Welcome to our after-school care center at the Sonnenblumenschule in Medingen!

Dear visitors,

We are pleased to introduce you to our after-school care center at the Sonnenblumenschule in Medingen. Currently, approximately 120 children are enrolled. The foundation of our educational work is the individual development of each child, guided by our motto:

"To educate a person does not mean to fill a vessel, but to ignite a fire." (Aristophanes)

Our educational work includes assessing each child’s developmental level to promote their personality, conducting conversations to reflect on successes and challenges, providing differentiated learning, support, and play opportunities, as well as assigning responsibility, initiative, and tasks within these possibilities.

The following methods are particularly important to us:

• Process-oriented learning: “The journey is the goal!”
• Portfolios maintained by the children to track developmental progress
• Stimulating interests through open activities
• Providing appropriate spaces and materials
• Long-term project work (e.g., during summer holidays)
• Maintaining development and observation records
• Encouraging self-reflection

Our view of the child

Children should be encouraged to find and develop their own topics, generate ideas, and put them into practice. Our goal is to raise children to become independent participants in their daily lives. They should make decisions about when, where, how, and with whom they want to play, learn, or experiment.

We place particular emphasis on:

• Involving children in the daily life of the after-school center, especially in decision-making, e.g., room arrangement or holiday planning
• Strengthening independent and responsible behavior
• Promoting a sense of community
• Supporting self-determination
• Developing conflict resolution strategies and non-violent conflict management
• Establishing and following shared norms and rules
• Teaching respectful and polite behavior towards peers and adults
• Encouraging cleanliness and order
• Preparing children for the transition to secondary school

Opening and closing times

The after-school care centers of the municipality of Ottendorf-Okrilla are open during the school year from 6:00 a.m. until the start of lessons, usually from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and continuously during school holidays from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The centers are closed between Christmas and New Year, as well as on the Friday after Ascension Day. Additional closure days before or after public holidays (bridge days) or during deep cleaning periods are determined each school year in the school conference.

Facilities and usage

Our after-school children have access to four different group rooms on the ground floor. If needed, classrooms can be used jointly. In addition, the building includes a children’s library and a children’s kitchen, as well as an adjoining gym, which we use for various activities.

Outdoor area

Our outdoor space of approximately 10,000 m² offers children a wide variety of opportunities to run, play, balance, and relax. Popular play areas include climbing structures, trees, a bird’s nest swing, and especially our football field. Bushes and shrubs provide many retreat spaces.

Children can explore and enjoy our outdoor area: two central seating areas, table tennis tables, a large-scale chessboard, and varied vehicle tracks provide fun and activity.