International School of Zug
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The International School of Zug, is a privately owned, commercial school situated in the town of Baar, near the city of Zug, Switzerland. The school was founded in 1961, with only 14 students, but has grown to a population of over 500. The school aims at educating children in the most international way as possible. ISOZ prides itself on having a teaching staff of very international backgrounds, and the student body of slightly over 500 represents over 40 different nations.
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[edit] School Curriculum and Philosophy
The school curriculum is an International Baccaulaureate World School. For the Primary School ages, it is based on the PYP, or Primary Years Program, and the Junior High School/Middle School, follows an independent middle school program . The school goes from Pre-School to Grade 8, making a total of 11 years that a child can stay in the school. The school's philosophy is as follows: "At the International School of Zug, we aim to foster international understanding and to provide a comprehensive, stimulating and enjoyable educational environment. Our programme strives to produce happy well balanced students prepared for the demands of our ever-changing society. The students, through their respect for languages and cultural diversity, are prepared to take seriously their role in our global society."
[edit] School Management and Ownership
The school is owned and managed by Mr. Martin Latter [1].
[edit] Facilities
ISOZ is well-known for its very modern school facilities. The school has many large classrooms (all of which have a computer in them), a sports hall, a gymnasium, two libraries (one for older children, and one for younger children), a modern science laboratory, foreign language classrooms, music studios, and a comprehensive computer room with 22 computers running Mac OS X. Sport facilities of the school include an Astroturf playing field, an indoor climbing wall, a 100 metre track, and facilities for shot putt and long jump. A nearby swimming pool is used for weekly swimming lessons. There are two playgrounds within the school, one for Playgroup and Kindergarten students, and one for children in Grade One to Grade Five. The school also boasts a modern cafeteria, where some students can choose to have hot lunches prepared for them, rather than bringing their own lunch.
[edit] Languages
From Kindergarten onwards, students learn the German language. This is for learning to speak the main language of Switzerland, for use later in life, and so that students who speak German as their mother tongue don't lose their ability to speak it fluently. Students are put into groups depending on their skill at German, so that they can work at their own level. Once at Middle School, students are then taught French from Grades 6-8. The school also has an ESL department (or English as a Second Language), to help students pick up English quickly within the school. This is important as there can be up to 50% of children in the school at any given year who learn English as their 2nd or even 3rd language (although many have picked up English well, even though it isn't their mother tongue). The school has strict standards for selecting Language Teachers. The school insists that the teachers must have the language they teach as their mother tongue, and must have had training in English as well.
[edit] Sports
In ISOZ, Physical Education (or P.E.) is valued highly, and students of all ages participate in the program. Children are encouraged to work at the very best of their ability, not compete with others. As for swimming, students from Kindergarten to Grade Five weekly attend swimming lessons, and Middle School students swim on a rotational basis. Students in grades 1 to 8 attend ice skating sessions a few times each winter at the local ice skating rink. Children from Kindergarten to Grade 3 have an annual Games Day, where each of the school houses (Cougars, Jaguars, Leopards and Panthers) compete against each other in a variety of games, from egg and spoon races, to football skills. Students from grades 4-8 compete in an Athletics Day, where children from the three houses compete against each other in track and field events.
[edit] Music
ISOZ is well-known for its very talented musicians.[citation needed] ISOZ has created its own music program, teaching children concepts of pitch/rhythm, notation, listening, performing, composition and history of music. At grades 2 and 3, students learn the recorder, in addition to their usual music class (which starts at playgroup). Starting from Grade 4, students may choose an instrument to play. Lessons are currently available in Violin, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Treble Recorder, Voice, Guitar and Percussion. Theory of Music is also offered. These lessons are part of the curriculum, thus, students must study an instrument. The school also prides itself in its school Choir, which many children take part in.
[edit] Field Week
From Grade 3 upwards, students must attend a week off from school from his or her normal school routine, going to many different places and engaging in many activities, from archery to glacier hiking, from rock climbing to craftwork. Past places that students have gone to include:
- Anzere, West Switzerland
- Engadine, East Switzerland
- Cortona, Italy
- Venice, Italy
- Salzburg, Austria
- Lenk, West Switzerland
- Jura, France-Swiss Border
isoz is a great school with pizza for lunch that contains duck liver and mangled ass
[edit] The School Day
The school day generally runs like this:
- 8:50-Registration
- 10:20-10:40-Recess for Primary
- 10:40-11:00-Recess for Middle School
- 12:00-12:25-Primary Lunch
- 12:25-13:10-Primary Recess
- 12:40-13:05-Middle School Lunch
- 13:05-13:30-Middle School Recess
- 14:30-School ends (Thursday)
- 15:30-School ends (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday)
- 15:40-16:30-Clubs
[edit] Parent's Association
The school has an active Parent's Association, who are responsible for organising many events, including:
- International Day, an end-of-year festival.
The Parent's Association also issues an electronic newsletter chock full of information that is very helpful to the parents.
[edit] International Day
International is an end-of-the-year festival taking place typically in late May or early June. It is a fair-like occasion, with everything from international food stalls, to raffles, charity sales, and games for children such as bouncy castles and football skills testing. The food stalls are also very popular, with food stalls from almost every different nationality, from English to American, from Swiss to Nigerian, from Russian to Brazilian.
[edit] Extra Curricular Activities
ISOZ offers many Extra Curricular Activities that students wish to participate in, including (but not limited to):
- Summer and Winter Sports
- Orchestra
- Private Music and Language Classes
- School Choir
- Movie Making
- Ballet
- Tap and Dance
- Circus Club
- Art and Craft
- Jewellery Making
- Book Club
- Sewing
- Indoor Games
It is very fun
[edit] Special Needs
The school's special learning department specializes in students who require special services and needs, be it educational or emotional. The service may be provided in the form of a tutor, a counsoulor, or many other people. In this way, all students have access to the broad curriculum.
[edit] External links
- [2] The official site for the school.