ZIS Impact Challenges

The second in the ZIS Impact Challenge series, which brings together corporate partners and the student community to tackle industry-specific sustainability challenges using the design thinking process, started in January.

Middle and Upper School students could choose to help Hilti (a technology company), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) or Globalance Bank (sustainable investments) with their key sustainability challenges for 2023. Students could also choose to work with landscape architects and ZIS COO Stefan Mühlemann to bid for a redesign of the Middle School rooftop.

The event followed November’s first in the series, where students worked on one of the key sustainability issues being looked at by the Chief Sustainability officer at Credit Suisse: “Can banks leverage the fact they have millions of customers interacting with them daily to encourage more sustainable behaviours?” Student groups worked closely with Design Thinking specialists from ETH Spark Works to tackle the challenge using a deeply human centric approach.

The ZIS Impact Challenges are not only an opportunity for students to work with real industry partners and develop their CV, but also to understand how companies are using design thinking to approach big challenges related to the future.

ZIS appoints new Director to start July 2024

We’re delighted that Elsa Hernández-Donohue has been appointed as our Director as of July 2024, following a diligent and thoughtful process involving all stakeholders.

Elsa brings more than 30 years of experience, most recently as Head of School at Vientiane International School. She started her career as a teacher in her native Venezuela and taught at ZIS Lower School from 2004 to 2006.

She says: “It is clear that at ZIS, students matter; parents, educatorleaders, staff, alumni, and trustees care; and everyone gives their best in pursuit of learning. I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with you as ZIS continues to prepare learners for the future.”

Board Chair Carl Hollitscher says: “Elsa is an educator at heart and passionate about curriculum. She matches rigorous, disciplined analysis with an open mind for innovation and development. She is an exceptional listener and thoughtful collaborator who works well with all constituents.”

Learn more at zis.ch/our-school/director-search

Partnerships

HR networking success

HR professionals from a variety of companies joined us for a networking event in January to discuss and share ideas on how companies and the school can work in partnership to develop talent for the workplace of the future.

Alongside representatives from ABB, Adecco, Amcor, Hitachi Energy, Holcim, Kuehne & Nagel, Novartis and Tertianum Management, Sally Henderson from Zurich Insurance Company presented thoughts on “Mindset over Skill Set: The Shifting Nature of Professional Development”. Joining her, ZIS Director Lisa Lyle discussed “High Impact Teaching Strategies: The Importance of a Growth Mindset for Teachers”.

Bilingual Pathway to be extended to Grades 7-9

After the successful introduction of the ZIS Bilingual Pathway for Lower School students in Preschool to Grade 2, and the already agreed expansion to Grade 6, the Board approved the extension of this pathway to include Grades 7 to 9 in the coming years.

The extended Bilingual Pathway, using the Swiss Lehrplan 21, will enable students to enter into the ZIS international strand in Grade 10. With course options including ZIS courses and Advanced Placement, and then, in Grades 11 and 12, the additional option of the International Baccalaureate Diploma, including Bilingual Diploma, students can choose their individual pathway to prepare them for admission to international and Swiss universities. This expansion will meet the growing needs of parents looking for bilingual academic instruction within an international environment.