A Little Bit of Germany at Shepard High School

Musical entertainment at A Little Bit of Germany was provided by the band, Paloma a well-known German band in the Chicagoland area. 

By Kelly White

German culture and cuisine made its way in to one local area high school cafeteria last weekend.

Alan B. Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Avenue in Palos Heights, hosted its annual A Little Bit of Germany event on February 3 bringing oversees traditions right to the south suburbs.

“I like the fact that A Little Bit of Germany is very authentic,” Jamie McCarthy, 16, of Worth, said. “The band, the food and the German speaking people who attend make it a very cultural experience for the young people to experience.”

Taking place annually, prior to the pandemic, A Little Bit of Germany is a fundraising event benefiting the school’s German EF (Educational) Tour Trips and tied together German heritage, culture and cuisine.

The event is led by Shepard alum and German Instructor at the high school, Jennifer Fischer, who said she loves every minute of it, especially because she lived in Germany from 1993-1997 near Bamberg.

A Little Bit of Germany is led by Shepard alum and German Instructor at the high school, Jennifer Fischer.

“I love to see everyone come together and have so much fun during so at A Little Bit of Germany,” Fischer said.

Fischer said the program is so successful due to the help of her students.

“It’s all about the community support of the German program,” Fischer said. “It’s truly a community event. People like to come to A Little Bit of Germany to socialize and have fun.”

Shepard held the event to raise funds for kids who are traveling to Germany, Austria and Switzerland with Fischer and Erin Quinlan, Shepard Culinary Arts Teacher and National Honors Society (NHS) sponsor, in the summer of 2024 with an EF Tour Trip.

Current German students were be required to work two slots, bring in a raffle basket, help get donations and bring in baked goods. NHS students signed up for service hours, as well and helped with the set-up, tear down and working stations at the event.

The cost to attend was $15 per adult and $5 per child with a hope to raise $3500. A total of $3900 was raised in 2020. All of the monies raised at the fundraising event went directly into stipend accounts for students who will be taking the EF Tour Trip in 2024.

“I love to see families in the community come together and enjoy some good German music and food,” Fischer said. “I often have former students and even their families come back and visit during this event. Many of them were involved in the German Exchange Program we had with Goethe Gymnasium in Germersheim before the pandemic.

It’s a bit of a reunion for me and a great way to stay in touch with them. Having these ongoing student and parent and community relationships has been one the most rewarding parts of my career. I love to see how my teaching extends beyond the classroom and how my students have been able to use their German skills in their post HS careers. Many of my former students have studied further or been involved in other study abroad or travel programs as well, which I think is amazing.”

All 250 attendees enjoyed brats and sauerkraut from Jack & Pat’s Old Fashioned Butcher Shop in Chicago Ridge; rye bread and butter from the Breadsmith in Palos Heights; and German Cider, with sauerkraut and German potato salad prepared by culinary arts teachers and students from Dan Solski’s class at Shepard Rod Staudaucher’s class at Richards High School.

There was also soda, root beer, baked goods, raffles pretzels and T-shirts available for sale.

Musical entertainment was provided by the band, Paloma a well-known German band in the Chicagoland area that filled the air with German music for attendees to sing and dance along.

“I really enjoy all of the preparation, as well as the fun and inviting environment of A Little Bit of Germany,” Ella Correll, 18, of Palos Heights, said.

Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Avenue in Palos Heights, again hosted its annual A Little Bit of Germany.