Zermatt Inside 2021 - 4 - English Translation and Summary

Summary of significant articles

To manage student numbers, the 8th-grade class from the neighboring Täsch/Randa region will attend school in Zermatt for the 2021-22 year.
This arrangement prevents the closure of classes in either region and avoids creating oversized classes with up to 30 students.
School officials reminded parents to use formal communication channels and respect teachers' off-hours, rather than relying on instant messaging for urgent demands.
Some classes have been relocated to the "Obere Matten" temporary facility due to renovation work at the Walka school building.

A new curriculum module called "MIA" (Media, Informatics, Application) is being integrated into core subjects for all grade levels.
The goal is to teach children from a young age to use digital media responsibly, critically, and creatively as a learning tool.
Primary school students will use the "Ulla" teaching materials, while older students will use the "Connected 1 and 2" series.
Teachers across all levels have undergone or will undergo mandatory training to implement the new digital literacy standards.

The secondary school in Zermatt celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2021, having been founded in 1946.
It began with a single teacher, Alban Lingg, and 13 male students, with classes held in what is now the town hall.
Girls were first admitted to the secondary school in 1963, marking a significant milestone in the school's history.
Over the decades, the school has expanded its staff, buildings, and curriculum, evolving from separate tracks to an integrated system.

The "Lebensraum Zermatt" association and local childcare providers have started a community vegetable garden for children.
As part of the "GemüseAckerdemie" initiative, the project aims to teach children about food origins by having them plant, tend, and harvest around 25 different vegetable varieties.
Children from local daycare centers and a primary school class from Täsch participate in weekly activities at the garden.
The harvested produce will be sold by the children at local markets, and workshops on food preservation are also planned.

The local game warden reports that several wild animals, primarily roe deer and chamois, are injured or killed by free-roaming dogs in the region each year.
The risk is highest in spring, when young animals are born, and in winter, when wildlife needs to conserve energy.
Dog owners are reminded of their responsibility to keep dogs on a leash or under strict control to protect local fauna.
According to the law, municipalities are responsible for enforcing leash regulations, and owners are always obligated to keep their dogs under control.

The Matterhorn Group AG has replaced the oil heating system at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof with a pellet heating system.
This single change has reduced the company's total heating oil consumption by about 131,000 liters per year, a 52% decrease.
The wood for the pellets is sourced from sustainably managed local forests, with sales revenue reinvested into forest maintenance.
The company's commitment to sustainability also includes using locally produced cheese and meat, earning it Valais excellence and ISO 14001 certifications.

The communities of Zermatt, Switzerland, and Valtournenche, Italy, are collaborating on a project named "Trek+" to enhance their shared natural and cultural heritage.
The project includes the renovation of the Carrel Hut on the Matterhorn's Lion Ridge and the creation of a joint code of ethics for mountaineers.
A new international ultra-trail race, set to debut in 2022, will cross the border between the two communities.
The project also aims to develop new high-altitude tourism products, leveraging the upcoming Alpine Crossing cable car.

Zermatt first appears in records as a parish in a document from 1280.
The parish was initially dependent on the mother parish of St. Niklaus, only gaining full independence in 1548 after a significant payment.
The first St. Mauritius church, mentioned in 1381, was replaced by a new building around 1580.
The current, larger parish church was built in 1913 and underwent a complete internal renovation in 1980.