GISSV - German International School of Silicon Valley

🎶🌏 A Musical Journey to South India in 6th Grade 🎶🌏

As part of their current “Musical World Tour” unit, our 6th graders at the Mountain View campus enjoyed a special guest presentation on Carnatic music, the classical music tradition of South India.

Led by Savitha Anil Kumar—whom many students already know from our Afternoon Club—the session introduced students to the rich sounds, rhythms, and traditions of Carnatic music through listening examples and hands-on activities. Students practiced musical exercises, learned a song, and had the opportunity to see and even try out traditional instruments themselves.

Experiences like these help bring music to life while encouraging curiosity about cultures and artistic traditions from around the world. 🎵✨

Our SF Preschool and Kindergarten students recently enjoyed a wonderful hands-on learning adventure at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito! 🧪🌉

Curious minds explored, experimented, and discovered through interactive exhibits designed to spark imagination and scientific thinking. From building, testing, and observing to simply wondering and asking questions, the children engaged with science in a playful and meaningful way.

Field trips like these are an important part of early learning at GISSV, helping our youngest learners connect classroom themes with real-world experiences—while building confidence, curiosity, and teamwork along the way.

A big thank you to our teachers and chaperones for making this inspiring day possible!

🥞💛 A heartfelt thank you to our amazing parent community!

As the school year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for the countless ways our parents support and enrich our school community throughout the year.

To celebrate, we welcomed families to Parent Appreciation Breakfasts at both campuses. In Mountain View, parents enjoyed fresh pancakes prepared by members of our leadership team. In San Francisco, homemade Lausitzer Plinsen were served as families gathered to connect with school leaders and one another.

These breakfasts are a small token of appreciation for the time, energy, and commitment our parents bring to GISSV every day. Whether volunteering at events, supporting classroom activities, or partnering with us in their children's education, your contributions help make our community such a special place.

Thank you for being an essential part of GISSV. We wish all our families a wonderful summer! ☀️🎉

Photos: Hannah Wexler & Katja Koehler

Our students had the honor of meeting Kiel’s Mayor Stadtpräsidentin Bettina Aust during their exchange visit to Germany. 🇩🇪🇺🇸

Together with students from Max-Planck-Schule Kiel, they discussed life in their cities, public transportation, and ideas for the future. A wonderful example of international exchange in action!

• 10 Tage voller Erlebnisse!

Schüler*innen und 4 Lehrkräfte der German International School of Silicon Valley aus Kiels Partnerstadt San Francisco besuchten mich heute gemeinsam mit den Schüler*innen der Max-Planck-Schule Kiel im Kieler Rathaus und tauschten sich mit mir über das Leben in ihren Städten aus.

Dabei äußerten die Kieler Jugendlichen u.a. folgende Wünsche für die Zukunft unserer Stadt: Eine Stadtbahn und mehr Aufenthaltsorte an der Kiellinie.

Beeindruckt zeigten sich die Gäste aus San Francisco vom Kieler ÖPNV: pünktlich, sauber und mit Echtzeit-Anzeigen, die verlässlich zeigen, wann der nächste Bus kommt, war hierzu die Meinung.

Ein spannender Austausch, der zeigt, wie viel junge Menschen voneinander und über ihre Städte lernen können.

KuMu Café – A Creative Celebration of Art and Sound 🎨🎶

Yesterday, our multipurpose room in Mountain View was transformed into a vibrant cultural space as we celebrated the KuMu Café – the year-end exhibition of the 5th–11th Grade Art and Music classes ✨

Students from Grades 5–11 presented a diverse selection of artworks 🎨, showcasing creativity, perspective, and artistic growth across all age groups. The exhibition was beautifully complemented by live musical contributions 🎵, turning the afternoon into a true celebration of the arts.

A heartfelt thank you to the Art and Music Departments, and especially to all students who shared their work, to the performing musicians 🎤🎻, and to the families and staff who joined us and helped create such a welcoming atmosphere 🤝. Special thanks as well to everyone who contributed to the opening buffet with homemade cakes and fresh fruit 🍰🍎 – your support made the KuMu Café feel truly communal.

It was a wonderful way to close the school year on an inspiring and creative note 🌿✨

Photos: Stefanie Wenk

🌍🍽️ International Food Day 2026 – A Celebration of Community and Culture!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year's International Food Day another wonderful success. Last Friday, our Mountain View and San Francisco campuses came alive with the flavors, traditions, and cultural discoveries of our international community.

Organized by our Student Council (SV) with the support of teachers, staff, and parent volunteers, the event featured an incredible variety of dishes from around the world. As part of the celebration, each class from Grades 1–11 selected a country to explore, creating informative posters and preparing food that showcased the nation's culture, traditions, and cuisine.

We were also delighted to welcome a couple of alumni at the events, giving them an opportunity to reconnect with former teachers, families, and friends while enjoying the festivities.

From savory specialties to sweet treats, there was something to discover at every table. International Food Day is one of our favorite traditions, bringing our community together while celebrating the many cultures that make GISSV so unique.

Thank you to all the students, families, volunteers, and Student Council members who shared their time, creativity, and culinary talents—you made this special day possible! ❤️🌎

Photos: Katja Koehler, Barbara Troy, Minka Vossen

🏎️🔧 STEM Racing Competition 2026! 🔧🏎️

Last Friday, six STEM Racing teams took to the track to present the results of their hard work, creativity, and engineering skills. Throughout the program, students designed and built their race cars, developed team identities, and applied STEM concepts to optimize their performance.

The event culminated in exciting races and team presentations, showcasing impressive innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. 🚀

A big congratulations to Team Pheonix, who claimed this year's championship title! 🏆🥇

This hands-on project is part of our Begabtenförderung (Gifted and Talented Program) and helps students explore engineering, design, and teamwork in a fun and engaging way.

⚽🌍 World Cup Fever Hits the SF Campus! 🌍⚽

Our SF students have been celebrating the World Cup with a creative cross-curricular project that combined art, geography, and soccer fun! 🎨📚⚽

Grades 1 and 2 explored soccer field layouts, researched participating countries, and designed their own World Cup players. Together, they created a giant collaborative poster showing students from around the world playing in one big match—with Head of School Herr Schrimpf keeping order as the referee! 😄🏆

Grade 3 students designed colorful World Cup players inspired by national team uniforms, while Grade 1 added even more international flair with flags from participating countries. 🌎

The result? A vibrant display of creativity, teamwork, and global learning. We wish all teams the best of luck and can't wait to see who lifts the trophy! 🏅⚽✨

📺🎉 And don't forget: We'll be hosting a World Cup Watch Party at our Mountain View campus! Check this week's Brief for details. ⚽🙌

Photos: Art teacher Nadine Heckmann-Zakharov