Message from Ms Matillon, Director General
Dear Parents,
I have started my day in our Primary School where we have welcomed parents for our second “Parents in School” morning of the year, giving children from Pre-school to Year 6 the opportunity to share their classroom and learning activities with their mum or dad, and allowing parents to see first-hand what normal lessons are like at GES. More than one parent has told me that they would love to come to – or to have come to – this school themselves, which I accept on behalf of our teachers as a wonderful compliment, indeed.
Mrs Brassington spoke in this morning’s assembly about the UN Children’s Walk we held on Wednesday, during which our whole Primary School did laps around the campus – up to six (or more!) for our older children. This walk was organised in the name of peace and to raise funds for children less fortunate than ours. GES students were brilliant, walking, skipping, holding hands, singing, waving the signs they created, and talking about “kindness”, “gentillesse”, “amabilidad”, “Freundlichkeit”, or the same in their home language. They were not put off by the heat, and they were proud of what they achieved, just as I was proud of them! The song they sang so beautifully at our assembly, “Je suis un enfant de paix” perfectly reflected our “I CARE” values.
Over at our Secondary campus this week, GCSE students have been busy with their first exams, already tackling the “speaking” elements of Modern Foreign Languages, as well as Art and Drama. Students and teachers with whom I have spoken in recent days have come away feeling very positive about their outcomes, which has been fantastic to hear.
Observing our senior students revise for year-end exams, and knowing that they have been well prepared for the challenges ahead, will no doubt provoke a range of emotions for our current Year 9 class, who will start GCSE courses next year. I think I speak for most parents when I say that we feel whatever our children experience with almost the same degree of connection, if not more. With that in mind, on Tuesday evening Mr Crabtree delivered a presentation titled “Transition to GCSE” for the parents of our Year 9 students, addressing all aspects of this two-year programme and answering a very broad range of questions. The talk was well attended and, for those parents who were unable to participate, detailed information will be shared by Mr Crabtree and through class representatives.
On a much lighter note, the following evening we held a recital which showcased the extraordinary talent of some of our Secondary students. Thank you to each of our performers and to their teachers, of course, for giving us the gift of their music.
All the best,
Christina Matillon
Primary Students March for Peace
Few things are as powerful to witness and hear than the voices of over 160 children coming together in unison to call for peace.
Joining forces to march for peace, students in Pre-school to Year 6 took part in the whole-school UN Children’s Walk, an initiative of the United Nations Women’s Guild in support of scholarships for Secondary students across the world who would otherwise be unable to attend school.
In preparation for this event, our Primary students were busy reflecting on what peace means to them, creating beautiful posters with messages of hope, harmony and unity which they proudly carried with them during the walk, and learning about notable figures such as Nobel Peace Prize laureates. In French lessons, they also learned the song “Enfant de paix”, which carries with it a powerful statement calling for non-violence and a better world for all.
The UN Children’s Walk has given students a great opportunity to talk about kindness, tolerance, and how we can create a more harmonious school environment. Year 5 planned their pledges with the idea that if all children make small, everyday changes, they can grow into adults who help build a better, more caring world. The children were challenged to write not only in English, but also in other languages they speak at home.
This week in class
Year 2 were surprised to find a pond full of promises as an introduction to their new book, Tadpole’s Promise by Jeanne Willis! Turning over lily pads to uncover these pledges, they brainstormed about the multitude of flora and fauna that live in or around ponds that can undergo change. A fun, practical and fitting introduction for their new text, whose protagonists include a tadpole and a caterpillar!
Our budding naturalists in Year 11 tried their hand at various field sampling techniques this week, enabling them to study the distribution and abundance of different organisms within a given area. Using both quadrats – a frame placed on the ground to delimit a defined zone – and transects – a line marked out with a tape measure or similar – students counted and tallied the diverse species they found using each method, giving them an insight into the health and diversity of the ecosystem in different areas of our Secondary gardens.
Distillation was the topic of the week for our Year 12 chemists as they took to their lab apparatus to prepare cyclohexene by dehydrating and distillating cyclohexanol. Through these practical experiments, our students delved further into this key process of separation which involves the boiling of mixtures and the condensation of vapours in a still.
They also learned about its various applications in industry, including beverage production, desalination and oil refining.
Beyond the Classroom
A Jazzy Celebration
In celebration of International Jazz Day (Wednesday 30 April), both of our campuses came alive to the sounds of jazz this week! Our youngest learners in Pre-school had lots of fun practising their dance moves to some lively jazz, while Year 3 students learned about the origins of jazz and were introduced to some of the most famous musicians, before having the opportunity to try their own hands at improvisation and learning the importance of not only playing the key notes, but also including rests.
In Secondary, posters of famous jazz musicians and singers adorned the walls, with QR codes enabling students to listen to a selection of pieces selected by Head of Music Lucy Colwill, and on Wednesday jazz music provided a stimulating backdrop to lunch in the Grand Café.
On Thursday, secondary students participated in a jazz improvisation workshop with ECA teacher Marquis’ McGee, learning about the standard structure of melody-improvisation-melody, and providing rhythmic accompaniment to Marquis’ swing saxophone piece. Using jazz as a metaphor for life, students reflected on how mistakes can be seen as opportunities and how improvisation teaches us that life is about making the most of what we are given and being flexible with it to create something positive.
A Sunny Trip Up the Salève
Against a backdrop of glorious sunshine, the (literal!) highpoint of the week for Year 2 students this week was a fabulous day trip on the Mont Salève.
Ascending the iconic “Balcon de Genève” by cable car, students marvelled at the view, before putting their Geography skills to good use, identifying significant landmarks around the Geneva region and using compass reading techniques to describe the location of different places relative to each other. A workshop about the Salève provided an opportunity to practise French language skills and apply what they’ve learned in Art to the construction of miniature models of the Salève. What a wonderful day!
Extra-Curricular Activities
Tapping to the Rhythm
There was brushing and shuffling and riffling and scuffling this week as our brand new tap dancing club kicked off with dance teacher Angharad Chapman. Adding to the range of dance genres already offered at GES, this new dance style gives students the opportunity to explore a new form of expression and creativity. We’re excited to see how tap dancing will inspire even more artistic growth within our school community!
Perfect Conditions for Athletics Club Goers
With Sports Day just around the corner, our Secondary Athletics Club has been making the most of the fine weather to practise their sprint start techniques for the 100m and 200m, long jump and more! We’re very fortunate to be so close to the incredible facilities at the Centre Sportif de Versoix, which gives our athletes the very best conditions to train and develop their technique both on the track and in the field.
Secondary Music Recital
Our Secondary musicians transported their audience this week at the Secondary Music Recital.
With performances on the clarinet, piano and guitar as well as voice recitals, our students took us through a variety of musical repertoires, including classical, jazz, pop rock and musical theatre, by such composers and artists as George Gershwin, Dmitry Kabalevsky, Frédéric Chopin, W.A. Mozart, Charlie Parker, Justin Hurwitz and One Direction.
Bravo and thank you to our musicians Matt, Anne, Rosalie, Daniela, Marisa and Angelica.
Community News
Reminder | International Day and International Carnival
Coming up on Friday 16 May are our annual International Day and International Carnival, which we are very much looking forward to celebrating with our school community.
To help us fully embrace the spirit of the day, we invite Primary children to come to school in clothes that they feel represent their culture, family or background.
In addition, we wish to extend a welcome to parents into school during the day to share their cultural experiences with students, should they wish to. This might include a music workshop, art activity or short class presentation. If you would like to take part, please email Sally Livesey at [email protected] and include a short summary of the activity you would like to offer, the specific year group this would be suitable for and your availability during the day of Friday 16 May.
We are also looking forward to seeing families at the International Carnival which will take place after school from 15:30 onwards and will be a wonderful celebration of our diverse international community through cuisine, music, games, prizes and more.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the carnival for a fantastic celebration of GES.
Primary Reading Challenge
A new Primary Reading Challenge awaits our bookworms with the monthly theme of “Multilingual May”.
Students are invited to choose books from our multilingual section in the Library and read in a different language. They are encouraged to come up with a summary of the story in video format, which includes the title of the book and the language they read it in.
Please send these by email to Sally Vavrecka at [email protected].
Some Groovy Moves at the Primary Disco
It was all sequins and sparkles at last Friday’s much-awaited Primary disco!
Grooving to the catchy tunes played by DJ Noah, our Primary community took to the dance floor to show their best moves and sing along in chorus. With teachers and parents joining in, and fun activities planned outside the gym such as face painting and giant soap bubbles, the afternoon was the ideal way to shake off the week and launch into the weekend in style.
New Volleyball Net at Secondary
Secondary students have been digging and dumping and blocking and bumping this week as our outdoor facilities have been upgraded with the addition of a volleyball net in the playground.
With regular exercise a proven way to improve cognitive function and reduce stress, this new addition to our Versoix campus has been particularly appreciated by our Year 13 students, who have been able to eliminate some of their exam-related nervousness and improve their concentration through physical activity. We are all confident that they will ace their exams!
A New Edition of Parents in School
Our Primary learners and their teachers were delighted to welcome parents into school this morning for another successful “Parents in School” edition!
In addition to showcasing their personal accomplishments and progress with the curriculum, students were able to explain how learning happens in different areas of the school. From classrooms to the Library to the outdoor areas, parents discovered how their children thrive in the multitude of learning contexts that the school creates for them.
As a Friday treat, parents were also able to attend the weekly whole school assembly, a special community moment for our Primary campus during which individual and group success stories are celebrated, awards and House points delivered, Student Council updates announced and important events – such as this week’s UN Children’s Walk – presented and discussed.
Thank you to all the parents who joined us today, and to our students and staff for being stellar ambassadors of our school!
Faces of GES
Our Faces of GES spotlight falls in Primary this week as we present Marie-Pierre Briand, teacher of French who joined GES in September 2015. After spending her first seven years teaching in EYFS and Key Stage 1, Marie-Pierre moved to the Key Stage 2 team in 2022 and now teaches French across our Primary School, where she enjoys helping children discover the wealth of the French language and culture through play, stories, and meaningful conversations. In fact, few things are as rewarding for Marie-Pierre as seeing her students develop both their French language and personality.
With a postgraduate degree in Sociology, Marie-Pierre first worked in the fields of rehabilitation and prevention as a social worker, then becoming the director of a drug and addiction information centre. She later spent four years in Australia, where she discovered her passion for teaching French, falling in love with the intercultural exchange, the curiosity of children, and the joy of learning from them as much as they learn from her. Beyond revealing her love for teaching, Marie-Pierre’s time in Australia was marked by one of her greatest achievements: adapting to a new culture and life, which taught her resilience, open-mindedness and how to truly embrace change. Her time Down Under also gave her innumerable memories, anecdotes and close encounters to tell her students about – including one with an emu, which chased around after her!
Swept off her feet every morning as she beholds Mont Blanc from our Primary Campus, Marie-Pierre also really cherishes the intercultural richness of our students, which makes each day unique and rewarding. Her greatest hope for her pupils: to leave GES with a strong sense of curiosity, kindness, and confidence — ready to explore the world and connect with others and always keep their French up!
