Helperknapp Municipality Inaugurates New School Campus

On Friday 19 May 2023, the new Helperknapp Campus inauguration took place, in the presence of several local community members and including an acknowledgement speech by Claude Meisch, the Luxembourg Minister of Education, Children and Youth.

Five years ago, the localities of Boevange-sur-Attert and Tuntange merged to form the municipality of Helperknapp. With a total population of 4,963, there are 538 children of primary school age in the municipality.

According to the new campus’ organisation, the building of a new primary school was decided before the municipalities merged. Due to the old school buildings no longer meeting current requirements and environmental standards, the infrastructures were centralised: the primary school, after-school service (Maison Relais) and the municipal administration service responsible for them (Service scolaire) were all brought together on a new campus.

Work for the construction of the new school complex began on 11 September 2018, the complex’ sports hall opened its doors in mid-September 2021 and the school was officially opened on 15 September 2022.

On the Helperknapp campus, around 130 people work for the assistance of a total of 538 students, divided into 33 school classes. There are four classrooms per school year and one multipurpose room.

The campus is heated with wood chips via a district heating network in its entirety. A photovoltaic system on the campus roof provides an energy output of about 500 kilowatt hours into the power grid for the energy cooperative; another installation on the sports hall supplies the entire campus with 100 kilowatt hours.

The Helperknapp campus is built near a forest, has reading corners next to individual classrooms and a jointly designed campus courtyard, the “Airtramp” and the “Action Centre”. These aim to provide relaxation opportunities both during and outside school hours.

In addition to opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, the children are also involved in the internal school organisation, for example by being encouraged to design their own logo. Social commitment is not neglected either: one example of active engagement in this area is a charity run for the benefit of “Télévie”, in which the children ran for €37,000.

The canteen, run by the Hollenfels Youth Hostel, mainly uses locally, regionally and seasonally produced food in the preparation of their meals – serving around 1,500 meals each week. The canteen also reportedly has two low-waste fridges, from which anyone interested can help themselves for €3.

Five different bus routes currently bring children from all over the community to the campus, each route marked with its own colour and symbol. Students all have their own bus pass, which shows the bus stop where they need to get off. There is an attendant on each bus, who is in contact with both the after-school and the administration services.

During a “Meet & Greet” campaign, families could familiarise themselves with the building and the surrounding grounds before the start of the school year. During various open days, parents and guardians were able to discover the new structures. They also received an information brochure.

The outdoor area of the campus is open to the general public outside of school hours.