Vincent-van-Gogh-Schule

Did the walls of the Vincent-van-Gogh-Schule ever dream of housing aspiring artists? Probably not in 1985. Back then, this building on Wustrower Straße 26 wasn’t dedicated to the famous Dutch painter. It was simply the 31st Polytechnic Secondary School of Hohenschönhausen. Imagine the clatter of desks, the squeak of chalk on blackboards, the drone of lessons. The Vincent-van-Gogh-Schule, as we know it, began its journey here, amidst the burgeoning community of Hohenschönhausen-Nord. Fast forward to post-reunification Berlin. The school system transformed. The 31st POS became the 18th Primary School in 1991. Then, a metamorphosis began. Year by year, the 2nd Realschule Hohenschönhausen took root within these walls, finally reaching full bloom in 1995. That’s when the school proudly adopted the name of Vincent van Gogh. But the story doesn’t end there. In 2003, the Langhans-Oberschule merged with the Vincent-van-Gogh-Schule. A brief identity crisis ensued. The school temporarily became the Langhans-Oberschule before reclaiming its rightful name in 2007. The Vincent-van-Gogh-Schule faced another transformation in 2010. Berlin’s education reform led to the fusion of Haupt and Realschulen, creating the Integrierte Sekundarschule. The Keith-Haring-Hauptschule merged with the Vincent-van-Gogh-Schule. This marked the final evolution of the school into the institution we see today. The original four-story building, a typical POS 81 GT design, stands as a testament to the school’s history. A more recent addition, a three-story modular structure built in 2019, reflects the school’s growth and adaptation to rising student numbers. Just across the way, sharing space with the Schostakowitsch-Musikschule, is another building used by the Vincent-van-Gogh-Schule. The three sports halls, also dating back to 1985, have undergone recent renovations, ensuring that students have modern facilities for their physical education. From its humble beginnings as a polytechnic school to its current status as an Integrierte Sekundarschule, the Vincent-van-Gogh-Schule has witnessed and adapted to significant changes. It continues to nurture and educate students, fostering their growth and preparing them for the future.