German School New York
Encyclopedia
The German School New York (also known as GSNY, Deutsche Schule New York or DSNY) is an independent
, co-educational and bilingual
(German
/English
) school with around 370 students enrolled in grades Pre-K through 12. The School is located in White Plains, New York
, approximately 25 miles north of New York City
.
The students at GSNY are typically citizens of German-speaking countries. The German School New York is accredited by the Permanent Conference of the Department of Education of the Federal Republic of Germany
(German
: Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
), a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools
(NYSAIS); and a New York non-public Elementary and Secondary School.
The GSNY is a partner school of the German initiative "Schulen: Partner der Zukunft" and was awarded the title of "excellent foreign school" by the German Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) in August 2009.
The elementary school includes grades K - 4 and the secondary school includes grades 5 - 12.
German parents feared that by taking foreign assignments, their children would be inadequately prepared and might even fail examinations upon their return to Europe. In 1978, Mr. Kessler, former president of Carl Zeiss AG, founded a non-profit organization called the "German Forum". The organization's prime goal was to found a school offering German-speaking children an education that would be recognized in their home countries. Kessler's hope, was that the institution would be "one that would contribute to improving relations between nations."
The school officially opened on September 8, 1980 and produced its first graduating class on May 15, 1989.
, 9 percent Swiss, 7 percent Austrian
and 12 percent from other countries.
, and the curriculum follows that of Germany
. Students are challenged to take advantage of the rigorous academic instruction with its emphasis on critical thinking, as well as the multilingual, cross-cultural setting, to grow into socially and environmentally aware global citizens. The school offers the German Abitur
(Allgemeine Hochschulreife) and the New York State high school diploma
, both after grade 12. The program leading to the Abitur
at GSNY includes the following subjects:
: Deutsche Sprachschule), giving students outside the GSNY the opportunity to learn and practice their German language
skills in a cultural and international environment. The German Language School offers a number of exams including:
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, co-educational and bilingual
Bilingual education
Bilingual education involves teaching academic content in two languages, in a native and secondary language with varying amounts of each language used in accordance with the program model.-Bilingual education program models:...
(German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
/English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) school with around 370 students enrolled in grades Pre-K through 12. The School is located in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, approximately 25 miles north of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The students at GSNY are typically citizens of German-speaking countries. The German School New York is accredited by the Permanent Conference of the Department of Education of the Federal Republic of Germany
Kultusministerkonferenz
The Kultusministerkonferenz is the assembly of ministers for education of each Bundesland state in Germany...
(German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Kultusministerkonferenz
The Kultusministerkonferenz is the assembly of ministers for education of each Bundesland state in Germany...
), a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools
New York State Association of Independent Schools
The New York State Association of Independent Schools , founded in 1947, is an association of some 180 independent schools, ranging from nursery to high schools. In 2005, its member schools had approximately 65,000 students...
(NYSAIS); and a New York non-public Elementary and Secondary School.
The GSNY is a partner school of the German initiative "Schulen: Partner der Zukunft" and was awarded the title of "excellent foreign school" by the German Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA) in August 2009.
The elementary school includes grades K - 4 and the secondary school includes grades 5 - 12.
History
The German School New York was founded in 1980 with a student enrollment of 64 by Siegfried A. Kessler in response to a growing corporate demand of a school taught in German in the New York area.German parents feared that by taking foreign assignments, their children would be inadequately prepared and might even fail examinations upon their return to Europe. In 1978, Mr. Kessler, former president of Carl Zeiss AG, founded a non-profit organization called the "German Forum". The organization's prime goal was to found a school offering German-speaking children an education that would be recognized in their home countries. Kessler's hope, was that the institution would be "one that would contribute to improving relations between nations."
The school officially opened on September 8, 1980 and produced its first graduating class on May 15, 1989.
Demographics
Over 70 percent of GSNY students are GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 9 percent Swiss, 7 percent Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
and 12 percent from other countries.
Academics
Subjects are taught primarily in the German languageGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and the curriculum follows that of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Students are challenged to take advantage of the rigorous academic instruction with its emphasis on critical thinking, as well as the multilingual, cross-cultural setting, to grow into socially and environmentally aware global citizens. The school offers the German Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
(Allgemeine Hochschulreife) and the New York State high school diploma
High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
, both after grade 12. The program leading to the Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
at GSNY includes the following subjects:
- German language and literature
- English language and literature
- European history
- American studies/Politics
- French language and literature
- Latin
- Spanish language and literature
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Music theory and history
- Art studio and history
- Physical Education
German Language School at GSNY
For over 20 years the GSNY has been home to the German Language School (GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Deutsche Sprachschule), giving students outside the GSNY the opportunity to learn and practice their German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
skills in a cultural and international environment. The German Language School offers a number of exams including:
- SOPA: Student Oral Proficiency Assessment
- National German Language Exam
- Comprehensive New York State German Regents ExamRegents ExaminationsRegents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
- SAT IISAT Subject TestsSAT Subject Tests is the name for 20 multiple-choice standardized tests given on individual subjects, usually taken to improve a student's credentials for admission to colleges in the United States. Students typically choose which tests to take depending upon college entrance requirements for the...
– German - Advanced Placement (AP) Exam - German
- Deutsches Sprachdiplom der KMK – Niveaustufen: A2, A2/B1 + B2/C1
External links
- Official Website www.dsny.org
- GSNY Parents' Association (GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Elternbeirat) www.dsny-eltern.org - German Language School at GSNY http://www.germanlanguageschoolwhiteplains.org/