Rebecca Weiss: Student Government at the DSW

Eine Abiturzeitung Sammlung von 1984 bis 2010

Student Government at the DSW

Rebecca Weiss

Like any school, the Deutsche Schule Washington is made up of many different elements that make the school what it is today. One of these elements is the Schuelermitverwaltung, students, the SMV. The or, as it is known to most SMV is the equivalent of a student council, encouraging students to sign up in order to build a connection between their fellow classmates and the school community. Even though the SMV is a big part of everyday student life at the DSW, it is rather unclear when the SMV was actually founded. One of the oldest records that mentions the SMV an old school newspaper dates back to 1967, six years after the the DSW was officially founded. The SMV consists of a) one class representative per class from grades 5 and up, and b) three groups of

Stufensprecher : those students who represent the 5th - 7th grades, 8th - 9th grades, and 10th - 12th grades, usually in groups of about three to five. This year a third part c) has been added to this system called the Wildcards, who are students that had not been able to become a) or b) and reapplied on their own terms to the SMV. The members of the SMV are supervised - or led -- by a Vertrauenslehrer(in) , which, literally translated, means teacher of trust. I suppose one might be able to compare the role of this teacher to that of a guidance counselor; their role is to be a teacher that students can come to when they have problems that need attending to. In past years this role was filled by one teacher who was elected by the students; this year, however, two teachers have been chosen to fill the role as Vertrauenslehrer. Members of the SMV should come prepared, because

Apparently the original SMV meetings were tumultuous events as this cartoon from the student newspaper, Die Pauke (October 1967) indicates. "The Executives" of the "Student Council" as pictured in the 1975-1976 DSW Yearbook

there's plenty to be done when you get to be a part of the action. Once they're part of the SMV, you are the mediator between the class you represent and the school's administrative parties. Their job is to listen to the suggestions or, more likely, the complaints of their classmates and make sure their voices are heard! Most of the time, however, all is right with the world and no-one's complaining about anything, but that's pretty much where the work of the SMV begins. In order to strengthen the school community and to get students to heighten school spirit, the SMV constantly tries to come up with new ideas to enhance the school experience for students and teachers alike. Organizing events for the students of the DSW is what the SMV spend most of their time doing. One such event is the Spirit Week, where all members of the German school are encouraged to dress according to a new theme every day for a week. Lots of fun is had by all, and the classes compete under the incentive of a prize which is to be had by that class that shows the greatest involvement during the Spirit Week!

Not only does the SMV actively organize events that serve to benefit the school and its students; along with creating a strong-knit community in school, they organize some events for the sole purpose of aiding those in need outside of our school grounds. Among these events you might find our famous German School Christmas Drive, a program which encourages students to get their creative juices flowing in order to collect enough money to purchase gifts for less fortunate children in Montgomery County Schools.

And, as Christmas is a time for giving back, grades 5, 7, 9, 11 and 12 help to keep up one of Germany's most time-honored customs: the Weihnachtsbazaar, a traditional German Christmas bazaar! Each of the mentioned grades puts up their own stand to offer either home-made goodies, fun activities for all and sundry, a raffle event, you name it! Half of all proceeds go to a charity program, be it either the CFLS the Community Family Life Services in DC a non-profit organization outside of the country. or The SMV's members usually change by the year, yet the goal remains. The SMV has always been here to represent the student body and to ensure certain traditions are maintained. Over the years, we have started new traditions, maybe even updated old ones, and are excited to see what the future member's will be adding to the legacy and great tradition of the SMV.