ECOLE FAMILIES
A Cozy Home Away from Home
Our Family structure sets us apart from other boarding schools. Students live together in small, caring Family groups, under the supervision of two to three teachers in one of our quaint and cozy chalets.
A Supportive Boarding Environment
Our campus is made up of a number of “Ecole Families,” each living in one of our charmingly rustic Swiss chalets. Each Family is led by two or three “Family Heads” who often have children of their own. Together, these small co-ed, multi-age, and multilingual groups of young people live in a supportive, caring environment.
Guided by their Family Heads, students cook hearty meals, plan activities, and work through the inevitable successes, conflicts, joys, and disappointments of life as a teenager. Families come together to be silly at festivals or serious in the face of a community problem. Our small living groups and high staff-to-student ratio allow us to regularly check in with our students, supporting and celebrating them as they continue along their path to becoming who they are.
Social and Emotional Learning
Communication skills are an important part of the Ecole d’Humanité education. Our Family structure supports social and emotional development of our students - focusing on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and communication skills. Caring and sympathetic Family Heads are on hand to support young people in navigating the difficulties and in enjoying the delights of teenage life - celebrating birthdays, resolving conflicts with friends, or bouncing around ideas for an upcoming project. Teachers are all trained in Theme-Centered Interaction and are able to guide students in learning how to express themselves with authenticity and respect. Our students develop the ability to advocate for themselves, to support one another, and to communicate clearly. They carry these skills with them throughout their lives.
Connection Supports Learning
Spending time together is a priority at the Ecole d’Humanité. Our close-knit school environment encourages learning in both academic and social realms.
Wednesday evenings are Family Evenings, when each Family gathers together to prepare a special meal and a fun activity. Students play an active role in planning the evening - from shopping for ingredients to cooking for their Family members. Together they swap stories and make memories as they chop, stir, and sauté. Students hone their dishwashing skills, working together to clean up after their meal.
Regular family activities are an opportunity for students to feel a sense of belonging and to have fun! Students join together for board games, sledding trips, or an epic multi-family game of dodgeball.
Weekly Family meetings invite students to voice concerns and find solutions as a group, and to offer appreciative high-fives to their Family members. These meetings serve as a training ground for valuable life skills like resolving conflict, advocating for one’s needs, and expressing appreciation to those around us.
Time spent together with their Family Heads and teachers adds benefits beyond social connection. Students get to know their teachers outside the classroom, seeing them as whole individuals. Many Ecolianers remark that their relationships with teachers provide an extra level of support academically. They feel more comfortable asking questions, requesting help, and they are often inspired, through relationships, to embrace challenging subject matter with a new sense of curiosity.
