Horizons Issue 4 June 2011
The Reflections Edition
Message from the Director
The end of a school year provides an opportunity for reflection - for parents, students and teachers. This month’s copy of Horizon includes quotes, comments, and reflections from our students and our parents who give an account of the details about the 2010/2011 school year, or who reflect on the time spent here at ISW over the years. Although each school year is similar in routine and procedure, it is also as unique and individual as fingerprints. In one aspect or another, teachers powerfully impact the lives of each one of our students. Each classroom is an extended family and community who live, play, work, and coexist together each school year. The end of a school year marks the many months of establishing relationships with our students. It is a pleasure for me when former students return for a visit. Yes, teachers maintain many relationships with their students years after they move on, but it’s very different from the daily classroom contact and interaction. With the closing of the school year, our students face another transition. Ending or beginning a school year for a student always has its set of challenges. Students are placed in a new environment, given new expectations, and surrounded by a new faces. Students vary by nature and are amazingly adaptable and resilient, but ending one school year and preparing to transition to another one remains a huge step. For many students, it is an emotional time of saying goodbyes to teachers and friends while preparing for the next academic move. Each school year remains a journey for teachers, students and parents. All learn from each other and will ultimately carry with them memories, knowledge and experiences that will last a lifetime. Parents, teachers and students: Savor your memories and have a great summer. “The reflections on a day well spent furnish us with joys more pleasing than ten thousand triumphs.” - Thomas Kempis Best regards,
Director
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Grade 11 Diploma Students reflect on the year 2010/2011
Pascale was an active member of the Global Issues Network as well as the Yearbook Staff.
Jack teaches Guitar Club for the Middle Years’ Students and enjoys tutoring the younger students at ISW. Jack enjoys being a member of the Global Issues Network because it is productive and he is able to use his social skills.
“This year has been one of learning ultimately - learning to balance and time-manage one’s life as a young adult. The work load and expectations have been continuously high and so, at times, it is difficult to keep your head above water. But, I realized that the teachers are the backbone of our success and that with them it is possible to persevere and succeed. “ -Jack “This year, I started to see things in a different way, considering all perspectives of points of view or knowledge given. I also engaged in the preparation for my future in university and have now a clear path to follow.” -Pascale
“All in all, this school has been an interesting new experience for me. I had to adapt, not only to a new country, but to international education, more specifically to the Diploma Program. I also had to get used to smaller class sizes but ultimately realized that these were beneficial because attention and help by the teachers were always given when needed. Lastly, the CAS component of the program gave me new challenges in service for the community, sports and in trying to be creative.” -Anthony
The Diploma Students are active members of the Creativity Action Service Program at ISW. This summer they will be travelling to Romania with Habitat for Humanity to build houses for families that need them.
“This year has been one of the hardest academic year of my school career. Getting used to the workload, the new teachers, the material taught and the free time was difficult. So, the most challenging was to keep motivated so that I could best learn and improve in all my subjects. My teachers have played a big part for me this year as they were always willing to help after class and continuously gave me strategies so that improvements could be made. Thank you. CAS was also a challenge because I had never worked with people for people before which gave me a new light on what we can do for the community and for ourselves in order to grow as an individual.” Anthony enjoyed the Global Issues Network as it “expanded his knowledge on ethical implications”. His favorite after school club was Boxing. “I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of Boxing and self-defense”.
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Reflections from Grade 3 “ My Favorite Unit of Inquiry”
“Clubs at ISW”
Lars (top, second from the left) has 3 other siblings at ISW. A younger sister in Grade 2 an older brother in Grade 6, and an older sister in Grade 10.
“There are many clubs. Some clubs are during school. Most are after school. The clubs are supposed to help students learn something like football or sewing. We are supposed to make friends, and in some clubs to work independently. The clubs help you find your talent and to help your fingers and legs move in different ways, and it helps your body move in ways you’ve never done before.” -Lars Rintaro,Grade 3, is the older brother of Yuzuki, in Early Years 2. He did not know any English when he first started at ISW, which made communication a challenge, but after making friends and getting help frm his classmates, he now speaks English as well as all his friends. Being from Japan, he was very sad to hear about the devastating events in Japan on the 11th of March, 2011. “My friends comforted me, and the crane making event at the school (Senbazuru Event )made me feel better”.
“My favorite Unit of Inquiry is “Paint me a Picture”. In this unit I learned how the artists express feelings and what kind of style does the artist paint. I drew a portrait with Pablo Picasso’s cubism. It was so funny and fun. At the end of the unit, everyone got a 40x40cm canvas and drew a painting using artist’s styles. It was really fun. When I reflect I realized that I got better and more knowledgeable with art.” -Rintaro 4
“Grade 3 Camp”
Shane, (opposite page, top, second from the left) who has a younger sister in Grade 1, found learning German a challenge in the beginning, but after getting help from his classmates, he now enjoys German Lessons.
“The Grade 3 camp is a one night trip with a lot of fun activities around the city Kreuzlingen. During the day after you have a snack and see the hostel, the one main activity is going on a solar powered boat and seeing a fountain with a rainbow in it and a little tour around Konstanz harbor. After dinner you can do a night walk with your flashlight along the Bodensee. After that you go to bed. In the morning after a very good breakfast you go up to your room and change for swimming. The swimming pool is very cool. There are two water slides that are very long and fun. Camp is fun.” -Shane
“A Year at ISW” “I was very excited on the first day at school! I was waiting for my old friends and wanting to find more. I met new friends and went to camp to make new friendships and get new experiences. Back at school we got to know new teachers. We learned about new topics and learned new things. The whole year just felt like a day because it was so fun. This year was a really great year. I learned lots and collected new experiences and new friendships. The year at ISW was great! I really liked it a lot and I am happy and excited.” to start a new year with new experiences.” -Sina
Sina Grade 3 and her older sister, Marisa in Grade 5, are two of the some of the longest remaining students we have, to date, along with Sara and Tina. Dominik and Evelyn, however, are by far the longest remaining students here, arriving at ISW in 2003.
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Growing up as a Third Culture Child
By: Candice Olgun Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator
Candice Olgun on the lower right. Strange to be in a school in the capital of China and be the only Chinese kid! In the 1980’s International School Beijing had less than 100 students. Today they have over 1,800 students, and a staff of over 200.
Third Culture Child- A child who has spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture.-Wikipedia.org I remember once when I was 11 years old, I asked my mother “Mommy, where am I from?” A little puzzled, my mother asked me what I meant, so I replied, “ Well, sometimes people ask me where I come from, because I look Chinese but I am British by nationality and speak with an American accent”. Then, she asked me a question I really had to think about: “Well, where do you feel you come from?” At this point I was completely unsure. I 6
am a British citizen, because my father is a 3rd generation British Chinese, and I was born in Hong Kong, but moved to Manila when I was only 4 months old (in my Yearbook at my Kindergarten it said “Candice Leong, Filipino” because as far as I was concerned, I was). I then moved to Beijing when I was 5, and stayed there until we were evacuated due to the Tiananmen Square Democracy Movement when I was 10 and sent to a school temporarily in Hong Kong for a few months before finally being sent to the United World College in Singapore. The other aspect that made it slightly more confusing was the fact that Chinese people never treated me as if I were Chinese.
After all, my Chinese was by no means fluent, I had an American accent, and a slightly too extrovert way of being. On the other a hand, the British never considered me really British either, as, of course, my appearance is completely Chinese, and I had an American accent. However, as I have grown up, I have come to answer such questions with ease; I am British/ Chinese and a citizen of the world. I must say, there have been many great experiences for me growing up as an “International Kid”, or what people have now come to label, Third Culture Child. Being in so many different countries and cultures has really opened my eyes to different ways
“It’s like receiving a really big gift with loads of wrapping paper on it. Every day, every experience is like unravelling this gift, and finally seeing what’s been hiding inside.” of life, religions, celebrations, etc. and this in turn has really made me a much more enriched person. The one thing that I think has stood out most from all the qualities it has given me, is the ability to adapt quickly, not only to different countries, and cultures, but also to different social environments and situations. I think when you grow up and move around as often as I did, through necessity, you become accustomed to grounding yourself in a place quickly, because you know you don’t have years to cultivate relationships and at any time you could pick up and relocate again. It may sound rather traumatic, but I assure you
Visiting the Summer Palace in Beijing. Growing up in a foreign country is a great experience. It’s like receiving a really big gift with loads of wrapping paper on it. Every day, every experience is like unravelling this gift, and finally seeing what’s been hiding inside.
it isn’t. Through the years I have made many friends, and they have come in and out of my life like threading in a patchwork quilt, but with the invention of social networking sites such as Facebook, I have been able to reunite with old friends, share old photos and memories, and just be amazed how people I knew when I was 8 or 9 years old are suddenly married and starting families of their own. Some people have told me it’s a shame that I never had a consistent childhood… living in one neighborhood, going to one school and having the same group of friends all my life. In some cases, I may have missed out, like when I was getting married and realized my friends were so spread out across the globe, it would not be possible for all of them to make it to the wedding. But I have had so many great and unique experiences in my childhood, and collected so many great memories, I would not trade it for anything. So one day, if I ever decide to start a family, but I don’t end up traveling for work around the globe, I will still consider sending my children to an International School because I believe it does make a huge difference. I see it everyday at work! Sometimes I watch the children talk, play, work together, and I think it is wonderful to see the amount of respect they have for each other and their teachers. I hope to give my children the same kind of upbringing and education that allows them to have such an open mind.
Recollections of the Wandernoth Family
•Our first day at ISW was August 8th, 2003 •At this time, the total number of students was 36 (EY1-Grade 5) •It was the school’s 2nd year, and its 1st location at Hegifeldstr. 10 •Dominik started in Grade 3, Evelyn in EY2 •I remember how excited the kids were, because everything was new. Especially, the language. Both did not speak one word of English at this time •The classes were composite: EY1 and EY2, Kindergarten and Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3, Grade 4 and Grade 5 •Like today, the first day of school was for the new students only and the PA moms were there, to provide drinks and food and told about all the fun thing which will happen at ISW during the school year. BUT one big event was missing. There was no Halloween party, which I found very strange for an international school. So I had the honor, to organize the first ISW Halloween party ever, which was on October 31st, 2003 •Because of the small number of students (between 20 and 36) during our first 2 school years, at ISW, we all felt like a big family. Very often, the whole school was invited to a party at somebody’s house or the whole school, including parents and siblings went hiking. This was always great fun.
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Grade 8 Reflections “The best thing my class did was we all went to the Blind Cow restaurant. This event was very nice because it was something new for all of us so we all had fun. Another thing that really helped to fit in my new school was the trip to Solothurn at the beginning of the year, and it really helped me so now I know everybody. “ -Nikos “I had a lot of fun this year; we all have met new friends and new teachers. All the field trips we did would stay in my memory. I feel comfortable with the class that we have and as my classmate David always says, “We are a big family.” The classes are all good. Overall I feel motivated and comfortable during this school year.” -Nicolas
Kareem enjoyed his Community and Service when he had to tutor the younger students at the school because he liked teaching the students new things. Kareem enjoyed Football Club, and is also an active member of the Student Council.
“At the beginning of the year, everything was new for me: speaking and writing in English, new kids and the MYP program. Initially I had a hard time, but by the time we went on the fieldtrip to Solothurn, everything changed. I found new friends! I felt more comfortable in school as many other students were also new. My English improved and I always tried to be polite to others. Over time, the teachers and students started to get really involved to the environment and school life. Also, clubs like football or martial arts showed me that you could still have fun beside school stuff. I really started to like school like I never did before.“ -Kareem 8
“I think that the school is one of the more social schools in comparison to the others. When you come here as a new student you will always get a warm welcome and people will automatically start talking to you and you will make new friends. Also in the school everybody knows everybody, which is good because you build up more trust and a better relationship to teachers and your friends.” -Michael
“I really like the events we do here in our advisory class, for example, our trip to the Blind Cow restaurant. That was probably one of the best experiences I’ve had at any school. I also like how the 11th graders sponsor student lock-ins, where students stay overnight in school. I haven’t been to one before but I am going tomorrow and I am very exited, because it sounds like fun.” -William
Michael learns Mandarin at ISW and finds it a very inspiring language. Michael believes that Chinese will be the next important business language in the future. He is also an active part of the Track and Field Team and feels motivated by his coach, Mr. Peter ‘ s commitment to the team.
“I think the school trips and events were good because our field trip to Solothurn was fun and we really got to make new friends and do fun activities. I think most classes are good because the teaching quality is good and we learn a lot. I think the best memories were the student advisory activities we had like the Blind Cow Restaurant because it was one of a kind. And P.E is fun because we get to play baseball.” -Nicholas “In grade 8, the students have an enjoyable learning experience. Besides school, we engage in after school activities with our advisory. An example of such is an unforgettable trip to the Blind Cow; it is a restaurant where the customer is served in total darkness by vision-impaired staff. We had a great time and we were able to experience this unique night. “ -David 9
Reflections of the Lavey Family
The Lavey Family at Lake Zurich (from left to right) Krislyn, Stitch, Frank, Jade, and Jack.
Besides learning the phrase: “Nett Sie kennen zu lernen” (It’s nice to meet you), we were warned of rules prohibiting lawn mowing and car washing on Sundays, and if one lives in a flat or apartment, they are not allowed to flush the toilet after 10 p.m. at night – really?!?! Equipped with this new knowledge, my husband moved to Zürich in January 2008, leaving the children and I behind to finish the school year. We had five months left before moving abroad. During this time, we researched international schools in Zürich. Our daughter was entering grade 8 and our son grade 4. Our initial research and inquiries with other ex-pat families in the office had us register and waitlist for a school in Zürich. We naturally assumed that we would search for a home to lease in and around Lake Zürich, as my husband would be commuting to Kloten, near the Zürich Airport. While awaiting admission to this school, my husband scouted homes between the two school campuses, as the primary school was in a separate village from the middle years school. This was not the ideal situation for the family, to have the children at two different campuses. Furthermore, my husband was quickly realizing how scarce reasonably sized homes with gardens and storage space were, in the villages around the Lake. On a cold February morning, he set out on his road bike north of Zürich to explore the different towns in the Greater Zürich Area. Two hours later, he found himself in a charming town called Winterthur. Lik10
ing what he was able to explore on bike, we did some research and soon learned that Winterthur, only 20 minutes by car to the Zürich Airport, surrounded by wooded hills, is the sixth largest city in Zürich. Not only does Winterthur offer the perfect blend of urban and rural qualities, including twenty different communities, with a wider variety of homes and flats to lease, as compared with our leads in Zürich. We were even more pleased to learn of the International School Winterthur, located in Oberwinterthur. ISW was in its sixth year and moving to a new location in the same neighborhood. The small student body and the teacher to student ratio appealed to our family and the one campus would accommodate both children. Our first introduction to the school was the Director, Rhonda Mott-Hill. We were pleased to learn that Ms. Mott spent some formative years growing up in Hawaii before moving to Germany for high school. Ms. Mott and her staff are accessible, approachable and always helpful. They practice an open-door policy, which makes communication between the families and the school very pleasant. Needless to say, we withdrew our applications from the school in Zürich and pursued education at ISW. Our daughter and son are now finishing their third year at ISW and year-by-year, we see growth, improvement and stability in the school. Since starting at the school in 2008, we have seen the MYP earn its accreditation and just this past Fall, the first Diploma Program students went on to grade 11. We have seen the expansion of the cafeteria and library media center, improvement to the indoor gym and the opening of the fifth floor, housing MYP and DP classrooms. Ms. Mott continues to recruit qualified and accredited teachers, and just this year was able to promote vice principals for both the PYP and MYP levels. Our children have made friends with students from around the world and have adjusted to the IB program quite well. The teachers and staff at ISW have proven to be diverse and creative in their styles and have provided genuine care and support when needed. Because of the smaller student body, our children have benefited from one-on-one help in the mornings before advisory, or after school, on a weekly basis. Communication between teachers and parents are taken seriously, which keeps us well informed of our children’s progress. ISW also offers opportunities for parents and guardians to get involved by volunteering for the Parents’ Association, assisting with different activities for the children throughout the year. For the parents, Aerobics and Toning, Yoga, Art (Painting, Mosaics and Sculpture) and German and English language lessons are offered on a weekly basis. After leasing a home for two years in Neftenbach, a twenty-minute drive from ISW, we decided last summer to purchase a home in Hüttwilen, canton Thurgau. Just northeast of Winterthur, our school commute is still only 20 minutes, just in the other direction. My husband loves his job, we love the school, we love our new village and our goal at the moment is to see our daughter enter and graduate from the two-year Diploma Program. This will take us to June 2013, when our son will be completing grade 8. Only time will tell what is in store for our family then, but if given the opportunity to continue on in Switzerland, I would relish the chance to also have our son graduate from the DP program at ISW. 11
Reflections from Grade 1
“I like ISW because you can do many things.” -Joel
“I like ISW because my friends are nice and the teachers are nice too. At ISW my favourite thing is writing and reading and free play.” -Alexandra
“I like ISW because it is a good place to learn. I can make good friends in ISW.” -Cailin “I like ISW because there is a football field. I can play with my friends. We can have new friends at ISW.” -Eliano “I like to have friends to play with. I like math and writing because I can learn more things.” -Annu
“I like ISW because I can go to the computer lab. I like math because you can have fun and I like the football pitch because football is cool.” -Antonio 12
“I like ISW because math is so good but math is hard and I can do my best. Grade One is a good classroom because we do reading and it is good. We do word study and math and there is a good playground.” -Vitus “I like playing with my friends. My friends are Alexandra and Annu. Kids need a school to learn in.” -Maia
Reflections from Grade 2 “I think ISW is the best school in the world. Two of the things that I like that I am learning in school are division and multiplication. I also enjoyed our field trips to the Hegi Castle and the Landesmuseum. The clubs I go to are soccer and German. They are fun.” - Henri
“In school I feel good. I like all my teachers and I have lots of friends. My favorite things to do are play soccer in my club, be outside during recess, and go on field trips.” - Wout
“I am in grade two and I would like to tell you about ISW. My teacher is the best at explaining Math, especially when we are learning division. I like to play on the playground with my best friends. Sometimes, we play freeze tag or on the monkey bars. On field trips we go to museums or into the forest.” - Carina
“The things I like at ISW are the teachers, German class, the clubs, field trips, and playground. I also like when we write stories and doing math more than before. I think this is the best school in the world.” - Lilian 13
Reflections of the Henden Family
The Henden Clan (from top left): Stefan (Grade 6), Lottie (Grade 2), Corinne, Lars (Grade 3), Heidi (Grade 10), and Andrew.
the Director of School had a clear strategy to advance the school, as reflected by the progress made in the 3 years we have been part of the ISW community. In addition, we were able to move into a large house with a garden, in a small village just 1 Km from the school, but still within easy reach of Zurich by car or public transport. Winterthur itself is a large metropolis, with many interests and activities for children and parents alike. We don’t miss the lake, as every community has excellent swimming facilities and it is a real delight to spend summer days at the local outdoor pool, within walking distance. Furthermore, we have been surprized about the variety of nearby attractions, for example, The Black Forest, Bodensee,
We arrived in Switzerland at the end of the Summer of 2007, choosing to live by Lake Zurich, sending our 4 children to a bilingual school. Whilst living by the lakeside was glorious, 6 people crammed in an apartment was challenging, and, we also found the bi-lingual education was better suited for Swiss or German children wanting to learn English. We therefore started the search for an International School in an area where we could also find larger living accommodation --The International School of Winterthur (ISW) was the perfect fit ! Whilst ISW is small enough for each pupil to be treated as an individual, we like the fact that 14
Lars and Lottie enjoying the perfect snow on their sled. Sledding is a great activity for families in Switzerland’s beautiful winter season, and especially in and around the Winterthur Area where we have many hills. Sledding, ice skating, skiing, and snow-shoe hiking are all very popular for families in the Winter months.
Lottie in Sewing Club
Stefan and Heidi at the Rheinfall, just 30 minutes from the school.
Mount Titlis, Toggenburg skiing and St .Gallen Santis water park to name just a few.
Heidi and Stefan in Guitar Club
children are very happy at ISW such that, whenever we return to England to visit old school friends, we can see the fulfillment of the school’s philosophy with the confidence, motivation and respect for cultural diversity they have learnt at ISW.
During the school week, the schedule is packed, not only with the standard timetable, but the children participate in a large number of lunch or after school clubs, such as football, guitar practice, yoga, German, cooking etc. The teachers are dedicated to the enrichment of school life, helping Stefan with the Robotics Club
the children achieve their potential, often with personal commitment outside of school hours. In addition, there is an active Parents’ Association, who work very hard arranging events to support the children and the school.
Lars in Soccer Club
Open dialogue between the teachers, parents and pupils is encouraged, allowing us as parents to keep in touch with the progress of our 4 children. Above all, our 15
Reflections from Grade 9
Jeremy enjoying his time with his friends at a host school on a Mandarin trip to Shanghai, China last year.
“I like how teachers are always open to talk about problems you face, such as grades or understanding something, and how we then find a solution together. When I came to this school in 2003-2004 I couldn’t speak any English. The open-minded, kind teachers and students helped me so much that I was able to discuss and write fluently in only four months.” -Lena-Katharina “I really like the student environment here. Everyone is willing to help you when you have a problem. They are all nice to each other and friendly. The teachers are also very helpful. They are always there to help when you are confused and really care about their students.” -Marieke 16
The Grade 9 students on the start of year field trip. Grades 6 to 12 take part in this trip which focuses on team building activities and bringing the Middle Years Community together.
“Here at ISW, both students and teachers encourage you to work harder. Teachers do this by giving you help after school when asked, and all classmates support each other. The atmosphere here is very supportive and encouraging.” -Jacqueline “I love how the teachers support all our ideas even if they might
not happen. Field trip weeks have been some of the best weeks in my life.” -Kristine “I have had many good memories at ISW the past 3 years like the field trips last year or the camps at the beginning of the year. Another thing I enjoy very much are the afterschool sports. I have had great experience with our football and track and field team, and I am very proud to be part of the ISW teams. I also think that the people here at ISW are very kind and I have really enjoyed learning with them.” -Michelle
“My first day of school I was shown around with the rest of the new people. We were split up into different grades and played several games throughout the day. Then the week followed the orientation week and we were able to learn each other’s names. That week secured a friendly atmosphere in the school for the rest of the year. “ -Candice
Reflections from Grade 4
Reflections from Grade 7 “All teachers are kind at ISW. At the beginning they all helped me, because I could not really speak English.” -Julian “I enjoyed the soccer games after school.” -Julian “I really like the teachers at ISW. I have learned a lot from them.” -Ladina “The first trip of the year was the best trip of the year! It was the best way to meet new people.” -Sonja “Sports was really fun and the best memory because it was just good friends getting together.” -Thomas “I liked the softball unit in sport.” -Gideon “I remember that the camp in August was the best. I am very eager to do the field trips. “ -Ambre
The year at ISW “I loved the whole year of Grade 4 especially on camp because I got to spend 3 days and 2 nights with my friends. I also made new friends along the way to the hostel. I tried new activities like canoeing and going on a zip line.
What I liked about the year “I loved the year because at the start we went to camp for 3 days. It was the most fun thing for me in the year. We got to go canoeing, but in the rain; we went to the seilpark and we played games before we went to bed.
At Christmas, the biggest show of the year happened – the Winter Event. There were lights and music and we performed wonderful dances. I thought I had a great dance being a toy can-can dancer; it was really exciting but I was nervous.
The unit I liked most was ‘Creative I’. The reason why is that we could draw a lot and we did a presentation to lots of people.
When I walked in the Grade 4 classroom and saw Ms. Simpson, I thought she might be strict, but over a week or two I got to know her and I like her as my teacher.” -Isabella
The Winter Event was also good because Ms. Simpson made clothes for us. I was a can-can dancer. I had a nice long dress with flowers on it. My favourite teachers are Ms. Simpson and Mr. Andrews. I like Ms. Simpson because she can be sometimes crazy, but we learn a lot from her. Mr. Andrews some-
Reflections of the Birkelo Family Grade 4 students enjyoing creating their own candles on their candle-dipping trip
times bosses my mom around, but he is a really really good painter. The school makes me feel that I have a lot of good friends and I have learned a lot over the year.” -Gina Reflection of ISW “The year in Grade 4 is almost over. It goes so quickly and the days rush by. In class we got the opportunity to visit Lucerne for 3 days. It was fun because your parents were not there, only a teacher and your classmates. We also got the opportunity to have fun in yearly events, like the World Fest and the Winter Event, also the disco and Halloween. I enjoy going to school because you are really scared to miss something. Every day is worth coming in – 100%.” -Verushka Reflections of the year “This year we did lots of fun things in and out of school. One of my favourite things was camp.
In class we had lots of fun units. My favourites were: • • • •
My Brain Hurts Creative I Off the Drawing Board Market place
This year we also had a fun and exciting Winter Event. We did lots more in class like field trips, studying, events, camp, units and more… This whole year we were communicators in class. I felt or feel very good during the year and now.” -Tina ISW “Our school year started with camp – the best parts were canoeing and the hostel. I liked canoeing because my team got to the platform first. Later on it was the Winter Event, we did a play called La Boutique Fantasque, it was wonderful.” -Zirish
Moving abroad is taxing, to say the least, and as a first-time expat, I had a lot to learn about customs, languages, and traditions, all the while embracing a whole new lifestyle. The most difficult part of moving to Switzerland was arriving in Zurich with eight checked bags, eight carry on bags, two very talkative kids, a grumpy wife (me), a notas-cool-as-he’d-like-to-be-dad, a stressed-out cat, and a hyper dog. Believe me—everything was downhill after that. Of course, I’m the first to admit that I am culturally illiterate, so I can’t say I knew what to expect. In fact (and I can’t believe I’m admitting this) I actually looked up Switzerland on a map to see where it was in Europe. Ever wondered how big Switzerland is compared to a U.S. state?
When I moved here two years ago from Houston, Texas, with my husband and two daughters, I didn’t know what the climate
and dictated where we looked for a home. After contacting and visiting several international schools, we decided upon the International School Winterthur, not only because they could accommodate our high-achieving daughter, but they had a promising special education program as well. It was absolutely the right choice for us, and I am very pleased with the growth both my children have had since enrolling them in ISW.
One top of the Klein Matterhorn, August 2010. Roz, her husband Brad, her two children, Kristine and Nichole, their dog Kato, and their cat, Tabby (not pictured) moved to Winterthur in July 2009. Their next assignment will take them to Denver Colorado.
was like, what language was spoken, or how diverse it would be, and more importantly, if we’d like it here. In fact, the only thing I had ever heard was that Switzerland was neutral (whatever that means) and people got Swiss Bank accounts when they had a lot of money. (I have a Swiss bank account, so I know the latter is not true.) What I found was, I love living in Europe, getting to know people from all different walks of life, and experiencing all that this side of the pond has to offer, especially traveling. Having said that, it’s not easy coming to a new country knowing no one, trying to find your way around—well—everywhere and everything, and trying to fit in. That being said, one of the best decisions we made was deciding to move to the city of Winterthur. Winterthur is the sixth largest city in Switzerland and has many things you’d come to expect in a larger city like museums, theaters,
and cultural events. There is a downtown area convenient by car, bus, or train, and we have the added luxury of being able to ride our bikes, or even walk there if we desire. There is plenty of shopping available for even the pickiest consumers. And if dining out is your thing, there are many restaurants to choose from and a variety of cuisine. But I think the best part of living here is the self-confidence my children have gained through their independence. No longer do I have to drive them everywhere when they want to meet friends—they simply hop on a train or bus and off they go. This small and very safe community allows my children that freedom. Of course the obvious question is, “Why not Zürich?” Don’t misunderstand me, I really like Zürich and spend a lot of time there, especially since my husband works in the Schiffbau area near Hardbrücke, but education for our children was our primary concern
I think one of the things that made my transition to living in Switzerland so easy was getting involved with the school. Not only did I make some amazing friends with other parents whom I expect to have in my life for many years to come, I got to know the teachers on a personal basis. I have to say—for me—the teachers are the best part of ISW. Their dedication is undeniable and equally sincere. It’s a pleasure collaborating with them to help my children succeed. Another perk to ISW is their open-door policy. I’ve never had such immediate access to not only the teachers when I have questions, but I have immediate access to the administration and am greeted with a smile by everyone in the office. Even the Director, Rhonda Mott-Hill, stops what she is doing to address my concerns, and I couldn’t be happier at ISW. It wouldn’t be right not to mention the great kids at the school while I have the chance. My children were greeted with open arms from the moment they arrived, even on a trial day. Keeping busy with extracurricu-
lar activities has allowed them to bond with the other students and made their transition equally easy. I couldn’t be more pleased with the support they receive from other students as well as the teachers as we’ve all tried to navigate this new learning environment.
Reflections from Grade 10
For me, Switzerland is everything you would imagine it to be. Stunning is a word I use frequently when describing the places I’ve been. Honestly, stunning doesn’t quite do this little country justice. I have never been disappointed since moving to Winterthur and although moving abroad is one of the best decisions Brad and I have ever made for our family, the positive experience I’ve had here has convinced me that I could make any place my home if I simply embrace the change. “It is always great to come back to ISW every year. There are always new people to meet and they just get added to the international family. Anyone who has been at ISW and in the family will never be forgotten and friendships for life are formed. The best memories are formed from all these friends and that is really what makes ISW a great place.” -Lucy “I think this year gave me a great chance for me to see my own potential and what I am able to achieve. I get great support from the teachers and am able to improve my grades efficiently. Although it is a small school, and the possibility for school sports is limited there always is something fun to do. What I really enjoy about the school is that we can meet with the teachers after school to catch up on what we didn’t understand, and this is most helpful in such classes as math and science.” -Kevin “During this school year I have grown as a student. With help from my teachers I have improved my studying habits, my homework habits, and my overall grades. I have been challenged in every class and encouraged to do my best. This year has prepared me for my future years as a student and has made me stronger academically.” -Maegan “I had a good first impression of the school. The teachers are very friendly and I felt welcome. I liked the school trip to Zug where we got lots of information about different universities in the UK. “ -Tomasino
“I really enjoyed being part of the football team. The team is so small that we all spent a lot of time together and it felt like we were a family. The trip to Solothurn at the beginning of the year really helped you get to know people more than you would in a classroom at school.” -Heidi “I think that the school year has gone well. I like the camp at the start of the year to get to know each other. I would have liked was more school trips through out the year though. I would have also like to see a gap between grades 9 and 10 from 6,7 and 8 because I feel that’s they are two different sections of school life.” -Lewis “My first impressions about the school were really positive, I
was really welcomed by the old students and that made me feel better about being a new student. On the very first week of school, there was a school trip, which I wasn’t able to go for personal reasons; however, I heard from other students that the trip was really nice. Teachers at ISW are openminded and ready to help the students with almost everything they need.“ -Allan “The thing I love most is the help you receive from your teachers. The teachers give you one-on-one help that allows you to learn in a more personal way. This allows me as a student to develop as a learner in an active learning environment. Without the helpful teachers the adjustment of moving from different schooling systems would have been a lot more difficult for me.” -Leonie “I definitely have lots of great memories from the camp week, where I got to know different sides of people. I share so many positive memories with all of my classmates, it’s hard to put it into one sentence. They are all great people that I love to hang around with. I would have never thought that 10th year was going to be so tough academic wise. However, I have to say the year went by very quickly.” -Sylvie
Reflections from Grade 5
“I like ISW because it has a friendly environment. The other things I like are... The library, it has sofas to read on and sooo many good books! When new students join ISW, they get a nice welcome and if they don’t really know any English, they go to EAL(extra support) and the teachers in EAL are really nice and helpful so the new students would learn English really fast! But everyone learns a lot here because all the teachers are nice and they make learning fun because we also get to sometimes play games related to the topics that we’re learning and also, all the paper at this school so it helps save the environment. The after school clubs are very enjoyable and the breaks are a good length. If someone buys a hot lunch, there is a vegetarian course so someone that is a vegetarian doesn’t have to eat a course with meat in it. ISW is an awesome school!! PS. ISW also teaches us languages” - Jake
“I like ISW because you learn a lot. The teachers are very nice, because when you need help or have a problem they try to do their best to help. ISW also has a very friendly environment. The Clubs are very fun. ISW also helps people who can‘t speak good English. ISW has a very organized curriculum ISW has a friendly environment and it is safe.” - Rabeet
“There are many reasons why I like ISW. I really like ISW because it is very welcoming and it has a lot of safety like the fire alarm, teachers on outside duty, and best one is the doors are open which can only be opened by the office (Ms. Karen). I also like ISW because it is a friendly environment that is very good because not many schools do that and we help the planet. We help the planet by using sustainable products like books, pen, pencil, paper, and cardboard. I also like ISW because it has a really nice surrounding like the playground, teachers, children, and the workers. ISW has a good day program and also if you need extra help you get the extra help like with languages, math, and psychology. The best thing is we have fun on the field trips, camp, field day, and many other things in school time. THANK YOU ISW AND STAFF!” - Lara
“I like ISW because it has a friendly environment. It has an awesome library because there are many interesting books and it has really comfy spots to sit. Usually you are only allowed to check out two books, but sometimes you are also allowed three. ISW also has good playground equipment, for example a little climbing wall and monkey bars. The teachers are really nice and try to help you. If you try the hot lunch, you will find that it is very yummy. It has different things and has two menus, one for a vegetarian and one for carnivores. There are also drinks, cookies, sandwiches and brownies. If there is a new student, everybody trys to welcome them and make friends. In my class there is a new student and everybody tries to welcome him. There is also a really nice summer camp and some cool afterschool clubs. ISW also tries to help the planet; all the paper in ISW is recycled paper and gets recycled. ISW also has a blog for each class which is uploaded every week. ISW IS AN AWESOME SCHOOL!” - Tabea
“Everyone at our school is very friendly when it comes to welcoming new students to our school. The Best Is The End Of Day. I enjoy the day and can’t wait for tomorrow because I have fun every day. ” - Victoria
Reflections from Grade 6 “I thought MYP was pretty fun, and we got to be more independent in our work. There were also more activities that we could do, both during and after school. However, many times it was hard when you had lots of projects going on at the same time. The projects were more challenging, and required a higher level of work.” -Scott “For me it was a challenge to start in school without speaking English. It was fun to learn English in a good way. It was also fun with all the events. My achievement was to learn English.” -Maik “This year was fun, but also difficult. It was a challenge to be the oldest in the PYP and then suddenly be the youngest in MYP. There is a higher standard for things. You have to change classes, be on time, get more homework and do projects. In MYP they expect a lot from you and you’re taught to meet those expectations. In MYP you have a lot of freedom, and you are on your own more, which is fun. My achievements were getting my projects done, getting good grades and having fun. I really enjoyed this year and am happy with what I got done! I look forward to the next year.” -Sara “This year has been wonderful. I have learnt so much. I’ve faced many challenges such as math tests, CAS, and science is harder than before. “ -Vanja
Reflections of the Albanese Family Five years ago we came to Switzerland looking for a place to live near to our new workplace. Winterthur seemed to be a good city, not too big, but close to Zurich. So we decided spontaneously to drive by and take a look at the International School Winterthur. It was a Saturday and the school should have been closed, but we wanted to just have a short look at the location and surroundings. To our surprise, the door of the little building was open. We screamed hello without much expectations. A Dutch women with her daughter asked us to come in. The school was celebrating a barbeque and we were kindly invited to join the party. Just arriving in a foreign country, there we were with a sausage in the hand spending a nice Saturday-evening. We felt immediately welcome in this little group of families. The school director gave us a guided tour around the classes and told us about the learning system. In the meantime, the children were doing the apple dunk with the other children. They seemed to have fun, although they did not speak a word English at this time. Talking with the parents we learned that the school had 50 students in total, 8 children per class. They were all very positive about the school, which was first hand feedback for us. By the time we left the party two hours later, we had already decided, that this would be the new school for our children. We still had to look for a house, but that turned out not to be a
problem at all. The school is bigger now, the old little building does not exist anymore, many of the families are also gone, but I still like the familiar and uncomplicated way of interacting. My girls feel comfortable in this open environment and learned to welcome other newcomers, the same way they were themselves. They love going to school every single day and seemed to be learning so much. So I am grateful that ISW has promoted such a positive attitude to learning in them‌ And I am happy that we just drove by that day.
Reflections of the Holloway Family Once we had made that first allimportant decision of where to live, we discovered the advantages of a town such as Winterthur: A variety of theatres, some of which hold regular performances in English; three cinemas (again with films available in English); seventeen museums, art galleries, and a town centre which has managed to retain its old fashioned charm whilst being capable of providing a family with all it needs in
the way of shopping. Bars and restaurants catering for different tastes and pockets are plentiful and pop up in the unlikeliest of places. The School (ISW) has relocated three times since we placed the children here. Not the schools fault, but we were so impressed with the way in which the teachers and staff coped with a difficult three moves yet retaining the teaching focus on the students and minimising disruption. Anyway, the school is now firmly relocated to its present location. Both of our children (Sven 10 & Alexandra 7) have benefitted from a teaching staff that combines an open mind with a professional pride in what they do. We were happy enough with the quality of tuition and school environment to move our second child Alexandra to the school after one year at another school, where she attended kindergarten. All in all we have thoroughly enjoyed the five & a half years we have been in Winterthur. The children continue to thrive both at home and at school. In short, we wouldn’t want to live anywhere else and we are sure the children would agree.
International School Winterthur, Zum Park 5, CH-8404 Winterthur Tel: +41(0) 52 269 59 00 Fax: +41 (0) 52 269 59 02 Email: administration@iswinterthur.ch Web: www.iswinterthur.ch Design and Layout by: Candice Olgun