Garmisch ES/MS (formerly Garmisch ES) History

Opened: 1948
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Garmisch Elementary/Middle School was formerly called Garmisch American Dependent School and later, Garmisch American Elementary School.

Photo of exterior of Garmisch in 1948 with student art class in front school yard.

The picture above was the original school as it appeared in 1948 in Garmisch. The photo shows American children who attended the school in 1948. The students were in the school yard during an art class drawing pictures of the school. The school was in what had been the Kurhaus in the Garmisch Kurpark. Students from Oberammergau were bussed to Garmisch to attend school there.

Nora Waite was the principal of the school for the 1954-55 school year, and there were 187 students enrolled in the school.

Between 1958 and 1968, the American school children from Garmisch were bussed to the dependent schools at Murnau and Oberammergau due to the military mission in Garmisch. The students returned to Garmisch for the 1968-69 school year.

In 1977, Garmisch Elementary School hosted the Third Annual Gymnastics Show. There were eighty-five students involved in the contest.

There were 131 pupils and six teachers for grades K–8 for the 1981-82 school year. The school had six permanent classrooms, a learning development classroom, an audio-visual room, a learning resource center, multi-purpose room, teachers’ workroom, secretary’s office, and principal’s office. The school also had the availability of the community gym and recreational facilities.

In the late eighties, the enrollment dropped to approximately 110 students and by the mid-nineties, the total number of students was about seventy.

The school is located in the southern part of Bavaria in Germany. The school is based in the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the German Alps which is sixty miles south of Munich. The school currently serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school is located in the Breitenau Housing Area and serves the children of government sponsored individuals, active-duty personnel, and civilians. The school currently offers Virtual Learning for grades K–12 and most high school students attend Munich International School.

The school does not have a cafeteria. Children residing off base are required to bring their lunch to school. Children living in the housing area can go home for lunch. Occasionally, the PTA sponsors a special lunch.

The school has an active Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and a School Advisory Committee (SAC).

The school mascot is the Gamsbock, an animal indigenous to the area, and the school colors are blue and light blue.

The current school administrator is Assistant Principal Jennifer Seguin.

 

Information from DOD School information guides, school website, military webpages and former students

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