Every week, the familiar smell of warm pretzels and the assorted goodies drifts through the hallway, drawing long lines of hungry students.
What began as a simple idea a decade ago has grown into one of the warmest traditions in our school community. Thanks to many dedicated volunteers like Sharon, Gisela, Amy, Anna and Anjali the pretzel stand continues to be more than just a place to buy a snack. It is a place where smiles are shared, connections are made, and a little piece of community is baked fresh every week.
A very special mention goes to Sharon Mack, our longest-serving concession stand volunteer. Even after her children graduated from the school, Sharon continued to return every Saturday to keep the concession stand running with the same commitment and heart.
Over the years, her outstanding support and dedication to the school have been recognized, and she remains a shining example of what makes our community so special.
But what actually happens behind the scenes at the concession stand?
To find out, five curious students from our DSD 1 class Annika, Riley, Nico, Teo und Piers sat down with the concession stand volunteers: Gisela, Amy, Sharon and Anjali. Their conversation revealed not only fun facts, but also the heart and community spirit behind this beloved tradition.
How It All Began
Annika: We’ve heard the stand has been around for a long time. How did it start?
Gisela: It was founded about ten years ago by a Swiss lady. She has since moved back to Switzerland, but the stand is still going strong thanks to all the volunteers who took over.
A Busy Pretzel Operation
Riley: How many pretzels do you sell every week?
Amy: On average, about 150. We get them from Arctic Meats, and we sell each one for two dollars.
Nico: And do you sell other things too?
Anjali: Yes, quite a few! With the pretzels and everything else, the concession brings in over a thousand dollars a week.
Teo: Wow! What happens with all that money?
Gisela: A portion is donated back to the school, and some is used to keep the pretzel prices low for everyone.
Customer Favourites
Piers: Which pretzel sells the most—the regular pretzel or the pretzel bun?
Amy: The regular pretzel wins by far. But personally? My favourite is definitely the pretzel bun.
Annika: And what sells the most overall?
Gisela: Pretzels and coffee—those two never stop moving.
The Rhythm of the Work
Riley: How long does it take to set up everything in the morning?
Anjali: About twenty to thirty minutes. Once you get into a routine, it’s pretty smooth.
Nico: How long have you been working at the concession?
Amy: Only about a year so far, but it’s been wonderful.
The Heart Behind the Counter
Teo: And how does it feel to work at the concession stand?
Anjali: Honestly? It feels awesome. You get to see kids walk away smiling, pretzel in hand. And it feels good knowing the money supports the German school.
A big THANK -YOU to DSD1 teacher Tanmay Joshi for guiding his students in interviewing the concession stand ladies and helping to capture and share their story. Giving students the opportunity to document this tradition is telling an important part of our school’s community history.
