Traditions

The Schloss, our beautiful castle that welcomes every visitor walking onto campus, has had many lives.

The recorded history of the land on which Schloss Buchhof lies dates back to the twelfth century. Previously the ridge of land was the site of a watchtower for a veteran Roman legionnaire’s camp, designed to guard the original Roma road running between Pahl and Weihenstephan (Freising). These ruins were removed in 1875. The manors of Puoche (Buchhof) are mentioned in documents for the fist time in 1181-82. Previously owned by the Dukes of Andechs, the manor was then purchased by Earl Freidrich and in turn given to the monastery of Schaftlarn.

After secularization of the monastery and appropriation of the property by the state, Puoche was put up for sale. On 15 March, 1841, Herr Karl Ritter von Maffei purchased the property which stayed in his family until 1923. The property was not only a farm, but also a brewery and distillery, a tavern and in 1874 the home of the Percha Militia and Marksman Club. The Schloss was built in 1875 from ruins on the Kellerberg. From 1923 to the outbreak of war in 1939 the manor had several owners. In 1939 the owner, the Gauleiter (Nazi Party Chief) of Munich constructed two stables for riding and racing horses.

For many years after the war, under the sponsorship of the U.S. Air Force base at Neubiberg, the Schloss served as a site for a refugee youth hostel, known as Jungenstadt Buchhof, Boystown. Boys Town Buchhof was founded in May 1947 to take care of male war orphans between 13 and 19 years of age. The fact that self governmental structures were established to teach these boys democracy after the breakdown of the Nazi-regime made it a very special institution. The young citizens of Boys Town Buchhof had their own constitution, elected mayors and put up a court with their own judges.

In 1955 the city of Munich took over Buchhof as a working farm. By the time the property was leased to MIS, the unoccupied Schloss had fallen into disrepair and required much work to transform it into a school building,

The first annual Ski Trip was held in January 1967 in Kirchberg, Austria. It was organised by the Crowley family and was attended by 49 students and various members of faculty. Ski Weeks continued as a time during which the school travelled to a chosen location and skied together.

The origins of the annual Fruehlingsfest can be traced to a book fair held in 1968 in Harlaching. They were festive, family-oriented occasions. A spook house may have been set up in the basement of the Schloss, movies shown in Haus Schweiz or students often exhibited their pets at a dog show. On two occasions parachutists of the Special Forces at Bad Toelz, literally dropped in for the festivities. Members of the MIS Boy Scout Troop were also known for the excellence in serving hamburgers, a tradition that has been taken up by members of the Board. In 1971 Fruehlingsfest, held on 15 May, raised DM 11,000, and included the raffle of a BMW 1600.

Whilst Fruelingsfests may have changed in size and style over the years, it remains an important opportunity for the school to foster relationships with the surrounding community. Beer, Bavarian Bands and Spring have remained constant.

In the summer of 1990, MIS students Jesse Garcia and Nickie Shaver travelled to Tanzania with teachers Carol Geiger and Mark McGough to establish a helping relationship with the people of Tanzania. This relationship has evolved since that first visit into a significant component of the MIS Community outreach.