A Glossary of Swiss Terms – The School Day & Calendar

Swiss Word – English Translation
Bibi – Library – short for Bibliothek
Chile – Church
Chilbi – A fair visiting Erlenbach for a long weekend every September. The children are given a Monday off from school and can go with their parents
Chinsgi – Kindergarten or KG
Chinsgi Bändel – An orange V-shaped high visibility band that must be worn by all children walking to Kindergarten (this is provide by the Kindergarten)
En Guete!- Bon Appetit!
Gotti/Gottikind – A buddy system upon entering the primary school – the Gotti is the person looking after the Gottikind. Literal translation is Godfather/Godchild
Grossi Pause – A larger break at School around 09.55am (generally the Z’nüni is eaten during this break)
Handsgi – Practical classes where the children make or sew items to improve motor function – short for Hand Arbeit
Hort – Schülerclub – a care facility where the children can have before or after school care or lunch.
Chlini Pause – A small break at School around 9.00 am
Lüte – The bell marking the beginning and end of each class/pause
Mäppli – A folder that all school children are given for their homework (this is provided by the school)
Rabeliechtli – An autumn festival in November. Children from KG 1 & 2 and 1. Klasse carve turnip lanterns with their parents and take them on an evening parade through Erlenbach.
Schüeli – A twice-yearly football tournament in January (playing Herrliberg School) and June (playing Küsnacht school for which the children can sign up in their classes)
Schulreise/Wald-Tag – School trips or a day in the Forest, about which you will be informed well in advance and given a list of items the children should bring. The child should have a rucksack (not the Thek or Chinsgi Täschli) that they can take along with whether appropriate clothing, sunscreen in the summer along with insect spray if their going into the woods.
Schulbändel – A yellow V-shaped high visibility band that must be worn by all 1. Klasse children walking to School (this is provided by the school)
Schulsilvester – The last day of the winter term, the children go at 7am and come back at 9am. It is a day where there are no lessons but each class decides something fun to do.
Ufsgi – Homework
Unti – Religious education classes – short for Unterricht
Z’nüni – Midmorning snack to be eaten in the Pause (items containing sugar are not allowed). Snack to be bought in a small box.
Z’Vieri – An afternoon snack served at home when the children come back from school