A Warm, Caring and Truly Bilingual Kindergarten Experience

Our son is currently in kindergarten and joined SIS Männedorf-Zürich in the middle of an academic year, after changing from another school. Since this was an important step for him and for us as a family, the trial days were very valuable. They gave him the opportunity to experience the school, meet the teachers and children, and feel whether it was the right environment for him. He felt welcomed from the beginning and chose the school together with us.

 

Choosing the Right Environment for Our Son
We chose SIS Männedorf-Zürich because we felt a strong balance between academic quality and emotional care. The school principal and the kindergarten teachers made a very positive impression on us from the start. They are experienced, attentive, and genuinely devoted to the children.

 

Growing in Confidence and Curiosity
Since joining SIS Männedorf-Zürich, our son has become more confident, curious, and open to learning. We appreciate that kindergarten learning is rich and varied, while still being age-appropriate and joyful. The children explore language, mathematical concepts, nature, culture, creativity, and social values through meaningful activities inside and outside the classroom. What stands out to us is that the teachers do not only focus on what children learn, but also on how they feel about learning. They encourage motivation, confidence, kindness, and curiosity. A simple example of the school’s spirit is the way positive values are recognized. The monthly certificates given personally by the school principal for qualities such as courage, kindness, and respect show children that character matters as much as achievement.

Two Languages, One Natural Learning Environment
The bilingual concept feels authentic in everyday school life. English and German are spoken by native-speaking teachers, with a clear structure of one language per day. This gives the children consistency and helps them enter both languages naturally.

 

A Strong Community Beyond the Classroom
The communication between school and parents is open, personal, and regular. We feel well informed and involved, and we appreciate that the teachers are approachable and attentive to each child’s individual path. We also value the class representative concept, which gives parents a constructive way to share feedback. The school listens carefully and reacts thoughtfully when there is an opportunity to improve everyday school life. 

 

The community feels warm and international. Families come from different backgrounds, but often share similar values around education, kindness, and openness. School events such as art project weeks, book days, toy sharing, celebrations, and seasonal activities help create a strong sense of belonging.

 

Why We Would Choose SIS Again
We would recommend SIS Männedorf-Zürich to families looking for a warm, caring, high-quality, international, and truly bilingual school environment. For us, it is especially valuable that academic development and emotional wellbeing are both taken seriously. The smaller kindergarten groups, dedicated teachers, additional assistants, playgrounds, library, lunch facilities, and beautiful location by the lake all contribute to a very positive everyday experience. The principal is also very present and involved in school life, which strengthens the feeling that the school is both professional and personal.

 

If we had to make the same decision again, we would choose SIS Männedorf-Zürich without hesitation. In five words, we would describe the school as: warm, caring, bilingual, professional, and inspiring.

 

 

Written by the Anoja family
May 2026