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Preschool-12 Dual Language Education in
Two Locations in the Bay Area

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About
- Welcome to GISSV
  The German International School of Silicon Valley is an independent, nonprofit preschool–grade 12 school with two locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Learning in German and English
  Our high-quality dual-immersion education helps students reach their full potential in a stimulating environment that fosters critical and imaginative thinking, a passion for lifelong learning and an appreciation for cultural diversity.
Admissions
- Meeting Students’ Needs From Preschool Through High School
  GISSV welcomes students of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We serve students from two to eighteen years old.
- Enrollment
  The enrollment period begins during the months of January and February of each year for the upcoming school year. We also accept new students throughout the school year based on availability. Knowledge of the German language is required for all children who enroll after 1st grade (See also our German Fast Track Program).
Learning
- Nurturing Holistic and Individual Development
  Our well-balanced program provides rich project-based and differentiated learning experiences, fostering interests across all subject areas as well as social-emotional competency, critical thinking, artistic expression and physical motor skills.
- Safe and Stimulating Learning Environments
  We provide highly qualified teachers, small class sizes and an excellent student-to-teacher ratio. Our engaging and ambitious curriculum is enhanced by comprehensive science and technology resources.
School Life
- Rich Experiences in the Classroom and Beyond
  At GISSV, we are instilling an appreciation of life, music, sports, culture and arts among our students. We take responsibility and action for ourselves, others and our planet.
- Strong Sense of Community
  GISSV has a vibrant international school community thanks to our small class sizes, cohesive, dynamic preschool–12 structure and enriching events that involve all our students, teachers and parents.
Campuses & Camps
- Serving Families Across the Bay Area
  GISSV has campuses in Mountain View and San Francisco. We also connect our students to their local environment by exploring the cultural, natural, academic and entrepreneurial destinations the Bay Area has to offer.
- Two Campuses, One School
  All GISSV programs are bilingual and based on the German curriculum of the state of Thuringia, which is known and respected for its well-rounded educational approach
Support GISSV
- Enhancing the GISSV Experience
  Family and community support is a vital part of GISSV. Voluntary contributions of time, resources and expertise are key to our success.
- Every Gift Matters
  Donations are essential to preserving and advancing GISSV’s exceptional educational programs. Tax-deductible contributions enable us to realize our most important current and long-term priorities, preparing our students for the world ahead.

Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival

Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival

Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival

On Sunday, January 22, more than 20% of the world began celebrating Chinese New Year, but did you know that the festivities last for a couple of weeks and end with the Lantern Festival!

Written by GISSV's DEI Committee

Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the traditional lunar new year in China, and begins on the first new moon of the lunar calendar. 2023 is the year of the rabbit. However, one thing we didn’t know is that Chinese New Year is celebrated for 16 days, and ends with the Lantern Festival.

Chinese New Year festivities began on Sunday, January 22. Businesses and schools shut down for the first five days, and families gather to celebrate. On the evening of Chinese New Year many people set off fireworks and firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and again in the morning to ring in the New Year. However, the festivities carry on with the Spring Festival.

The celebration between January 22 and February 1 is called the Spring Festival. During the Spring Festival, families used to pray to the gods for a prosperous planting and harvesting season, as it marked the end of the coldest time of the season and the coming of spring. However, as China shifted away from agrarian life, the Chinese now pray to their ancestors.

The festivities will end on February 5, 2023 with the Lantern Festival. This festival is always held on the 15th day, which is the first full moon of the lunar calendar. People, especially children, will go out at night carrying paper lanterns.The lanterns can be a symbol for reconciliation with your past self and prosperity into the new year.

So, it’s not too late to participate in Chinese New Year festivities.

For more information or events visit:

The DEI/DRIN parent group welcomes article contributions from the GISSV community related to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) or Diversität, Repräsentation, Inklusion, Normkritik (DRIN) activities on campus.

Join us at our next monthly meeting on February 7! Usually, meetings are held every second Tuesday of each month, but in February we will move it up a week to accommodate the winter break. Both German and English speakers are welcome.

Click here to join the meeting

Questions? Contributions? Email dei-parents@gissv.org.

Photo: Jason Leung on Unsplash

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