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Student Residence

Providing a home for our students presents a significant challenge for us social workers at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein student residence. The boys and girls, who come from all over Austria, should feel at home. To meet this high standard, numerous structural changes have been made in recent years. This has allowed us to formulate and implement our motto – "Education through Relationships" – as our most important educational goal.

Teamwork

Raumberg has always been a boarding school. However, the way students are supervised after school hours – as in all other areas of the school community – has changed considerably over the years. In the early years, teachers had to take turns supervising students (one week of extracurricular duty) alongside their teaching duties, essentially running the school as a one-man show. Today, student supervision is a team effort involving 12 social workers, supported by several teacher-assistants who work evening shifts.

Education through relationship

The diverse demands of our time, and the expectations of our students, can no longer be met by a single teacher alone. Young people are, in a sense, a "mirror of society" and examples of how our coexistence has changed in recent decades. Naturally, this has also made the demands on the teaching team more extensive and varied. In small groups of approximately 30 students—each class has its own teacher, at least in the first three years—relationships are fostered, meaningful leisure activities are provided, students are supported and challenged, and learning assistance and support are offered and organized to ensure academic success.

Social competence

Living together in such a large house requires consideration, assertiveness, a willingness to compromise, and persuasiveness. These are all qualities that can be summarized under the term "social competence." Through numerous school events (balls, concerts, sporting competitions, etc.), the young people can repeatedly test and apply these strengths.

Extensive leisure activities

Thanks to the dedication of many, the range of recreational facilities has been consistently expanded in recent years. Following the adage that "a healthy mind resides in a healthy body," sports have always played a significant role at HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein. The sports facilities range from the use of gymnasiums and sports fields during leisure time, to rental mountain bikes, skis, sleds, inline skates, table tennis tables, foosball tables, a pool table, a climbing wall in the gymnasium, and a fitness room in the basement.

But the boarding school also offers plenty of leisure activities for less sports-minded teenagers. Those interested in art can discover and develop their talents in woodcarving, painting, pottery, and jewelry design, and showcase their skills in beautiful pieces.

Although our type of school does not include music education, the students are fortunate to be able to express their musicality as members of the brass band, folk music groups, guitar group, school band or as singers in various school choir formations.

For us social workers, education through relationships is a balancing act with young people on their journey to "find themselves" and become "individuals." In addition to this support on their path to adulthood, they need guidelines and rules that facilitate their orientation, as well as a climate that—based on trust—includes mutual appreciation and respect for personal values and the dignity of others. Only in this way can students acquire key skills such as communicative, social, and organizational competence.

We strive to accompany and support them in the most professional way possible.

The social work team

We are happy to answer any questions or receive suggestions