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Gut Glick un kumm bald widder. – Good luck and come back soon.
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September 12, 2026Well liewe Leser, mei Summer iss nau warricklich vorbei. Des Woch hab ich gegrische: “Do kumme die Kinner!”. Ya, Dinschdaag waar der aerschde Schuldaag fer selles Yaahr.
Der aerschde Daag iss allsfatt schee. Die Schtudente sin arrig froh alle ihre Freinde widder zu sehne. Ich muss aa saage, dass die Schulmeeschdern sin aa froh die Kinner widderzusehne…well, net all die Kinner, awwer am menschde!
All die Schtudente schtehe in dem Gang un schwetze iwwer was sie alles im Summer gemacht hen. ‘Sis allsfatt schee all die Gschichte zu heere…well, net all die Gschichte, awwer am menschde! Was arrig schee iss, wann ich die Schtudente zum aerschde Mol seit Tschuun seh. Mannichmol sehne sie ganz annerschder aus. Viel hen so viel gwaxe, as ich sie net kenn. Warricklich!
Ich glaab selles Yaahr waerd en gudes Yaahr sei. Ich hab en Gruppe vun Hochdeitsch I, dann een Gruppe vun Hochdeitsch II, un mei Hochdeitsch III un IV sin in die gleiche Klaess zamme. Selles Yaahr hab ich aa en Gruppe vun AP Europaische Gschicht. AP iss en abaddiche Klaess. Sell is fer die Kinner die an der College geh wolle. Die Klaess is arrig hatt un gebt viel Arewet. Ich hab yuscht sex Schtudente in re AP Klaess…un all sex sin gut un gewissehaft. Ich weess schunn as sie all de Arewet duhe waerre. Ich hab aa zum aerschde Mol en Klaess iwwer Amerikaanische Regiering. Des iss en “Dual-Enrollment” Klaess. Sell mehnt ass wann die Kinner es gut verschtehne, kenne sie drei College Credits vun Pennsylvania College vun Technology griege mitaus Koscht!
Denk mol nooch an deim aerschde Schuldaag. Was fallt eich bei? Waart dihr aa froh widder in September mit re Schul aazufange? Waart dihr aa froh eire Freinde widderzusehne?
Do iss en Audio Klip:
Blackberry One-Room Schoolhouse, York County, PA
Well dear reader, my summer is now really over. This week I screamed: “Here come the kids!”. Yep, Tuesday was the first day of school for this year.
The first day is always nice. The students are really happy to see all of their friends again. I must say, that the teachers are also happy to see the kids again…well, not all of the kids, but most of them!
All of the students stand in the hall and talk about what they did in the summer. It is always nice to hear the stories…well, not all of the stories, but most of them! What is really nice, is when I get to see my students again for the first time since June. Sometimes they look very different. Many of them grow so much, that I don’t even know them. Really!
I think this year will be a good year. I have a group of German 1, then a group of German 2, and my German 3 and 4 are in the same class together. This year I also have a group of AP European History. AP is a special class. That is for children that want to go to college. The class is really hard and there is a lot of work. I only have six students in that class this year…and all six are gut and conscientious. I already know that they will do all of the work. I also have for the first time a class about American Government. This is a “dual-enrollment” class. That means that if the students pass everything, they can get three college credits from Pennsylvania College of Technology at no cost!
Think back to your first day of school. What do you remember? Were you happy to start school back up again in September? Were you also happy to see your friends again? [...]
August 15, 2026Letschde Woch sin mir darrich unser Weltdeel gfaahre. Wu sin mir gange? Nadd un Wescht in die Bariye! Do in Pennsylvaania hemmer viel Gediere in dem Busch wie: Hasch, Baere, Bassam, Fix, Koyote, un…Elk. Es gebt Elk in Pennsylvaania? Ya, ich weess sell klingt net recht. Elk sin Gediere die yuscht drauss Wescht sin wie in Colorado odder Wyoming. Well, sell is recht awwer es gebt Elk aa in Pennsylvaania.
Frieher hot es viel Elk do in Pennsylvaania gewwe. In de Mitte vun de 1800s hen die Leit do in Pennsylvaania all die Elk gschosse. Der letschde Elk in Pennsylvaania waar im 1867 gschosse. Gschwischich 1913 un 1926 hen die Pennsylvaania Game Commission browiert die Elk zerickzubringe. Mir hen 170 Elk vun Yellowstone National Park gkaaft un dohergebrocht. Heitzudaage gebt es meh as 1,400 Elk in Pennsylvaania. Die Elk wuhne yuscht in ee paar Kaunties: Elk, Cameron, Clinton, McKean, Potter, Centre un Clearfield. Mer kann sie net yaage wie en Haasch, alle Yaahr gebt es en Lottery fer Elk Tags, un yuscht ee paar sin rausgewwe.
So, nau sin sie wunnerfitzig…sie wolle die Elk sehne, awwer wie un wu? Well, zum Glick gebt es en Elk Country Bsucher Blatz. Sell findt mer in die gleene Schteddel vun Benezette in Elk Kaunty. Es Bsucher Blatz is arrig schee un modern. Es gebt en gleene Museum un en echde guder Movie iwwer die Elk in Pennsylvaania. Datt hen sie aa vier Aablickbletz all mit Binoculars un Schpeckdiefe. Mir waare datt uff em Mundaag awwer mir hen ken Elk gsehne. Ich glaab es waar zu heess fer sie un sie waare im Busch unnich en Baam wu es kiehler waar. Schpotyaahr is en gudi Zeit fer die Elk zu seh. Dann hen die Bulle die Fuchsgichdere un sie sin meh munder.
Es Bsucher Blatz is net so leicht zu finne. Benezette is in de Mitte vun nariyets. Awwer ‘sis arrig schee datt in die Bariye zu faahre. Es Blatz koschdet nix reizugeh awwer mer muss $3.00 bezaahle fer es Movie zu seh. Nooch eier Bsuch kennt eich en guder Iems bei em Benezette Hotel kaafe. Sie hen gude Humbarriger un annere Sandwiches un gudes kaldes Bier!
Wann dihr datt geht un dihr seht en Elk, gebt ach! Sie sin gross un wild. Bleibt weit weg genung fer eier Sicherheit. En gewaxne Bull Elk kann meh as 1,000 Pund wiege un sei Haschharn sin scharf!
Do iss en Audio Klip:
Last week we went driving through my area of the world. Where did we go? North and west in the mountains! Here in Pennsylvania we have many animals in the woods like: deer, bear, opposum, foxes, coyotes, and….elk. There are elk in Pennsylvania? Yes, I know that doesn’t sound right. Elk are animals just out west in Colorado or Wyoming. Well, that is right but there are elk in Pennsylvania too.
Earlier there were many elk here in Pennsylvania. In the middle of the 1800s, the people here in Pennsylvania shot all of the elk. The last elk in Pennsylvania was shot in 1867. Between 1913 and 1926 the Pennsylvania Game Commission tried to bring the elk bck. We bought 170 elk from Yellowstone National Park and brought them here. Today there are more than 1,400 elk in Pennsylvania. The elk live in just a few counties: Elk, Cameron, Clinton, McKean, Potter, Centre, and Clearfield. One can not hunt them like deer, every year there is a lottery for elk tags, and just a few are given out.
So, now you are curious…you want to see elk, but how and where? Well, luckily there is the Elk Country Visitor’s Center. That is located in the small town of Benezette in Elk County. The visitor’s center is really nice and modern. There is a small museum and an really good movie about the elk in Pennsylvania. There they have four viewing areas with binoculars and telescopes. We were there on a Monday but we didn’t see any elk. I believe it was too hot for them and they were in the woods under a tree where it was cooler. Fall is a good time to see the elk. Then the bulls are in the rut and they are more active.
The visitor’s center is not so easy to find. Benezette is in the middle of nowhere. But it is really pretty to drive there in the mountains. The center doesn’t cost anything to visit but the movie costs $3.00. After your visit, you can buy a good meal at the Benezette Hotel. They have good hamburgers and other sandwiches and good cold beer!
When you go there and see and elk, watch out! They are large and wild. Stay back fare enough for your safety. A full grown bull elk can weigh more than 1,000 pounds and their antlers are sharp! [...]
July 4, 2026Hallicher Gebottsdaag Amerika! Uff em 4. Tschulei waerrd mei Land, unser Land, 250 Yaahre feiere. So lang hen viel Lenner net gelebt, des wisse mir schunn. Zerick im Yaahr 1776 in Philadelphia hen 56 Menner ihre Naame uff en Blatt Babier unnergschriwwe. Was sie gemacht hen waar Verrot gege ihr Keenich…en Verbreche mit grosse Noochfolye. Ihr neies Land waar net en Land mit en Keenich odder Keenichin, net mit en Keenichsoh, net mit en Duke, net mit en Karrich. Ihr neies Land waar en Land mit en Gedanke un en Glaawe in Freiheit, Gleichheit, un Unabhaengigskeit. En Paerson kennt lewe wie er odder sie gewollt hot. Iwwer die Yaahre hot mei Land viel Erfolg ghatt awwer es hot aa viel Druwwel aa ghatt. Schklaaverei, was mir zu de Insching gemacht hen, Racism, un viel annere Sache sin aa in unsre Gschicht. Awwer mir hen aa viel Gudes geduh. Awwer die Arewet vun de Leit im 1776 iss noch net faddich gemacht. Yede Generation muss aa schaffe um die Grundgedanke vun unserem Land zu achieve. Heit, uff unsere 250. Gebottsdaag sing ich laut mit Schtolz in mei Hatz die Wadde vun em John Birmelin sei Lied “Amerikaa.” Ich hoff ass du aa mitsinge witt.
Amerikaa
Mei Land ich sing vun dir,Siess iss die Freiheit mir,Do will ich sei;So wie die alde Leit,So fiehl ich aa noch heit,Bin dir zu yedre ZeitImmer gedrei.
An Felsebarriye naus,Iwwer die Wolke drauss,Ring Freiheitsklang!Winters im diefe Schnee,Summers wann’s Feld mit Glee,O Land, wie bischt du schee,Kling Freiheits Gsang!
Unsrer Voledre Gott,Fiehr uns in yedre Not,An deinre Hand!So lang mir dir gedrei,Bleibt des Land gross un frei;Du sollscht uns Keenich sei,Schutz unserm Land.
Do iss en Audio Klip vun “Amerikaa” vun mir gsunge:
Happy Birthday America! On the 4th of July my county, our country, will celebrate 250 years. Many countries have not lived that long, that we all know. Back in the year 1776 in Philadelphia 56 men singed their names to a piece of paper. What they did was treason against their king…a crime with great consequences. Their new country was not a country with a king or queen, not with a prince, not with a duke, not with one church. Their new country was a country with ideas and a belief in freedom, equality and independence. A person can live how he or she wanted to. Over the years my country has much success but it also had its troubles. Slavery, what we did to the Native Americans, racism and many other wrongs are part of our story. We also did many good things too. But the work of the people in 1776 is not complete. Every generation must also work to achieve the grounding principles of our country. Today, on our 250th birthday, I sing loudly with pride in my heart the words of John Birmelin’s song “America.” I hope that you want to sing too.
America
My country I sing of thee,Sweet to me is the freedom,Here is where I want to be;Just like the older people,I feel the same way today,To you in every ageAlways faithful.
From the mountain rocks,Over the clouds above,Rings freedom’s sound!Winters in deep snow,Summers when the fields with clover,O country, how pretty you are,Ring freedom’s song!
The God of our ancestors,Lead us through all trouble,With your hand!As long as we are faithfulOur country will stay great and free;You should be our king,Protect our country. [...]
April 11, 2026Yawell, nau iss en annere Oschder vorbei. Ich hab gedenkt ass ich eppes iwwer Oschder schreiwe soll. Oschder, wie viel vun eich schunn wisst, iss arrig wichdig fer uns grischtliche Deitsche. Es gebt viele Traditions fer Oschder aa. Ich will eppes saage iwwer wie mei Familye unsere Oschder gfeiert hot. Loss mich vun de Daage var Oschder aafange. Mei Mudder hot alle Yaahr ich un mei Bruder en neie Outfit fer Oschdersunndaag gekaaft. Mir hen gemisst eppes neies in re Karrich draage.
Uff em Griedunnerschdaag hen mei Mudder un Grossmudder Oier gfarebt. Sie waare allsfatt so schee wann sie faddig waare. Oft waare sie mit Zwiwwelschaale gemacht. So viele unnerschiddliche Farewe.
Uff em Karfreidaag sin mir uff re Oieryacht gange, der bei der Feier Kumpanie waar. Es hot so viel Kinner gewwe…un alle sin schtarrick un raubaschdich darrich em Grass gloffe um die Oier zu finne. Wann alles faddig waar, hot es viel Prizes gewwe, wie zu Beischpiel grosse Schoklaade Haasli!
Uff em Samschdaag hen ich, mei Bruder, un unser Daadi Pissebett (Biddre Selaat) gyaagt. Mir sin darrich die ganze Hof gange um die griene Blans zu finne. Sell waar net so leicht. Mer muss mol gut gucke um es zu finne. Wann mir faddig waare, hen mir gemisst die Pissebett zu butze.
Endlich waar es Oschdersunndaag. Arrig frieh waare mir wacker un hen unsere neie Gleeder aageduh. Mir sin in die Kich gange un hen gsehne was der Oschderhaas gebrocht hot. Dann sin mir uff re Karrich gange. Die Karrich waar allsfatt voll mit Blume, abbadich hot es viel Moiblume un Schtannblume gewwe. Alles hot so gut geroche. Mir hen haarliche Lieder gsunge iwwer dem Grischdus sei Auferschtehung.
Nooch sell sin mir heem gange um en gross Esse zu hawwe. Alle Yaahr fer Oschder hen mir Schunkefleesch, Filse, Pissebett mit hees Schpeck Dunkes, Aerebse, Brot un Brieh gesse. Fer Nooch-esse hot es en Boi un en Kuche gewwe. Nooch em Esse hen mir Kaarde gschpielt.
Dazu Grischtdaag, Oschder waar, un iss arrig gut gegliche bei mir. Ich bin allsfatt froh wann ich an Oschder denke. Was hett alle vun eich zu Oschder geduh? Schreib mol dei Oschder Traditions!
Do iss en Audio Klip:
Yes well, now another Easter has passed. I thought that I should write something about Easter. Easter, as many of you know, is very important to us PA Dutch who are Christian. There are many traditions associated with Easter. I want to tell about how my family celebrated Easter. Let me begin with the days before Easter. Every year my mother bought my brother and myself a new outfit for Easter Sunday. We always had to wear something new to church.
On Maundy Thursday my mother and grandmother colored eggs. They were always so pretty when they were finished. Often they were done with onion skins. So many different colors.
On Good Friday we went to the egg hunt that was held at the fire company. There were so many children…and they all ran so fast and roughly through the grass to find the eggs. When everything was done, there were prizes, for example a large chocolate rabbit.
On Saturday, my brother, our dad and myself hunted dandelion. We walked all over the yard trying to find the green plant. One really has to look to find it. When we were finished, we had to clean it. That wasn’t so easy.
Finally it was Easter Sunday. We woke up really early and put our new clothes on. We went into the kitchen to see what the Easter Bunny brought us. Then we went to church. The church was always full of flowers, there were especially many daffodils and hyacinths. Everything smelled so good. We sang glorious songs about Christ’s resurrection.
After that we went home to have a large meal. Every year for Easter we had ham, potato filling, dandelion with hot bacon dressing, pease, bread, and gravy. For dessert there was a pie and a cake. After the meal we all played cards.
With Christmas, I really like Easter. I am always happy when I think about Easter. What did all of you do for Easter? Write your Easter traditions! [...]