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
..........................................
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
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
"To talk about it is impossible, to remain silent about it is forbidden."
(Elie Wiesel 1928 - 2016, Holocaust survivor)
On January 26, 2024, our students in grades 9, 10 and 11 of the GISW had the special honor of visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to participate in the International Holocaust Remembrance Day events.
We would like to thank Dr. Saltzman and the Holocaust Museum as well as the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington D.C. for making it possible for our students to participate in this day of remembrance at the museum and to actively contribute to the historical and political culture of remembrance of National Socialism.
The museum opened its doors to our GISW students one hour before the official opening hours so that volunteers were able to give each of our classes a guided tour of the permanent exhibition. This gave the young people the opportunity to understand the chronological developments and the rapid radicalization of the Nazi regime, as well as the associated rise in antisemitism and discrimination against other population groups. The students asked many good questions and were grateful for the opportunity to gain such an emotionally profound insight into the history of the Holocaust.
After the tour, the students were invited to take part in the closed panel discussion, in which the GISW was the only school represented. Speeches were given by the director of the museum, Sara J. Bloomfield, and politicians such as the Israeli Ambassador Mike Herzog and the Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution in the Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria, Karoline Edtstadler. In addition to the German ambassador, Andreas Michaelis, the Polish ambassador, Marek Magierowski, and the French ambassador, Laurent Bili, were also actively involved. The director moderated a discussion among the panel participants on the rise of anti-Semitism and the culture of remembrance in their respective countries. It was a very interesting discussion, which also touched on the current political situation. The words of Holocaust survivor Irene Weiss, who was herself imprisoned in Auschwitz and spoke about her experiences, were particularly inspiring and emotional for our students.
"We as students feel extremely honored because we were officially welcomed by so many, and unexpectedly the audience applauded us for participating in this special event. For many of us, this was a very emotional moment, as it was supposed to be us applauding the Holocaust survivors." (Class 11A)
Another unforgettable and emotional part of the program was the Hall of Remembrance. GISW students were allowed to read out the names of those who died in the Holocaust and honor them by lighting candles. They also had the opportunity to have inspiring conversations with Holocaust survivors. During the personal conversations, our students showed a sincere, profound empathy and were encouraged to think deeply about certain topics.
This day was extremely moving for the students and at the same time instructive in many ways. On the one hand, the focus is on remembrance and commemoration, but on the other hand, the awareness that anti-Semitism, racism and any other form of discrimination and disrespectful behavior or language have no place in our democracy, and in our school community.
The Holocaust Museum has been regularly visited by GISW students since the 1990s. It is an integral part of our school education as we deal in-depth with this important topic.
Since 2012, a visit to the Holocaust Museum has been firmly anchored in the curriculum for Grade 12. Our Head of School Carsten Apsel supports the idea of extending this experience to younger grades. "In our society, the principles of tolerance and respect are fundamental values that demand our sincere commitment. At GISW, we actively uphold these principles, fostering an environment of inclusivity and understanding. Through a meticulously designed prevention strategy, we dedicate ourselves to amplifying these efforts, ensuring they are part of every aspect of our community. We believe "NEVER AGAIN IS NOW!" (Carsten Apsel)
We would also like to thank the parents and guardians of grades 9, 10 and 11 for their cooperation in making it possible for their child to take part in the Remembrance Day event despite the short school day. This is an experience that the students will not forget.
- Laura Walker, Head of the History Department / US History
"You are not responsible for what happened. But you are responsible for it not happening again."
(Max Mannheimer 1920-2016, Holocaust survivor)
Here you can find the video recording of the panel discussion: https://youtu.be/h4XVHpg5JXM
