Minutes

WPWV AATG Meeting 10. Mai 2025

9:30: Meeting with Mariah Ligas, AATG Regional Representative:

• Fewer German sessions than in previous years. ACTFL wants the conference to be “language agnostic.” Italian and Japanese teachers have left ACTFL. 

• AATG is going its own way. This year will be the last AATG participation at ACTFL.

• 2026 AATF is partnering with AATG for a conference in July 2026. This can connect to Deutsche Woche.

• 2027, possibly in the Midwest, for a standalone conference.

• Want to keep control and provide AATG members with what they need, and keep costs down for members.

• Deutsche Woche in Bar Harbor – German Teacher “nerd summer camp.” Enjoyable week in a German-only setting that gives you three credits.

• It’s Mariah’s last year as Regional Representative, encourages folks to email her.

Business Meeting:

• AATG Awards

  • Shawna Peters

  • Peg Meyers

  • Steeping Leaf

• PSMLA 15.- 17. Oktober in Bethlehem, PA

• AATG/PAD Award Scholarship Finalists

  • The following nominee from our chapter has been offered an NGE scholarship:

    • Angelina DeCarlo, Mt. Lebanon High School

  • Our other 3 nominees made it to the final round of selection and are among the Top 100 high school students learning German in the US:

    • Benjamin Campbell, Bethel Park High School

    • Matthew Harrold, Mt. Lebanon High School

    • Isha Vyawahare, North Allegheny Intermediate High School

Pitt is looking for people who want to host student teachers.

Judith Atzler: Escape Rooms in the German Classroom.

• You can use materials you already have to create them.

• Good for checking knowledge and review. Concepts can include: Vocabulary, grammar (e.g., two-way prepositions).

• It can be very active or stationary – physical, digital, or hybrid.

• Design 3-6 puzzle tasks, prepare materials, test the escape room, and students can co-create.

Ideas can include: glow in the dark, invisible ink or lemon juice, acetate paper secret messages, hide something in wrapping paper, do something in collaboration with another subject, hide something in the room, use a lock box, ciphers.

You can cut out little parts of a page to reveal only certain words. Highlight certain letters to reveal a word or phrase, crossword puzzles to reveal a word, use verb conjugation (“-e” is a 1, “-st” is a 2, etc.), food items in a particular order, a receipt that has been ripped apart and has to be reconnected, “what doesn’t fit” list with numbers on top, cut up images or sentences, word search, create fake German passports (find a certain person and they have to find it), students have to use a street view of Google Maps to find an item (Berlin Zoo, Viennese coffee house.

Flippity is a good resource. 

Google Lens, Google Earth, Pixel Art, pictures correspond to numbers, Braille, Jefferson Wheel cipher, Buchstabieralphabet, periodic table, U-Bahn maps, Google Maps/Earth, Judith’s escape room “Der verschwundene Reiseführer” on Canva presentation, owl at the top of the page means that its a teacher handout, Google Forms resource where students must type a response exactly in order for a form to move forward, other “survey” resources (Qualtrics) 

Escape Room Halloween Deutsch 1- Hannah (taken and edited from someone on the AATG Facebook page a long time ago)

In attendance: Hannah Morrison, Erica Kain, Peg Meyers, Mike Stang, Kim Kroenke, Francesca Cappetta, Daniela Wiernik, Judith Atzler

WPWV/AATG Fall Meeting

2. November 2024, Mt. Lebanon High School Library

1. Business Meeting 

   1. Attendance at ACTFL – several members attending.  

      1. Bridget Jones is presenting, “Using the UN’s 17 Sustainability Development Goals in the Classroom”. Friday 11/22 at 3:30pm in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 124. 

      2. Reception and giveaways at the AATG Booth, time TBD. 

      3. Saturday night at the Goethe-Institut party is invite-only at German Society of Pennsylvania. 

      4. Klett Reception is Friday night with free booze and food.

      5. CIEE is having a party, it is invite-only and Karen Haller Beer (our presenter) can give you an invite if you email her: khallerbeer@ciee.org.

   2. Frühling/Sommer Deutsches Wochenende in West Virginia

      1. April 4-6, 2025 is the tentative date. We may be staying in cabins in the woods at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold or potentially in Ligonier Camp & Conference Center. Hannah is calling to confirm availability. In the future, we may have an event that includes Central PA.

   3. Krampusnacht is at Penn Brewery this year– 5. Dezember. 

   4. Berliner Luftbrücke Workshop at W&J on 29. Oktober was toll gemacht! 

   5. German Day at W&J is scheduled for February 25. All registration information is located here.

   6. The American Association of Teachers of German has announced a newly established grant to support educator conference travel. The Metzler-Mews Conference Travel Fund is designed to support educators of German, with a special focus on teachers who do not have access to travel and/or professional development funding through their institution. This includes K-12 teachers, college faculty, part-time German teachers, teachers at Samstagsschulen, etc. Applicants must be a member of AATG at the time of application and at the time of the event. Applications for the Spring cycle are open now and due December 15. To learn more about this funding opportunity and how to apply, please visit: https://www.aatg.org/metzler-mews-conference-travel-grant. Note: this fund should occur in perpetuity.

   7. Mike Shaughnessy also recommends: Honors Society Students can apply for grants. National awards are cash, they’re about directly interacting with parents, so that they will help support German programs with school boards. Also, Leipzig has a three-week program focused on DEI with a 1200 Euro scholarship. There is a Heidelberg C1 Advanced Learning seminar for German teachers. We may also have a grant we could use for our teacher immersion workshop. Also, Evan at AATG can post events, and people can RSVP through the AATG website.   

8. National German Exam Registration is now open for Levels 2, 3, and 4!  Testing window is December 1, 2024, until January 26, 2025.  

9. CIEE Program: Programs in multiple countries, but Karen Haller Beer focused on Berlin Language & Culture Programs. ACTFL aligned, they are measured by STAMP scores. Students live with host families and communicate with locals.

Misc: We plan to apply for awards again. Teachers who were nominated really enjoyed reading the letters, regardless of whether they won.

2. Workshop: Mini-Conference: 

Member Presentations

1. Erica Kain- Nicos Weg & Teen Screen. For DW’s great teaching materials, use the tab under “Other Tools” and find “Download ideas for lessons and exercises (PDF)

2. Cathy Altmeyer-Bestimmt wird alles gut Kinderbuch w/ Nicos Weg. Cathy shared how she uses the copy and pasted exercises from the Deutsche Welle website.

3. Kim Kroenke-Memes im Klassenzimmer. 

4. Peg Meyers & Hannah Morrison- Routinen & Brain Breaks

5. Francesca Cappetta-Time fillers/Verb Conjugation games. Shared file with Schiffe versenken, tic-tac-toe, graphic organizers for verb conjugation and some card games like Würdest du lieber and Sherlock & Co. Also discussed “Heads Up” aka “Wer bin ich?”

Wer war dabei?

• Mike Shaughnessy, Exec. Dir. AATG

• Karen Haller Beer, Global Education Advisor, CIEE (Council on International Education Exchange)

• Mike Stang, Bethel Park

• Bridget Jones, West Allegheny

• Hannah Morrison, Mt. Lebanon

• Josh Baringer, Mt. Lebanon

• Peg Myers, Mt. Lebanon

• Cathy Altmeyer, Washington & Jefferson

• Kim Kroenke, North Allegheny

• Anda Iacob, Peters Township

• Student Teacher from Germany, Mt. Lebanon

• Jennifer Scott, Peters Township

• Erica Kain, Central Valley

WPWV AATG Spring 2022 Business Meeting April 9, 2022

In Attendance: Jared Schneider, Cathy Altmeyer, Hannah Morrison, Mike Stang, Chris Squire, Josh Barringer, Haiko Terhasebourg, Cynthia Chalupt, Doug Philipp, Kim Kranke, Peg Meyers, Bridgett Jones, Megan Tredrea, Doug Wilkinson

President Report:

• Saturday, May 14 for Pittsburgh Party Pedaler (party drinking bike)

• PSMLA/ACTFL

  • John and Wendy presented at ACTFL

  • Teaching Weimar Republic in High School German classes with authentic resources

• Funding through AATG for promoting German

• Chapter 48 Membership Report

• AATG send out NGE outcomes and qualifying scholarship recipients

  • PLEASE bump up NGE numbers within the chapter.  If we increase numbers, we will be guaranteed a trip for the chapter’s kids

• Friday, April 29-Saturday, April 30: Virtual Tagung

• Nominations for AATG Board of Directors due April 30

Elections:

• Treasurer

  • Mike Stang

• Secretary

  • Megan Tredrea

Vice President's Report:

• Door prizes!

Treasurer report is up to date with a back order of German gov funds

Three Rivers German Day Report 2022

• Lots of participation!! Hope to double in 2023!

WPWV AATG Fall 2021 Business Meeting - October 2, 2021

In Attendance: Jared Schneider, Cathy Altmeyer, Hannah Morrison, Josh Barringer, Chris Squire, Jennifer Scott

•  Select a day for the Pittsburgh Party Pedaler - Already Paid Chris Squire

President’s Report:

• PSMLA Virtual Conference October 13-16, 2021 

• • Register on their Website

• ACTFL Virtual Conference November 19-21, 2021

  • Register on their Website

• Chapter Project Grant - Due September 1, 2021

• National Teacher German Day October 4, 2021

• AATG Membership Meeting (Virtual)  - December 5, 2021 1:00pm 

• Several Grants and Funding for Programs available on the AATG website

• Chapter 48 Membership Report 

• Wanderbus Availability

• Bundesliga Total! - Goethe Institut 

• Spring Workshop Suggestions: 

Vice President’s Report:

•    Door Prizes for Attendance

WPWV AATG Spring 2021 Meeting & Workshop- April 10, 2021

In attendance:  Jared Schneider, Chris Squire, Peg Meyers, Ulrike Sauer-Voigt, Clemence Mershon, Wilma Dunkle, Chrissy Hartmann, Hannah Morrison, Cathy Altmeyer, Viktoria Harms

9:00-9:10: Greetings, catching up with members, condolences to Heiko Ter Haseborg

9:10am:  Chris Squire initiated the business meeting

• Discussed AATG Professional Development Fund for travel, professional development, etc.  Send an email to AATG headquarters@aatg.org or mike@aatg.org to inquire about compensation for professional development. 

• GAVE: German American Virtual Exchange- virtual extension to GAPP, a well-organized opportunity to communicate with a German school, possibility for a $500 stipend

• The AATG is creating a database of German programs K-16 across the United States to better understand the current landscape of our field. If you can share this information, please send it to jc@aatg.org (and even if the data may be out of date, they can work on updates moving forward).

• Trip to Barcelona & Berlin with Springdale HS:  Here is the Zoom Meeting link for the Barcelona/Berlin Trip informational meeting on the April 20th at 5:30 pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85601924837?pwd=T3p5SEFCWkt1L0toa0xyMkRQM0hnZz09 \ This is a parent/student postwire link with information about the trip: https://www.postwire.com/page/60464515fe2f387660c568b3. 

9:20am: Discussed future chapter events

• Beer bike tour of Pittsburgh is still reserved whenever we would like to reschedule

9:23: PSMLA Deadline April 18th for submitting sessions for the conference...we always need more German sessions!  Conference is Oct 13 (Keynote presentation) until Oct 16

9:25: Initiated chapter elections

• Jared Schneider will begin his term as President--thank you to Chris Squire for a great 2 years! 

• Hannah Morrison was nominated for Chapter Vice President

• Megan Crawford is interested in continuing the rest of this Secretary term

9:29: German Day 2021 Updates:

• All the judging is done except for the writing

• Prizes will be delivered to schools by May 1

9:31: German Club activity idea by Peg Meyers: Scavenger Hunt 20 questions through school neighborhood, competition between languages offered at school...possible collaborative activity for German Clubs in the fall?  

9:37: Possible workshop for German students in the fall...scavenger hunt at W&J?

9:50: Jared Schneider brought up email from AATG searching for a pre-collegiate VP, 

Google Form for interested in increasing our social media presence by hearing from members about things they are doing in their schools https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJNFplohRHB-NcDJrvZMzx4bhoOY7BhydNRNCMFI9vbRafrQ/viewform  Monthly posting about something a member is doing? Cathy Altmeyer suggested implementing a new position in our chapter for Social Media Chair

9:55: Conclusion of the business part of the meeting

10:00: Beginning of our workshop led by Angelika Becker on Nachhaltigkeit

WPWV AATG Fall 2020 Meeting/Joint Conference with WVFTLA- October 17, 2020

In attendance: Cathy Altmeyer, Heiko ter Haseborg, Peg Meyers, Hannah Morrison, Jared Schneider, Chris Squire

• 8:00:  The conference began with a fun and inspirational presentation by keynote speaker Annabelle Allen, “La Maestra Loca” about teaching during the pandemic, ways to connect with and motivate students, and online resources for teachers.  The workshop was followed by roundtable discussions about online resources, supporting colleagues and students, and the positives and negatives of online/hybrid learning

• 11:17-11:45:  End of Workshop/Introductions for German Group, WPWV AATG

  • Cathy Altmeyer opened discussion about the National German Exam and how teachers could still participate even in this unconventional year.  

  • Participants discussed how their individual schools are handling reopening/hybrid/virtual learning accessibility.  

  • Participants shared resources that have been successful: Meet a German, German for Hire, Digital Wanderbus

  • Congratulations to Jared Schneider on rebuilding the German program at Butler HS!

• 11:45: Discussion about how to better include our members from West Virginia and recruit more WVA German teachers, possibility of having a virtual component to WPWV AATG Meetings even if we meet in person.

• 11:50: Further discussion of the National German Exam, who should take it.  AP/Level 5 students will take the Level 4 Exam.  Jared Schneider added that the exam could be a good assessment of what students have missed throughout Virtual Learning.  

  • If students are using a Level 1 German book, they should take the Level 1 Exam, if they use a Level 2 book, they should take the Level 2 Exam, etc. 

• 11:57: Discussion about how to include more people in meetings and events and what would bring in younger German teachers to come to WPWV AATG Events.  

  • More communication via listserv, possibly an Instagram?

  • Heiko ter Haseborg mentioned that less people than usual attended the WVFTLA Zoom Meeting, future in-person meetings of WVFTLA will most likely occur in Morgantown.

• 12:00:  Meeting concluded, returned to main WVFTLA meeting for conference closing & a raffle

Spring 2020

• Thirteen members voted unanimously via a Google Form for Hannah Heagy and Michael Stang to continue their positions as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, for another term.  

WPWV AATG Fall 2019 Meeting- The Linsly School- October 4, 2019

In attendance:  Lisa Welch, Regina Bauer, Jared Schneider, Harald Menz, Michael Stang, Cathy Altmeyer, Josh Baringer, Hannah Heagy, Chris Squire, 

• • 9:40- Meeting began, greetings and congratulations to Mary Zollars

  • 9:46- Treasurer’s Report by Michael Stang- started the year at $8,000, finished over $4,000 due to German Day expenses.  Cathy Altmeyer suggested keeping the German day price for student the same ($15). We will try to get some T-shirt sponsorship to save costs for our chapter.  

  • 9:48- Chris asked for updates from headquarters regarding National German Exam, etc.  Cathy Altmmeyer sent an e-mail that registration for the National German Exam is open. 

  • 9:50- PSMLA & ACTFL Discussion- there will be a German dinner friday night of the PSMLA conference Oct 25

  • 9:51- Spring 2020 Meeting discussion-possible topics:  German & Sustainability, German Day, German and the environment with possible tour of Rachel Carson’s home near Springdale High School, tentative date around the last weeks of April 2020.  A member suggested a presentation on the AP Exam. The Goethe Institut representative offered materials, small lesson plans for all age groups that could be used in a German Day Crash Course workshop.  

  • 9:59- Cathy Altmeyer encouraged teachers to tell seniors to apply for the senior award from the National German Exam since they are getting few applicants.  We discussed possible prep for the National German Exam

  • 10:01-  Chris Squire commented on our walking tour of Deutschtown at the beginning of September, discussed possible social events in the spring.  Suggested Beer Bike idea in Pittsburgh around the second or third week of May. “Radlerfahrt” “FahrRadler”  

  • 10:05- Winterfest in Downtown PGH- We talked about meeting there for carols and ice skating in early December- also talked about meeting for the Krampusnacht in Market Square or even combining the two events, but it will be really crowded on Krampusnacht

  • 10:10- Discussion about German Day, which will be St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday March 17th, we talked about possibly making Culture Bowl more of a team competition.  .  

  • 10:12- Mauerfall Workshop and Campus Tour at W&J on Nov 7.  The workshop is free, lunch costs extra 

  • 10:14-The meeting concluded, Chris Squire introduced our presenter for our Goethe Institut Workshop.  

WPWV AATG Spring Meeting  30 March 2019 Washington and Jefferson College

In attendance:

Lynne Kopaz, Jared Schneider, Peg Meyers, Cathy Altmeyer, Chris Squire, Jenn Scott, Megan Kramer, Michael Shaughnessy, Hannah Heagy, Megan Crawford, Ulrike Sauer-Voigt, Gabi Thorell

9:05 - Meeting Began; Cathy opened the meeting with greetings

9:07 - Read the Constitution changes and discussed

9:10 - Jared made the motion to approve the constitution amendments, seconded by Michael.

9:10 - approved the constitution changes

9:15 - discussed financial changes.  Checking account signers will be chapter president and treasurer.  Treasurer will share login information with chapter president so that both can log in.

Chapter president will review the account at the end of each year.  Any transaction over $500 must be approved by the chapter president.

 9:20 - PSMLA 2019 - Friday and Saturday, October 25 & 26, 2019 - State College, PA              

        - 100th Anniversary.  Members will work on submitting session proposals at the conclusion of the meeting.

9:22 - Award Nominations for AATG due May 31, 2019 - Nominations can be emailed to Chris    Squire.

9:30 - German Day discussions - cost.  Price will remain at $15, but Peg Meyers and Mike             Shaughnessy will step up efforts for t-shirt sponsors. 

            Proposed German Day dates for 2020 are March 5 and March 17.

9:59 - Elections             - VP: Jared Schneider, Nominated & Voted in

                                    - Secretary: Hannah Heagy, Nominated & Voted in

10:06 - Read announcements:

            - Chapter project proposal for 2020 has been submitted for German Day.

            - German Play, Max Frisch’s “Andorra” Wed, April 17, 6-8p, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium,                free admission

            - April AATG newsletter will feature Three Rivers German Day article

            - Upper St. Clair SD needs a substitute starting 5/13/2019

            - AATG Summer Seminars

            - local & national listserv: see Cathy Altmeyer if you aren’t on both!

            - 30th anniversary of the Mauerfall. Workshop at W&J for high school students planned                for November 6 & 8

10:09 - Chris Squire talked about future plans for his presidency

10:20 - meeting closed to be followed by workshop on crafting in German. 

Minutes Fall 2018 WPWV AATG Business Meeting, September 26, 2018, Max's Allegheny Tavern, 6-7 p.m.

Attending: Cathy Altmeyer, Jared Schneider, Hannah Healy, Ulrike Voigt, Gary Harger, Susanne Rinner, Chris Squire

1. Fall plans: Flash mob at ice rink at PPG Place, Friday Dec 18 (tentative date)

2. Spring meeting ideas: Date? Place?

Duolingo?

Prep for PSMLA session applications?

Tour of Bayernhof?

Arts & Crafts day: game boards, fundraisers

Election of post-secondary Chapter Vice-President. Members are encouraged to make nominations.

3. German Day March 7, 2018. Price may have to increase to $15. Suggestion made to add donation line to registration form for students.

4. Ask PSMLA if many of the German sessions could be on Saturday in the fall of 2019.

5. Discussion of positive effects of fall 2017 concert for our chapter: proceeds helped to fund German Day 2018.

Minutes Spring 2018 WPWV AATG Business Meeting, Saturday, May 5 at Mt. Lebanon High School. Meeting opened at 9:20 a.m.

Attending - Cathy Altmeyer, Megan Crawford, Kathy Fegely,Anika Günther, Gary Harger,Viktoria Harms, Hannah Heagy, Peg Meyers, Chris Squire, Jennifer Scott,Aaron Wilkinson, Daniela Wiernik, Michaela Culley, Sophie Hintersdorf

1. Elections - Jared Schneider was elected secretary, and Mike Stang was elected treasurer for terms running May 2018-spring 2020. Danke, Jared und Mike!

2. PSMLA in Pittsburgh October 12 & 13. We would like to offer a German-related activity for the evening of October 12 - visit to Penn brewery, Max’s, or Hofbräuhaus. Chris Squire will work on arrangements and will contact Natalie Puhala from PSMLA, who will advertise the event

nataliep@mei-travel.com

3. Picnic - August 11 at Cathy Altmeyer's house in Mt. Lebanon, 3-8 p.m. Members and families are invited. Email & paper invitation will be sent.

4. Fall workshop will be a German-themed bike ride/van ride. (Van limit of 11 passengers) on September 22. Gary Harger will lead the bike ride and will contact Bike Pittsburgh as a possible tour guide. Cathy Altmeyer will drive the van.

5. German Career Day at Pitt on September 26, appropriate for high school and university level. Transportation funds are available through Goethe Institut. More information will be sent via Listserv and mail.

6. Future meeting ideas - cooking. Choose a location convenient to northern, southern members: Seneca Valley? Canon McMillan?

7. German Day - we need more sponsors, or the registration fee will have to increase next year to $15. Cathy will approach W&J admissions for funding, in light of the fact that Penn State admissions supports the German Day there financially. Other possibilities: GACC, Paul Overby. $2700 of chapter funds were spent for German Day, due to unexpected increased costs.

8. German exam. Erin Lutz of Mt. Lebanon High School has won a study trip award. No seniors applied for the study trip award II, which is for 3 weeks vs 2 weeks for Award I. Only 5 seniors were awarded trips nationally, so if we had a nominee, they would have had an excellent chance to win a trip.

9. Upcoming deadlines: Chapter grant end of May, Nominations for awards, end of May. Suggested: Outstanding educator - Viktoria Harms for testing center at Pitt, Megan Crawford for revitalizing program in Erie.

WPWV AATG Fall 2017 Business Meeting Sept 22, Obama Academy

In Attendance: Cathy Altmeyer, Peg Meyers, Chris Squire, Alan Manatt, Emily Cramer, Sophie Hintersdorf, Anika Günther, Gary Harger, Ulrike Sauer-Voigt, Doug Wilkinson, Leah Turner, Gabi Thorell, Josh Baringer, Mary Beth Zollars, Jared Schneider, Aaron Wilkinson

• 9:10: Meeting began

• 9:12: Cathy, Chapter President, opened meeting with welcome and 

• 9:15: Peg Meyers discussed Einshoch6 Concert.

• 9:17: discussion of Hofbrauhaus and Atria Fieldtrip possibilities

• 9:24: PSMLA update (As of now no one is attending)

• 9:26: Flash Mob Update -

  • 1st December, Friday Evening at the Christmas Market in Pittsburgh

  • Meet around Market Square

  • will be singing at the Christmas tree / ice rink

    • song suggestions: 

      • O’Tannenbaum, Guten Tag St. Nikolaus, In der Weihnachtsbäckerei, Kling Glöckchen Kling

    • Suggestion to choreograph a small dance

    • meet at 6:00pm

    • Email to follow

• 9:34: German Day: Thursday 15th March

  • Discussion of themes to follow at the workshop

  • arrive at 9, beginning promptly at 9:30

• 9:38: January Annual Report

  • Send Jared updates about what is happening with your program to his Email: jschneider@casdfalcons.org

• 9:40: Spring Workshop Suggestions

  • • German Bike Tour of Pittsburgh

    • Neue Aktuelle

  • Technologie: Edmodo, Duolingo, or

  • Where: TBD

• 9:45: Picnic went well, will plan another one. 

• 9:47: Fundraising Ideas:

  • Weihnachtsmarkt

  • Car Cruise

  • Advent Calendars

  • Meeting ended at 9:50AM on September 23, 2017

WPWV AATG Spring 2017 Business Meeting May 6, 2017

In attendance:

John McLaughlin, Cathy Altmeyer, Michael Stang, Peg Meyers, Megan Crawford, Danielle Wiernik, Jared Schneider, Gary Harger, Doug Wilkinson, Leah Turner, Deborah Janson, Josh Baringer, Kim Kroenke, Chris Squire, Cynthia Chalupa, Gabi Thorell, Mary Beth Zollars, Victoria Harms, Jaclyn Kurash.

-9:33 AM: Meeting began.

-9:36 AM: Chapter presented John McLaughlin with a thank you card & gift for serving as Chapter President 

-9:37 AM: Chrissy Hartman is looking for a new textbook.  Share ideas on Facebook or Google doc

-9:38 AM: Cathy suggested Friday, August 18th, 2017 for a Picnic at her house

-9:39 AM: Meeting in a central location (Gary suggested a school in a city elementary school)…Topics: Music Videos? German Day crash course? Date: September 23rd was suggested

-9:42 AM: Suggested to announce Flashmob well in advance at Christmas PPG Ice rink…different song? Multiple songs?  Get community involved? Männerchor youth group?

-9:46 AM: PSMLA (As of right now no one is attending so we won’t be paying for a table)

-9:48 AM: German teacher needed Morgantown High School (desperate)

possible job openings next year in Wheeling Park, Erie, Mt. Lebanon, maternity leave replacement needed fall for Peters Township & North Allegheny Intermediate

-9:52 AM: New National German Exam testing chair: Megan Crawford.   How would we like to see judging for National German Exam?  Send comments & questions to Megan.Crawford.abroad@gmail.com

-9:53 AM: Looking for topics for Essays, Poems, and Proverbs for German Day; how can we have students avoid pitfalls in Digital Media entries?

-9:59 AM: Vice President nomination: Chris Squire (Springdale High School; csquire@avsd.k12.pa.us) Approved by unanimous vote. Term May 2017-May 2019.

-9:59 AM: Secretary nomination: Jared Schneider (Connellsville High School; js097986@gmail.com) approved by unanimous vote.  Complete current term vacated by Budilla 2017-2018.

Meeting ended at 10:00AM on 6. May 2017

WPWV AATG Fall 2016 Business Meeting

At the PSMLA Conference in Erie PA

In attendance: Peg Meyers, Cathy Altmeyer & John McLaughlin

Meeting commenced at 07:15 15OCT16

• 1. Spring Workshop:  Look into Pitt Professor Viktoria Harms Batista

     1. cost?  Date?  needs?

     2. place, Bethel w/Mike Stang?

     3. door prizes (publish ahead of time)

  2. Turnout was low for German at the PSMLA Conference in Erie, PA

  3. Encourage new members- Cathy will approach potential and lapsed members

  4. Offer a Testing Site for NGE

     1. Saturday venue for the test at W&J

  5. 2 hr time block in January

  6. $6.00

  7. First 20 to sign-up

  8. More for schools that don’t offer it or support it.

     1. November 15th registration deadline for December

  9. December 15th deadline for January administration

  10. Mailing:  Newsletter, NGE, Spring Meeting, & Motivation

  11. Peg will do a write up, how to get involved without blowing up your calendar

  12.  Need a new chapter secretary:  Cathy will contact 3 potential members who haven’t served as officers yet, take online nominations over a 1 week period, then online election over a 1 week period.  Serve through April 2018 to finish Budimka’s term.  Duties:  annual report on chapter activities (one page plus copy of minutes from the year), send out 2 mailings per year (labels provided by National AATG), take minutes at meetings and post them on Google site.

  13. Linden School in danger of cancellation of German immersion program: contact Gary Harger to see how we can help

  14. Flash Mob at X-Mas Market for the German Clubs to sing Stille Nacht (Check for date, possibly Dec 9)

1. Near skating rink or market (have to have lyrics ahead of time)

   1. Google Site more visible to everyone and google search

      1. Have W&J put the link on home page and take down rest of the site?

   2. Daycare during our meetings?  High School Students

      1. Would you come, if we would offer daycare

      2. Color German?  Crafts?  etc...

   3. Tour?  Through German Pittsburgh  (Mike as our Tour Guide) with Final Stop at Penn Brewery?

Meeting ended at 7:55 a.m. 15 Oct 16

WPWV AATG Spring 2016 Chapter Meeting 

Connellsville Area Senior High School 

Sat. April 23, 2016 

Present at meeting: Ruth Scott, Luke Miller, John McLaughlin, Cathy Altmeyer, Leah Turner, Angela Regal, Budimka Tenney 

Also present at workshop: Mary Zollars 

1. Assuming we receive the additional grants from AATG and Hog father’s, we expect to have made some extra money from German Day. $400? Maybe use the money to make a banner for next year. 

2. German Day suggestion– Hold up art projects when winners are announced 

3. Continue with another survey to our members (John McLauglin will do this) 

4. We discussed highlights of the year 

5. Mike Stang was elected as chapter treasurer 2016-2018. Budimka Tenney was elected as chapter secretary 2016-2018. Both terms begin at the conclusion of the meeting. 

6. Future plans: 

   1. Hofbräuhaus in Pittsburgh on a late Sunday in May. Fall Picnic? 

   2. PSMLA October 13-15 in Erie PA. A van is reserved from W & J. Members can ride with WJ. Send Email to Cathy Altmeyer if you’d like to reserve a spot. 

   3. Take family to Splash Lagoon and go to PSMLA! 

   4. Cathy Altmeyer, John McLauglin, and Peg Meyers are hoping to present at PSMLA. 

7. New business? 

   1. Nominations for Friend of German, Certificate of Merit etc. due in May.

   2. How can we get more members to come? 

Successful high school German Club fundraisers: (Ruth Scott)

Car Show,Advent Calendars, Beef Sticks

Field trip idea: Newseum – in D.C. piece of Berlin Wall on PA Ave.

WPWV AATG Fall 2015 Meeting 

October 3, 2015

Washington & Jefferson College

In attendance: John McLaughlin, Cathy Altmeyer, Cynthia Chalupa, Peg Meyers, Budimka Uskokovic Tenney, Dominic Carcione, Colleen Richards, Ruth Scott, Luke Miller, Jared Schneider

1. Plans for future meetings.  Possible topics include TPRS and AP.  Looking for a South HIlls or Central Pittsburgh location.  Cathy will check with Gretchen Gyrich, Mike Stang, and Ruth Scott to see if any of them can host at Fox Chapel, Bethel Park, or Connellsville.  Ruth would be willing to present, but would like other collaborators on TPRS as well.

2. National German Exam.  Testing Chair Guido Halder.  $6 per student.  Some schools are having difficulty getting funding to take the exam.  Cynthia Chalupa suggested promoting the exam as an inexpensive practice exam for the German AP Exam.

3. Conferences 2015-16 .  

   1. ACTFL--Cathy Altmeyer will attend the Chapter Presidents Meeting since John McLaughlin is unable to attend.

   2. PSMLA--Our chapter is sharing a table with the other PA Chapters.  We will have WPWV Listserv info, pictures of past local events on the table, along with some swag to give out.

   3. CSCTFL in Columbus Ohio in the spring.  Cynthia Chalupa will send out information on this conference to the listserv.  Cynthia and Cathy will check about getting vans from their universities so that our chapter can carpool.  

4. Survey results.  See attached. One of the results shows requests for other forms of communication such as Twitter or Remind.com.  John McLaughlin has set up a Remind.com account for our chapter, and will send out information regarding its use via the listserv. Possible fall immersion activity for students, fall 2016.  Something outdoors and overnight at Klaer Lodge at Coopers Rock.

5. 3 Rivers German Day, March 17, 2015 at W&J.  Registration has already been sent out, and will be sent to the listserv monthly.  

6. Discussion of exchanges for individuals who want to study in the U.S. Members have had good results from AFS, YFU, the Rotary, CIEE

WPWV AATG Spring Meeting Minutes May 3, 2014 Penn Hills High School

1. Membership/financial report.  We have 67 paid members at present, with 48 former members whose membership has lapsed.  All lapsed members have been contacted.  There are 194 registered members of the Western PA/West Virginia group on aatg.org, many of whom are not currently members.  This would be a good starting place for recruiting.  The new secretary will have the list.  Our current balance is $2746.85, down from $4492.34 at the beginning of the year.  We are still waiting for our annual check from the National AATG for our portion of the members’ dues, and for the 1000 Euro grant from the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation for German Day 2014.  After the grant arrives, our chapter’s contribution to the cost of German Day will be about $315.

2. Election.  Cathy Altmeyer’s 2 year term as secretary treasurer ends as of today’s meeting.  Leah Turner was elected chapter secretary for a 2 year term, and Michael Stang was elected treasurer for a 2 year term, ending at the spring meeting in 2016.

3.  Fall events

   1. Mauerfall activities at Washington & Jefferson College.  High Schools will be invited to help construct and tear down a Berlin Wall made of paper boxes.  Other events will include a guest speaker and a film series. High school teachers suggested that a film or speaker be presented during the day on a weekday so that high school students can attend.  David Murdoch was suggested as a speaker.

   2. PSMLA:  Gabi will contact Susanne Nimmrichter, the Central PA Chapter President, to try to coordinate events for the weekend of PSMLA.  3 members of our chapters submitted sessions, and we will have a chapter meeting/social either on Friday night. 

   3. Fall local chapter event:  We are considering a social event in August and perhaps a Gnome workshop in the fall.

   4. White Rose Foundation Exhibit Oct/Nov http://www.classroomswithoutborders.org/ 

   5. The plan is to move the exhibit to different places (community centers, schools and colleges). In addition we are inviting guest speakers, screening movies and doing workshops and talks. Among the opening speakers are Anne Nelson, well-known author on the topic of student resistance under the Nazi regime and Bernd Georg Reindl, Consul for Political and Scientific Development at the German Consulate.  The photo exhibit chronicles the brief yet intense bloom of the Weisse Rose student resistance against the Nazi regime, showing 47 panels with historic photographs and biographical narratives about the movement's principals and its aims. John McLaughlin of Trinity High School, Peg Meyers of Mt. Lebanon High School, Amy Minnetti of South Fayette, Martina Wells of Chatham, and Cathy Altmeyer of Washington & Jefferson College all expressed an interest in hosting the exhibit.

WPWV AATG Fall Meeting Minutes                    

Saturday, November 16, 2013   

Mt. Lebanon High School

Meeting opened at 9:00 a.m. by John McLaughlin, Chapter Vice-President

Present: John McLaughlin, Cathy Altmeyer, Peg Meyers, Gabi Thorell, Mary Wagner, Josi Smith, Amy Karst, Leah Skrypek , Jeffrey Reynolds, Michael Stang,  

Cynthia Chalupa, Leah Turner, Martina Wells, Deborah Janson, Jennifer Scott,

Beth Roadman, Heiko Ter Haseborg

1. Future meetings, plans for spring

Cathy Altmeyer will contact Jennifer Redmann about a writing workshop, and Lauren Janetta from Hempfield High School about her gnome project, to see about availability on our suggested dates of April 5, 12, or May 3.  John McLaughlin will send a survey via listserv including questions on preferences on dates and topics for our upcoming workshops.  We will have a door prize drawing at the spring meeting for a free registration to ACTFL 2015 in San Antonio, paid from the Chapter treasury.  Leah Turner will check about using Penn Hills High School for the meeting.  Any member interested in hosting a future meeting should contact our Chapter President, Gabi Eichmanns: eichegabi@hotmail.com

2. National German Exam.  We need more seniors to apply for the study trip scholarship contest.  Students scoring 90%ile and above may apply.  If you have not yet ordered exams, the deadline is December 1st for exams to be administered in January.  Please see aatg.org for more information.

3. Three Rivers German Day Tuesday March 25, 2014. 

We are expecting $2300 in grants from Hogfathers BBQ Restaurant, Checkpoint Charlie Foundation, and the Bayer Corporation.  With a contribution of no more than $1200 from our chapter, we can afford to lower the registration fee to $9 per person, including lunch and a t-shirt.  We have applied for a grant which would fund a grand prize of a study trip via AATG to Germany in the summer of 2014.  it was suggested that we make this available to any attendee of German Day.

4. Webinars available via AATG (Musik, Common Core, Switzerland, Underrepresented groups of students-retention, thematic instruction...)

5. ACTFL

Gabi will attend AATG Chapter Presidents' Meeting

General membership meeting Friday at noon, Room W103A

German events at ACTFL—something on Saturday night.  Cathy Altmeyer will

receive the AATG/Goethe Institut Certificate of Merit Award at the Saturday night

event.

6. PSMLA in State College October 17-18, 2014.  

Our planning committee has agreed that our chapter will be a part of this meeting, and hold our chapter meeting/workshop there.  There are usually not enough German-related sessions at PSMLA.  Perhaps we can work with the Central PA chapter and between the chapters provide at least 6 sessions.  We will look into having a table for our chapter (or perhaps share with the other AATG chapters), and will ask textbook publishers to send samples for German teachers to peruse, since there are not many German textbook vendors represented at PSMLA.  John McLaughlin will include ideas for sessions in the survey to be sent to our listserv:  

-TPRS

-Using authentic materials

-The transition from high school to college for German learners.

-AP Preparation

-GAPP and other exchanges

-The New German Teacher—networking opportunity

7. WPWV AATG Chapter Report due Dec 13--any individual news (articles published, etc) to add to it?  Usually includes topics of our workshops, number of members, other activities, accomplishments of members, news…

            -Mt. Lebanon High School celebrated the 30th anniversary of their exchange with           Germany.  The Post Gazette wrote an article about this.

            -Quaker Valley High School also celebrated the 35Th anniversary of their German

             exchange this year.

            -List of newly-hatched teachers looking for positions 2013-2014:

            (WVU will send some names, we’ll email Pitt as well.)

            -Checkpoint Charlie grant of 1000 Euro for Three Rivers German Day 2014.

            -Fulbright Awards: (Cynthia will send names)

            -Cathy Altmeyer received the AATG/Goethe Institut Certificate of Merit at the

            2013 ACTFL Convention in Orlando, Florida.

            -# of schools hosting exchanges (John McLaughlin will survey our members      about this.)

            -Teutonia Männerchor will have an event in March open to the general public

            which will includie food and dancing.

8. Sonst was?  

Jeffrey Reynolds inquired about appropriate films and video for high school use.  Suggestions from other teachers:  JoJo Sucht das Glück, Goethe Institut’s Kurz und Gut macht Schule