You are cordially invited to our annual Sommerfest!
Event
Karneval Party 2016
Karneval (or “Fasching”), sometimes called the fifth season, is a celebration that occurs just before Lent. Parades and street parties abound (especially in the Rhineland area), children wear costumes, and cities elect mock governors.
Here are some impressions from our 2016 Karneval/Fasching celebration. Thanks to everyone who came and shared in the fun! Special thanks to organizers Elisabeth Berkelman and Iris Hengst and to all the volunteers who helped out before, during, and after the party. You are the best!
Celebrate the fifth season with us!
Please join us at our annual Fasching/Karneval Costume Party on Saturday, February 6th at 4:30PM in the Shorewood Hills Community Center, 901 Swarthmore Court.
Informational event on studying in Germany
Jan. 23 was a busy day for our school! In the morning, Anka Fehling from the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA) held a teacher training seminar on internal differentiation in the classroom. In the afternoon, we hosted an informational event on the topic of studying in Germany, in collaboration with the ZfA, the Goethe-Institut, and several UW Departments and programs. Presentations by Anka Fehling, Barbara Jedele (UW International Internship Program), and Samuel Johnson (recent Academic Year in Freiburg alumn) were followed by a lively discussion on opportunities to experience Germany as a student. If you would like to learn more about the competence levels referred to in the Common European Framework (A1, B2, C1, etc.), you can look them up here.
International Festival
Great turnout at the International Festival at the Overture Center last week! The German School of Madison had a table and answered questions about classes for children and adults (there is considerable interest in the latter). Our kids did a great job telling other kids how much fun it is to learn German, showing off their snazzy new hoodies and t-shirts. Many people were interested in our upcoming “Study in Germany” event (in cooperation with the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad, the Goethe-Institut, and several UW-Madison departments) as well as in our summer camps. We also now have a brochure that gives a first quick overview of the school.
Learning German in Germany
Please join us for an exciting event in cooperation with the Central Agency for Schools Abroad, the Goethe-Institut Chicago, and several UW-Madison Departments on January 23 at 4.30 pm, 7191 Helen C. White Hall, 600 N. Park Street (Madison).
Nikolausfeier 2015
The night before Nikolaustag (St. Nicholas’ Day), many German children put out a boot, hoping St. Nicholas will fill it over night with sweets. (The Austrian version, Krampus, is less benign.)
We had a fabulous Nikolaus celebration on Dec. 6 (St. Nicholas Day)! Christmas songs were sung, delicacies enjoyed, and heaps of praise and mild admonishments were delivered. The highlight, of course, was a visit from St. Nick himself. He had brought his Golden Book and seemed to know everything about our students’ behavior in class.
Iris Hengst led us in singing German Christmas carols, accompanied on the piano by a Deutsch 3 student.
And then it was time for our special guest: Nikolaus called up each child by name and congratulated them on their accomplishments — but he also let them know where there was still room for improvement (top three: clean up your room, be nicer to your brother/sister, speak more German). Most children took their conversation with him in stride.
Everybody was handed a little gift bag.
And then it was time for our potluck dinner. While in line, guests could study the Krampus pictures produced during our weekend class.
A big thank you to our volunteers for all their work in making the event happen, our teachers for providing St. Nick with important information, and, of course, to St. Nick himself for taking the time to visit our school.
Wir wünschen allen eine schöne Adventszeit!
(If you ordered t-shirts or hoodies with our logo, we will notify you by email when they arrive.)
Laternenfest!
On Saint Martin’s Day Germans celebrate the story of St. Martin, a soldier-turned-monk who cut his coat in half to share it with a beggar, with colorful lantern processions. This year, more than 100 GSoM friends and family members came to our St. Martin celebration. It was a wonderful evening for showing off all those colorful lanterns!
Ready for the lantern parade
Before the parade, we got together to learn about the story of St. Martin. Here, DaF teacher Chris Tabisz is enacting the separation of the coat.
Enacting the story of St. Martin
Drawing the story of St. Martin
There was also time to practice one or two lantern songs.
Lantern songs
Did you see the mug on the piano? Have a closer look:
President Catrin Weimbs showing off our new fabulous mugs
(If you would like to order a mug — $15 –, please send us an email.)
While the kids were out for the parade, volunteers set up the potluck table.
Volunteer coordinator Iris Hengst setting up the potluck table
Vanillekipferln donated by Clasen’s European Bakery
Finally, the parade!
Lantern parade
Lantern parade
Lantern parade
Lantern parade
Lantern parade
Lantern parade
Such a colorful night! Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with us (and brought delicious food to share), to our DaF and D1/2/3 teachers for a wonderful project class, and especially to our parent volunteers for making it such a fun night for all!
Such a colorful night!
German School of Madison 
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