Message from Ms Matillon, Director General
Dear Parents,
Some of us may feel tired as the week draws to a close, but probably none as much as the four teachers and almost forty Years 7-9 students who started this week recovering from a night camping out in the Primary field last Friday in the pouring rain! From all accounts, a fantastic time was had by all, and I’m sure our brave GES outdoors people won’t soon forget the experience. A very big thank you goes to Mr Dupont-Panon, Ms Youngs-Lachmund, Mr Crabtree and, especially, Mr Pearce for the brilliant organisation and execution, and for devoting a good part of their weekend to this activity.
Speaking of Mr Pearce, as I write this, he and Ms Sawyer are kayaking in the Ardèche with our Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award candidates enjoying both the return to summer weather and the thrill of the ride. These adventurers are having a brilliant time and we look forward to seeing and sharing a full range of photos as soon as we can.
This week, GES girls’ and boys’ football teams did us proud in their respective tournaments – more on those, along with photos below – and I would also like to highlight two students who earned strong results in the SGIS cross-country event – Enzo who came in 9th and Ellis who came in 12th in fields of up to 47 runners per category. Well done to all GES athletes for their terrific performances!
In other news, we found when the rain came that our freshly painted games on the Primary playground were very slippery when wet. I’m pleased to report that we have since had a gritty layer added to each one so that they are no longer a slipping hazard.
In Secondary this week, Mr Crabtree delivered a very informative presentation on the university application process to parents of students in Key Stages 4 and 5. His slides are available here for anyone who may be interested. Of course, this topic will be introduced in school to students and their parents when their time comes to think about the next step along their educational path.
Many parents have asked about how they might reach out to members of the GES community – for example, to parents of other students in their children’s classes, year groups or even other sections of the school to organise play dates, exchange information, etc. For reasons of data protection, we will not share anyone’s contact details unless we have their express permission to do so. We are pleased to offer a simple way for parents to opt in (or, indeed, opt out) from having their information available to others on the GES directory via the parent portal. A step-by-step guide, very helpfully prepared by Alice, is available here. This document also includes instructions for signing up to Classlist as well as a link to information on our wonderful Class Representatives.
Please do not forget that our long-standing school photographers, Gillman & Soame, will be with us on Monday (in Primary) and Tuesday (in Secondary) to take individual, sibling and class photos. Children should bring their best smiles and a hairbrush (as we are unable to share), and we will take care of the rest.
Finally, I would like to send warm congratulations to our own Mr Wootton and his family on the safe arrival of his baby, Xavier Alexander, who is every bit as beautiful as his two big brothers and who has certainly already been told as much many times in both English and Spanish.
All the best,
Christina Matillon
This week in class
Year 5 started the year examining a poem about the Firebird, the magical creature from folklore. Drawing inspiration from the poem’s plot, our students have been brainstorming exciting adjectives to put into their own poems.
They have also put themselves in the shoes of the character Vasili and thought about how he might have felt after he had failed the task of catching the apple thief.
In their PHSE lessons, Year 6 wrote and performed a short role play of a radio call-in show discussing friendship issues. The radio hosts gave sound advice and all our “callers” were reassured by the solutions that were proposed.
This activity followed on perfectly from the combined school efforts to establish classroom rules based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which each year group has proudly displayed around the school to ensure that every student’s rights are met.
During their lab session, Year 7 scientists honed their microscopy skills to observe the structure of leaves under the microscope.
They can now confidently point out some of the main structures, including the leaf blade, stipules, midrib and margins.
Enrichment Programme
Crossing the Country for a Cross Country Run
Our runners had a fantastic time at the SGIS Cross Country meet in Bern last weekend, with some of our students flying to the finish line in their respective categories. Huge congratulations go to Enzo in Year 3 and Ellis in Year 6, who finished in 9th and 12th position respectively out of 47 runners in each category!
The calendar of all sporting events can be found on the school’s sports website, on which you will also be able to access team selections (password GES2024!), maps to venues, news reports and pictures.
Outdoor Education
Key Stage 3 students experienced their first outdoor venture by camping on the Primary field in Genthod last week. Despite the unseasonably cold weather and the rain, our intrepid campers had great fun setting up their tents, barbecuing a delicious meal, tucking into some heart-warming fire-roasted marshmallows and waking up to glorious sunshine.
Scroll down to our gallery below to see photos of their campout.
Teeing Off at the Golf Academy
Our Friday extra-curricular golf academy at the Golf de la Vieille-Bâtie kicked off again this week for our beginners and more advanced players.
During their lesson, they received expert advice from the academy’s coaches, who worked with students on the driving range, putting and chipping areas. As they progress in their skills over the next few weeks, they may even graduate to the main course.
Stay tuned for more news.
An Amazing Start to the Football Season
The girls’ and boys’ football teams gathered early at GES Primary for an exciting day, ready to kick off the first SGIS football tournament of the year under superb weather conditions.
The girls’ team, playing together for the very first time, performed exceptionally well. Their strong team spirit and positive attitude were on full display as they gave their best effort throughout the day.
Despite losing their first two matches, the girls showed tremendous resilience, turning things around to win the next two games, with multiple goals from Evie and Lea. Their determination was inspiring!
In the playoff for 5th place, they played with great energy and narrowly missed out, losing 1-0 in an incredibly close game, securing a respectable 6th position overall.
Even after the matches, the team’s enthusiasm didn’t wane, as they continued to bond, enjoying more football and even netball together.
A special shoutout goes to Florrie and Evie, two new additions to GES this year, who integrated into the team seamlessly, embodying the GES spirit and making valuable contributions on and off the field.
A huge congratulations to all the girls who took part—what an amazing start to the season!
Student Leadership
Today’s Primary Assembly was an exciting affair for all as the House Captain election results were announced. One of our new school leaders shared her motivations with us, a moving statement which we wished to share with the school community:
“I wanted to be House Captain because the previous one inspired me and now I want to do something for the school.”
Congratulations to all our newly elected representatives as well as to all those who stood for election. The electoral campaign started last week for the candidates, who delivered outstanding speeches to their Houses in which they explained the qualities they would bring to the role.
Without doubt, this was the highest standard of speeches we have ever had at GES!
Beyond the Classroom
Primary Parent Phonics Workshop
We were pleased to welcome many Reception and Key Stage 1 parents to our phonics workshops this week for a presentation of our school’s rigorous and systematic approach to teaching children to read.
At GES, we introduced the Read Write Inc. programme by Ruth Miskin in March 2023, a programme that is used in over a quarter of UK primary schools and is designed to create fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers. Sorted into progress groups based on individual assessments, students are taught by class teachers and learning assistants who are all trained in the programme and regularly take part in practice and coaching sessions.
In addition to the presentation of how phonics lessons are delivered at school, parents received advice and tips on how to help their children with their reading at home.
Social Media and Children
WhatsApp, TikTok and iMessage have become an integral part of daily life for many of us. Although the minimum age to access these communication platforms is 13, an increasing number of Primary school children are using them.
At GES, Year 5 and 6 teachers work with parents to educate and protect children. They have recently shared the following practical tips and recommendations, in order to help reduce the impact on children’s wellbeing.
- Establish clear rules for your child’s use of group chats: include guidelines for notifications and sharing information. Discuss appropriate times to send messages, for example not before school or after 20:00.
- Promote open communication: check in with your child about their experiences in group chats, as well as encouraging them to talk to you about any issues or concerns they encounter online. This will help you stay informed, to create an environment where they feel comfortable discussing their interactions online, and to address any concerns they might have.
- Monitor usage: ensure that children are aware that you will monitor the groups they are involved in, and explain that they should only send things they would be happy for you to see or read.
- Avoid mobile phones in bedrooms: students have shared with us that having their phone in their room at home can make them feel pressured to respond to messages received late at night, and that leaving their phone at the other side of the room does not offer enough of a deterrent. Being nearby when your children use their phones will help you to oversee their activity and to provide support where required.
- Educate about privacy: teach your children the importance of privacy and the risks associated with sharing personal information online. Help them to understand that anything shared in a digital space might not remain private.
By staying informed and proactive, we can help ensure that our children navigate their digital worlds safely and responsibly.
The following platforms provide excellent further guidance and recommendations for parents and educators:
- Childnet International, a UK-based charity dedicated to supporting children and their carers in their online lives
- Child Safety Online: A practical guide for parents and carers by the UK government
- Jeunes et médias, the national Swiss platform for digital skills and safety
Community News
Faces of GES
Our Faces of GES spotlight this week falls on Lucie Goater, Voice teacher and Music Administrator for Primary and Secondary who joined our school in January 2017.
A voice coach, classical singer, composer and choir director, Lucie graduated with a postgraduate diploma from Trinity College of Music in London. She enjoys watching her pupils develop and grow in confidence as musicians as she nurtures a love of music in each and every one of them. She is especially proud of the brilliant Music department which the Music team built from scratch and the wonderful opportunities it creates for students. Combined with the caring, inclusive and rich learning environment that our school offers, these opportunities enable each student to reach their full potential. Her advice to students? To have the confidence and aspiration to chase their dreams, knowing that they have every right to achieve them.
An avid composer and performer of her own music, Lucie writes electronic music almost obsessively.
The GES Family Grows
We are delighted to announce that Mr Wootton and his wife Amy have welcomed a new addition to their family: a healthy and beautiful baby boy, Xavier.
Please join us in sending them all our best wishes.
