School year 2018 / 2019

Dear readers

We are happy to present our reference booklet School A-Z. It contains important information about the school in Vitznau for the school year 2017/2018 and about this year’s motto „mitenand & fürenand“ (together & for one another). As usual you can also find the timetables for the school and swimming lessons as well as the class lists in this booklet. All this information and more is also to be found under www.vitznau.ch.

School start Monday, 13th August 2018 Kindergarten: 10:00 in the Kindergarten (for all Kindergarteners)

1st class: 09:15 in their class room

2nd to 6th classes: 09:15 in the catholic church

End of class : Morning: 11:30

Kids with afternoon classes: 15:00

Personnel changes in the primary school

As it was mentioned in the class allocation letter you’ve received this April, there are a few personnel changes coming up for the next school year.

It is with sadness that we announce that Mr Mischa Boesiger will be leaving us at the end of this term since he wants to dedicate more time to make music, his second mainstay. As the new IF Teacher (Integrative Förderung - en: inclusive teaching) for the second school cycle (3rd - 6th Grade) we are happy to have found Mrs. Simone Loretz.

Furthermore, Mrs. Selina Cantieni will start as a new class teacher in the Kindergarten. Mrs. Corinne Ettlin will replace Mrs. Fähndrich during her unpaid leave until the beginning of November.

Please note the changes and additions in the chapters of this booklet (for example considering homework).

We wish to you and your child a relaxing holiday and lots of energy and great experiences for the next school year.

Cordially yours

The Headmaster, teaching staff and School Commission

List of teaching staff

Class/faculty Name E-Mail (Please contact us exclusively under these Emailaddresses) Kindergarten Selina Cantieni [email protected] 1./2. Class Liliane Herger [email protected] 3./4. Class Martha von Euw [email protected] 5./6. Class Annina Ruch [email protected] IF KG-2. Class Judith Fähndrich [email protected] IF 3.-6. Class Simone Loretz [email protected] (IF = inclusive teaching) Bomholt Handcraft Arlette von Wyl [email protected] Talented furtherance Taio Secchi [email protected] German as a second Andrea Arnold [email protected] language Annina Ruch [email protected] Janine Gallicchio [email protected] Judith Fähndrich [email protected] Arlette von Wyl [email protected] Faculty teachers Andrea Arnold [email protected] Taio Secchi [email protected] Beatrice Muggli [email protected] Arlette von Wyl [email protected] Janine Gallicchio [email protected] School social work Emiliano Enna [email protected] Swimming class Nadja Huber [email protected] Logopedics Elisabeth Studer [email protected] Educational psychology Schulhaus Obmatt [email protected] services Postfach 325 6043 Psychomotoric therapy Regula Binkert/ [email protected] services Patricia Kost [email protected] Seemattweg 2 6403 Küssnacht

Schoolhouse Vitznau Teachers room 041 399 02 40 Head master 041 399 02 41 Kindergarten 041 399 02 42 Library 041 399 02 43 Kitchen/Lunchtable 041 399 02 44

Headmaster:

For questions and information –every Tuesday from 10.00-11.30 a.m. Tel.: 041/ 399 02 41 E-Mail: [email protected] All E-Mail requests will be handled in a timely manner. List of members of the education commission.

Name Function E-Mail Marcel Schai President [email protected] Carmen Blaser School trustee [email protected] Monika Camenzind Member Chris Camichel Member Claudia Muschietti Member

ABC

Absences

As a rule, in case of illness or accident, the parents inform the class teacher before the lessons start. The class teacher informs the technical instructor. Absence with a valid motive will be registered as authorized absence, truancy as unauthorized absence, which might have as consequence a fine. Please inform the religion instructor directly in case of absences at religious education.

Absences of the teacher

Predictable (for example illness): Chain telephone calls will be started a day before in order to inform the parents of the absence of the teacher. The children will then have no classes the next day and remain home. Please inform the school if you’d nonetheless wish them to take care of your child.

Unpredictable (for example an accident): The children arrive according to the timetable at school and will be taken care of by the teaching staff during the whole morning. In the afternoon the children will be free and will receive a note with information about further proceedings. Please inform the school if you’d nonetheless wish them to take care of your child.

Advent

Advent is celebrated every year in a special way. Besides different activities, the school decorates regularly the windows of the classrooms as part of the advent calendar of the village. The school also takes part in the Sami-Klaus light parade.

AgL Altersgemischtes Lernen (mixed ages studying)

At the mixed ages studying the pupils of several age groups will be divided into flexible study groups according to their stage of development, learning ability or learning interest (not according to the age). Behind this procedure stands the educational intention to consciously use the differences of the children.

Antolin

The motivation to read will be promoted by means of the internet program Antolin. The child reads a book and answers questions about it in internet. For each right answer the child gets points in his/hers personal reading account. The internet address of this program is: www.antolin.de

Autumn hike

As a rule, in September the school organizes a hike. It is important that the children wear adequate shoes.

Bicycles and other transport devices

Everybody can use any such device (inline-skates, kickboards, skateboards, bikes) for the way to school with the condition that they respect the traffic rules. However, the police does not recommend such devices for children in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. The parents/legal guardians are kindly asked to remind their children to take back home their transport devices. The parents/legal guardians have the responsibility for a safe way to school and back home.

Breaks/Breaks supervision

Supervision of the breaks is organized by the headmaster. A teacher is present during the breaks, takes care that the school rules are respected and provides first aid in case of accidents and wounds. The pupils are allowed to play outside when it is raining only if they are properly dressed (rain jacket, softshell, umbrella). Otherwise they remain under the entrance roof. When a ball gets on the roof or in the brook, one has to report this to the supervising teacher or to another adult. They will be than responsible for the next steps. Snowball fights are not allowed under the roof of the entrance. One is not allowed to throw around the wooden chips from the playground. The “break cabinet” is supervised by the children in charge -3rd and/or 4th grade (release and return of footballs, rackets, badminton equipment, etc., check-up at the end of the break). The “Geisslechlöpfe” (traditional cracking of one`s whip during the days before St. Nicholas celebrations) in the schoolyard is allowed only at the appropriate time of the year and only from 16.00 p.m. on.

Communication Concept

The following chart and explanations should give you a clear image of our school communication system.

Whenever possible the schoolchildren, parents and teachers discuss and solve the problems among themselves. The first person to talk to or get information from (in what regards the education or the organization of the class) is the class teacher. When the parents and the teachers do not agree, they turn to the headmaster. The headmaster is the contact person for questions referring to the whole school, the regular schooling and the applications for a longer leave than 4 half days. When the parents and the headmaster do not agree, they turn to the Education Commission. The problem arrives through the official channel to the appropriate place to be processed.

Core time

Mornings from Monday to Friday all the children in kindergarten and primary school have always 4 lessons (8a.m.-11.30a.m.). Afternoon lessons do not fall under this rule and so each class can have different timetables.

Day care activities (Application forms see in the supplement)

In Vitznau all 4 care elements are provided. These will be implemented if needed. Basically they can be used by all school-obligatory kids of the school Vitznau. Please find detailed information and a application form in the supplement of the booklet or on the website of municipality under „School“.

DAZ (German as second language)

Children whose parents do not speak German, respectively children coming from a non- German speaking region, with little or no German knowledge are considered foreign language speaking children. In conformity with the cantonal guidelines, remedial teaching is provided by a certified teacher in order to promote the language integration and to master the knowledge of everyday language.

Dentist

You will receive again in August a voucher for the compulsory dentist examination which is free of cost. It must be redeemed until 31st March 2019. Please make an appointment in time with your dentist so that you will be able to cash in on the voucher.

Doctor

The school doctor does the obligatory and basic health checkups in the kindergarten and in the 5th class. The families of those children will receive an information letter in December. It is possible to let these checkups be done by a private doctor.

Emergency sheet

Each class teacher has an emergency sheet for each child. The emergency sheet contains the latest telephone numbers and important information (for example: allergies, need to take medication, etc.). The parents/legal guardians are kindly asked to update this sheet at the beginning of the year.

Epiphany caroling

In the first days after New Year the children of the 5th and 6th grade go epiphany caroling in the village. This old tradition is kept alive by the school. The children groups will be accompanied by adults. Evaluation conferences/GBF

From the 3rd grade on class teachers offer per year a minimum of one evaluation conference per child. The teacher of the 1st and 2nd grade works with GBF (Ganzheitlich Beurteilen & Fördern – en: integral assessment) and organizes three evaluation conferences in 2 years. The subject teachers will be contributing to the preparation of these conferences.

Exams

See Tests.

Future Day

On the national future day (the second Thursday in November) girls and boys of the 5th and 6th class deal with the diversity of their future perspectives. On this day they have the opportunity to explore outside of the school house different jobs and life fields. You will get detailed information about that in time.

GBF (Integral assessment)

See Evaluation conferences.

Grades

See Tests.

Homepage (www.vitznau.ch)

Our school will post this year again photos and reports about school activities. Your child might be on some of these photos. If you generally don`t agree with the posting of your child`s school photos on our homepage, we kindly ask you to inform the headmaster.

Homework

Homework helps to prepare students for the content they will learn during the next lessons and to process things they recently learned. Additionally, it should inspire the learning process of your child and encourage his / her independence and self-responsibility. Homework is given with sufficient variation. Directed and self-elected areas of focus allow the students to experience a real sense of achievement. Homework is furthermore offering the parents a glimpse into the work routine of their child.

Cycle 1+2 No homework from Wednesday to Thursday No homework from Friday to Monday No homework during holidays

1st and 2nd grade Homework is given in one main subject (also in form of a weekly homework). It should not exceed an average of 30 minutes per week. 3rd and 4th grade Homework is given in two main subjects (also in form of a weekly homework). It should not exceed an average of 1- 1.5 hours per week.

5th and 6th grade Homework is given in multiple main subjects (also in form of a weekly homework). It should not exceed an average of 2 hours per week. Time used to prepare for upcoming exams is from the 5th grade on not included within those 2 hours per week. Homework-booklet In the 1st grade the students receive a contact-booklet. Homework will be given in ways which let the students remember it without writing it down. From the 2nd grade on the students work with a homework-booklet and write their homework down like in the fallowing example: What needs to be done by Wednesday is written under „Wednesday“. Role of the parents / legal guardians The parents / legal guardians are informed about the homework culture of the school. Informations are given for example at the parents’ evening. At home, a clear defined space for homework is made (working space and time). Parents are showing interest and valuation for the work of their child. They do however not help actively by doing the homework. Should difficulties occur, they get in contact with the teacher through the contact-booklet.

Homework assistance (Dopi)

As part of the day care activities the children can be registered for homework assistance. Registration is done before summer holiday.

Informing the parents

The parents/legal guardians will be informed about the educational and social development of their children throughout the year upon request and through evaluation conferences and school reports. Class teachers will also inform you by way of contact booklet and/or letters. You will find general information about day-to-day school life in the Parents information Booklet - which is distributed before the summer holiday together with the timetables - and in the 4 Parents Information Leaflets distributed quarterly by the headmaster of the school during the year. Information and reports about school activities are regularly printed in the local newspaper ‘Wochenzeitung’.

Insurance in case of accidents

The general insurance in case of accidents in schools does not exist anymore in . The cost for treatment and consequences in case of accidents that happened in school are paid by the private insurances (KVG). Therefore we kindly ask you to check your private illness and accident insurance!

Integrative education (Integrative Förderung-IF)

Integrative education (IF) is a form of supporting all the children from Kindergarten to the 6th grade. All children can be supported through preventive schooling. Integrative education is a collateral support for children with learning problems, partial weaknesses (for example: reading-writing troubles, calculating troubles), disturbances of development and troubles of behavior. Integrative education is given –as much as it is possible- by specially trained teachers. Integrative education is an additional offer for pupils with special needs and also supports the school in matters of curative education.

Joker days

The parents/legal guardians can ask-on their own responsibility- for their children 4 half days of dispensation from school-the so called Joker days. For these half days you do not need to present an absence motive and they can be taken one by one or all at once. The first school day after the summer holiday cannot be taken as a Joker day. The application form for Joker days can be found on the community homepage or can be asked for from the class teacher. It must be filled in beforehand and given to the class teacher. The missed lessons must be reworked on one’s own. Joker days will be recorded as authorized absence.

Juggling material

All kids of the school Vitznau receive juggling material. A special instruction leads the kids to the art of juggling. Juggling is promoted during class and is also practiced at home. Kids up to the 2nd class receive chiffon scarves, kids from the 3rd class get juggling balls. Broken and/or lost material will be replaced with costs. Juggling supports the networking of both sides oft he brain, is a very good training for concentration, rhythm, reaction and awareness, supports as well the recovery process during the breaks and can help to develop a comprehensive physical, mental and social well-being. This we want to exploit.

Kindergarten

See School enrollment.

Leave of absence

Leave of absence up to 3 days must be authorized by the class teacher (for example for appointments at the doctor’s, weddings, funerals, etc.). Authorized leave of absence will be registered as excused absence, if it is longer than half a day. For absences without any motive you can use the Joker days. For leave of absence of more than 3 days you have to ask for authorization in writing from the headmaster at least 4 weeks in advance.

Library

The library in Vitznau is member of the association of libraries of the canton of (BVL). The children can borrow books free of charge. The library is an important part of our school. Opening hours: Monday 14.30-16.30 p.m. Wednesday 19.30-20.30 p.m. Saturday 10.00-12.00 a.m.

Lost and Found

Whatever is found in the school and the schoolyard is picked up and kept by the school janitor. Big sums of money and keys will be brought to the police station in . Forgotten clothes will be kept in the “lost and found box” until the next holiday.

Lunch

See day care activities.

Management of the school

Headmaster of School Vitznau is Mr.Taio Secchi.

Marks

See Tests.

Motto of the year

Our motto of the year: „mitenand & fürenand“ – „together & for one another“ – sets again focus points across all levels of education for the upcoming schoolyear.

Music school

The Music School of Weggis, Vitznau and is managed by Mr. Fabio Küttel. Every spring the schoolchildren receive a registration form for the music school. All the necessary information can be found on the homepage: www.musikschule-seegemeinden.ch.

Parent –teacher conference

Teachers of the Kindergarten provide at least one discussion per school year considering the development of the child. Teachers of the 1st and 2nd class work with GBF (ganzheitlich beurteilen & fördern - fully integrated and furtherance).

Passing to the next school level

After the 6th grade the children can attend Secondary School Weggis, Cantonal School at Lucerne or Gymnasium Immensee. At the beginning of the 5th grade the children and the parents will be informed by the class teacher about the procedure and the types of school. There is a special information evening organized by those schools every second year (the next one will be in autumn 2019). Project week

The school organizes one time per year a special week on the theme of the years motto. During this time the children study a theme in age –mixed groups.

Photos

A photographer will take class photos and portraits of each student between Easter and summer. You’ll afterwards have the possibility to buy them.

Furthermore, pictures of school activities and of the class might be published (in newspapers and online). If you don't want any picture of your child to be published, we kindly ask you to inform the headmaster as soon as possible. Pictures of bigger groups in which your child is not marked with his / her name may nonetheless be published.

Promoting the talented/promoting talents

Encouraging talented children happens on one hand right in the class. Each class has a “Playing-box” with specially chosen games, which cover different competences. They are regularly used. On the other hand, a group of chosen children can profit from 2 special lessons per week. The registration for this group follows after the class teacher issues a recommendation and after the teacher discusses this recommendation with the parents.

Religious education

The catholic religious education takes place mainly in the afternoon, the reformation religious education during lunch time. Please note the special timetables. You will receive information about religious education from the religious education instructor himself. Absences must be announced directly to the religious education instructor.

Rules in the schoolhouse

The rules are visibly hung up on the wall of each classroom and are regularly discussed in class.

School enrollment

The municipality of Vitznau offers a two-year kindergarten where children of different ages are in the same group. Children can enter half-yearly, in August and February. Children who reach the age of 5 until the 31st of July enter into the kindergarten normally in August. Parents can also send younger children to the kindergarten as long as the children meet the requirements (such as being able to go to school by their own, being able to follow the timetable, being able to dress themselves independently). Every child is having the right for two years of kindergarten, one of which is obligatory. After two years the child normally proceeds to the 1st grade.

School social work (SSA)

The SSA is a low-threshold consulting- and support services for pupils, parents and teachers. It strenghtens with methods of the social work the ressources of the pupils, their parents and also of the school. It supports the school with integration- and prevention tasks.

School report

In the first 2 years the schoolchildren will be evaluated according to the criteria of integral assessment (GBF). From the 3rd grade on the pupils will get marks. You receive the school report 2 times a year: end of January and before the summer holiday. More information can be found in the chapter tests.

School supplies

School supplies children receive from school, what they lose during the school year must be replaced at their own expense. Overused or damaged supplies can also be invoiced.

School outing/ excursions

A school outing is normally organized between Easter and summer but excursions can be planned anytime during the school year. From the 5th grade on these excursions may take longer than one day. No additional costs are created for the parents beside the costs of preparing the child (for example with a lunch package and a raincoat).

Ski week

When winter is coming and brings us enough snow the whole Vitznau school carries out the popular Ski- and Snowboardweek under the motto „everyone goes skiing or snowboarding“. This year the week will take place from 14th until 18th January 2019. The displacing week would be 21st January until 25th February 2019. Parents and legal guardian will be informed about that in time.

Snacks

We kindly ask the parents/legal guardians to choose the snacks with responsibility in order to avoid an excessive consumption of sugar and salt during the breaks.

Speech therapy

Speech therapy takes care of children of preschool age up to 18 years. It deals with communication trouble (speaking and writing troubles). It deals especially with determining, clarifying, therapy and counselling in such cases. The therapist works closely together with the parents, the teachers and other specialists. The speech therapist organizes yearly a row of investigations in the kindergarten. All the children are evaluated and the parents are afterwards informed if measures have to be taken. The early check-up in the kindergarten is very important for children with speaking problems. The help of specialists facilitates the first year in school and enables the children an as successful school life as possible.

Swimming lessons

School Vitznau offers regular swimming lessons at the swimming pool in Weggis. The transport to Weggis will be provided mainly through „ Reisen Vitznau“. Like this, up to 20 persons can be transported there, together with a car of a teacher. Depending on the size of the class we're nonetheless needing the help of some parents. For body injury and property damage which might happen during the transportation of the children, the municipality has taken out a supplementary insurance which covers complementary activities. If you have questions regarding this subject the headmaster can give you further information. Swim goggles are allowed. Please find the detailed swimming plan within this brochure.

Swimming in the lake

What could be nicer on hot summer days than to refresh oneself in the waters of the ! Unfortunately, it is strictly forbidden to swim in the area of the pier and of the ships landing and departure lines. Jumping in the waters very close to motor-ships is forbidden due to the big risk of injury. Also swimming along the helm or the paddle of the steamers is dangerous.

Syllabus 21

Since the school year 17/18 in the whole the new Syllabus 21 is effective which has been worked out from the 21 german- and multilingual cantons. As of August 2018, this new syllabus will be also introduced for the 6th grade. (During the school year 17/18 it has been introduced from the Kindergarten until the 5th class primary school).

Teamteaching

Teamteaching is a form of teaching where several teachers take the responsibility for the lesson together at the same time in the same class. They plan the lesson in regard to contents and systematic and evaluate it together. Pupils will be supported within their learning occasion or their individual standard in flexible study groups and they are accompanied in exchanged rules.

Teeth care

Four times a year teeth prophylaxis is carried out. Vreni Kaeser hands out fluorine and instructs the children about the hygiene of the teeth and teeth prophylaxis.

Tests

As of the 3rd Class tests will be rated with numeric marks. In order to achieve a transparent grading of the tests, it is important to have the graded tests signed by parents/legal guardians. If it seems that a student will not achieve his or her learning goals by the end of the school year, the parents/ legal guardians will receive a written information by the end of April.

The way to school

The safety for the way to school is the responsibility of the parents/legal guardians.

Traffic instruction

In the first year of kindergarten great attention is given to traffic instruction. An instructor of the Cantonal Police will visit the kindergarten. He or she discusses with the children the possible dangers in traffic and exercises with them the correct behavior in traffic. In the 3rd/4th class the traffic garden takes place every 2nd year (bicycling safety on the school yard Vitznau). During the 5th and 6th class the Bicycling test takes place in Weggis. You will hear detailed information from the class teacher.

Visiting days

The school invites quarterly to a School Day. Please mark already now the following dates: Mon, 3rd September / Tue, 27th November / Wed, 30th January / Thu, 28th March / Fri, 24th May. In general, all classrooms are also throughout the year open for your visit and the teacher and your child would look forward to welcome you as their guest. Please inform the affected teacher before your visit.

Weekly feedback

The weekly feedback gives the parents information about different aspects of everyday school life. It is not an instrument of evaluation. It is a simple feedback and it also gives the possibility to initiate a discussion.

Holiday timetable 2018/2019

School start 2018 Monday, 13.08.2018 Autumn holidays Saturday, 29.09.2018 - Sunday, 21.10.2018 Christmas holidays Saturday, 22.12.2018 - Sunday, 06.01.2019 Fasnacht holidays Saturday, 23.02.2019 - Sunday, 10.03.2019 Easter holidays Friday, 19.04.2019 - Sunday, 05.05.2019 Summer holidays Saturday, 06.07.2019 - Sunday, 11.08.2019

Public holidays and Wednesday, 15.08.2018 Assumption day school free days Thursday, 01.11.2018 All Saints Friday, 02.11.2018 School free day Thursday, 30.05.2019 Ascension

Friday, 31.05.2019 School free day Monday, 10.06.2019 Pentecost Monday Thursday, 20.06.2019 Corpus Christi Friday, 21.06.2019 School free day

School start 2019 Monday, 12.08.2018