GESS – International School has hit plenty of milestones in the last five decades, but their most important achievement is the positive impact they’ve had on students and the communities around them
One of the longest-established schools in Singapore, GESS – International School has a rich history that spans five successful decades. Their futuristic campus is home to 1,800 thriving students aged 2 to 18 years from 65 nationalities. These students enjoy access to the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) and German curriculum offerings, Centre for Excellence, more than 90 curricular activities and 10 languages. GESS has evolved greatly over the years but has always been a frontrunner in the choice of international schools – so what’s the secret of its 50-year success?
1. Parents and students: strong community at not-for-profit GESS
GESS provides a close-knit community to students – one where parents’ input is valued. In fact, the school’s board of Governers and School Association comprise entirely of parents who vote on key decisions such as school fees. GESS has also made it a point to forge bonds with Singapore’s local communities through exchange programmes. Local students who are keen on European culture and languages are invited to visit the school’s classrooms, and GESS students pay reciprocal visits, too. This has promoted plenty of cultural understanding among students from different walks of life, allowing them to experience education in different classrooms.
2. Robust education solution: IB and German curricula
Singapore’s European community has grown exponentially over the years, with more than 14,000 European companies operating here. GESS has filled an educational need over the years by offering the full IB and the German curricula. Additionally, the school also offers students the option to study their home language – these include, but aren’t limited to German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Spanish and French. GESS also offers mother tongue programmes in Japanese, Mandarin, Korean and Hindi.
3. Investing in the student population
Not only has GESS maintained its not-for-profit status for the last five decades, the school has also reinvested every earned dollar into creating new learning opportunities for students. Some of these exceptional facilities include the Junior Engineer Academy, state-of-the-art campus and a comprehensive university and career counselling programme.
But lessons aren’t only learned in GESS’ classrooms, as students are also exposed to various social projects that promote values such as charity and altruism. Over the years, GESS has partnered with various schools and organisations across Asia Pacific. Through these partnerships, students have participated in social projects in India and Cambodia, and the school has actively raised financial support for the Blue Dragon Foundation in Vietnam and collected school supplies for East Timor schools. As such, education has been used as a bridge to promote education and development across the region.
Want to explore GESS – International School for yourself? Sign up for their upcoming Open House events:
All the deets: GESS – International School Open House
When: 30 November & 7 December 2021
Time: 3:30pm
Where: GESS, 2 Dairy Farm Lane, Singapore 677621. Click here to register!
During the Open House tour, you’ll learn more about their IB programme and German curriculum, listen to talks from the school’s academic experts, mingle with other parents and students, learn about their after-school activities and explore the cutting-edge campus. The Admissions and Academics teams will also be able to provide assistance to help you make the right choice for your child.
GESS – International School, 2 Dairy Farm Lane, Singapore 677621, Tel: (+65) 6461 088, www.gess.sg
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