SIS Basel-Allschwil: Meet the Principal

Established in Basel in 1999, SIS Swiss International School now has seven – soon to be eight – locations across Switzerland, as well as schools in neighbouring Germany, Italy and as far afield as Brazil. In close to 25 years SIS has gone from a single bilingual class to a network of pioneering bilingual schools offering immersive education to students from kindergarten-age through to College.

SIS Basel-Allschwil will open its doors in the summer of 2024, becoming the newest school in the SIS family. The school will offer bilingual education at kindergarten and primary school level from the school year 2024/25.

Andrea Spielmann, who is presently Head of Primary School 2 to 6 at SIS Basel, has accepted the role of Principal at the new school.

We sat down with Andrea to find out more about who she is, her plans for the brand-new Basel-Allschwil campus, and what exciting things lie ahead.

When is SIS Basel-Allschwil set to open?

Our building already exists – the University of Basel is based there. However, the interior construction is currently being completed. They are building our classrooms, offices, meeting rooms, and so on. Being able to be part of the planning and development is a great experience. We plan to open our doors in August 2024 for students and their families.

What is your vision for Basel-Allschwil campus?

The vision for the new school focuses on the children and their development, which is really the centrepiece of our educational and entrepreneurial approach.

At the school’s foundation will be bilingual learning, as well as the individual needs of our students which will be challenged but also supported by teachers and their social and pedagogical programmes.

The campus is located within the Switzerland Innovation Park in Allschwil. It’s a great area with many international companies, startups, a daycare and restaurants. It is a wonderful place for teachers, students, and parents to meet. In some cases, parents work within the Innovation Park so the whole family is in one place.

SIS has a strong school culture that extends across all campuses. Are there any aspects of that culture that you want to magnify at the new campus?

At SIS, paying attention to an individual’s needs and strengths is one of our focuses. This aspect of school culture is very important to me as well.

Of course, there are more aspects to our culture than just that. We have developed a set of values that form the building blocks for our school. There are four values that are part of the SIS educational concept and we seek to instill them in our students:

• Honesty
• Appreciation
• Personal responsibilty
• Commitment

These four values are crucial to everyone, and I would like to see them enacted in all areas of the new school as well. In the end, our values ensure that staff, students, and parents all work together as a community with the same expectations and goals.

Moreover, social, and emotional learning in general are as much part of the curriculum as academic education. Because of this, our values are really deepened and strengthened through classroom discussions.

We want students to be involved in all aspects of school life. This includes students taking on leadership roles at an early stage. We have sixth graders helping out in kindergarten or in the playground and involved during open days.

Have there been any particular challenges so far and how did you overcome them?

My new role requires a lot of balance in many different areas. My degree in business helps me identify and solve challenges on the administrative side, whereas my experience in education as a teacher and as head of primary (2 – 6) enables me to find the best solution in terms of educational challenges.

These different perspectives allow me to consider what is best for the students, the parents, and the community, as well as the teachers’ needs whilst keeping in mind the business-side of the school. It is always crucial to respect every student. They all have their own personal history, and it is a great responsibility, but also honour, to be able to accompany them on their journey. We overcome difficulties together, and of course also celebrate their success.

I was part of the SIS leadership programme which helped me deepen my knowledge and apply it directly into practice. My personal development and self- reflection are a big part of my preparations for my new role and the challenges that lie ahead. I emphasise innovative approaches and clear and concise communication. In my experience, this is how we can overcome many challenges, build strong relationships, and achieve success together.

I had a lovely experience once, when I was in a café and one of my former students came up to me and said, “Hallo Frau Spielmann” in perfect German – out of the blue. That was very nice because he’s at university now. I was touched that he could remember things that we did in class. As a teacher that was very rewarding.

It all comes back to the students again; the work that we do, the difficulties that we overcome together. You get a sense for this years later, when they still talk about their school days, or take the time to greet you.

Your professional journey includes time in Bangkok. How have your international experiences shaped your philosophy and leadership?

Bangkok was unforgettable. I often look back on that time fondly, as I do with the time I spent in the United States. My time in Bangkok showed me how different cultures approach learning and this is very important in today’s globalised world.

I have seen various parts of the world and learnt about the challenges and opportunities of those places. I was also able to see other ways of teaching, how classes interact, and the way the classrooms are set up.

In Thailand we once went on a class trip to a National Park in Bangkok where there were crocodiles and we slept in tents!

My experiences have shown me that education can be different but also very much the same. The development of children is what is crucial and that doesn’t change whether you are in Thailand or the United States or Switzerland.

My experiences in Bangkok ultimately led me to apply to an International School. In the end, I accepted the position here at SIS. I’m still very happy with that decision, which is why I have stayed here for so long!

Could you tell us about a particularly impactful project or initiative you’ve led at SIS Basel that you’d like to replicate or adapt for the Allschwil campus?

There have been so many projects in my 11+ years. One of my favourites is certainly the ski camp, which I enjoy organising and leading. But there is also sports day and project week – the list is very long.

Furthermore, I love events such as the poetry slam which unites and celebrates languages, or the winter/summer festival where parents, students and teachers come together.

Not to forget all the holidays we celebrate throughout the year, e.g. Diwali, Fasnacht, Chinese New Year, Reading Aloud Day, Vogel Gryff – it’s especially nice to get to know and celebrate national and international holidays and traditions.

You have taught everything from German to information technology. How do you balance the idea of having an interdisciplinary approach with also needing to be specialised?

It’s very common in Switzerland that you teach a range of subjects in primary school. I see it less as a balancing act and more as a teaching tool. When I teach German for example, I will make connections to the current geography topic. Linking different subjects to each other is very important and reflects daily life.

At SIS, we also ensure that teachers attend regular professional trainings. These trainings help us to deepen a specific subject or widen our horizons by taking other courses in different areas.

What inspires you as an educator, and who are your role models in the field of education?

Learning inspires me. When you consider that kindergarten students start with letter writing and reading and end up being able to write argumentative texts, interpret poems and give presentations, being a teacher is a wonderful profession.

I always wanted to be a teacher. My primary school teacher at the time inspired me. He was organised, funny and showed us what there was to see out there in the world (excursions, theatre, school trips). I loved school and still do today.

As I got older, it was my German teacher, with her loving and warm manner, who I still see every now and then – usually on her bike when our paths literally cross.

In secondary school, it was my biology teacher who captivated us with his passion for his subject and I still know today why the slime fish are called what they are.

The fact that you can make a difference as a teacher and get the best out of students is what inspires me – teaching is a wonderful job that I still do with a lot of passion today.

Considering your extensive teaching history, what changes have you witnessed in the educational landscape over the years, and how do you stay adaptable to these changes?

When I think back to my school days and my time at university, there have been
many changes, especially the topic of digitalisation. The opportunities and risks
of working with laptops, the internet and artificial intelligence are immense and have been a massive change.

Our cooperation with the Youth and Prevention Police, who organise courses within the school classes, as well as the SIS internal curriculum in the area of IT, strengthen and support the teachers in their work.

Technology enriches learning at SIS. Programming and internet safety are just as much a part of the curriculum as media and digital technology. Even at preschool age, students learn how to use several types of technology correctly, which is reinforced at different levels and in a targeted manner.

I like to think back to my 2nd grade class and our IT lessons. We started with creating passwords and logging on to the computer, then moved on to PowerPoint and finally to programming small robots. This would have been unimaginable in the past and is now the SIS standard.

What are some of your favourite aspects of Swiss life that you enjoy in your free time, and how do they influence your approach to education?

When you think of Switzerland, mountain landscapes and lakes are just as much a part of it as a delicious raclette or chocolate. Skiing in the mountains and get-togethers with my family and friends help me to find and maintain my balance.

Nature also inspires me. I enjoy spending time in the garden and am happy when everything is blooming and thriving.

I love travelling with my partner and exploring new cultures, countries, and meeting new people. There are so many marvelous places in this world that still need to be discovered. Travelling literally broadens our horizons.

I always try to pass on this enthusiasm to our students. As a school, we try to bring the beautiful landscape of Switzerland closer to the children with the ski camp for example. Many of them experience snow for the first time after coming to Switzerland.

We celebrate diversity, friendship, and togetherness not only in everyday school lessons, but also with festivities, musicals, discos and so on.

About SIS Swiss International School:

SIS Swiss International School operates 17 bilingual, private day schools in Switzerland, Germany and Brazil. More than 5.000 students attend our classes from kindergarten through to college. They come from local as well as from international families and learn in German (or Portuguese) and English. www.swissinternationalschool.ch