Dear parents, teachers, staff, and friends of the German International School Toronto,
It’s a privilege to stand before you today, not just as the Chairman of the Board, but as someone who, like many of you, has found a second home in this school.
When we think of GIST, we often think of the things we expect from a school—classes, teachers, report cards. But this school is so much more. It is where our children form lifelong friendships, where they learn values that seem forgotten in some parts of the world: kindness, democracy, and community. It is a place where families come together—not just for education but to connect and find friends.
I, too, have memories that I wouldn’t have without this school: Christmas bazaars, ski trips, Summerfest. Dinners with parents who became friends. Birthday parties of our children, and even axe throwing with the daddies. These experiences exist because this school exists. They are proof that GIST is more than an educational institution—it is a community and a safe space in an uncertain world.
Uncertainty is something we and our children are facing more than ever. Political, societal, and economic challenges are growing. But resilience—the ability to navigate, adapt, and thrive—is not something you can simply teach from a textbook. It is learned in the daily interactions with friends, in working through challenges together, in having a space where they can try, fail, and try again.
That is what this school offers: guidance, values, and the ability to make sense of the world.
Dealing with uncertainties has also been a major challenge for our board in recent years. Some significant changes have required difficult decisions from the school management, principal, and board. We understand that the recent tuition increases can be a real challenge for some of our families. With a total of 11 board members' children attending this school, we truly understand this. Steve Dejak, our treasurer, will discuss this topic further in his financial update. However, these decisions have been carefully considered and are crucial for securing the future of our school.
But it is not just the tuition that is important for the school. Parental support is more crucial than ever. This school does not function without the engagement of its parents. Your time, effort, and dedication are the foundation that allows GIST to thrive. Please help us to improve the experience for our children – be it in the library, the school lunches or in any other way. Your support is very important.
Talking about parents and people, I want to take a moment to say thank you to some incredible people who have been a big part of our school community, whether they've been with us for a long time or have just recently joined.
First up, a huge Thank You to Dr. Luigi Castagna, our longest-serving Board member. Luigi has been with us since 2002 and is stepping down today. His dedication and willingness to serve our community for so many years mean a lot to us. Thank you, Luigi, for everything you've done, and we wish you all the best in Italy.
Next, I want to give a shoutout to Wiebke Tamme. She’s been with our school since 2018 and has been an amazing Business Manager. Wiebke moved to BC with her family and will stop working for GIST at the end of this month. We are so grateful for all her hard work and dedication.
I am very proud, that we have been able to fill Wiebke’s position internally and we promoted Thomas Pfanner to be the Business Manager. The Board is absolutely convinced that Thomas is the right person with the right background to drive this school forward as we are planning. Thank you, Thomas, for stepping up and again, all the best in your new role.
Another colleague who stepped up was Elena Ulbricht-Jones. She took on the role as Admissions & Engagement Coordinator and we are really happy to have you on board.
With the addition of Caroline Reynolds as our new Administrative and Event Coordinator, our Management team is now complete. A big welcome to you, Caroline!
Having a strong Management Team is so important for our school’s success. These folks are the engine that keeps everything running smoothly and moving forward.
For educational excellence, we need outstanding teachers. We are delighted to have welcomed several excellent additions to our team in the past year. The board extends a warm welcome to all of you here at GIST. We are confident that we have the right people on board to create the safe learning environment we all wish for our children.
We also get amazing support from the German Chamber of Commerce, the Consulate General Toronto, and the Goethe Institute.
A special thanks to Kristina Thony, Toronto’s former Consul General. Kristina and her family have been great supporters of our school, and we miss them a lot since they had to return to Germany. We wish them all the best.
Lastly, a big thank you to Dr. Nina Wichmann, Director at the Goethe Institute. You make the GIST experience so much richer and help us provide educational excellence for our students.
All of these examples are evidence of how much this school needs support in many different ways and from many different people.
To truly secure the future of our school, we need even more support—not just from parents, but from companies that many of you are working for.
We are not just maintaining a school—we are building a future. A future where educational excellence thrives, financial stability is secured, and our school remains a place where we come together, connect, and share common interests.
Let’s make this future happen. Together.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Markus Giese
Chairman and President of the German International School Toronto
