Charter members of the Copiague High School performing German Club, which originally started in 1971, came together with their families and friends to celebrate 38 years of friendship at Belmont Lake State Park the weekend of Aug. 15-16. TheGerman Club is still one of Copiague’s signature performing groups, which began under the direction of teacher Jessie McGuire. The group rapidly grew to be an award-winning German folkdance group, well known in the Northeast, and was even invited in 1974 to perform their dances in Germany.

Shown in photo are members and guests who attended the reunion: Jennifer Frank Schmelter, JoAnn Ware Abbott, Karen Meyer Campbell, Mary Blome, Maria Carlson Tobey, Anita Ullmann Sayevich, Matt Carley, Will Samboy, Dean von Essen, Kim Rolf Torrusio, Kathleen Hoeler Cervini, Maureen Penny Friedman, Jessie McGuire, Deby Brenner Aiello, Kathy Valcich, Milagros Rodriguez Penalo, Ann Maloney, Dawn Groeling. Heidi Riedel Al­bert, Peter Arcati, Paul Schmelter, Bill McGrath, Doug Mahan, Martina White, Donna Fairchild, Larry Tellefsen, Tom Arcati and former teacher Josie McGuire. In attendance but missing in photo are Robert Olsen, Elizabeth Mikucki Fleury and Dennis Glocksien. That became the first of several trips to Germany. By the late 70s, an exchange program was established with a school near Bonn, Germany and Copiague stu­dents enjoyed both hosting and visiting their partner families on a yearly basis. The German Club was often asked to perform at elementary schools, churches, scouting events, local organizations such as the Lion’s and Rotary Clubs, nursing homes, and special celebrations. As the danc­ers improved and perfected their art, their fame grew and they won numerous awards at statewide German competitions. The group became annual fixtures at local Oktoberfests and German festivities throughout Long Island, in several venues in New York City and Upstate New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

Copiague residents also looked forward to the group’s winter walk as they serenade the com­munity with German Christmas carols. More than 300 community members would attend the club’s annual roulladen banquet, which included performances of folk songs, the oompah band, recorder group, and renditions from Broadway musicals which were performed in German. “Anatevka” (Fiddler on the Roof) not only won the group a drama award at a statewide German competition, but was also featured on a PBS pro­gram in the late 70s entitled Innovations in the Language Classroom. McGuire left teaching in 1982. The reunion picnic in August, attended by 80 members and guests, was the first time the members of the “McGuire era” club (1971-1982) have been together since 1982. Those not able to attend can join the alumni group and findnostalgic photos, as well as photos from this event on the Facebook page “Copiague High School German Club – 1971-1982.”