On Friday, 18 October 2024, around 40 members of the Friends of Salem Association - the association of supporters of Schule Schloss Salem - met in the science rooms at the Schloss Salem campus. Chemistry teacher Uli Heuschert demonstrated a colourful show from the chemistry experiment kit, and biology teacher Astrid Schweizer presented various anatomical models, some of which were made by the students themselves. Our Business Manager Thomas Obitz then explained the need to renovate and modernize the chemistry and biology rooms to the members. A modern and open-room concept with mobile gas and electricity stations and flexible usage options is planned.
50,000 Euros for the boarding school and lessons - the general meeting
The subsequent annual general meeting of the Friends of Salem offered more entertaining programme items, in addition to a discussion of the current figures and statistics of the ‘Friends’. As part of a fashion show, middle school students presented new soccer, basketball and field hockey jerseys, fencing equipment, bicycle helmets for the mountain bike club and the protective equipment for the youth fire department and medical service that were all financed last year. A pupil from the Rentamt presented the planned construction of a tree house in the forest behind Schloss Salem and a College student presented applications submitted by the College boarding wings and the College Band. The members discussed and agreed on 24 applications and approved a large proportion of them. In total, almost 50,000 Euros were allocated to the areas of boarding, sport, teaching, services, guilds and extra-curricular clubs. The planned science centre in the Langbau building was approved as a new capital project.
This year, elections were held for the Board of Directors and the auditors. The Chairman of the Friends of Salem, Oliver Fischer, thankfully stood for a third term of office. Both he and Dr. Günther Metzner, candidate for deputy chairman, were unanimously elected by the members. The long-standing auditor Dr. Volker P. Haußmann will be supported by Dr. Gunhild Halke in the future. Both were also elected unanimously.
99 balloons at the Night of Friends
In the evening, we celebrated together at the Night of Friends. 180 guests - including current and former parents as well as members of the Friends of Salem and supporters - accepted the invitation to the Schrote and spent a wonderful evening getting to know each other. The kitchen conjured up a buffet of finger food and hot dishes, the cocktail bar offered a wide variety of drinks and the newly formed College Band, under the direction of Konstantin Krechting performed a few songs. The dance floor quickly filled up as the Premium Style Band created an exuberant dance and party atmosphere. As a special highlight, members of the supervisory board, the school's management, the school representatives of the Schloss Salem campus, the parents' council as well as the board members of the Friends of Salem and the Kurt Hahn Foundation released helium balloons to the song ‘99 Luftballons’. The Friends of Salem are 99 years old this year - in 2025 we will celebrate 100 years of Friends of Salem - Save the Date!
