In 1971, the John F. Kennedy International School was created from the Chalet Pfrundacker Children's Home by my wife and myself. It has been my privilege to be the the director of this unique school since that time. These have been wonderful years filled with many challenges and a large amount of joy. Much has been achieved since 1971, but none of it would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of other members of the Lovell family - my wife, Sandra Lovell, teacher and director of studies, my sister, Catherine Lovell, director of administration since 1973 and, more recently, Bryce Lovell and his wife Victoria. Bryce heads our development office and Victoria is our curriculum coordinator.

Although much has changed at the Kennedy School since 1971, the important things remain the same. We are still a small family-style organization. Although we are surrounded by electronic and digital wizardry, the single most important factor in the educational process remains the teachers who endeavour to develop the talents of each and every child. The Kennedy School, in the lovely village of Saanen, continues to be a warm and caring place where children can grow and develop - a place where cooperation and team work go hand in hand with the opportunity to compete, where putting forth your best effort is just as important as winning, where developing good communication and problem-solving skills are seen as the key to becoming productive, responsible, global citizens, and where the summit of the mountain is still reached one step at a time.

Inscribed on a beam as one enters the Kennedy School are the following words: "Of those to whom much is given, much is required". This quote from the Bible was used in a speech by American President-Elect John F. Kennedy on January 9, 1961. It is a very suitable motto for the Kennedy School in that we also live in a land of plenty, free of the conflict, poverty and disease that afflicts so much of the world. It is the task of all students of the John F. Kennedy International School to take advantage of these privileges and become capable life-long learners who are striving to live happy, productive lives and by so doing make the world a better place. We try to achieve this lofty goal by having skilled teachers, through our unique curriculum especially designed for international schools and by providing our students with many real-life experiences through activities, excursions and sports. We want the young people in our care to think that school is 'cool' and that learning is an on-going process. We strive to give our students the 'right start in school and in life'.