The IB continues to grow fasts in America. In April the 2000th IB World School was authorized in the IB Americas (South and North America).  Over 1.000.000 students are currently participating in one of the IB programs in our region. The number of schools quadrupled in the last 2 years.  What originally started out as education for international private schools is now being seen as a model to boost public education. Charter schools as well as other public school have been exploring the PYP, which is based on best practices from around the world. Despite financial implications, including continuing teacher education, annual and evaluation fees to ensure the excellence of the program by IB, schools struggling for public funding, find grants and donors to support their quest to a quality education.  Within the IB world our school has earned a reputation of being an outstanding IB world schools. This year alone we had visitors and observers come from all over CA, Virginia, Hawaii, Texas and Mexico City.  Student work, teaching strategies and classroom displays are used as examples at IB schools worldwide.  So what is our secret? I believe it has to do with all our stakeholders showing confidence in the philosophy of putting the child into the center of their education. Rather than depending on test scores we reflect on and trust the evidence seen in the students as they inquire into topics of relevance using the skills necessary to succeed in the 21rst century.  And if there has ever been any doubt about our excellence you only had to watch the fifth graders with their continuing efforts to take actions that make a difference following the exhibition. They truly exemplified the IB learners our school strives to develop.  

One of the advantages at GAIS are smooth transitions between programs. Before p
Preschoolers transition to Kindergarten (Vorschule) at GAIS, they will aready be familiar with its surroundings, due to its close proximity. Throughout the school year, we take many opportunities to visit the vorschule or have the older children visit us in the preschool.

In order to further familiarize the children, they were able to visit the Vorschule yesterday. They started with a joint circle time with the current class and were able to ask questions about Vorschule. The Preschoolers were then paired with a buddy and together worked on an art project, while half the class went outside to play with their buddies. Classes were then rotated to make sure all had a turn. Their time concluded with a large circle. Overall, a great experience for all. The big kids sure were proud to take the little ones under their wing and did a great job collaborating with their buddies in designing and constructing their project.

Follow the Child Summer Camp, run by Jay Levin, the Fifth grade English teacher, is a mobile camp for children between the ages of 6 and 12 who love to be outdoors. They go to a different exciting location each day.  Science based, Follow the Child Summer Camp runs between June 18th until August 17th, and is designed for active children that love to hike, draw, paint, write, explore, and learn. We pick-up in two locations in San Mateo and Palo Alto. If you would like to learn more about the camp please click here or email Jay Levin at followtchild@gmail.com.  

Märchen aus dem Sack geschüttelt!

Attention all 3 to 12 year olds, in particular 9 to 12 year olds!!  What would you say to 4  fun filled weeks, from June 25th to July 20th, of movement, music, theater, dance, learning new skills, and much, much more? What exactly the plan is and what we end up doing is for the most part, up to you. Can everything be decided by you? No! What is and remains is: Do it in German! Everything we do during the course of the 4 weeks; speaking, writing, reading, etc. will be done in German.
One other thing is also not up for discussion, namely Fairytales. If you think they are boring and only stuff for little kids, then you don't know much about Fairytales!
What do the above mentioned activities have to do with Fairytales? Join us for 4 weeks and find out. Do things differently, do things you may have never done before, do something for the first time, learn new moves, try out new skills which you thought you could never do. Don't be a frog, come on, jump in! Betcha, you won't regret it!
For more information please visit our website at www.gaspa-ca.org

Surely you already know that soccer is the world's # 1 sport. And you must have heard how popular soccer is in Germany and how seriously it takes its soccer history and future. 

This summer from June 25th to July 13th, GASPA is offering 3 one week camps, for ages 8-12 and 13-17, during which we will combine soccer craziness and the German language to offer an intercultural exchange; the goal being to experience a cool sport in the German language and get to know contemporary Germany.

Become a better soccer player by learning from coaches from Germany, a world class soccer powerhouse! The Camp provides the opportunity for the participants to pass the DFB-McDonalds Fußballabzeichen (German Soccer Federation/DFB-McDonalds Soccer Insignia). 

The camp is open for beginners and pros in soccer and German language, for boys and girls.
Hauptsache: Fuβball verrückt!

For more information, please visit our website at www.gaspa-ca.org