End of School Year 2009-10

I can't believe Elise is finishing 4th grade (and will be the oldest of the primary school next year), and Nathan is finishing EY2 preschool and will be moving into Kindergarten next year.  Where does the time go?  Elise's class went to the local pool for their end-of-year party, and she and her friends jumped off the 5-meter board!  Very brave!  Back at the classroom they decorated t-shirts for the 4 kids in their class who are moving (Sarah, Zofia, Rob and Sahej).

 Nathan's class was supposed to have a picnic at a local lake (I am one of the class parents and had helped to organize it), but the picnic was moved to the classroom at the last minute because of rain!

Mrs Harman, Nathan's teacher

Mrs. Cameron, Nathan's teaching assistant

 William's class party was the potluck at the end of his sports day the week before.  Will had tried out EY1 for a few weeks at the end of this school year to see if that was the right cohort for him (since his birthday is August 15, just 2 weeks before the cut-off).  His teachers raved about him and what a smart and confident little boy he is, but they also said he could do very well as the oldest in the class.  After a lot of thought, we decided to let him be one of the oldest in his class, so he will be in the new EY1 class this fall.  He is really excited to be the oldest in his class, and I'm really excited for him.  He's not very big, and I think always being the youngest (no matter how smart and confident he is now), would be tough.  I'm looking forward to a great year for him in EY1 next year!

I can only say that I love the kids' school!  It's a private school, and I definitely see what you get for the tuition.  We are fortunate to have the kids enrolled there.  So many great opportunities!

Sports Day

During the week of June 14, all of the kids had a sports day at school.  Will's was first on Monday - Meredith and I was there to film all the EY1 action!  We had a fun potluck after the event.

Nathan and Elise had sports day on June 16, and while the big kids didn't need parents to come watch, I was able to go to Nathan's and get a few photos.  Unfortunately it was pouring rain, but that didn't seem to stop the kids (or teachers).

ICS International Festival 2010

One of the most fun events of the year at the kids' school is the International Festival.  This year definitely did not disappoint!  It was held on Saturday, June 12, and we all had a great time.  Elise, Nathan and William all marched in the parade, clad in American flag shirts.  I searched all over for American logo clothing and couldn't find anything.  I thought with the World Cup I would be able to find something, but it seems that no one in Switzerland (or dare I say Europe) is all that interested in the US soccer team!  So, I ended up buying white t-shirts and iron-on transfer paper.  Then I found flag designs on the computer and printed them out on the transfer paper.  My projects turned out quite well if I do say so myself!

Elise performed with the choir, and we all enjoyed the various food booths from so many different countries. At the American booth, Dave bought Nate and Will an A&W Rootbeer - and they both asked what is was! They didn't really like it - too spicy! They did like the American fruit roll-ups, though! And all the food from Argentina, Sweden, India, South Africa, England, and so many other places was amazing. This year we also found a very fun event - the dunking machine! Teachers volunteered to be dunked, and both Nathan and William successfully dunked a teacher. What fun!

This event really represents how diverse the community at ICS is - it's really inspiring to see and gratifying to be a part of it.

Elise's Class Trip to Kandersteg

In fourth grade, the ICS classes go on a week-long field trip (yes, 5 days and 4 nights!).  This year they went to Kandersteg, Switzerland, about 2 hours away in the mountains above Interlaken.  Elise had a great time hiking, going to the ropes park, swimming, playing mini-golf, more hiking, seeing waterfalls, going behind waterfalls, riding the Rodelbahn, and hanging out with her friends (and teachers).  Their unit of inquiry was "water", so they learned a lot about that as well.  When she got home on Friday she was certainly tired, but she had an absolutely great time!

Elise's friends, Sarah (Danish), Zofia (Polish) and Monica (English)

Mr. Lamont (Elise's teacher) and Miss Keller (teaching assistant)

Nathan's Soccer Club

Nate loved his after-school soccer club (for kids in his class and the other EY2 class), coached by some secondary school kids (2 of whom were the older brothers of one of his classmates).  Here are some photos from the last practice.

Connyland with Friends!

At the end of May, we went to Connyland with our friends the Piwkos.  Connyland is a very fun kids' amusement park about an hour away from us.  We'd been there once before, and it's great for kids the ages of ours.  The Piwkos have 3 kids, Miko in 7th grade, Zofia in 4th grade with Elise, and Jan in EY2 with Nathan.  They have been in Zurich for 4 years (after living in Morocco and London), and are moving back home to Poland this summer.  We will really miss them!

Zofia had slept overnight at our house Friday night, and Saturday happened to be Agnieszka's (the mother and my friend) birthday.  Bogdan, the father, was already back in Warsaw working and wasn't able to come to Zurich that weekend.  Agnieszka was taking the kids to Connyland, so we joined them!  We had so much fun - it was nice for the kids to be together and the parents to have other adults to talk to!  And we all had a blast on the water ride, "Voodoo Island" - shooting each other and all the other guests with water on this nice warm day!  It was absolutely hilarious!  And after the park we went back to the Piwko's for birthday cake!