As of: March 8, 2024, 8:00 p.m
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The new one: For high school director Thomas Wendl, talking to colleagues, employees and students on his first days at work was more important than a tidy desk.
© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
Thomas Wendl has been running the Geretsried high school since February 24th.
The 41-year-old returned to his old place of work - he was a student himself for several years.
Geretsried - He hasn't unpacked all of his personal belongings yet, and his desk isn't as tidy as he would like it to be.
But it was more important for Thomas Wendl to personally get to know as many employees, teachers, students and parent representatives as possible in these first days.
The 41-year-old has been the director of the Geretsried high school (GymGer) since the beginning of the second half of the year, i.e. since February 24th.
In an interview with our newspaper, the former high school student also talks about ideas that he would like to implement.
Mr. Wendl, as a Latin student, you are somewhat of an exotic person at a science, technology and modern language high school. What excites you about the “dead language”?
I have to disagree right away.
Latin is anything but a dead language.
As a student, I can use Latin to open up very different areas, even worlds, not just ancient times.
But in my experience, this is also very exciting for the students: much of it is familiar to us, others are completely foreign to us, such as slavery in ancient Rome.
The in-depth examination of texts in Latin lessons also promotes sensitivity to language in general.
It teaches us how to formulate, with what purpose to express something or even how to manipulate.
After all, Latin is a very aesthetic language.
Personally, I like to take an analytical approach.
I like taking things apart and putting them back together again - that's how Latin works.
Is Catholic religious teaching also something close to your heart?
The subject of religious studies is extremely diverse in terms of content.
Contemporary religious education, as required by the Plus Curriculum, must take a number of things into account, for example the students' lives and current issues in society.
It is a central concern of both Catholic and Protestant religious education and ethics education that students can develop their own, reflected position on religious issues.
Will you find time to teach your favorite subjects?
Not this semester, but starting next school year I would definitely like to teach a few lessons.
Contact with the students is very important to me, and lessons are a very good opportunity to have direct conversations with them as a school principal.
After all, the students are the reason for our daily work and must therefore always be at the center of what we do.
You wrote in your first letter to parents that you went to a number of classes to introduce yourself personally, but also to get an impression of the atmosphere at the school. What is your first impression?
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I asked the young people what they think is special about GymGer, what they like and what could be improved.
I found the students to be very open-minded.
My overall impression was a conscious “yes, we like going to this school”.
And how were you received by the teaching staff?
Also very open and warm.
On average, it is a surprisingly young team with many committed women and men who want to help shape things.
The secretaries, my deputy Kilian Krywalski and the entire school management team support me wherever they can.
What does it feel like to walk through your old school as a principal?
It has the advantage that I don't have to find my way around.
The room names have changed, but I know where the auditorium is or where the music halls and art rooms are, for example.
Do you have fond memories of your high school days in Geretsried?
But yes!
Otherwise I wouldn't be here.
Every school season has its shady and bright moments.
For me, the bright ones clearly predominated at the Geretsried high school.
The “spirit” of the GymGer, often invoked by alumni and the school family – does it really exist?
The school was and is a very liberal and innovative school.
Action is oriented towards the individual development of each student.
An example of this is the introduction of learning landscapes in 2017 for self-organized learning.
Back then it was quick and easy.
The fact that the fifth-graders from our music teacher Alfred Menzinger's music class, who had only been learning an instrument for two and a half months, were allowed to perform at the Christmas concert also shows the spirit of the school: they have confidence in the children and young people.
As a student, I was perhaps not so aware of this “spirit”.
But I already appreciated the fact that, as a progressive school, we had a language laboratory, that there was the possibility of a student exchange in Chile and much more.
You worked for some time in the Ministry of Culture and therefore know school policy. Does this make it easier for you to accept and implement decisions “from above”?
Yes.
The decisions that the ministry makes are not frivolous, quite the opposite: I know from my own experience that the decisions are based on intensive consideration and coordination processes.
I clearly disagree with the statement that the Ministry of Culture sometimes prescribes “something strange”.
Everything has its pros and cons, everything takes time to implement.
Not to forget: There are often framework conditions that must be adhered to, such as cross-border agreements.
Reforms are always an adaptation to the respective circumstances.
Also interesting: Abi 2024: The class shows its skills at the cultural evening
Do you already have ideas and ideas about what you would like to implement at the GymGer?
It's still far too early for that.
Of course, I have a certain idea of what makes a good school stand out.
Most things here are going very, very well.
The range of subjects and courses is great, the cooperation with the parents' council and the support association is constructive, problems are clearly addressed.
There will be changes in the future because we have to keep up with the times, for example in the area of digitalization.
I see this as an opportunity for further development.
It is my belief that any effective change must be supported by the entire school community.
I'm a team player.
The school center has been a construction site for over ten years. What perspectives can you show the parents of the future fifth graders who will come to the information evening this Friday? Will your children ever experience lessons without disruptive construction work?
I can definitely tell the children on their first day of school in September that they will be leaving school without a crane or scaffolding
(laughs)
.
But seriously: it won't take that long.
If everything goes smoothly, it will be over in two to three years.
The entrance area should be ready by the end of this year.
It will be as beautiful as the entrance to the secondary school.
I am looking forward.
The fact that the district invests so much money in its schools as a material expense provider is a sign of great appreciation.
It is also positive that the schools are given a strong say in the planning.
For example, we can contribute our experience and knowledge to the design of the specialist rooms.
Also read: Mountain bike slope in the school yard: There is now a trail at the high school - created by students
Finally, can you tell us what you like to do in your free time?
My children are still very young - there isn't much free time left
(laughs)
.
When I'm free, I actually enjoy doing anything that takes place outside.
I'm really happy that I live half an hour away from Geretsried.
On the journey there and back I have a little time for myself every day, to think or to switch off.
CV
As reported, Thomas Wendl succeeds Christoph Strödecke, who moved to Markt Indersdorf.
Wendl, who grew up in Buchberg near Gelting and lives with his wife and their four small children in the Weilheim-Schongau district, attended the Geretsried high school himself from the fifth to the eleventh grade.
However, he did his Abitur in Icking because of the choice of advanced courses.
Wendl studied Latin and Catholic religious studies to become a high school teacher.
He completed his legal clerkship at the Leopoldinum high school in Passau and the high school in Icking.
He taught at the Erasmus-Grasser-Gymnasium in the state capital Munich and at the Staffelsee-Gymnasium in Murnau.
In between, he worked as a teaching assistant in the Ministry of Culture for five years.
Most recently, he was deputy headmaster at the Gabriel-von-Seidl-Gymnasium in the neighboring town of Bad Tölz.
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