Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions and almost all Information for the Mühlebach Expatriates.
School events and terms at Mühlebach (8008 Zurich)
This is basically bread dough that is wrapped around a stick and cooked over an open fire.
Similar to the Waldmorgen except that this is a whole day affair. The children usually take the Dolderbahn - the funicular tram that heads up to the Dolder hill. Once they set up camp, the teachers will usually prepare two fires with the help of the kids and their parents.
The kids head out to a nearby forest for a little hike and are back by noon. When they arrive at the designated spot the kids will have free time to play and eat their Znüni . This activity is also reliant on the participation of parents to assist the teachers on the hike to and from the school as well as to look after the kids while at the camp site. This is a great opportunity to get to know the teacher/s, other parents as well as the kids in your child/ren’s class.
This day-long event is usually held on the first or second week of June, the entire school will head to a sports field or park for a dozen or so activities such as sprint runs and relay races to name a few. This event is heavily reliant on the participation of parents to staff the various activities as well as to record each child’s time on their respective activity card.
Refers to the four compulsory further training days that take place per school year in the managed schools of the canton and the city of Zurich. On these days, the school management organizes internal training courses for all employees of the school. Two days of training take place during class time and students have no school.
During this day the different classes at school visit other class rooms each of which have different activities for the kids to do. The focus here is for the kids to get to know the other classes and people that go to their school to increase the overall community spirit of the school while keeping them entertained with activities that they would not normally do in their own class.
Seasonal events around Mühlebach (8008 Zurich)
“Knabenschiessen” often causes some confusion among the uninformed. For this popular public festival does not entail shooting boys. Quite the contrary: at this rifle shooting competition, local boys – and for number of years now, girls too – have the opportunity to test and demonstrate their shooting skills.
Fancy swimming across lake Zurich in early July? Then don your swim cap and join the thousands of other people that swim from the Mythenquai Badi to the Tiefenbrunnen Badi a distance of approximately 1.5 km. Be aware that this event is very popular and tickets sellout fast.
This refers to indoor and outdoor pools. Popular outdoors ones for the kids are the Mythenquai Badi with is volleyball/soccer field, mini playground diving board and water slide to the Tiefenbrunnen badi with its sandy shoreline.
During this traditional event, hundreds of tiny lanterns set sail from Stadthausquai down the River Limmat. Every year, students from schools in the Canton of Zurich make the lanterns and then launch their creations on the water. Zürich Tourism also serves hot punch and something sweet for onlookers on Weinplatz.
Usually held on the second Sunday in December in various categories and over distances ranging between 1.6km (1 mile) and 10km (6 miles), participants of all ages run through the festively lit and decorated city center. The Mother/Father + kid/s category a 1.6km fun run is particularly appealing to the little ones as they all get participation medals at the end.
Brave the fridgid waters of the Limatt river along with the 300 or so other braves souls as they cross from Pier 7 to the Frauenbad. Come bearing only your swimsuit and a smile (no wetsuits allowed!) or with a Santa hat and an ice loly, its up to you.
Traditional Christmas markets that sell festive knickknacks and food usually from the third week in November till the day before Christmas. There are many of these markets in the center of the city ranging from a covered version at the main station to popular ones at Sechseläuteplatz, Neiderdorf and by Grosmunster church.
Santa and Schmützli’s hut in the woods. Traditionally one can hike up to Santa’s hut then sit inside and listen to stories and advice in Swiss German from Samichlaus. Kids can recite traditional poems and get maybe a few nuts or a cookie as a treat.
During the first two weeks of November the chocolate tram can be seen going around the city center. The 30-minute ride departs from Bellevue via Central, HB, Bahnhofstrasse to Bahnhof Enge and via Paradeplatz back to Bellevue. During the ride one can savor hot chocolate, Pain de Gênes as well as a selection of pralines and chocolate truffles, all from a known local confisserie. Tickets usually go on sale in mid-October. Keep an eye out as they sell out fast.