the sports Volleyball, Dodgeball and sometimes Hockey. Because of the hot weather, the students are being splashed with water by the local fire brigade.
Carnival
At carnival everyone can be what they want to be. A lot of students take that opportunity to come dressed up to school to the carnival party that our school organises every year.
You can participate in the fashion show and walk on the catwalk to present your costume. The best costume even wins a prize! If you don’t feel that confident, you can just vibe and dance to the music.
Carnival is just a fun day when you don’t have to worry about school or other things. The best things are the free “Krapfen” (similar to ”munkki”, we eat them traditionally at carnival) and the buffet where you can buy waffles, toasts and much more from students who raise for the “Maturaball”.
Maturanten-Streich (=”graduates’ prank”) During the night they then sneak into the school building and do their ”pranks”. In the past, they have placed tables on top of each other in classes, decorated the school with barrier tapes and much more.
Every year, the graduates have great fun transforming the school and they are delighted when students and teachers are surprised by the changes the next day. Of course, everything has to be put away again, which is usually less fun.
Text Karin Pontasch, Simon Schrettle, Gabriel Gissing and Marie Saubart Photos Schools webpage and own photoalbums
The ”Maturanten-Streich” is the final highlight for the graduates every year. After the final exams, they get the key to our school from one of our teachers without anyone else noticing.
