Beyond these walls of Gymnasium Rodenkirchen, academic excellence meets a vibrant school life. Founded in 1965, the Gymnasium Rodenkirchen has grown into a cornerstone of the Rodenkirchen community.
Today, around 1,377 students learn here. They are taught by a dedicated team of 117 teachers. The Gymnasium Rodenkirchen is more than just classrooms and books. It is a place of diverse activities.
Did you know that the Gymnasium Rodenkirchen has many facilities? There is a cafeteria for students to gather. A modern sports hall encourages physical activity. The self-study center supports independent learning. The Aula provides space for events. Two computer rooms are available. A newly built refectory caters for meals.
The Gymnasium Rodenkirchen offers a wide range of language options. In the 6th grade, students choose between French and Latin. Spanish is added in the 8th grade. In the 8th grade, differentiation is possible in the following courses: Latin, Computer Science, Spanish, Art, Politics and Economics, Natural Sciences. Spanish can also be newly chosen in the EF. The Gymnasium Rodenkirchen offers Catholic and Protestant religious education. Practical philosophy is also offered as an alternative.
The Gymnasium Rodenkirchen promotes international exchange. There are regular exchange programs with partner schools. These schools are in Kraków, Poitiers and Volgograd. Recently, Centennial High School in Minnesota was added. The Japanisch AG regularly organizes trips to Japan. Every two years, sponsored runs take place. These runs support self-help projects in Campoy and Malawi.
Sports are a big deal here at the Gymnasium Rodenkirchen. The school’s rowing team is particularly successful. They train on the Otto-Maigler-See. The Kölner Rudergesellschaft 1891 has supported them since the Gymnasium Rodenkirchen was founded.
But that’s not all. The Gymnasium Rodenkirchen has a choir called GyRoVOICES. There is also a brass band, GyRoBRASS. Two orchestras, YoungCLASSICS and GyRoCLASSICS, complete the musical offerings. The choir and brass band perform every year. They perform in the Aula of the Gymnasium Rodenkirchen before the Bläck Fööss at the end of November. There is also a theater club. The school offers a biology and horticulture club. A light and sound club is available. There is also a Japanese club. From 2015 to 2017, there was a refugee project. The Gymnasium Rodenkirchen also participates in the Kölner Schull- un Veedelszöch. This takes place during the Cologne Carnival.
Students publish their own newspaper. GyRoLife is available four times a year. It can be downloaded as a PDF from the school’s website. Since 2011, IT training days have been held for grades 5-9. The training covers Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Photoshop and social networks. Microsoft, Intel and Acer donated 53 laptops to the school. Teachers and parents lead the training courses.
Many well-known people once attended the Gymnasium Rodenkirchen. Henrik Albrecht is a composer. Katarina Barley is a former Federal Minister. Piet Blank is a DJ and producer. Peter Carstens is a journalist. Johannes Erlemann survived a kidnapping. Annette Frier is an actress and comedian. Julia Gross is the German ambassador to Hungary. Jan Dirk Harke is a lawyer. Martin Dörmann is a former member of parliament. Silvana Koch-Mehrin is a former member of the European Parliament. Leonhard Koppelmann is a director. Jobst Landgrebe is an AI expert. Ulrike Nasse-Meyfarth is a two-time Olympic high jump champion. Markus Peters is a journalist and writer.
The Gymnasium Rodenkirchen has evolved. It stands as a testament to education. It enriches the lives of its students. It contributes to the cultural fabric of Cologne.