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Learning Beyond the Classroom: Reflections from the Himalayas
This September, I had the privilege of spending nine days in the Himalayas with nineteen ISZL students and three teachers as part of our Personal Development Week (PDW). What unfolded was not simply a trip, but a journey into history, culture, resilience, and, above all, human connection. From walking the ancient trails of the Silk…
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The Privilege of Letting Go
Parenting and teaching are acts of deep care and quiet courage. As a new school year begins, the privilege of walking beside young people comes into focus, along with the quiet strength it takes to let go, trust, and hope. Each step forward marks a leap toward growth, independence, and becoming.
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A Hanbok, a Friendship, and a Cultural Connection
I am grateful to be part of a community where our daughter comes home from school, inspired by her friends and teachers, eager to celebrate Lunar New Year. Yesterday, she reminded us of its importance and asked us to wear the beautiful hanbok her Korean classmate gifted her last year—a heartwarming reminder of the connections…
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Culture of Care and Connection
Our morning routines are filled with grounding rituals that set the stage for the day ahead. While these routines are important for us as adults, they are especially critical for children, playing a key role in their emotional and developmental well-being. Among my favourite moments each morning – and I confess that I am a…
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The Transformative Power of Stories
Over the past two weeks, I have had the privilege of reading to several classes as part of our ISZL Reads community initiative. Sitting with students, exploring stories together, and witnessing their reactions has been, as always, a profoundly moving experience. It is a reminder that the power of stories extends far beyond the words…
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A Season of Gratitude and Light
Celebrating Our Global Community Our students, parents, and staff bring an extraordinary range of celebrations, from Chuseok in Korea and the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Erntedankfest, Räbeliechtli-Umzug, Kwanzaa, and Sukkot in Europe, Africa, and North America, among others. Each tradition is an opportunity to honour and celebrate our ISZL community. As we…
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Never Odd or Even
“Never odd or even.” Why not start a blog post celebrating the beauty and oddities of language with an intriguingly perplexing phrase that is also a palindrome – a word or a sentence that reads the same backwards? First, my apologies in advance to anyone who suffers from a fear of palindromes, or what the…
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Culture & Global Citizenship
An important focus area associated with this year’s review of ISZL’s mission, vision, values, and learning principles is that of our school and community’s culture and how it relates to global citizenship. With our staff and students representing 34 and 60 different nationalities respectively, in addition to the school’s offering of 25 language courses, ISZL…
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Seeing with Heart
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” ~ The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry While the following reflections are focused on the International School of Zug and Luzern (ISZL), I believe these reflections are also generally applicable to all schools and organisations,…
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In Conversation
I was honoured to be recently interviewed by Tim Gilbert from International School Parent Magazine. The full interview can be accessed through the following link: IS Parent Interview. In conversation with Barry Dequanne School Director, International School of Zug & Luzern (ISZL) By Tim Gilbert – Guest Interviewer for International School Parent Magazine & International School…