Any current reviews of EBGIS

Current parent at EBGIS (East Bay German International School) here.  Love the school and am grateful that this has been where our child has been able to learn and grow since starting in Kindergarten.  The new home in Emeryville is excellent - tons of space, both indoor and out for all kinds of classroom and extracurricular activities.  The education is phenomenal.  It's rigorous without being stressful, thoughtful in figuring out how children of all ages learn new ideas and approaches, and melds best practices and content from both Germany and the United States.  The teachers are deeply committed and excellent at what they do.  The principal is highly effective and beloved.  There is a fabulous parent community.  My child is very happy, and in seven years has never not wanted to go to school in the morning.  I see my child being both nurtured and challenged and know we could not have picked a better school.   

Hello, I currently have a 5th grader and kindergartener at EBGIS. We have been at the school since my son started in kindergarten. There are many things that stand out to me and why we are with the school (coming from Albany!).  First off, the headmaster, Martin Walter, is a gem--passionate, caring, dedicated and just brings so much to the school. He also has kids at the school. The community is a great mix of international and local families,  is warm and really cares about the school.  Since it's a small school, the kids get plenty of individual attention from the exceptional teachers (every time we do our parent teacher conferences, we leave feeling so lucky to have our kids there). Lastly, the bilingual education piece is amazing. When we started my son didn't know any German (his father is German American so German is his second language and I don't speak any German) and within the first year and a half (I can't remember exactly when) he was fluent. We are amazed that he does his math, science, etc. all in German. In terms of the campus the location is good because it's central to all the families in the Bay Area. All in all we feel very fortunate to be at the school. If you have any specific questions please don't hesitate to ask....

Hi there,

Our son is in elementary school and we are very happy with EBGIS. He has previously been to both private and public schools in Berkeley and we feel that EBGIS is definitely more demanding academically - not just because students have to complete both the California curriculum and the German one. We like the approach to Math that seems more intuitive than California Common Core and at this point he is not just 100% bilingual but can also write in both German and English. Our eventual goal is university in Germany and casual German at home is not sufficient for that. We also like the schedule with 'Studio' at the end of the school day where art, PE and music are taught through interdisciplinary projects. 

While the campus has a lot of potential, it is obvious that the school just moved in and there is still a lot to do. 

What we like best about the school, is the atmosphere of purpose and the comparatively small size. There is no anonymity and the school community is welcoming and engaged. It's obvious that our son feels that he belongs and loves to go to school every day. We can tell the difference, since that has not always been the case.

My child started school there this year In Kindergarten I have to say I'm positively thrilled with my decision to place her there.  The quality of education has been simply outstanding and the two Kinder teachers are truly top notch.   The kids also gets plenty of outdoor time to run around, get exercise and be kids.  The communication between school and parents and teacher and parents has been excellent.   It is a very lovely, inclusive, active, involved community with many opportunities to get to know the teachers, staff and other parents.  I knew no one there when we started, but I've had nothing but positive experiences and have felt entirely welcomed.   My child comes from an English only home and is already using German phrases, singing German Songs and teaching me vocabulary.   You don't mention what age your child is, but if you are an American and considering Kindergarten, you should do a little googling about the difference between German Kinder and American Kinder.    German kinder is not sitting down and writing the ABC's and passing maths tests.   German Kinder is all about social and emotional regulation, physical skills, and thinking skills all while they are still be introduced to broader concepts and new materials.  For example they did some studies around flying that included making airplanes, animals that have learned to fly,  learning about mythical creatures like pegasus, stories like icarus, artists like Klee and his flying angels, learning how to count down before making the airplane fly, songs about flying.   These are math, art, physical skills, science & music concepts!  It's different, but in my opinion, a much, much better way to set a foundation for learning and actual thinking - it's not just numbers, shapes and letters shoved down their throats.  They get to actually use their minds, think, ask questions, interact with the materials.   My daughter is thriving and every day at pickup just can't wait to tell me about all the fun things she did and learned at school today  -- and that's the best I can ask for. 

Hi - both of our kids are at EBGIS, a 1st grader and a 2nd year preschooler and we have been part of the community since 2016/2017 school year. When the school moved to the new campus, it was a pleasant surprise for us since it is closer to our house and our oldest can ride her bike to school occasionally. We like the curriculum which balances intellectual curiosity, social and physical development, and bilingualism. The after school care and extra curricular programs that are offered by the school, also add to the opportunity for the kids to interact and develop friendships with other kids beyond their grade levels. Our kids enjoy every single opportunity they have to spend time in the school and with their friends. Hope this helps and let us know if you have any other questions. 

I'm a dad of 3 boys at the school, who are in the pre-K/K and elementary grades.  All our kids wake up happy to go to school, talk positively about the classmates, their teachers, the facilities and their daily activities. They seem to be very actively engaged with their curriculum (even as delivered in the German language, which is non-native for our kids), and we hear about their learning needs and school activities directly from our kids, as well as through direct correspondence with their teachers, a weekly email from the head of school, and from monthly parent association meetings. Open communication at all these levels is encouraged and as a result, very little is lost in translation.

It is very much a community school in many ways, reaching all the way into the pre-k/K program.  We also know of families with at least some german-speaking background who have entered in elementary school or even middle school. The small school feel extends to afternoon playdates, family bonding activities, school movie nights, and parent social functions. With the class size being what it is at the elementary and middle school levels, (currently 10:1 or less), our learners are truly supported in their academic interests and pursuits.

The curriculum is robust, based on the standards of one of the German states, but not implemented in a heavy-handed manner. There is collaboration across grade levels that allows teachers' strengths to shine, and expertise of parents and other community members is welcomed into various after-school activities and clubs. The facilities are loved and respected by the kids, and weekend gardening and maintenance days help to build school pride and ownership.

Our boys love to linger when they are picked up, and though we parents and students come from various parts of the East Bay, for those hours when we're at the school, we forget where we're all from and it feels like a big family. Not sure anyone can ask for more from a school.