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09/25/08
40
Year Anniversary GLSMC, Celebration at the Black Forest Inn,
25 September 2008
Opening
Address by Dr. Christiane Reves, Principal
Ladies
and Gentlemen, Friends of GLSMC, parents and Board Members,
The
German Language School of Morris County has been in existence now
for 40 years. This means that for 40 years we have been making it
possible for young people in our area to learn about German culture,
learn the German language, as well as to solidify and build on the
skills they have been acquiring through us.
I
have been particularly honored this year to be the Principal of this
school, which is so rich in tradition, where children and youth have
taken such joy in learning German. Each Saturday they experience
here a small piece of German community, where it is not only about
memorizing vocabulary, but where students and family celebrate
festivals, learn about customs and exchange ideas with those of a
similar background.
It
all began in the year 1968: Ernst C. Scheja saw the need for
education in the German language and culture, and founded the German
Language School of Morris County in a joint effort with fellow
supporters. On the 16th of September of that same year,
the first class was held at Morristown High School. The school began
with only 3 classes for a total of 72 children and 2 adults. Only
one year later some 110 students had registered which were divided
up into 6 classes. This idea to found the German Language School of
Morris County was a great success. The vision of Ernst Scheja and
his supporters had become reality.
Today
the German Language School of Morris County enjoys tremendous
renown. In this year as well, we have seen over 100 registrations,
and the trend is climbing. Particularly the Preschool and elementary
school are continually growing. The parents of today are becoming
increasingly more aware of how important it is to build on their
children’s language and cultural education or to provide children
who have not yet acquired a second language the possibility to do
so. By restructuring the school this year into two separate tracks
for beginning and advanced students and updating our curriculum, we
will be able to meet the present needs of parents and students.
Our
students in the uppers classes have graduated with flying colors.
All those who took the exam for the Deutscher Sprachdiplom passed. Our students also did well on the AP
exams. The results of the AATG exams were also a testimony to our
excellence.
I
would like to thank all those who worked in tireless dedication over
the years for our school: long-time Principal Grethe Ridley, but
also Tanya Stevenson, as well as Heidi Killen and her whole family.
I would like to especially thank the current president Dr. Gerhard
Mayer and all the Board Members, who have been working with their
whole hearts toward guiding our school into the future.
I
wish our school many, many more successful years of promoting
education in German language and culture here
in Morris County. In the words of Mark Twain, who understood what
patience and dedication meant when in comes to learning German, 1877
in his notebook no. 14: “Never knew before what eternity
was made for. It is to give some of us a chance to learn German.”
We are working to ensure that precisely this will not be the case,
that our students – unlike Mark Twain – will not need an
eternity to be successful in German.
Vielen
Dank
Margaret
Wallis and Edda Kramm, both teachers for many years
were recognized by the school for their dedicated service with a plaque which was
presented by our President Gerhard Mayer and Principal
Christiane Reves.
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