Message from Ms Matillon, Director General
Dear Parents,
This week, we held one of my favourite events of the year, the introduction of our Year 6 class to their transition to Secondary school. Our Year 6 students spent the morning living the life of a GES Year 7 student, participating in an Art lesson in our kitted-out studio, and a Science lesson in one of our laboratories. During this time, parents of Year 5 and 6 children listened to our Head of Middle School, Victoria Newbury, describe our curriculum and approach in Key Stage 3 and into our GCSE and A Level programmes. Parents who attended told me they were particularly impressed with the Year 7 to 13 work laid out for their perusal and with the discussions they had with students in the Grand Café. Any Primary School parents wishing to learn more about GES Secondary School, no matter their children’s ages, are very welcome to contact our Admissions team at [email protected] for further information or to book a visit.
I had a wonderful evening on Wednesday at our Winter Showcase, not only because I enjoyed the fabulous art exhibition, music and drama performances, but also because I had the opportunity to speak with parents about the terrific news announced on Monday regarding GES becoming part of the Inspired Education Group. I was very pleased to hear that most everyone is excited at the prospect of all the good things to come from our membership in this group of premium schools, notably the support of Inspired’s three pillars of education: academics, sport, and performing and creative arts. This occasion also gave me a chance to share what I have seen in my new colleagues at Inspired, that is, their focus on children and commitment to excellence in all they deliver.
As was communicated earlier this week, we will hold a town hall meeting at our Primary school gym on Tuesday 27th January at 18h during which two very senior members of the Inspired team will present an overview of the education group and all the advantages it has to offer, as well as their particular vision for GES. I enthusiastically recommend that you take the opportunity to meet Mike Lambert, Global Head of Education, and John Leitao, CEO of Portugal, Greece and Northern Europe and hear what they have to say about Inspired’s approach, values and plans, and to ask any questions you may have about our school going forward. In order to encourage face-to-face interaction, it will not be possible to participate in this gathering online, and the event will not be recorded.
I wish everyone an excellent weekend, and especially lots of fun to our Years 2-4 footballers who will be defending our school colours in a 5-a-side tournament at LGB tomorrow. Go, GES!
All the best,
Christina Matillon
A Two-Day Trip For Year 8 and 9
Our Year 8 and 9 snowshoers had a wonderful time on their uphill hike from La Givrine to the Cabane du Carroz.
Accompanied by Mr Pearce, Mr Dupont-Panon and Ms Lanfranco, our adventurers launched enthusiastically into the 5km uphill trail through some spectacular views of snowy (but sunny!) countryside. Upon arriving at the Cabane, they were famished and worked together to cook their well-earned dinner: a steaming plate of delicious pasta!
A good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast gave them all the energy they needed to spend some time enjoying the fresh snow with an energetic snowball fight, before heading back down to the train station at La Givrine.
These outdoor education experiences are a great way for students to build their resilience, develop their teamwork skills and make lasting memories which they will carry with them for many years to come.
This week in class
In their first Humanities lesson after the break, Year 1 began an exciting journey into the history of flight. Our young learners explored early attempts at flying, learning that humans initially tried to copy birds, and discovering how mistakes help inventors improve their ideas. Inspired to design and test their own gliders, our students showed great curiosity, resilience and reflective thinking.
They have since built on this learning by stepping into the shoes of historians. They used clues, asked questions and compared the past with today to understand why the Wright Brothers were such important historical figures. They were fascinated to learn that people were so curious about the Wright Brothers’ invention that rivals even tried to spy on their work to steal their ideas.
Eager to take on the roles of historians and spies, students chose disguises and worked collaboratively to sneak a peek at the blueprints inside the Wright Brothers’ shed, carefully observing, remembering and recreating the designs. A fun lesson all round!
Year 2 have been working on their oracy skills in History, taking part in a conscience alley to consider the pros and cons of important inventions created across Europe that have changed how we communicate in modern times. In particular, students looked at the printing press and compared how life differed before and after this invention and how society benefits from it today.
Our investigators also practised their French by learning about Louis Braille, watching a video about his life in French with advanced French speakers helping those less confident in the language to understand how important young Louis was in creating an alphabet for visually-impaired people. By linking what they had learned to the SDGs on “Health and Well-being”, “Quality Education” and “Reduced Inequalities”, students were better able to understand the importance of this invention in ensuring inclusion for all today.
In the final lesson of their topic on “Light”, Year 3 shared their learning by answering a range of questions put to them by members of our GES community. After enjoying a video demonstration of an exciting colour investigation put together by Year 5 student Chloe, our scientists were challenged to explore how light behaves when it passes through different colours. Using torches and their own colourful patterns on clear tape, they shone light through their designs onto a surface and observed the coloured shadows that were created. Students were eager to investigate how the patterns and colours changed depending on how close the light source was and at what angle it was pointed.
It’s been a constructive week for Year 3 and 4, who have been exploring all sorts of fun ways to build things. From making a cruise ship complete with swimming pool and swing, to designing a bedroom and hot chocolate-maker out of Lego, to putting together a smart phone out of cubes, or even creating a whole safari park, the options were truly endless!
Our Year 5 and 6 athletes have been working hard in their acrobatics unit, in which they have been developing their counting, coordination, weight transfer, and trust skills. Today, everyone managed to complete their first partner pyramid!
Well done, everybody!
Our Science labs have been buzzing with all kinds of experiments again.
Year 8 planned their own investigation to test the hypothesis that water will cool faster in a larger beaker compared to a smaller one. Considering all the many variables that come into play was a key part in coming up with their theory for experimental design.
In a different approach to their science Spotlight task for this half-term, Year 9 took it in turns to deliver a presentation on the nature of waves, radiation and the benefits and drawbacks of nuclear power. Students had to share their knowledge without the aid of notes or text heavy slides, and, in conclusion, were asked to answer an opinion-based question about the future use of nuclear power, for which they had to carry out research in support of their argument.
Our Year 13 chemists investigated electrode potentials by building salt bridges. This helped them gain a deeper understanding of the various components used to make batteries for electric vehicles.
Beyond the Classroom
A Trip to Australia
Our Primary community had a special leader of their Friday Assembly this morning as our very own Year 4 student, Cosmo, took to the stage to share his experience of his recent holiday in Australia.
Beginning with a presentation about Aboriginal art and music, Cosmo continued with a fascinating exposé of all the curious animals that inhabit the Land Down Under, such as cockatoos, kookaburras, the venomous blue-ringed octopus and the formidable huntsman spider, and a guided tour of the sights he visited.
Cosmo’s audience of peers and teachers were truly engrossed by his presentation, which he led in an interactive manner using quizzes and fun facts. Using the same techniques and tricks that teachers use to capture their listeners’ attention, Cosmo impressed everybody with his presentation and oracy skills. A future teacher in the making!
Year 6 to 7 Transition Morning
We had the pleasure of welcoming many parents to our Secondary campus on Wednesday as part of our Year 6 to Year 7 transition morning.
Invited to attend a presentation by our Head of Middle School, Victoria Newbury, Year 5 and 6 parents learned about school life at Secondary, the Key Stage 3 curriculum, our pedagogical approach and pastoral system, and how our school’s holistic focus on the individual child allows us to guide them in developing academically and socially during the crucial transition moment of years 7, 8 and 9. Parents had the opportunity to meet with Secondary teachers over coffee and croissants and peruse Secondary students’ work, books, textbooks and assessments.
Year 6 students also joined in the morning’s event, experiencing typical Secondary Art and Science practical lessons, with some parents even joining in for the latter!
Creative Talents Galore
What a great turnout for our Key Stage 3 Showcase on Wednesday!
Bringing both our Primary and Secondary communities together to enjoy the endless creativity our students, the evening’s events covered all things artistic. Opening with an exhibition in the Grand Café showcasing pieces produced by our Year 7-9 Art students as well as our extra-curricular Art Club, the Showcase continued in our Chaplin Theatre with a series of performances that included:
· A blend of Art and Drama by Year 9 students using movement and design to explore global themes
· A breathtaking piano performance of Beethoven’s Movement I of the Sonata Pathétique by our Year 9 pianist, Angelica
· A terrific selection of songs by our Primary and Secondary choirs
· A chilling rendition by Year 7 thespians of Frankenstein’s creature’s awakening
· An energetic samba drumming session by Year 8
· A sneak preview of the Sister Act production by our Performing Arts Club, coming to stages near you in June!
Bravo to all our artists, musicians and performers and thank you to everyone who joined us for the evening!
Celebrating the International Day of Education
Our Secondary students marked tomorrow’s International Day of Education this week during two assemblies exploring how youth can help co-create education.
Reflecting on Nelson Mandela’s statement that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, students considered the state of education around the world today, noting that a staggering 250’000’000 children and youth across the globe remain out of school. After taking a deep dive into Sustainable Development Goal 4 on “Quality Education” and how the United Nations has worked towards greater inclusion in education for the empowerment of people around the world, students realised that, with over 50% of the world’s population aged under 30, they and their fellow youth have the power to act as agents of change in shaping the future of learning.
By actively taking part at their school and community level in such youth activities as the Student Council or collaborative projects to address local educational gaps, and engaging with peers through online student networks on education-related topics, they can help shape education in the longer term to make it more inclusive and equitable for all.
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
On Tuesday we had the third of our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) days at Secondary!
Working in their year groups, our students received some life-saving training from our very own Nurse Polly. Learning about the different pillars of a primary survey when faced with a casualty situation, students gained an important check-list of things to be aware of or do in the event of an emergency using the mnemonic DRABCDE:
· Danger: ensuring that they and the casualty are out of harm’s way
· Response: ascertaining levels of consciousness
· Airway: checking for airway obstructions
· Breathing: assessing breathing capacity
· Circulation: identifying any bleeding or cardiac symptoms
· Disability: verifying the person’s neurological status
· Exposure: making sure the casualty is kept warm or cool, based on their symptoms and environment.
Later on, our learners explored boundaries as part of a relationships and sex education workshop with our Head of Pastoral Care, Mariann Csoma. Together, they considered the different types of boundaries – whether physical, emotional, intellectual, material or time-related – that come into play in relationships and how to set healthy personal limits.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Our Skiers Take to the Slopes
It was blue skies for the third week up in Les Rousses for our Wednesday Ski Academy. Students were eager to continue developing their skills and building on their technique. Some took the chairlift for the first time, while others completed their first-ever red run! Well done to all of them for their resilience.
We hope for more blue skies and snow in the weeks ahead!
Making Connections in Science Club
This week’s Science Club was all about bridge-building. Tasked with designing and constructing bridges which had to withstand as much weight as possible, our scientists came up with all kinds of innovative solutions.
· Winning the category for Strength was the team “The Backup Plan”, with their bridge holding a whopping 4700g!
· The team “Burger Pop Flies” won the category for Engineering, owing to their intelligent structural design and informative blueprint.
· Team “Bridge EME” won the category for Art, having the most eye-catching visual design.
A Fluffy Friend Visits Zoology Club
Our Zoology Club was back in action this week with the visit of Suki the Bolonka!
Introducing his pet, Suki, to his fellow club-goers, Reuben led an excellent presentation about this breed of dog, the rare Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Students learned that this charming, clever and spirited breed has the natural curiosity to consider unfamiliar people as potential playmates, making it a particularly friendly, sociable, easy-going and affectionate friend to have around.
Well done, Reuben!
Community News
Reminder | Clothes Collection
Our school is mobilising to support those in need through the Mission Chrétienne pour les Pays de l’Est!
If you have any of the following items (clean and in good condition) which you would like to donate, please drop these off in black rubbish bags (max. 60L) at our Primary campus on the morning of Monday 26 January:
· Winter clothing for children and adults of all ages (no summer items)
· Underwear (new only)
· Shoes and boots (please place these in a separate bag)
· Bedding and towels (no pillows or duvets; blankets accepted)
All donations will go towards helping families, elderly people, people with disabilities, and especially children, who are living through conflict and harsh winters in Ukraine and Moldova.
If you have any questions, please contact Zita Sheikh on +41 79 538 03 96.
Thank you for your support!
Reminder | Secondary Careers Day
As part of our PSHE curriculum, we are organising a Careers Day for our Secondary students on Wednesday 11 March.
We would be delighted to welcome parents who wish to join us to present their career, the pathway that led them to where they are and what their day-to-day at the workplace looks like.
Further details will be communicated at a later stage but we invite you to mark the date in your calendars if you would like to share your professional experience with our students.
