Winter Holiday in the Verbier Valley

Dear Boarding Community,

 

Due to the restrictions related to the coronavirus situation and the impact it has on travel around the world, especially with high-risk countries and quarantine requirements, we have decided to organize a Winter Holiday trip to accommodate boarding students who may be unable to travel home or would prefer not to travel for safety or personal reasons. (Please note that our campus will be closed for the duration of the holiday. Our dormitories will close at 16:00 on Thursday, December 17, and reopen at 12:00 on Sunday, January 3.)

 

The trip will take place in and around Verbier, an Alpine town roughly four hours from campus. The area includes a number of fantastic activities that our students will love, including outdoor winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing; indoor sports such as climbing and swimming; day trips to nearby villages and towns; and relaxing activities to recharge. Please see a draft of the plan for the week beneath this letter.

 

We will be working alongside Les Elfes, a Swiss company that has deep TASIS connections that span over two decades. Les Elfes understands what activities resonate with our students, and we are pleased that they are able to accommodate us over the winter holiday. Educational activities will be run by Les Elfes staff each day, and TASIS faculty members will serve as chaperones.

 

La Tzoumaz, located in the Canton of Valais, is the charming, family-style resort village where our group will be based. It has everything we need for our group in a safe, secure environment.

 

All students in our boarding community are welcome to join this trip. We understand it is difficult to commit to such a trip at this time, but we need a rough idea of numbers very soon. We ask you to confirm your interest by completing this brief form by Monday, October 19.

 

The cost of the trip is CHF 5000 per student. This will cover all expenses for the 17-day trip, including lodging, meals, transportation, lift passes, rental equipment, ski/snowboard instruction, entry fees for all activities, and supervision by TASIS and Les Elfes.

 

Please take note that the Les Elfes Company and Resort follows all Valais cantonal and Swiss safety guidelines. These include weekly check-ins with a nurse and immediate testing when required, daily temperature checks, disinfecting all rooms twice a day, ample hand sanitizer stations throughout the property, and compulsory masks indoors and on cable cars. As a school, our TASIS safety measures will apply to ensure everyone's health and safety. We will continue to take daily temperature checks, emphasize the importance of good hygiene, and follow all other relevant precautions and protocols laid out on our Coronavirus Information page.

 

If you have any questions about this trip, please direct them to Middle School Dean of Student Affairs MJ Breton or High School Dean of Students KC McKee.

 

We will share further details at the start of November.

 

Sincerely,

 

Christopher Nikoloff
TASIS Headmaster

TASIS THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN SWITZERLAND

Via Collina d'Oro, 6926 Montagnola, Switzerland

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