WELCOME TO STEFFISBURG
Transcription
WELCOME TO STEFFISBURG
Security WELCOME TO STEFFISBURG (Englisch) Höchhusweg 5 - 3612 Steffisburg Telefon 033 439 44 53 - Fax 033 439 44 45 sicherheit@steffisburg.ch - www.steffisburg.ch Table of contents 1. The Political Commune of Steffisburg .............................................................. 4 2. Steffisburg Communal Administration .............................................................. 5 3. Community life in Steffisburg ......................................................................... 6 4. Familiarity with the language facilitating day-to-day life..................................... 8 5. Children and young people ............................................................................. 9 6. Churches and religious facilities .................................................................... 13 7. Commune services ...................................................................................... 14 8. Public transport .......................................................................................... 15 9. Other useful information .............................................................................. 16 Welcome to Steffisburg Page 2 Welcome! You have recently moved to Steffisburg from another commune, another canton or another country. We are glad that you chose to live here in Steffisburg and wish you all the best: particularly for you and your family and your life as members of the community living in the commune of Steffisburg. As the communal authorities, we are on hand to provide you with a range of services relating to daily life and are happy to be of assistance. Whether you have questions regarding schools, building issues or need clarification concerning old age pensions, tax declarations, waste disposal or other issues, we, along with the employees of the communal administration, are the first address for residents of Steffisburg in need of information. This informational brochure offers useful and important information about the Commune of Steffisburg and its facilities. In it, you will also find addresses and telephone numbers for you to use, should a need arise. Naturally, you can also contact us online at www.steffisburg.ch. You may have moved to Steffisburg from another country and if so, might not yet have a sufficient command of our language. In that case it is important that you and your entire family learn German as quickly as possible. Language enables people to form ties with one another: to communicate at the workplace, while shopping, at the doctor’s office, at a government agency or in discussions with teaching staff. Your children will settle into school much more quickly if they are familiar with the new language. If necessary, a meeting with the communal administration can be arranged specifically to provide you with information on where and how you can learn German. Mayor and Member of the Executive Council Jürg Marti Welcome to Steffisburg Page 3 1. The Political Commune of Steffisburg "Government and administration accept their responsibility toward the residents and act as models. Responsibility is borne jointly and success is shared." (Principle of conduct from the Mission Statement of the Commune of Steffisburg) Around 15 000 women, men, children and adolescents currently live in the commune of Steffisburg: in the village centre, near the city of Thun, in the area near the Aar or in upland rural areas. The electorate – women and men aged 18 or older who hold Swiss citizenship – comprises the supreme body of the commune. Once you have resided in the commune for three months, you can help to shape life in the community by participating in public votes and elections. The communal bylaws define the structures through which the commune fulfils its responsibilities. The parliament of the Commune of Steffisburg is the Grosse Gemeinderat, or Legislative Council. It has 34 members, representing a range of political parties. The Legislative Council is the commune’s legislative authority. It deliberates and takes decisions several times each year on important items of business such as the budget, whether a school building should be renovated or concerning the joint financing of a childcare centre. The Gemeinderat, the commune’s Executive Council, is the authority which implements decisions taken by the Legislative Council or by popular vote, and directives from the federal or cantonal governments, in cooperation with the welldeveloped administration. The mayor works on a full-time basis in the Gemeindehaus, or Communal Building. The other six members of the Executive Council serve on a part-time basis. Citizens work alongside the commune’s representatives on commissions and expert committees addressing the various areas of communal responsibilities. Members of the Legislative Council and the Executive Council, and the Mayor are elected by the citizens every four years. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 4 2. Steffisburg Communal Administration Departments Education, Finance, Building Construction/Planning, Office of the Mayor, Security, Social Affairs, Civil Engineering/Environment Contact and opening hours Höchhusweg 5 3612 Steffisburg Telephone 033 439 44 44 www.steffisburg.ch e-mail: info@steffisburg.ch Monday – Friday 08:00 – 12:00, 14:00 – 17:00 Thursday: Residents Registration Office (Einwohnerkontrolle) open until 18:00 Supplementing the principle of conduct from the commune’s Mission Statement, the field of action “Conduct and Administration” specifies the following: Steffisburg runs a resident-oriented, open and professional administration under clear leadership. Understanding among residents, the administration and the authorities is promoted by means of an extensive, open information policy. The communal administration strives to distinguish itself as a good employer with modern workplaces and good working conditions. Personnel are optimally supported and challenged through uniform conduct guidelines and targeted initial and continuing training. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 5 3. Community life in Steffisburg “Steffisburg is a community which stands together and is, in its actions, conscious of the needs of present and future generations” (overarching principle in the commune’s Mission Statement). In terms of the size of its population, Steffisburg is a city. Yet, in terms of its character, location and facilities, it has remained a village, with coherent village sections. Older, elderly, younger and young Steffisburg residents know and encounter one another: at the workplace, while shopping, at school, while jogging, at football clubs, at the women’s association, in athletic associations, while singing, yodelling, making music, acting in theatres, at concerts, at the market, in the old-age homes, while out for a stroll, at the playground, while engaging in political activity. Many Steffisburg residents also perform volunteer work, e.g. by assisting their neighbours, by helping in an association, in the fire brigade, at a school festival, by reading aloud in the old age home or escorting a person who requires assistance in certain circumstances. These encounters provide opportunities for residents to get to know other people from different generations and cultures and thereby discover many similarities. We want the residents of Steffisburg to feel at home here, meet new people and make new friends. The wide range of associations and other forms of groups make a large contribution to social cohesion in our commune and they would be happy to welcome you as a new member. A detailed list of associations is available at www.steffisburg.ch. It is also available from Steffisburg’s Communal Administration (telephone 033 439 44 44). Welcome to Steffisburg Page 6 Leisure and recreation facilities and near-by recreation areas Steffisburg’s athletic facilities, sports fields, auditoriums, music rooms and sewing rooms are available for use by associations or groups in the period when schools are not in session. Forest cabins and barbecue areas are also available for private events. Advance inquiry at the Forestry Administration (Forstsekretariat) is required for use and reservations: telephone 033 438 09 89 or forsten@steffisburg.ch. In the summer, the outdoor bathing facility Badi Steffisburg is a pleasant place to cool off. There are indoor swimming pools in Heimberg and Oberhofen. Numerous walking and cycling paths in Steffisburg and elsewhere in the region lead to lovely nearby recreation areas. An attractive “Funpark” awaits off-road cycling enthusiasts in Sonnenfeld. Grabengut in Thun and Oberlangenegg in Thuner Ostamt both have skating rinks. Steffisburg is in close proximity to the winter and summer resorts of the Bernese Oberland. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 7 4. Familiarity with the language facilitating day-to-day life The commune can create conditions which encourage good linguistic communication between local and immigrant members of the population. However it is up to the individual immigrant and locally born person to forge contacts with one another and try to establish this kind of understanding. For residents from regions where German is not spoken, learning the language quickly is an important prerequisite and condition for settling into life quickly in the new location. Conversations at the workplace, in the doctor’s office, in school, connected with obligations vis-à-vis the commune: all of these will be simpler once the language barrier has been, at least partially, eliminated. For that reason, the Commune of Steffisburg expects all non-German speaking residents to attend German-language instruction. All members of the family should attend courses. Although Switzerland as a whole is quadric-lingual, German is the official language and the language of daily life in the Thun region. Mother-and-child German-language instruction (MuKi Deutsch) is offered to mothers with pre-school aged children: mothers and their children attend separate German language courses at the same time. Once each week, non-German speaking mothers and pre-school aged children enhance their German skills. They learn about issues associated with daily life in Switzerland and prepare themselves for kindergarten and the school situation. Encounters with other people can help you to learn the language more quickly. Opportunities for such encounters are offered by the following: neighbourhoods, play groups, Ludothek (toy-lending centre), library, associations, district societies (Quartierleiste) etc. The monthly meeting of the International Women’s Group of Steffisburg, which addresses a broad range of issues, is one place to learn more about life here. There, Swiss and foreign women meet, talk together, listen to each other and perhaps learn that the ways in which things are done in the world, are, though not always the same, often very similar. When necessary, linguistic support in the form of an interpreter service is offered for dealing with the communal authorities and administration. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 8 5. Children and young people The time spent in pre-school (Kindergarten) and at school is of great significance for children, young adults and their families. Steffisburg has a diverse range of educational offerings. Around 190 instructors teach approximately 1550 children in various locations distributed throughout the commune’s territory. The districts are home to 21 pre-schools and primary schoolhouses for the instruction of children up through the 6th year of school. Pupils in Realschule or Sekundarschule (both forms of lower secondary schools) or Spezialsekundarschule (special needs lower secondary school) starting in the 7th year of school, or the baccalaureate class (gymnasiale Klasse) starting in the 9th year of school, attend instruction in the two Schönau and Zulg upper stage (Oberstufe) school buildings. Steffisburg’s school system, with its size and diversity, allow optimal implementation of all of the forms of education defined in the Compulsory School Act (Volksschulgesetz) and in the curriculum. Rounding out the offerings are two private schools ("Rudolf Steiner Schule" and "Schulkooperative Werte Leben Lernen"), the “Heilpädagogische Schule der Region Thun” (special needs school) and “Schulheim Sunneschyn” for children and young people with mental and learning disabilities. There are also baccalaureate schools (Gymnasien) and vocational schools (Berufsschulen) in the neighbouring commune of Thun. An informational brochure about the school system is available from the Education Section (Abteilung Bildung), Höchhusweg 5, 3612 Steffisburg, telephone 033 439 43 83, or online at www.schulen.steffisburg.ch. School sports Voluntary school sports are offered by the Commune of Steffisburg. For a modest financial contribution, interested pupils can take part in the extracurricular and more advanced varied sports instruction in the form of courses, training or competitions. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 9 Music School of the Region of Thun The Music School of the Region of Thun (Musikschule Region Thun) trains children and young people in a great many different instrument subjects and offers singing instruction and opportunities for ensemble playing and several subjects for early music education. Its main building is in Thun/Gwatt at Gwattstrasse 120, in the Bellerive estate house. Instruction in some instruments is also offered in the commune of Steffisburg. Contact: telephone 033 334 08 08 or e-mail info@msrthun.ch / www.msrthun.ch Day-care centres Kita Schwäbis (Schwäbis day-care centre) is located at Eschenweg 8 in Steffisburg, right next to the day school. It can accommodate 10 children from the age of 3 months through to the start of school and is open from Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 18:30. Kita Tigerente (Tigerente day-care centre) is located at Scheidgasse 9 in Steffisburg right next to the Heilpädagogische Schule (special needs school) (near the bus-stop). The centre offers children a lovely setting, with its own large garden and many play options. Further information is available at www.dieTigerente.ch. The day-care centres engage in close and active cooperation with the pre-schools. After-school care There are Tagesschulen (day schools: afterschool care centres) at the following locations: Schwäbis, Eschenweg 10, 3613 Steffisburg, telephone 079 947 72 33 Villa Schüpbach, Scheidgasse 11, 3612 Steffisburg, telephone 033 437 14 79 Play groups There are several play groups in Steffisburg. The individual play groups present themselves in detail in the informational brochure of the VSS, Association of Steffisburg Play Groups (Verbindung der Spielgruppen Steffisburg). The brochure is available at the Education Section (Abteilung Bildung), Höchhusweg 5, 3612 Steffisburg, telephone 033 439 43 83. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 10 MUKI Deutsch (Mother-and-child German-language instruction), an offering for non-German speaking women with children of pre-school age Mothers learn to speak and understand German, the language of daily life. They also gather a lot of experience and gain confidence in dealing with various situations associated with daily life. While the mothers are attending their own course, their children, aged three to six, build on their German vocabulary and their knowledge of Swiss customs and celebrations through play and games held separately. The courses are offered in semesters and meet once each week in Steffisburg. For further information please contact Susanna Schmid, Aumattweg 29, 3613 Steffisburg, telephone 033 437 63 65. Toy-lending library The Steffisburg women’s association runs a toy-lending centre (Ludothek) in the old Communal Building (Gemeindehaus) at Oberdorfstrasse 30. You and your children can borrow games, toys, videos, DVDs and much more. Opening hours: Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 14:30 to 17:00, telephone 033 437 02 29. Steffisburg Library A large selection of books, periodicals, DVDs, etc. is available for borrowing in the Steffisburg Library (Gemeindebibliothek Steffisburg), located in the old Communal Building (Gemeindehaus) at Oberdorfstrasse 30. Regular readings for children or adults and lectures are also held there. Telephone 033 437 79 66, e-mail bibliothek@steffisburg.ch. Other libraries Biblios Intercultural Library, Schubertstasse 10, 3600 Thun Regional Library of the City of Thun, Bahnhofstrasse 6, 3600 Thun, telephone 033 255 84 24 Central Library of Bern, University Library of Bern, Münstergasse 61, 3011 Bern, telephone 031 631 92 11 Ferienpass (Holiday pass) For the summer holidays, the association Thuner Ferienpass organizes an attractive, varied and exciting programme each year for pupils from the communes of the Thun administrative district. Programme and registration information is posted at www.thunerferienpass.ch and announced in the press. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 11 Steffisburg Youth Office Tschou, Grüessech! (local dialect: Ciao, hello!) The offerings of the Open Child and Youth Work of Steffisburg are aimed at children and young adults, but also at parents, teachers and other caregivers. The z4 Jugendfachstelle (z4 youth office) offers services specifically designed for a range of groups. The office also offers counselling to young adults, including online: z4.beratung@steffisburg.ch Young adults will find information relating to all important issues, tutoring, counselling for personal problems, opportunities for recreational activities, coaching etc. The zonderBAR centre has a billiard table, “Töggelikasten” (table football sets) and multiple PC stations with internet access freely available. There is a youth worker on hand at the centre at all times and it offers space for meetings, interaction with new people or simply to pass the time. Advice on parenting issues for parents, information on young adult issues, parent evenings, events, etc. Workshops on current issues are offered in the schools. Address Telephone Fax E-mail Ziegeleistrasse 4, 3612 Steffisburg 033 439 43 90 033 439 43 99 jugendfachstelle@steffisburg.ch Opening hours Monday – Friday 09:00 – 12:00 Jugendfachstelle z4 14:00 – 18:00 Jugendfachstelle z4 and zonderBAR 1st Wednesday of each month: 14:00 – 20:00 “u13”: zonderBAR is open for children from the 1st to the 6th year of school. 3rd Friday of each month: 14:00 – 21:00 “13plus”: zonderBAR is open for all young people in the 7th year of school or above. Mother and father counselling service in Thun The mother and father counselling service (Mütter- und Väterberatung) offers all parents counselling and support designed to help them get their bearings and increase their strength and confidence in their roles as mothers and fathers. Parents have different types of questions and needs depending on the state of life and age of their children. The mother and father counselling service can respond to the wide range of needs, with offerings specifically designed for expectant parents, for the post-natal period and from the first year of life through to pre-school. Thun branch, Niesenstrasse 1, 3600 Thun Telephone 033 225 12 12, www.mvb-be.ch/de/beratungsstellen/thun Welcome to Steffisburg Page 12 6. Churches and religious facilities Respect for people who have different religious affiliations and different cultural backgrounds plays an important role in community life. The following institutions are available to serve the religious needs of the residents: Reformed Parish of Steffisburg (Reformierte Kirchgemeinde Steffisburg) Walkeweg 1 3612 Steffisburg Telephone 033 439 80 20 www.refsteffisburg.ch Roman Catholic Parish of Thun (Römisch Katholische Kirchgemeinde) Kapellenweg 7 3600 Thun 033 225 03 53 Christian Catholic Parish of Thun, (Christkatholische Kirchgemeinde) Göttibach Church Bellevuestrasse 20 3600 Thun Telephone 033 222 99 83 EARTH Protestant Alliance of the Region of Thun (Evangelische Allianz Region Thun) Free churches and Protestant organizations www.allianz-thun.ch Islamic Cultural Centre of Thun (Islamisches Kulturzentrum) Rampenstrasse 1 3600 Thun Telephone 033 221 48 58 Ganesh Temple Steffisburg Industrieweg 43 3612 Steffisburg Serbian-Orthodox Parish of Bern (Serbisch-Orthodoxe Kirchgemeinde) Aemmenmattstrasse 12 3123 Belp Telephone 031 301 88 63 Jewish Community Berne (Jüdische Gemeinde Bern) Bern Synagogue Kapellenstrasse 2 3011 Bern Telephone 031 381 49 92 Welcome to Steffisburg Page 13 7. Commune services The Commune of Steffisburg provides a whole range of services for all of its residents. We pay taxes to fund services, i.e. schooling, commune roads, security, fire brigade. We pay fees for the water and power supply and the disposal of our waste. To protect the environment, everyone helps to dispose of wastes properly. Pickup service at designated sites near housing: Household waste, green waste, bulky waste, paper waste, cardboard waste The following must be taken to the collection sites: Glass waste, metal waste, batteries Old or defective electronic devices should be returned to the purchaser or taken to the disposal site in Jaberg. You can find out more about the options and regulations governing waste disposal (clothing, shoes, oil, PET, medicines, chemicals, etc.) in the waste collection calendar. The waste collection calendar is issued to all residents each year. Shopping Most of the shopping options are found in Unterdorf and Oberdorf on Steffisburg’s bustling main street, the highway bound for Schallenberg and Lucerne. The various specialized shops and shopping centres offer a diverse range of goods for daily purchases and many other household and garden products. The weekly market on Friday mornings on Gemeindehausplatz offers many fresh products from Steffisburg and the region. In the spring, stall holders gather on Gemeindehausplatz; in December, Oberdorf transforms into the "Chrischtchindlimärit" Christmas market, a popular place for a stroll past festively decorated stalls. Craftsmen and women attend to your repairs or new purchase needs. The women’s association runs a children’s clothing and toy exchange where quality used clothing and toys can be purchased. Steffisburg’s various thrift shops offer a wide range of second-hand items in good condition. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 14 8. Public transport Transport by bus There is an extensive bus transport network in the Thun region. Good bus connections are available between Steffisburg-Dorf and Spiez and between the city of Thun and Bernstrasse in Steffisburg. Other buses departing from Thun head into Westamt and Ostamt and along the “righthand” shore of the lake towards Interlaken. Please bear in mind that there are day-time, night-time and Sunday schedules. Verkehrsbetriebe STI (transport operator) Telephone 033 223 13 13, www.stibus.ch Transport by rail Well developed and attractive public transport offerings provide regular service to the Oberland, Gürbetal, Aaretal and Emmental, the city of Bern and many other cities in Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe. Further information is available at www.bls.ch or www.sbb.ch. Transport by ship In summer, and to some extent in winter as well, smaller and larger-size motor vessels sail on nearby Lake Thun, along with the old steamship Blümlisalp of course. Evening trips on the lake represent an exceptional experience. Please bear the ships’ schedules in mind. Ship station, Thun railway station, telephone 033 223 53 82 Welcome to Steffisburg Page 15 9. Other useful information Work permits and identity cards for foreign nationals These two permits are issued by the Migration Service (Migrationsdienst) of the Canton of Bern. If you have questions in this regard, please contact the Migration Service (Migrationsdienst) of the Canton of Bern, telephone 031 633 53 15 Resident and Foreigner Registration Office (Einwohner- und Fremdenkontrolle) of Steffisburg, telephone 033 439 44 53 Unemployment If you become unemployed, please register at the RAV, the Regional Employment Centre (Regionale Arbeitsvermittlungszentrum) of Thun, Frutigenstrasse 4, 3601 Thun, telephone 033 225 72 00. Marriages The agency responsible for marriages is the Civil Registry Office (Zivilstandsamt) of Oberland West, Scheibenstrasse 3, 3600 Thun, telephone 031 635 43 00. Births If your child was not born in hospital, register him or her within three days at the Civil Registry Office (Zivilstandsamt) of Oberland West, Scheibenstrasse 3, 3600 Thun, telephone 031 635 43 00. The Civil Registry Office will notify the place of origin (Heimatort) responsible or the consulate, if the necessary state treaties are in place. Healthcare Every person resident in Switzerland must have health insurance. Obligation to register and pay fees for radio and television reception These two obligations are governed by the Act on Radio and Television. If you own a functioning radio or television, you must register with Billag and pay the fees. Medical emergencies Call your GP/primary physician first and listen to any message on the answering machine in full. If you cannot reach anyone there, call the emergency physician. You will be connected directly to the emergency physician for the region at the telephone number 0900 57 67 47. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 16 Cycling Helmets protect the head in the event of an accident Bicycle lighting is mandatory and for the riders’ own protection Please use cycle lanes at the side of the roads or the separate cycle paths Road transport No alcohol, no drugs at the wheel Wear safety belts, including in back seat Child car seats for children under the age of 12 if they are less than 150 cm tall Obey the maximum speed limit Vignette (motorway tax sticker) for motorways and expressways Pay for parking SPITEX Zulg healthcare and nursing care, home care, home assistance Spitex stands for healthcare and nursing for patients in their homes. Certified nurses provide care, advice and support to people in their homes after a stay in hospital or a convalescent facility. The SPITEX home nursing staff support and reduce the burden, for instance, on families before and after the birth of a child. They take care of newborns and small children. The home nursing staff also cares for people suffering from chronic diseases and the elderly. With the support of SPITEX home care, many elder people are able to live in their own homes longer. SPITEX Zulg Ziegeleistrasse 22, 3612 Steffisburg Telephone 033 439 97 97 Death In the event of a death, contact the commune in which the deceased person resided. The Burials Office (Bestattungsamt) arranges burials in consultation with relatives and the responsible religious representatives of the state churches. Repatriation of remains is subject to special regulations. Undertaker services or the Burials Office (Bestattungsamt) can advise you about the procedure. Cemeteries and Burials Office of Steffisburg (Friedhof- und Bestattungsamt), Höchhusweg 5, 3612 Steffisburg, telephone 033 439 44 53. Accidents You have a legal obligation to inform the police when someone is injured in an accident. Welcome to Steffisburg Page 17 Moving away from Switzerland Take your foreign national identity card to the Residents and Foreigners Registration Office (Einwohner- und Fremdenkontrolle) in due time to report your departure and notify the tax authority early on. Change of place of residence If you are moving away from your official place of residence you should notify the Residents and Foreigners Registration Office (Einwohner- und Fremdenkontrolle) of your departure in advance. You will need to have your settlement permit or foreign national identity card to do so. Naturally, you must also register with the commune at your new place of residence. Change of residence within the commune If you move to another address within the commune you must report your new address to the Residents and Foreigners Registration Office (Einwohner- und Fremdenkontrolle) within eight days of your move. In addition, notify the following in due time about a planned move within the commune or away from it: Residents Registration Office (Einwohnerkontrolle) Play group Pre-school Schools Postal service Employer Bank Health insurance provider Insurance provider Telephone company Cable television provider Road traffic authority BILLAG (television and radio fees) NetZulg AG, Steffisburg power and water utility Associations Acquaintances and relatives Welcome to Steffisburg Page 18 Important telephone numbers Police emergency number 117 Fire brigade emergency number 118 Health emergency number (ambulance service) 144 REGA, air rescue 1414 Poisoning emergency number 145 Die Dargebotene Hand (help and counselling) 143 Telephone assistance for children and young adults 147 Emergency physician service of Thuner Ostamt (Ärztlicher Notfalldienst) (incl. Steffisburg) (Fr. 0.88/min.) 0900 576 747 Occupational Orientation Centre of Thun, BIZ (Berufsberatungs- und Informationszentrum) 031 635 59 00 Power and water (NetZulg AG) on-call service 033 437 32 42 Parental advising (Erziehungsberatung) Thun 031 635 58 58 Steffisburg Communal Administration (Gemeindeverwaltung) 033 439 44 44 Assistance to victims of sexual or domestic abuse (Fachstelle Opferhilfe bei sexueller und häuslicher Gewalt) 033 225 05 60 Competence Centre for Integration of Thun, KIO (Kompetenzzentrum für Integration) 033 223 50 75 Migration Service of the Canton of Bern (Migrationsdienst) 031 633 53 15 Cantonal Police of Steffisburg (Kantonspolizei) 033 356 83 61 Spital Thun STS, hospital 033 226 26 26 Sexual violence against women, Bern, day and night 031 632 10 10 Sexual violence against women, Thun 033 223 07 90 SPITEX Zulg 033 439 97 97 Veterinary ambulance service, Bern, dispatch centre 079 706 09 47 Civil Registry Office, Thun, Oberland West division (Zivilstandskreis) 031 635 43 00 Welcome to Steffisburg Page 19