Swiss Abroad family return for school in Switzerland

Noel and Micha Stankowski in their schoolyard in Ittigen (Canton Bern). swissinfo.ch / Céline Stegmüller

The Stankowski family, who had lived in the Philippines since 2018, have returned to Switzerland for their children’s education. The family and the two children’s teachers take stock of a rather unusual start to the new school year.

“Noel and Micha were delighted to return to Switzerland, even if they didn’t know exactly what to expect, having spent a good part of their lives in the Philippines,” says their mother, Barbara.

Since August, Noel (10) and Micha (8) have been attending school in Ittigen, canton Bern.

Barbara and husband Simon have been back in Switzerland with their two children since June, having spent five years in Manila. The family feels very welcome in the parish where Barbara has been a pastor since October.

Simon Stankowski has found a teaching post in in Upper Aargau. For three-and-a-half days a week he teaches unaccompanied minors who are seeing asylum.

But the main reason the Stankowskis are back in Switzerland is their children’s education.

A few obstacles

At home the two boys remain fairly discreet about their life at school. “No news is good news,” Barbara smiles. However, the parents agree that their sons enjoy going to school and that it sets the pace for their daily lives, which helps them to reintegrate.

“I was surprised at how quickly Micha integrated. He made friends very quickly,” says Michelle Wittwer, a Year 3 teacher. 

Noel, more reserved, needed more time to find his place. His classmates have been in the same class for a long time, so they know each other well. But he’s got there.

“Noel was no longer used to being in a class of 20 pupils with just one teacher, so he had to learn to be patient,” says his Year 5 teacher Damian Howald. Wittwer adds that Micha used to cover his ears with his hands. “It was too noisy for him and he couldn’t concentrate,” she says.

The Stankowski family’s diary

Barbara and Simon Stankowski are returning to Switzerland for the education of their two sons, Noel and Micha. We will accompany them on this adventure. With the help of the diary the family is keeping, we will share the main stages of their journey with readers and give advice on how to avoid pitfalls when entering children into the Swiss education system.

The Covid-19 pandemic meant the two boys spent most of their schooling at home in the Philippines.

As the Stankowskis are German speakers, Noel and Micha have no trouble with German. Noel, on the other hand, didn’t learn French when he was in the Philippines, which is why he gets one hour’s support a week. In other subjects, the boys have no particular difficulties.

The richness of expat life

Life on the other side of the world has also given them a number of advantages. Noel and Micha have a lot of general knowledge and a very good knowledge of geography for their age, according to the two teachers. They also have a good level of English.

Their story aroused the curiosity of their classmates, who were impressed by their background. “Micha talked a lot about the Philippines and explained, for example, that not all the children in the world can read or write,” Wittwer says.

Howald is convinced that “living abroad has given them a different perspective on the world, and that’s an undeniable benefit!” This view is shared by Barbara and Simon Stankowski, who believe that an intercultural experience teaches people to adapt to different environments.

The family were surprised and delighted to find this among the belongings they had left in Switzerland swissinfo.ch

Tips for a smooth start

Noel’s teacher is also convinced that, for children to integrate as well as possible, the support of their parents is essential. “Parents must accompany their children during the integration process, by asking them regularly how school is going, and by giving them the necessary time, both in class and at home,” he says.

Michelle Wittwer believes it can be useful to explain the Swiss school system to children before they arrive at school, so they have an idea of what to expect.

Howald believes the age at which children return to Switzerland also plays a role in how easy or difficult it is for them to integrate. “The older the children, the more complicated it is.”

A view shared by educationsuisse, as reported in this article:

Planning a return at the right time

Now that the main steps of the couple’s return to Switzerland are behind them, Barbara and Simon Stankowski have learnt a few lessons. 

For example, they think it would be a good idea to settle in Switzerland before the summer holidays. “Ideally, I think one should even return in mid-May, so the children can already go to school before the summer break,” says Barbara. Although the family returned in mid-June, it seemed a long time before Noel and Micha went back to school in August.

There are other factors that can make a smooth return easier, such as having the opportunity to get to know the school and classroom before starting. According to Simon Stankowski, “it takes away the fear of the unknown”. Sport also provides an opportunity to meet future classmates.

Mixed feelings

The Stankowskis are certainly happy to be back in Switzerland, but they still have mixed feelings since leaving the Philippines. “We felt we’d let our friends down over there,” Barbara says. “We’re so privileged here,” Simon adds.

Until the rectory is vacated in January, the Stankowskis will live in a flat on the fourth floor of these buildings in Ittigen. swissinfo.ch

The mother and two boys feel a certain sadness when they look at the photos of their adopted country. For Simon, it’s less difficult. In the same way Barbara has felt bad about enjoying the panoramic view of the Bernese Alps from their flat because it showed her every day “how unfair the world is”.

“Personally, I was delighted,” adds Simon. “In Manila we had a view of a wall!”

A little out of date culturally

Although they have been away for only five years, the couple have “unlearnt” the Swiss way of doing things. Shopping in a supermarket or navigating the many apps on their phones is still a challenge.

“We’re really glad we stored our beds and furniture here before we left, because we’d have been completely overwhelmed if we’d had to buy everything again,” Barbara says. 

The Stankowskis were also surprised by the quantity of items put away. “We found four kitchen whisks and piles and piles of plates. In the Philippines, we only had a few plates and a salad bowl, and that was enough.”

Barbara Stankowski works in this church swissinfo.ch