The spirit of Christmas came alive at our school during this year’s festive Christmas celebration and annual German market. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our school board, dedicated administrator Nathalie Currie, and a team of enthusiastic family volunteers, the event was again a great success. A huge “danke” to everyone who made it possible!
After getting a first glimpse of the festive vibes of the market, attendees gathered in the theater for a wonderful Christmas performance. Our talented students, supported by their incredible teachers, put on quite a show.
The festivities kicked off with a warm welcome from Principal Axel Rechlin. He welcomed also German Consul General Marc Eichhorn, who attended the event with his wife. The Consul delivered a heartwarming speech that underscored the importance of celebrating German traditions, especially during the festive season.
Marc Eichhorn
This year, we were very excited to welcome the Swiss Community Band ”Vancouver Dorfmusik”. They were founded in 1983 by 3 members of the Vancouver Swiss Community to perform Swiss and European style music similar to small village bands.
The Swiss band also features the traditional Swiss Alphorn, a wooden wind instrument from the Swiss Alps.
The alphorn has a history of almost 2,000 years. It was originally used by shepherds to call their cows from the pastures, and to communicate with other herdsmen and people in the valley.
Everyone truly enjoyed the spectacular performance of the ”Blaskapelle” with their Alphorns.
The program opened with a Christmas intro by singer Chiara accompanied by Björn on the guitar.
Here’s a glimpse at the fabulous performances of our students:
– Preschool of Andrea Dahlmann-Resing: Poem “Alle meine Tännchen”
– Kindergarten of Anett Roland: Poem “Kleiner Stern”
– Class G1/2of Juliane Wolfram: A series of Christmas poems, including “Advent, Advent ein Lichtlein brennt”, “Im Winter wenn es stürmt und schneit”, and “Lieber guter Weihnachtsmann”
– Class E1/2 of Olga Brown: Poem “Zehn kleine Schneeflocken”
– Class G3/4 of Ilka Schmidt: Christmas Wishes
– Class G5/6 of Karin Kent: A humorous version of “Oh Tannenbaum” and other festive poems
– Class G7/8 of Ben Zimmermann: A funny story about Christmas dinner
– Class E3/4/5/6/7/8 of Norma Hogan and Sibylle Sandvoss: Singing “Weihnachtszeit kommt nun heran”
– School Choir: “Leise rieselt der Schnee”
-Class DSD1 of Tanmay Joshi: A short theater sketch “Weihnachten in 2 Akten”
– Adult Beginner Class of Petra Hammoser: Singing “Oh Tannenbaum”
Following the theater performance, families enjoyed the traditional German Christmas market, with vendors showcasing crafts, holiday treasures, and delicious treats. The concession stand served a hearty lunch sponsored by Freybe (featuring European wieners) and sweet refreshments sponsored by Tim Hortons, including cookies and hot chocolate.
Behind the scenes, a strong team worked tirelessly to bring this event to life. Special thanks to our volunteer board members:
– Fred Voglmaier (President)
– Tilmann Glimm (Vice President)
– Sylvia Riesen (Treasurer)
– Monica Herie (Secretary)
– Thomas Kuehn, Oliver Heel, Daniela Price, and Sonya das Gupta (Directors)
Administrator Nathalie Currie orchestrated the market logistics, organizing an array of wonderful vendors and the concession stand. From festive crafts to delicious treats, her work ensured a truly magical experience.
Volunteers, teachers, and even the Consul General and his wife gathered afterward to share some holiday cheer, making it a truly joyous occasion.
This year’s celebration highlighted the spirit of togetherness that defines our school community.
As we look forward to the holiday break, we wish all our students and families a *Frohe Weihnachten* and a wonderful start to the New Year! See you in January!
