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Kindergarten:
Arrive, explore, and welcome fall
For us, September is traditionally all about settling in. In particular, helping our new Stella children adjust plays a major role in our daily kindergarten routine during these first few weeks. By dedicating plenty of time and attention and providing empathetic support, we create a trusting atmosphere where the children feel safe and can find their place in the group.
At the same time, the children we already know are settling back into the routines and daily life of the preschool. The late-summer temperatures continue to invite us to spend plenty of time in our garden. There, the children play, explore, observe, and enjoy the fresh air together.
In keeping with the season, the children in the groups are already creating their first autumn-themed crafts. Sensory activities also accompany the children throughout their day: they get to explore different materials with all their senses—touching, smelling, sorting, and creating. This fosters curiosity, creativity, and perception in a playful way.
Primary School
From waste to energy – our visit to Spittelau
During our trip to the Spittelau waste incineration plant, the children gained fascinating insights into waste processing. The enormous grab arm, which constantly and vigorously mixes the waste and prepares it for incineration, was particularly impressive. Of course, the colorful design of the plant by Friedensreich Hundertwasser was also a highlight.
Marbling and Circular Weaving: Colorful Creations from the Workshop
In arts and crafts class, the children learned a marbling technique and wrapped their own personalized crochet hooks. For another craft project, the children wove round, colorful turtles and fish.
1,725 Chestnuts – Hands-On Math on Praterallee
The children worked hard collecting chestnuts on Praterallee and, as part of their introduction to the number range of 1,000, counted all of them. They collected a whopping 1,725 chestnuts—an impressive amount! After collecting them, we all went into the woods together, where we were able to enjoy the beautiful fall day.
Secondary School
Our school year’s motto: “We grow together, not alone—growth begins with me, succeeds with you, and culminates in ‘us.’”
As a school still in the process of being established, we have chosen a shared motto for the first time this year—one that we aim to embody in our daily school life. The image that goes with it is a shared mountain trail: Each of us carries our own backpack full of strengths, knows our own goal (the “checkered flag” at the summit), and takes responsibility for it. We overcome obstacles by building bridges to one another with empathy. Our differences make us strong, and together we rise above ourselves. This year, the focus is on three character strengths: responsibility, empathy, and team spirit.
We look forward to embarking on this journey together with our students, parents, and the entire team—step by step, peak by peak.
Exercise That Brings People Together
In recent weeks, physical education classes for classes 1B and 1C have focused on teamwork and collaboration. Various cooperative games required communication, mutual support, and collaborative problem-solving. The students tackled the various challenges with great enthusiasm and clearly had a lot of fun in the process. As a result, not only did they improve their physical fitness and dexterity, but they also strengthened their sense of unity as a class.
Fold, share, and be amazed!
The first-grade classes got to play the game “fold and pass” and had a lot of fun doing so. Each child drew a different part of the figure, and that’s how these funny creatures came to be!
Seeing Without Eyes—Class 2A at “Dialogue in the Dark”
On Thursday, September 17, Class 2A visited the “Dialog im Dunkeln” interactive exhibition . Divided into three groups, the students were guided by tour guides through completely darkened rooms and experienced various everyday situations—from crossing a suspension bridge to taking a ride on a “motorboat.”
To wrap things up, they were able to order and pay for a drink in a darkened café and ask the guides questions about what it’s like to be blind.
Afterward, we reflected together on trust, empathy, and the challenges of daily life without sight. This fascinating experience not only raised the students’ awareness but also strengthened their team spirit and sense of personal responsibility.
Hands-On Music: Class 2B at the House of Music
Class 2B spent a morning entirely devoted to music during their field trip to the Haus der Musik on September 25. The class was accompanied by their homeroom teacher, Prof. Deininger, and Prof. Böltner.
Before heading to the museum, we made a brief stop in front of the Vienna State Opera. From the outside, the students marveled at one of the world’s most famous opera houses and learned about the music that can be enjoyed there night after night.
At the House of Music, a world of sounds awaited them. Across several floors, the children were able to explore music with all their senses: listening, trying things out, and marveling. Armed with two quizzes, they set out in search of answers and filled out the questionnaires with great enthusiasm. The students were also able to roll their own waltz using the waltz dice game. This turned the museum visit into an exciting journey of discovery, during which everyone was able to learn something new.
We’d like to thank Class 2B for their curiosity, enthusiasm, and exemplary behavior throughout the entire field trip. Experiences like this show just how lively music class can be, even outside the classroom!
Running for hope – class 5A at the “Run for Hope”
On Sunday, September 27th, our students from class 5A participated in the Missio charity run “Run for Hope”.
After Mass and a warm-up, they ran 5 kilometers, thereby contributing to the mine project that supports Sister Bernadette Muindi in her work to save children.
Student Academy: A Firsthand Perspective on Freedom and Human Rights
Last Friday, September 25, our students had the opportunity to participate in a Student Academy session with Timothy Cho, a public speaker and human rights advocate who was born in North Korea. After being imprisoned multiple times in North Korea and China, Timothy eventually reached the United Kingdom, where he was granted asylum. He shared his personal experiences of political oppression, forced displacement, and repeated attempts to escape, offering students a unique perspective on freedom, human dignity, and the power of forgiveness when faced with authoritarian regimes, torture, and imprisonment. Today, Timothy works to raise awareness about the situation in North Korea and the experiences of refugees and those seeking freedom.
The session took the form of a colloquium rather than a traditional lecture. Having been introduced to the topic beforehand in their English classes, the students came prepared with questions and had the opportunity to engage directly with Timothy. Their questions sparked a thoughtful discussion about freedom, human rights, migration, political oppression, and the importance of being able to make choices about one’s own life. Hearing about these issues through someone’s personal experience made the discussion particularly meaningful and encouraged students to consider current events from a human perspective.
The session was also a good example of the purpose of our Student Academy: a forum designed to broaden students’ knowledge of relevant issues in the world around them and connect these issues with the values of our school community. The Student Academy takes various forms, including presentations, colloquia, and debates, as well as projects and documentary screenings, always with the aim of fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the world beyond the classroom.
Class 6A’s Trip to Rome – Six Days Full of Experiences
On September 14, Class 6a, along with their teachers Susanne Kiesewetter and Jurica Blažević, set off for Rome!
We met up at 4:30 a.m. at Vienna-Schwechat Airport—definitely too early for some, but the excitement about the days ahead outweighed the tiredness. After the flight and our arrival in Rome, we got started right away.
Our first day took us right into the heart of Roman life. We strolled across St. Peter’s Square, along the Via della Conciliazione, and over the Ponte dell’Angelo to Piazza Navona. From there, we continued on to the Pantheon and the Campo de’ Fiori, where we took our first lunch break. In the evening, we celebrated Holy Mass together at Campo Santo. Afterward, we wrapped up the first day with a group dinner.
On Tuesday, we immersed ourselves in antiquity. From the Capitoline Hill, we made our way to the Colosseum, which we, of course, also toured from the inside. The structure’s massive dimensions were particularly impressive. Afterward, we saw the Arch of Constantine and explored the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill—where history suddenly became very tangible.
In the afternoon, we had a somewhat different activity on the agenda: We visited the house of the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver on Via dell’Olmata. There, we learned about Blessed Maria Theresia Ledóchowska, the founder of the order. Her life and her dedication to the mission gave us an interesting glimpse into another side of Rome’s history.
On Wednesday, we first went to Santa Maria della Pace, where the tomb of our school’s patron, Saint Josemaría Escrivá, is located. Afterward, we explored many other famous sites in the city: the Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Quirinal. The Baths of Trajan, the Capitoline Hill, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, the Theater of Marcellus, and the Jewish Quarter were also on our itinerary. Once again, we realized just how much history can be found in Rome practically on every corner.
A special highlight of our trip was Thursday, which was all about the Vatican. During a guided tour of the Vatican that lasted several hours, we were able to explore numerous significant sites and works of art. Of course, a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica was a must. To wrap things up, we climbed to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica’s dome and enjoyed the impressive view of Rome.
On Friday, we finally delved even further back into the history of Christianity. We visited the Callixtus Catacombs on the Via Appia and learned a lot about the first Christians in Rome. Afterward, we took a short walk along the historic Via Appia and passed the tomb of Caecilia Metella.
Later, we headed to the Lateran neighborhood. There, we visited the Scala Sancta and the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Maria degli Angeli were also must-see stops on our trip to Rome. After taking in so many sights, we had definitely earned our dinner together at the end of the day.
On Saturday, we finally had a little time left to explore Rome on our own. We strolled through the streets one last time, picked up some final souvenirs, or simply enjoyed the Italian way of life—before finally heading to the airport and back to Vienna.
Our trip to Rome was a mix of history, culture, faith, good food, and—above all—many shared experiences.
During those six days, we saw and learned so much—but just as important were the moments in between: our conversations, lots of laughter, and experiencing a new city as a class.
Six days in Rome definitely went by way too fast! Arrivederci, Roma—hopefully not for the last time!
