Boarding

Welcome to the JFK Boarding House

We offer boarding facilities to students aged 6 and above. We provide boarders with a happy, friendly and rewarding residential experience in a cosy, home-like environment. The school offers separate boarding facilities for male and female students in traditional Saanenland Chalets situated near the school, in the heart of the picturesque village of Saanen.

Boarders learn how to live, work and play together, sharing experiences with people from many different countries and cultural backgrounds. We aim to provide a caring ‘home from home’ for boarders, where they can enjoy happy and fulfilling lives as part of an international boarding community, having the feel of a large family.

The busy life of boarding provides many opportunities for students to contribute to school life. Boarders are encouraged to join the Student Council to represent boarders’ views, and actively work together to support social, charitable and sporting initiatives and events.

We want life for our boarders to be an unforgettable experience which will prepare them for all they will encounter in later life. Experience shows us that friendships made in our Boarding House, lead to lifelong friendships based all over the world!

Boarding Principles

Traditional Swiss chalet situated in the heart of the picturesque village of Saanen

The JFK Boarding House offers separate accomodation for boys and girls in traditional Swiss chalet situated in the heart of the picturesque village of Saanen. There are a number of facilities available to the boarders including:

Common areas
Study rooms
Kitchen
Library
Playing field/garden
Table tennis table
Mini football table
Trampoline
Sports equipment
Indoor games

We encourage children to take advantage of these facilities, use their free time sensibly and play outside when the weather is nice. We discourage too much time spent on electronics and closely monitor their use.

Boarders enjoy a wide variety of activities

In the JFK Boarding House we enjoy a wide variety of weekend and after school activities, taking advantage of our beautiful surroundings in the Saanenland.

In the summer we organise outside team games, cook outs and nature walks. In the winter, optional extra ski lessons are available as well as other winter sports such as ice skating, sledging and snow shoeing.

Once a term we like to arrange a slightly bigger boarding excursion, such as a trip to the Cirque du Soleil or Circus Knie, and in the summer term we plan a whole boarders’ weekend away, with previous excursions including Legoland, Europa Park and Disneyland Paris.

We also ensure that our boarders experience things closer to home, learning about the Swiss culture and visiting places of interest in the region. The Cailler Chocolate Factory, Montreux Christmas Market and Bex Salt Mines are always favourites.

Boarding Weekend Activities

Our weekend activity program helps to bring the boarders together, with each other and with the staff as a family. Often therefore, the activities the children enjoy the most are simple and home based, like our film and tuck nights, pizza making evenings or trips to Gstaad.

Most of all we like our activities to be fun. From bowling to laser quest, to play parks, swimming and go karting, we have a full activity program to keep the boarders busy and happy for the whole year.

Residential Life

Unique opportunities and gain valuable skills

Boarding House is an important and valued part of the JFK School community and one that we are very proud of. We run a happy, safe and enriching boarding program in which children will experience unique opportunities and gain valuable skills. Following the structures and routines of the House, boarders become more independent, responsible and organised and benefit from interacting with children and staff from different cultures and backgrounds.

Our small boarding community creates a ‘home away from home’ where children can thrive in an international family environment. The boarding staff closely follow the personal and academic development of each child, supporting their needs and maintaining a strong relationship with parents.

All in all we aim to provide an unforgettable experience for our boarders. An experience which will lead to life long friendships and which will prepare them for all they will encounter in later life.

Boarding Parents

Catalina de la Garza

Head of Boarding

Catalina has a strong background in private education, she’s adept at guiding clients to top European institutions. Her strategic networking has expanded her client base, while her role at another international school saw her driving growth in latin American markets,...

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Laura Henson-Schnee

Lead House Parent - Juniors' House Parent

Lluís Piñero

Boarding House Parent

A dedicated Data Analyst, embarks on a quest for continuous growth. Intrigued by the boundless horizons of knowledge, he ventured to Japan and South Korea, driven by an unshakeable belief that learning knows no limits. His motto, “Don’t worry, just...

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Download our Boarding Handbook

Boarding Handbook

How to Apply

Selecting the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you, as a parent, can make. JFK offers an outstanding education designed to enrich the lives of all students, by offering both academic and sporting opportunities to challenge and extend, exploring all the possibilities available. We will be pleased to assist you with any queries you have about our school.

How to Apply

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