Tag: Switzerland

Inspired by History

The idea that we are “standing on the shoulders of those who came before us” was a prevalent theme at the recent Swiss Group of International Schools (SGIS) annual conference with the publication of Chalk and Cheese: Celebrating 50 Years of SGIS. As I read through the profiles of the 48-member schools, I was struck by the rich history associated with the organisation and extensive contributions to international education.

Among the international schools listed in the book, nine of the schools have been in existence for more than 100 years. Three of these schools first opened their doors in the 1880’s: Institute Le Rosey (1880), Brillantmont International School (1882), Institute Auf Dem Rosenberg (1889). In total, the 48 SGIS member schools have collectively contributed over 2,700 years in serving the international school community!

Each school has a unique history. Ecole d’Humanité was founded by the gifted pedagogue, Paul Geheeb, whose theories and practice represented the best in the evolution of a liberal and humanising education, which he conceived in response to contemporary “rote and drill schools”. The International School of Geneva, founded in part by the League of Nations, is considered to be the birthplace of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Fast forward to today, SGIS continues to bring together the nearly 50 international schools in Switzerland and neighbouring countries to collectively learn from each school’s history and development. It is this very diversity in schools that make the present and future development of international education in Switzerland such a rich, engaging, and promising endeavour.

One of SGIS’ focus areas is that of professional growth and the promotion and support associated with professional development groups. Examples of these collaborative learning groups include Mental Health Counselling, Science Technicians, Early Learning, Student Leadership, Diploma Coordinators, College and Guidance Counsellors, IB Coordinators, and Librarians, among several others.

In addition to supporting student activities, such as a Leadership and Forensics and Debate events, the SGIS Sports Committee oversees approximately 150 sports events each year involving 18 different sports. Workshops, clinics, and certification opportunities were also recently in football, rugby, volleyball, basketball, and track and field.

The International School of Zug and Luzern (ISZL), where I have the honour to serve as Director, is also an active SGIS member with its own rich history. ISZL story began in 1961 with the current school representing the merger in 2008 of three schools: The International School of Zug, The International School of Luzern, and The Riverside School. After more than five decades of progress and expansion, we are fortunate to “stand on the shoulders of those who came before us” as their passion and dedication have culminated in a special school that emphasises community, relationships, family partnership, and learning focused on the “whole child”.  Today, ISZL is home to more than 1,250 students, age 3-18, representing over 60 nationalities, and more than 330 talented staff members, representing over 35 different nationalities.

Thank you again to the Geoff Tomlinson and Jackie Chan-Kam, the editors of Chalk and Cheese: Celebrating 50 Years of SGIS, for reminding us of the importance of our history. Our gratitude is extended to those before us whose vision, dedication, and hard work have resulted in a collective of successful schools that benefit our students and communities of today.

Featured image: cc licensed (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) flickr photo by Derek: View from Männlichen station (with 2 flags) 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/navona-pics/4240553080/

Begin with the End in Mind

As we embark on the new school year ahead, I find it helpful to reflect on the past year to learn from our successes, challenges, and what we could do better. To that end, senior graduation represents a particularly important reference point given the culminating nature of the event that has involved the collective efforts of students, the support of their families, and the work of teachers and staff from all grade levels and areas of the school. It is hoped that graduation, among other goals, represents a time to celebrate student achievement, communicate what makes a school special, and highlight the ideals and values that challenge us both as individuals and a community to be our best selves.

It is without question that student speeches and performances are the most inspiring moments of a graduation ceremony. This may be the reason why school directors are usually asked to speak at the start of the ceremony! I am always grateful for the opportunity to speak with students and, in my role as Director, hope to use the moment to again articulate who we are and the ideals and values that guide our learning. The exercise is helpful in serving as a reminder of what frames our professional work and how we can best support students. Looking to the year ahead and in the spirit of beginning with the end in mind, I am including the following speech, prepared for the International School of Zug and Luzern’s (ISZL) graduation, as part of my reflections for the year ahead. 

Graduation Address:

Guten abend mit einande. Good afternoon honoured guests: Board of Directors, teachers, families, and friends, and, of course, our “graduands”.  I called you graduands because it is the official term used to describe someone who is a candidate for a diploma. The related word, “graduation” is the actual act of receiving a diploma, which will then make you a graduate, a person who has earned the diploma. So, graduands, if all goes well today, you will soon all be graduates!

Continuing the theme of examining words and in the spirit of celebrating our wonderful host country, I would like to also highlight a few Swiss German words that have provided for windows into Swiss culture (my apologies in advance for pronunciation errors).

Most people appreciate Znüni, the nine am morning break to eat Gipfeli, which may be stored in a kitchen cupboard, which is apparently one of the most difficult words to pronounce: Chuchichäschtli.

And then there is a word that some of you may have used to describe Mr. Wexler or me at some point: Bünzli is the word for those boring people who follow all the rules and make sure everyone else does too!

There are of course the foods, Raclette, Birchermüesli, and Rösti.

Words and culture are important. While this may be a lighthearted approach to reflecting on a country’s identity, I hope it also serves as a reminder of the influence language can have on a special place like ISZL and our school’s culture, which is framed by three key words: Respect, Motivate, and Achieve.

Class of 2018, you have lived up to and exceeded the expectations associated with the school’s mission. Your self-motivation and impressive achievements have inspired our community to further realize our collective potentials. And, perhaps most importantly, you have always acted with the highest levels of respect for yourself and all those who have had the good fortunate to enter the narrative of your classes’ learning journey.

Perhaps it is this focus on respect that has led to the prevailing sentiment that ISZL is much more than just a school. In many ways, it is the shared experiences with special people that make ISZL such an extraordinary place. In the introduction to the yearbook, I borrowed a quote from the French novella titled The Little Prince, which may best explain what makes ISZL special: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” These words are apropos to ISZL’s context in the sense that the school and this 2018 graduating class may only be fully understood by looking beyond what is readily visible.

While you cannot necessarily see the sense of belonging, the supportive environment, and the feeling of safety, there is a palpable awareness of their presence. The same is true about optimism, positive energy, and a sense of promise. There is a discernible feeling on campus that anything is possible, the future is bright, and there is an opportunity to be part of something special while contributing to making a positive difference. There is a serious and disciplined commitment to academic learning but also a sense of enjoyment and play. This is evident as students and teachers prepare to engage with the seemingly endless list of activities, clubs, charities, trips, and sports that exemplify the ISZL learning experience. The culture of learning is a ubiquitous presence on campus.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we can see that relationships are the foundation of what makes ISZL special. What is not necessarily easy to see is how profound and respectful the relationships between the Class of 2018, staff, and parents are at the school, and how this commitment to others represents the fundamental factor that contributes to making ISZL and this graduation class so unique and special

Class of 2018, thank you for being such impressive ambassadors of ISZL’s values and culture. We are deeply grateful for how you have represented and personified ISZL’s culture, values, and the words Respect, Motivation, and Achievement. Congratulations on your well-deserved graduation today. Thank you.