2024/2025 RECAP

As the school year comes to a close, we invite you to pause with us and look back at what made 2024/25 so special at the German International School Toronto. This past year was marked by meaningful connections, countless moments of learning and growth – and, of course, the celebration of our 25th anniversary.

Because pictures speak louder than words, we’d like to share ten moments that shaped our anniversary year:

People gathered around a long table outdoors in a park, sharing food and drinks, with trees and greenery in the background.

1. Welcome Back Picnic

As always, we kicked off the school year with our traditional Welcome Back Picnic. After the summer break, it was a joyful time to reconnect, meet new faces, and come together as a school community.

A large group of children and a few adults posing on a wooden dock near a lake at sunset, with canoes stacked in the background.

2. Camp Pinecrest

A true GIST classic: For a few days, our older students headed into the Canadian wilderness – away from their usual routines and into a space full of nature, campfires, friendship, and lasting memories.

3. Lantern Parade

A group of children and adults outdoors at night, with some children holding cookies shaped like cartoon characters and cups, standing around a table with cups and a box of cookies, illuminated by warm lights and surrounded by trees.

At our annual Lantern Walk in Tom Riley Park, we sang, laughed, and celebrated together. The evening ended with hot punch and delicious St. Martin’s pastries, baked by Dimpflmeier Bakery.

4. Christmas Bazaar

Children wearing Santa hats and playing recorders during a Christmas Christmas concert in a decorated room.

Once again, our Parent Council transformed the gym into a festive holiday market filled with homemade treats, a cozy atmosphere, and the scent of hot punch – the perfect start to the Advent season.

5. Ski Day

Three people skiing on a snowy slope with a winter landscape in the background, including trees, a ski lift, and cloudy sky.

A day in the snow for the whole school – with rosy cheeks, outdoor fun, and plenty of energy. A true winter highlight for students and staff alike.

6. Project Week

Students working on a science project at a classroom table, with an adult supervising. The table has tools and ingredients for a science experiment, including glue, a bottle of water, and colorful modeling clay.

A week of curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning: Whether through STEM experiments, bold ideas for the “School of Tomorrow,” or building a fully functioning aquarium (whose fish are still happily swimming in our lab), students led their own projects and presented them proudly during our 25th anniversary celebration in May.

7. 25 Years of GIST - Reception at the German Consulate

Group of people standing together holding signs that read '25 Years', 'Growing', and 'Up,' celebrating an anniversary or milestone in an office or meeting space.

The German Consulate in Toronto said: Happy Birthday, GIST! We’re grateful for this warm and festive reception in honor of our anniversary – a special moment for our partners in the German-speaking community.

8. The Principals’ Conference

Screenshot of a virtual meeting with five people, each in their own video window. The participants are Hanna Pai from Toronto, Arnd Rupp from Walldorf, Mark Benkelmann from Ulm, Kathrin Webber from Hamburg, and Rouven Hollmann from Toronto. One of the participants' backgrounds includes a colorful graphic with the words 'When I Grow Up'.

In a memorable virtual meeting, we brought together all former principals of GIST for a shared reflection and exchange. You can read more about this moment here.

9. 25 Year Fest

Children performing on stage in front of an audience, some holding hands and bowing

Under the theme “Growing Up,” we celebrated our school’s journey with an afternoon full of student-led exhibitions, a vibrant talent show, and heartfelt speeches. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day so special – and to our anniversary partners: Brandt Meats, Dimpflmeier Bakery, the German Consulate General, the Goethe-Institut Toronto, and the German-Canadian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

10. Graduation

Group of five people standing on a school stage. Two young students are wearing graduation caps and gowns, holding flowers and certificates. An adult man is standing on the far left, dressed in a suit and tie. They are in front of a blue curtain and school gymnasium floor.

Goodbyes are never easy. We send our warmest wishes to all graduates and their families as they take their next steps – and hope they carry GIST with them, wherever they go.