August 16, 2009
Dear Students and Families of the German School:
As summer vacations come to an end we hope that you enjoyed the break and everyone will be relaxed and ready for our fall semester. Because our enrollment constantly increases we will now have TWO sessions. School will start Saturday, September 13 at 9:30 a.m. for most classes and at 1:00 p.m. for adult beginning, adult advanced, AP prep. class, Profi class, children beginner class (age 8 to 12), a second Kindergarten class and a third toddler group (Sing- und Spielgruppe). Returning students have received their class placement letters by now; new families will receive email confirmations about class placements as soon as we have openings, the latest one week before school starts.
First Day of School: Registration forms are available. On the bottom of the registration form you will find which other forms should be submitted on the first day of fall semester. Please bring those filled out forms to registration. We must have new emergency forms for all children - new and returning. Returning children may be taken to their respective classes first; parents need to return to registration after dropping off their children. Returning adult students may register during recess, too.
Registration will take place in the library and in front of the school. We ask that all new students be 15 - 30 minutes before classes start in the library in order to register. Registration is completed when ALL forms (including volunteer form) are delivered and tuition is paid in full. Please note on the bottom of the registration form which other forms need to be submitted.
Tuition: Tuition rates have not changed with the exception of a $10 increase for the first child. Fees are shown on the registration form. Here is a summary: The first student in the family pays $250, additional family members (and teacher family) pay $180. The toddler group tuition is $160. The volunteer deposit remains at $30. Tuition includes the library fee. Please bring the completed forms and your check to the first day of school. You may pay by check or cash, no credit cards (sorry, we cannot process them). We grant a few need-based scholarships every semester. Contact us for details BEFORE the first day of school if you wish to be considered for a 25% to 60% tuition reduction (email: ).
Toddler Group: Our "Sing- und Spielgruppe" takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. to noon for children age 18 months to 4 years. The classes are exclusively held in German, a parent or guardian who fluently speaks German needs to attend. It is not necessary to fill out an emergency form for children who attend the toddler group as they are supervised at all times by a parent / guardian but it is highly recommended that you provide us with the child/children's birthdates as only with this information we can automatically reserve them a space in the following Kindergarten or Hamster class.
Volunteer Obligations: Every family is required to provide two hours of volunteer time each semester. Without support from our families, the school could not exist! Alternatively, you may pay a $30 volunteer deposit IN ADDITION to your semester fees. Please check out the form and sign up for the tasks that appeal to you. Providing snacks for the Kaffeekasse does NOT count as volunteer task (see below).
Kaffeekasse: Every family is obligated once a semester to provide homemade (if possible) or purchased snacks for 20 for sale at our coffee break. This could include sweet or savory items, cut-up fruit, yoghurt, cheese / sausage sandwiches. As nut allergies became quite common we need everyone to label items which were baked or bought with nuts. Labels will be provided by the school. The Kaffeekasse schedule will be available the third week of school and is send via email. Please contact us if you need a hardcopy. Please check the schedule and note down your Saturday. If you are unable to bring snacks on your assigned date, you must call someone else on the roster to trade days. The Kaffeekasse is the main fundraiser for the school, thus providing snacks does not count toward your volunteer duties. However, if you stay to help set up, sell the goods and clean up after, this will and you will make new friends!
Petra Specht
President of the GSEB School Board