boarding life at the ecole
The Ecole d’Humanité is a small and welcoming international high school. Everyone finds a place at the Ecole, and there is a place for everyone. We live in rustic, Swiss-style chalets in small co-ed groups of six to ten students. Our boarding school dorm rooms are simple, yet cozy, featuring incredible views of the mountain landscape. Most students live in double rooms together with a roommate.
COMMUNITY. ECOLE FAMILIES. CAMPUS.
The Ecole d’Humanité is a small private boarding school in Hasliberg, Switzerland. We offer a progressive education, and community is one of our most important values. We know that students thrive when they have a sense of belonging and an encouraging, caring group of people around them. Ours is a tight-knit school where differences are celebrated, and fun and togetherness are a priority. Students live in small, supportive Ecole Family groups of six to ten young people and two or three Family Head teachers who offer regular check-ins, a listening ear, or a celebratory high five. Our campus includes, Swiss-style chalets in small co-ed groups of six to ten students. Our boarding school dorm rooms are cozy, featuring incredible views of the mountain landscape. Most students live in twin rooms together with a roommate.
As a progressive and holistic boarding school, the Ecole d’Humanité encourages students to invest time in intellectual, creative, social, and athletic pursuits. Equally, we encourage students to experience nature, spending time in the majestic landscape of the Swiss Alps. Our mornings are devoted to academic subjects in small, focused classes. Our afternoons are spent exploring artistic, athletic, and social interests in our co-curricular program. Evenings are reserved for homework, social activities, and time together with Ecole Families. Download the example schedule below.
A TYPICAL DAY AT THE ECOLE
“Our deepest need is for community and significant relationships to other people, and that’s what the Ecole offers. We know that it takes a village to raise a child; it also takes a whole community of common values for young people to become secure in themselves. That's what happens at the Ecole, and it then becomes easier for those young people to go out into the world and change it.”
— Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed, Former Student and Teacher, Author and Public Speaker
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES, FOOD & DIGITAL MINDFULNESS
WEEKENDS
Saturdays start with a big putz - a campus-wide cleaning session. Then we meet for Singgemeinde - an all-school singalong - followed by two academic courses. Activities are held in the afternoons, when teachers and students organize ‘offers’, inviting community members to bake a cake together, head to the skatepark, enjoy a movie, or play an epic game of capture the flag. In wintertime, many students spend Saturday afternoon at the ski resort located just a few minutes’ walk from our campus.
On Sundays, our students enjoy a sleep-in followed by a traditional Swiss brunch. Afternoons are free for study, activities, socializing, or skiing. The school comes together on Sunday evenings for Andacht, where we explore a topical theme or current event in a school-wide meeting led by students and teachers. The day closes with a Family Meeting and preparation for the week ahead.
FOOD
Meals at the Ecole d’Humanité are balanced, seasonal, and feature fresh, local ingredients, most of which are sourced from within Switzerland. Each meal offers a vegetarian option, and special dietary needs are accommodated. All of the meat served at the Ecole d’Humanité is sourced locally, and all fish is MSC Certified. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served family-style in the Esssaal, our community dining space. Students come together to eat in Families, sharing the highs and lows of their day over a delicious meal.
A snack is served mid-morning, and baskets of fruit are available throughout the day. Wednesdays are Family Evenings, when students gather together in their family chalets to cook elaborate meals or favorite comfort foods.
DIGITAL MINDFULNESS
We value a mindful approach to technology. We strive to equip our learners with the tools, knowledge, and skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. At the same time, we provide the time they need to unplug from technology and reconnect with the world around them. Students enjoy time and equipment to create digital artworks, write code, or design a new gadget. They also spend time free from devices where they can connect with friends, enjoy the outdoors, or focus on learning.
BOARDING RULES
At the Ecole d’Humanité, we believe in freedom and limits. Our students are given a wide range of possibilities for academic and personal development, self-expression, and exploration within the boundaries of our boarding school rules.
We do not use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. A proven Intervention Concept helps students to remain aware of the consequences of the choices they make.
