Classes

Zoo Outing

German School of Madison

Our first field trip of the year was to Henry Vilas Zoo, on a glorious late summer day. Ask your children if they got to see the 6-months-old Löwen (lions) or the Dachse (Badgers) at the news Wisconsin Heritage Exhibit!

Did you know that there is a connection between the Vilas family and the German language? Henry Vilas Zoo was named in honor of a son of Madisonians William and Anna Vilas, who donated the land to the city in 1904. William Vilas was a law professor at UW Madison. He later became a US Senator. In 1889 he supported the movement against a law in Wisconsin that required the use of English in schools (Bennett Law). Up to then, many schools in Wisconsin used German in the classroom as the main language of instruction. Backlash against the law was strong and it was repealed in 1891.

Thanks to everyone who chaperoned and volunteered!

10 days to go!

German School of Madison

Just 10 days to go! We have been busy preparing for the new school year: tweaking the curriculum, holding teacher orientation meetings, hiring assistants, planning community events, and reaffirming our connection with the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad.

We are excited to introduce our new Eulen (5th/6th grade) teacher Elizabeth Allaby, who joins us after two years as a Fulbright teaching assistant in Austria and a year as a STEM educator and German instructor with AmeriCorps. Herzlich willkommen, Elizabeth!

Elizabeth Allaby

This year, we are going to reach more families than ever. As always, our classes for our youngest students have filled quickly. We currently have a waitlist for our preschool classes (Entchen/Spatzen) as well as for our Schwalben class (1st and 2nd graders). For all other classes, you can still register here.

 

Happy and silly faces at Sommercamp

German School of Madison
In June we welcomed 19 campers to the first session of Sommercamp 2017. For the first time, camp extended into the afternoon, which gave us more time for activities like soccer, crocheting, T-shirt decorating, and, of course, singing and dancing! The session’s theme of “Märchen” (fairy tales) could be seen in group learning activities and in a large castle-building project.
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There are still a couple of spots left in our August Sommercamp (August 21-25). Come and join the fun! You can register here. Registration for the school year 2017-18 is also open.
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Last day of school!

German School of Madison

Impressions from our last school day: After their final lessons, students met outside for a fun run and a round of soccer.

Our younger students took their races very seriously!

The kids made their teachers run as well.

Teachers Jonathan Gillette, Jo Drury, and Chris Tabisz gave it their all. This was Chris’s (now Dr. Tabisz!) last day with our school. He will move to the Twin Cities next month to teach German at an immersion school. Chris has been instrumental in opening our school DaF (German as a Foreign Language) students. Most recently, he taught our 3rd and 4th graders. We will miss him!

Time to relax and hang out with friends.

First day of school

German School of Madison

We hope everyone had a great first day of school. It was fantastic to see so many new and familiar faces. Our new location finally allows us to hold all classes at the same time. It also has a (wifi- and coffeee-equipped) communal space where parents can chat or get work done while their kids go to class. Please check your welcome folder for important information about upcoming events and volunteering needs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Happy new school year!

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