German International School Toronto

"It has been nearly a year now since our family returned to Germany. We lived in Toronto (Canada) from July 2007 to July 2011. Right from the first day, we experienced the new country, the people and our friends and neighbors as a tremendous enrichment for our lives. We felt right at home in no time and thoroughly enjoyed our time there until the four years were up. The German International School Toronto was a major reason why our stay was such a huge success. My children, who are now seven and nine years old, started school after we moved to Canada. We had a great time in Toronto and we have very fond memories, and we met people who I still miss very much.

All in all our return to Germany went very smoothly. We are now living in a small town near Bonn. Our children can walk to school and are really enjoying their newfound freedom. Up until our return, they had only known the close-knit nurturing community that is the Toronto German School. Life is certainly more exhausting for them here, but it also offers many benefits, a lot of freedom and fun. Our children adjusted to the German education system without any problems and after a few weeks they had also gotten used to having 25 children in their class.

We miss all the amenities that Toronto has to offer, our friends, and neighbors and will certainly return to Toronto for a visit in the future.

Our life here in Germany is very full and one year after our return, we think of beautiful Toronto and our life there less often – but we will never forget it.

I wish the German International School Toronto continued success and a fabulous future! Keep up the good work!"

"When we moved to Canada in 2008, our 11-year-old triplet girls had been attending an excellent American public school in the Bay Area. While they were brought up speaking German quite fluently at home and had always attended German Saturday schools, switching them to a German full-time school was still an experiment. Being German and a language professional myself I have always valued languages and firmly believe that being bi- or trilingual is a definite benefit – not only academically but also on a personal level.

Our daughters adjusted surprisingly well to a completely different approach to teaching. It was not so much the fact that all subject matter classes are taught in German – including History and Biology and Geography - and the fact that they had to study complicated facts in a language that they were not as fluent in as the rest of the class. What took them a little bit longer to internalize was the fact that students are expected to work more independently, that they have to show more maturity in preparing for fewer tests than they were used to, handle more open-ended test questions as opposed to multiple-choice tests and learn to do Math the German way – very neat and structured. They also had to start from scratch in French since they had had Spanish in California. Especially the French they learned at the German International School Toronto is something that they still benefit from two years after they left. I value their time at the GIST, because it has given my children an additional perspective on life and education.

When my daughters switched to a Canadian Catholic Public School with a strong PACE program, they did not have any catching up to do and all three made the honor role in their first year. Now they attend German Saturday school again and are sure to collect those extra High School credits, but they are also contemplating studying in Germany in three years. At that time they will feel at home not only in the US and Canada, but also in Germany and Europe as a whole. They will have the whole world at their fingertips – what an invaluable gift!

I see a great future for the GIST here in the most multicultural city in the world and wish them well in their move to the magnificent new home the school truly deserves."

"Our children’s names are Jan and Stella and they have been attending the German International School Toronto (“GIST”) for four years. Today they are 14 and nearly 12 years old and will finish grade eight and six respectively this month. 

Jan, who is 14 years old, went to a German higher-level secondary school in Baden-Württemberg for two months last year. Within in short period of time he was among the best students in the class, and in his evaluation teachers not only valued his good study habits and solid knowledge in the subject matters, but also his social skills. Jan had never before lived in a German speaking country.

In September of this year, he will switch to the Toronto French School. Jan had applied at several prestigious private High Schools in Toronto. Although there is a great deal of competition, Jan was able to hold his own in all subjects including English and was even able to secure one of the few scholarships. His French language skills were classified as being on the same level as that of children who had attended the Toronto French School since first grade. Jan has never lived in France and his French language skills were exclusively acquired in class at the GIST.

Stella, who has been attending the German International School Toronto since grade 5 had previously attended an Italian language school here in Toronto. Due to the individual attention and support – possible because of the small class sizes – she was able to progress in her German language skills to a point where she is now in a class full of students that have lived in Germany all their lives and was able to obtain an A in a German test. It goes without saying that she speaks fluent English without an accent - not only because of the all-English environment in Canada, but also because English is taught at the highest level and by English native speakers at the GIST.

If I left you with the impression that the GIST focuses exclusively on languages I would like to emphasize that the other subjects like Math, History, Geography, Art, Music and Ethics can easily compete with the best schools.

At the GIST, every child is developed and supported as an individual person. We have the GIST to thank for the fact that our children are trilingual, receive a truly multicultural general education, learn good study habits and are taught values like fairness, respect, honesty, diligence and determination. The teachers’ approach is characterized by trust and mutual respect. Teachers and students work hard and laugh a lot."

"Our sons Luis and Moritz enrolled at the German International School Toronto at the age of five and eight and studied there for almost six years. They successfully completed grades 1 to 7, that is both elementary and secondary school, up to grade 5 and 8.

The time we spent in Toronto holds pleasant memories for our family – and especially for our boys. From the very first day, our children felt at home at the German International School Toronto. The environment of an international school was first unknown but became quickly familiar. The small class sizes allowed a tightly focused and individual learning atmosphere where our children always felt comfortable. Through the direct contact with Canadian students, they learned a second language very quickly and it eventually developed to become their second “mother tongue” because of the daily use also between the classes. The concept of the German International School Toronto as an accredited German school abroad turned out to be successful especially when we returned to Germany. Much to our surprise and to our relief, the reintegration into Grade 6 and 8 in a German “Gymnasium”, apart from the first weeks of settling, worked without any problems, especially regarding the similarities between the curriculum at the GIST and the curriculum at our German school. They also passed the equally important social integration into a German school environment without any flaws.

If we were asked “Would you do it again?” we would answer “Yes!” without a doubt. For this reason, we have only good things to tell all families who are facing the same decision as we did regarding going abroad and the choice of school, about our experiences with and at the German International School Toronto."

"It is with fond memories that our daughters Tania and Maya remember their days at the German International School Toronto (GIST). They have spent the first 5 years of their school life at the school and felt right at home starting with Kindergarten. We are both graduates from German schools and upon settling in Toronto, the GIST was our first choice, especially being the only full time German school in Toronto. The small class sizes provided our girls with a sense of security and enabled them to flourish. They also extremely benefited from the excellent academic standards of the school, where they were able to excel in a bilingual environment and then transfer smoothly to the Canadian school system.

It is a privilege to have been part of the German International School of Toronto and we wish the school all the best in its future endeavours."

 

"When my husband’s company sent us from Stuttgart to Toronto for three years, one of our main concerns was our children’s schooling. They were in grade 5 at this time and we were hoping that our stay would help our twins to learn English fast and fluently. On the other hand, we were concerned about adjustment issues and disadvantages upon our return to Germany, where they would have to reintegrate into the highest-level school in a three-tier system.

In hindsight, all our concerns have proven to be unfounded. Our children were warmly welcomed and felt right at home in their new class. The small class sizes and the individual approach are geared to bring out the best in each student. Our children were well supported and challenged! The curriculum is based on the official curriculum of the State of Thuringia, but also includes elements taken from the Ontario curriculum, which helps to prepare children for a transition into a Canadian school.

After our three-year-stay abroad our children have been attending a German Secondary School („Gymnasium“) near Stuttgart for nine months now. They had no problems whatsoever reintegrating into the German system – on the contrary: both are good students and still benefit from what they have learnt at the German International School in Toronto!"

-Founded in 1999 as Toronto's first full-time German school -Offers an international school experience -Provides individual support through smaller classroom sizes -Guarantees a seamless academic transition into the German school system The Deutsche Schule Toronto opened its doors in September 2000 with one Kindergarten group as well as a single Grade 1 class. To this day, it is still Toronto's only full-time German school. The school is situated in Toronto's downtown core and provides the opportunity to children of German heritage or those whose parents are interested in the German culture and language, to experience an education with an international flavor. Students who attend our school come with very different and distinct language skills. Smaller classroom sizes allow us to target and improve each individual child's development, learning, and language needs. Our teaching concepts are mainly based on Baden - Wurttemberg's curriculum, but have been enhanced by incorporating topics from the Ontario curriculum. The school therefore not only makes a seamless academic transition possible for children that are returning to the German school system after a temporary stay in Canada, but also provides ideal surroundings for families that are interested in the German language and culture. Both grade school and Kindergarten teachers have either received a teaching degree in Germany or hold a certification of equivalent standing from another country. Currently, the Deutsche Schule Toronto operates with a Kindergarten program including preschool (Vorschule), as well as grades 1 through 7. An after school program run by German speaking staff is available until 6.00pm.

"We have chosen the German School of Toronto for our daughters because we wanted them in a happy, warm, loving and caring environment where they can feel 'at home' and where they are known and helped with their needs and not hardly noticed by a teacher in the other end of the classroom.....our kids love to go to school and to learn and they do well thanks to the personal support of the teachers in the German School. Thank you!" "Over the past three years we have been delighted with the creativity, energy, and commitment of the teaching staff at the Deutsche Schule Toronto. The dedication and vision of its directors is reflected in the growth and popularity of the school and also in the enthusiasm of the children and parents. Our daughter adores her teachers and her environment and we are thrilled that she is learning in three languages." "Apart from providing our son with an intimate, stimulating school environment in which to reach his full potential, the Deutsche Schule Toronto also satisfies the needs of working parents. The after school program is not only staffed with loving, motivated caregivers who supervise both homework and play activities, but the extended hours also offer us the flexibility we need to combine work and family life." "The German School is a fantastic institution from many respects: Not only does the school provide a warm, motivating environment and an outstanding educational program for our children, it is also a great place to meet and make friends with other young people with similar backgrounds and interests." "As parents, who are also pediatricians, we are aware of the importance of integrating a child's cognitive and emotional development. In this respect we could not be happier with the environment our children are experiencing at the Deutsche Schule in Toronto. In addition, the international atmosphere and the high standard of teaching will open many doors to successful lives and careers." "Our daughters enjoy a very stress-free and loving environment at this school. After moving from Finland to Germany and then shortly after to Canada, they both needed a warm, caring environment. The Deutsche Schule Toronto provided this plus much more - a great education!!" "One of great benefits from the Deutsche Schule Toronto is our son's ambidextrous language skills. He slips into and out of English and German with ease. He tells jokes and sings songs in both languages. It's wonderful to see his vocabulary constantly expanding and it's a testament to a very successful bilingual immersion program."

On June 16 the school invited students, families and friends to the annual summer concert at the Winchevsky Center at 585 Cranbrooke Ave., its current location. This evening of music was not just a celebration of the close of a very successful school year, but was also a well-deserved, memorable expression of gratitude to Hanna Pai, principal of the Toronto German School for nearly 10 years. With the new school year in September she will hand over those responsibilities to a new principal, provided through funding by the German government, and return to her true passion of teaching. The musical thank you to Mrs. Pai was staged by music teacher Christine Haupt. Students of grades 1 through 6 entertained the audience with their singing wide range of musical performances. The evening started off with the children singing the Canadian National Anthem in French. This was followed by classical, folk and popular music. Halfway through the program Susanne Birker-Guillen, the Board's president, delivered a heart-felt thank you on behalf of the entire school community to Mrs. Pai as well as a much deserved gift to remember the occasion by. She also reminded everyone of the humble beginnings of the school and the successful journey it has enjoyed over the past years. The highlight of the evening was without doubt the performance of the 'Moldau' by Smetana, the music of which Mrs. Haupt had rearranged specifically for the small but very capable orchestra of the Toronto German School. However the audience was also thrilled by the lively presentation of grades 1 to 4 of 'Skip to my Lou' and the special Square Dancing number danced by the 5th and 6th grade students. All the effort and hard work that the children had put into the preparation of this fantastic event, inspite of just having finished the Canadian EQAO and German end-of-year exams, was rewarded with standing ovations. Children, teachers and parents all achieved a great deal and have once again proven that this wonderful school community has a lot of school spirit, and always enjoys celebrating the development and achievements of the teachers and students. Am 16. Juni lud die Schule zu ihrem traditionellen Sommerkonzert in die Resume des Winchevsky Centers in der 585 Cranbrook Ave., in denen die Schule momentan untergebracht ist, ein. An diesem warmen Sommerabend ging es aber nicht nur um die Vorfreude auf die in greifbare Naehe gerueckten Ferien. Vielmehr sollte dieses Fest ein unvergessliches und wohlverdientes Dankeschoen an Frau Hanna Pai, die langjaehrige Schulleiterin der Toronto German School sein. Da mit Beginn des neuen Schuljahres ein Schulleiter aus Deutschland an die Schule entsandt wird, kann Frau Pai sich ab September wieder ganz dem Lehramt, ihrer eigentlichen Leidenschaft, widmen. Das musikalische Dankeschoen an Frau Pai wurde von Frau Christine Haupt zusammengestellt und geleitet. Schuelerinnen und Schueler der Klassen 1 bis 6 und praesentierten ein buntes und breit gefaechertes Programm. Los ging es mit der kanadischen Nationalhymne, die von den Kindern dieses Mal auf Franzoesisch vorgetragen wurde. Darauf folgten Stuecke aus der Klassik, Volks- und Popmusik. In der Mitte des Programms uebermittelte die Vorstandsvorsitzende Susanne Birker-Guillen im Namen der gesamten Schulgemeinde ein herzliches Dankeschoen an Frau Pai und ueberreichte ihr ein Geschenk als Erinnerung an diesen wunderschoenen Abend. Desweiteren gab sie einen Rueckblick auf den bisherigen Werdegang der Schule von den bescheidenen Anfaengen bis hin zu dem erfolgreichen Wachstum der letzten Jahre. Hoehepunkt der Darbietungen war die 'Moldau' von Smetana, die Frau Haupt eigens fuer das kleine, aber feine Orchester der Toronto German School neu arrangiert hatte. Aber auch das mit ausserordentlicher Engagement vorgetragene 'Skip to my Lou' der Klassen 1 bis 4 und der als zusaetzliches Schmankerl einstudierte Square Dance der Fuenfer und Sechser sorgten beim Publikum fuer grosse Begeisterung. Standing Ovations waren der Lohn fuer all die Muehe und den Fleiss, mit denen die Schueler sich trotz EQAO und der vom deutschen Curriculum geforderten Vergleichsarbeiten auf dieses einmalige Fest vorbereitet hatten. Kinder, Lehrer und Eltern hatten Grossartiges geleistet und wieder einmal bewiesen, was fuer ein wunderbares Potential in dieser Schulgemeinschaft steckt.