CurriculumOverview
Curriculum Overview
AcademicPhilosophy
At Surval, we believe that a girls’ education should instill not only knowledge but also skills necessary for success in school and beyond Every student at Surval takes five core academic subjects each year which develop their expertise and broaden their horizons. Students will be guided to choose a selection of courses and electives which benefit their interests, as well as their prior learning, to ensure creativity, progress, as well as a love of learning
In grade 8, students follow our springboard to high school curriculum, which prepares them for high school study. Girls enrolled in grade 8 coursework will advance their writing and analytical skills, as well as develop the habits of mind that will help them to achieve success in high school.
Grade 9-12 students follow the American high school curriculum at Surval, following a progression of courses that will allow them to pursue rigor, as well as prepare them for the highest level of study with APs in grades 11 and 12. Surval currently offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in English, History, French, Math, and Science. APs are university-level courses which culminate in an external exam and are prized by universities around the world
Students at Surval also have an expanded range of electives to prepare them for potential academic passions they may wish to study at university. We believe that the combination of rigorous academic learning and individual passions in languages, the arts and sports provide every Surval student with an individualized curriculum unrivaled in Switzerland
TableofContents
Grade 8: The Power of Words in a Changing World
Grade 9-10: Medieval to Modernity
Grade 10-12: Stories & Voices
Grades 11-12: Breaking Boundaries AP English Literature & Composition
Mathematics
Grade 8: Fundamentals of Mathematics
Grade 9:
Algebra I
Grades 10- 12: Algebra II & Geometry
Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry
Statistics
Curriculum Overview
Grades 11-12:
AP Calculus- AB
French
Grade 8-12:
French I
French II
French III
French IV
French AP Language & Culture
Science
Grade 8:
Science I
Grades 9-10:
Biology
Earth and Space Science
Grades 11-12:
Physics
AP Chemistry
AP Psychology
History&BusinessStudies
Grade 8:
Global Perspectives
Grade 9-10:
Modern World History
Grade 10-12:
Regional Studies History
Grades 11-12 only:
The Shifting Landscape of Business
AP European History
Electives
Visual Arts:Personal Expression and Individuality
Culinary Arts:Crafting Creativity
History of Art: Michelangelo to Mondrian Sports
UniversityCounselling
University Counselling
University Acceptance 2020-2025
Grade 8: Sample Curriculums
Grade 9: Sample Curriculums
Grade 10: Sample Curriculums
Grade 11: Sample Curriculum
Grade 12 Sample Curriculums
English
Curriculum Overview English
CourseSequence
Grade 8: The Power of Words in a Changing World
Grade 9-10: Medieval to Modernity
Grade 10-12: Stories & Voices
Grades 11-12: Breaking Boundaries; AP English Literature & Composition
ThePowerofWordsinaChangingWorld(opentograde8)
In Grade 8 English we ask the question “What changes can be made in the world when we understand the powerofwords?”ThecourseequipsstudentswiththeskillstoflourishinHighSchoolLiteratureandLanguage classes. The course takes a creative approach to teach students how to understand complex prose, explain their personal response to texts and begin to scrutinise the choices which authors make. Through a combination of seminars, independent research tasks and guided one-to-one sessions, students will begin to developstrongfoundationsofwrittenandverbalcommunicationskillsfortheiracademicfutures.Studentswill explore writers such as Martin Luther King, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare. As well as exploring literary texts, studentswill alsohave the opportunity topursue their own creative writing, from speechesto advertisementstoletters
MedievaltoModernity(opentogrades9and10)
How has language changed over hundreds of years? How should 21st Century readers react to centuries old texts? Has modern media changed English forever? These are just some of the questions that this course explores. The course covers English Language and Literature, from 16th Century sonnets, to 19th century Realistdramas,to21stCenturysocialmedia Studentswilllearnaboutthehistoricalandmodernlandscapeof literatureandmediaandhowitimpactsthem.Theywilldeveloptheirskillsofinferenceandanalysis,aswellas buildingarangeofessay-writingskillsandapproachestocreativewriting.
Stories&Voices(opentogrades10-12)
Pre-requisites:SuccessfulcompletionofGrade9Englishcourse. Inthiscourse,studentslearnaboutinspiringfemalecontributionstotheworldofLiteratureandLanguage The coursedrawsonSurval'sreputationasaschoolforexceptionalyoungwomen Drawingonhistoricalandsociopoliticalcontextstoinformtheirstudiesofpoetry,prose,andnon-fictiontexts,studentswillunpackthecentral question:Whosestoriesaretoldandwhy?FromcontemporarypoetrytoAustenandtheBrontes,studentswill independentlyandcollaborativelyuncovertheuntoldstoriesofthepastandgivevoicestothosestoriesinthe present. Students will learn how to construct both creative and analytical pieces of writing with intended effect,recognizearangeofpurposesandaudiences,andwillhavetheopportunitytoworkwithdigitalmedia topresentindependentresearchprojectstotheirpeers
Curriculum Overview English
BreakingBoundaries(opentogrades11-12)
Pre-requisites:SuccessfulcompletionofGrade9/10Englishcourseand/orB2Englishlevel.
What does it mean to be an English scholar? How do students develop the critical and independent skills to excel in English at school and beyond? The Breaking Boundaries course answers these questions and many more Thecoursewilldevelopknowledgeandskillswhichhelpstudentslongaftertheyleavetheclassroom The course encourages students to question the cultural world around them; from specific word choices, to structuraleffectsinliterature,tothelargerquestionsofhowonemightapplysuchknowledgeintheoutside world Studentswillstudyarangeofliterarydeviceswithinaculturallydiverseanthologyofprosetextsfrom the 19th-21st Century. The writing of Sandra Cisneros, Kate Chopin, Maya Angelou and many other female authors will be explored before delving into Shakespearean poetry and plays to discover the craftsmanship behindsomeoftheliterarycanon’smostfamousworks Thecourseevaluatesthefeaturesofsocialmediaand the transformative impact of technology on traditional text types such as news articles, posters and infographics. A flexible approach to the form of main assessment allows students to take the initiative to recognisetheirstrengthsandbestdemonstratethem Thecourse’semphasisonflexibleformsofassessment andself-reflectionshapesstudentsintoconfidentlearnersandpreparesthemtostudyEnglishatAPleveland beyond.
APEnglishLiterature&Composition(opentogrades11-12only)
Pre-requisites:Successfulcompletionofgrade10-12Englishcourseandteacherrecommendation
AP Literature & Composition is a challenging and fast-paced course which is ideal for students who are passionateaboutliterature.Thisisauniversity-levelcoursewhichpreparesstudentsforundergraduatestudy and leads to a qualification recognised by universities around the world Students study a range of fiction, poetry and drama to try to develop their understanding of character, setting, structure, voice and language StudentsstudytextsasdiverseasTheGreatGatsby,Macbeth,Victoriansonnets,FirstWorldWarpoetryanda rangeof19thCenturyAmericanshortstories.Thetextselectionisdesignedtoprovidestudentswithabroad knowledge of English literature with which to hone their critical skills The course emphasises heavily the criticalwritingstyleneededfortheFreeResponseessaysandthereadingskillsofunderstanding,inferenceand interpretationneededtosucceedinthemultiple-choicesectionoftheexam.Successfulstudentswillmaster essay-writingandwillbeideallyplacedforhigh-levelstudyatuniversity
AnystudentintendingtostudyAPEnglishshouldbepreparedtospendsignificanttimeoutsidetheclassroom studyingforthecourse Allstudentswhosignupforthecoursewillhavetheopportunitytotakeanexamin May
Mathematics
Curriculum Overview Mathematics
CourseSequence
Grade 8: Fundamentals of Mathematics
Grade 9: Algebra I
Grades 10- 12: Algebra II & Geometry; Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry; Statistics
Grades 11-12: AP Calculus- AB
FundamentalsofMathematics(Opentograde8)
AllgreatMathematiciansfirstdevelopedknowledgeofthefundamentalsoftheirsubject Thisone-yearcourse helps Surval students to build the foundations and essential skills for future success in Mathematics The course content prepares students for the American High School syllabus in Algebra and Geometry. Students will develop skills in solving real-world problems and will engage in rich tasks to help ignite excitement in Mathematics Thecourseincludesnumberwork,shape,andthefundamentalsofalgebraiclogic Studentswill be able to transfer these skills across subject areas in the school to help enhance their learning experience acrossanumberofareasandespeciallyinScience.
AlgebraI(0pentograde9)
Pre-requisites:SuccessfulcompletionofPre-Algebraorequivalent
Logicandproblem-solvingskillsareattheheartofAlgebraatSurvalMontreux TheAlgebra1courseaimsto preparesuccessfulstudentsforeitherAlgebra2orGeometry Thecoursegivesstudentsagoodgroundinginall elementsofAlgebraandfocusesonstrengtheningfoundationskillslearnedinearlieryears,whilelearningthe beautyofMathematics.Successfulstudentswilldevelopskillsinsolvingreal-lifeproblemsinwhichquestions involverealnumbers,expressionswithtwovariables,systemsofequations,inequalities,linearfunctionsand quadratic manipulation. The problem-solving skills developed include the ability to think logically and in an abstractcontext.Studentswillbeengagedinclassdiscussions,groupwork,racetasks,andindividualpractice ofnewconcepts
AlgebraII&Geometry(opentogrades10-12)
Pre-requisites:SuccessfulcompletionofAlgebraI
Challenge and excitement are at the heart of this course. Building on topics learned in Algebra 1, students begintoexplorehigh-orderMathematicalconcepts.Algebra&Geometryfocusesonreinforcingandexpanding topicslearnedinAlgebra1andtopreparestudentsforTrigonometryandPre-Calculuscourses Thischallenging course includes linear and quadratic function; exponential and logarithmic functions; and higher order polynomials.Studentswilldevelopskillsinsketchinggraphsandderivingequationsoffunctionsfromgraphs andtransformingthem Studentswillengageinavarietyoflearningtaskssuchasdiscussionsandindependent research Pre-requisites:SuccessfulcompletionofAlgebraI
Curriculum Overview Mathematics
Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry(opentogrades10-12)
Pre-requisites:SuccessfulcompletionofAlgebraII/Geometry
Surval-Montreuxaimstostretchandchallengeallstudentsandthiscoursedoessoinanengagingandthoughtprovokingway Thecourseisintendedtochallengemathematicallymotivatedstudentstoexploretopicsata deeper level Students are exposed to polynomial, logarithmic and exponential, trigonometric, inverse trigonometric and piecewise functions. The concept of the function’s rate of change is introduced and the notionofdifferentiationtosolvereal-worldproblems.Studentswilldevelopskillsinmanipulatingalgebraand developskillsinsolvingmethodsofequationsusingthesefunctions,buildingmodels,interpretingresultsand verifyingconclusions.
Statistics(opentogrades11-12)
Pre-requisites:SuccessfulcompletionofAlgebra1andAlgebraII
Description: The statistics course provides students with transferable skills valuable in various subjects and careers,emphasizingdataanalysis,andinterpretation.Thecoursewill introduce important topics in statistics by focussing on the statistical thinking behind data collection and analysis It helps students to be more discerning consumers of statistics, teaching them to interpret the numbers in surveys, election polls, and medical studies. Topics will include data collection and analysis; correlation and regression; probability distributions; variance and the normal distribution. Emphasis will be placedoninvestigating,analyzingandcommunicatingideasinthecontextofprojects
APCalculus-AB(opentogrades11-12only)
Pre-requisites:SuccessfulcompletionofPre-Calculus+teacherrecommendation
AP Calculus prepares students to study Mathematics at university and will challenge them to develop their skills beyond a normal High School level This course provides in-depth studies of differential and integral calculus,buildingoneverythingstudentshavesuccessfullycompletedinpreviousyearsinAlgebra2andPreCalculusandTrigonometryclasses.Studentswilllearnhowtodifferentiateandintegrateusingmanydifferent techniques and be able to solve problems by carefully choosing how solve difficult problems As the year progresses,theproblemsbecomemorecomplexandstudentswilluseavarietyofMathematicaltechniquesto solve them. Successful students will be able to apply their skills to a range of different scenarios and environments and will be well prepared to study Mathematics at university and beyond. Pre-requisite: SuccessfulcompletionofPre-Calculusandteacherrecommendation Note:APCalculusmaynotbeofferedall years.
French
Curriculum Overview French
CourseSequence
Grade 8-12: French I-IV. French placement is dependent upon a student’s French level. All girls will complete a French language placement exam prior to their arrival at Surval.
Grades 11-12: AP French Language and Culture
FrenchI
Pre-requisites:None
French I introduces students to the fundamentals of the French language through a contextual approach to vocabulary,grammar,andverbconjugation Usinganintegratedmethod,studentsdeveloplistening,reading, writing, speaking, and cultural awareness The course includes a textbook (Adosphère A1) , audio program, studentmanual(Cahierd’activitéAdosphèreA1),writingworkbook,andonlineexercises, Bytheendofthecourse,studentswillbeabletounderstandandusebasiceverydayexpressions,introduce themselves and others, and engage in simple interactions when spoken to clearly and slowly The course focuses on developing oral and written communication skills, emphasizing speaking practice and cultural understandingofFrench-speakingcommunities,whilebuildingasolidfoundationforFrenchII.
FrenchII
Pre-requisites:FrenchIand/orDELFA1
French II is designed to guide students from beginner to elementary proficiency, developing their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through contextualized learning At A1-A2 level, students expand their vocabularyandgrammaticalknowledge,enablingthemtodescribepastevents(passécomposévs.imparfait), expressfutureintentions(futurproche),giveopinions,makecomparisons,andhandlepracticalsituationssuch as making appointments, giving advice, and discussing past experiences The course includes a textbook ( AdosphèreA1-A2),audioprogram,writingexercises,andonlineactivities.Throughtheseresources,students improve their fluency, comprehension, and confidence, preparing them for real-life interactions and progressiontoFrenchIII
Curriculum Overview French
FrenchIII
Pre-requisite:FrenchIIand/orDELFA2
Girls who have obtained the equivalent of a DELF A2 level should embark on this course with confidence. Spanningover15weeks,thesyllabusprogressivelyequipsthegirlswiththefunctionalskillsrequiredtogive theiropinionsonarangeoftopics,includingfamilyandfriends,holidays,hobbies,socialmedia,environment andfutureplans.AstheyconsolidatetheirknowledgeofthefoundationallanguagestudiedinFrenchIandII, thislevelintroducesmoresophisticatedgrammaticalfeatures,theaimofwhichistodevelopthecapacityto explain, reformulate and synthesize ideas A broad range of interactive resources complements the use of Adosphere4throughoutthecourseandthegirlsareencouragedtoread,listenandwatchdailylifecontentin Frenchonaregularbasis
FrenchIV
Pre-requisite:FrenchIIIand/orDELFB1
Thiscoursesuitsgirlswhohaveachievedareasonabledegreeoffluency,bothinwritingandinspeaking.The useofauthenticresourcesisprioritisedtoexposethestudentstothetargetleveloffluency,whichisclosetoa nativespeakerofFrench InadditiontothetopicscoveredinFrenchIV,thestudentsexploretheworldofthe media,aswellascurrenttrendsandissuesaroundthelifeofteenagersandofyoungadults.Onthosetopics, thegirlslearntodefendtheiropinions,explaintheirviewpointsandnegotiate,whilealsodevelopingahabitof correctingtheirmistakes,ifnecessary InordertoachieveadegreeofindependenceinFrench,thiscoursealso encouragesgirlstoreadclassicandmodernliterature,astheyhonetheirreadingandwritingskills.
APFrenchLanguage&Culture
Pre-requisites:FrenchIVand/orDELFB2+teacherrecommendation.
Thiscourseisequivalenttoauniversity-levelcourseinFrench.StudentscultivatetheirunderstandingofFrench language and culture by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations as they explore concepts related to family and community, personal and public identity, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, contemporary life, and global challenges. The AP French LanguageandCulturecourseengagesstudentsinanexplorationofcultureinbothcontemporaryandhistorical contexts Italsodevelopsstudents’awarenessandappreciationofculturalproducts(eg,tools,books,music, laws, conventions, institutions), practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture), and perspectives (values,attitudesandassumptions).
Science
Curriculum Overview Science
CourseSequence
Grade 8: Science I
Grades 9-10: Biology, Earth and Space Science
Grades 11-12: Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Psychology
ScienceI(OpentoGrade8)
Thiscoursefocusesonkeyscientificconceptsanddiscoveries,allowingstudentstoexplorethesciencebehind theworldaroundthem Thiscourseaimstopreparestudentsforfurtherstudyofindividualsciencecoursesat High School. Students study a combined science course, covering different topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.Thefirstsemesterintroducesstudentstocentralconceptsinsciencesuchascells,atomsandforces. ThesecondsemesterbuildsontheseideasandexploresareassuchasacidsandthepHscaleaswellaslight and sound waves. As a practical subject, this course will give students the opportunity to plan and carry out scientific investigations and become competent at using various pieces of scientific equipment in a safe manner
Biology(OpentoGrade9-10)
Biology encompasses the study of living organisms, from the smallest bacteria to the largest blue whale At Surval,theBiologycourseisdesignedtogivestudentsaroundedunderstandingoflifeonourplanet.Thefirst semester will cover the fundamentals of human and plant biology, from cells to organ systems and beyond Studentswillalsoconductvariouspracticals,includinganalysingcellsundermicroscopesanddeterminingwhat impacts enzyme efficiency. The second semester will focus on inheritance, variation and ecology and offer students the opportunity to answer questions such as “How are traits inherited?”. The second semester will culminateinafieldworkdayinthelocalmountainswheretheywillhavetheopportunitytoputtheirecology and sampling skills to the test! This course is ideal for students wanting a comprehensive understanding of Biologyandwillallowstudentstoprogresstostudyingbiology,lifescienceormedicineatuniversity.
EarthandSpaceScience(OpentoGrade9-10)
Haveyoueverwonderedwhattheuniverseis?HowtheEarthisconstantlychanging?Theimpacthumanshave on our planet? This course aims to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to answer these questions and many more. Offering students the opportunity to study a blend of geology, physics and chemistry, this course is ideal for students wanting to broaden their scientific horizons before tackling more complex courses later in High School. The first semester will focus on concepts such as the solar system, nuclear processes and plate tectonics before moving on to study the interdependence between Earth’s processes and human activities in the second semester Throughout the year, students will gain vital skills in dataanalysisandinterpretation,aswellasunderstandinghowtoconveycomplextheoriesinasimplemanner
Curriculum Overview Science
Physics(OpentoGrades11-12)
Prerequisites:SuccessfulcompletionofGrade9/10sciencecourse
Physicalscienceencompassesthestudyofthenon-livingworldaroundus,fromatomstowavesandeverything inbetween.Thiscourseoffersstudentsthechancetodelvedeepintotheintertwinedworldsofchemistryand physics covering topics ranging from rates of reaction to Newton’s laws of motion Building on prior science courses,studentswilldeveloptheirproblemsolvingskillswhilstbuildingtheirfluencyinappliedmathematics throughthestudyofclassicalmechanicsandempiricalchemistry.Bytheendofthecourse,studentswillhave developed into competent and rounded scientists through the completion of several practical investigations which will offer the opportunity to further develop their analytical skills This course is ideal for students lookingforasolidfoundationbeforetakinganAdvancedPlacementcourse.
APChemistry(OpentoGrades11-12only)
Prerequisites: Successful completion of high school chemistry/physical science, or successful completion of summerworkpacket+teacherrecommendation.
Chemistry is often referred to as the central science, as it is heavily intertwined with other subjects such as biology,physicsandastronomy Thisuniversity-levelcourseoffersstudentstheopportunitytodelveintotopics such as introductory organic chemistry, thermodynamics and chemical equilibria. Along the way, students takingthiscoursewilldeveloparoundedskillsetincludinghowtoanalyseandinterpretdata,createmodelsto represent chemical phenomena and how to make scientific claims which are supported by evidence This coursewillteststudents’abilitytosolvecomplexproblemsandapplymathematicalskillstounseensituations. APChemistryisanidealcourseforastudentwantingtostudyscience,engineeringormedicineatuniversity.
APPsychology(OpentoGrades11-12only)
Prerequisites:Successfulcompletionofagrade10/12sciencecourse+teacherrecommendation
AP Psychology is a dynamic, college-level course that introduces students to the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes Through engaging lessons, case studies, and evidence-based research, studentsexplorehowpeoplethink,feel,andact buildingbothacademicskillsandpersonalinsight ThecoursebeginswithBiologicalBasesofBehavior,wherestudentslearnhowthebrain,nervoussystem,and genetics influence behavior In Cognition, they examine how we perceive the world, think critically, solve problems, and form memories Development and Learning focuses on how humans grow and change throughout life, as well as how we learn through experience and observation. In Social Psychology and Personality,studentsexplorehowsocialenvironments,attitudes,andpersonalitytraitsshapeourbehaviorand relationships Finally, Mental and Physical Health introduces students to psychological disorders, treatment methods,stress,andthefoundationsofwell-being.
Throughoutthecourse,studentsdevelopskillsinscientificreasoning,datainterpretation,andargumentation, allwhilepreparingfortheAPExam Morethanjustatestprepcourse,APPsychologyencouragesstudentsto applypsychologicalprinciplestoreal-worldsituations empoweringthemwithknowledgethatbenefitsboth academicandeverydaylife.
History
Curriculum Overview History&BusinessStudies
CourseSequence
Grade 8: Global Perspectives
Grade 9-10: Modern World History
Grade 10-12: Regional Studies History
Grades 11-12 only: The Shifting Landscape of Business; AP European History
GlobalPerspectives(OpentoGrade8)
What forces create change and lead to a more interconnected and globalized world through time? Global Perspectivesisaninterdisciplinarycoursethatexplorestheroleoftheenvironment,technology,disease,and religion in determining the course of human civilization and our own modern experience In Global Perspectives, students learn about historical phenomena while also evaluating contemporary events: in the unitaboutdiseases,thefourteenthcentury'sBlackPlagueandthe1918Spanishfluarestudiedinparallelwith theCovid-19pandemic Studentswilllearntoappreciatehowthepastisdeeplytiedtothepresent This introductory, interdisciplinary course is designed to scaffold key skills in reading, writing and analysis Studentswilllearnhowtoevaluateprimarysources,engageinimageanalysis,writeanalyticalparagraphs,and designpresentations GlobalPerspectivesalsointroducesstudentstoresearchskills
ModernWorldHistory(OpentoGrade9-10)
Whocreateshistory?Howcanweknowwhatreallyhappenedinthepast?Towhatextentisworldhistorya storyofprogress;forwhom?ModernWorldHistoryisayear-longsurveythatexploresthemodernexperience from the French Revolution to the 21st century. Students will evaluate the role of nationalism, revolution, democracy, industrialization, imperialism, and conflict in shaping our world. We will use primary sources as windowsintothepast,tobetterappreciatethediversityofvoicesthatdeterminedhistory Studentswilllearn that revolutionary France featured not only Maximilien Robespierre's 'Justification of the Use of Terror' but alsowitnessedOlympedeGouges''DeclarationoftheRightsofWoman'. ModernWorldHistoryestablishesastrongframeworkforsubsequentdepthcoursesinRegionalStudiesand APHistory Studentswillacquirefoundationalskillsnecessaryformoreadvancedstudy:analyzingprimaryand secondarytexts,writingsource-basedessays,andconductingresearchprojects.
Curriculum Overview History&BusinessStudeis
RegionalStudiesHistory(opentogrades10-12)
Pre-requisite:SuccessfulcompletionofGrade9Historycourseorequivalent. Thetwentiethcenturywasatimeofintensechangeandconflictacrosstheglobe.InRegionalStudies,students can discover events as world-altering as India's independence, China's communist revolution and Vietnam's wars Studentscanexpecttoengagedeeplywithcomplexprimarysourcesastheyweighhistoricalfiguresand events.AstudyoftheFrench-IndochinaWar,forinstance,willinvolvenotonlythewritingsofHoChiMinhand Vo Nguyen Giap, but also look at how the war was portrayed in contemporary articles in Paris, earning the namelasaleguerreinthepress RegionalStudiesseekstounderstandthecomplicatedlegaciesofcolonialism, imperialism,andnationalismindeterminingthecourseofthetwentiethcentury.
Business:TheShiftingLandscapeofBusiness(OpentoGrades11-12)
21stcenturyBusinessisdynamicandfastpaced StudentspreparingforacareerinBusinessrequireasimilarly dynamiccoursetopreparethemforalifeofentrepreneurshipandindustry TheBusinesscoursefocuseson ourchangingworldandinvestigatesacross-sectionofbusinessdisciplinestodevelopstudents'confidenceand subjectcompetence.Thecourseaimstomakesenseofthebusinessworldinreal-time,coupledwithasound theoreticalbasis:ourworkinvolvesanalyzingindividualcompaniesaswellassectorsoftheeconomy Students willstudywhatabusinessis,howitoperates,andhowitismanaged.Introductorydiscussionsoftheeconomic setting of business, the structure of business, business financing, management, ethical and social responsibilitiesofbusiness,marketing,andphysicaldistributionofgoodsandservicesareallexplored Insum, thiscourseactsasafoundationformorespecializedcoursesinBusinessatuniversityandpreparesstudentsso theycanultimatelythriveintheireconomicrolesofconsumer,employee,andinformedcitizen.
APEuropeanHistory(OpentoGrades11-12only)
Pre-requisite:Successfulcompletionofgrade10Historycourseorequivalent+teacherrecommendation “Inhistoryagreatvolumeisunrolledforourinstruction,drawingthematerialsoffuturewisdomfromthepast errors and infirmities of mankind.” (Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, 1790). AP EuropeanHistoryisacoursethatseekstounderstandthemajorfigures,events,andchangesthatdetermined Europe'shistoriccourseandcontinuetoaffectitspresent WhatcanwelearnfromEurope'sturbulentpast? Howdoesthepastshapethecontinent'sfutureinaglobalizedworld?Throughouttheyear,APstudentswill learn to analyze primary and secondary texts, visual sources and other historical evidence in their focused studyofEurope Studentswillalsocrafthistoricalargumentsandwriteprimarysource-basedessays
TheAPcurriculumistaughtattheuniversitylevel,demandingastrongdedicationtorigorouscoursework.Any student that takes AP History should be willing to devote a significant amount of time outside of class preparing for AP History Please note that AP European History is offered 2025-2026 AP World History is expectedtobeinrotationfor2026-2027,sostudentshavetheoppportunitytotake2APHistorycourses.
Electives
Curriculum Overview Electives
CourseSequence
Electives at Surval offer girls an opportunity to expand their knowledge in an experiential way, from visual expression to culinary delights. Our expansive Sports curriculum also challenges students to develop their athletic talent and take advantage of all that Switzerland has to offer!
VisualArts:PersonalExpressionandIndividuality
Everystudentisunique.Theirbackgrounds,theirinterestintheworldaroundthem,whattheythinkandhow theyprocesstheirthoughtsarealluniquetothem.Valuingeachstudentasanindividualandcreatorisatthe core of Visual Arts at Surval Students make a lot at Surval The more students experiment and express themselves, the more personal and creative their work becomes. This is what Visual Arts is about; it is not about the ability to copy reality or mastering each and every technique or skill. Students are challenged and stimulated, in traditional 2D and 3D media, painting and sculpture, but they are also introduced to mixing media, recycling materials, and making use of their digital skills They work across broad themes: portraying objectsinacompositionorthehumanfigurein2Dand3D.Theyexplorespaces,findinspirationinamaterial, outdoors, in photography, poetry, or their memories Students are shown contemporary artists’ work and practicestobroadentheirviews Studentsshareanddiscusstheirownworkinthesupportiveenvironmentof theclassroomandasstudentsbegintotrustthemselvesmore,inthebroadercommunity.
CulinaryArts:CraftingCreativity
Fordecades,CulinaryArtshasbeenatthecentreoflifeatSurvalMontreux.Craftingdelicatepastries,creating complex desserts, and learning how to make traditional regional dishes, girls will develop a range of sophisticatedskillsinCulinaryArts Aswellasdevelopingtheirtechnicalskillsofcutting,baking,presentation and tasting, students will learn to work as part of a team in the kitchen under the instruction of our professional pastry chef. Personal creativity is valued in this course and girls will develop the ability to bring theirownpersonalflairtocookingandpreparationinthekitchen
HistoryofArt:MichelangelotoMondrian
Whatisart?Howdowestudyit?Howandwhatdoesartworkcommunicate?IntheHistoryofArteachterm, wewillapproachartbothasareflectionofitstimeandasaprojectionofthehumanexperience Studentswill become familiar with artistic periods and trace how they developed in distinct social and historical contexts acrosstheworld,movingfromthe1500stothepresentoverthecourseoftheyear Studentscanexpectto learn about Aztec featherwork alongside the frescoes of Leonardo da Vinci; the self-portraits of Frida Kahlo alongside those of Rembrandt. As part of the class, students will also visit local museums and galleries to experienceartworkfirsthand.ThegoalofMichelangelotoMondrianisdevelopalifelongappreciationforart!
Curriculum Overview Electives
Sports
The philosophy of Surval is to ensure that every student can live an active lifestyle, supporting their overall health and lifelong participation in sports and outdoor activities. During curriculum sports lessons, girls are taught the importance of healthy lifestyles and physical activity for lifelong participation, utilising both our internal facilities (tennis court, dance studio, fitness gym and surrounding woodlands), and external opportunities, to provide a balanced curriculum of sport. Girls benefit from two timetabled sport afternoons eachweek,offeringavarietyofbothrecreationalandcompetitivesports Theseincludebutarenotlimitedto: HorseRiding,Volleyball,Sailing,Skiing,Yoga,Cycling,Running Forstudentswantingtodeveloptheirsportata highlevel,Survaloffersarangeofsuper-curricular*options.Theseinclude:HorseRiding,Swimming,Running, Tennis, Water-sports, Ski & Snowboard Racing One of the highlights of the Surval sporting calendar is ski season during Winter Term Girls use local resorts to receive expert tuition in skiing or snowboarding every Thursday,aswellashavingtheoptionforsingledayandtwo-dayweekendskiingexcursions.
AtSurval,weprideourselvesonofferingsomethingforeverygirl,atalevelidealforher *super-curricularsportisatadditionalcostasdeterminedbythelocalproviders
University Counselling
Curriculum Overview
At Surval, we prepare every student for life beyond school and have an outstanding university guidance counseling service for High School students Experienced college counselors guide students through university application processes for countries all over the world, ensuring that students are knowledgeable, informed and prepared to present themselves as the strongest applicants possible to top universities
During the past three years, our tailored university program has helped students to earn places at universities in the UK, France, the USA, Mexico, Switzerland and Spain Whether girls want to pursue vocational courses in the Arts, competitive academic courses at Ivy League Colleges, or International Foundation Courses at the best universities in the UK, our program is designed to support their ambitions
We believe that the support we offer each student in their journey to university is unique and gives girls the best opportunity possible to attend a university which will enhance their future career prospects Below are details of the support that Surval students receive at each stage of their education at the school Surval college counselors are happy to speak with prospective parents and students about the type of support the school could offer in their applications to university.
Students in Grade 11 begin their university application process with individual meetings with the college counselors who begin to outline the application process for them, including external exams and various country-specific requirements
In the fall of their senior year, Grade 12 students join weekly College Workshop sessions with the college counseling team to write essays, schedule and prepare for entrance exams (such as the SATs and IELTS), as well as complete the various applications by the required deadlines. Counselors will support students with application forms, letters of intent, essays and interview preparation
Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Overview
