In March 13, 2020, the FRIENDS of the German School Charitable Trust presented a check in the amount of US$ 30,000 to the then-Head of School, Petra Palenzatis. The intention at that time was that part of the funds were to be used for sets of outdoor table tennis. Fast forward to fall 2020 and the two table tennis tables have arrived and are already installed on the Upper School greentop behind the two tall flag poles. It is one of the outside sport activities that students can safely engage in during the pandemic at the German International School Washington – fortuitous timing!

According to Marc Aurel Löckmann, Acting Head of School, students are already intensely playing games of table tennis at recess while at school during in-class instruction as part of the Phase 2 hybrid learning and he expressed his thanks to both the present FRIENDS Board as well as to the previous Board sharing the gift earlier this year.

Photo Caption: Members of the current FRIENDS Board with sons at the two new sets of outdoor table tennis: Dr. Clemencia Torres de Mästle, Vice President (center); Christopher Sheldon, Deputy Treasurer (right), with Michael and Benjamin; Dr. Thomas Rehermann, Secretary (left), with Christopher and Sebastian. Photo Credit:  Ben Hebebrand