Die Rappen formen sich!

The Wolfpack and its glory has given way to a new breed: die Rappen. Die Rappen are the new spelling team for this year, Rappen Pl in English means black horses. The spellers have already been winnying and trotting about and have amazingly been demanding to spell words before and after school. Many of the Rappen are hoping to get their names retired if they also become 4x champions like the former Wolfpack Alpha Steffi. I have my work cut out for me, we have some really good spellers, but I need to recruit and inspire some of the kids in my IV class that used to spell when they were younger and our opponents are looking to avenge their losses, especially after the article in paper!

2009 Advanced Champions!

Pictured are the Advanced Champion spellers from 2009 immediately after their triple overtime victory! The judges wanted to make it a tie, but we insisted on tie breaks...three of them it turned out to be! Our most exciting finish ever! From left to right: Herr Kirby, Fritz, Michaela, Steffi, Meike und Jörg.

BBQ 2010

The 2010 Alumni BBQ is history. Our biggest and best BBQ yet! We had about 40 former students in attendance. Many of the students are now married and we had 2 couples bring their children! But, somehow they are aging very well. To me and my wife, they all still look about 18. They could be sitting in the classroom with the rest of my students and fit in right in!

In the video you will see our first annual alumni spelling bee. It was the older students vs. the younger ones. The younger ones managed to claim victory with the help of the oldest alumni speller--Josef (Richard Harris).

Check in throughout the year for announcements, news and updates!

Double click the video for full screen viewing, otherwise it is cut off...

What should I bring to the BBQ?

What should I bring? Well, let me tell you! I will be bringing the hot dogs, buns, sauerkraut and ice. The items below will be available to bring on a first sign up first serve basis. Email me or comment below and I will keep this page updated.

July 21: Come on guys, don't make me ask the Spanish alumni to help us out here!!

July 23: Looks like we still need BBQ sauce and 5 more 2 liters of soda! Looks like we are going to have a great time this year!

July 24: OK, we are just down to 5 more 2 liters of soda. As the #'s are going up, anyone that signs up from now on can bring a pack of hot dogs or a bag of ice.

July 27: The Kinder are "stoked" to quote one alumnus. Remember to bring your cameras and old pictures.

July 28: Es ist schon Mittwoch...das Grillfest ist am Samstag um 13 Uhr. Die Teilnahme ist obligatorisch!

July 29: 2 days to go...I can taste the Sauerkraut already!

July 30: Forget the horses are blind and load the wagons anyway!

Final Report: --Purchased tonight 64 hot dogs, 56 buns (had a math problem) and 46 oz. of kraut...oh yeah and one bag of charcoals...Will buy 5 bags of ice in the morning, plus name tags....feel free to report on comments on your purchases if you so desire...

Final final report: Remember...this is a rain or shine event...keine schwache Ausreden!

Hot Dogs: Herr Kirby
buns: Herr Kirby
Sauerkraut: Herr Kirby
Ice: Herr Kirby
Ketchup: König Josef (c/o 2010 & member of the Wolf Pack)
Senf: Steffi (c/o 2010)
BBQ sauce: Helga (c/o 2003 Teddy's first babysitter and master of mnemonic devices)
Plastic Utensils (50ct): Melina (c/0 2010 and member of the Wolf Pack)
Paper Plates(at least 50 ct): Melina (c/o 2010)
5 bags of various chips: Steffi (c/o 2010 4x Champion Speller & Alpha of the Wolf Pack)
3 lbs of potatoe salad: Bodo (c/o 2009)
2 lbs of slaw: Bodo (c/o 2009)
Dessert: Josef (c/o 2001 & Grammatikkönig) --Gooey Butter Cake
Dessert #2: Nina (c/o 2007 Golden Cobra & asst. spelling coach) -- Cookies
Dessert #3: Sylvia (c/o 2007 Golden Cobra, 3x Champion Speller & Goessl Buchpreisträger)
2 liter various sodas x5: Steffi (c/o 2010 Goessl Buchpreisträger)
5 more 2 liters of sodas: Sybille (c/o 2010 3rd place level IV poetry Champ!)
1 more 2 liter: Heidi (c/o 2006)
2 more 2 liters: Horst & Nora (c/o 2005 and one of the many "German" married couples)
Plastic cups 50ct: Melina (c/o 2010)
additional cups: Heidi (c/o 2006)
Bag of Napkins: Heidi (c/o 2006 and recent graduate of my alma mater!!)
Vegetable Tray: Basti c/o 2006 'a figure like a greek god doesnt come out of a pre sealed bag'

Feel free to bring your significant others and children! If you are still looking for a wife/husband, I will bring some 3x5 cards and match you up, no bad choices among the German Alumni!! You might even make the news if you carry through with it!! Pictured above are some of Seckman's finest alumni as they were in their teenage state...

German Day 2008 and Exchange Student Opportunity!

If you or anyone you know is interested in hosting an exchange student this year, contact Donna Beaulicault at: compulos@hotmail.com

Pictured is the 2008 Beginning champs right after their victory! Unfortunately our Adv. team took 2nd* and 3rd that year. They let us enter two advanced teams that year for some reason. Our "B" team took 3rd with two freshmen spelling who had never seen the list before and were tutored that morning by alumna Antonia (Nina) Ferguson. Our advanced team was just going to spell to tie when the judges called time...frustrating to say the least...

BBQ RSVP!

Alright Kinder, it's that time of the year! If you are one of the cool kids coming to the BBQ (July 31, 1-3 at Mastadon State Park Pavillion on Seckman Rd) you can either email me or comment on this page. Significant others, wives, husbands and children are all welcome. Just let me know the number attending with you. I will have name tags available upon your arrival, so you can proudly display your graduation year, German name and any honors (such as a poetry or spelling champ). In about a week, I will put out a call for items needed and you can sign up for those (such as napkins). I will supply the hot dogs, buns and a tankard of Sauerkraut! Pictured is a photo from the 2005 BBQ. From left to right we have Claudia, Nora and Nele, all members of the self proclaimed "best class ever".

Beginning Champs 2007!

Several future 2x, 3x and even one future 4x champ just hours before their first taste of many victories to come! A great run began that day!

The "Motley Crüe"

Here are the Advanced Champions from 2004! Also known as the "Motley Crüe"!

Golden Cobras

Here are the 2007 Advanced Spelling Champions!

German Day 04

Here are some spellers and poets from 2004 (I think) German Day. They are assembled outside of the Graham Chapel and I can see by the looks on the speller's faces, that they already had beaten their competition!

Orignal Spelling Team

Here is a photo of my original spelling team! From left to right: Claudia, Sabine, Josef, Dietmar and Susanne. This photo was taken in March of 99 and was taken the day after their second German Day (when they were in German II). Both in 98 and 99 this Beginning spelling team won 2nd place, losing to Washington High School both years in the final round. All of these students were members of my original German I class and I first taught them in August of 1997... almost 13 years ago! These kids, without a lot of help from me, laid the foundation for our future champion teams.

New Alumni

Here is my newest batch of alumni that I am letting loose on the world! A sad day, but that is good, because it meant we had a special class.

German Day results featured in the Journal!

Check out our most recent Champion spellers and poets in the Jefferson County Journal! Click the picture to link to the article.

This year's advanced spellers named themselves the "Wolfpack" and are challenging all previous advanced champions to a pick up spelling Bee at the BBQ! Former spellers: Here are the advanced words and if you would like to be prepared! What do I mean "if"? Of course, if anyone will come prepared to spell, just for fun at a BBQ, it will be my former students!!

BBQ 2010: Date Set

Kinder! Clear your calendars, cancel vacations and postpone weddings. The 2010 BBQ has been scheduled for Saturday, July 31 at the Mastadon State Park Pavillion on Seckman Road. The time will be from 1:00-3:30. As the date nears I will put out a sign up sheet for sodas, side dishes, plates, cups etc. Please email me with any questions: kirbhund at sbcglobal.net

BBQ 2010

We are for sure planning on having a BBQ this summer. I am going to call Mastadon this weekend and try to get the pavillion. I am thinking 3rd of 4th weekend in July. Please advise if you have any preferences on time. More news soon. Pictured is the 2007 event at Arnold Park.

German Day 2010

I am proud to announce that our winning ways have continued. Yesterday both of our spelling teams won first place. Our poets also had a good day. Morgan "Sybille" Mason won 3rd place in the Declamation IV contest. In the level I declamation contest Seckman took 2nd and 3rd place. Our Schnitzljagd team also took care of business winning 1st place with he time of 9 minutes! Pictured is the "Wolf Pack" and soon to be future alumni: From Left to Right--Shelby "Steffi" Ratliff, Brandon "Josef" Myers, Sarah "Steffi" Cerutti, Jonathan "Johann" Schultz, Sarah "Melina" McMullin, Ryan "Dietmar" Rogers and in his own world Eddie "Horst" Hite.