The German school in Parktown held its second media breakfast to inform the public of their upcoming festival week. The school will be celebrating its 125 year anniversary in September and have planned a week of festivities.
Jan Van Wyk, the deputy principal of the Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg, said some of the events were open to the public and some would be only open to the children of the school. He added that the upcoming anniversary would highlight the school’s academic excellence as well as German culture and the presence of the early German settlers, who arrived in Johannesburg more than 125 years ago due to the gold rush.
Some of the celebrations include a concert where 100 musicians from all the Deutsche Internationale Schule in Southern Africa will perform, under the direction of the well-known conductor Richard Cock, a church service at the Friedenskirche in Hillbrow, a fair and a festball (gala ball).
Van Wyk added that they were going to gather items to put into a time capsule to show future students what it was like living in Johannesburg in 2015.
Recently the the Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg reeled with shock when pupil Klara Göttert committed suicide. Van Wyk said after consulting with a psychologist they did not want to glorify suicide but added that the pupils at the school had been given an opportunity to grieve by placing messages on a board dedicated to Klara.
“She will be remembered throughout the celebrations, so during this time the children can express their sorrow by lighting a candle,” he said. For more details on the school’s festival visit the school’s website: www.dsj.co.za/de
