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Home Primary School Welcome to Primary School

Welcome to our

Primary School

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Primary School is a time of discovery, curiosity, and growth. It’s a foundational period in every child’s journey where they begin to explore the world around them, develop their sense of self, and build the skills they need for the future.

Our Primary School programme is built on the belief that children are naturally curious, creative, and capable of great things. Guided by the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), our curriculum supports young learners in developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and a love for exploration through inquiry-based learning.

a young student taking risks in the playground

A Nurturing Environment for Young Learners

Located in the heart of Zug, surrounded by forests and open fields, our campus is a space where children can grow. Our Primary School offers a supportive, engaging environment where every student is encouraged to take risks and discover new ideas.

What Makes ISZL’s Primary Programme Unique?

girl with laptop and languages
mums and parents at iszl event

Outdoor Learning

One of the highlights of our Primary Programme is our focus on outdoor learning. We believe spending time in nature helps children develop physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. Our students enjoy access to playgrounds, a nature area with a pond, a vegetable garden, an apple orchard, a mud kitchen, and an outdoor classroom.

Every week, our students in Early Years 1 to Grade 1 venture into the forest for hands-on learning experiences that support connections to nature and help them build a more holistic understanding of the world.

In Grades 2–5, students go on forest trips related to their studies. Learning outside the classroom can also include other activities, such as field trips, exploring nature, reading, practicing maths, or learning about nature itself.

Multilingualism

We value multilingualism and international-mindedness. From Early Years 1, German is woven into our daily routines, projects, and outdoor learning, and from Kindergarten onwards, dedicated German lessons are part of the curriculum.

Our approach to language learning promotes not only communication skills but also global awareness, cognitive flexibility, and respect for different cultures.

Knowing Our Learners

Our Primary School is built around each child.

We take a collaborative, child-centred approach to teaching, with grade-level teams working alongside specialist teachers to ensure that every child receives the personalised attention they require.

Regular meetings allow us to track progress, celebrate achievements, and address any concerns. As an accredited International Baccalaureate® World School, we take pride in offering a well-rounded education that supports academic, social-emotional, and physical development.

A Caring, Collaborative Community

We believe that parents are key partners in a child’s education, and by working together — teachers, parents, and students — we create a sense of belonging and wellbeing.

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German in ISZL

Grainne McFadden in Early Years

early years students in the garden after school

Our Primary School Day

We understand that a flexible schedule is important for our youngest learners. That’s why we offer a range of options for Early Years students, with flexible attendance from three full days or four mornings to five full days a week.

For Kindergarten through Grade 5, school hours are 08:50 to 15:30, with an optional extended day until 18:00.

The greatest gift ISZL has given my three daughters is an unprecedented passion for learning. This year they have transitioned to a new school and their creativity, ability to work well with all classmates, inclusivity, and big-picture thinking set them apart from their peers. I attribute their success to the four years of education at ISZL.

Former ISZL Parent

Discover How We Grow Together

We invite you to visit our campus and experience firsthand how we inspire a love for learning and make our corner of the world a better, kinder place. Together, we help our children grow into thoughtful, engaged global citizens.

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Literacy in ISZL

Sarah Osborne in Early Years

Meet the Primary School Leadership

Melissa Bland

Primary School Principal

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Melissa Bland

Primary School Principal

Mel joined ISZL in 2024 as the new Primary School Principal.

Her previous role was Foundation Principal at Te Uho o te Nikau Primary School in Auckland, New Zealand. Mel led her former school from its establishment to an enrolment of over 1,000 students.

Mel’s experience spans from New Zealand to international schools globally [Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan], to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme. She has also worked leading early childhood centres, as her belief is that a primary principal needs to know the whole journey for our youngest learners.

The children are the best part of a school day for her and she thrives when she feels connected with those she works with and the community in which she is based.

Mel is here with her partner Mike and their dog Nikau. The kids are all grown up — one in Melbourne and one in Brisbane. They are also grandparents to the “Tornado,” Halo, who is three years old. Mike is a Health & PE teacher with a passion for coaching.

Mel was born and raised in New Zealand however she is also deeply rooted in her Fijian heritage from her mother’s side of the family. In her free time, Mel loves to go for long dog walks, go shoe shopping and watch the game of rugby in any form.

Sarah Osborne

Assistant Principal Early Years 1–Grade 1

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Sarah Osborne

Assistant Principal Early Years 1–Grade 1

Sarah Osborne has been teaching internationally and working with the IB PYP curriculum for over 22 years. She has served the ISZL community for the last 17 years as an Early Years teacher and team leader, PYP Coordinator and now as the Assistant Principal for Early Years.

Sarah holds postgraduate certification in Primary Education, a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and a certificate in International School Leadership. Sarah has worked with the IB to develop teacher support materials and curriculum guidance, and has presented parent workshops and at conferences on topics such as early literacy, learning environments and documenting children’s learning.

Her passions are using the arts as tools for expression and thinking with students, and supporting teaching teams to work collaboratively to meet the needs of students. She believes in the power of compassionate individuals and organisations to take meaningful action to make the world a better place.

Christine De Luca Primary School Assistant principal

Christine De Luca

Assistant Principal Grades 2-5

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Christine De Luca Primary School Assistant principal

Christine De Luca

Assistant Principal Grades 2-5

Christine has teaching and leading experience spanning private, public and international schools. A former PYP Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Principal, she has taught every age in primary and Early Years. She is an active member of the IB Educator Network as a consultant, workshop leader and site visitor and a trained Cognitive Coach.

Christine is a United Nations Sustainable Development Group Ambassador and fervent advocate for sustainability in all compass directions (Well-Being, Society, Nature, Education). Above all, she believes that relationships matter and are the key towards understanding, interdependence, and compassion and the foundation needed for learning to occur. Christine is looking forward to forming new connections within the ISZL community and serving to the best of her ability as your Assistant Principal for Grades 3-5.

Christine says, “I have always been happiest when outdoors and so became an outdoor educator. Through this work I learned that I love facilitating groups and individuals towards shared and personal discovery and isn’t this what teaching is all about?  After obtaining my teaching degree I began my career as a public school teacher in Colorado. By becoming a teacher, I found the joy and sense of purpose I had been looking for”.

 

Margriet Faber

PYP Coordinator

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Margriet Faber

PYP Coordinator

Margriet, originally from the Netherlands, began her international teaching career and PYP journey in Malaysia in 2002. Since then, she has taught in IB PYP schools in Hong Kong, Mongolia, and Angola before moving to Switzerland in 2022. Her husband, originally from the UK and now a Dutch passport holder, shares in her passion for international life and learning.

What Margriet loves most about the PYP is how it encourages student agency and keeps curiosity alive by encouraging learners to ask questions and explore their own ideas. She values how the framework is both internationally consistent and adaptable to local contexts, giving students a sense of belonging no matter where in the world they are.

Margriet enjoys the experience of moving to new countries, discovering different cultures, and learning new languages, all while the IB and PYP provide a constant foundation. Having spent childhood holidays in Switzerland, she knew she would enjoy the country’s outdoor lifestyle. In her free time, she can often be found hiking, trail running, mountain biking, skiing, or relaxing with a good book in the forest or mountains.

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Early Years–Grade 8

Zug Campus
Walterswil 1
6340 Baar, Switzerland

office.zug@iszl.ch

+41 41 768 29 00 (Primary)


+41 41 768 29 03 (Middle)

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Grade 9–Grade 12

Riverside Campus
Rothusstrasse 4B
6331 Hünenberg, Switzerland

office.riverside@iszl.ch

+41 41 768 29 50

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