ABOUT HIF
Wellbeing commitment
We firmly believe the best foundation for student wellbeing and social-emotional literacy lies in greater control and understanding of the learning process, which leads to greater autonomy and independence of the students.
Wellbeing starts with our location. The spectacular Alpine scenery that surrounds us provides incomparable opportunities for outdoor learning, exploration and sports. From the mountains to the classroom, we teach our students to recognise when they are feeling well and when they might feel like they are struggling, and how to manage the situation.
For example, we may teach a lesson about stress responses and what your body does physically when it feels under duress, and what we can do to reduce stress or process the response. During the same week, students will take part in an outward bound activity such as abseiling or rock climbing for the first time. And some of them will have a stress response while they’re there, and we can work on putting the strategies learned to the test.
Wellbeing Framework
Our Wellbeing Curriculum is built around five interconnected pillars:
EMOTIONAL
WELLBEING
Resilience Healthy Coping Strategies Mindfulness Purpose & Meaning Hope Emotional Literacy
ACADEMIC
WELLBEING
Engagement/ Motivation Collboration Healthy Challenge Cognitive Development Recognition Accomplishment Meaning & Purpose
PHYSICAL
WELLBEING
Sleep
Nutrition
Exercise/Movement
Risk-Taking
Behaviour
Boundaries
SOCIAL
WELLBEING
Safety
Belonging
Inclusivity
Culture Creation
Connectedness
Contribution
Respectful
Relationships
MENTAL
HEALTH
Stress Management Relationship Conflict Self-Esteem Strengths Awareness
Wellbeing in Action
- Morning mindfulness with form tutors (often outside in nature)
- Reflection or journaling (“slow down journal”, gratitude, brain dump)
- Healthy meals together in community – screen-free mealtimes
- Trusted adult check-ins – time with tutors and house parents
- Health & Wellbeing lessons (stress management, resilience, gratitude, sleep, nutrition)
- Physical activity & outdoor challenges (climbing, skiing, hiking, yoga, team sports)
- Leadership opportunities in class and boarding life – every student can contribute
- Student Voice sessions to shape community life
- Hiking Day & Winter Hike with Secret Santa
- “Schüler Ball” & cultural celebrations
- Transition days and intentional community-building activities
- Student Leadership Days leading to the EIM Conference
- Ignite Outdoor Program – resilience and responsibility through real challenge
Building Community
Building community
As a school with a large boarding contingent, we are intentional in our approach to community building, ensuring that every student feels connected to their peers and the local surroundings.
Carefully considered policies around mobile phone usage ensure that students have the opportunity to connect, play and converse in their free time, without screens.
Our international boarding community is a melting pot of languages and cultures in which lifelong bonds and networks of real friendship are created. This is international education in its purest form, where the local meets the global and both learn from each other, take part in each other’s lives and are enriched by experience.
I am grateful for the wellbeing program at HIF. It gave me many tools to become more aware of my emotions and to be better at acknowledging and controlling them.
Student, HIF, 2025
