The Greek school of Zurich, Bungertwies is recognized through the Greek Embassy in Bern and operates under the aegis of Greece (and the Ministry of Education of Greece) and also of the Canton of Zurich as a School of Mother Tongue and Culture (Heimatliche Sprache und Kultur - HSK). Due to its official recognition by the Greek State, the school is supported by the cost-free secondment in Zurich of teachers who teach in public schools in Greece. The Canton of Zurich provides, like for all HSK-schools, school classes and support free of charge. The school falls under the jurisdiction of the Coordinating Office of Education in Brussels, which is responsible for the teaching of the Greek language in 10 countries
Framework
The school, as a recognized Greek school is subject to the relevant Greek legislation (Law 4415/2016). The operation of the school is described in detail in the Internal School Regulation of the Coordinationg Oddice in Brussels (Duties of the teaching staff, duties of the parents etc) as well as in the HSK-Framework Of the Canton of Zurich.
Courses
The registration is valid for a full school year and it is binding by the payment of a deposit. A registation is possible provided that the child is of school age (Swiss school system) and that Greek is the first or family language of the child. Registrations during the school year can be made in agreement with the teacher in charge of the school and the respective class teacher.
By registering your child both parents (seperately) become members of the Parents' Association (Elternverein griechische Schule Bungertwies) and must pay a deposit per student as a contribution to the Association. The deposit is not refundable in the case of interruption of the studies, except for serious reasons, with a written request by the parents and before the beginning of the school year. The final amount of the contribution per student to the Association is decided every year at the General Assembly of the Association that takes place within the first three months of the school year.
In case of illness or cancellation of a class, money cannot be returned to the parents.
The school program and the holidays are set by the Canton of Zurich and the program is also approved by the Greek Ministry of Education, which might occasionally make modifications based on the Greek holidays.
In case of serious student misconduct, the teaching staff are responsible for any sanctions. In the case that a student should be expelled, no money will be returned to the parents.
The insurance of the students (liability, accident) on the way to and at the school is the sole responsibility of the parents.
Organisation
The school is staffed with highly qualified teachers from Greece, who normally teach in schools in Greece and are sent to Switzerland in secondment by the Greek Ministry of Education to cover part of the needs of the four recognized Greek HSK-Schools in Zurich. The Parents' Association is responsible for the hiring of the rest of the teachers under hourly wage. The school runs kindergarten classes (first and second level), all six levels of elementary school and a mixed secondary school class. The operation and organization of the school is the exclusive responsibility of the teaching staff. The Parents' Association supports the teaching staff whenever this is needed. The Parents' Association does not interfere in any way in pedagogical or educational matters.
The communication with the relevant Offices of the Canton of Zurich is done through the appointed HSK-Coordinator, common for the four recognized schools.
Kindergarten
In this class, small kids between 4 and 6 years old come into contact with a Greek school environment. Through playing, a pleasant ambiance, and the proper educational intervention of the Kindergarten teacher, the students are encouraged to slowly integrate and function independently within the Greek-speaking Kindergarten community.
First and Second grade of Primary School
The goal of these two levels is to teach the students how to read and write in the Greek language. It is targeted towards children between 6 and 8 years old, regardless of their level of Greek. Eventually children will learn to read and understand easy texts in Greek and at the same time improve their oral communication skills.
Third, Forth, Fifth und Sixth grades of Primary School
The oral communication will be systematically strengthened and the vocabulary broadened. In parallel, children will be taught the necessary grammar, which will enable them to develop their writing skills. The students will get to learn Greece, with its history, customs, and traditions through texts rich in expression.
The participation of the students is encouraged through team activities, based on modern educational and pedagogical practices.
In the last two levels of Primary School the students also get the necessary preparation for their participation in the examinations for the Certificate of Knowledge of the Greek Language (Ellinomatheia).
Secondary School
In this class the students can improve their use of the Greek language, with proper grammar, their writing skills as well as their vocabulary and reading comprehension. The goal is also to present the timelessness of the Greek language and its esthetic perspective. The students will also learn to use the Greek language depending on the context. They will be able to produce complex texts and improve their oral skills in various situations of communication.
The ultimate goal here is again the participation of the students in the examinations for the Certificate of Knowledge of the Greek Language (Ellinomatheia).