Graduation Ceremony

On May 30, about 500 students, parents, guests, and teachers filled the main hall of ther Concordia Club for the graduation ceremony of the German Language School Concordia. All were guests of the Concordia Club which once again provided coffee and cake and the Hall free of charge.

The students

The celebration was conducted by Mr. Gerhard Griebenow, the school principal. He pointed with pride to the achievements of his students and teachers and thanked the parent association and the sponsors for their support.

The special guests of honour bringing greetings to this event were Mrs. Catrin Stibbe, vice-consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Nigel Lee, supervisor of International Languages for theWaterloo Region District School Board, and Mrs. Hannelore Müller, the German Language consultant for Eastern Canada.

The ceremonial processional of all staff and the grade 8 and grade 12 graduates was ushered in by Mrs. Alison Clark on the grand piano.

All students from grade 9 to 11 received their report cards, and the graduates were issued diplomas. Many students received cash awards financed by the generous sponsors, including recognition as best or the most improved student in the class. A special tribute was given by the teachers and the parent association to those students who attended the school from Kindergarten to grade 12.

15 students were awarded the German A 2 diploma that was administered as a Canadian test for future years. The highest award was given to six students of the grade twelve graduates who had earned the German Language Diploma C1 that gives them direct access to university studies in Germany. Mrs. Catrin Stibbe and Mrs. Müller made the trip from Toronto to award these prestigious certificates.

The school's prize-winning children's choir

The program was enhanced by popular spring- and traveling songs. The school’s prize winning children’s choir under the direction of Ms. Angelika Werner, the teachers, and the Transylvania Club Choir directed by Mr. Ian Clark entertained the audience with familiar tunes. Everybody present joined in the singing of ‘Kein schöner Land in dieser Zeit’ (No country more beautiful in our times) to end the celebration to a festive note.

The valedictorian address by Alyssa Skopnik, 12^th grade