Thank you for your continued interest in our school. As we celebrate the German International School Chicago’s 15th anniversary school year, I would like to take a moment to recognize all of our constituents who have helped our school to achieve the following milestones:

Enrollment: For 15 years now, GISC has shown growth in our student numbers each and every year. With a projected year-end enrollment of 190 students, we anticipate exceeding the 200-student enrollment mark next school year.

Expansion of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program: GISC is an accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the IB Primary Years Program (PYP). In this 15th anniversary school year, GISC is now additionally and officially a Candidate Middle Years Program (MYP) School. This expansion will help us offer our students a consistent learning experience, highlighted by international-mindedness, an emphasis on critical and analytical thinking, and a student-centered learning environment.

Alumni/International Universities: With former GISC students now gaining admission to universities, we take great delight in seeing graduates of the Class of 2019 studying successfully abroad. Our high school partnership with the Lycée Français de Chicago allows our students to maintain their fluency and achieve continued growth in the German language, leading to the prestigious bilingual IB Diploma that opens doors to universities and colleges in more than 100 countries.

School Building & Grounds: Five years ago, we successfully moved to our new campus at 1726 W Berteau Ave in the Northcenter/Ravenswood neighborhood, and we have continuously updated and modernized our building, most recently, via the addition of a sports court, climbing wall, and state-of-the-art technology equipment throughout all classrooms.

Of course, we take the greatest delight and pride in our faculty and staff, students and families, volunteers and donors, whose expertise, enthusiasm, and appreciation for our school have brought us to where we are today, and who will guide us into a bright future. We thank you for your continued support.

Gratefully,

Ben Hebebrand

School Director



The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) often includes transdisciplinary units of inquiry. These units can provide young learners with meaningful and engaging experiences that connect various subject areas. 

At the beginning of the school year, our preschoolers enthusiastically immersed themselves in their inaugural IB unit of inquiry, "How we organize ourselves," centered around understanding the origins of food and agriculture. Their exploration started with a close examination of vegetables and a sunflower (Sonnenblume) from our GISC garden, during which they not only learned about their different parts but also discovered their German names. Harvesting vegetables from our school garden made it a hands-on experience, allowing them to sample and try various foods during their "Morgenkreis" (morning circle).

The highlight of this unit was an extraordinary field trip to the Historic Wagner Farm, where our preschool students were guided through a sensory adventure by the farm's tour guide. Interacting with chickens, feeling their soft feathers and warm eggs, and even gently petting a young cow created lasting memories. Exploring the farm's garden revealed herbs and vegetables similar to those grown in our school garden, establishing a meaningful connection.

Our preschoolers concluded their farm visit by making their own butter by shaking fresh cream in a jar. This hands-on activity not only delighted their senses but also provided a tangible link to the food production process. 

Through these engaging experiences, our young learners are not only discovering the roots of their food but also fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnected world.

At GISC, we believe academic excellence extends beyond standardized test scores or high school grades. Besides academic achievement and high school success, it includes indicators like student satisfaction, thinking and social-emotional skills, and a commitment to a bilingual program and international education, all aimed at fostering well-rounded, creative, and responsible global citizenship.

Our alumni Joshua and Filippo exemplify GISC's academic excellence, graduating as part of the inaugural 8th Grade Class of 2019. Earlier this school year, they visited us, sharing their remarkable post-GISC journeys.

Joshua is now immersed in scientific exploration, pursuing a Biology degree at the University of Toronto in Canada. Meanwhile, Filippo, armed with a passion for storytelling, is refining his Journalism skills at the University of Mainz in Germany.

As a community, we take immense pride in their accomplishments and look forward to seeing where their exciting paths will take them!

STEAM at GISC

STEAM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, plays a crucial role in education. It empowers students with problem-solving skills, fosters critical thinking, and encourages innovation.

STEAM subjects are the backbone of our rapidly evolving world, driving advancements in everything from healthcare to sustainable energy. Equipping students with a strong STEAM foundation not only prepares them for future careers but also enables them to better understand and engage with the increasingly complex and technology-driven society we live in. 

At GISC, we engage our students in age-appropriate STEAM projects. One of the most popular ones is our (school-) famous Lego workshop. During this mixed-age class, our students build balloon cars, bridges, marble mazes, and even volcanoes. Additionally, our students also use their iPads to take single pictures and set up a scene, creating a short stop-motion movie. Please find a video here.

Experience accelerated German language development for your child/ren with our Become Bilingual Program (BBP) for students in Grades K-2 and our Fast Track German Language Program (FTGLP) for students in Grades 3-6.

These programs employ intensive German language immersion in small group or one-on-one settings, supplemented by additional classroom support. Prior knowledge of the German language is not required.

Wondering about the effectiveness? Students currently enrolled in these programs are achieving remarkable progress! In particular, our first Fast Track German Language Program (FTGLP) student has had a tremendous learning curve, and we are very proud of her! She started in 4th grade in August 2023 with no German language knowledge at all. She has worked hard with her FTGLP Teacher during one-on-one sessions, and she is now already able to have basic conversations in German! Due to her fast and immense progress, we are already positive that she won't need any further one-on-one FTGLP teaching sessions by the end of the school year.



At GISC, we are proud to showcase a vibrant tapestry of cultural performances and events that seamlessly weave together not only American, German, Swiss, and Austrian traditions, but also traditions from other nations and cultures around the world. This unique blend beautifully embraces the intercultural essence of our school. This year, we started our cultural celebrations by participating with a float in Chicago's Von Steuben Parade in early September. We then hosted our 15th Anniversary School Year Kick Off Celebration & Oktoberfest at the end of September. It was a momentous occasion that brought our school community together to honor our past achievements and to look forward to a future filled with continued growth and success. In the Fall, we celebrated both Hispanic Heritage Month and National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month by incorporating them into our teaching and learning. Halloween brought an American spirit to GISC as the school was transformed into a festive costume wonderland, echoing with laughter and the joy of shared experiences. Our Laternenfest & St. Martin's Parade on November 11 illuminated our school with a warm glow as our students proudly displayed their handmade lanterns while singing lantern and St. Martin's songs. This cherished German tradition allowed us to come together, celebrating the beauty of light and community. On December 6, St. Nikolaus visited our school and brought with him not only gifts but a personal note for each and every student. Our Winter Performance a few days later marked the perfect culmination of our cultural journey for the first half of the school year. With a delightful blend of German, American, Puerto Rican, Swiss, and South African songs, our students took center stage, captivating their audience with heartwarming performances that truly embodied the spirit of the season. These cultural events have provided numerous opportunities for our talented students, dedicated faculty & staff, and incredible community to come together, fostering bonds, creating fun memories, and embracing the beauty of our diverse backgrounds. We already look forward to our cultural events and performances during the second half of the school year!

Is your little one not quite ready for preschool yet? Then we've got you covered!

Join us for our free weekly playgroup designed to create a fun environment for babies and toddlers up to the age of 3. Additionally, it serves as a supportive community for parents and caregivers. Our playgroup meets at our gym every Wednesday from 8:30 am to 10:00 am while school is in session. Weather permitting, they may spend time outdoors in our playground or at a nearby park.

This is an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow parents with an interest in the German language and culture, and it provides a gentle introduction to the German language for your child. No German language skills are needed – all are welcome!

The first playgroup of 2024 will take place after our winter break on Wednesday, January 10.

Are you still trying to figure out if GISC is the right educational fit for your child/ren? Would you like to learn more about our IB World School and the bilingual, international education we offer?

If so, please join us at an Open House or schedule a Personal Tour!

You will have the opportunity to learn more about the well-rounded, bilingual, international education we offer to our preschool through 8th grade students in an individualized and caring learning environment. You will get insights into the International Baccalaureate (IB)'s Primary Years Program (PYP) and Middle Years Program (MYP), and you will learn how we foster student agency and prepare our students to become global citizens – all while seeing our students and teachers in action.

Our Open Houses take place on the first Friday of every month from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. For a more individualized experience, please schedule a personal school tour here. We look forward to meeting you!

We are currently accepting students for both the current and the 2024-2025 school years. Learn more today!

We are so grateful to all of our parents, grandparents, friends, Board trustees, and alumni families for their incredible support of our GISC Fund in this 15th anniversary school year! If you would like to make a gift and support the ongoing growth and stability of our school, our GISC Fund campaign runs until June 30, 2024, and you can give online here. Thank you for your support!