The Round Square Network

Round Square stands for International Understanding. This is encouraged, for example, through regular worldwide student exchange programmes, participation in internationally organised social projects and regional and international student conferences.
For Salem internationalism is practiced as a matter of course through the diversity of the student body and educational staff as well as in their bilingual surroundings.

Round Square stands for student participation in democratic processes and the development of a democratic way of thinking. For this reason democratic awareness is fostered and strengthened as an important element in the school community.  In Salem we practice democracy through a strong student government in which students can actively shape student life and experience democracy in their immediate surroundings. Many further activities also incorporate democratic processes.

Round Square stands for sustainability. Correspondingly schools in the network commit themselves to strengthening environmental awareness among their students through projects and school-wide campaigns. 

Round Square stands for adventure. While growing up students learn through activities and extracurricular projects to accept physical challenges, to go beyond their limits and to learn from these experiences in keeping with the motto of Kurt Hahn, "Plus et en vous" -- "There is more in you than you think..."!
In Salem students in each class year are involved in a particular extracurricular challenge, such as an outdoor week, hut-to-hut hiking, an Outward Bound trip to Norway, etc. Our outdoor programme runs as a central thread throughout the school career. In addition there are voluntary activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme which students can participate in to acquire bronze, silver and gold badges.

Round Square stands for activating and developing leadership qualities. Students at Round Square schools learn that leadership cannot be equated with power, but is rather based on personal responsibility, courtesy, justice, fairness and discipline. By taking on offices and public duties, students at Round Square schools learn what it means to be responsible leaders.

Round Square stands for serving other people. Round Square students help others – even beyond the school boundaries. For each student the weekly schedule includes taking part in a community service at least once a week.  In addition to social outreach services at school, Salem students can take part in aid projects anywhere in the world (e.g. , in St. Petersburg or at the Kutumb project in India, as well as Round Square International Service Projects).  The Round Square service group at Salem conducts fundraising campaigns to collect money for social projects.