Thursdays after school a small group of German students gather in Mrs. Ruthann Baker’s room (Rm 209). They speak the German language, play German games, and enjoy each other’s company as well as the German culture.

As secretary of the German club, senior Tommy Cross is highly involved in the club’s activities. “Recently we’ve mostly been planning the GAPP trip,” he said. The school participates in the German-American Partnership Program (GAPP). This is a biannual exchange program in which German language students at NK partner up with English language students at NK’s German partner school the Burgau Academy in Dueren, Germany.

In April 2015, a small group of German students will travel to NK and stay with their American partners for three weeks. They will attend classes at NKHS and participate in many excursions with their partners as a way of understanding American culture. In June, 18 students from NKHS will travel to Düren, Germany and live with their exchange partners and attend their school for three weeks.

“I like Germany because the language is cool” said Cross. “Also, There are a lot of different, but fun, things that the Germans do that Americans don’t, like Karneval.” “Karneval” is a German festival in which there are parades and huge parties that last for weeks. The German program had its own celebration of “Karneval” in November. The first semester anchor assignment for every German class was their performance of a German song at their “Karneval.”

Whether they are planning an excursion, preparing for an international trip, singing songs, or just speaking German together, the members of the German club always have fun.