“Another brick in the wall” echoes in your mind. Here stands Gymnasium Oldenfelde. It is more than just a building. It is a place of learning and growth. It has a rich history. It also has a bright future.
Gymnasium Oldenfelde started as Gymnasium Meiendorf II on April 1, 1970. It welcomed its first 63 students. They formed two sixth-grade classes. These students had been taught at Gymnasium Meiendorf for a year. Three fifth-grade classes with 103 students joined on April 7.
Back then, three new gymnasiums were founded in northern Hamburg. This relieved the existing schools. The other two were Tonndorf and Ohlstedt.
After World War II, many new housing estates arose in northern Hamburg. These included Tonndorf, Farmsen, Berne, Meiendorf and Rahlstedt. Many families moved to these areas. This created a shortage of schools. Several primary schools were founded quickly. New secondary schools were not immediately considered. Walddörferschule and Gymnasium Rahlstedt already existed. In the 1950s, Gymnasium Farmsen was built. It relieved Walddörferschule. In the 1960s, Gymnasium Meiendorf was built for Farmsen.
In 1970, Gymnasium Meiendorf was overwhelmed. It had too many students. Thus, Gymnasium Oldenfelde was founded. The building is an architectural design. Teachers helped with the construction plans. They worked with the school authorities’ construction department and architects.
The first students were taught in the Aula of the Haupt- und Realschule Oldenfelde. The Gymnasium Oldenfelde building was unfinished. They attended classes at Gymnasium Meiendorf for two weeks. Four school pavilions were built on the Meiendorf school grounds. These were ready two weeks later. Sports classes were held in nearby schools’ gyms. Important committees like the parents’ council were founded at the same time.
The school moved into its large building on June 18-20, 1975. The school building was finally inaugurated on September 1, 1975. This was five and a half years after the school’s founding. Since then, Gymnasium Oldenfelde has grown. It has become what it is today.
Gymnasium Oldenfelde was renovated starting in October 2000. There were problems with the leaking roof. Water was seeping through the walls. After long talks, the renovation was approved. The renovation was completed in 2005. The hallways became brighter. The science rooms were updated. They got better equipment.
The Gymnasium Oldenfelde also has international exchange programs. These connect the school with France, Italy, the USA and Spain.
The school building has a unique design in Hamburg. It was built in 1970 and fully renovated in 2005. More upgrades happened in 2012. These included interactive whiteboards and two large computer rooms. The main hallways lead to a multi-purpose hall. It is used for performances and events.
Gymnasium Oldenfelde also has several school libraries. Students can borrow books. There are many after-school activities. These include science programs. The school has a program for struggling students. It is for grades 5 to 10. The school also offers music programs. These include choirs and orchestras. As a math and science-focused school, it offers many science and computer courses. Students participate in competitions like the Mathematics Olympiad and Jugend forscht.
The school emphasizes career guidance. There are internships in grades 9 and 10. There is also a career information week. The alumni association supports the school community.
Many notable people have attended or taught at Gymnasium Oldenfelde. These include Umut Gültekin, FIFA eSports World Champion 2022. Ole Thorben Buschhüter, a member of the Hamburg Parliament. Kirsten Boie, a writer and literary scholar.
Gymnasium Oldenfelde continues to evolve. It adapts to the changing needs of its students and the community. It remains a vital part of Hamburg-Rahlstedt. It is a place where students can learn, grow and achieve their full potential.