Our team and the history of the Grüninger Schule Thalwil

Becoming a teacher was a natural choice for Thomas Grüninger. The profession offered him the ideal opportunity to combine his numerous interests. He is a trained jazz musician from the Zurich Jazz School and plays piano, among other things, with the Thalwil Jazz Club All Stars.

Besides teaching, Thomas Grüninger works as a cartoonist and illustrator, including contributions to the  Swiss satirical magazine Nebelspalter. The illustrations on this website are also his own work and offer an insight into his subtle humour and artistic style.

From 1998 to 2001, he completed his vocational training as a certified special education teacher.

Through his many years' experience working with diverse classes, Thomas Grüninger has developed a deep understanding of different learning needs. His teaching is characterised by humour, enthusiasm, patience, and a clear yet respectful approach. He firmly believes that good teaching depends primarily on the teacher's personality.

Andrea Bärtsch brings diverse pedagogical experience and great enthusiasm for her profession. She grew up in Dietikon ZH, attended the Gymnasium (high school) in Schiers GR, and completed her teacher training at the PH Zurich (University of Teacher Education Zurich) and the FHNW (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland) in Aarau.

She gained her first teaching experience during her studies at a private school in Zurich. Her career then took her to Mels, Küblis and Chur, before she found her new teaching home in Thalwil.

Andrea Bärtsch lives with her family in Sargans, St. Gallen. She is married and has a son. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors – hiking, skiing, or walking her two dogs. Physical activity and social interaction are important to her – and likewise in her teaching, which she conducts with passion, dedication, and a welcoming openness.

She looks forward to working with students, parents and the entire school team.

Janic Reber is currently studying for a Bachelor's degree at the Thurgau University of Teacher Education (PHTG) for secondary level I with the subjects German, French, English and Sport.

He brings diverse life experiences and interests – through his social engagement, his broad studies, and his service in the military, where he has taken on various roles with leadership responsibilities.

In the summer of 2022, Janic Reber completed an internship at the Ministry of Peace (MINUBUMWE) in Kigali, Rwanda. As part of the process of coming to terms with the genocide against the Tutsi, he analysed the political policies under President Habyarimana and documented his findings in a detailed report. His conversations with survivors and relatives of the victims were also a formative experience.

Outside of his studies, he is involved in the Vitodurania high school fraternity in Winterthur and the African Student Association in Zurich (ASAZ). In his free time, he enjoys sports – Wing Tsun, jogging, swimming, climbing, and ski touring – and appreciates social gatherings as well as relaxing with a good book.