Dance, Nostalgia, and Anticipation for Summer Vacation at the Bilingual Elementary School’s Open Stage

Music, acrobatics, a football rap, English poems, a folk dance from Georgia, and melodious string instruments—these and other program highlights made up the “Open Stage” event at the Bilingual Elementary School on the last day of school before summer break. Despite the quite high temperatures, the girls and boys carried out their impressive and lively program for this annual event, which is always a joyful occasion due to the upcoming vacation but also always quite emotional because of the farewell to the fourth-grade class.

Unfortunately, it was also “Time to Say Goodbye” to elementary school teachers Tobias Leisge and Dr. Sebastian Verbeek, who will be pursuing other career paths after the summer break. Lorraine Herrmann, deputy principal of the Bilingual Elementary School, presided over the farewell ceremony for the elementary school staff.

 

A roller coaster of emotions

Teacher Lisa Smit and her student assistant hosted the “open stage” with great sensitivity, skillfully guiding the audience through the roller coaster of emotions. Among the audience was Janine Küster, the former elementary school principal who had stepped down at the beginning of the year. – A joyful reunion! A photo retrospective brought back memories of days spent together at the Steinmühle Bilingual Elementary School, evoking a touch of nostalgia but also plenty of smiles.

At the end of the ceremony, Class 3 bid farewell to the girls and boys of Class 4—who, after summer break, will not be returning to the elementary school classrooms but will instead mostly be joining Class 5i in the International High School program at Steinmühle—by singing the “Fried Potato Song.”

After a colorful show, performed with great enthusiasm and emotion, the elementary school students and audience were sent off on summer vacation.