We're moving to Canton Aargau next May. My son starts his final year of Kindergarten this year and will start 1st year in 2013 in Switzerland. I wanted to supply his teacher this year with a list of Aargau requirements for next year to make his transition as easy as possible. Everything I'm finding in English for the canton is pretty vague. I'm used to seeing something like this: http://plattecounty.mo.schoolwebpage...etailid=15687& (If you click on the links, it gives a specific list of skills). I'm concerned about him starting in a new language and want to make sure he's learned everything expected (and maybe even more if possible without stressing him out!).

Thanks!

We stay in Aargau and my son has just started kindergarden. I dont think there are any specific skills required for a 1st grader. In fact, from the little i have seen, i think the acquisition of new academic skills start only in the first grade, so you have nothing to worry. Since everything will be new to other children as well, i dont think even language will be an issue. If it becomes an issue, i have heard that there will be separate language classes for your child.

If you have any specific questions i can always pop into the Gemeinde office and check with the school secretary or ask my son's kindergarden teacher. Please feel free to PM me or reply to this post with specific questions if you have any.

all the best for the move!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Swiss-Schooling/

I recommend you join the above group as they will be able to help you.

"This group is a place for foreign parents in Switzerland to discuss their childrens' experiences in the Swiss state schools. This should be a safe place to share with each other our joys frustrations, and to give recieve helpful information. Swiss parents are welcome with open arms:-) "

Regards

Annie

Thanks! That makes me feel better! Daniel's currently in a Montessori school, so he should be ok then. He understands some Swiss German, but he'll have to pick up more there. I've joined the yahoo group and hope to learn tons there!

The kindergartens themselves are excellent in Aargau. The one thing to watch about kindergartens (only in Aargau) is the allocation of school places after kindergarten. The best primary schools have a lot of competition. The post kindergarten report by the teacher can block your child's access to a good local primary school. This usually happens only to foreign kids as their Swiss German skill naturally develop more slowly and pushes them towards the bottom of the class in terms of historical marks in tests before the final report. This is an issues if there is a lot of competition for primary school places.

It is very unfair, as foreign kids who arrive in Switzerland just before the start of primary school, or who are kept from kindergarten by parents, don't have a primary school report to hold them back. The report only has negative consequences. The appeal process is biased and a nightmare. The definitive solution is to move kantons if you get to that point, as they have different rules to Aargau.

I don't know if we'll have any primary school choices. All children from our area go to one school in the village down the road from K-3rd or so and then move to our local school. I'm not sure how the schools rate. I will get my son a tutor, if needed, for Swiss German to get him caught up quickly. I want to make sure he doesn't fall behind before the segregation of levels they do around 10 or so. Is the primary split up more for the larger cities?

Yes, the split up was for Baden. Your situation sounds straightforward.
I don't think you will need any tuition for Swiss German. Perhaps High German later on in primary.

Love shopping in downtown Baden

I need a tutor in High German, too! Once I get there, I'll figure out the language issues. I've studied here, but I've decided immersion is required to force me to speak.