Windward School

We are a German-American family with two children who have attended GISNY since 2015. We initially wanted to continue their solid foundation in the German language as we moved here from Germany when they were in elementary school. We also immediately fell in love with the park-like school grounds, open space and friendly building (since then upgraded with a new cafeteria, library and science wing).Over the past 8 years the welcoming atmosphere and warm community have become a big part of our family life. The school leadership is genuinely committed to creating an environment of open communication and are actively involved in making the school a safe and enriching environment. We were especially impressed with their handling of COVID with a quick switch to rigorous, online learning (for grades 5 and up), clear communication and - once re-opened – diligent yet safe measures so school could remain open throughout the entire 2021/22 school year (while many of our friends’ schools kept closing). For little kids during COVID, the school expanded on the German method of “Wald-Kindergarten” – in which all classes and activities for preschoolers are held outdoors and focus on nature and play. The middle and upper school curriculae are challenging with a broad focus on science. Compared to US high schools there is a greater range of subjects and more school hours per day. Small class sizes help kids and teachers collaborate effectively and create a conducive learning environment. The combination of a German International Abitur plus a U.S. high school diploma prepares students well for any path in higher education as demonstrated by the many recent graduates who now study in various places in the US and Europe. Due to the nature of an international school there is a fair amount of student turn over, with families coming and going on a regular basis. While it’s been hard for our kids to see people leave they also start to see that they now have friends all over the world. The connection of former GISNY students and families is strong. Now in high school, our kids will likely stay at GISNY until graduation. There is a strong sense of connection and we are certain their time at GISNY will prepare them well for whatever is next.