The passionate teacher and director ofthe JFK International School (pictured above with wife Sandy) is certain that learning constitutes a lifelong process, and he tries to impress this upon his pupils. He would like to train critical thinkers, young people with an international perspective. “Empathy is a key value that the children learn here. Tolerance is one of the most important things that we teach”, says Lovell.

What is crucial is not country of origin, but effort and achievement. Only 10 percent of the students of the JFK International School are Swiss, the other 90 percent are composed of young people from Europe, North America and from newly-independent Eastern European and Asian countries. Admission to the Kennedy School is based on a student’s previous school records, plus references and in most cases, a personal interview at the school. “It is important that a desire to learn is apparent”. According to Lovell, the teachers are vital to the learning process. Only they can guarantee that the school offers what is promised – a comprehensive, child-centered education.

Sport, excursions and activities are a necessary part of the education process. “What perhaps differentiates JFK International School from other schools is the balance that we try to achieve between a demanding academic program and participation in a wide variety of sports and activities”, explains Lovell. “Skiing, swimming, ice-skating and hiking are regular components of the class schedule. Additionally the pupils can take a whole range of optional activities”. Sport is regarded as a central component of a JFK education. “Most schools focus on and test for the development of linguistic and logical abilities”, says Lovell. “But people are not composed exclusively of these aptitudes. At the Kennedy School we try to cater for and develop different learning styles and intelligences, including musical, artistic and interpersonal”.

"Everyone speaks English". In such an international environment, one could ask whether the JFK community is truly integrated here in Saanenland. For many of the JFK students English is a second language. They also learn French in school, but not German; nevertheless, there is still a lot of contact with the local youth, as Lovell explains, through sports such as ski racing. Disciplines such as skiing, horse-riding and karate are taught by local instructors and, thanks to this close collaboration, JFK pupils can train together with the local children. And the communication works fine without fluent German: “Everyone seems to know some English”, says Lovell, laughing. “And of course many of our children and families do speak German”. Also, a number of local children have attended the Kennedy School and the popular JFK summer camp programs to learn and improve their English skills.

“The fact that we stayed here, is pure coincidence”. Bill Lovell loves living in Saanenland. This is also the case for his wife, Sandy, who runs the school with him. Originally from Canada, the couple arrived in Switzerland almost forty years ago to work as teachers. “The fact that we stayed here was not planned; it was pure coincidence. The opportunity to develop the JFK School presented itself, we took advantage of this and have never regretted it.”

The future is now. Currently the JFK Foundation is raising the money to reconstruct and renovate the existing buildings. It acquired the old Saanen Schoolhouse and it plans to start the renovation work on this historic chalet in September 2009. “With this reconstruction of the old schoolhouse, we will provide much-needed modern facilities including more classrooms, a science lab, art room and a small aula”, says Lovell. The project is very cost-intensive, but hopefully it will guarantee the future of the Kennedy School and furnish wonderful resources for the next generation of students – with the next generation of Lovells, Bryce and Victoria, to guide them.