German Preschool & Elementary School in Portland area

German American School of Portland:
The German American School of Portland offers preschool, kindergarten and elementary school programs with a dual language emphasis where both the German and the American English languages and cultures are taught and appreciated. Located in Beaverton, 10 km from Portland in Portland West, Oregon, we have families from all over the greater Portland area attending.

Not only do our students learn a second language, they are immersed in German culture through music, art, books and conversation with everyone around them. Preschoolers and Kindergarteners acquire their first foreign language skills in a playful way without realizing how our focus on art, crafts, music, songs and games gently introduces them to German. In fact, we open the door to more than one culture: by being bilingual, our children develop more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to other cultures, and a better ear for listening.

- Take advantage of your child's window of opportunity for learning a second language easily and naturally.
- Enrich and enhance your child's mental development.
- Increase your child's ability to have more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening.
- Improve your child's understanding of his or her native language.
- Give your child the ability to communicate with people she or he would not otherwise know.
- Open the door to other cultures.
- Increase understanding, appreciation and empathy for people from other cultures.
- Give your child a head start in language requirements for college.
- Increase career and educational opportunities in fields where language fluency is a real asset

The German American School (GSP) is a small independent school dedicated to enriching the lives of students, parents and teachers through cross-cultural interaction. Our curriculum is demanding, stimulating and fun. Young children learn a second language naturally through singing, playing and conversation. Being surrounded by German speaking teachers and students gives young minds the opportunity to absorb a second language like a sponge. Many students go on to gain fluency in third and often fourth languages.

Our Mission:
Our Mission is to provide an excellent educational experience for our children while developing and maintaining fluency in both the German and English languages. We foster cross-cultural understanding that enables our children to actively participate as citizens in a global community.

- Preschool, Kindergarten & Elementary School with German / English bilingual program:

- Children are immersed in German culture through music, art, books and conversation with everyone around them.

- All of our preschool and Kindergarten teachers are certified as early childhood educators (in Germany and the US) and have native or near-fluency in German.

- We also offer before and after-school child care services

Our Staff:
All of our teachers and assistants meet education and experience requirements appropriate to their position, as required by the Child Care Division of the State of Oregon. Our Grade School classroom head teachers hold a MA equivalent teaching degree (1st and 2nd State Examination or equivalent) from a German speaking country, while our Preschool and Kindergarten teachers have an average of 10 years of experience as Head Teachers, hold Early Childhood Education Diplomas from a German speaking country or have an equivalent U.S. degree. Near-native or native fluency of the German language is a requirement for all teachers who instruct in German.

The German American School regularly conducts professional development training for teachers and assistants.Early Childhood Teachers and assistants (Preschool and Kindergarten) are required by the Child Care Division to take a minimum of 15 training hours per year. Our staff maintains current certification in basic First Aid and CPR and staff involved in the Preschool snack program also maintains current Food Handler certification.

When you become a parent at GSP, you become part of a community. Families who choose this very special approach to education share a vital involvement in their child’s education. As a community, we decide the directions and priorities for the School’s growth and development. A parent-elected Board governs GSP and brings important issues before the community, encouraging discussion and interaction.