Meet the Heads: Karin Altorfer & Rosemarie Kurath, Swiss Boarding Schools Disentis & Zurich
Swiss Boarding Schools Disentis & Zurich (SBSDZ) offers students in grades 9 – 12 an exceptional educational experience across two campuses. With a city campus in Winterthur/Zurich and mountain campus in Disentis, SBSDZ is set to welcome students from around the world.
The SBSDZ city campus is led by Karin Altorfer and the mountain campus by Rosemarie Kurath. Both women are experienced school heads and bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership expertise to their roles.
Former French and German grammar school teacher, Karin Altorfer, has always been interested in education. She started teaching and leading school programmes for International GCSE and A Levels six years ago. Karin aims to accompany young people from all over the world on their journey through school.
Rosemarie Kurath is a qualified teacher for English and History. Teaching in Austria, Northern Ireland and Switzerland has given her significant experience and insight into various school systems. For her, the main priorities are to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students feel valued and are encouraged to flourish and succeed.
We were fortunate to speak to both Karin and Rosemarie to learn more about SBSDZ and their unique dual campus system.
What are the vision and educational philosophies of SBSDZ?
KA: The vision is to have a boarding school where students from all over the world come together for a high-end educational experience centred around the IGSCE and A Levels, across two exceptional locations.
One of our philosophies is to give students – and their families – choice, based on their needs during their journey with us. Students can decide whether they want to live in the city of Winterthur/Zurich or in the mountains at the Disentis campus. And this can change depending on their goals and interests at any time throughout their studies. Perhaps younger students prefer the nature of the mountains, but as they get older they prefer a city environment where they can have more activities within a city context. As students mature, their passions change and this considerably influences where they want to study.
What inspires people to choose SBSDZ?
RK: Being able to choose between two wonderful, yet different, experiences is
one of the main reasons families opt for our schools. We are very fortunate to offer two exceptional campuses. This means we are able to cater to the different needs and passions of students, also at different stages of their education. What we offer is very unique.
I am based at the Disentis campus. It is a wonderful place in the middle of the countryside and high up in the Alps. Students who choose our campus appreciate peace and quiet. Perhaps they want to focus on their studies in a tranquil environment. It is also quintessentially Swiss! When international students think of Switzerland, they think of mountains.
Our village has around 2,000 inhabitants. It is small, but has everything you need.
We are a very familiar small school. We are able to really get to know our students, address their concerns, and support them appropriately. Overall, this is one of the strengths of SBSDZ. It is our duty to support students individually, both academically and holistically, and both campuses are completely dedicated to this.
KA: I agree, our most unique feature is the choice of educational environment – the peace and nature of the mountain, or a livelier city experience.
Obviously, for most students, they come to us for the quality education we provide. However, being able to choose between not only two campuses, but also two ambiances, and having the flexibility to change campus every year if they wish makes SBSDZ a very attractive choice.
On both campuses, we have exceptional facilities for student athletes. At our city campus, we have top-class sports facilities surrounding the school that our students have access to. For example, at the same location students see ice-rinks in winter and
beach-volleyball pitches in summer from the classrooms. When students see all of these great facilities they want to be outside using them – it’s really motivating. Even if you’re not an athlete when you start at our school you soon become one!
RK: Similarly, our mountain campus provides the most beautiful scenery and is located in one of Switzerland’s most popular alpine skiing destinations. In the summertime, the mountain campus also offers biking, hiking, and climbing. There are so many wonderful opportunities to enjoy the outdoor life.
How would you describe the community at SBSDZ? What measures do you have in place that ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment?
KA: We have a wonderful admission team and they travel all over the world. They meet with agencies and families in their home countries. However, it is our policy that families visit our locations in person because deciding where your child goes to school is too important to have never seen the campus and met the staff firsthand.
When families come to Switzerland, we want to show them everything we can offer their child. Our campuses are not far from each other so usually viewing both locations is a viable option. It is really important that we also have different cultures at our school – this also includes staff and teachers. Our teachers bring different cultural backgrounds into the classrooms and together with their individual passions and strengths, provide a well-rounded learning experience to our students.
RK: Part of our school – the grammar school – has a long tradition. It started
as a Benedictine school over 1,400 years ago. Over time we have developed an international brand. Previously we served boarders from within Switzerland and southern Germany. However, now we have broadened our scope and welcome international students from around the world.
It’s lovely to bring different cultures together, especially in the middle of the Alps, where Romansch is the local language. Our domestic students mix and mingle with the international students and of course our boarders also have meals and activities together, meaning they form a close-knit international community. This gives the international students access to local students, and local students experience living with people from other cultures.
What extracurricular opportunities are available to students across both campuses?
KA: In Winterthur/Zurich, as I mentioned, we have amazing sports facilities – in addition to the ice-skating rink, we also have a tennis hall, and a handball court. We also have plans to build another sports complex
Winterthur offers wonderful cultural experiences with some world-class museums. With the larger city of Zurich on its doorstep, students have access to a wide variety of musical and other cultural opportunities during their stay with us.
For students interested in music we have a collaboration with the local conservatory. They can take music and singing lessons there.
And of course, even when students choose the Winterthur Campus, they always have the opportunity to go skiing in Disentis or other slopes nearby. Skiing is very popular here and the students should take the opportunity to go skiing or snowboarding in the winter as part of their Swiss experience.
At the Disentis campus, we also have our own cinema. It has a capacity for around 50 people and is well-loved and used by students.
How does technology fit into your curriculum and the way you deliver classes?
RK: Technology is very much integrated into our classrooms and the school in general. From Wi-Fi access, to digital white boards and tablets for each student – technology is embraced and seen as crucially important.
Our teachers are equipped with modern technology to enhance their teaching and deliver the curriculum with excellence. We have made significant strides in incorporating digital learning tools, allowing our teaching team to stay ahead of the curve and provide engaging, personalised experiences for our students. All our teachers receive training in digital and online teaching methods so we use innovative technologies to foster important skills such as collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. We are very committed to delivering high-quality education that meets the evolving needs of our students and their families.
What qualifications and experiences do you look for in your teaching staff?
RK: We look for highly qualified and committed teachers from all over the world with a background of teaching excellence. Many of our teachers are active as examination experts for the IGCSE and A-Level exams.
If somebody wants to enrol at SBSDZ, what is the first step in the admissions process?
KA: As a quality international school, we try to look for a match between the student and the school. We will ask for details on the student both academically and otherwise. We want to see evidence of a curious mind and someone who focuses not only on their studies but also engages themselves in other extra-curricular activities. We want to see the whole person and not simply grade reports.
Early on in the process we invite them to see our campus/es. We give them a tour and speak to them about our school and community. When possible, parents/ students also visit classes and get a real first-hand experience of what we offer. In Disentis, potential future students may also stay in the boarding house overnight. The most important thing is that they really come and see us. Of course, we have online meetings as well, but at some point they need to experience our school and the place their children will call home while they are with us.
About Swiss Boarding Schools Disentis & Zurich:
Whether in the mountains or in an urban environment, Swiss Boarding Schools Disentis & Zurich provides a safe and comfortable home for your child during their studies. In the friendly, yet performance-oriented, atmosphere of our English-language boarding schools, our learners can develop their skills and prepare for their International A Levels – a qualification that opens the doors to the world’s most prestigious universities.
