Message from Ms Matillon, Director General
Dear Parents,
With the number and variety of activities going on at school this week and next, there is no denying that our term is in full swing! I hope you will take a moment to read details below of all that’s going on and browse the school calendar to note specific dates that are relevant to your family.
I would particularly like to highlight two events – one in Primary and one in Secondary – that touch us all. In both cases, our teachers planned age-appropriate activities with great care and attention for your children.
Yesterday and today, children in our Pre-school and Primary school celebrated the European Day(s) of Languages. An initiative of the Council of Europe in cooperation with the European Commission, this annual celebration was launched in 2001. With over thirty languages spoken at home by GES students, what better way to embrace our multicultural heritage than by highlighting the sounds and stories of our many native tongues. A big thank you goes to Mme Durey and her team for championing these two glorious days and a special word of appreciation to the fifteen parents who took time out of their busy schedules to come read to our children across EYFS and Key Stages 1 and 2 in thirteen different languages. I had the pleasure of visiting most classrooms to listen in, and the children were clearly enthralled!
In Secondary next Friday, students will not follow their normal timetables but, rather, enjoy the first of five full Enrichment Days over the course of this academic year dedicated to our Personal, Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education curriculum. This day, expertly organised by Ms Newbury, will shine a light on Health and Wellbeing – issues close to all of our hearts and certainly deserving of attention. From Year 7 to Year 13, students will participate in workshops on such topics as emotional wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, mental health, stress management and progression to careers. In addition to benefiting from our teachers’ experience, students will hear guest speakers from Young Enterprise Switzerland, a non-profit organisation focused on facilitating young people acquiring skills that are relevant to their personal and professional future.
Speaking of (very) young people, and continuing our recent happy practice of welcoming new staff babies, I would like to congratulate Mrs Kelleher on the arrival of wee Ailbhe. I am delighted for Mrs Kelleher and her family, and I am looking forward to meeting lovely little Ailbhe.
Finally, on an administrative note, I draw the attention of parents of children in Years 4, 5 and 6 to the email going out today through SchoolPost concerning parent authorisation for children to leave school alone. From Monday 7th October, we will require express written permission from both parents (or guardians) through this form (one form per child) for children to leave our Primary school on their own. We thank you in advance for your attention to this matter if your child(ren) are concerned, or if you foresee them needing to make their own way home or to an outside activity during the course of this academic year. Of course, you can update your permission status at any time.
On that note, I wish you and your family a safe and very enjoyable weekend.
All the best,
Christina Matillon
European Day of Languages
We celebrated the European Day of Languages this week at Primary! An initiative led by the Council of Europe, this event stems from the conviction that linguistic diversity is a tool for achieving greater intercultural understanding and a key element in the rich cultural heritage of the European continent. This resonates especially strongly with our school’s values as we believe that learning languages helps build resilience and foster greater tolerance and respect.
As part of our celebrations, we were delighted to welcome many parents into school to read to students in their home language. From French to Welsh, from Catalan to Portuguese, Spanish and even Hungarian, there were all kinds of tongues resonating in our school as students (re)discovered beloved stories featuring powerful messages of friendship and learned how to greet each other in various languages.
One of the participating parents shared their impressions of the day: “The children were so curious, intelligent – such an easy audience. I hope they were happy with the experience.”
In Year 2, our learners felt so inspired by the day’s events that they turned to art to create bunting representing each of the languages, while Year 3 and 4 students had fun competing to recognise which language an extract from a Disney movie was in. The competitive spirit was also noticeable in Years 5 and 6, who were tasked with identifying a country and its capital in French. To earn extra points, they also had to name, in French, the language spoken in that country.
Our European week of languages culminated in a special assembly today, during which Mme Durey explained to students how learning languages builds resilience, one of our school values. She reminded them that children across Primary and Secondary speak several languages and that the school community is proud of have so many international identities.
This week in class
Year 1 enjoyed their first Science experiment of the year this week, testing materials to find the most appropriate and waterproof one to use for an umbrella
They later turned to the mesmerising world of spirals, drawing them on a large scale and on different surfaces using different materials.
There was a decidedly jazzy ring in the air this week during Year 5’s Music lesson. Applying the elements of music that they have studied so far in Key Stage 2 to playing the jSax, our musicians learned to play B, A and G using different rhythms whilst developing specific techniques needed to play a woodwind instrument.
This term, a group of Year 10 and 11 students focusing on gymnastics has been exploring the theoretical foundations of various movements and applying them in practice. They have been working on the C+, C-, and I positions, which comprise all gymnastics elements, and are integrating them into movements like swinging, supported positions, and jumping.
Their progress has been impressive, and the energy on Wednesday mornings is always vibrant!
Spotlight on Outdoor Education
At GES, Outdoor Education is a core component of our pedagogical approach and involves organised learning experiences that take place outdoors, typically during school trips and excursions that often involve overnight stays. In addition to providing students with positive experiences of the environment, Outdoor Education enables them to acquire a wide range of skills and competences through a hands-on approach to learning.
In Primary, the outdoor space is considered both as an extension of the classroom and as a productive break from learning indoors. Outdoor Education can take several forms, and often includes opportunities for students to make links with the subjects they are studying, for example science (e.g. by experiencing weather) or the arts (e.g. exploring different materials).
In Secondary, students learning outdoors learn to work together, as well as against and with the elements, rather than in competition with each other (such as in sports). They are faced with the challenges of being outdoors through camping and hiking trips and pushed to find practical solutions.
Beyond curriculum learning, students in Years 9 to 13 can take part in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award (DofE) which includes an adventurous journey to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery. Building students’ resilience and problem-solving skills, the DofE expeditions and trips involve a multitude of activities, including kayaking, orienteering and the like.
Our Duke of Edinburgh expedition-goers had a very successful trip as part of their Bronze Award requirements. Travelling to the Ardèche region in France, they embarked on their kayaks at the Gorges de l’Ardèche and descended down the river to the Bivouac de Gournier, enjoying beautifully sunny conditions all the way and navigating close to some impressive rock formations throughout their journey.
Upon arrival, they cooked themselves a well-deserved meal and set up camp for the night. The following day, they launched themselves back onto the river to Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, their final port of call.
Beyond the Classroom
Report from the SGIS Cat. B Football Tournament
The Year 10 & 11 boys travelled to the other end of the lake for the SGIS Category B football tournament, alongside 12 other schools. On what was a very autumnal day, the rain made for a slippery and fast-paced set of games.
With 3 teams in our group, GES finished the group unbeaten, winning one and drawing the second game. Only for goal difference were GES pushed out of the semi-final qualifying spot.
The first game saw a commanding performance with the boys playing confidently, brushing aside Verbier International School 2-0. In the group decider, against favourites Beau Soleil, GES took a well deserved lead, only to be pegged back to 1-1 with minutes remaining. A strong defensive display earned us a draw against the eventual winners of the tournament.
Feeling disappointed at not having qualified for the semi-finals, our team let standards drop a bit in our next game, losing 3-0 to a strong team from Bern. A little regroup and the boys headed into the final game with a renewed sense of desire to come away with a good result, and that they did, drawing 1-1 with La Garenne after a dominant display.
GES finished 8th overall amongst 12 teams, but having drawn with the final winners and losing only one game of our 4. Overall, we had a very positive experience.
Well done to Jewel and Kayula, both getting on the score sheet twice, Henry and Lucas for solid goalkeeping and the rest of our players for a great team performance.
A Love of Pizza at ASC
Cooking was back on the menu of our After School Care activity this week, with a twist! Our little chefs made pizza but rather than go for the traditional disk-shaped delicacy, they made them heart-shaped! After learning the art of kneading dough and carefully selecting their toppings, the children were clearly in for a treat!
Great Team Spirit at Today's SGIS Cat. C Football Tournament
Our Category C Boys were at the SGIS football tournament today at the Centre sportif du Blanché.
Despite torrential rain, the squad had a fantastic time, finishing 10th but with a wonderful spirit and attitude. A clear demonstration of GES values!
Community News
Faces of GES
Today’s Faces of GES shines the light on our School Counsellor, Sandra Cameron.
Born and raised in Switzerland, Sandra is herself a product of a local international school. Having studied for both her BA in Psychology and her MA in Counselling Psychology at Webster University, Sandra has been a familiar friendly face at GES since 2014, working in various roles including as a Learning Assistant and in the After School Club, before applying her training to provide counselling support for students since 2017. Having set up her own practice in Versoix in 2021, Sandra has continued to be a part of the GES community as our School Counsellor.
Motivated by the opportunity to connect with different students, hear their personal stories and help them grow and progress, Sandra also enjoys the closeness and trust between staff and students that she considers a hallmark of GES.
In her interactions with students, Sandra always encourages them to make the most of the opportunity GES provides for them to have fun, make great memories and forge long lasting friendships.
Future GES Student
We have received some more good news this week and are pleased to announce that Mrs Kelleher’s baby, Ailbhe, has arrived.
We wish baby Ailbhe a warm welcome to the world and our congratulations to the Kelleher family.
