German International School of Silicon Valley

We were delighted to join the Bundesweiter Vorlesetag (National Reading Day |?www.vorlesetag.de) on November 15, connecting with the tradition of celebrating stories from afar. Our students enjoyed a wonderful mix of readers: ?? A student visiting from Munich (a former student of one of our teachers) ?? A special surprise from a student’s grandmother visiting from Austria, making the day even more memorable ?? Author Guido Kasmann (www.guidokasmann.de), live from Germany, who shared Schirmel und Oderich with an engaging hand puppet performance that brought the story to life. The students were captivated by tales of dragons, tigers, bears, frogs, and ravens, relaxing on bean bags and soaking in the magic of storytelling. We wrapped up the day with a group photo to thank all our readers. A big thank-you to everyone who made this event special—we look forward to participating again next year! Photos: Nadine Heckmann-Zakharov

On November 16–17, GISSV's Model United Nations (MUN) group participated in the #BearMUN Conference at UC Berkeley, a premier event that gathers high school students from local and national schools for engaging debates and collaboration. Hosted on Berkeley’s historic campus, the conference featured over 15 committees designed for both novice and advanced participants. GISSV students joined dynamic discussions in UNOOSA 2050: Mars Exploration and Resource Extraction (representing Germany) and Healthcare Access for Refugee Women and Children in the UNHRC (representing Greece, Pakistan, and Norway). They developed resolutions, received constructive feedback on their debating skills, and explored pressing global challenges. A big thank you to teacher Niki Gatzionis for accompanying and supporting our students throughout the conference. The experience was further enriched by distinguished speakers, a career fair, and a campus tour that provided valuable insights into academic life and opportunities at UC Berkeley. Congratulations to our students for their outstanding participation and thoughtful contributions to these vital discussions! Photos: Niki Gatzionis

Last Thursday, the GISSV community and guests?gathered to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, which came down on November 9, 1989, marking the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era. The event featured speeches by interim Head of School Dr. Alexandra Blank and Kerstin Klee from the Consulate General San Francisco, followed by an inspiring keynote from Prof. Dr. James Sheehan (Stanford Professor emeritus), who reflected on the unexpected power of peaceful revolution. The poster exhibition “The Peaceful Revolution and German Reunification” of the Consulate General also provided a very detailed overview of different aspects of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Besides that, various creative student projects from different departments further highlighted this transformative moment. The evening also included live music from our talented music department, a lively Q&A session, and a catered reception, providing time for attendees to connect and reflect on the historical and ongoing significance of this pivotal milestone. ?? Follow the link to read on: https://bit.ly/4fAiBNK Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany San Francisco #mauerfall?#history?#gissv

GISSV was proud to co-host the 2024 Jugend debattiert North America Finals with the German Consulate General San Francisco. Sponsored by the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA), this prestigious youth debating competition fosters critical thinking, articulate expression, and meaningful dialogue in German. The event brought sixteen talented finalists from the USA, Canada, and Mexico to our San Francisco campus for a week of workshops, culminating in the grand final at SAP Labs. The debaters tackled the timely issue of single-use plastic, demonstrating impressive rhetorical skills in German. Our Head of School (interim), Dr. Alexandra Blank, had the honor of serving on the jury for the final debate, and we extend a special thank you to Hannah Wexler, whose dedication and efforts were instrumental in making this event a success. Congratulations to Milla M. from the German International School Washington D.C., this year's champion! ?? Discover more about the event and the inspiring journey of the finalists in our full article here: https://bit.ly/48QeHO2 Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany San Francisco Deutsche Auslandsschulen #Auslandsschule #Jugenddebattiert #GISSV

We were thrilled to welcome @Ulrike Kleinert, author and proud grandma of one of our Kibili students, to GISSV! Kleinert brought her story, Bella Ball’s Path to the Clouds ("Bella Balls Weg zur Wolke"), which began as a community project in Bremen to spark a love of reading. The project, supported by Literaturhaus Bremen, especially aimed to inspire children from multilingual backgrounds. Bella Ball’s journey became a full picture book now found in bookstores and libraries around the world! During her visit, Kleinert guided our preschoolers and kindergarteners as they imagined their own ways for Bella to reach the clouds—from rockets to trampolines, flying cars, and even rainbows! Wherever we are, stories like Bella’s inspire us to reach for the skies! Learn more about the project here (German): https://lnkd.in/g_dHK5Ke #Kibili #LiteraturhausBremen

Last Friday, our annual SF Laternenfest illuminated the night with joy! Organized primarily by our dedicated parents and supported by wonderful parent volunteers, the evening had a warm, inviting atmosphere, and many families stayed well past the festivities. We celebrated the glow of lanterns and the touching tale of St. Martin’s compassion and generosity. The event included delightful student performances, delicious German food, lantern crafting, and a magical parade through the enchanting streets of Eureka Valley, accompanied by the lively “BlowMusik” German Band playing traditional Laternenfest songs. The band continued to perform on campus afterward, adding to the festive spirit. A heartfelt shoutout to all the incredible volunteers who helped make this celebration truly shine! #GISSVSanFrancisco

Join Dr. Joann Halpern (Hasso Plattner Institute NYC) for an online talk—hosted by the German International School Boston (GISB)—to explore how design thinking can enhance creativity and inspire innovative solutions. Through real-world examples, you'll learn to apply this approach to problem-solving, from understanding user needs to prototyping and testing. Discover how companies like Google and Apple use design thinking, and how you can apply it in your own life. ??? Tuesday, November 12, 4:00 pm (PT) Learn more & register under https://lnkd.in/gD9t3YFE #talk #designthinking #hpi

For the first time, GISSV hosted the annual meeting of North American administrative heads from German Schools Abroad (DAS)! From Sunday to Wednesday last week, leaders gathered on both campuses to strategize on innovative topics, including AI integration in school operations and connecting administrative departments. The event fostered valuable connections and collaboration, with GISSV’s CAO Mike Nielsen reflecting, “We have known each other for a long time, and the collaboration is incredibly amazing.” Representatives from Boston, New York, Brooklyn, and Washington D.C. joined us in San Francisco and Mountain View for this milestone event! German School Brooklyn (GSB) German International School Boston German International School New York German International School Washington D.C. Michael Nielsen, George S. Deeley, Sonja Einoedter,?Tina Haarbusch, Michaela Rueda Deutsche Auslandsschulen #Auslandsschule

We recently had the pleasure of hosting the Head of the Cultural Section, Melanie Franzen, from the German Embassy?and Deputy Consul, Franciska Obermeyer, at our Mountain View campus! After an insightful tour, our interim Head of School, Dr. Alexandra Blank, and Chief Administrative Officer, Michael Nielsen, engaged in meaningful discussions with our guests, highlighting the unique opportunities and challenges faced by German Schools Abroad—especially here in the U.S. Thank you for the visit! Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany San Francisco Deutsche Auslandsschulen #auslandsschule

From November 4-15, Europe’s largest computer science competition, the Informatik-Biber, returns! Students in grades 3-12 will participate in their math or computer science classes. Already caught in 'beaver fever'? Check out practice exercises and more on the competition’s website: https://bwinf.de/biber/ ~GISSV's Math and Computer Science Teachers Bundesweite Informatikwettbewerbe (BWINF) #bwinf