Hard to believe, but our school year is completed and now it's time to celebrate! Our "Abschlussfeier" will take place on Saturday, May 15 - as always this is an outdoor event on the grounds of the Boylston Schul-Verein in Walpole (8 County Road/Rte 109. For directions click here). We've outgrown the "Festsaal" inside the BSV Clubhouse many years ago, so festivities will take place under the pavilion. Many of you are "Abschlussfeier veterans" and know the drill. For our newcomers, here are few helpful tips: 

The Boylston Schul-Verein is urgently looking for help with their annual Sommerfest (June 12 + 13). Here's a letter from the Co-Chair Daniel Koch explaining how you can help:

The Dankeschön-end-of-school-year fundraiser to benefit the library - and to say Dankeschön to our teachers - is ending this Saturday! If you'd like to make a donation, request a form (a copy has also been sent home in your child's folder) and deliver it to the library on Saturday.

The Internet is an infinite resource for many things, but sometimes one doesn't even know where to start. Here are a few Web sites with a "German" angle that we are told are popular among families at our school. Check them out: 

Rising college tuition costs in the United States and your general interest in German language and culture may have prompted some of you to consider sending your child to study in Germany. A representative from Baden-Wuerttemberg International will be visiting the school on May 1 to talk to interested students and parents about opportunities to study in Baden-Wuerttemberg - and how to go about that. Dr. Susanne Ziemek will be presenting to/talking with interested parents at 9.45AM in the 5th floor auditorium and at 11.45AM meet with interested students (recommended for grades 9 and higher). Baden-Wuerttemberg International's mission is to promote, attract and initiate international business, science and research development within Baden-Wuerttemberg, located in the southwest of Germany.

Congratulations to our teacher Bruce Mitchell and his family for the arrival of Dane Cameron Mitchell, born on April 14, 2010! Dane is welcomed by his little brother Aedan. We're wishing health and happiness and much more. Herzlichen Glueckwunsch!

The following readings by two accomplished current German authors, Alina Bronsky and Felicitas Hoppe came highly recommended to us:  
 

Two former Saturday school teachers will present and perform at the "Ars Animi 2010" evening on April 29th at the German International School. Heidi Schlager, who was teaching 8th grade last year, will show her oil and acryl paintings in the gallery; Dunja Pechstein, a trained soprano and formerly our music teacher, will perform as part of the musical performance that evening. For the full program, click here. 

Registration for the 2010/11 school year is generally closed. Most lower classes are filled (K-4). If you are interested in registering a child for a higher class or to be placed on the waiting list for the 2010/11 school, please contact the registrar at registrar@germansaturdayschoolboston.org. For the future, if you'd like to know how our registration process works, this year's tuition rates and dates, please read on...

For the music & arts lovers: Ralf Gawlick, professor of music at Boston College, is presenting in two concerts in April the world premiere of his composition of the Children's Crusade (Kinderkreuzzug) Cantata based on Bertholt Brecht's ballad by the same name. The cantata will be performed by the Knabenchor der Chorakademie Dortmund, Treble Chorus of New England and Youth pro Musica. More info about dates, locations and the music for this event on the Goethe-Institut web site.