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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.

Interview Process

Our interview process is designed to ...

give a general idea about our school
prevent false expectations
get to know each other
provide an opportunity to ask questions
learn about the student's personality
learn about possible special needs/accommodations that may be necessary for the child

Read on below for details for each school division.

Preschool/Kindergarten (Kibili)

Questions to be prepared for:

Why did you choose the Kibili program?
How would you describe a good relationship between you and your child’s teacher?
What languages do you speak at home?
How well does your child speak German/ English?
How will your child cope with changing schools/ moving to a different country (if applicable)?
What are your child’s strengths?
What are areas of improvements for your child?
What did previous teachers say about your child (if applicable)?
How do you plan on getting involved in your child’s group?

Please be ready to discuss the following topics:

Methods of Communication
Bilingual Language Concept
German Curriculum

Elementary School

We will talk about:

Why have you chosen our school?
What languages do you speak at home?
How well does your child speak German?
How will your child cope with the moving to the US (if applicable)?
What are your child’s strengths?
In which areas do you see challenges for your child?
What are areas of improvement of your child?
How will we, GISSV, support your child?
What can you do at home?

Further preparation for students and parents:

Please ask your child to bring a book he or she likes to read out loud and talk about the content. We will read an excerpt and discuss the book during the interview. We might also talk about hobbies, favorite things to do, subjects, field trips, “likes and dislikes” etc.

Middle School

High School