On Monday 25 February Liam, Seamus, and Faywen headed out the door with their new school supplies and backpacks. They were off to GIBS or Graz International Bilingual School. The 25^th was the first day of a new semester for all Austrian children. The semester ends on 5 July.

They survived the first week of school! It’s a different system here. They have block classes that meet for 45 minutes at random times. It’s a bit chaotic at first, but once you learn your schedule it’s manageable. Sometimes the kids will have a free period in the middle of the day where they can go to the library, computer lab, or sit on the lobby couches.

Due to the block class system the kids often have varying schedules. For example on Thursdays Faywen goes to school from 8:00-13:15. Seamus goes to school from 8:50-14:05. Liam goes to school from 9:45-14:05. Most days they all go in at 8:00, but come home at varying times ranging anywhere from 13:15 to as late as 18:00! Everything is done in European time.

There are no school buses. Kids walk, are driven, or mostly ride the public trams/buses to school. We’ve seen many 6-7 yr. olds alone on the trams returning from school. Yes, even nervous little Faywen now confidently walks to the tram stop and rides the tram to and from school alone!

The kids are in the Austrian secondary school system, which begins at age 10. Faywen is in year 1. Her class is 1a. Seamus is in year 4 (4b) and Liam is in year 7 (7i). Kids go to level 8. Education In Austria is free including colleges and universities.

The Austrian education system runs on the principle that you learn a “little bit of everything” each year and it builds on itself becoming more complicated as the student gets older. The atmosphere is laid back, yet oddly structured at the same time. Kids learn early on to self motivate and take charge of their own education and progress.

Unlike in the states where Liam has 6 periods of the same class for a whole semester, here in Austria he is taking several courses including; English, German as a second language, Math, Physics, Psychology, Music Composition, French, Theory of Knowledge, Academic Writing, and PE. Liam was admitted to the International Baccalaureate program at GIBS. This is the equivalent to the AP/ Honors program in the states. There are 20 kids in the class.

Seamus is in the following classes; English, German as a second language, PE, Art, Biology, Physics, Math, History, Geography/Economics, and Chemistry.

Faywen is in the following classes; English, German as a second language, PE, Music, Biology, Geography, Math, Active English, and Crafts.

Another difference is that the teachers rotate to one specific classroom. Only special electives like Music, Art, and science labs do the kids move to a different classroom. Also instead of mixing the kids up each year, they stay with the same 20-25 students through year 8.

They use mostly chalk/dry erase boards and paper. There are no personal computers. There are two computer labs in the school. Homework is done in notebooks or exercise books.

Well that’s the gist of the educational system in Austria. I’m sure we will be learning more during the second week of school!