Sports Variety

Sport unites humanity. Despite the students’ language and cultural differences, the full range of sports at Lyceum Alpinum makes international friendships easy. Team sports and learning a new skill create a camaraderie like no other. Whether proficient athlete or beginner, students are guaranteed to graduate with an array of sporting experiences. This diversity will allow them not only to develop strength and coordination on many levels but also prepare them to connect with the world for the rest of their lives.

School Sports

For us, sports are completely at home in the Lyceum Alpinum curriculum. Both boarding and day school students take part in school sports twice a week, which is evaluated as a compulsory subject in Matura classes. Qualified sports teachers give 60-minute lessons featuring a variety of sports. Lessons are taught according to the cantonal curriculum MAR for gymnastics and sports as well as the detailed, Swiss-mandated curriculum according to CIS criteria.

School Games

Boarding schools differ substantially from public high schools in one respect. For students at public schools, afternoon sports are only possible in separate sports clubs and associations. We call afternoon sports Games” and the regular participation in the School Games is part of our compulsory programme. Exceptional achievements are noted and awarded, which fosters athletic ambition among the students. Of course, day students can also take part in Games”, but it is not mandatory for them. The sports in the Games are determined according to the different seasons for the entire school year.

Benjamin Hartwright, Games Master

I am thrilled to be the Games Master at the Lyceum Alpinum. It is very exciting to have the responsibility of building upon the great tradition of Games here and to educe the Spirit of Zuoz from within a new generation.

Before embarking on a career in international education, I grew up in rural England, playing sports from dawn until dusk and beyond! Competing in team sports was central to the development of my character during my youth. These early sporting experiences and the ideas of Kurt Hahn inspired my passion for educating young people outdoors through physical activity. Miteinander statt nebeneinander’ (together not just alongside), is a concept that is central to my philosophy of Games. Young people learn best together, and team sports, such as cricket, are the perfect experience for developing mens sana in corpore sano – a healthy mind in a healthy body.

School Teams

Representing the third level of our school sports system, there is the possibility at the Lyceum Alpinum of joining one of our junior or senior school teams (depending on performance level). With adequate ambition and talent, students can participate in various sporting events and represent our school. The competitions complement the compulsory school sports and contribute significantly to school spirit. Teachers and boarding school staff can also become coaches of these school teams.

Sports trips

Many of the regular team competitions against other school teams take place not only in Switzerland but also abroad. For this reason, we organise international sports trips, to Italy, England or Germany, for example. These competitions not only provide a further incentive to train regularly and purposefully but also serve to broaden the horizons of each student. The international spirit can be felt here every year.

Sportswear

The sports teams in football, volleyball, basketball, floorball, ice hockey, skiing, fives and cricket are issued uniforms. Each of the houses gets their own shirts, as well. Students can order sportswear during the first two weeks of school. Early ordering is especially recommended for team members but is recommended for all other students, too. Students can try on the clothes before purchasing to ensure that everything fits perfectly for maximum performance. The purchased items are billed on the student invoice.

Sports Facilities

Lyceum Alpinum offers not only a wide range of sports but also many modern sports facilities surrounded by mountains. Facilities are on campus near the houses and kept in excellent condition. Whether indoors or outdoors, the backdrop of the Swiss Alps is always in view. All outdoor sports fields are floodlit so that they can be used after sunset creating a special atmosphere, as well.

Sports facilities directly on campus:

  • 1 triple gym
  • 2 natural ice fields
  • 6 tennis courts (2 clay courts)
  • 7 Eton Fives courts
  • 3 football pitches (grass)
  • 1 basketball court
  • 1 beach volleyball court
  • 1 long jump and shot-put facility
  • Cricket training field
  • 3 fitness rooms (1 weight room, 2 girls’ fitness rooms)

Sports facilities within walking distance:

  • Ski resort
  • 1 golf course (18 holes) with driving range

Competitions (National and International)

Our students regularly take part in various national and international games and tournaments to compete with other boarding and day schools. These include the following events:

  • Swiss middle school championships in ice hockey
  • Graubünden middle school championships in skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, volleyball and football
  • Various tournaments against other international schools in Switzerland (tennis, football, skiing, basketball and golf)
  • Various cricket tournaments in summer
  • Swiss Cricket on Ice
  • Fives National Championship at Eton
  • Swiss Seeland Triathlon

Houses

3 teams, 3 colours, 3 houses

Orania, Helvetia and Teutonia – these are the names of the three houses of the Alpinum Lyceum, which are independent of the boarding school’s residential houses. Each student is assigned to one of the Houses” according to their personal abilities and characteristics. This ensures that all three Houses are as equally balanced as possible, both in terms of numbers and performance.

House matches – a test of strength combined with fun and games

The House Matches take place on Friday evenings and sometimes on weekends throughout the school year. In addition to the major events such as the Sports Day, Ski Day and Cross-Country Skiing, the House Matches include cricket, fives, football, basketball, volleyball, ice hockey and golf. The boarding schools also organise regular fun” activities such as quizzes, performances by outfitted sports teams and rugby in the snow, which has now achieved cult status.

Winners

The winners of the matches are determined by points that accumulate over the year from each event. The house with the highest total score at the end of a school year will be declared the winner. Winners can enjoy exclusive benefits.

Awards

The Colours are special awards for students with outstanding achievements.

Boarding schools or private schools often have their own award systems. The Colours Awards are presented during the graduation ceremony to students who have shown outstanding achievement and lived the Spirit of Zuoz inside and outside the classroom.

The jury

The jury that awards the Colours consists of the headmaster, the Heads of House of the two boarding schools Grosshaus and Chesa Arpiglia, the Games Master, a member of the teaching staff, a Zuoz Club member, as well as the School Captain and the Vice-Captain of the coming school year.

The various awards

  • The House Colours” (Helvetia, Teutonia and Orania) are awarded to those students who have lived the core values of the school within the boarding school and have made an above-average contribution to a boarding school community characterised by mutual respect and tolerance.
  • The Triple Colours” are awarded to students who have played a leading role in at least three sports teams during their school years.
  • The School Colours” is the most prestigious award a student can receive. It is given to students who have lived the Spirit of Zuoz in all areas – school, sports, arts, drama and the school community.
  • The Corinthian Colour Award” is given only to cricket players.