Frequently Asked
Questions

A Christian school is a place where truth is being sought in every class. Since truth is not easily hidden or distorted we are not intimidated or insecure to include those of other persuasions in the search. All of our students both Christian and non-Christian are challenged to put their beliefs and concepts about life to the test.

In the end the Christian students have a more solid understanding of what their faith really is and how it relates to the world around them and non-Christian students have defended their beliefs or accepted Christianity as the truth. This philosophical and spiritual crossfire is what makes GGIS one of the most unique schools in the world and a place where students find the truth and make it their own for life. 

Experience has proven that GGIS students not only succeed in Universities as students but also succeed in life as people, the latter being the most important. If we define religion as the source of answers to life’s most fundamental questions - where did I come from? where am I going? and what is my purpose? - then religion is the most important education a person can receive. Imagine a person trying to live life without clear answers to these questions, answers that fit in the life wherein they find themselves. A secular school, non-religious if you will, is still teaching answers to these fundamental questions and therefore though  declared to be irreligious every school teaches religion or tries to. 

As a student begins to grow in their knowledge and understanding of the world that surrounds them they are faced with some unique challenges and decisions. The choices between right and wrong, temporary or lasting satisfaction lay in the balance and are only truly understood when the viewpoint of the student is correct.

When considering relationships, study paths, career choices and even more simply lasting joy, having a proper world view makes all the difference in what the world looks like. Students at GGIS are taught how to think with God, how to have a world view that is not “me centric” but one that looks at the world around them through the eyes of the truths of the Bible. It is through these truths that they are taught not just how to prepare for tomorrow but how to live today!

Many schools teach people what to think. They educate in the ways that they hope will best prepare students to continue their education or to find a job or to become the brightest star. What is often overlooked is the need to prepare a student to be able to make right decisions with lasting results which only result from being taught how to think correctly and to be prepared as an individual to face life and succeed at it. GGIS teaches it’s students to have the sound convictions, healthy thought processes and the courage to make decisions that will help them not to just be well paid or educated but to have a life filled with true satisfaction.

The success of GGIS comes from a staff and leadership who do not come to a job every day but rather come to live a life of service to the students and families of the school. Imagine people whose primary concern is not their salary, their personal goals, their security or promotion. It seems impossible but it is an everyday occurrence at GGIS. And you ask why these people are like this? It is because they have received the heart and spirit of the greatest servant and teacher in history - Jesus Christ. As He demonstrated, our teachers also change the lives of those they teach because they love them more than they love themselves. This is the heart of GGIS and key to our success and the reason we are so special.

Teaching morality means we instruct students to set safe limits for their personal choices with reasonable margins to protect them from danger and temptation. It means we promote wholesome clean fun without the dangerous addictive behaviors that can rob our students of years and the quality of their lives. It means our students are taught how to conduct themselves gracefully in social interactions and life situations while expressing the hidden treasure of true virtue.

A disciplined person is one who is sober and circumspect concerning life’s pleasures and temptations. Discipline means one takes responsibility for ones actions and accepts the consequences with dignity. Discipline provides students the rewards of right decisions both in and out of the classroom. and their work ethic makes them productive and efficient. Maturity marks the life of one who is disciplined and gives him influence and impact beyond his years.

Respect begets respect. At GGIS our teachers have the highest regard for their students, celebrating the infinite value of each one and honoring their individuality and uniqueness. This in turn produces great respect in the students for their teachers which creates an atmosphere that is loving, peaceful and encouraging. Respect for the students’ abilities and potential means we hold our academic and behavioral standards high. GGIS students know they are honored by God and that God is with them as they go. This empowers them to achieve and excel.

In lower school, EAL students are tested at the beginning of the year. Their scores will determine their placement in the EAL program, if needed.

Kindly take a look at the GGIS Admission Policy to find more information about the English Language Proficiency requirements and the non-English speaking student quotas in each grade level.

Students in Prep1 and first grade are fully immersed in English in their classroom. We have found that children at this age learn very quickly and do not need special EAL classes. Students from grades 2-6 may require pull-out EAL classes.

We are happy to provide English Language instruction to our non-English speaking students. These classes (EAL) require additional teachers and classrooms and therefore GGIS charges a moderate fee to cover these additional costs.

This question is answered by the age and motivation of the student. We have seen young children complete the EAL program in only 4 months, while older students need to follow a regimented course of grammar and mechanics for 3 years before they are fully released from the help these extra English classes afford. 

All lead classroom teachers must be either certified or certifiable in order to teach at GGIS.

GGIS is accredited by two American accreditation agencies: the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association of Christian Schools International.

A GGIS diploma is considered an ‘American’ high school diploma and is accepted at most universities and other post-secondary education institutions worldwide.

Student progress and achievement are measured using summative and formative grades as well as attitude and effort. MAP Growth tests are administered twice yearly (Grades 3-9) to measure reading and math achievement and progress. Students in grades 10 and 11 take the PSAT, and AP tests are optional for all high school students. 

The Advanced Placement Program® (AP) at GGIS enables our 10- 12th grade students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. The AP program consists of college-level courses developed and approved by the College Board. High schools can choose to offer these highly structured courses, and the corresponding exams are administered once a year. Students who score a 3,4 or 5 on an exam are awarded college credit.  Currently at GGIS we offer all students AP Seminar, AP Chemistry and AP Statistics. Many of our students also take a variety of other AP courses as either independent study or on-line classes.

In addition to a standard high school diploma, exceptional students at GGIS may earn an AP Capstone, AP International Diploma, and/or AP Scholar Awards as a result of successful completion of AP coursework and exams across a variety of disciplines.

At a minimum, all students must successfully complete 4 years of English Language and Literature, 3 years of Social Studies, 3 years of Math, 3 years of Science, and Bible for each year in attendance.  Students must also either test out or take two years of a foreign language.

The admission process has two parts: the application process and the registration process. The length of the application process depends on 1) when the family submits the complete application, 2) the applicant takes the necessary tests and, 3) the family interview has taken place. These steps usually take between two weeks and 2 months but many take several months; especially if the family does not reside in Hungary.

In a similar manner, the length of the registration process depends on the time it takes the family to 1) submit the required registration documents, 2) sign the Educational Agreement and, 3) pay the registration fee. Under normal circumstances, the registration process takes between two and three weeks.

Generally, GGIS requires that tests, screenings and interviews happen onsite, at the school. Under certain rare circumstances some or all of the process may be done online.

Upper School applicants are typically required to take an English Placement Test, a Math Placement Test, and occasionally a Standardized Achievement Test. Please review the Admission Process for more information. Lower school applicants will participate in an informal screening administered by a teacher.

Student application is free of charge. However, please note that the English Placement Test has a fee of 10,000 HUF. The Standardized Achievement Test has a fee of 20,000 HUF. Please review the Admission Process for more information.

GGIS offers financial assistance to qualified families. Qualified families are those that:
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○ Go through the application process and have been accepted into GGIS. The application process establishes Whether your student is a good fit for GGIS and vice versa.
○ Request the financial Aid Form (FAF) from the finance department. 
○ Fill out the FAF completely, describing your financial need and stating your ability to pay the school tuition.

According to the Financial Agreement, tuition will be reimbursed on a prorated basis. The responsible party (either the parent or a company that signed the Financial Agreement) will be required to pay for all the days the student attended school PLUS 30 days.

According to the Financial Agreement, a student who has an overdue invoice may be expelled from the school. It is the parents’ responsibility to communicate with the Finance Office and arrange a reasonable payment schedule.

According to the Financial Agreement, a student who either withdraws or is expelled is entitled to their transcipts for the education they receive up to the point of leaving. GGIS does not withold transcripts in the case of unpaid tuition.

Payment plans are available only for parents who sign the Financial Agreement. Companies who sign the Financial Agreement are required to pay the full invoiced amount within 15 days of the date of the invoice.

The 2024-25 School year opens on Thursday, August 29, 2024.

For the Lower School students(Prep-1 through 6th grade), this is a Meet and Greet time with the class teacher. Parents and students are invited to visit the classroom anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Lower school students do not have to wear school uniform for the Meet and Greet time. The first full day of regular school will be on Friday, August 30th, starting at 8:20 a.m. 

For Upper School students (7th through 12th grade), the year begins with two mandatory orientation days on August 29th and 30th. Upper School students are required to wear the school uniform on these orientation days. Please note that school lunch is not available on these days.

Both Upper and Lower School buildings open at 8:00 a.m.

Lower School: The school-day starts at 8:20 a.m. For Prep1 and 1st grade, school ends at 3:00 p.m. For 2nd through 6th grade, school ends at 3:15 p.m. Lower School students must be picked up by an authorized adult promptly, and no later than 3:30 p.m. Students in 6th grade may go home by themselves only with the written permission of parents.

‍Upper School: The school-day starts at 8:20 a.m., and ends at different times depending on grade. Upper School students have a late start on Thursdays at 9:55 a.m. Upper School students are dismissed on their own, unless parents notify the school otherwise.

The Supply List for Upper and Lower School students is posted on our school life page.

GGIS has samples of all uniform items on campus. You can schedule a time to try on the sample uniforms with the Upper School Receptionist through Jupiter or via email at frontdesk@ggis.hu.

Create your family account on Trutex’s European website: www.trutex.com/eu/
Do not create your account on the UK website.
Enter our school code: LEA000108TF
When you are logged in choose ‘My School’ from the top right corner menu, scroll down to see our uniform items, and place the items in your cart.
For questions regarding orders and delivery, please email Trutex: tdint@trutex.com or call +31 20 808-8620.

If the uniforms are in stock then parents can expect uniforms to arrive within 3 weeks. If some pieces are not in stock then it may take up to 2 months to receive them.

In case your order does not arrive for the start of school your child may attend school wearing regular clothes similar to our uniform. In that case please write a note, to Ms. Liantu through Jupiter or at frontdesk@ggis.hu in the Upper School (Upper school students, in this case please acquire a 'Uniform Pass' at the upper school reception desk.), or Ms. Hugi through Jupiter or at reception@ggis.hu in the Lower School.

GGIS students - who have turned 6 years old and started grade 1 - are eligible to get a Hungarian Student ID card. The Student ID Card application starts in your local Public Administration Office where you will need to make an appointment (Okmanyiroda). You need to turn in the Form (Adatlap) you receive at the office to Ms. Hugi Molnár at the Lower School Reception. She will apply for your child’s Student ID Card.

You may view or download the 2023-2024 School Calendar here.

Families are informed about the lunch service at the beginning of the school year. To sign up for school lunch, your child(ren) must have a student ID number, which they receive when signing the educational agreement. Once you have a student ID number, visit https://elgo.qb.hu/ and register for the service with your email. Identify your child using the student ID number. After placing the order, make an online payment with a bank card. Please remember that lunch orders are incomplete until payment is processed and you receive an order confirmation. The deadline for ordering school lunch is 9 am the workday before; the deadline for canceling is 9 am two workdays before.
There is a handout with more detailed information that will be sent out via JupiterEd or can be found printed out at the reception desks both in lower and upper school.
If you opt out of ordering school lunches, please send lunch(es) with your child(ren). Microwave ovens are available. Lunch monitors are available to assist younger children with heating up their food.

GGIS uses JupiterEd, an online grade-book, as a communication tool with parents and students. You will receive an email from the school office with a link to login and view your child's grades and assignments. You can also communicate with your child’s teachers and the school administration via Jupiter.

The GGIS Parent/Student Manuals (separate for Lower and Upper Schools) are available to each parent/student online on the School life page.

Each year there are activities in both the Upper and Lower Schools that are not covered by the tuition fees and therefore must be paid on a per activity basis. These activities include but are not limited to; field trips, retreats, banquets, certain afterschool clubs, and outdoor club outings.