3 Things that shocked me about Luxembourg Public Schools

As a former public school teacher in Florida, I was so surprised when we experienced these differences in the Luxembourgish public school system:

1. Overnight field trips - Started at age 4, teachers take their class on an annual overnight trip. The first overnight field trip I ever went on was to Washington DC at 13 years old and it was a BIG deal to go on that trip.
   
   Last year we sent our eldest on an overnight school trip for the first time with his class (9 kids + 2 teachers) to a campsite in the north of Luxembourg. They left on Wednesday morning and returned on Friday afternoon.
   
   We were a nervous wreck, as it was his first time sleeping away from home (I may or may not have put an AirTag in his backpack 😳). His teacher sent us pictures and videos throughout the trip and he had a great time bonding with his peers and teachers.
   
   Evidently this is a common practice in Luxembourg and it starts in cycle 1.1. So next year both of our boys will go on an overnight class trip.

2. Lunch break is 2 hours long - The hourly school schedule in Luxembourg is a bit strange. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays they go from 8:00 - 12:00, then have a 2 hour break, and continue from 14:00 - 15:45. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they go from 8:00 - 12:00 only.
   
   During the 2 hour lunch break, families are expected to pick up their child, feed them lunch, and then return to school for the last part of the day.
   
   If you’re a working parent, there are childcare arrives that will pick up your child, feed them a hot lunch, and then bring them back to school.

3. There is not additional financial burden for field trips - Every week the teachers take the class off-site for an excursion. It could be going on a nature walk, visiting the air tramp, or even a trip to a local farm. Sometimes these trips are communicated in advance and other times we find out they were off-site when we come pick them up at the end of the day.
   
   And the parents don’t have to pay anything extra (no fees for transportation, admission tickets, lunch, etc.)

   Bonus: The local schools in our area are not staffed with a nurse. If someone gets hurt, they will either call the parents or the hospital (depending on the severity of the injury).
   
   Did any of these surprise you?