International School Parent Magazine - Summer 2023

Liechtenstein: 

Family 

Paradise 

Alcohol and 

Other Drug 

Prevention 

Teacher 

Wellbeing

We need action. 

Geneva, a family in the Botanical Garden, © Hannes Heinzer Fotografie 

We need 

Switzerland. 

Discover Switzerland now: MySwitzerland.com/expats 

Tell us about your favourite experiences using #IneedSwitzerland

START YOUR 

INTERNATIONAL CAREER 

Double degree with University of Plymouth (UK) 

BACHELOR AND MASTER PROGRAMS IN: 

• International Management 

• International Relations and Diplomacy 

• Digital Media 

• Business Analytics 

• Computer Science 

IIG.CH

Contents 

07 Meet The Head – Interview With Chris Seal, 

Head Of Tanglin Trust Senior School 

12 Naturally Bilingual – From Kindergarten To 

Year 8 

15 360 Virtual Tours: The New Marketing Tool 

For Independent Schools 

18 London: The Best City In The World To Be A 

University Student? 

20 Family Holidays In Liechtenstein: Relaxation 

And Adventure Await You! 

22 Family Trip To The Top Of Appenzell 

24 Let’s Talk About Relationships And Sex 

Education 

28 Give Your Child An Unforgettable Summer 

32 My Child’s Friend Is Transgender. How Do I 

Support Them When Their Parents Won’t? 

38 Selecting A Tutor For Your Child: Top Tips 

From The Experts At Eden Tutors 

40 What’s Going On In Basel 

42 Soft Skills For Teenagers: The Keys To Future 

Success 

44 Fun In The City 

46 Feels Good! A Checklist To Support Young 

People’s Mental Health 

48 The Key To Children Flourishing In 

International Life 

52 Keeping Your Kids Safe: A Guide To Alcohol 

And Other Drug Prevention Before Summer 

Break 

55 Supporting Teacher Well-Being: Addressing 

Psychosocial Risks In International Schools 

58 Create A Sense Of Belonging With Your Global 

Family - Preparing For Moving Overseas Or If 

You Have Already Moved 

62 How To Make Invisible Careers Visible To 

All Pupils: Overcoming Systemic Biases And 

Increasing Diversity Awareness 

Cover image courtesy of Liechtenstein Marketing 

Welcome to the Summer 

Edition of International 

School Parent Magazine 

The count down to the summer vacation has started and many of us are 

already looking forward to an extended holiday with our loved ones. But 

before then, we are thrilled to present a magazine packed with interesting 

and informative articles and practical tips for parents. 

For this issue we had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Seal, Head of Senior 

School at Tanglin Trust, Singapore as part of our ‘Meet the Headteacher’ 

series. Chris shared his journey to becoming an educator and what makes 

Tanglin Trust one of Singapore’s leading international curriculum providers. 

As we prepare for the long break, we look at a variety of mental health and 

safety themes, including alcohol and other drugs, relationships and sex, and 

identity and belonging. 

Summer is the perfect time to take a family vacation - this issue is packed 

with inspiration. Learn about wonderful family-focused activities in 

Liechtenstein, Basel, Appenzell, Bellinzona, Geneva and Winterthur. There is 

something for everyone! 

This magazine is a very special edition. Not only because of the wonderful 

articles that it presents, but because it will be the very last print edition 

of ISP. Like many of you, we are concerned with sustainability and strive to 

do our part to protect our environment and minimise our footprint. After 

much thought and research, ISP magazine can achieve the greatest impact 

by becoming an online only publication. We are working hard to deliver an 

exceptional e-magazine and will continue to publish articles online as well. 

To support the move to digital only, we have created a brand-new website 

with better guides providing schools with a more sophisticated and useful 

way to deliver information to our many visitors. Look out for the new website 

launching in the coming weeks. 

As always, we remain committed to helping parents and children make the 

most of their international school experience. Have a wonderful summer and 

we look forward to sharing our brand-new digital issue with you in autumn. 

Nick 

Nick Gilbert 

Editor & Publishing Director 

International School Parent Magazine 

Mobile + 41 787 10 80 91 

Email nick@internationalschoolparent.com 

Website www.internationalschoolparent.com 

@isparentmag 

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARENT SUMMER 2023 | 5

Contributors 

Dr Michelle Wright 

Dr Michelle Wright is a British-qualified General 

Practitioner. Before moving to Switzerland in 2004, she 

saw patients with physical and psychological problems 

and spent time in community psychiatry. She continues her patient 

contact and clinical practice work in the International Labour 

Organization, Geneva. 

Michelle helped bring the validated ensa Mental Health First 

Aid training in English to Switzerland which HealthFirst delivers to 

companies, schools, and organisations. 

She broadcasts a weekly show, Health Matters, for World Radio 

Switzerland. 

Dr Mecky McNeil 

Dr Mecky McNeil is a British-qualified General 

Practitioner, experienced in looking after adults and 

children with psychiatric illnesses, including anxiety, depression, 

eating disorders and schizophrenia, and caring for suicidal and 

acutely psychotic patients. 

She is a qualified health coach and helped to develop the ensa 

Mental Health First Aid English courses in Switzerland. 

Mecky currently collaborates with UNICEF and Z Zurich 

Foundation on a global project aimed at supporting young people’s 

mental health. 

Martin Coul 

Martin is a mental health advocate with a focus 

on evidence-based prevention in schools and the 

workplace. With inspiration from his own lived experience, his 

purpose is to diffuse the negative narrative and bring a more 

human, compassionate voice to well-being & mental health for 

everyone, every day. 

Mette Theilmann 

Mette is a Parent and Life Balance Coach who has 

supported parents for over 18 years, working closely 

with schools, companies, and family solicitors. Mette supports 

parents to raise independent and resilient children who can grow 

up to become confident and well-adjusted adults. 

Mette is also the founder of parenting App - Parenting Community 

– and works very closely with schools to create a confident 

parenting community. 

Nic Ponsford 

After working in education for over 20 years as 

a teacher, school leader, trainer, and coach, Nic 

wanted to find an accessible means to make ordinary classrooms 

extraordinarily inclusive. 

Nic is passionate about creating a level playing field for career 

opportunities for young people from underserved groups. In 2020, 

Nic set up the Global Equality Collective (GEC) to address ‘one of 

the biggest issues in education’ - diversity and inclusion. 

Cath Brew 

Cath is a global LGBTQ+ inclusion consultant, 

mentor and artist who supports allies looking to step 

into confident active allyship. She works with international schools, 

NGOs and global companies to navigate the inclusion of diverse 

genders and sexualities cross culturally. 

Taralyn Cox 

Taralyn has a 17-year background helping schools 

in the UK with marketing and admissions, focussing 

on ‘standing out in a crowd’ disruptive marketing strategies and 

providing visual-based services and technology - from photography 

and video to brand and design. As co-owner of 360 Marketing 

Lab, she helps schools recruit pupils using the power of immersive 

360º virtual tours. 

Lauren Wells 

Lauren Wells is the founder and CEO of TCK 

Training and author of Raising Up a Generation of 

Healthy Third Culture Kids, The Grief Tower, and Unstacking 

Your Grief Tower. She is an Adult TCK/MK who spent her 

teenage years in Tanzania. She sits on the board of the TCK Care 

Accreditation as Vice Chair and is part of the TCK Training 

Research Team focusing on preventive care research in the TCK 

population. She lives in Georgia, USA with her husband and two 

daughters. 

Mag Sheldon 

Mags Sheldon is a UK-qualified midwife, experienced 

in pre-natal education, deliveries, and post-natal care. 

Having worked in adult and baby intensive care units, she is a 

strong advocate for high standards of First Aid and resuscitation 

techniques. 

Mags is a highly experienced teacher of Relationships and Sex 

education (RSE), teaching the programme in many international 

schools in Switzerland. She is a member of the PSHE Association 

(UK) and the Sex Education Forum (UK) and a qualified ensa 

Mental Health First Aid instructor. 

Katie Greeley, LCSW 

Katie is a licensed therapist and founder of Prevention 

Education Solutions. With over a decade of experience 

as a substance use counselor and prevention services provider 

to international schools around the globe, she brings extensive 

expertise to the field. Prevention Education Solutions takes a 

modern, evidence-based approach to alcohol and other drug 

prevention, offering programs in over 40 countries and across the 

United States. 


MEET THE HEAD 

Interview with Chris Seal, 

Head Of Tanglin Trust Senior School 

Tanglin is a 

vibrant coeducational 

school of around 

2,800 students 

representing over 50 

nationalities. Tanglin 

provides a unique learning environment 

for children from Nursery through to Sixth 

Form. It is the only school in Singapore to 

offer A Levels and the IB Diploma. The 

Senior School is headed by Chris Seal, who 

brings with him a wealth of educational 

experience both in the UK and beyond. 

We sat down with Chris to find out 

more about what inspired him to become 

an educator, education in Singapore, and 

how Tanglin is leading the way in terms 

of both academic achievement and in 

creating internationally minded leaders of 

tomorrow. 

What initially inspired you to pursue a 

career in education and how did that 

journey bring you to Singapore? 

Through my experiences at university a few 

things shine out. The amazing community 

that is Loughborough University, the failed 

attempt to play cricket for a living and the 

joy expressed by a good friend who was 

experiencing his first teaching placements. 

The way in which he would come back to 

halls and regale us of stories of all that had 

happened to him as he found his way into 

his new career must have had an impact 

because a couple of years later, I opted to 

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARENT SUMMER 2023 | 7 

do my post graduate certificate in education 

(PGCE) and quickly found that same joy 

and satisfaction in teaching. 

The next 27 years have been a 

rollercoaster of experiences and 

inspirations. Most of this has been within 

the UK independent sector often involving 

sport, but the move into leadership in 

2004 proved to be a seminal moment. 

Experiencing first-hand the impact of 

education on the boys in a boarding 

house opened my eyes to the way in which 

learning communities can be shaped and 

designed. Time as a Deputy Head across 

two schools led me to my appointment 

as Principal of Shrewsbury International 

School Bangkok. Five very happy years 

leading the community in Bangkok gave

“The quality of the teaching is drawn from an excellent 

global field of educators, and we are fortunate to be 

supported by an aspirational parent body.” 

me the opportunity to come to Tanglin to 

be Head of the Senior School in the oldest 

and best-known international school in the 

region. 

What have you learnt from your time 

in day, boarding, and international 

education? 

A lot! I’ve been truly fortunate to meet 

and learn from some brilliant educators 

along the way in some great schools. Back 

in the 1990s I worked for Stephen Cole 

at Woodbridge who inculcated in all of 

us the importance of relationships with 

parents and the need to communicate 

well at all times. Jonathan Lee at Trent 

was surrounded by a group of leaders 

who really showed me what excellence 

looked like. Graeme Best at LVS Ascot 

was the most gentle and humane Head 

imaginable and I learned much from his 

deep commitment to people and support 

of them. The experience of running a 

‘for profit’ school in Thailand showed me 

the inner workings of school finances and 

finally at Millfield and now again here I see 

in Craig Considine what real determination 

to do the right thing looks like, he is the 

epitome of integrity. 

How would you characterise students 

graduating from Tanglin Trust? 

It struck me early on in Term 1 that the 

students at Tanglin are amazing. Bright, 

articulate, ambitious and engaged they 

test and challenge us in the classroom 

and offer great leadership elsewhere. Just 

yesterday I enjoyed an hour of Hamlet 

delivered by a student director and cast, 

the quality was extraordinary, and the 

student leadership of the technical crew 

dedicated and driven at the same time. The 

diversity of the community means that it is 

hard to generalise, but we send students to 

the best universities in the world, some go 

straight to National Service in Singapore 

and then there is a range of destinations 

based on what is a broad range of abilities 

across the year groups. We are engaging 

more and more with the alumni and my 

first impressions of them are that they are 

keen to connect and give something back 

to Tanglin. They have much to offer as 

we learn more about their world of work 

and they serve as wonderful role models to 

perpetuate what is already a hugely positive 

culture within the school. 

What would you say makes the learning 

environment of Tanglin Trust extra 

special? 

There are some strong elements to the 

Tanglin culture. Firstly, the students 

enjoy learning and approach it with a 

commitment that is hard to replicate. The 

quality of the teaching is drawn from an 

excellent global field of educators, and 

we are fortunate to be supported by an 

aspirational parent body who want the best 

for their children within a framework of 

good pastoral care and support. 


Which features of the school do parents 

value the most? 

Surveys tell us that the parents value the 

academic outcomes, and they are truly 

extraordinary. The IBDP average of 41.4 

points in 2022, and 40% of all A Level 

grades being A* put us in very esteemed 

company. However, parents also know 

that the outcomes are only one part of the 

story. The destination matters, and the fine 

balance between ‘best fit’ and reaching for 

the top universities is something we work 

on with all families. Having said that, I 

know from the work I’ve already been doing 

with families that they are enormously 

appreciative of the Tanglin community and 

the way we look after their children. This 

has strong foundations in the Infant and 

Junior Schools, and we seek to continue this

as life becomes more complicated in the 

adolescent years. The recent increase in the 

co-curriculum offerings is also well received, 

as are continual refinements to sport, music, 

and drama. 

Which other areas of education and 

extra-curricular activities would you like 

to develop for the senior school? 

For next academic year we are working on 

a new school day that will offer us more 

curriculum time, a focussed hour each 

week on pastoral support and assemblies 

and the introduction of the co-curriculum 

within the timetable. Twice each week 

we will engage in clubs, activities, and 

societies. The societies element is new and 

an aggregation of all the already excellent 

academic enrichment opportunities as well 


as a drive to deliver more of this. We know 

the students want to take their learning 

beyond the classroom, and we also know 

that this exploration of wider topics can 

offer students the chance for inspiration 

and broadening in new and unexpected 

ways. We expect this to make them more 

attractive to the top universities, but much 

more importantly make them even more 

interesting than they currently are. 

What excites you about the prospect 

of leading an international school in 

Singapore? 

There is much to look forward to in 

international education. The ever-changing 

demographic of Singapore allows us to be 

flexible and agile in what we are thinking 

about and the environment on the island 

offers the opportunity to work with an 

able and educated parent body. Education 

matters in Singapore and as such strive to 

be certain of a place in a society that we 

all recognise we are privileged to be in. 

The changes we are making at Tanglin 

and the attempts to reach out more into 

the local community offer much hope for 

an extended experience that will benefit 

our students and we hope have an impact 

locally and globally. There have been 

challenges over recent years in all sectors of 

“Bright, articulate, ambitious and engaged [the students at 

Tanglin] test and challenge us in the classroom and offer great 

leadership elsewhere.” 

education, but the future is an exciting and 

interesting prospect, and we will need to be 

at our most creative to take advantage of it. 

What are the main trends in education 

that you’re seeing now? 

There is no doubt that AI and the recent 

rise of ChatGPT is on everyone’s minds. 

Our view is that we should embrace this 

technology and learn from it as well as with 

it. We are confident that it won’t replace 

the teacher, nor the need for knowledge 

upon which to base your thoughts, but 

there is something incredibly exciting 

about working with students to harness this 

development. Over recent years much has 

been made of the greater understanding 

of mental health, and schools are doing a 

much better job of looking after students. 

I hope the next big move is to design and 

develop school systems that promote robust 

mental health for students and staff. The 

mental health of teaching staff is something 

that is often assumed, and although recent 

moves in the development of coaching 

cultures is helping, I think there is more to 

do there. 

How do you make the most of Singapore, 

and what are your hobbies? 

In recent months we’ve done plenty of 

walking. After spinal fusion in 2018 walking 

has become my ‘go to’ way of keeping 

the kilos away. This has enabled us to get 

into the parks, see a lot of the island and 

definitely take some detours to the brilliant 

hawker centres where excellent food and 

drink can be found. I’m a keen golfer, and 

have played in Singapore, but it makes 

sense financially to play in Malaysia. One 

of the key reasons for continuing to enjoy 

international education are the incredible 

places that surround you and so we have 

already been to Borneo, Langkawi, back to 

Bangkok, Melbourne, and Adelaide since 

August. 

ABOUT TANGLIN TRUST SCHOOL 

Established in 1925, Tanglin is the oldest 

British international school in Southeast 

Asia. Tanglin provides the English 

National Curriculum with an international 

perspective to children aged 3-18 years 

in Singapore. www.tts.edu.sg 


Welcome to 

family paradise Malbun 

→ tourismus.li/families

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ADVERTORIAL 

NATURALLY BILINGUAL 

– from Kindergarten to Year 8 

The rise of bilingual education in 

worldwide schooling systems in the 

last 20 years has been immense. 

With monolinguals becoming more the 

exception within the world’s population, 

this rise is not something difficult to 

imagine. The European Union itself has 

more ambitious goals than being bilingual; 

enabling every EU citizen to communicate 

in 2 languages other than their mother 

tongue lies in their founding principles. 

Today, curriculum design, best teaching 

practices and evolving language learning 

methods have all moulded bilingual 

classrooms. As it stands, there are four 

factors critical to a child’s educational 

journey towards bilingualism. They are: 

1. An early start 

2. Continuous and extensive exposure 

3. Frequent use of the foreign language in 

diverse and motivating contexts and 


4. Authentic and enriched input from native 

or native like teachers 

These four points are highly regarded, 

however the latter two require more 

reflection on a modern-day classroom as 

they resonate clearly with the philosophy of 

immersion. Immersion programmes stand 

out as being regarded empirically as the 

best way to learn an additional language, 

particularly in primary education (e.g.

Photos taken at Terra Nova Bilingual School, Küsnacht 

Wesche 2002, S.362, Burmeister & Daniel, 

Kersten 2009). The immersion philosophy 

encompasses the diverse, authentic input 

from native or native like teachers enjoyed 

by students in a high-quality bilingual 

classroom. 

At Academia we use two different models 

to bilingual teaching depending on the age 

of the children. At Academia Bilingual 

Schools Basel, Winterthur, and Terra 

Nova Bilingual School pupils from prekindergarten 

to the end of primary school 

receive a consistent approach to immersive 

education, embedded in our routines. 

Our weekly instruction is split evenly into 

half weeks in German and English with 

respective native speaking class teachers. 

These class teachers working as a team is 

paramount to the successful delivery of 

our curriculum. All subjects are taught in 

a balanced way, by both teachers, through 

both languages with progression, put simply, 

similar to a traditional school model. The 

relatively strict separation on the languages 

during the course of the week supports the 

development of linguistic boundaries, which 

makes it easier to learn a foreign language. 

Taking things one step further, Academia 

has placed energy into strengthening the 

alignment between classroom teachers. 

One example is our primary school maths 

text and workbooks. Maths World 1 and 

2 are aligned to the Swiss curriculum 

and is the most up to date publication for 

maths in Switzerland. Academia carefully 

translated these textbooks into English 

so that our students work with the exact 

same layout, style, and progression in 

both German and English. This effort has 

been invaluable and helps our teachers to 

deliver a clear and continuous methodology 

to, and for, our students. Yet another 

example is to encourage pupils to cross 

reference languages through our considered 

curriculum design. One could imagine 

the ‘aha’ moments that arise through the 

process of both English and German 

teachers teaching the same writing genre 

concurrently in both languages. If we 

consider that a narrative is crafted the 

same way in both languages with figurative 

devices like adjectival phrases, similes and 

metaphors are used to enrich them, it 

seems clear that encouraging students to 

make connections when working on these 

figurative aspects can only lead to mastery 

in a supportive method. 

Our Pre-IGCSE-programme (Years 7 

and 8) at Academia International School 

in Basel and Zurich follows a different 


ADVERTORIAL 

approach to bilingual education. The 

curriculum blends the well-established 

British international curriculum with a 

highly innovative and unique approach to 

German: All academic subjects are taught 

in English. However, a considerable part of 

the teaching time is dedicated to German 

by layering the curriculum with projectbased 

learning. This means that, students 

not only attend language lessons, but 

also work on projects for other academic 

subjects, such as sciences or humanities, 

thus building a rich specialised vocabulary 

in German. 

Academia International School started 

to teach this curriculum in summer 2022. 

“We are very happy with our students’ 

progress. The project-based learning 

allows for creativity and the development 

of social and communication skills in two 

languages – competences that are of utmost 

importance in today’s world” explains Steph 

Wimmer, Head of School at Academia 

International School Basel. 

Nowadays it’s empirically proven that 

bilingual students match or surpass the 

cognitive abilities such as concentration, 

divergent thinking and creativity (e.g. 

Bialystok 2005). Thus there is little reason 

while researchers more commonly cite, 

‘Bilingual Education is the only way to 

educate children in the 21st century.’ 

(Garcia 2011) 

Academia Bilingual School, Terra Nova Bilingual School and Academia International 

School offer a first-class bilingual education from pre-kindergarten all the way through to 

International A Level. The schools are located in Basel, Zurich, Winterthur and Küsnacht 

(ZH). More information: www.academia-schools.ch 


360 VIRTUAL TOURS: 

The New Marketing Tool for 

Independent Schools 

Parents should expect change in how schools interact with their audience 

WRITTEN BY TARALYN COX 

The COVID-19 pandemic had a 

profound impact on the education 

sector. As schools were forced to 

adapt to new ways of teaching and learning, 

they have also had to adjust their marketing 

strategies to attract new students in a rapidly 

changing landscape. With in-person events 

and tours no longer feasible in many cases, 

schools turned to innovative new digital 

marketing tools to showcase their offerings 

to prospective parents. One such tool that 

has emerged as a powerful marketing tool 

is 360 virtual tours. Whilst 360 tours have 

been around for longer than a decade, 

pre-pandemic adoption of virtual tours in 

schools was very low. But the pandemic, 


along with other factors, created a shift in 

strategy and school marketers rushed to 

include virtual tours in their bank of digital 

assets. 

By way of background, virtual tours 

allow you as parents to explore the school’s 

facilities, classrooms, brand proposition, 

school values and community from the

comfort of home. They offer an immersive 

and engaging experience, when done right, 

that provides an in-depth look at what each 

school has to offer, highlights their academic 

and extracurricular offerings, and provides 

a sense of the school’s culture. Unlike static 

images or videos, which tend to be found 

spread across multiple mediums - the school 

website, other websites, socials and portals 

- virtual tours allow families to navigate the 

spaces and get a sense of what it would be 

like to be a student. Parents can zoom in, 

both literally and figuratively, on specific 

areas of interest and interact in a way 

that is not possible with other marketing 

materials. Virtual tours help build affinity 

with parents and students and give them 

direct and indirect information. Tours help 

schools tell their unique stories in a virtual 

environment, but they also signify to families 

that the school is going that extra mile to 

assist them with their choices. By creating 

an immersive and engaging virtual tour, 

schools create a strong first impression and 

attract the attention of prospective parents. 

Advances in technology have made it 

easier and more affordable than ever for 

schools to create a high-quality virtual tour: 

a valuable marketing tool for schools of 

all sizes, increasing the reach to a much 

larger audience. With 360-degree cameras 

and virtual tour software, schools now 

create interactive tours more readily and 

as a result, many more schools have them 

as a critical touchpoint in the admissions 

journey. In turn, they are now an essential 

part of a prospective families’ expectation 

during an admissions journey with a school. 

Generational shifts of the parental 

audience means that 360 tours are more 

the expectation rather than a ‘nice to have’ 

experience. Gen Z and Millennial parents 

have higher and different expectations of 

digital experiences than the departing Gen 

X audience. Research shows they expect 

digital experiences to be mobile-friendly, 

streamlined, efficient, authentic, gamified 

(fun), personalised and intuitive. They are 

accustomed to instant gratification and 

expect fast loading times, quick results, and 

easy navigation. Virtual Tours can provide 

this experience for those parents - it’s an 

immediate solution to “I want to know all 

about it now, quickly, realistically and on my 

own terms”. 

Whilst the advances in technology and 

generational changes facilitated a boom 

in need and availability of virtual tours, the 

pandemic then sealed their fate. Demand 

from schools, to create a virtual tour, soared 


in 2020 and now we’re very close to 1 in 

2 independent schools having one. This 

cocktail of factors - technology, accessibility, 

affordability, generational expectations 

and a pandemic - means parents now 

have access to a new way to engage with 

schools that’s become the norm for school 

marketing, and a requirement from families. 

It’s the modern approach to recruitment. 

Let’s look at some advantages. A 360 

tour visit is a cost and time savings for you 

as parents, as well as an environmentally 

conscious decision to reduce your carbon 

footprint. Families are increasingly timepoor 

so whilst an in-person visit may only 

be an hour’s drive, a 2-hour event and 

an hour home, those are precious family 

time hours squeezed into an already busy 

week. So whilst there are parents who can 

physically visit a school, they may opt not 

to if there is a viable alternative to explore 

what the school feels like. Virtual tours also 

act as a surrogate visit for those parents 

who live abroad, when an in-person visit 

is impossible. Virtual tours offer an option 

of convenience that is contemporary and 

socially-aware. 

With economic pressures affecting 

parents’ disposable income and potential 

changes to fees, schools will be approaching 

engagement in different ways to continue 

to compete for parents’ attention and 

draw them from the competition, offering 

a point of differentiation. From a school’s 

perspective, a virtual tour is also a costsavings 

to them - reducing the costs for print 

material, travel expenses and Open Day 

events which is great news for any school’s 

dwindling marketing budget. A study by 

the Enrollment Management Association 

found that schools offering virtual tours had 

a 42% increase in completed applications 

compared to schools that did not. When 

considering where to spend their budget, 

this is a particularly powerful statistic and 

reason to invest in one. 

With virtual tours being such an 

advantage to both parents and schools, 

they are playing a hugely important role 

in the way schools choose to interact with 

their audience. According to a report by 

Blackbaud, 60% of prospective parents 

prefer to view a virtual tour before visiting 

a school in person and 70% think it’s 

important for a school to have one. Another 

report found that schools that implemented 

virtual tours experienced a 20% increase 

in website traffic and a 10% increase in 

enquiries. When considering the data, it 

is obvious why schools find them an easy 

solution. Virtual tours are here to stay and 

will continue to be an important part of the 

independent school marketing landscape in 

the future. 

Independent schools have successfully 

implemented virtual tours as part of their 

marketing strategy already. Roedean School, 

for example, has created a virtual tour that 

provides an in-depth look at the school’s 

facilities and community. The tour allows 

parents and pupils to explore the school’s 

campus, its new boarding facilities, and 

coastal location with embedded video and 

image galleries. 

Windermere School tour showcases 

its commitment to academic excellence, 

pastoral care, and co-curricular activities, 

including their Outdoor Learning 

Programme with features of hiking, 

sailing and ghyll scrambling in the Lakes 

District - bringing their local environment 

to the forefront. The tour features video 

testimonials from students and staff, 

providing a personal touch that helps 

parents feel connected to the school. 

Virtual tours are already part of the 

admissions journey for most schools, 

whether experiencing a virtual tour is 

part of the initial discovery process, the 

shortlisting process, in advance of, or instead 

of, an Open Day in-person visit - parents 

are embracing the change. 

Welcome to the new way of school 

marketing and engaging with parents, 

adding a more personalised and tailored 

experience providing information needed 

to make an informed decision about your 

child’s education. 


ADVERTORIAL 

London 

The best city in 

the world to be a 

university student? 

Regent’s University London thinks so! 

Choosing a university can be a 

daunting time for young people 

and parents alike. It marks a 

child’s first step into adulthood – with all 

the excitement and challenges that come 

with it. 

For a city on such a small island, London 

punches well above its weight for university 

students – with the chance to gain valuable 

work experiences, build a network of 

contacts, make friends from all over the 

world and enjoy a thriving social life. No 

wonder it’s been named as the best city in 

the world to be a university student [QS 

Best Student Cities 2023]. 

London: the city for students 

With such a strong reputation and influence 

worldwide, London will be sure to get your 

child noticed – and, at Regent’s University 

London, we make sure our students can 

take advantage of all our city has to offer. 

Our campus is located in the heart of 

the city, just minutes from London’s main 

attractions, business and financial districts 

and creative hubs. With a variety of 

placements, internship opportunities, events 

and workshops on our doorstep, London 

is the place to be to see your child’s career 

soar – setting them apart from others when 

it’s time to apply for jobs. 

(And, unlike at any other urban 

university, we’re set in 11 acres of private 

land, with a 24/7 security presence in place 

– leaving your child safe and secure.) 

On campus: deep skills and connections 

At Regent’s, students build their skills and 

future in a way that suits them, developing 

deep skills in their core discipline and 

adding value to their CVs by studying 

cross-disciplinary fields as varied as 

financial innovation, AI, professional 

project management and global conflict. 

Industry and entrepreneurship skills are 

taught to all undergraduate students from 

day one: giving students the chance to test 

their ideas, gain close industry connections 

and take on real-world work projects that 

relate directly to their discipline. 

We’re proud to be connected to some 

of the city’s most influential leaders, 

including CEOs and MDs of luxury brands 

(including Harrods, McLaren Automotive 

and dunhill) – offering opportunities for 

students to gain practical experiences, 

join exclusive internships and build their 

network of industry contacts. 

Particularly entrepreneurial minds 

can even join the Innovation Lab, which 

provides guidance, mentorship, coaching 

and bootcamps to students interested in 

starting their own business. 


ADVERTORIAL 

International student networks 

London is one of the most diverse cities 

in the world – bringing together students 

from all over the globe. Studying here 

not only offers the chance to meet people 

from different backgrounds, but also gain 

valuable insights into their cultures and 

experience new music, food and art. 

With over 140 different nationalities on 

campus at Regent’s, our students find it 

easy to build an international network of 

friends they can tap into throughout their 

whole career. They can also choose to study 

abroad in one of 60 partner universities 

around the world, or study from nine 

different languages. 

Our students develop such deep 

connections they often join forces with each 

other – finding their future co-founders on 

campus and launching brands and business 

ventures together, in London and around 

“With a variety of placements, internship opportunities, 

events and workshops on our doorstep, London is the 

place to be to see your child’s career soar.” 

the world. So much so, we were crowned 

the UK university with the highest number 

of founders, with over 12% of graduates 

launching their own businesses after 

graduating [resume.io]. 

Iconic landmarks – on your doorstep 

Studying in London means students are 

surrounded by world-famous sights every 

single day – from iconic landmarks like 

Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and London 

Bridge to unique architecture, sleepy 

parks, bustling shopping streets, theatres, 

museums, galleries and more. 

When they aren’t studying, students 

can eat in celebrated restaurants, explore 

hidden food and flower markets, shop 

in independent retailers, and unwind in 

some of the UK’s most beautiful parks 

and gardens – some overlooking London’s 

incredible skyline. 

Easy access to the rest of the UK 

and Europe 

Living in one of the best-connected cities 

worldwide also means it’s easy to travel 

further afield – exploring the UK’s vibrant 

cities and stunning landscapes (from the 

Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast) 

or jumping on a short flight from one of 

London’s six main airports (or train from St 

Pancras International) to Europe for 

a relaxing city break. The options are 

endless! 

London is a city that keeps on giving and 

no matter how long you spend here, you’ll 

never get tired of the experiences it offers. 

Discover more at www.regents.ac.uk. 


ADVERTORIAL 

Family holidays in 

Liechtenstein: 

relaxation and 

adventure await you! 

Nestled between Switzerland 

and Austria, Liechtenstein is a 

mountain principality that feels 

like something out of a fairy-tale. Cultural, 

natural, and culinary diversity meet here, 

meaning there’s something for all the family 

to enjoy. 

Liechtenstein promises a world of fun, 

whether it’s an exciting trekking tour with 

llamas, a spectacular adventure hike or an 

adventurous, full moon walk. 

Recharge your batteries in the Malbun 

family paradise 

The idyllic Malbuntal has been awarded 

the “Family Destination” seal of approval 

from the Swiss Tourism Association several 

times. Not only does the quiet mountain 

village offer relaxation for families, but the 

nearby town of Vaduz and the surrounding 

mountains make the valley the ideal starting 

point for sightseeing in Liechtenstein. 

If you want to spend a quiet day away 

from the hustle and bustle of the main 

town, you will find a place to relax at the 

nearby Gänglesee in Steg. Children 

can splash around in the cool 

water or build a reservoir, and 

Barbecue areas around the 

lake invite you to eat and 

unwind together. 

Something for 

everyone 

In picturesque Malbun, 

you will find many family 

hotels that offer exciting 

children’s playgrounds and 

wellness areas for every age. 

Childcare is also available 

at the hotels for parents who 

want to enjoy some quality time 

together. 


A holiday to remember: Family 

experiences in the valley and 

mountain areas 

Experiences such as trekking tour with 

llamas and alpacas, a trip to the swing and 

researcher paths or a spectacular bird of 

prey show in Malbun make your family 

vacation in the Principality of Liechtenstein 

unforgettable. 

Malbun has a special highlight for 

people who love puzzles and brainteasers: 

The magical Malbun Portal. This is a 

sophisticated hunt through Liechtenstein’s 

mountain resort where participants must 

solve a variety of puzzles and follow clues. 

The participants are provided with a puzzle 

bag and an iPad and off they go to practice 

their detective skills! 

From May 12th there will be a Foxtrail in 

Vaduz. A Foxtrail is a team experience for 

friends, clubs, company events and family 

outings. The city becomes a playground. 

Teams (2-7 people) are challenged no to lose

ADVERTORIAL 

SPECIAL 

OFFER: 

Princely summer and 

autumn holidays 

1 night in a 3-star superior hotel 

from CHF 83.50 per person 

www.tourismus.li/famoffers 

★ 

the trail of the fox and must crack codes 

and find hidden messages along the way. 

Nature-loving travellers can learn lots 

of interesting facts about the forest on the 

forest adventure trail in Vaduz or enjoy 

cheese, wine, and coffee on the FoodTrail 

from Vaduz to Schaan. The Walser 

SagenWeg in Triesenberg, the detective 

trails in Malbun and Vaduz or the rope park 

in Triesen also offer everything for a perfect 

family day in nature. 

A real summer highlight in Liechtenstein 

is the Grossabünt bathing lake. The freely 

accessible leisure facility attracts visitors 

with its crystal-clear, refreshing lake and the 

soccer field, climbing wall, and slackline. 

With the adventure pass, all doors are 

open to families 

Would you like a holiday full of activities? 

With the adventure pass for the whole 

family, you enjoy free travel on all bus routes 

and have access to 30 leisure attractions 

worth over 300 francs. 

These include the high rope park in 

Triesen, the exciting Liechtenstein State 

Museum, the ceramics workshop in 

Nendeln and the chairlift in Malbun. You 

can also visit indoor and outdoor pools and 

many museums with the adventure pass. 


INFORMATION & BOOKING 

Liechtenstein Marketing 

info@liechtenstein.li 

+423 239 63 63 

www.tourismus.li/en/ 

www.tourismus.li/families

ADVERTORIAL 

© Nicolas Giovanettoni © Stefan Giger 

FAMILY TRIP TO THE 

TOP OF APPENZELL 

The Hoher Kasten, a mountain located in the Canton of Appenzell (AI), offers everything your heart desires: 360 degrees 

unlimited panoramic view, unspoiled nature, culinary delicacies and a varied selection of hiking opportunities. 

What better way to start a family 

trip than with a cable car 

excursion? The Hoher Kasten 

cable car leads from the small village of 

Brülisau, nearby the town of Appenzell, 

to the 1,794-meter high summit of Hoher 

Kasten. The journey takes you past 

idyllic hilly landscapes, typical Appenzell 

farmhouses and a fascinating mountain 

scenery. 

Once at the top, the first highlight already 

awaits you: In the tunnel of the summit 

station, colourful images seemingly dance 

to mystical sounds across the walls of the 

tunnel. With a little luck, a fire-breathing 

dragon or animals like goats will appear. 

Accessible for everyone and for children 

even free of charge 

From the lower station and up to the 


ADVERTORIAL 

© NHoher Kasten Drehrestaurant und Seilbahn AG 

© Andreas Butz 

summit, the Hoher Kasten is barrier-free 

and thus accessible to everyone. Children 

up to 15 years of age travel free of charge 

with the cable car throughout 2023, as long 

as they are accompanied by at least one 

adult. And the offer is available to school 

groups too! 

Recharging batteries by enjoying the 

view and the nature 

The Europa Rundweg circular trail, which 

circles the striking silhouette of Hoher 

Kasten, offers exceptional views in all 

directions. From here, you can see over 

300 mountain peaks, including the Säntis, 

the endless green meadows of Appenzell 

and the Rhine River which flows into the 

Lake of Constance. Resting benches, free 

telescopes and various panoramic platforms 

awaits you along the trail. The circular trail 

is easily accessible for families with buggies 

and people with mobility issues. 

Along the circular trail, in a unique alpine 

garden, over 300 species of plants unfold 

their colourful splendour. In spring, when 

the plants awake from their hibernation, 

they are particularly beautiful. With 15 

information boards alongside the trail, 

adults and children can investigate the 

alpine nature and its native plants. 

Revolving restaurant and 

culinary delights 

Another highlight at the summit is the only 

revolving restaurant in the eastern part of 

Switzerland. Within an hour, six countries 

and some of their famous mountain peaks 

pass by. In the revolving restaurant you, not 

only, will be spoiled by the breath-taking 

360-degree view, but also with regional 

and seasonal delicacies. Friendly hosts and 

all-around a great atmosphere will conclude 

your experience at Hoher Kasten. 

Starting point to a hiker’s paradise 

The Alpstein region has the densest network 

of hiking trails in Switzerland and is 

therefore a true hiker’s paradise. Whether a 

leisurely valley walk, a strenuous mountain 

hike or a spectacular panoramic trail, the 

Hoher Kasten area has it all and is the ideal 

starting point to explore further into the 

Alpstein region. On the mountain summit, 

you have a bird’s eye view over the region 

and can see how the hiking trails wind 

along the mountain ranges. 

Family hike to Lake Forstseeli 

If you opt for a valley hike, the familyfriendly 

hiking trail leads you from Hoher 

Kasten via the mountain Kamor to Lake 

Forstseeli and back via Resspass and 

Ruhesitz, with the inn of the same name, 

to Brülisau. From green meadows, to pine 

forests and moorlands, the vegetation 

changes steadily along the trail. You should 

definitely plan a stop at the dreamy lake 

Forstseeli, where a fireplace awaits you. 

Here you can enjoy a waterside picnic and 

relax while listening to the birds chirping. 

Relaxing moments and 

adventurous descent 

Another option is to hike to the shimmering 

lake Sämtisersee. The green-blue lake 

nestled between steep rocky flanks can 

already be seen from the summit. After a 

short, steep stretch from the Hoher Kasten 

to the Kastensattel, the route continues 

towards the inn at Staubern and down to 

the Sämtisersee. From there you can either 

take the route via the Plattenbödeli inn or 

via the Ruhesitz inn back to Brülisau. The 

route via the Ruhesitz inn is doubtlessly 

more adventurous since the last part can be 

covered at your leisure with scooters. 

A journey through earth’s 

geological history 

Furthermore, Switzerland’s first geological 

hiking trail starts on the Hoher Kasten. This 

hike is more challenging and it is essential 

to wear mountain boots with non-slip soles 

and not to suffer from fear of heights. 

The mountain hiking trail runs along the 

gentle but partly exposed ridge from Hoher 

Kasten through to the Staubern inn and 

further on to the Bollenwees inn. Along the 

way, the panorama trail offers interesting 

insights into the geological development of 

the Alpstein region as well as first-class views 

in all directions. Particularly impressive is 

the view of the imposing rock formations 

of the Kreuzberge and the two mountain 

lakes, Fälensee and Sämtisersee. 


Let’s Talk 

About 

Relationships 

and Sex 

Education 

WRITTEN BY HEALTHFIRST MIDWIFE, MAGS SHELDON 

I 

was 13 years old and sitting in a biology lab with the other girls 

in my class. We had been separated from the boys for a lesson 

that we all assumed was about sex education. We had high 

hopes for this highly anticipated lesson because sex was not a topic 

many of us could talk about with our parents. Our biology teacher 

entered the lab, pale and sweating. She pulled a high stool out from 

behind one of the benches and sat down in front of us. Staring 

at the floor, she monosyllabically delivered the following, wellrehearsed, 

short speech. “You should only have sex with one person 

in your life, your husband. Sex is not pleasurable, it’s awkward and 

painful, but bearable because it’s over in seconds, it’s something 

you just have to endure, and you only have to do it if you want to 

have a baby.” One of the more confident girls in the group raised 

her hand, only to be told to put it down, questions were not allowed 

and there was nothing about ‘it’ in our upcoming biology test. So, 

there it was, my first and only sex education lesson at my Catholic 

comprehensive school in Scotland. I left the lesson believing that 

sex was something to be afraid of, that it was dirty and shameful, 

and I distinctly remember turning to the girl next to me and saying, 

“Well, I am never doing that!” 

My experience, unfortunately, is a common one. In the 1980s, 

we did not have many opportunities to look for answers. Today 

the world is a different place. The way young people interact with 

the world has fundamentally changed. They have never known 

anything other than the Internet-driven reality of the 21st century. 

Generation Z is the generation that learns about everything online, 

including sex and relationships, and has instant access to a 24/7 

information superhighway. Using a framework for Relationships 

and Sex Education (RSE) that was developed before the invention 

of TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram just does not appeal to the 

young people of today. 

When our children are growing up, we see it our job as parents 

or caregivers to keep them healthy and safe. We teach them to 

wear a seatbelt, wear a helmet, use sunscreen, and not to eat too 

many sweets. We teach them how to take care of their bodies and 

get along with others. But why don’t we have the same philosophy 

when it comes to the sexual health of our children? 

RSE is the teaching and learning about a wide range of topics 

related to sex, sexuality, and relationships, such as puberty, 


eproduction, contraception, relationships, sexual violence, and 

gender. RSE can be conducted at home by parents/caregivers, in 

schools by teachers, or it can be outsourced to specialised educators. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states, “Comprehensive 

sexuality education plays a central role in the preparation of young people for a 

safe, productive and fulfilling life in a world where HIV and AIDS, sexually 

transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence and gender 

inequality still pose a serious threat to their well-being.” 1 According to 

UNESCO’s International guidance on sexuality education, only 

34% of young people worldwide know about HIV prevention and 

transmission and in some countries, two out of three girls have 

no idea what happens to them when they menstruate. 2 Because 

of this lack of education, many people entering adulthood do not 

know how to protect their bodies during sexual activity, how to 

help reduce sexual violence, and how to have consensual, respectful 

relationships. How can we ensure that our young people are 

educated, smart, healthy, and safe if we do not adequately inform 

them so they can make good choices for themselves? 

RSE has become a hot topic in many countries, with inaccurate 

and sensational headlines responding to very emotive issues. Media 

coverage often misrepresents what is happening in schools and 

raises doubts about the validity and appropriateness of topics 

discussed, as well as the credibility of teachers. Ultimately, this 

can lead to some parents taking their children out of RSE classes 

altogether. One of their main arguments being that RSE informs 

young people about sexual activities that they would not otherwise 

know about. For example, it is argued that discussing pornography 

makes young people more likely to view it, or that comprehensive 

education encourages early sexual activity. 

According to the American College of Obstetricians and 

Gynecologists’ Committee on Adolescent Health Care, numerous 

studies over the past 20 years have consistently shown that 

comprehensive RSE in schools does not encourage young people 

to have sex earlier, or more often. 3 When RSE is implemented in 

a safe and supportive learning environment, it has been shown to 

have many positive and lifelong effects on young adult’s health and 



ADVERTORIAL 

“Good communication and opportunities for parents to ask questions helps build trust in the 

curriculum and is critical to avoid the withdrawal of students from RSE lessons.” 

well-being. The college goes on to add that, “studies have demonstrated 

that comprehensive sexuality education programs reduce the rates of sexual 

activity, sexual risk behaviors (e.g., number of partners and unprotected 

intercourse), sexually transmitted infections, and adolescent pregnancy.” 4 

Some argue that it is the parents’ job to educate young people 

about relationships and sex, not schools. But leaving this to 

parents assumes that they have the confidence, understanding, 

and knowledge to talk openly with their children about these often 

sensitive and complex topics. While parents play a key role in 

shaping their children’s views about sexual behaviour, they often 

underestimate their role in educating their children about sex. As 

a result, many adolescents report that they talk little, or not at all, 

with their parents about sex. Many parents feel they need support 

and/or professional expertise to guide the way. 

Parents should have every opportunity to understand the purpose 

and content of a RSE programme and the school’s approach. 

Good communication and opportunities for parents to ask 

questions helps build trust in the curriculum and is critical to avoid 

the withdrawal of students from RSE lessons. 

As a midwife with more than twenty years’ experience teaching 

RSE in International schools in Switzerland, I take my role very 

seriously. I firmly believe that comprehensive, age-appropriate 

RSE provides young people with the knowledge they need in 

order to develop from childhood into adulthood, equipped with 

the information required to make healthy and responsible choices 

for themselves. I witness first-hand young people’s need for this 

knowledge. When given the opportunity they engage, debate, and 

discuss issues in a safe environment with an experienced, nonjudgmental, 

and credible educator. 

As parents and educators, we must recognise that RSE is a 

complex and rapidly evolving field that is often challenging for 

parents and educators, but it is a challenge we need to address to 

ensure that our young people are educated appropriately. Effective 

RSE requires close collaboration between parents, schools, and 

RSE providers. The world has changed and RSE must evolve and 

adapt to meet the needs of schools, parents, and the young people 

of today. 

References 

1 https://www.who.int/publications/m/ 

item/9789231002595 

2 https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/why-comprehensivesexuality-education-important 

3 https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committeeopinion/articles/2016/11/comprehensive-sexuality-education, 

4 https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committeeopinion/articles/2016/11/comprehensive-sexuality-education 


ADVERTORIAL 

GIVE YOUR 

CHILD AN 

Unforgettable 

SUMMER 

Imagine your child learning English 

and enjoying activities carefully crafted 

to provide the ultimate summer 

experience. Nestled along the French 

border and a stone’s throw from Germany, 

St Charles College offers a uniquely Swiss 

experience for students aged between 10 

and 18. 

St Charles was founded in 1897 and 

since then has offered students high-quality 

education while developing the attributes of 

kindness, respect, and responsibility towards 

others and the environment. 

These same attributes are also evident 

in their Summer Programme. The 

programme welcomes young people of all 

English language abilities – beginners are 

nurtured and supported to build confidence, 

whereas students with greater competency 

are pushed to articulate themselves and 


ADVERTORIAL 

communicate at a more sophisticated level. 

The Summer Programme runs for either 

two or four weeks, beginning early July. 

Your child will have their days filled with a 

balance of study and activities promoting 

use of language, social interaction, cultural 

learnings, and a great deal of fun. 

Five days per week, your child will begin 

their school day with three hours of English 

instruction. In these classes students focus 

on all aspects of the English language, 

tailored to their individual needs and level. 

In addition, students also have an hour 

a day to work on their personal project 

where among other things, they learn about 

leadership and entrepreneurship. 

Equipping children with real world 

skills is important to St Charles. Reflecting 

this, students are placed in groups for an 

hour each day to learn about - and put 

into practice - Social media marketing. 

Each week groups are given a different 

assignment based on what they have learnt 

in class. 

Summer programmes by definition must 

provide participants with ample opportunity 

to enjoy summer! Once classes are done, 

students take part in an exceptional range 

of afternoon and evening activities. 

St Charles aim is to get children to 

try something new – perhaps find a 

new hobby or even lead them towards a 

future career. Afternoon activities include 

sports like swimming, climbing and horse 

riding, excursions to cities and towns in 

Switzerland, France and Germany, a 

masterclass with the resident French Chef, 

visits to local chocolate and cheese factories 

or even something as unique as Alpaca 

yoga! Afternoon activities usually take place 


off campus, giving students exposure to 

their picturesque surroundings. 

Evening activities are held on campus. 

These activities have been carefully selected 

to help students wind down and relax before 

bed. The evening programme includes 

things such as a magic workshop led by a 

professional magician, or a film screening in 

our purpose-built, full-size cinema. 

Each Tuesday and Friday students also 

participate in full day excursions. These 

trips can be loosely divided into two 

categories: A cultural experience and a 

Sport or Adventure activity. 

The Tuesday excursion is open to all 

students and is included in the camp 

programme. For example, students will 

spend the day exploring Lausanne, 

including the Olympic Museum and lunch 

on the shores of Lake Geneva.

ADVERTORIAL 

On Friday’s students pick between two 

options: a Friday field trip or the “Big 

Friday Adventure”. The Friday field trip 

is included in the programme and is a 

fun activity such as a day enjoying Lake 

Biel and its surrounds including paddle 

boarding, sailing and a variety of other 

water and nature-based activities. 

The “Big Friday Adventure” is an 

optional activity that is not included in 

the programme fee. Students who elect 

to join the Big Friday Adventure head 

off on a special excursion. This could 

be to Disneyland Paris or Europa Park 

in Germany, or even hot air ballooning! 

Students also have the chance to assemble 

their own Swiss watch at an exclusive 

watchmaker. For families wanting a very 

special keepsake, your child can select to 

create their own watch to take home. 

With more than 120 years providing 

outstanding, holistic education and support 

to students, it is St Charles’ pleasure to offer 

young people from all over the world a truly 

meaningful summer experience that they 

will cherish for many years to come. 

For more information on the Summer 

Programme, visit www.st-charles.com or 

contact St Charles directly for personalised 

service and recommendations. 

Under the banner of Supporting Growth, Saint-Charles does everything possible to make 

future young adults into citizens of the world. Saint-Charles emphasises curiosity and a 

sense of tolerance and freedom, and constantly seeks a balance between tradition and the 

avant-garde. 

College & Lycée Saint-Charles welcomes 180 students from primary to high school level. 

The Swiss curriculum is taught bilingually in French and English from age 10 to 18, 

leading to the Swiss Matura certificate in French or bilingual French and English. As an IB 

World School, we offer the Middle Years programme in English in Years 

8, 9 and 10 and the Diploma programme in Years 11 and 12. We are 

one of the best boarding schools in Switzerland with a unique approach 

to teaching and learning where all students can succeed in a caring, 

optimistic and encouraging environment. 


your 

IS 

SCHOOL 

FEATURED? 

www.internationalschoolparent.com 

• Talk directly to parents looking to enrol their children 

• Showcase your school with a detailed description, video, photos, and inbound 

links. 

• Access analytics reports to gain valuable insights into your school’s online 

performance. 

• Keep parents informed by sending school updates 

to our extensive database. 

• Stay up-to-date by updating your school guide 

with the latest information whenever needed. 

• Make use of our blog throughout the year, 

ensuring your school remains in the limelight. 

CONTACT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL PARENT MAGAZINE: 

NICK@INTERNATIONALSCHOOLPARENT.COM OR CALL +41 787 10 80 91

MY CHILD’S FRIEND IS 

TRANSGENDER. 

HOW DO I SUPPORT THEM 

WHEN THEIR PARENTS WON’T? 

WRITTEN BY CATH BREW 


“Many transgender adults talk 

about knowing as a child that 

they were trans but didn’t feel 

safe to share with anyone or 

do anything about it until well 

into adulthood.” 

age 4. Most transgender children first 

experience gender dysphoria between 

3 and 7 years 2 with greater numbers by 

age 13. Furthermore, just because a trans 

child hasn’t voiced dysphoria, doesn’t 

mean they’re not experiencing it. Many 

transgender adults talk about knowing as a 

child that they were trans but didn’t feel safe 

to share with anyone or do anything about 

it until well into adulthood. 

It is also critical to highlight that you 

should never assume that a child knows they 

are trans or even if they have come ‘out’ 

to you, that their own parents know. The 

following guidance only relates to situations 

where children have voiced that they are 

transgender. 

Parenting is probably the toughest 

job there is. What’s also tough, but 

much less talked about is seeing 

a child in another family be rejected for 

who they are. Unfortunately for many 

transgender children this is their reality. 

What do you do when that child is your 

child’s friend? Can you help? Do you 

ignore it because it’s not your business? Will 

support offend the parents? Depending on 

what issues are prominent, as well as the age 

of the child(ren), there are several options 

available to you. 

Firstly, it’s important to understand some 

basic facts about gender. 

When Does Gender Identity Develop In 

A Child? 

One of the arguments often raised against 

trans kids is that children are too young to 

know about their gender identity. When 

people say this, they unconsciously link 

gender to sexual development. This is not 

correct. 

A child’s gender identity begins around 

2 or 3 years 1 and is locked in around 


What Does Support Look Like And How 

Do I Go About It? 

We all know that it’s a social ‘no no’ to 

comment on another person’s parenting. 

You never know the full story, there’s great 

risk of causing offence and emotions get 

triggered easily when your opinion hasn’t 

been asked for. 

Unsurprisingly, there is no one golden 

answer. Support is about understanding 

the nuanced pinch points. What are the 

child’s stressors? What are their parents’ 

stressors, and where do they clash with their 

child’s needs? Each situation has its own 

unique context, but there is a path through 

that means you’re supporting practically, 

sensitively and discreetly as needed. 

Interactions with the other parents: 

• Don’t judge without knowing their 

story 

Every parent reacts differently to their child 

being transgender. Some support from day 

one, others don’t cope well initially but 

with time become affirming parents, whilst 

others never accept their transgender child. 

When you first meet the family, you will not 

know where they are at in their journey. 

It’s important to allow the parents space to

process what is this means as parents, for 

their child and the family generally. 

• Moderate your words for heightened 

emotions 

When parents are non-affirming, 

emotions are often heightened. It’s wise to 

communicate more astutely. Yes, you want 

to be trans affirming, but offering an overtly 

positive opinion may trigger an emotional 

reaction that severs your connection. More 

subtle verbal affirmations will help maintain 

the opportunity for you to positively 

influence in the future. For example, 

“Sunita [your child] loves having Mimi as 

a friend. They both get on so well” or “It’s 

been so lovely to see Mimi recently.” 

• Don’t focus on the child’s gender 

Behave how you would for any of your 

child’s friends. Ask the parents over for a 

BBQ, offer to carpool, arrange sleep overs, 

“Explaining to your teenager your desire to 

support their friend can help prevent things 

getting lost in translation.” 

suggest a picnic in the park etc. Apart from 

these activities being fun, your behaviour 

normalises being trans. Essentially, all that 

is happening is that your child has a new 

friend and you’re being a parent. 

Interactions with the transgender child: 

• Making your home a safe space 

This is probably the most important action 

you can take when supporting a transgender 

child whose parents are not trans-affirming. 

For younger children being friendly, kind 

and welcoming is all they need. They 

know by your behaviour that you accept 

them. The same applies for teenagers, 

but a conversation is also a great way to 

emphasise the point. For example, “I want 

you to know you are always welcome in our 

home.” A trans kid knows what this really 

means, and it creates an opening for future 

conversations. Having a safe adult to talk to 

can be life changing. 

• Talking about pronouns 

A great way to show that you’re an ally is to 

introduce yourself with your pronouns. “Hi, 

I’m Mariam. My pronouns are she/her”. 

This is EVERYTHING but doesn’t require 

the child to do the same if they feel unsafe. 

With their own pronouns, be aware that 

many non-affirming parents vehemently 

oppose their child using different pronouns. 

In the UK, Australia, Austria and many 

other countries, schoolteachers are not 

1) https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gender-fluidity-what-it-means-and-why-support-matters-2020120321544 

2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8766261/ 



allowed to use ‘they’ pronouns for students 

under 16 years without their parents’ 

permission. While teachers are accountable 

to professional teaching standards, it 

highlights the complexity of navigating 

allyship and the wellbeing of trans teens’ in 

the context of parental rights. 

So, do you not ask trans teens for their 

pronouns then? Not exactly. It’s more 

nuanced. Start with, ‘how do your parents 

feel about pronouns?’. Just the fact that 

you’ve asked may enough for them. Keep 

in mind that they know best about what’s 

safe and what’s not within their family. 

Depending on what they next say, you may 

choose to further ask, “how should I refer 

to you when you’re with your parents?” and 

“when you’re in our home?”. Ultimately, 

however, you are not the child’s parents. 

You need to know your rights and expect 

that parental kickback may come because 

of these conversations. 

• Offer relief from a stressful home 

Give them respite from a stressful home, 

by arranging play dates and socialising 

away from their home. Let the kids know in 

advance too! This will help reduce anxiety 

about weekends at home or worrying about 

several weeks of school holidays. 

Interactions with your child: 

• Share in their excitement 

Be excited by their new friend in the same 

way you would for any friend. Matching 

their level of excitement is really affirming 

for your relationship and also for their new 

friendship. 

• Share your intentions of allyship 

Explaining to your teenager your desire to 

support their friend can help prevent things 

getting lost in translation. When working in 

international schools, teenagers have shared 

concerns with me about their parents asking 

questions about their friends’ sexuality 

and gender. They assumed their parents 

were anti LGBTQ+. It never dawned on 

them that they might ask (no matter how 

awkwardly) so they could be a great ally to 

their friends. Be clear with your intentions, 

“Kasia, I’d really like to let Erin know that 


our home is a safe space for them. Would 

that be okay with you?”. Talking to your 

teenager like this makes them feel valued 

and lets them know unambiguously that you 

are LGBTQ+ affirming. 

• Open for talking anytime 

Let your child know that they can talk to 

you anytime about anything. An older child 

is likely to be their friend’s primary support 

and may need an outlet to discuss through 

any issues. 

And if you’re worrying about making 

a mistake, don’t be. If it happens, just 

apologise and move on. When it comes 

to trans youth, the statistics show that the 

greater mistake is not trying at all. Trans 

youth need our support more than ever 

right now. 

“Becoming ourselves is a 

collective journey.” 

- Alok Vaid-Menon 

Beyond the Gender Binary

Putting HealthFirst: 

for everyone, everywhere 

We deliver a comprehensive 

approach to well-being through: 

• Physical health awareness 

programmes 

• Mental health workshops 

• First Aid training 

Companies, organisations, schools and individuals trust 

us to empower them to stay healthy, happy and safe 

www.healthfirst.ch

Selecting a Tutor for Your Child 

TOP TIPS FROM THE 

EXPERTS AT EDEN TUTORS 

As a parent, 

how can you 

ensure that 

you have chosen the 

perfect tutor for your 

child? With numerous 

websites advertising 

tutors, the task of finding a 

reliable, friendly, and knowledgeable tutor 

can be overwhelming. As more parents 

consider hiring tutors to bridge educational 

gaps or provide additional challenges 

beyond the classroom, it becomes crucial to 

approach experienced professionals in the 

field. 

Frustrated by the ineffectiveness of 

education accessible to students within the 

state education system, Hannah Benwell 

and Rebecca Nuthall founded Eden 

Tutors in 2021. Their goal was to offer the 

highest quality tuition and a personalised 

education programme tailored to individual 

requirements. They work with clients both 

in the United Kingdom and internationally 

by providing face to face and online tuition. 

Hannah and Rebecca believe that 

education is not just about academic 

success, their holistic approach considers 

the whole child, including their emotional 

and social wellbeing. We had the pleasure 

of interviewing Hannah and Rebecca who 

shared their tips on finding a first-class tutor. 

What is more important, qualifications or 

experience? 

Ideally, a great tutor would possess a 

combination of both experience and 

qualifications. However, it ultimately 

depends on the individual situation and 

the specific requirements of the student. 


At Eden Tutors, we have carefully selected 

a team of exceptional educators. There 

is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach and we 

carefully assess each candidate based on 

their experience, qualifications and ability 

to build rapport with pupils. 

Experience brings practical knowledge 

and a deep understanding of the subject 

matter, as well as insights into various 

teaching methods and approaches. 

An experienced tutor is likely to have 

encountered a range of student challenges 

and developed effective strategies to address 

them. They will also possess valuable 

interpersonal skills honed through years of 

working with students. Teaching methods 

have evolved substantially over the past 

years and just having a degree in a subject 

does not necessarily mean that a tutor will 

be able to teach it in a clear and concise

“A competent tutor goes beyond merely utilising resources; 

they actively engage with their students, dedicating time to 

discuss and work through the materials together.” 

way. It is important to ensure that your 

tutor has teaching credentials (or, at least, 

is familiar with the most recent curriculum) 

and has first-hand experience teaching 

students of your child’s age in their subject. 

Our philosophy is to inspire our 

students by exposing them to inspirational 

educators who go beyond purely instilling 

knowledge, but provide a grounding in life 

that will take them beyond the classroom. 

Fostering ambition is a crucial element of 

a child’s education and the guidance of a 

‘tutoring role model’ will help develop their 

aspirations and create a hunger for goals 

and challenges. 

How can I make sure the learning 

experience is tailored to my child? 

Tutors possess an extensive collection 

of teaching aids, such as worksheets, 

books, and other resources, which play 

an important role in your child’s learning. 

However, these materials represent just 

a small part of an exceptional tutoring 

experience as a whole. A competent tutor 

goes beyond merely utilising these resources; 

they actively engage with their students, 

dedicating time to discuss and work through 

the materials together. This involves 

asking follow-up questions, confirming 

comprehension, and drawing relevant 

examples from their own experiences to 

enhance the learning process. 

I don’t know the tutor; how can I 

safeguard my child? 

The focus on DBS checking remains central 

in discussions surrounding safeguarding 

and child protection, rightfully gaining 

increased attention. While this check cannot 

guarantee future behaviour, it does ensure 

that individuals with a criminal history 

cannot easily conceal it. It may come as a 

surprise that not all individuals participating 

in events involving children are obligated to 

possess a DBS Certificate. At Eden Tutors, 

we prioritise safeguarding and recognise 

that child safety is a shared responsibility. 

Each tutor undergoes a thorough 

interview process, an Enhanced DBS 

Check, comprehensive vetting, reference 

verification, and confirmation of academic 

qualifications. 

You advise families on hiring the best 

possible tutors for their children, what 

advice would you give to our readers? 

When selecting a tutor, it is important to 

consider a wide range of factors, including 

a tutor’s underlying purpose for supporting 

students on a one-to-one basis. It is essential 

that your tutor considers your child’s 

learning as the utmost priority, enabling 

them to achieve their academic aims. A 

tutor should be able to demonstrate great 

versatility, eager to teach a range of subjects 

within the curriculum. Their constant 

focus should be on supporting their 

students to develop more broadly, including 

boosting their self-esteem, expanding their 


horizons, cultivating a love of learning, 

and developing practical skills like time 

management and handling pressurised 

circumstances like exams. They should 

also be dependable, particularly in terms 

of punctuality, politeness, and effective 

communication. Above all, as a parent, you 

possess the deepest understanding of your 

child, and your intuition will guide you in 

determining whether a tutor is the perfect 

match for them. 

If you would like to discuss private tuition 

for your child, contact Eden Tutors: 

01344 508077 / info@eden-tutors.co.uk 

/ www.eden-tutors.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL 

Novartis Pavillon located 

park south campus 

What’s going on in Basel 

© Mathias Mangold 

Basel, Switzerland is a charming 

city that boasts a rich cultural 

heritage, stunning architecture, 

and a vibrant art scene. But it’s during the 

summer months that Basel truly comes 

alive, as tourists flock to the city to soak up 

the sunshine, enjoy the warm weather, and 

explore all that this picturesque destination 

has to offer. From strolling along the banks 

The annual summer party 

of the Rhine River to visiting worldrenowned 

museums and galleries, there’s no 

shortage of things for families to do and see 

in Basel during the summer. In this article, 

we’ll take a closer look at some of the top 

2023 summer tourist attractions in Basel, as 

well as provide tips and recommendations 

for making the most of your trip to this 

beautiful Swiss city. 

1Basquiat. The Modena Paintings 

11 JUNE – 27 AUGUST 2023 

In 1982, Jean-Michel Basquiat created 

a series of large-scale paintings for his 

first solo exhibition in Modena, Italy. 

Unfortunately, the show was cancelled 

before its opening, and the artworks were 

never displayed together. Over 40 years 

later, the Fondation Beyeler has curated 

a unique exhibition that reunites these 

masterpieces, which are now dispersed 

across collections in the United States, Asia, 

and Switzerland. 

2Fondation Beyeler Summer Party 

Saturday, 12 August 2023, 

10a.m.–10p.m. 

That’s summer: going to the park to bask 

in the sun, learning something new at a 

workshop, exploring the region’s culinary 

delights, taking guided tours of exhibitions, 

and dancing to live music in the open air – 

all in a single day at the Fondation Beyeler. 

3Kunstmuseum Basel 

Shirley Jaffe – Form as Experiment 

Born in New Jersey in 1923, Shirley Jaffe 


ADVERTORIAL 

moved to Paris in 1949. Having soon 

established herself in the city, she held 

regular contact with the American “art 

expats” Norman Bluhm, Sam Francis, 

and Joan Mitchell. Her work dating from 

this period may be attributed to Abstract 

Expressionism, a form that consisted 

primarily of wildly applied fields of colour 

and gestures. 

In 1963 Jaffe relocated to West Berlin 

for a year. Over the course of her stay, her 

work became more monochromatic and 

geometric, like Lego pieces or brightly 

coloured paper snippets. From 1969 

onwards, Jaffe resided in Paris where she 

was to remain until her death in 2016. 

Programme: 

Manyness – A five-hour happening with 

music by Xenakis, Stockhausen, and others 

Fri, 14.4. and Sat, 15.4., 13–18 Uhr, 

Neubau, free of charge 

Fri, 12.5. and Sat, 13.5., 13–18 Uhr, 

Neubau, free of charge 

4Vitra Campus: 

The Vitra Campus near Basel is a mustvisit 

for design and architecture enthusiasts. 

Explore buildings by world-renowned 

architects, see the latest exhibition at 

the Vitra Design Museum, witness the 

handcrafted fabrication of the iconic 

Lounge Chair by Charles and Ray Eames, 

and find inspiration for your own home at 

the VitraHaus flagship store. The Campus 

seamlessly combines the commercial and 

cultural aspects of Vitra, a Swiss furniture 

manufacturer founded in 1934 as a 

shopfitting business. After a major fire in 

1981, the family-run company embraced 

the opportunity to rebuild the premises in 

collaboration with leading architects. 

5Vitra Design Museum 

The Vitra Design Museum, the 

Wüstenrot Foundation, and the Nieuwe 

Instituut are co-hosting an exhibition 

called “Garden Futures: Designing with 

Nature” from March 25 to October 3, 

2023. Gardens have become places of 

avant-garde experimentation and symbolic 

potential for cultures, identities, dreams, 

and visions. The exhibition explores the 

history and future of modern gardens, 

examining where today’s garden ideals 

come from and their potential for achieving 

a sustainable and liveable future for 

everyone. Through a diverse range of 

“From strolling along the banks of the Rhine River to visiting 

world-renowned museums and galleries, there’s no shortage of 

things for families to do and see in Basel during the summer.” 

examples in landscape architecture, design, 

and everyday culture, visitors can see how 

gardens have evolved to promote social 

justice, biodiversity, and sustainability, 

from community gardens to vertical urban 

farms. The exhibition architecture had be 

designed by the renowned Italian design 

duo Formafantasma. 

6Museum Tinguely 

La roue = c’est tout - 

New permanent exhibition 

8 February 2023 — Spring 2025 

Get ready for some serious jolliness and 

excitement at the Museum Tinguely! This 

incredible museum boasts the world’s 

largest collection of works by the legendary 

Jean Tinguely, featuring a whopping 130 

sculptures and around 2000 works on paper. 

And get this: half of the museum is always 

reserved for the permanent exhibition! 

But hold onto your hats because in 2023, 

something extra special is happening. For 

the first time since the museum’s founding 

in 1996, the entire main hall on the ground 

floor will be taken up by the show. Starting 

February 8, visitors can explore the delicate 

poetry of Tinguely’s early work, the 

explosive performances, and collaborations 

of the 1960s, and the dark, monumental 

musicality of his late period. 

And that’s not all - the new permanent 

exhibition features a recently purchased key 

Jean Tinguely, Eloge à la Folie, 

1966, Installation view at Museum Tinguely, Basel 2023. 

work from the 1960s, Tinguely’s Eloge de 

la folie (1966). It’s prominently placed at 

the entrance to the museum, underscoring 

the importance of interdisciplinary projects 

within Tinguely’s oeuvre. So, what are you 

waiting for? Get ready to be blown away by 

the epicness of Museum Tinguely and Jean 

Tinguely’s unparalleled talent! 

6Novartis Pavillon 

The Novartis Pavillon is an awesome 

addition to our Novartis Campus in Basel 

and it’s the perfect spot for families to 

gather and learn together. Not only is it a 

new exhibition, meeting, and event centre, 

but it’s also open to the public, so everyone 

can join in on the fun! 

This is a unique opportunity to connect 

with our community and neighbours in 

Switzerland and Basel. We’re committed 

to learning together and having a dialogue 

about science and the future of healthcare. 

Who knows, maybe your little ones will be 

inspired to become the next generation of 

scientists or healthcare professionals! 

So come on down and let’s explore the 

Novartis Pavillon together. It’s a great way 

to spend some quality family time and learn 

about some exciting new developments in 

science and healthcare. We can’t wait to see 

you there! 

The Novartis Pavillon is located in the 

Park South of the Novartis Campus Basel 

©2023 by Daniel Spehr 


ADVERTORIAL 

© EHL 

SOFT SKILLS FOR TEENAGERS: 

The Keys to Future Success 

To prepare teenagers for their future studies and careers, it’s important to focus on developing 

soft skills. Luckily, building these skills can be quite fun and enlightening for teens. 

Soft skills are increasingly important 

in today’s world. From effective 

communication to leadership and 

teamwork, soft skills play a critical role 

in personal and professional success. 

Fortunately, there are many ways to help 

teens nurture these essential skill sets at 

home and through educational programs. 

Switzerland offers some great options for 

soft skill development. Here’s everything 

you need to know about soft skills for 

teenagers, along with some ways to build 

these skills. 

The Importance of Soft Skills 

Soft skills are a set of valuable personal 

attributes and interpersonal abilities. Soft 

skills have become increasingly important 

as automation and technology continue to 

change the nature of work, making skills 

such as communication, collaboration, 

adaptability, and leadership critical for 

success. 

The World Economic Forum suggests 

that by 2025, skills such as persuasion, 

emotional intelligence, and teaching others 

will be in higher demand than technical 

skills in many industries. Similarly, a survey 

by LinkedIn found that over 90% of 

talent professionals consider soft skills as 

important or more important than hard 

skills when making hiring decisions. 

Having excellent soft skills opens up 

international career opportunities in any 

people-focused fields including healthcare, 

education, business, entrepreneurship, 

non-profit, and service industries. In 

Switzerland, schools such as EHL 

Hospitality Business School are ranked 

among the best in the world by hiring 

managers because graduates demonstrate a 

mastery of these in-demand soft skills. 


Developing Soft Skills in Teens 

Soft skills are not taught in books, 

and they are not inherent qualities of 

one’s personality. Soft skills are learned 

behaviours and attitudes that people 

develop through observation and 

experience. In the case of teenagers, soft 

skills are most easily acquired by observing 

and practicing them in real-life situations. 

The EHL bachelor’s degree experience 

includes hands-on courses, internships, and 

industry exposure giving students valuable 

transferrable soft skills. 

For example, hands-on hospitality 

workshops done in the school’s kitchens 

and restaurants allow students to work 

on teamwork, time management, and 

adaptability. In Student Business Projects, 

students serve as junior consultants for real 

companies. They practice critical thinking, 

creativity, communication, leadership,

ADVERTORIAL 

teamwork, and persuasion. On internships, 

in real-world hospitality settings, they get 

to practice these skills in the workplace. 

EHL also encourages students to practice 

leadership and cultural sensitivity by 

participating in student-led cultural and 

sports committees among a student body 

with over 120 nationalities. 

How Softs Skills are Taught 

Teenagers need both practice and 

experience to build soft skills for their future 

careers. At EHL, our faculty members 

and student life experiences nurture this 

learning process in fun and interactive ways. 

Embracing feedback and reflection: 

Faculty members give students constructive 

criticism and encourage them to selfevaluate. 

In hospitality workshops students 

receive personalised feedback from teachers 

after the meal service or activity is complete. 

Fostering independence and 

responsibility: To help teens develop 

self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and 

initiative, it’s best to let them take the reins. 

Students build these skills by organising 

and setting up events. They plan and 

execute events to raise funds for the student 

committees. 

Modelling good communication 

and interpersonal skills: EHL 

faculty members are industry-seasoned 

professionals and empathetic educators. 

They model active listening and clear 

communication, and they use real-world 

examples to teach strategies for better 

communication and conflict resolution. 

Promoting extracurricular activities: 

ports, school clubs, and volunteering 

activities allow teens to practice soft skills in 

a non-academic setting. EHL encourages 

students to be leaders in these activities by 

giving them the responsibility of managing 

their student-run committees like a business. 

Gaining exposure to different 

cultures: This helps teens to develop 

adaptability, empathy, and cultural 

awareness. Living, learning, and travelling 

with fellow students from around the world 

and going to local or international cultural 

events are great for this. 

Programs that Build Soft Skills 

When helping teens choose a career major, 

university, and study location, soft skills 

should not be overlooked. Switzerland is 

a great place to start! Switzerland has one 

of the world’s best education systems and 

it’s the home of the top-ranking hospitality 

schools on the planet. 

Offered in Switzerland and Singapore, 

EHL’s Bachelor of Science in International 

Hospitality Management delivers a 

curriculum of dual excellence that 

balances premium hospitality training 

with challenging academic courses. This 

combination prepares students to be wellrounded 

professionals attuned to customer 

needs. Every year, top international 

companies such as Apple, LVMH, L’Oréal, 

Proctor & Gamble, Tesla, and many others, 

EHL Hospitality Business School 

TOP TEN 

skill sets 

2030 

actively recruit EHL graduates for their mix 

of soft skills and business know-how. 

EHL also offers the EHL Academy, a preuniversity 

program that builds teens’ soft 

skills while preparing them for admission 

to the bachelor’s degree. The EHL Junior 

Academy gives teens a chance to explore 

hospitality career options through handson 

workshops and excursions. Taught by 

experts from the hospitality industry, the 

examples and activities are both amusing 

and educational, showing teens how to use 

their soft skills effectively. 

Founded in 1893 as Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne, EHL is the world’s leading university for 

hospitality business education, research, and innovation. With campuses in Switzerland and 

Singapore, EHL offers a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management that 

is the best in its field, according to international school rankings and industry employers. 

The Junior Academy is a challenging, yet fun set of pre-university summer programs that 

introduce teens to hospitality-related careers and businesses while growing their soft skills 

and cultural awareness. EHL also offers graduate-level degrees and professional training 

programs for students of all ages. 

FOR 

(According to EHL research) 

Communication 

Critical thinking 

Creativity 

Storytelling 

Sustainability frameworks 

Sustainability strategies 

development 

Problem-solving 

Cultural awareness 

Emotional intelligence 

Time management 

Contact our admission team for more info: admissions@ehl.ch or visit our website at 

Ehl.edu 

© EHL 


© Switzerland Tourism / Jan Geerk 

Fun in the city 

©GenèveTourisme / ©www.geneve.com 

Switzerland is renowned for its scenic 

beauty, picturesque towns, and 

rich cultural heritage. Three cities 

that stand out as must-visit destinations 

for travellers are Bellinzona, Geneva, 

and Winterthur. Each city offers a 

unique experience that combines history, 

architecture, nature, and gastronomy. 

Whether you are looking for a relaxing 

getaway, an adventure-filled trip, or a 

cultural immersion, these Swiss cities have 

something to offer for everyone. In this 

tourism article, we’ll take a closer look at 

what makes these cities such special places 

to visit and what activities and sights you 

can enjoy during your stay. 

Bellinzona – culinary, culture and urban 

Nestled in the heart of Switzerland’s 

beautiful Ticino region, the charming town 

of Bellinzona is a true hidden gem. With its 

fascinating history, stunning natural scenery, 

and vibrant culture, Bellinzona offers an 

unforgettable experience for travellers of all 

kinds. 

One of the town’s most prominent 

attractions is its trio of impressive castles, 

which have been designated a UNESCO 

World Heritage Site. These stunning 

fortresses, including Castelgrande, 

Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro, date back 

to the Middle Ages and offer a glimpse 

into the town’s rich history. Visitors can 

explore the castles’ imposing walls, towers, 

and underground passages, as well as 

soak up stunning panoramic views of the 


surrounding landscape. 

Bellinzona is not just a town for history 

buffs. The town’s colourful weekly market, 

held every Saturday, offers a sensory 

explosion of sights, sounds, and flavours. 

From sun-ripened fruit and local cheese 

specialties to handmade crafts and 

unique household items, the market offers 

something for everyone. Visitors can also 

sample Ticino’s famous bread and sausages, 

crafted using traditional recipes passed 

down through generations. 

For those seeking adventure, Bellinzona 

offers a range of outdoor activities, from 

hiking and cycling to swimming and 

kayaking. The town’s beautiful natural 

surroundings, including the scenic Ticino 

River, provide the perfect backdrop for 

outdoor enthusiasts to explore and discover 

the region’s hidden treasures. 

And when it comes to dining and 

accommodation, Bellinzona does not 

disappoint. The town is home to a range 

of charming inns, cosy bed and breakfasts, 

and luxurious hotels, all offering warm 

hospitality and authentic local cuisine. 

Whether you’re after a traditional Swiss 

fondue or a plate of homemade pasta, 

Bellinzona’s restaurants and cafes are sure 

to tantalise your taste buds. 

Bellinzona is a must-visit destination for 

anyone seeking a unique and authentic 

Swiss experience. With its fascinating 

history, natural beauty, and vibrant culture, 

the town offers something for every 

traveller. So why not add Bellinzona to your 

travel itinerary and discover the hidden gem 

of Ticino for yourself ? 

Geneva – Origin of the Future 

Are you a science enthusiast looking for a 

mind-bending experience? Look no further 

than Geneva, home to the world’s largest 

particle physics laboratory, CERN. With 

a range of fascinating exhibitions, guided 

tours, and even a cycle route, there are 

plenty of ways to engage in the discovery of 

particle physics. 

At the Universe of Particles exhibition, 

delve into the questions that CERN’s 

physicists are working to solve. With the 

entire universe made up of particles, where 

do they come from, and why do they 

behave the way they do? This exhibition 

offers a glimpse into the complex issues that 

scientists are grappling with. 

For a closer look at the massive apparatus 

used by CERN’s physicists, head to the 

Winterthur – Flower Power in Rose Garden 

Winterthur’s Rose Garden is a must-visit destination for flower enthusiasts, 

boasting 2,900 roses of 300 different varieties. Alongside the usual blooms, 

you’ll find rare and historical species such as the French rose, the oldest 

cultivated rose species still in existence, and the stunning Queen of Denmark 

rose with its deep-pink petals. This idyllic spot, located a short walk from the 

old town, provides a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, with 

breathtaking views across Winterthur. 

Originally part of the Reinhart family’s villa garden, the Rose Garden was 

transformed into the floral wonderland we see today to celebrate Winterthur’s 

700th birthday in 1964. The garden’s beauty is enhanced by the presence of two 

ancient oak trees that have grown together to form a natural archway, providing 

a picturesque backdrop for the tea house and benches. Visitors will be delighted 

to find rare species of roses such as the cherry-red “Ulrich Brunner Fils” and the 

world-famous “La France,” which was first cultivated in 1867. Fans of Damask, 

Portland, Bourbon, Centifolia, and Moss roses will also be in for a treat. 

“Whether you are looking for a relaxing getaway, an 

adventure-filled trip, or a cultural immersion, these 

Swiss cities have something to offer for everyone.” 

Microcosm exhibition. Discover how the 

technologies developed by CERN impact 

everyday life, and even interview engineers 

and physicists about their daily work. 

If you’re up for a more immersive 

experience, the Passport to the Big Bang 

cycle path offers an unforgettable journey 

through the LHC circuit at ground level. 

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So why wait? Book a guided tour, reserve 

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©House of Winterthur, Christof Seiler 2016 


FEELS GOOD! 

A checklist to support young 

people’s mental health 

WRITTEN BY DR MICHELLE WRIGHT AND DR MECKY MCNEIL 

When someone says physical 

health, we tend to think of all 

things healthy. However, when 

someone says mental health, we often think 

about illness and distress. At HealthFirst, we 

like to view mental health positively because 

the fact is that we all have it, just as we all 

have physical health as well. 

Mental health is so much more than just 

the absence of mental illness. If we look 

at a definition of from the World Health 

Organisation, they define mental health as: 

“... A state of well-being, in which a person realises 

their own potential, can cope with the normal 

stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully 

and is able to make a contribution to their society”. 1 

In the same way that we can take steps 

to look after our physical health, there are 

things that we can do to strengthen our 

mental health and reduce the chance of 

becoming unwell. 

That goes for our young people too. 

Having good mental health helps children 

and adolescents develop resilience and 

grow into well-rounded, healthy adults. 

So, with this academic year in full swing, 

perhaps it’s a good opportunity to reflect on 

what we can do to strengthen our mental 

wellbeing, including that of our young 

people. Remembering that, as adults, we are 

important role models and need to ‘walk 

the well-being talk’ ourselves. 

Obviously, there are lots of things that 

can help safeguard a young person’s wellbeing: 

being part of a family that gets 

on well, going to a school that supports 

the well-being of its pupils, being in 

good physical health and feeling safe 

and understood, to name but a few. But 

attending to self-care is also important. To 

help get this message across, we have put 

together our ‘FEELS GOOD! Strategy’ - a 

checklist of 10 important well-being wins 

to support young minds. Help the young 

people in your lives support their well-being 

by sharing these with them. 

1Friends matter - Connect with others 

Connecting with other people can lift 

your spirits. You feel more accepted, you 

can share your experiences together, and 

you can offer each other support. Take 

advantage of this by organising a nice 

activity with your friends or family, catching 

up with a friend you’ve not seen in a while, 

or even meeting new people by joining a 

club or group. 

2Exercise - Let’s get active 

Regular exercise can boost your mood 

and self-confidence. It increases your 

energy levels and helps you sleep better. It’s 

important to try to move more often. Every 

little bit counts - from going for a short 

walk, taking the stairs instead of the lift, 

having a kick around with friends, or going 

for a bike ride, run or swim. Or how about 

a team sport like netball or football? There 

are plenty options for you to get your body 

moving, whatever your ability. 

3Eat well 

Healthy eating and drinking is also 

good for your mind. It gives you more 

energy and helps you sleep better. It’s 

really important to eat a balanced diet to 


“Regular exercise can boost your mood and self-confidence. It increases 

your energy levels and helps you sleep better.” 

ensure your body is getting the energy and 

nutrients it needs, particularly if you’re 

vegetarian or vegan. And don’t forget 

those fluids: drink plenty of water to keep 

hydrated. But do try to keep down the 

amount of sugar and caffeine in your food 

and drink. If you have any worries about 

food, it’s a good idea to talk to a trusted 

adult before changing your diet. 

4Learn new things 

Learning new things can be a great 

way of improving your confidence and 

giving you a sense of achievement. It 

could be anything from learning a new 

instrument, sport or language, trying out 

new recipes, or starting your own DIY 

project. Maybe visiting a local library, 

museum or gallery could give you some 

inspiration. 

5Sleep well 

Getting good sleep can help you have 

more energy, feel more positive, and feel less 

stressed. But sometimes it can be difficult 

to get to sleep as a teenager. If you are 

struggling, here are a few tips that can help: 

• Set yourself a good bedtime routine that 

you stick to most nights of the week. Going 

to bed at the same time helps to reset your 

day and night body clock. 

• Cut down on screen time before bed. The 

blue light on screens blocks an important 

sleep hormone called melatonin and can 

put back the onset of sleep by a couple 

of hours. Using a blue light filter or night 

mode on your screen in the evening can 

help with this. Or better still, take a break 

from your screens altogether. Try reading a 

book or listening to relaxing music instead. 

• Take a warm, relaxing bath as part of 

your bedtime routine. 

• Make sure you don’t eat your dinner or 

drink sugary drinks too late. 

• Avoid strenuous exercise in the evening. 

Anything that puts up your heart rate, puts 

back your sleep. 

6Get creative 

Doing something creative can help 

boost self-esteem and relationships. It can 

also help you feel less stressed and be a 

way to express yourself. There are so many 

things that you could try: drawing, painting, 

photography, creative writing, singing, 

playing an instrument, dancing or drama. 

Let those creative juices flow! 

7Open your mind - Do things to help 

you relax 

Relaxing gives you time out - a chance 

to feel less stressed, to feel peaceful and 

calm, and to clear your mind. How about 

spending time in nature, or with friends, 

reading, listening to music, or watching 

a film? Some people find that relaxation 

exercises, meditation, or religious prayer 

helps them too. 

8Offer help to others 

Helping others can make you feel 

happier, give you a sense of achievement, 

increase your self-worth and boost your 

relationships. Perhaps you could offer 

help to a neighbour or family member or 

volunteer your time and skills to a local 

cause that matters to you. Or you could 

simply ask a friend how they are, and truly 

listen to them. 

9Do things you enjoy 

Time spent doing something you 

enjoy can make you feel happier and more 

relaxed. It can also be fun, can boost your 

relationships with others, or help you 

develop new skills. What things do you love 

doing: a hobby, playing sport, watching 

films, or even gaming? Invest in your 

favorite pastimes. 

!t’s OK to not be OK 

10 It can be normal as a young person 

to want to deal with things on your own. 

But if you can open up to friends, family 

or someone else you trust about things that 

are troubling you, this can help you feel 

supported. 

REFERENCE 

1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-ourresponse 


The Key to Children 

Flourishing in 

International Life 

WRITTEN BY LAUREN WELLS, TCK TRAINING CEO 

Iwas recently invited to speak at an 

international boarding school about 

creating an environment where 

students can thrive and build resilience. 

This school had seen an increase in children 

who were not thriving and staff were 

hungry to learn new tools and methods 

they could use to cultivate healthy students. 

Though I spoke for twelve hours on 

various topics, the most important thing 

they needed to hear and understand could 

be summed up in three words: Positive 

Childhood Experiences (PCEs). 

Research done on PCEs in 2019 showed 

that family connection and community 

support promote flourishing among 

children even when they experience 

adversity. PCEs provide buffering protection 

so that when a child goes through a difficult 

experience, that experience is resiliencebuilding. 

In fact, studies show that when 

six to eight Positive Childhood Experiences 

are consistently present throughout 

childhood alongside a high number of 

childhood traumas, the likelihood of mental 

illness in adulthood drops by 72%. This 

is particularly encouraging news because 

TCK Training’s own research indicates 

that Third Culture Kids (TCKs – children 

growing up outside their passport countries) 

are at higher risk for developmental 

traumas. 


The PCEs are: 

1. Feeling that their emotions are heard and 

validated by their parents 

2. Feeling physically safe in the home 

3. Feeling their parents stand by them 

during difficult times and prioritize them 

4. Feeling supported by peers 

5. Feeling a sense of belonging within a 

larger, multigenerational group 

6. Having routines and traditions to look 

forward to 

7. Feeling a sense of belonging in high 

school/secondary school 

8. Having two non-parent adult 

relationships throughout their childhood 

who take a genuine interest in them

“Your children need Positive Childhood Experiences, and whenever transitions occur 

in your child’s life, it is important that you are aware of which PCEs they are lacking so 

you can be proactive about putting them in place.” 


As you care for your TCKs, you can think 

about these PCEs both proactively and 

reactively. 

Proactive Care 

One constant in the globally mobile life 

is change. When change happens, it is 

common for some PCEs to be absent for a 

time, and that is okay! However, as parents 

we have to be intentional about knowing 

which PCEs our children have and which 

we need to pursue on their behalf. The 

first three PCEs can be maintained in your 

home throughout transitions, but the other 

five rely on a community around you. 

When this community shifts, intentional 

measures need to be taken to re-implement 

those PCEs. 

Sometimes, the environment we’re in 

doesn’t organically contribute to PCEs. In 

this case, being proactive means getting 

creative. TCK Training often works with 

families in remote locations whose children 

meet with online friend groups regularly 

so that they have peers even if they can’t 

see in-person friends very frequently in 

their current location. Knowing what 

the PCEs are gives you a framework for 

understanding what your children need to 

flourish and gives you permission to pursue 

those things. 

I recently worked with a parent who, 

through tears, said, “I thought many of 

these were things I was supposed to give up 

in order to live the expatriate life. I feel like 

I now have permission to desire and pursue 

these things for my children.” Your children 

need Positive Childhood Experiences, 

and whenever transitions occur in your 

child’s life, it is important that you are 

aware of which PCEs they are lacking so 

you can be proactive about putting them 

in place. For this purpose, we encourage 

families to complete a PCEs inventory with 

each child on an annual basis. We have a 

downloadable inventory available at www. 

tcktraining.com/course/pces-inventory. 

Reactive Care 

As with the international school I 

mentioned earlier, who noticed a high 

rate of struggling children, TCK Training 

often works with families whose children 

don’t seem to be thriving. When a child 

isn’t doing well, we look to see if there are 

any PCEs missing and then make a plan to 

pursue that PCE. One of the first things we 

do is the PCEs Inventory. We have a parent 

or other caregiver guide each child through 

an inventory that asks about their current 

experience of each PCE. The lack of one 

or more PCEs is often behind a child’s 

unhealthy spiral, and uncovering the root 

cause helps create an effective plan forward. 

What we often find is that once the missing 

PCE is in place, the child begins to move 

toward thriving. 

Parenting children well in any context 

is no small feat. Parenting TCKs can be 

even more daunting because of the unique 

challenges that come with living a globally 

mobile life as a family. You can’t do it all 

on your own, and PCEs show us your 

children don’t need you to. Both you and 

your children need a community who can 

encourage, support, and invest in your 

family. Community support fills you so that 

you can pour out those in-the-home PCEs 

for your TCKs. Sometimes this community 

is present with you, and sometimes we get 

creative! Creating this environment is the 

key to growing resilient, flourishing children 

in this wonderful, unique international life. 

Resources: 

TCK Training research 

https://www.tcktraining.com/research 

Bethell C.D., Gombojav N., Whitaker R.C. 

(2019). Family Resilience And Connection 

Promote Flourishing Among US Children, 

Even Amid Adversity. Health Affairs, 

38(5), 729-737. http://doi.org/10.1377/ 

hlthaff.2018.05425 


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KEEPING YOUR KIDS SAFE: 

A Guide to Alcohol and Other Drug 

Prevention Before Summer Break 

WRITTEN BY KATIE GREELEY 

Ah, summer break: a time for teens 

to recharge and decompress 

after a grueling school year. But 

with this long-awaited downtime comes 

a newfound sense of freedom that can 

prove risky for young people on the cusp of 

adulthood. Studies indicate that June and 

July show the highest rates of first-time use 

of alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine among 

teenagers. No school, no homework, no 

sports, no structure – without the day-today 

routine of school, parents should take 

steps to revisit their expectations around 

alcohol and other drugs with their kids 

before summer break kicks off. 

In recent years, parents have repeatedly 

cited mental health as their top concern 

for the well-being of their children. Close 

behind is the pressing issue of alcohol and 

other drugs. It’s important for parents 

to recognize that adolescents grappling 

with mental health issues are particularly 

vulnerable to substance abuse, and 

conversely, those who engage in the use 

of alcohol and other drugs during their 

formative years are more prone to anxiety 

and depression later in life. 

But there are reasons for optimism. 

Despite the constant stream of alarming 

headlines about Gen Z’s mental health, 

positive trends around substance use are 

emerging. While cannabis and nicotine 

use has seen a slight uptick among teens 

in recent years, most other substances 


have been on a steady decline in many 

regions across the world for several decades. 

This research can be surprising for many 

adults who may assume that the increased 

legalization of cannabis and the rise of 

teen vaping have normalized substance 

use as a rite of passage. However, this 

normative belief is false. The disconnect 

between the perception of teens’ behaviors 

around substance use and what is actually 

happening is the basis for one of the most 

effective prevention strategies today. 

Prevention That Works 

Social Norms 

As adolescents, many of us may recall 

hearing slogans like “Don’t do drugs” and

“Just Say No” from anti-drug education 

programs implemented by schools in the 

1980s. However, research has shown that 

prevention strategies based on scare tactics, 

moralistic appeals, and simplistic messages 

are destined to fail. So what does work? 

Prevention Ed recommends approaches 

that are evidence-based and grounded 

in psychology and behavioral science 

to effectively prevent alcohol and other 

drug use. The social norms approach is 

based on the social norms theory, which 

suggests that our behavior is influenced 

by our perceptions of our peers’ actions 

and beliefs. In turn, when adolescents 

overestimate the prevalence of alcohol and 

other drug use among their peers, they are 

more likely to engage in those behaviors 

themselves. Conversely, when adolescents 

have an accurate perception of alcohol and 

other drug use among their peers, their risk 

of using substances declines. Consistently 

correcting misperceptions directly leads to a 

decrease in alcohol and other drug use. 

In almost every community worldwide, 

students, teachers, and parents overestimate 

the prevalence of substance use among 

their peers, emphasizing the need for 

accurate information and dispelling 

common misconceptions. 

To bridge the gap between perceived 

substance use and actual use, effective 

prevention should rely on real data. Take, 

for example, the statistics on 30-day 

cannabis use in the United States in 2022: 

in year 13, 20% of students reported use, 

while 12% of year 11 students reported use 

and only 5% of year 9 students. 

Parent Talking Point: It’s important 

to note that these numbers are often 

lower than what adults may expect. 

Overestimating teen substance use only 

perpetuates these misconceptions and can 

increase the likelihood of actual substance 

use among teens. Sharing the statistics 

with your teen can help them realize that 

the majority of their peers have not used 

cannabis in the past 30 days. They may feel 

relief! Remember, for many teens, fitting in 

can feel like the most important thing in the 

world, and if they make the choice to delay 

use, they are already fitting in. So next time 

your child claims that “everyone is doing 

it,” remind them that the reality is far from 

their perception. 

Delaying Use & The Developing Brain 

Instead of a zero-tolerance “don’t do drugs” 

“Studies show that June and July show the 

highest rates of first-time use of alcohol, cannabis, 

and nicotine among teenagers.” 

attitude, Prevention Ed takes the modern 

approach that emphasizes delaying the 

use of alcohol and other drugs. Research 

shows that the earlier a teenager uses 

alcohol or other drugs, the higher their risk 

of developing an addiction. Each year a 

teen delays use, they reduce the likelihood 

of future addiction and substance abuse. 

Delaying the use of alcohol and other drugs 

is the number one protective factor for 

teens. 

Ages 15-21 are the most formative years 

for brain development, with the human 

brain reaching full maturity at age 25. The 

prefrontal cortex is the last area to develop, 

making adolescence a more vulnerable 

time for making an unhealthy or impulsive 

choice. Think back to a time when your 

child got into trouble and you asked them, 

“What were you thinking?” and their 

response was, “I don’t know.” Believe it 

or not, they were telling the truth. This 

common experience is explained in part by 

the mismatch between the two parts of the 

developing brain, the prefrontal cortex and 

the limbic system. 

The midbrain’s limbic system is similar to 

an overcharged Ferrari engine, constantly 

seeking pleasure and craving dopamine. 

Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex, 

responsible for decision-making and risk 

evaluation, is like a set of bicycle brakes that 

are not yet fully developed. which can lead 

to impulsive behavior and risky decisionmaking. 

Parents should be aware of this 

during their teen’s development and work to 

provide guidance and support. 

Parent Talking Point: In order to support 

your child’s health, wellness, and brain 

development, it’s important to communicate 

to them that you care about their wellbeing. 

Encourage them to delay the use of 

alcohol and other drugs in order to protect 

their developing brains, and emphasize 

that this is a critical time. By setting clear 

expectations around delaying substance use 

and prioritizing their long-term health, you 

can help your child make healthy decisions 

that will benefit them for years to come. 


@Switzerland Tourism / Dominik Baur 

Stress, the root cause 

Stress is the top reported reason why 

students say they use alcohol and other 

drugs. Adolescents face a tremendous 

amount of stress, and their developing 

brains are more sensitive to it than adults. 

In 2023, teenagers are navigating a variety 

of stressors, from social media pressures 

to adjusting to new schools, to asking their 

crush out, and everything in between. While 

they may not have adult responsibilities like 

mortgages or business meetings, how they 

learn to manage stress now will impact their 

ability to manage it in the future. As models 

for handling stress, adults play a crucial role 

in shaping their adolescent’s approach. 

Something to Consider: How do you 

cope with stress in front of your teenager? 

Do you reach for a glass of wine or do you 

go for a workout, call a friend, or take a 

relaxing bath? By modeling and discussing 

healthy coping skills, you’re giving your 

teen some ideas about healthy stress 

management. Encourage your teen to find 

activities that work for them and prioritize 

self-care as a family. 

Having The Conversation: 

Tips for Parents 

A great place to start the conversation with 

your child is by reviewing the five primary 

risk factors that increase an individual’s 

likelihood of developing an addiction. 

These are known as the FACTS: 

“When adolescents overestimate the prevalence of 

alcohol and other drug use among their peers, they are 

more likely to engage in those behaviors themselves.” 

Family History 

• Individuals with a family history of 

addiction are at a higher risk of developing 

an addiction themselves. In an ageappropriate 

way, share your family’s history 

with your child. 

Age 

• Research shows that the earlier a person 

starts using substances, the greater their risk 

of becoming addicted. Promote the delayed 

use of alcohol or other drugs. 

Cravings 

• The stronger a person’s compulsion to use 

alcohol or other drugs, the higher risk they 

are to become addicted. If an adolescent 

delays use, they don’t have to worry about 

experiencing cravings. 

Tolerance 

• A high tolerance means the developing 

brain is being exposed to higher levels of 

alcohol or other drugs and this is a risk 

factor. 

Surroundings 

• What behaviors or messages on alcohol 

are teens exposed to? Do they think that 

“everyone is doing it”? Do you live in a state 

or country where cannabis is legal? What 

misinformation about vaping did they get 

from TikTok this week? It’s important as 

parents, we guide our children to consider 

their surroundings and the conflicting 

messages and misinformation they may 

receive regarding substance use and its 

effects. 

When it comes to substance use 

prevention, it’s not just having one sixtyminute 

conversation with your teen, it’s 

sixty-one-minute conversations. As the 

summer approaches, it’s important that we 

have an open and honest dialogue with our 

children about our expectations regarding 

alcohol, drugs, and their associated 

risks. Make it crystal clear what your 

family’s rules are on this topic and what 

consequences your children can expect if 

they make the decision to engage in these 

risky behaviors. 

Effective prevention requires a 

combination of arming our children 

with the necessary information to 

make informed, healthy decisions and 

engagement by parents who are committed 

to ongoing communication and guidance. 

By having these conversations, we can help 

our children develop the tools they need to 

navigate the challenges they may face now 

and persevere in choices for their future. 


SUPPORTING TEACHER 

WELL-BEING: 

Addressing Psychosocial Risks 

in International Schools 

WRITTEN BY MARTIN COUL FROM OTII 

International schools are often viewed 

as a gateway to a bright future for 

students, yet, the pressure to create a 

positive learning environment for them can 

weigh heavily on teachers. 

In recent years, the issue of teacher 

well-being has become a major concern 

for educators, school administrators, and 

policymakers alike and a study published 

during the pandemic showed that 59% of 

international teaching staff were considering 

leaving the sector due to pressures on their 

mental health and well-being. 

Measuring well-being in the workplace 

has become increasingly common in recent 

years as employers such as the UN & ICRC 

recognise the importance of creating a 

positive and supportive work environment 

for their employees. 

However, despite the well-known benefits 

of teacher well-being, many schools have 

been slow to adopt this same approach in 

education. 

One option to support staff mental 

health & well-being would be for schools 

to monitor, measure and track data on 

psychosocial risks throughout the academic 

year. 

Psychosocial risks for teachers in schools 

refer to the various factors that can 


negatively impact their mental health & 

well-being. Some examples of these risks 

include workload, student behaviour, and 

their own personal life stressors such as 

family problems. 

In some countries like Switzerland, did 

you know that employers are required by 

law to identify and address these risks as 

part of their duty of care to protect their 

employees’ health? 

When teachers are engaged and have 

good mental health, it has a significant 

impact on their students. Research has 

shown that teacher well-being is closely 

linked to student outcomes, and that

teachers who are engaged and mentally 

healthy are more effective and better able to 

support their students’ success. 

According to the Teacher Well-being 

Index from 2021, almost half (43%) of 

education professionals believe that their 

institutions did not properly support their 

employees who are struggling with mental 

health problems. 

In a school environment, psychosocial 

risks for teachers can come from a variety 

of sources. One of the main sources of 

stress for teachers is workload. Teachers are 

often expected to handle a large workload, 

including lesson planning, grading, and 

managing student behaviour. 

When teachers are unable to manage 

their workload, they can experience high 

levels of stress and burnout. 

Student behaviour is another common 

source of psychosocial risk for teachers. 

Disruptive behaviour, aggression, and 

violence can all contribute to high levels of 

stress and anxiety for teachers. 

Additionally, teachers who have their 

own personal life stressors, such as family 

problems or financial worries, may struggle 

to manage the additional stress of their 

work environment. 

For teachers who choose to work abroad, 

the stress of being away from their families 

and support networks can be an additional 

challenge to their mental health and 

well-being. Cultural differences, language 

barriers, and the need to adapt to a new 

educational system can also add to the 

stress. 

Moreover, international schools may 

not always provide adequate support to 

their staff, and teachers may feel isolated 

and unsupported. It is crucial for schools 

to recognize the unique challenges that 

international teachers face and to provide 

appropriate support to help them maintain 

good mental health and well-being. 

Many schools offer counselling services 


to students, but often these same services 

are also available to staff members who 

may be experiencing mental health 

challenges. However, some teachers may 

be hesitant to access these services due to 

concerns about confidentiality, particularly 

if the counsellors are primarily focused 

on students. Did you know that 80% of 

employees are too afraid to share their 

mental health concerns with their manager? 

As a result, they may choose to suffer 

in silence rather than speak out, which 

can exacerbate their mental health issues. 

It’s important for schools to address these 

concerns and provide confidential support 

to staff members to encourage them to seek 

help when needed. 

Other psychosocial risks in schools can 

include a lack of support from senior 

leadership, a lack of job security, and a lack 

of opportunities for career development. 

All of these factors can contribute to high 

levels of stress and anxiety for teachers and

“Teachers who are engaged and mentally 

healthy are more effective and better able to 

support their students’ success.” 

can negatively impact their mental health 

and well-being. 

Research has shown that men and women 

may experience and respond to mental 

health challenges and well-being differently. 

In general, women may be more likely to 

report symptoms of anxiety and depression, 

while men may be more likely to engage in 

risky behaviours or struggle with substance 

abuse. These differences can also impact 

how men and women seek help and support 

for their mental health challenges. 

In the context of teaching, it’s important 

to consider these gender differences and 

how they may impact teachers’ experiences 

and needs when it comes to mental health 

and well-being. For example, female 

teachers may be more likely to seek out 

support and resources for their mental 

health, while male teachers may be more 

hesitant to do so. Additionally, male 

teachers may be more likely to experience 

stigma or feel that their mental health 

struggles are not taken seriously, which can 

discourage them from seeking help. 

By recognizing and addressing these 

gender differences in the context of 

teaching, schools and educators can better 

support the mental health and well-being of 

all teachers, regardless of gender. This may 

involve creating tailored support programs 

or resources that cater to the specific 

needs and preferences of male and female 

teachers, as well as fostering a culture of 

openness and understanding around mental 

health in the school community. 

School leaders also face significant 

pressure to create positive learning 

environments and support their staff’s 

mental health and well-being. In addition 

to managing student and staff expectations, 

school leaders must also navigate everchanging 

policies, curriculum requirements, 

and budget constraints. 

The constant demands of the job can 

lead to high levels of stress and burnout, 

which can have negative impacts on both 

the school community and the leaders 

themselves. It’s crucial for school leaders 

to prioritise their own mental health and 

well-being, seek support when needed, and 

foster a culture of support and openness 

that encourages staff to do the same. 

Investing in the emotional well-being is 

not only the right thing to do, but it’s also 

the smart thing to do. Research has shown 

that teacher well-being is closely linked to 

student outcomes, and that teachers who 

are engaged and psychologically resilient 

are more effective and better able to support 

their students’ success. 

Ultimately, by supporting a proactive and 

data-driven approach to teacher mental 

health you can provide an environment that 

will directly influence the mental health of 

those you have a duty of care for, not just 

for now, but for the rest of their lives. 

OTII® offers tailored, term by term well-being solutions that are designed to address the 

specific needs of each school community. 

We focus on promoting ‘whole school’ well-being, encompassing not only students from 

Grade 3 and up, but also teachers, support staff and even the mental health literacy of 

parents. 

Our evidence-based insights are curated by the Occupational Health Psychologist who 

helped to assess global well-being for over 40,000 UN staff. With a focus on prevention, 

our insights and data-driven dashboards provide a comprehensive overview of your school’s 

well-being pulse. Visit www.otii.io to find out more. 


Create a sense of 

belonging with your 

global family 

PREPARING FOR MOVING OVERSEAS 

OR IF YOU HAVE ALREADY MOVED 

WRITTEN BY METTE THEILMANN 


Ihave lived in 4 different countries with 

my husband and our 3 children (2 of 

them with additional needs) over a 

period of 23 years now 

Each time we enjoyed the process of 

belonging and connecting with where we 

were. 

A sense of belonging is crucial to our 

children’s satisfaction in life, their happiness, 

and their physical and mental health, 

including their confidence and self-esteem. 

But also, it makes your experience living 

overseas so much better, calmer and easy. 

What is belonging 

Belonging is when your family is able to 

adapt to the core beliefs, attitudes and 

behaviours that make up your new place. 

It is when you help them to understand 

what is going on around them, not just the 

language but the habits, cultural values and 

traditions as well. 

All the tips below are very important 

if you have a child with additional needs. 

Children on the spectrum often struggle 

to adopt to new places so you will need 

to place a lot of focus on the preparation 

stage, so they feel they know what’s going 

to happen and not taken by surprises when 

getting the flight to your new home. 

1Do your research together 

When I support families moving 

overseas, I often suggest that they sit down 

with their family and do some cultural 

research together. This can be done 

BEFORE you go to your new home but 

also when you are there: 

• Religion(s): what do they believe in and 

worship, where do they worship (church, 

temples etc.), how many Gods do they have 

and what are they called and what are their 

‘purpose’ etc.? 

• What languages do the country have, 

is it one or several languages? What 

will you attempt to learn? You might even 

like to try listening to some music or the 

radio in that language to get your ears used 

to it. 

• Cultural night: you can have a family 

cultural evening where you cook some 

‘local’ food, set the table with the local 

colours, add a local flag and listen to some 

local music. Why not invite friends over and 

enjoy an evening together. 

• Try to explore what special traditions 

they have and special celebration days. In 

China we celebrated ‘Chinese New Year’. 

In India you can celebrate ‘Diwali’ so on. 

Once you and your family have 

developed more cultural knowledge you 

will feel that you start to understand what 

is going on around you. You don’t have to 

be surprised when some ‘odd’ food arrives, 

or one day everyone starts dancing in the 

streets or a sound from a temple rings out at 

midday. You can say, ‘I know what that is, 

or what it is about’, and you can share the 

experience with the locals around you. Your 

family will be less likely to feel like outsiders 

when you know the core beliefs, habits, and 

what drives people around you. And more 

likely to accept, enjoy it and maybe even 

join in – belong. 

Understand, don’t judge 

2 When you move with your family to 

“It is so important that they still feel that they 

belong to their people at home. Organise weekly online 

‘playdates’, with your child’s friends.” 


a new place you will be exposed to new 

things that you might think are weird. But 

don’t judge what you see based on your own 

culture. 

STOP and reflect with your kids on 

WHY they do what they do. What is the 

meaning behind it? 

When we lived in China I remember my 

kids were horrified that the adult Chinese 

would wear PJs in public: ‘how can they?’, 

‘they are so lazy they don’t even want to 

change’, ‘they are dirty’… AND the men 

didn’t even bother to cut their nails – they 

let them grow long – yuk! Hold on kids, let’s 

explore WHY they do it, I am sure there is 

a meaning to it all. And there was. Chinese 

men grow their fingernails long to appear 

“rich”, as someone with long fingernails 

clearly isn’t working in the rice paddies or 

doing any other sort of manual labour. 

ABOUT THE PARENTING COMMUNITY 

The Parenting Community App is an online diverse and inclusive community that helps 

navigate parenting with confidence, courage and self-awareness no matter what your 

family setups and challenges are. 

We support you to raise independent and resilient children who can grow up to become 

confident and well-adjusted adults. 

Our Parenting Community works very closely with all schools who wants to create a 

confident parenting community. 

The community is all about the 4 C’s: 

• Connection: not just an app – at our online monthly meet-ups and through a private 

support group we provide real life personal support. 

• Community: you gain access to an established community of likeminded parents and to 

our broad panel of trained experts around the globe. 

• Confidence: our community will help you gain confidence in yourself as a parent so you 

can stand by your values and boundaries and still respond with respect and fairness. 

• Creativity: all children are individuals and are all families are unique. The Parenting 

Community helps you to create a parenting style that works for YOUR specific family. and 

become a creative parent who dares to do what is right for your child, your family and your 

values. 

The Parenting Community has been built for YOU so that you can access what you need, 

when you need it. 

Hear from a few active members... 

• The Parenting Community App came just at the right time for my parenting journey. There 

is a wealth of information on the web but to be able to go to what is essentially a ‘one-stop 

shop’ in the Parenting Community for all things parenting/family related makes it seem 

less overwhelming. - Gemma, mother of two. 

• The app has given me the support, time and processes to implement various strategies, 

making life not so daunting. 

• Being a part of this wonderful community has enabled me to be calmer and in particular 

I have loved being involved in the chat rooms sharing experiences not just with my ADHD 

child but other life’s ups and downs too! 

Link to the community: https://mettetheilmann.com/ 

We look forward to becoming part of your parenting journey or support your school. 

Mette and the Parenting Community Team 

And it’s a status symbol to wear pyjamas in 

public. It says, ‘Look at me, I am so well off 

that I don’t need to work. I don’t need a suit 

or anything fancy – I can just stroll around 

in my PJs enjoying life.’ 

Suddenly my kids looked at them in a 

different light, because they understood 

why they did what they did. This 

‘understanding’ creates a sense of bonding 

and belonging with the people around 

them. ‘Now that I understand why people 

around me do what they do I feel more 

connected to them, I might even try it 

myself ’. And yes, my kids did want to wear 

PJs for a full weekend. 

Be curious and open minded 

3 Tune in to, understand, stay curious 

and respect the country and culture we have 

been allowed to share with them. 

You and your family will see, hear and 

smell new things and that is the beauty 

of living overseas with a new culture. 

And teach your kids that it is OK to ask 

questions, explore and stay open minded. 

Most people don’t mind you asking: Why 

do you do that? What is that? How do you 

say it? What does that mean? etc. 

I remember my kids being puzzled by 

the Chinese walking around in the park 

making slow movements and tapped 

themselves. Next time we were in the park 

we met a young couple and asked what 

that was. They loved to explain it in detail 

to us, they even made us try it! Walking 

slowly backwards is good for balance and 

coordination, small jumps are good for joint 

mobility, self-tapping is good for blood flow 

and relieves stiffness. 

It is something we really took to – it is 

relaxing to do when getting up or waiting 

for the bus. Although it does look a bit 

out of place in the middle of London, but 

maybe people around are curious too! 

So, encourage your kids to explore, ask 

questions and stay open minded to what 

is around them. This way they will not 

feel out of place, confused or maybe even 

scared when they are confronted with new 

cultural habits as they know they can ask 

and learn and maybe even be part of it. 

This too creates a sense of belonging, we 

break down the barriers between ‘them and 

us’. We invite ourselves into their beautiful 

world, step in and become part of it. And 

of course they will benefit hugely from this 

amazing opportunity to see the world in a 

more global and open minded way. 

4Find your tribe 

You don’t have to go totally native I 

also believe that it’s important that our kids 

find their kind of friends, their tribe. Where 

they don’t have to think about anything but 

can just life and have fun together. 

Maybe your child’s language is good 

enough to join a local football, ballet or 

riding club – amazing. If not, find your 

child’s tribe, where they can chill and be 

themselves. 

In China we found an English-speaking 

riding club which my daughter loved. My 

son who is in a wheelchair enjoyed the 

table tennis club in the American school. 

My daughter also had a need to be around 

people who understood and accept her as a 

queer. We found groups where she felt free 

and even joined a local rainbow parade. 


5Belong to your own culture 

But it is not only belonging to where 

you are living now with your kids. It is 

also supporting them to retain a sense of 

belonging to their own culture at home, 

their tribe, your tribe. 

Most of us will at some stage move on 

to another country or go home to our own 

one. We want our kids to be able to connect 

with our family without having to try too 

hard to fit in again. Or when we are home 

for holiday they can enjoy it without feeling 

like a stranger. So how can we, as an expat 

family, work towards belonging somewhere 

new. While still remaining who we are, with 

our own culture and family values. Still feel 

a sense of belonging to the new country 

without having to give up who we were 

when we arrived. 

How to still belong to your own culture 

• Speak from your heart: What does 

your heart speak? Speak it to the kids. I 

know it can be tempting to speak to our 

kids in another language. But you can help 

them to feel a continued sense of belonging 

to your culture and home by staying 

connected to your language and accent. 

It might be hard work now, but later on 

believe me they WILL thank you. And your 

family will find it easier to connect with 

your kids once you’re back home, which 

instils a deeper sense of belonging. 

• Celebrate your traditions and 

special days: It is equally important that 

you help your kids remember your special 

days and traditions. Invite their new friends 

over and celebrate together and let your 

kids show them their special traditions and 

feel proud of it. We have always celebrated 

‘Fastelavn’, a Danish tradition, and St. 

Patrick’s Day as my husband is Irish. We 

even had two ‘Christmas Days’ the Danes 

and the Irish. Again, once our kids are back 

in either country, they know about it all and 

can join in and feel connected, not out of 

place and confused. 

• Stay connected with family and 

friends: It is so important that they still feel 

that they belong to their people at home. 

Organise weekly online ‘playdates’, with 

ABOUT ME 

I’ve supported parents for over 18 years, working closely with schools, 

companies and family solicitors. So, I can say with absolute confidence, 

that the Parenting Community and my parenting coaching is based on a 

depth of experience and study, plus a huge passion for supporting parents. 

I am Danish, married to an Irish man and together we have 3 children (age 21, 23 and 25). 

We have lived in 4 countries and travelled all over the world. With years of experience 

supporting parents, my educational background and having raised 3 very different 

children I feel capable of supporting all family setups and challenges. 

I have a deep passion for nature, history, creativity, travelling and my family. 

Link to my website: www.mettetheilmann.com 

All the best, Mette 

your child’s friends. Encourage them to 

write letters, send parcels to their friends 

and family, make sure the connections 

stay strong. So, when you go back home 

they will find it easier to feel an instant 

belonging because it ‘never felt like they 

were away’. 

• Tune into what happens at home in 

their world – TV programmes, music, 

etc: What TV programmes are kids the 

same age as yours watching there now? 

Watch them. What music are they into? 

Listen to it together. 

You are beginning to get the point; it is 

all about familiarity. Once our kids know 

what is going on around them, they will feel 

relaxed, free to join in and get a sense of 

‘belonging’. 


How to Make Invisible Careers 

Visible to All Pupils: 

Overcoming Systemic Biases and 

Increasing Diversity Awareness 

WRITTEN BY NIC PONSFORD FRSA, AWARD-WINNING FOUNDER OF THE GLOBAL EQUALITY COLLECTIVE (GEC) 


“In the case of STEM fields, there is a persistent gender 

gap, with women and girls often being discouraged from 

pursuing careers in these areas.” 

As students progress through their 

education, they’re often asked to 

consider what they want to do 

when they’re older. But for many young 

people, the answer is not clear. They 

might have limited exposure to different 

industries or careers, or they might not fully 

understand the educational requirements 

and job prospects of various professions. 

This lack of awareness can be particularly 

acute for students from underrepresented 

backgrounds, who might not have access 

to the same networks or resources as their 

more privileged peers. 

It’s important to recognise that this a 

global issue that impacts young people 

from all corners of the world. Students in 

different countries and cultures may face 

different barriers and have limited exposure 

to certain career options that are considered 

invisible – but, despite these differences, 

there’s a job for everyone in education to 

do, wherever in the world they work - to 

create a more equitable and inclusive future 

for all. 

Exploring Invisible Careers 

One of the key challenges that 

underrepresented students face, all over 

the globe, is the lack of awareness of 

certain careers, particularly those that 

are considered invisible - professions that 

are not widely known, talked about, or 

understood by many students. 

Examples of invisible careers that are 

often overlooked by students include careers 

in STEM (science, technology, engineering, 

and maths) fields, as well as careers in 

creative industries such as animation, 

software design, or game development. 

In the case of STEM fields, there is a 

persistent gender gap, with women and 

girls often being discouraged from pursuing 

careers in these areas. This can be due 

to various factors, including societal 

stereotypes and lack of representation in 

the media. 

By challenging these biases and providing 

more visibility and encouragement 

for underrepresented groups, we can 

help ensure that all students have equal 

opportunities to explore a diverse range of 

careers and pursue their passions. 

Addressing Teacher Bias 

Teachers, like all individuals, have unique 

experiences and perspectives that shape 

their biases and privileges. While some 

biases are beneficial and help teachers 

connect with and understand their students 

better, some may be harmful. Teachers 

may not intentionally discriminate against 

certain students, but their unconscious 

biases can still impact the way they perceive 

and interact with them and the career 

advice they deliver. Their own experiences 

can also impact their understanding of 

possible jobs (or portfolios of jobs), what 

employers are currently expecting and what 

Gen Z wants from the world of work. 

Professional development and training 

represent the first step in creating 



ut it also provides pupils with examples 

of diverse professionals who have made 

significant contributions to their sector. 

By promoting diversity in the curriculum, 

schools can help to challenge stereotypes 

and provide pupils with a more realistic and 

accurate view of the world of work. 

“Seeing someone who looks like them and has 

succeeded in a certain profession can help students to 

envision themselves in that same role, or to be a 

pioneer in another field.” 

opportunities for inclusive approaches 

to career assistance. By understanding 

unconscious bias and its impact, teachers 

can work towards creating a more inclusive 

classroom environment. Additionally, 

recognising and addressing their privilege 

can help teachers to better understand the 

experiences of their students. 

Of course, tackling bias and privilege 

is an ongoing process. It’s not about 

blaming or shaming teachers - but rather 

empowering them to recognise and address 

these issues in order to better support their 

students in understanding the range of 

options open to them. 

Promoting Diversity in the Curriculum 

Promoting diversity in the curriculum is 

crucial in making invisible careers visible 

to all pupils. One way to achieve this is by 

highlighting the contributions of people 

from diverse backgrounds in different 

careers, including those that are often 

overlooked. For example, students can 

be exposed to the stories of successful 

professionals who overcame obstacles 

related to their race, gender, religion, or 

other underrepresented and intersectional 

identities. Through exposure to such 

stories, students are exposed to different 

perspectives and encouraged to think 

outside the box. 

In addition to highlighting diverse 

professionals, exploring the role that 

diversity plays in different industries is 

another potential route to success. For 

instance, when teaching STEM subjects, 

a teacher could introduce their students to 

various pioneers from underrepresented 

communities who contributed to the field of 

computer science. This not only makes the 

curriculum more engaging and relatable, 

The Importance of Role Models 

Having visible role models who have 

pursued careers in these fields can be a 

powerful way to inspire and motivate 

students. Seeing someone who looks like 

them and has succeeded in a certain 

profession can help students to envision 

themselves in that same role, or to be a 

pioneer in another field. 

Of course, it’s important to ensure 

that these role models represent a diverse 

range of backgrounds to show students 

what’s possible both in the present and 

future lived experiences. This includes 

people from different ethnic, cultural, and 

socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as 

those living with disabilities or who identify 

as LGBTQ+. By providing a diverse 

range of role models, schools can help to 

challenge stereotypes and provide pupils 

with a more realistic and accurate view 

of the world of work. This can also help 

to create a more inclusive and welcoming 

environment for all students, regardless of 

their background or identity. 

The future’s bright for all students 

In short, schools must take proactive steps 

to make invisible careers visible to all pupils. 

This requires a multifaceted approach that 

addresses systemic biases, promotes diversity 

awareness, and provides equitable resources 

and opportunities to underrepresented 

students. 

In order to create a more equitable and 

inclusive society, we must work together 

to make sure that all pupils have access 

to the same opportunities, regardless of 

their background or identity. By promoting 

diversity, breaking down barriers, and 

creating a supportive and inclusive 

environment, we can help to ensure that 

every student has the tools and resources 

they need to achieve their full potential and 

pursue their dreams. 

www.thegec.education 

Twitter: @GECcollect 

https://www.instagram.com/geccollect/ 

https://www.facebook.com/GECCollect/ 


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