Oberschule zum Dom
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| Oberschule zum Dom | |
| School type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1905 |
| Colors | Black and red |
| Location | Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany |
| Website | http://www.ozd-luebeck.de |
The Oberschule zum Dom, a gymnasium in Lübeck and the Schleswig-Holstein area of Germany was founded in 1905 during the final years of the German Empire under Kaiser Wilhelm II before the First World War. The school survived throughout both the periods of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich, despite heaving bombing carried out on the city of Lübeck by the Royal Air Force during the second world war in retaliation for the heavy bombing by the Luftwaffe which destroyed most of the city of Coventry just a few weeks before. After the Second World War the school was along with the rest of the city of Lübeck and area of Schleswig Holstein incorporated into the British Zone of Germany and later the Federal Republic until 1990 when East and West Germany were again unified as one nation, the school soon established itself as a most prominent and respected centre for learning in the area.
The School has long been a Gymnasium, the highest and most prestigious title a school can receive in Germany, teaching only those students who are thought to excel in their studies. The equivalent of a free state Grammar School in the United Kingdom, competition for places is fierce and once accepted students are expected to strive to achieve. The OzD ranks in the top three schools in Lübeck and has always retained a special relationship with archrival the Katharineum zu Lübeck, with both schools constantly attempting to better each other in all they do, whether it be academic or extra-curricular. The most notable event which takes place between the two schools is undoubtedly the annual athletics meet, an event which the OzD has dominated for the past few years.
[edit] Location
The School occupies a large red brick building which was previously a hospital next to the Lübeck Cathedral (Dom), this provides it with a very central location within the city. Transport links are very good, being conveniently situated just 75m away from the Fegefeuer bus stop (Haltestelle) which is serviced by the Lübeck bus company with routes to all the major suburbs of the city and some nearby villages such as Krummesse. This provides the school with the ability to accept students not solely from the city but also from slightly further a field.
[edit] Academics and extra-curricular activities
Being a Gymnasium the school is extremely academic, with languages and the sciences taking precedence among other subjects. Languages are seen to be essential, with students receiving an average of 4 hours language related study a week, foreign exchanges are therefore also seen as very important within the school and prove to be very popular with the students themselves. Exchanges are conducted annually between the OzD and Adams' Grammar School (a free state Grammar School funded by the Haberdashers Company) in the United Kingdom and the OzD and the Lycée-Collège de la Planta in French speaking Switzerland. The school also operates a popular ski trip to Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria and has in previous years conducted many popular class trips to various destinations and a rowing tour on behalf of the OzD Ruderverein (rowing club) to France. The school also has a number of very successful teams which represent it in sporting events, these include among others, a football team, an athletics team and a basketball team.
