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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.

Juandalynn R. Abernathy at GISSV

Juandalynn R. Abernathy at GISSV

Juandalynn R. Abernathy at GISSV

The "first child of the civil rights movement”, daughter of Reverend Abernathy and godchild of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., visited us in our "virtual classroom(s)".

Written by GISSV Vice Head of School Jenny Jungeblut

Juandalynn R. Abernathy, daughter of Reverend Abernathy and godchild of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke to our elementary and secondary school students about her personal memories of the civil rights movement. In a moving and personal recollection, Ms. Abernathy shared her own family pictures and authentic audio from the time to take the students on a journey of the first child of the civil rights movement, as she is known. She talked about how it felt like as a child to being denied entry into the amusement park Funtown, her close friendship with Yolanda King, and the moment they heard that Martin Luther King was shot. Now an opera singer and choir director in Germany (where she has been living for 40 years), Ms. Abernathy also performed songs that were sung during that time.

The Abernathy family took their three children with them to all the events, protests, and marches of the time because they wanted their children to participate in history, advice that Ms. Abernathy has retained and passes on to her audience.

Ms. Abernathy also talked about her experiences as an African-American woman living in Konstanz and Balingen and raising her biracial son in Germany. It was amazing and eye-opening to hear her express her love for and observations of both countries. While the rendition of “We Shall Overcome” wowed the audience, her dedication to raising awareness for equality and justice will stay with us just as long. Thank you to Leslie Casimir, parent on the San Francisco campus, for connecting the school to this amazing woman and witness to one of the most important part of American and African-American history.

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