Gimnasio Moderno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gimnasio Moderno |
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Colombia
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| Information | |
| School type | Private school |
| Founded | March 18, 1914 (111 years ago) |
| Founder | Agustín Nieto Caballero |
| Status | Open |
| Head of school | Juan Sebastián Hoyos Montes |
| Gender | Mixed gender |
| Language | Spanish, English and French |
| Color(s) | Green and Orange |
| Athletics | football, basketball, volleyball and swimming |
The Gimnasio Moderno is a private school in Bogotá, Colombia. It teaches both boys and girls. This school was started in 1914 by a group of Colombians, led by Agustín Nieto Caballero. It's known for its traditional and liberal way of teaching.
Contents
School Ideals and Teaching Style
The school believes in something called "discipline of trust" (disciplina de confianza). This idea comes from Maria Montessori's way of teaching. It helps students learn to trust themselves and be responsible. They also learn about honesty, loyalty, and friendship.
The Gimnasio Moderno is so old and important that it has been named a national monument.
Focus on Education, Not Just Instruction
The school's main motto is "Educar Antes que Instruir." This means "To educate rather than to instruct." It shows that the school cares more about teaching good values. They want students to grow into honest, confident, and motivated people. Learning these life skills is more important than just memorizing facts.
This teaching method works very well. The school is one of the best in the country for its academic results.
School Sections and Grades
The school's learning program is split into four main parts:
- The first part includes Montessori 1, 2, and 3, plus the first Decroly grade.
- The second part has the second, third, fourth, and fifth Decroly grades.
- The third part covers grades six through nine.
- The fourth part includes grades ten and eleven.
School Traditions and Activities
The Gimnasio Moderno has many special traditions:
Marching Band Achievements
The school has a marching band that has won the Batuta de Plata competition many times.
- They first won in 1999.
- They won again in 2006, 2012, 2016, and 2017.
- The band's leader, called the drum major, is chosen by a secret vote from all band members. This has happened every year since 1952.
- In 2018, the marching band received an award from the Congress of Colombia.
Sports and Competitions
- Copa Tradicion: This is a football championship played between Gimnasio Moderno and Gimnasio Campestre.
- Copa Aguilucho: The school also hosts its own football league for students from different grades.
- Founding a Football Club: In 1941, former students from the school started the football club Independiente Santa Fe. This club began from a team that played against the school's team for its 25th anniversary.
- School Sports Teams: The school strongly supports its sports teams. These include football, basketball, volleyball, and swimming teams.
Trips and Awards
- Excursion Trips: Students go on single or multi-day trips around the country. These trips follow the ideas of Robert Baden-Powell, who started the Scouting movement.
- Student Awards: Each year, the school gives awards to students who do well in different areas. These awards recognize personal effort, kindness, "excursionist spirit," and friendship (given to a whole class).
Brotherhood with Gimnasio Femenino
The Gimnasio Femenino is a private school for girls. It was started in 1927 by Agustin Nieto Caballero and others from Gimnasio Moderno. These two schools have a special connection. They celebrate many events together and do various activities throughout the year. This allows students from both schools to share academic and fun times.
Cultural Week (Semana Cultural)
The school holds a "Cultural Week" (Semana Cultural). This week is full of cultural activities.
- One popular event is the "Morning of Talent" (Mañana del Talento Gimnasiano). During this event, students perform plays, comedy acts, and musical numbers.
- The school also hosts a city-wide cheerleading contest called Concurso de Barras Maria Helena Amador. Cheerleading groups from all-girls schools in the city prepare for this event all year.
School Leaders (Headmasters)
Here is a list of the people who have led the Gimnasio Moderno over the years:
- Alberto Corradine Varela (1914)
- Pablo Vila Dinares (1915–1917)
- Tomás Rueda Vargas (1918–1920, 1922–1924, 1927–1933 and 1937–1943)
- Erich Heincke Hoyer (1921)
- Aurelio Tobón Mejía (1925–1927)
- Julio Carrizosa Valenzuela (1934–1936)
- Daniel Samper Ortega (1943–1944)
- Carlos Lleras Restrepo (1944)
- Agustín Nieto Caballero (1945–1975)
- Ernest Bein (El Prof.) (1975–1980)
- Mario Galofre Cano (1981–1984 and 1986–1994)
- Germán Pardo Sánchez (1985)
- Leopoldo Gonzalez Chaparro (1995–1997)
- Juan Carlos Bayona Vargas (1998–2012)
- Guillermo González Lecaros (e) (2012)
- Víctor Alberto Gómez Cusnir (2012–present)
Famous Former Students
Many notable people have graduated from Gimnasio Moderno:
- Alfonso Lopez Michelsen – a former president of Colombia
- Ernesto Samper Pizano – another former president of Colombia
- Julio Mario Santo Domingo – a well-known businessman
- Rodolfo Llinás – a neuroscientist (someone who studies the brain)
- Mario Laserna Pinzón – founded the University of Los Andes (Colombia)
- Fidel Cano Correa – a journalist and CEO of the El Espectador newspaper
- Guillermo Cano Isaza – a journalist
- Rafael Pardo – a former congressman, minister, and mayor of Bogotá
- Eduardo Caballero Calderón – a journalist and writer
- Antonio Caballero – a journalist and writer
- Daniel Samper Pizano – a lawyer, journalist, and writer
- José Alejandro Cortes – founder of Grupo Bolivar
- German Puerta – an astronomer (someone who studies stars and planets)
- Diego Trujillo – an actor
- Jorge Enrique Abello – an actor
See also
In Spanish: Gimnasio Moderno para niños
