International School Parent Magazine - Spring 2024
Welcome to the first edition of the International School Parent Magazine for 2024. We hope that you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Spring is a wonderful time – the weather is warmer, and the longer days help to boost our motivation. It is also the perfect time to start thinking about summer camps. We have curated a list of inspiring and interesting programmes and have presented them to you in a special feature beginning on page 40. In this edition we had the pleasure of interviewing both Nicola Sparrow, School Director of Aiglon College, and Andrea Spielmann, the Principal of the new SIS Basel-Allschwil school. In these articles, both these accomplished women share their passion for education and provide insight into the culture and ethos of their respective schools. We also continue our discussion of children’s mental health, drug use, communication, travel, and present many more interesting and topical articles and commentary. Check out the articles about the family activities in Lichtenstein, as well as unusual and exciting things to do in Switzerland, and an introduction to Basel the Swiss capital of culture and architecture. Once again, we are thrilled to present to you a magazine filled with interesting and informative articles, exciting experiences, and practical tips for parents. Have a wonderful spring and we look forward to bringing you more content again in summer.
Welcome to the first edition of the International School Parent Magazine for 2024. We hope that you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
Spring is a wonderful time – the weather is warmer, and the longer days help to boost our motivation. It is also the perfect time to start thinking about summer camps. We have curated a list of inspiring and interesting programmes and have presented them to you in a special feature beginning on page 40.
In this edition we had the pleasure of interviewing both Nicola Sparrow, School Director of Aiglon College, and Andrea Spielmann, the Principal of the new SIS Basel-Allschwil school. In these articles, both these accomplished women share their passion for education and provide insight into the culture and ethos of their respective schools.
We also continue our discussion of children’s mental health, drug use, communication, travel, and present many more interesting and topical articles and commentary.
Check out the articles about the family activities in Lichtenstein, as well as unusual and exciting things to do in Switzerland, and an introduction to Basel the Swiss capital of culture and architecture.
Once again, we are thrilled to present to you a magazine filled with interesting and informative articles, exciting experiences, and practical tips for parents. Have a wonderful spring and we look forward to bringing you more content again in summer.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
an appreciation of nutrition and personal<br />
development. In parallel, we have launched<br />
a partnership with Lindsey Vonn, the<br />
Olympic champion ski racer, to enhance<br />
our winter ski and ski racing programme.<br />
How does Aiglon College prepare<br />
students for success in higher education<br />
and beyond?<br />
Our success doesn’t come from being in a<br />
high-pressure, purely academically driven<br />
environment. Whether it’s as part of the<br />
IB Diploma or scaling a mountain, we<br />
help students get out of their comfort zone<br />
and challenge themselves; they develop<br />
independence, leadership, and tenacity.<br />
But it’s all done in a safe and supportive<br />
environment where students can trust their<br />
experiences because, without that, you’re<br />
not going to learn.<br />
Boarding also really helps prepare<br />
students for life. They have to be<br />
independent and organised. Of course,<br />
they have houseparents and wellbeing staff<br />
who are always there to help them, but they<br />
learn to take responsibility for themselves.<br />
We have ten boarding houses in total: five<br />
for girls and five for boys, with eight in the<br />
senior school and two in the junior school.<br />
Each term students are assigned to a new<br />
bedroom with a new group of friends.<br />
You must learn how to get on with other<br />
people no matter the personality or cultural<br />
differences, and I think that is unique to the<br />
boarding experience.<br />
After their time at Aiglon, do your<br />
students stay in Switzerland or do they<br />
scatter for tertiary education?<br />
Around 36% of our students head to the<br />
USA, followed by 34% to the UK, 16%<br />
worldwide and then 14% take a gap year.<br />
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARENT SPRING <strong>2024</strong> | 13<br />
We consistently have a cohort of students<br />
opting to remain in Switzerland, and I<br />
have observed a discernible trend towards<br />
the Netherlands, indicating its growing<br />
popularity among our student body.<br />
What can students study at Aiglon?<br />
Each year group is part of a cohort that<br />
helps to shape the Aiglon experience.<br />
From junior school through to graduation,<br />
students are on a journey that is exciting<br />
and distinct and yet faithful to a rhythm that<br />
reflects Aiglon’s ethos. The Wonder Years<br />
is for years three to six; for these students,<br />
the new Mountain <strong>School</strong> programme<br />
will play a huge part in their development.<br />
In Discovery (Years 7-9) students follow<br />
a bespoke curriculum designed to offer<br />
a broad range of experiential learning<br />
opportunities framed by exciting trips each<br />
summer term. In Exploration (Years 10-11)
Change language