Perhaps it’s easy to overlook this building as just another school. Yet the Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule Bonn holds a unique place in the city’s educational history. This is a Catholic girls’ gymnasium in Bonn’s Südstadt.
The Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule’s story begins in 1876. A dedicated pedagogue named Bernardine Fröhlich founded a private Catholic school for girls. Emilie Heyermann led the school from 1900. In 1917, the Schwestern Unserer Lieben Frau took over. Then in 1919, the school moved to this very location on Königstraße 17-19.
However, the school faced a dark chapter during World War II. From 1938 to 1944, the National Socialists closed the Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule. It was replaced by a municipal girls’ school. After the war in 1945, the Sisters reclaimed their school. They transformed it into a modern language gymnasium. Until 1975, it also provided higher education for women. Since 1975, the Archdiocese of Cologne has been responsible for the Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule.
Look closely at the main building. It is a protected historical landmark from the Gründerzeit. The Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule also boasts modern facilities. These include specialized classrooms and free student network access. Interactive whiteboards, a reading room with internet, laptops and a cafeteria are also available here.
Did you know the Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule Bonn is set to close on July 31 2029? This announcement was made on March 22 2023. Current students will still be able to graduate here. The closure is due to declining enrollment. The school also lacks building development possibilities. Parents, teachers, and students have protested this decision. A consultation process began to explore alternatives. But no solution was found to save the Liebfrauenschule. Instead, the city of Bonn and the Archdiocese of Cologne agreed. The neighboring Clara-Schumann-Gymnasium will gradually use the Liebfrauenschule buildings. The Archdiocese aims to keep the school running until 2032. This allows all enrolled students to complete their Abitur here.
The Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule offers much more than academics. Its religious programs include youth services and morning prayers. There are also retreats and trips to Taizé.
The school emphasizes social learning. Older students mentor younger ones. They offer peer counseling and learning support. Introduction weeks teach students how to learn effectively. Lions-Quest hours focus on self-assessment and classroom behavior. The Eine-Welt-AG supports social projects in Ghana. Media scouts educate younger students about online safety. Students can even train as school paramedics.
The Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule also provides career guidance. There are internships, career counseling and workshops. It also partners with Juridicum Bonn for law study workshops.
The school encourages participation in competitions. These range from science to languages and the arts. The Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule is recognized as a MINT-friendly school. It offers a MINT academy with extracurricular projects.
Languages are a key focus at the Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule. Students can study English, Latin, Spanish, and French. They can also earn language certificates. Music, theater and literature thrive here. The Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule hosts regular performances. There is instrumental instruction and literature courses.
The Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule offers extensive care. There is homework supervision and various after-school activities. These include law, environmentalism, dance and theater. There is also vacation care.
The Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule fosters international connections. Exchange programs connect students with London, Ancenis, Santiago and Breslau. There are also class trips to Norderney and Worriken. Optional excursions include Weimar, Prague and Budapest.
The Erzbischöfliche Liebfrauenschule Bonn has shaped countless young women. It provided them with education, values, and opportunities. As it faces its final years, the school’s legacy will endure in its alumnae. It will also live on in the hearts of all who passed through its doors.