On Wednesday 29th November we will officially open the 3rd floor and welcome the community to come and take a tour of our new facilities. Our students and staff have been settling into the new space since returning from the Autumn break after a opening ceremony, which began with this speech by Ms. Güver. 

Good morning lovely Students, dear teachers, wonderful PA and esteemed Board members,
Welcome back after the autumn break. I hope you all had a relaxing break filled with lots of wonderful moments with your family and friends.

Today is an exciting day!

Today we gather here with hearts full of excitement as we celebrate a remarkable milestone in the journey of our beloved school. And it is my privilege to address you on this momentous occasion.

This is a celebration only for us to celebrate.

We will have an official celebration on November the 29th but today is only for you, dear students.

Before we dive into the excitement of today’s celebration, let me take a moment to transport you back in time—to the year 1999. It was then, more than two decades ago, that the very foundations of our beloved school were laid. In those early days, we were a small community of about 25 learners and our first location was the historic Marienstift next to the Rhine.

I personally joined ISSH in 2006, and I can’t help but reflect on the incredible transformation we have witnessed over the years. Back then, our classes extended only up to the 9th grade, and our youngest students were just three years old, taking their first steps in the world of education.

In 2009, our school reached a significant milestone when we moved to the Logierhaus. It was here that we found the space to accommodate all grade levels, from kindergarten up to grade 11. However, it didn’t take long to realise that while the Logierhaus was a wonderful home, it did not provide us with enough classroom space if we are going to introduce the Diploma programme in grades 11 and 12.

In response, we transformed the old furniture storage hall across the campus into a gym and, in 2012, built the secondary building—an event that now stands 11 years in the past.

Who of our students has been with us since 2012 and remembers the opening celebration of the secondary building? Gavin? Preston? Matti?  If I remember correctly Louis and Lisa joined ISSH in 2013 and Jonny, Sara around the same time? 2014 or 2015?     Did I forget anyone?          You all were soooo cute and … uppss, you all are still cute!

And who joined our school after 2012?

Exactly!    I am expecting to see many, many hands because since then, we’ve witnessed a steady growth in student numbers over the years. Our school community has flourished, and today we welcome about  280 students every day to nurture their love for learning. Well, with most of you, right?!

Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves in a school that has grown. And now, as we are about to walk on the new additional floor, we witness yet another chapter in our school’s history—a chapter filled with opportunities, possibilities, and the promise of an even brighter future.

The new additional floor represents more than just an expansion of our school building: it is a symbol of progress, growth, and a commitment to providing our students with an environment that fosters learning, creativity, and excellence.

 It is incredible to think that just six short months ago, on April 1st, the foundation of this project was laid. And now, right before our eyes, we witness the realisation of countless hours of planning, dedication, and hard work. Exactly 6 months later we stand here now! What an incredible journey! Swiss perfection!

Today is a good day to take a moment to express our profound gratitude to our esteemed board members for their visionary leadership. Two of the founding members are with us here today, David Bancroft and Daniel Fink.                                         And a big thank you to all the board members for having approved the 3rd floor project. It was your unwavering commitment to our school’s growth and success that paved the way for this incredible achievement. Your foresight not only allows our secondary students more room allocations with the third floor but also benefits our kindergarten and primary sections as more rooms become available in the Logierhaus.

Now, as we are going to look around, we might notice that a few things are still in the process of being completed. Not every sink has been installed yet in the new classrooms and the stage in the Aula is yet to come. That’s the nature of any undertaking as grand as this one. It reminds us that growth is a continuous journey, and with each phase, we move closer to perfection. We will witness the completion together … isn’t this wonderful???

Let me also share with you that we have not only built a new 3rd floor but at the same time we installed more than 800 qm of solar panels on top of the gym hall roof and this building.       I can already see that your Maths teachers are going to let you calculate about this in their Maths classes. Probably the question could be like this: “How many hours of sunshine do the solar panels need each day to ensure that both buildings have enough heat to keep students and teachers warm in their classrooms?” 

 As part of our commitment to sustainability, we have also recently removed the oil tank located in the Logierhaus building and have replaced it with a more sustainable and efficient heating system in its place. The removal of the oil tank in the Logierhaus has created the opportunity to expand student bathroom areas instead. This enhancement is still in progress and will be completed during the year. At ISSH we are aware of our responsibilities to build in a sustainable manner and this building meets the standard of Minergie, which is an eco-friendly way of modern construction.

Today is also a good day to thank you all, teachers and students, for your patience during the construction period. I know that it was not always easy to teach and study through the noise of hammering and drilling. But hey, see this from the bright side: You are now experts in evacuating a building quickly, in nullkommanix,  because the countless fire alarms have trained us all very well! The kindergarten for sure has appreciated the fire brigade coming to school a few times so that they can watch them closely!

But this is now in the past, even only a few weeks ago, and a shared history we will tell each other as memories of this construction period.

So, as we embark on this new chapter, let us do so with a sense of history, a commitment to excellence, and the knowledge that the future is bright for each and every one of us.

Thank you for being part of our history, our present, and our future. Together, we shall continue to write the story of our remarkable school—one filled with dreams realised, challenges conquered, and boundless possibilities.

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Now I would like to invite our students ambassadors who have also prepared a few words to share with you all.

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Thank the PA afterwards and invite them all for cutting the ribbon.