The Friedrichsgymnasium is a humanistic classical gymnasium, located in Kassel, Hesse, Germany, that focuses on music and foreign languages, particularly Latin and Ancient Greek. The mission statement of the school is to spread the ideas of humanism and tolerance and to ensure the students grow up to become independent, educated and responsible, following the school motto "Learn what you are and be such", a quote by the Ancient Greek poet Pindar. The school is a so-called "Gymnasium", a secondary school that offers the highest possible standards in education and aimes for the students to take their A-Levels, the "Abitur", in year 13. The school specializes in supporting highly gifted students and has a tradition of encouraging students to be competitive and exceed their limits. However, the school also highlights the importance of tolerance and solidarity, taking part in projects with hospitals and refugee organisations.
The first foreign languages taught are Latin and English starting in 5th grade. In 9th grade French, Ancient Greek, Spanish, Hebrew, and Italian are offered.
The Friedrichsgymnasium has engaged in various international youth events and organizes numerous political projects. Since 2018, pupils in the top classes of the Friedrichsgymnasium have participated regularly in the festivities to commemorate the end of World War I. Multiple pupils of the school have given speeches in the Bundestag, collaborated with other European schools and youth teams from large football clubs, such as Southampton F.C., and presented the results of this work to both German presidentFrank-Walter Steinmeier and French presidentEmmanuel Macron. Politicians that have recently visited the school include Wolfgang Schäuble and Claudia Roth. The school also regularly sends a delegation to the annual BerlinModel United Nations Conference BERMUN at John F Kennedy School in Berlin.
Music
Another focus is music. The school boasts several orchestras, bands, choirs and music clubs and a number of concerts are held celebrating important events in the school year, for example the start of the Christmas holidays or the end of the A-Level exams. Each year, the different musical societies of the school partake in multiple excursions and trips, traditionally to cities with a rich musical history, such as Vienna.
Rowing
Very important is the rowing club, the RVFG. The club takes part in all kinds of rowing competitions on state or national level, regularly enjoying successes. The school owns a club house on the Fulda which also houses numerous festivities throughout the school year. Traditionally, the training is done by older students with teachers and parents only acting as organizers and fund raisers.
