The American School In Switzerland
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| The American School In Switzerland | |
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| Established | 1956 |
| School type | Boarding and Day |
| Religious affiliation | No religious affiliation |
| Headmaster | Jeffrey C. Bradley |
| Location | Montagnola, Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland |
| Campus | Main campus in Montagnola |
| Enrollment | 337 |
| Faculty | 61 |
| Average class size | 18 |
| Student:teacher ratio |
6:1 |
| Average SAT scores (for 2005) |
581 verbal 584 math |
| Athletics | Soccer, Cross Country, Basketball, Lacrosse, Track and Field, Swimming, Volleyball |
| Color(s) | Blue and Red |
| Homepage | www.tasis.ch |
The American School In Switzerland (TASIS) is a private boarding high school that receives students from many different nations and provides them with a Western based education. Located in Montagnola, a small town above Lugano, Switzerland, it has a current student body of roughly 300 pupils.
TASIS was founded 1956 by M. Crist Fleming; she is also responsible for the founding of The American School In England, a sister school to TASIS. Since the founding of the school, there have been several adjunct campuses, including sites in Greece, Cyprus, France, Spain, and Puerto Rico, as well as a post-graduate school in Lugano-Montagnola.
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[edit] The TASIS Mission Statement
The American School in Switzerland (TASIS) is a family of international schools that welcomes young people from all nationalities to an educational community which fosters a passion for excellence along with mutual respect and understanding. Consistent with the vision of its founder, M. Crist Fleming, TASIS is committed to transmitting the heritage of Western civilization and world cultures: the creations, achievements, traditions, and ideals from the past that offer purpose in the present and hope for the future. Seeking to balance the pursuit of knowledge with the love of wisdom, and promoting the skills of lifelong learning, an appreciation for beauty, and the development of character, each school combines a challenging academic program with opportunities for artistic endeavor, physical activity, and service to others. Believing in the worth of each individual and the importance of enduring relationships, TASIS seeks to embody and instill the values of personal responsibility, civility, compassion, justice, and truth.
[edit] Education
The academic programs available at TASIS allow students to earn the American high school diploma and the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are also available.
In September 2005, TASIS opened an elementary school with approximately 40 students. The school now accommodates students from K-PG (Post Graduate Program).
[edit] Campus
The most notable campus building is Villa De Nobili, a 17th-century mansion that still contains the suits of armor placed there when the building was owned by the Marchese De Nobili, Italian Ambassador to Switzerland. It now houses dormitories, classrooms, administrative offices, and the school's dining room.
Recent additions to campus include a new gymnasium and sports facility, as well as the new M. Crist Fleming Library. A new theater complex is currently being planned, with construction sometime in the next few years.
[edit] Surrounding Area
The school is located near the small village of Montagnola, among a spectacular setting of Swiss mountains above and Lake Lugano below.
Several local landmarks in Montagnola include a house where George Harrison went for health reasons, the house where Herman Hesse lived for half of his life, and the Hesse cemetery where Herman Hesse is buried. On the lakeside of Lugano is a bronze bust (1859) of Giorgio Washington, (George Washington) the first president of the United States of America, as a salute from the world's oldest democracy, Switzerland, to the youngest (at the time), the United States of America.
[edit] Travel
TASIS includes an In-Program Travel as part of its curriculum, where the students scatter across Europe and the world in a series of diverse cultural trips, which have commonly included Paris, Rome, Madrid, Istanbul, New York, Jordan, Berlin, Morocco and Lisbon. During the first week of the Spring semester, students enjoy a "ski week" in Crans-Montana, a ski resort town in western Switzerland.
[edit] Accreditation
Accredited by both the European Council of International Schools (ECIS)and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), TASIS can accommodate 380 students between day students (grades K-13) and boarding students (grades 7-13).
[edit] School uniforms
Elementary school students are required to wear school uniforms [1].
Students in middle and high school are not required to wear uniforms, though a relatively strict dress code is enforced.
[edit] Notable Alumni
[edit] Reunions
TASIS celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006, with celebrations throughout the world. Reunions in 2005 included those at Tokyo, Los Angeles and New York. Other reunions coming up in 2006 include São Paulo, Madrid, Istanbul, Lugano and London.
