This forum is an opportunity for teachers to meet to discuss developments in teaching and learning.

The concept behind the group is to engage in pedagogical discussion on the challenges facing teachers today.   For example, there is an ever increasing demand to integrate creativity into our curriculums; to have our curriculums as skills focused as they are content focused and to teach through IT or 1 to 1 programmes.  The Learning Forum is an opportunity to share and discuss the impact this is having and what we are doing about it.  

The aims of the group will be

• to discuss pedagogical development and change. 
• To share best practice in the fields of teaching and learning
• To share models of implementation for Approaches To Learning 
• To share ways in which schools are meeting the demands of the learner.

Our first meeting will be on January 16 2012.

For more information contact: lisa.craddock@isl.ch

SGIS Secondary Principal’s Meeting

This was  the inaugural meeting for this group. It was held on November 25th 2010 in Berne with 18 people participating from all parts of Switzerland.
The purpose of forming this group is:

• to share ideas and practices,
• to set up future directions for this group
• to establish cross school linkages

There were many topics of discussion, but one of the key  outcomes was for the group to  identify  key areas of common interest for all schools.

• Internationalism and Global citizenship (CIS standards 8th edition has raised the importance of this)

• Classroom Management/Differentiation

• Mentorship – dealing with new teachers

• Language teachers training for  mother tongue teachers,

•  Supporting the Teaching of  Language B

• Curriculum Mapping – what software is available (Rubicon and others)?  All schools were interested in how this was being handled in different schools.

• An awareness of the different software that is used to support  the administration of the school.

• Identification of  ways in which Swiss schools can share more with each other.

Time was also spent discussing possible solutions to problems that were raised by some participants.

It was agreed that this group should continue to meet and that the next meeting will be held in Berne, later in the semester.

Jon McLeod
For the SGIS Secondary Schools Principals’ Group

SGIS Forensics & Debate

A co-curricular program that develops internationalism and argumentative skills for students.

Forensics is the art of creating and developing arguments of persuasion through a variety of mediums of articulation. The SGIS forensics program consists of various teams including: debate, extemporaneous speaking, oratory, impromptu speaking, oral interpretation of literature, and duet acting.

March: a full 2 day weekend tournament held at a member school

June: meeting of a representative from participating member schools to debrief and plan for the following year’s tournament

For more information contact Franko Cifizzari at academic.counselor@isl.ch

SGIS IB Middle Years Coordinators Group

Formed in 2008, the MYP Coordinators’ Group includes 10 international schools within Switzerland who are either candidate or authorized MYP schools.

The group meets once or twice a year to discuss a range of issues based on the programme, including:

• assessment,
• internationalism
• and specific features of the MYP such as the Areas of interaction and the Learner Profile.

For more information contact David Harrison at mypcoordinator@isl.ch

SGIS College and Guidance Counselors

Frequency of Meetings: Once a year in the spring

Participants: College and Guidance Counselors in Switzerland, Southern Germany and Northern Italy.

Location of meetings: We have met regularly in Basel, Bern and Geneva. This year’s meeting is being hosted by Webster University, who is hosting a Counselor Day on Thursday. They have kindly offered the use of their facilities for our SGIS Counselor Meeting on Friday.

We have been meeting regularly since 2003 to network, discuss issues relevant to Counselors and to share information. We have professional presentations as well round table discussions. We also contact and support each other via e-mail throughout the school year with specific questions.

We are a non-profit making organization.

If you are interested in joining the SGIS College and Guidance Counselors Group, please contact Diana Unverricht at Diana.unverricht@isbasel.ch

Swiss Group of International Schools Business Managers

Frequency of Meetings : Twice a year in the spring and autumn.

Participants : Business Managers, Administrators, Heads/Directors of SGIS member schools – normally between 15 and 20 people, on average 10 schools represented.

Location of Meetings : Schools take turns in hosting the whole-day meeting, offering premises and lunch.

Topics for Discussion : Ranging from professional presentations to ‘round-table’ discussions on matters of mutual interest.

• Professional Presentations e.g. Insurances and Pensions, Tax Liability for Staff Fee Benefits, IT Administrative Packages e.g. Nimbus, Internal Control Systems, Document Archiving (the paperless office).

• Areas of Mutual Interest e.g. Recruitment and Admissions Policies, Contract Terms and Conditions, Salary Scales, Auxiliary Staff job descriptions, Campus Security and much more.

For more information contact: Christine Knight

The Early Learning Friends (Elfs)

The Group, ELFS, The Early Learning Friends, was set up in April 1998 by a group of Kindergarten and Preschool teachers from some of the main International Schools in Switzerland who recognized the need for regular job alike sessions amongst professional Early learning teachers.

Its aim originally was to give Early Learning teachers the opportunity to visit each others schools and to share ideas on various aspects of Early Learning education.

The Group meets two to three times a year, varying the meeting place each time. We are a non profit making organization.

If your school is interested in joining ELFS, or if you are interested in being sent more details, please let me know.

Contact: erdmann.gluck@hispeed.ch

The SGIS Librarians’ Group

The SGIS Librarians’ Group was set up by Elementary and Secondary Library staff working in Swiss International schools.

The aim is to give librarians and library assistants an opportunity to network and provide each other with professional insight, feedback, resources and information.

The Group meets twice per year to discuss any issues of mutual interest including: co-operative initiatives to provide :

• online resources to schools;
• collection development;
• cataloguing;
• promotions;
• professional development and much more.

The meeting venue varies each time. We are a non-profit making organization.

If your school is interested in joining or you would like to have more information then please contact: jill.vanNiekerk@isberne.ch

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Schools in Switzerland (IBDSIS)

(Discussed and unanimously accepted at the IB Diploma Coordinators’ Meeting, Bern, 27 Sept. 2007)

The aim of the association is

• to provide help and support to schools in Switzerland which offer or consider offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD) programme.

• to assist in the promotion of the interests of IBD programme schools, their students and staff members in Switzerland.

• to represent the IBD schools in Switzerland at meetings with organisations and authorities.

• when appropriate, to arrange workshops for teachers and other staff categories of the member schools.

Membership will be open to schools in Switzerland which are registered providers of the IBO Diploma programme.

Member schools will meet each year in the autumn. The Board or one third of the member schools may call an extra meeting, should they feel this to be necessary.

The Board will consist of a Chair and two members, drawn from amongst the coordinators of the member schools. Each board member shall be elected for two years. Board members are permitted to serve for more than one election period.

There will be no membership fees.

Running costs will be carried by the schools represented on the Board. Conferences and arrangements organised by the association shall be self-financing.

All decisions concerning policies and other important issues will be made at formal meetings. At least 50% of the schools must be represented to make decisions valid. Each school has one vote, and decisions will be made on a simple majority basis.

Decisions will only be made upon items listed on the Agenda for the meeting. No decisions can be made on items raised under ‘Any other business’.

An item will only be placed on the Agenda if it has reached the Chair not later than three weeks prior to the meeting. The Agenda must reach all member schools one week before the meeting. Decisions that for specific reasons cannot be postponed until a meeting of the association may be made by the Board, if supported by a unanimous Board. Board members will make every effort to contact all members of IBDSIS when a decision must be made outside a regularly scheduled meeting.

Alterations or amendments to this constitution may be made by a two-thirds majority at a regular meeting.

For further details please contact Simon Foley at simon.foley@isl.ch