A small conference, a big impact

How can younger students also experience the special atmosphere of a Round Square conference? This question gave rise to the idea of a regional MiniCon at the German-speaking Round Square Cluster Meeting – organised by students, for students. 

At the end of June, this idea became a reality in Salem: students in Years 5 to 7 from Landheim Ammersee, Gut Warnberg, Klosterschule Rossleben, Birklehof and Schule Schloss Salem spent a weekend together full of encounters, shared activities and putting Round Square IDEALS into practice. For months, an organising team of students from both Salem campuses had been preparing the programme. When plans had to be changed at short notice during the conference weekend due to the intense heat, the team adapted the programme within a matter of hours: watermelon instead of a campfire and marshmallows, a day at the lake instead of a hike to Affenberg.

A particular focus was placed on the Barazas – the cross-school discussion groups in which ideas were developed, experiences shared and new friendships formed. The older students took the lead and organised the weekend together. 

During the final reflection, all the organisers agreed: the MiniCon was far more than just a conference. It was a collaborative learning project that had resulted not only in a successful event but also in a strong team. When asked what they would change next time, the unanimous answer was: “It should be longer!”

Photos: Nina Peters