German School of Athens

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German School of Athens
Dörpfeld College-School
Established:	1896
Type:	Private
Principal:	Dr. Matthias Dimter
Students:	1,000
Location:	Athens, Greece
Website:	http://www.dsathen.gr

The German School of Athens, or Deutsche Schule Athen (GSA / DSA, in Greek Γερμανική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΓΣΑ or also known Dörpfeld College-School), is a coeducational independent, high school in Greece. The school has been in operation since 1896. It was founded by architect and archeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld.

The German School of Athens is considered a selective school, since children are usually taught both in Greek and German language and have to sit for both Greek and German final exams at the end of the last grade. This enables them both a Greek and German high school diploma (Abitur). Also it should be noted that pupils have to take entry exams in order to become students of the Greek section of Gymnasium.

Education is mainly in German and Greek - following the Greek educational system, and allowing students to sit for Greek university entrance exams and at the same time prepare students for the German Abitur examinations. Its students are also taught the English language at a high level.

Upholding the tradition of an environment friendly school, the German School of Athens had Greece's largest solar roof installed before the 2004 Olympic Games. The project was backed by German Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor (BMWA), the German Energy Agency and the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Contents 1 DSAMUN conference 2 Dörpfeldianer Ball 3 Greek Drama Group 4 Activities 5 Special Events 6 Notable alumni 7 External links

[edit] DSAMUN conference

The German School of Athens is known for its DSAMUN (Deutsche Schule Athen Model United Nations) [1] conference.

The DSAMUN is a three-day-long simulation of the work of the United Nations and takes place at the GSA campus. It is designed for secondary school students and is intended to provide an occasion for the participants to discuss world issues. The conference gives them the opportunity to experience the work of the United Nations and to get to know the world of diplomacy.

The delegates at the DSAMUN conference are asked to prepare drafts resolutions and policy statements on various issues (from the view of the country they represent) and learn to negotiate and debate in a formal way. Foreign students, who attend DSAMUN, have the opportunity to visit Plaka, the National Museum, the Acropolis and other places of interest in Athens. In addition, excursions to Epidaurus and Nafplion are organized.

[edit] Dörpfeldianer Ball

The Dörpfeldianer Ball for graduates takes place every two years at the Hotel Athenaeum Intercontinental. It draws together people from the fields of politics, diplomacy, business, journalism and the academic world. The highlight of the Dörpfeldianer Ball is the debut of the 'débutantes' (female graduating students of the school) in dances like waltz and polka. The tradition of the débutantes signifies the step into adulthood and social life. The dress code is formal.

[edit] Greek Drama Group

The German School of Athens has a Greek Theatrical Group. The Group is lead by Mr. Stelios Papapetrou. In the year 2005 it celebrated its 25th anniversary. Also 20 former students of the GSA and members of the school theatrical group are nowadays professional actors. Examples are Alexandra Pavlidou and Thalia Matika, both graduates of the school.

[edit] Activities

• Greek drama group
• German drama group
• Two orchestras
• A chamber ensemble
• Two choirs
• 25 sports groups, among them dancing, swimming, badminton, table-tennis and all kinds of team sport

[edit] Special Events

• DSA Open Day
• Projects
• Model United Nations conferences
• European Youth Parliament
• Educational trips, exchange programs and participation in European educational programs in the Netherlands and Ireland.

[edit] Notable alumni

• Dora Bakoyannis, Greek Foreign Affairs Minister, outgoing Mayor of Athens and winner of the 2005 World Mayor Award.
• Tassos Giannitsis, former Alternate Foreign Minister.
• Giannis Valinakis, Greek Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, former President of Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy organization.
• Giannis Papathanassiou, Greek Deputy Minister of Development.
• Christos Verelis, former Greek Minister for Transport and Communications.
• Niki Goulandris, Deputy President of the The Goulandris Museum of Natural History.
• Giannis Psychopaidis, painter, Professor at the Athens School of Fine Arts.
• Despo Diamantidou, actress.
• Nikos Perakis, director.
• Evangelos Antonaros, alternate Greek government spokesman.
• Katerina Marneri-Katsambe, Deputy Mayor of Athens.
• Kostas Sommer, actor.
• Thalia Matika, Greek actress.
• Viky Volioti, Greek actress.
• Themis Mallis, reporter and news-broadcaster of the Greek television station Star Channel.
• Stavros A. Savidis, Professor and director of the Department of Soil Mechanics at the Technical University of Berlin.
• Kalliopi, pop-rock singer/songwriter from Greece.
• Giorgos Markopouliotis, Head of the EU Commission Representation of Greece, afterwards student at Moraitis School.
• Mariana Efstratiou, singer and twice contestant at the Eurovision Song Contest.
• Nikos Perrakis, film director, director of film hit 'Loufa ke Paralagi'.
• Anna Filini, Greek architect and painter.

[edit] External links

• School website
• School graduates website
• The official website of the DSAMUN conference, organized by the German School of Athens
• DSA Summer Camp