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Why ZIS Bilingual?

A kindergarten girl holding a chicken and smiling
We provide a supportive community, so your child can discover the world beyond it
ZIS Bilingual Program, two Kindergarten girls in the playground looking out through a wooden window.
We encourage students to try new things, so that they can discover who they really want to be
Two Kindergarten girls sitting on top of a climbing frame
Our goal is to ensure that every child leaves with a love of learning

A child’s early years are the best time to lay the foundation for their future and students in our bilingual program will get so much more than just a great education. Your child will benefit from the full ZIS Experience and being part of our special international community where children from 70 nationalities with 40 languages feel at home. Your child will  be an integral member of the entire Lower School community and enjoy a variety of activities with children from other classes and year groups, such as regular assemblies, co-curricular activities and excursions.

ZIS is a non-profit organization and every franc goes into developing our program to ensure that each student is challenged and supported.

Overview

We want all students in the program to establish strong academic German and build strong foundations for academic literacy in German first. This gives confidence to our local Swiss families that their home language will be strong, but also confidence to our international families who want German to be much more than just a social language for their child. From Grade 3, academic learning is equal for both English and German, supporting the development of truly bilingual students.

ZIS Bilingual students:

  • Follow the Swiss Curriculum (Lehrplan 21)
  • Access all of the mandatory teaching resources of the Swiss national curriculum, combined with high quality international resources and pedagogical approaches
  • Access a wide range of co-curricular activities included in the school fees, in both English and German
     

Frequently Asked Questions

Kindergarten students working together at a table in class

Inquiry-based curriculum

Through our inquiry-based curriculum, your child will learn:

  • the value of focus and problem-solving;
  • the importance of play, curiosity and enthusiasm;

  • a sense of wonder and possibility.

Teacher talking to two kiindergarten students as they work together in class

Outstanding Academics

Together with outstanding academics, your child will:

  • develop essential skills through our extensive STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program;
  • benefit from hands-on learning through curricular field trips;
  • enjoy a wide range of after school activities in both English and German; and 
  • have access to student support services. 

And all included in school fees.

 

Inspiring Teachers

Mark Sturcke

Mark Sturcke
Bilingual Class Teacher

Mary Dale

Mary Dale
Assistant Teacher

We pride ourselves on having excellent, inspiring, and innovative teachers.

Our bilingual classroom teachers are native German teachers who have a Swiss teaching diploma and experience of teaching in an international environment.

Our teachers:

  • encourage and guide students to develop a love of learning
  • treat and know each student as an individual, supporting and challenging them based on their needs and abilities
  • continuously develop their skills and understandings through our extensive professional development program
  • value close partnership with parents

 

 

Excellent Facilities

The Lower School provides the ideal environment for your child to learn and grow. We offer:

  • Spacious classrooms, library, art rooms, music rooms, makerspace and gymnasium, plus a dedicated cafeteria.
  • Extensive outdoor area including learning spaces, age-appropriate playgrounds and a sports field, with the adjacent forest as an additional outdoor classroom.

 

Teacher in class with two Early Childhood students
Two Early Childhood students looking together at an iPad activity
Group of Kindergarten students in a Library lesson
Two Early Childhood students on top of a climbing frame and looking down
Kindergarten students sitting on a round table working together

Lower School Virtual Tour

Three kindergarten boys reading a book together

Additional Services

In addition, ZIS offers a variety of optional extras, for a fee, including:

Frequently Asked Questions