Summer Break Announcement
Hours for walk-in traffic during Summer Break:
Monday through Friday: 10 am to 3 pm
First Day of School:
For School Entry Level (5-year-olds) and Grade 2 through 12: Thursday, August 20th, 2026
For Preschool and first Grade: Monday, August 24th, 2026
脰ffnungszeiten f眉r Besucher ohne Termin w盲hrend der Sommerferien:
Montag bis Freitag: 10:00 bis 15:00 Uhr
Erster Schultag:
F眉r die Schuleingangsstufe (5-J盲hrige) sowie die Klassen 2 bis 12: Donnerstag, 20. August 2026
F眉r den Kindergarten und die erste Klasse: Montag, 24. August 2026
Bilingualism and multicultural education broaden intellectual, cultural and social horizons
Offering your child a bilingual education is not only an investment in your child鈥檚 academic and professional future but also, and perhaps more importantly, it鈥檚 an investment in his or her personality development. Non-German-speaking parents can rest assured regarding their ability to support their child鈥檚 education at GISW, because our school offers language support programs and we also offer German Language Courses for parents. School communication for parents is always provided in both German and English.
The brain is like a sponge
Multiple studies have shown that developing language skills early on has lifelong benefits. Bilingual speakers have a greater aptitude for concentration, resolving conflicts, and empathizing with others. Overall, the bilingual brain is much more flexible, even into old age. Experts agree the best time to begin learning languages is at an early age. The younger a person is when learning a new language, the easier they learn and the better they will master it, as this TED talk by Mia Nacamulli demonstrates.
German language skills are not always necessary for admission
Parents are often surprised to learn that a high percentage of students at German International Schools outside of Germany do not actually speak German at home. So, why would a family who has no connection to Germany, through language, location, or ancestry, introduce their child to the German language and choose the German approach to education? Because they want to open a world of opportunities for their children!
Important advantages:
- At GISW, we emphasize independence and the development of critical thinking skills
- We offer an environment where each child can learn and grow at their own pace
- There is a shift away from rote memorization and multiple-choice assessments
- Multilingual children gain distinct advantages for their future
Preschool students are accepted regardless of their mother tongue. School-aged students may also gain admission with no or little German language proficiency depending on a personal German language skill assessment that is arranged through the Admissions Office admissions@giswashington.org.
To learn more about the German approach at German Schools, please explore: