Did you ever wonder where the name Birkenau-Grundschule comes from? It is an elementary school in Augsburg-Lechhausen. The name “Birkenau” refers to the birch-covered meadows once found on the banks of the Lech river. “Birken-Au” means birch meadow.
Birkenau-Grundschule has a rich history. It began in 1952 as a school for Protestant boys and girls. The school initially had four pavilions with four classrooms. From 1954 the school building was expanded for Catholic children. This construction continued until 1959. The school eventually had 24 classrooms plus a spacious gymnasium.
In 1962 Birkenau-Grundschule celebrated its 10th anniversary. To mark the occasion the city of Augsburg donated the Krönlein-Natter-Brunnen. Sepp Mastaller designed this fountain. It stands in the small schoolyard. In 1968 denominational schools were abolished in Bavaria. The city merged the two parts of the school into one. It was renamed “Volksschule an der Soldnerstraße”. In 1989 the school was renamed “Birkenau-Volksschule”.
The “Sport- und Sozialprojekt Lechhausen” started in 1996. Birkenau-Grundschule collaborated with the Schiller- and Goetheschule. The University of Augsburg also participated along with Fachbasis Lechhausen. This project offered extracurricular sports activities.
In November 2004 a fire broke out in a locker room on the second floor of Birkenau-Grundschule. A student started it. The fire caused 15000 euros in damage. Repairs lasted until the end of the year.
Originally Birkenau-Grundschule was a Volksschule. It included grades 1 to 4 elementary school. It also had the 5th and 6th grades of secondary school. The secondary school part gradually closed. No new 5th grade classes were formed after the 2007/2008 school year. The last 6th grade classes left in 2008. The “Lese-Insel” opened in 2010.
The school was renamed “Birkenau-Grundschule Augsburg-Lechhausen” on August 1 2011. This happened after the secondary school classes were discontinued. In the 2023/2024 school year 374 students attended the school. They were taught by 22 full-time teachers. Three volunteer reading mentors supported the teachers. The school has a “Lese-Insel” or reading island since 2010. It is a modern and networked school library.
The Elfie-Ernst-Förderkreis provides midday afternoon and homework supervision at Birkenau-Grundschule. There are extra support programs for students and parents with a non-German native language. These include German learning groups special homework support and language support in kindergarten.
Birkenau-Grundschule offers many after-school activity groups. These include beekeeping and first aid. There is also a group for the school newspaper Birkenblatt. The “Sport- und Sozialprojekt Lechhausen” is offered in the sports area. It is in cooperation with the sports center of the University of Augsburg.
The Krönlein-Natter-Brunnen stands in the schoolyard of Birkenau-Grundschule. It features a shell limestone cube with a basin on top. A bronze snake circles the basin. The snake raises its crowned head. Water flows from the snake’s mouth into the stone basin. The Augsburg sculptor Sepp Mastaller created the fountain in 1962.
The snake called Krönlein-Natter is the school mascot. It comes from an old Lechhausen saga. According to legend a ringed snake with a small crown lived under a fountain in the Birken-Au. The snake could perform magic and protect children. It also granted their wishes. The saga may be based on the fairy tale “Das Natterkrönlein”. So next time you see the Krönlein-Natter-Brunnen remember the legend and the history of the Birkenau-Grundschule.