UPDATE: Earlier Release
<Please scroll down for English version>
Liebe Eltern und Erziehungsberechtigte,
aufgrund der aktuellen Wetterwarnung in unserer Region und im Interesse der Sicherheit aller Schülerinnen und Schüler sowie Mitarbeitenden beenden wir den Unterricht und das Kindergartenprogramm heute vorzeitig um 12:55 Uhr. Die Schulbusse werden das Schulgelände um 13:05 Uhr verlassen.
Um eine ungefähre Ankunftszeit an Ihrer Haltestelle zu ermitteln, bitten wir Sie, sich an den Zeiten der regulären Busroute zu orientieren.
Wenn Ihr Kind nicht mit dem Bus fährt, holen Sie es bitte um 12:55 Uhr ab.
Sollte sich die Wettersituation so entwickeln, dass es erforderlich ist, werden wir selbstverständlich alle Schülerinnen und Schüler sicher in den Gebäuden behalten und Schutz im Gebäude gewährleisten, bis eine sichere Situation gegeben ist.
Falls Sie aufgrund von Verkehr oder Wetter nicht genau um 12:55 Uhr zur Abholung eintreffen können, werden wir die Kinder weiterhin in den jeweiligen Gebäuden – Preschool, Elementary School und im Hauptgebäude – betreuen und im Gebäude lassen, bis Sie sicher an der Schule angekommen sind, um Ihr Kind abzuholen.
Bitte fahren Sie vorsichtig, versuchen Sie jedoch so zeitnah wie möglich zur Schule zu kommen, da wir bemüht sind, die Gebäude für die Sicherheit aller Beteiligten so bald wie möglich nach 12:55 Uhr zu leeren.
Sollte es zu Verzögerungen bei der Abfahrt der Schulbusse kommen, werden wir Sie selbstverständlich umgehend mit einem weiteren Update informieren.
Wir danken Ihnen für Ihr Verständnis und wünschen Ihnen und Ihrer Familie, dass Sie gut und sicher durch das heutige Wetter kommen.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Die Schulleitung
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Dear Parents and Guardians,
Due to the severe weather alert in our region, and in the interest of the safety of all students and staff, classes and the preschool program will end early today at 12:55 pm. School buses will depart campus at 1:05 pm.
To estimate the approximate arrival time at your bus stop, please refer to the times listed on the regular bus route schedule.
If your child does not ride the bus please pick them up at 12:55pm.
If the situation warrants it, we will certainly keep all students safely sheltered inside the buildings and ensure everyone remains safe until conditions allow otherwise.
If you happen to be delayed in traffic or by the weather and cannot arrive exactly at 12:55 pm for pickup, students will remain inside their respective buildings - Preschool, Elementary School, and the Main Building - and will be supervised until you arrive safely to pick up your child.
Please drive carefully and do your best to be on time, as we are for everyone’s safety hoping to have the buildings cleared as soon as possible after 12:55 pm.
If bus departures are delayed, we will certainly provide another update promptly.
Thank you for your understanding. We wish everyone a safe afternoon and hope you stay safe during the weather.
Kind regards,
School Leadership
Class of 2018: Commemorative Sculpture
The Class of 2018 is thrilled to announce the completion of an exciting alumni project - the installation of a sculpture commemorating their years at the GISW and also a plaque with the names of all 34 students who graduated that year. This was entirely funded through money that was left over from their 12A&B joint class account after graduation was paid for, and after other expenses, including a substantial donation to our cherished Coach Barker.
After a long search for sculptors in the DC area, students decided to go with award-winning local sculptor David Therriault, who based his work entirely on input from students. All of the parts of the sculpture have a special meaning to the students.
Entitled “Die Reise/The Journey,” the sculpture is made up of three panels, one representing childhood, a center panel representing adulthood and a third panel representing the later years. The center panel features a boat motif, which was inspired by a well-known saying of one of their teachers, Frau Fricke, (Alle ins Boot holen) or “get everyone into the same boat.” It was designed to also look like mountain peaks for all of the struggles they will overcome in their lives. The lines that cross through all three panels depict waves or winds that take the students around the world on their different journeys, united by their time together as students at the GISW. The back of the sculpture is a series of tiny steps, referring to the many steps students take on their way to young adulthood and through life. The sculpture and plaque are located in the GISW sculpture garden near the soccer field.
Many thanks to Class of 2018 alums Johannes Schmidt, Annika Blaufuß and Max O’Neill for organizing this project, as well as the support of the school staff and community.
The class of 2018 as well as other alumni came to the GISW campus to see the sculpture as they visited the area over Christmas break.
