"It is something very special that we were able to renew two certificates for the sports department today," emphasised headmaster Lucas Sieberg at the ceremonial presentation of the new certificates for Sports-Friendly School and Talent School of Sport last Monday (4 November 2024) in the school's large sports hall. "Both certificates demonstrate that physical education has a special status at Georgianum."
Mr Sieberg emphasised that it takes a lot of teamwork to plan such a comprehensive sports concept for the subject of sport and to put it into practice on a daily basis. This is thanks to the joint efforts of all cooperation partners and the sports department.
In addition to the sports department, representatives of the cooperation partners, the school's support association and the district were also invited to the ceremonial presentation of the certificates. First District Councillor Martin Gerenkamp also praised the high quality of the sports facilities. He noted that Georgianum is the only school in Emsland with its own swimming pool. Georgianum is also the only school to have been awarded the special "Talentschule des Sports" (Talent School of Sport) seal of approval.
Annette Puckhaber, head of the school department at the Regional Office for Schools and Education (RLSB), also travelled from Osnabrück to attend the ceremony. She was accompanied by sports consultant Manuel Müller. Both brought with them the new certificates and signs for the Georgianum.
During the ceremony, subject coordinator Marc Kaufhold went on to explain that the certification as a sports-friendly school and a Talentschule des Sports clearly demonstrated the excellent, varied and attractive opportunities for sporting self-fulfilment that have existed at the Georgianum for years. These are two separate certificates, for which the Georgianum had to apply separately. Both applications were reviewed separately by the RLSB.
The Georgianum was the first grammar school in Emsland and the County of Bentheim to receive the Sport-Friendly School award in 2008. This certification for outstanding achievements and special commitment to promoting physical activity was then awarded for the second time in 2011, for the third time in 2014 and now for the fourth time in 2024. This means that the Georgianum has held the Sports-Friendly School certificate continuously for 16 years. In addition to traditional physical education classes, the school promotes physical activity among its students in a variety of professional and highly committed ways: whether in the sports class, the advanced sports course or in many different extracurricular clubs, in the skiing project for Year 7 or the skiing course for Year 12, during active breaks or in the project for primary school pupils "Bewegen am Georgianum" (Exercise at the Georgianum).
Particular emphasis should be placed on the focus on talent-based support, which is anchored in the school programme. On the one hand, there is the opportunity for pupils to take part in sports support lessons or non-swimmer classes, for example. On the other hand, the focus on talent promotion for grammar school pupils who are enthusiastic about sport and talented also stands out. One example of this is the sports class. This has been in place since 2013, with these pupils having four hours of sports lessons per week with their sports teacher, who is also their class teacher. In addition, pupils who are enthusiastic about football can participate in the DFB talent school club.
The programme at Georgianum also serves to promote personal development in particular. The cooperation with the grammar school gymnastics and rowing club is particularly noteworthy here – in the rowing club, during winter training, in rowing courses or in taster rowing sessions. Since 2012, advanced course students have been participating in another special project in cooperation with the Emsland District Sports Association. There, they can obtain a DOSB C-licence as a trainer.
In 2019, the Georgianum was the first school in Emsland to be recognised for its special commitment to talent scouting and talent promotion among children and young people in cooperation with clubs and associations. This award will also be renewed. The handball club offers very special support in this area. In close cooperation with SG Lingen-Lohne and the Handball Association, a club is being set up for pupils who are interested in handball and have a talent for the sport. The talented pupils then take part in various teams in the Youth Training for the Olympics programme. This ensures permeability between school, club and association.
Text: Marc-André Kaufhold, photos: Stefan Roters