Büren ES History
Opened: 1970
Closed: 1992
Bueren American Elementary school was located in the NATO Housing Area on the outskirts of the town of Bueren. The school was opened in 1970. Students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade were enrolled in the school. Students were bused from the Werl and Paderborn housing areas. There two areas were forty-five minutes to an hour away. Bussed students had a supervised lunch and students who lived on base went home for lunch.
The school had five classrooms, a secretary’s office, a principal’s office, a media center and a teachers’ lounge. In 1981 the media center had over 4000 volumes and was well equipped. The school enrollment ranged from 65 to 85 students.
A teacher/principal and five teachers were assigned to the school. Some years there wasn’t a host nation language teacher for the school. Staffing varied according to the school enrollment. Most of the classes included multi-grade level placement. Special education facilities and programs were very limited at the school. The Language Arts program including reading were taught at the students’ reading level. There was large and small group instruction as well as individualized programs for the students.
The school offered a swimming program as well as a physical education program for all students on a rotation basis throughout the year. Volunteers were an integral part of these programs. Other extracurricular activities included a small boys’ soccer team, a video club, a bowling league, and an American-Belgium Youth Club.
The school was closed in 1992.
Information from DOD School Information Guides