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

George Padaroff (1931-2025)

2025-06-04 15:29

George Padaroff (1931-2025)

With great sadness, we have learned that George Padaroff, DSW English Teacher, passed away May 16, 2025, at the age of 93. Mr. Padaroff was an English teacher and Department Chairman from 1968 to 1996 at both the Logan and Chateau Drive campuses. During his 28 years at the School, he assumed many roles and made a difference in the lives of countless students and colleagues.

During his early years, he established the School’s literature-based English program by writing a curriculum based upon the middle- and high-school models. He championed independent thinking by developing a program to teach young people to speak publicly, and he arranged class trips to Arena Stage in Washington, knowing that live actors on stage would enrich his students’ love for the English language. He was known as a strict but fair disciplinarian, who, upon occasion, asked younger students to act out the role of a part of speech. He educated hundreds of students, graded thousands of essays, encouraged their work, offered advice at school meetings, guided younger teachers, and more. Perhaps he was most proud of his role as the spokesperson for the Teachers-Employee Association by ensuring fair working conditions and reasonable faculty/staff salaries.

Current employees in our admin office still remember him along with a few students coming to the office bringing potted plants from his classroom at the start of summer break so the plants could be cared for in the offices that are open year-round while teachers and students were away. He clearly cared about the atmosphere of his classroom.

George Padaroff was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Mary (neé Nosal) and Jack Padaroff. From an early age, he was interested in music and languages. His enthusiasm for the German language began when he was drafted into the US Army and sent to Germany. During his time off, while in the Army, he travelled throughout Europe. After his honorable discharge, he used his GI bill to study at Penn State, as well as in Munich, and in Göttingen, mastering the German language. After his years at the German International School Washington D.C., he retired to Charlottesville, VA, where he would host musicians and play the harpsicord for his guests. He was made an honorary member of the German School Society and was frequently honored by former students, who said his teaching had made a difference in their lives. At the age of 90, he remarked, “I very much missed going into a classroom and interacting with the students in a teaching-learning environment, but my retirement has, nevertheless, been rewarding.” In later years, he moved to Lehigh Commons Macungie Retirement Home, where he passed away this May. Gravesite services were held on May 21, 2025, at St. Mary's Russian Orthodox Cemetery in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania. He was predeceased by his four siblings: Victor, Stephanie, Josephine, and Mildred.

The German International School community sends George’s family and friends its sincere condolences.