OUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Our small classes enable highly personalised teaching and dynamic, flexible lessons. This makes it possible for pupils and their teachers to set and achieve academic goals throughout the year.
The small size of our school also lends itself to a strong community feeling. Across the whole school, we cultivate a friendly and caring atmosphere, where each pupil is recognised and valued as an important member of our community.
Teaching methodology
At the forefront of our teaching methodology is the desire to instil curiosity and a love of learning. We value good relationships between teachers and pupils and work purposefully to maintain a positive ethos and spirit at school.
When it comes to pupil performance evaluations, we use a formative feedback approach. Throughout the course of a project, teachers will have individual discussions with pupils about what they are doing well and which areas need more work. This way pupils are empowered and know what they need to do to achieve a better result.
Every term the parents are invited to individual development talks to enable parents to be involved and discuss their child’s individual needs.
OUR SONG
We are proud to have more than 45 nationalities represented at our school and our school song ‘children of the world’ does truly reflect the environment at our school.
OUR SCHOOL SYMBOL
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, written by Selma Lagerlöf in 1906, tells the story of a boy who is turned into a ‘tomte’ – or gnome – and flies away on a goose from his family’s farm.
Nils is a brave, spirited child, and is impatient to explore the world and become an adult. He travels all over Sweden, learning about nature and history, and eventually returns home to show his family just how responsible and grown up he is.
We believe our symbol represents the relationship we have with our students. The school, just like the goose, provides each child with safety and guidance as they follow their natural sense of adventure and quench their thirst for knowledge.
OUR HISTORY
The non-profit association was created during the autumn of 1972 by our first President Bo Mårsäter and his wife Ulla. From the very beginning, parents and school staff have worked hand-in-hand to make the school a wonderful place for children to learn.
In 1973, we operated out of classrooms in other schools. At first, we had 37 Swedish-speaking children taking classes in Swedish, maths and English outside regular school hours at a school called Collège de Budé. Then, we started our primary school with just 12 students at the Collège des Coudrier.
In January 1974, we moved to Meyrin, and Stina Lagergren became president. A group of 30 parents decorated and fitted out the interior during evenings and weekends ahead of the opening after Easter.
The official inauguration was held in June 1974 in the presence of the Swedish Ambassador Sven-Eric Nilsson, Consul General Patrik Falkman, Geneva school minister André Chavanne, the Headmaster of Collège des Coudriers and Swedish pastor Lennart Söderström, among others.
As we were not yet financially secure at this time, Monica Sagnell, the school’s accountant, paid the first rent privately. To save money on postage, she ordered books in 5kg packages from Föreningen för Svenskhetens Bevarande i Utlandet (Association for the Preservation of Swedishness Abroad). During the first summer, the postman arrived almost every day to drop off another package and ask for a glass of water!
By the mid 1980s, the school had developed to offer preschool, primary and secondary (by distance learning), and had grown to 60 students and 10 teachers. However, budgets and enrolment fluctuated year on year.
OUR GOVERNANCE
The Swedish International School of Geneva is a non-profit association and is governed by the School Association. The School Association holds an Annual General Meeting in October where the members elect a chairperson and board members to manage the school on behalf of the association. The Board meets every month and its mission is to organize and develop the school’s activities.
The Board:
• has financial responsibility for school activities
• prepares the budget and proposes the school fees
• acts as employer
• is responsible for the school's long-term development
• consults with parents to define the vision and goals of the school
For more information about the Board and its work, please contact admin@sisog.ch
Board members:
Chair: Jonas Jacobsson
Vice Chair and Secretary: Stefan Roesler
Treasurer: Cecilia Chaim