The Anne-Frank-Gymnasium Erding has gone to the dogs

Created: 02/17/2022, 3:00 p.m

By: Uta Künkler

The school dog Scotty (picture) and his future colleague Marley are supposed to convey the joy of learning to the students at the AFG.

© AFG

A lot is happening at the Anne-Frank-Gymnasium in Erding: It introduces animal-assisted education.

And in addition to the theater class, fifth graders can also choose a football class.

February 22nd is open day.

Erding

- "Learning at a grammar school has long since ceased to mean just cramming." Rather, it's about picking up the students in their living environment and giving them fun in learning, emphasizes Regine Hofmann, headmistress at the Anne Frank Grammar School in Erding ( AFG) in a press release.

Fourth graders can get an idea of ​​this next Tuesday at the open day.

"When children succeed in learning with pleasure, the numbers and words and sentence structures simply go into their heads more easily," the letter says.

In order to achieve this, a number of different offers have been created in recent years.

One component is the use of a school dog.

It is well known, says Hofmann, that a dog has a positive, calming effect on the classroom atmosphere.

He can increase joy and thus relax the learning process, reduce stress and aggressive behavior, promote empathy and act as a comforter.

Scotty has been on the school team since December.

Since then, the adaptable Kromfohrländer has been working together with the teacher Monika Erber.

Scotty is to receive animal support during this school year.

His future colleague's name is Marley and he is a playful, curious poodle.

He will regularly accompany the teacher Eva-Maria Heilmaier in her biology lessons.

Another building block for learning with joy lies in the field of sports, the headmistress informs.

Fifth and sixth graders have recently been offered an additional two-hour training session as part of the "football sports working group".

The students are looked after by sports teacher Josef Hofmann and Florian Aldinger from the Altenerding game association (we reported).

The elective golf course starts in autumn in cooperation with the golf club in Grünbach.

Soccer will play an even bigger role in the next school year: starting in the fall, there will be a so-called soccer class for which children interested in soccer – both girls and boys – can register.

For them, the two hours of basic physical education are supplemented by two hours of soccer training in the morning.

As an alternative to the football class, prospective fifth graders can register for a theater class.

Another offer at the AFG is the MINT workshop in the afternoon.

The students are usually supervised by a biology and chemistry teacher as well as a mathematics and physics teacher and receive a playful and experimental insight into various natural sciences.

All of these offers would strengthen social skills and at the same time make the community at school a positive experience, explains Hofmann.

"Especially now, after the two years in which so much has fallen by the wayside due to the pandemic, it is all the more important that our children have the opportunity to enjoy learning together so that they can find themselves and strengthen their personality ' emphasized the principal.  

Open-door day

On Tuesday, February 22, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the open day will take place in presence.

Information at www.afg-erding.de.