

German Saturday School
York
Our German Saturday School in York offers classes for children from German-speaking and biligual families. Please see more information on our German site.
At the moment, we offer classes for children with a pre-existing knowledge of German. We aim to offer additional groups in the future. Let us know what you are interested in and we will get in touch with you once we have enough people interested in a similar group. You can email us at info@dssyork.org.uk
LEARNING
We aim to create an informal yet stimulating environment in which children can play, sing, get creative and discover new interests. Children speak, read and write German as part of these activities, building on their knowledge of the language in a fun and purposeful way.
TEAM
Led by a group of German-
speaking parents in York, we aim
to give children the opportunity to improve their language skills
while having fun and forging
German-speaking friendships.
COMMUNITY
We aim to share the culture of German-speaking countries through songs, stories and celebrations. We want to build a community in which each child can flourish and where everyone is treated with respect.
OUR GROUPS
Kleine Wikinger: 4-5 years
Learning through play, crafts, vocabulary, starting to read and write
One tutor and one assistant
Currently paused, reopening planned for 2022
Windelrömer: 0-3 years, children accompanied by parents
Songs, rhymes, playing, led by one tutor
Currently paused, reopening planned for 2022
Mutige Normannen: 6-10 years
Learning through play and crafts; reading and writing; vocabulary and grammar
One tutor and one assistant
Cost: £14 for 1.5 hours
Currently paused, reopening planned for 2022
The DSS York was closed during the pandemic. We are currently working on reopening the school in 2022 and welcome interest from potential parents as well as contributors.
TEAM

Gloria Botchway
Gloria supports the Events, Marketing and Finance operations of the organisation. She is Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Financial Management. She has a son who is growing up learning 3 different languages including German and Akan (A Ghanaian language). She is keen to create an engaging atmosphere, both for parents and children alike, particularly to develop their knowledge of the German language and culture.

Matthias Hambach
Matthias is from the Münster area in Germany. He has German-speaking son and teaches Accounting at the University of York.

Hendrik Kraetzschmar
Hendrik is originally from Karlsruhe/Germany and has been living in the UK for over two decades now. He lectures in Middle East politics at the University of Leeds. His family is bilingual and he is keen to impart the German language and culture to his two daughters.

Leonie Wieser
Leonie Wieser is originally from Vienna, Austria and has lived in the UK for over ten years. She has recently completed a PhD at Northumbria University and researches the relationship between history and inequality. She uses the German language, sings songs and reads German literature in her bilingual family.

Catherine Wolterman
Catherine is a qualified primary school teacher and German-English translator with a PGCE from York St John University and a Masters in Conference Interpreting and Translation Studies from the University of Leeds. She has previously taught Years 4 and 5 and currently works in the Early Years. Catherine is passionate about celebrating community languages and promoting language learning from a young age.