Girotondo Italian School Information

In 2003, Rosella Pusateri first started an Italian based playgroup in Sausalito called, “Bambini let’s play in Italiano.” The goal of the playgroup was to provide a safe and loving environment with a unique opportunity to learn a second language/culture. A strong sense of community among the families and friends of these children was formed and with it a respect and awareness of diversity and multiculturalism. GIS community now is much stronger and bigger, growing from the initial 8 families to 80. Our desire for our children to speak Italian is still central to our vision, but our objectives have expanded: we would like for our students not only to learn Italian language and heritage but also to learn all subjects with the highest academic standards. Girotondo Italian School have 2 campuses one in San Rafael, Marin County, and the other one in Berkeley East Bay. The school offers Preschool Kindergarten and First grade, with goals to continue till 5th grade. The primary goals of Girotondo are: * To expose students to Italian language culture and traditions in a nurturing and stimulating learning environment by offering them an internationally high standard education. * To prepare our students to successfully enter any Italian and English school in the world. * To create an appropriate environment for students to find peers with whom they can share their Italian skills. * To foster creative and active learners who will become well-rounded and internationally minded world citizens. * To maintain very high standard qualified directors, teachers, and administrators * To build a community of people that shares the same interests, and passion for the Italian language, culture and traditions. * To expose students from a very young age to art and music. * To serve the entire community by offering Italian enrichment classes from 0 to adult.