Message from Mr Williams, Head
Dear Parents and Students,
I hope that everyone had a wonderful and relaxing half term. It is hard to believe that we returned on Monday with such a busy week. We have had coffee mornings across Primary and Secondary campuses, carousel showcases and even some ski racing. Thank you if you came into school, dropped your children early for skiing or re-jigged your own diary to attend a showcase. It is much appreciated by the staff and by your children.
World book day is such a big event at GES and it was great to see so many students dressed up at Primary and bake and read sessions taking place at Secondary. Thank you if you spent the night before creating costumes, baking cakes or helping to make sure that the day went so well.
Next week at Primary we have our Spring term Parent Teacher Meetings taking place via Zoom. Please make sure that you have signed up for these. On Wednesday evening we also have a music recital evening at the Secondary campus. This hour-long event was such a joy last term and I am looking forward to seeing you there – we would also be happy to show any interested Primary parents around the growing Secondary school too.
We are in the peak admissions period at the moment and I wanted to thank you for your support in recommending GES to your friends, neighbours and work colleagues. We have lots of interest in the school and it is because of your kind words and recommendations that so many people want to come and see what is going on. Our focus on ensuring that your children are both academically successful as well as cared for and known as individuals is resonating across the community. We will also be holding virtual events on Wednesday 15 March so please do share invite friends and colleagues within your community – they can sign up here.
11:30-12:30 Primary session
12:30-13:30 Early Years session
14:00-15:00 Secondary session
15:00-16:00 A Level session
Finally, at the end of last term I welcomed back Mr Smouha, his wife and daughter. Mr Smouha was one of the founding parents of Geneva English School and it was a real pleasure showing him around the current Primary school and hearing his memories of GES. Stay tuned for a blog article with photos from the 1960’s to follow!
Matt Williams
Head
From the Primary Library
World Book Day and Ann Bryant's visit
We have had a fantastic week celebrating World Book Day.
We kicked off the week with an exciting assembly all about reading for pleasure and hearing from World Book Day authors about what their favourite books are and where they like to read. This year’s text Mother Earth is weeping by Clare Donald has been enjoyed by all the children and they completed different reading and writing activities linked to this book in their classes.
The pupil librarians set up a fantastic ‘pop up book café’ and we loved seeing so many children reading outside during their break and lunch times.
Next week the reading celebration continues as we welcome our visiting author Ann Bryant on Tuesday 7 March. A reminder that two of her books will be for sale on the day for signing. Please see this flyer for information on pricing. Ann will be officially opening our newly renovated Early Years and Key Stage 1 library and we can’t wait to share the photos with you next week!
Reading challenges
Congratulations to all the children who completed our Fairy Tale February challenge last month and sent us some videos of their reading.
In March we would like you to try to read a range of new genres that you don’t usually choose and enjoy them in places that you don’t usually read.
So, if you are usually a lover of thrillers, why not try a classic this month or enjoy some poetry? If you are a humour book fanatic, change things up by trying an adventure book or a graphic novel.
And why not trying a new and exciting place such as: outdoors under a tree, in your trampoline, in the bath or in a reading fort!
As usual please share your photos to Stephanie Pillot via [email protected].
Sport & Extra-curricular
SGIS Haut Lac ski invitational races
We had two very successful days this week for our Primary and Secondary skiers in Morgins who brought medals and trophies home – well done everybody!
- Jonathan (Year 8): individual 2nd place
- William (Year 9): individual 5th place
- Katrina (Year 7): individual 3rd place
- Jonathan, William P and William M: 2nd place team trophy
- Ravi, Arjan and Matt (Year 7): 3rd place team trophy
- Kai (Year 4): individual 1st place
- Callum (Year 6): individual 2nd place
- Thomas (Year 5): individual 4th place
- Ciara (Year 5): individual 5th place
- Lennox, Ellis and Charlie (Year 4): 2nd place team trophy
- Bram, Callum and Thomas (Years 5 & 6): 2nd place team trophy
- Ciara, Izzy and Lily (Years 5 & 6): 3rd place team trophy
Secondary Skateboarding club
During half term, we posted a video featuring our skateboarders’ tricks on our Instagram channel.
Today Mr Rademaker would like to give a shout-out to Jewel, Kayula and Benjie for their tricks.
Stay tuned for more Skateboarding news!
From the French Department
Présentation des stagiaires, Alicia et Antoine
Bonjour,
Nous sommes Alicia et Antoine, les deux stagiaires du département de français. Vous nous avez peut-être croisés le mois dernier dans les établissements du primaire et du secondaire.
Nous sommes étudiants à l’université de Pau dans le sud-ouest de la France et nous voulons devenir professeurs de français pour les étrangers. Nous restons jusqu’à la fin du mois de juin. Nous sommes très heureux d’assister les professeurs de français.
Vous pouvez aussi nous trouver au club de cuisine à Versoix le mardi après-midi.
Nous sommes ici pour compléter notre formation et nous avons hâte d’en apprendre plus pendant notre séjour à GES !
A bientôt.
Article en français, par Jonathan et William M (Classes 8 & 9)
Mercredi, GES est allé à une grande compétition de ski alpin. Il y avait 10 personnes qui représentaient GES sur 120 participants. Au départ, il y avait beaucoup de gâteaux gratuits à manger. C’était très amusant et nous avons fait connaissance avec un ancien skieur professionnel qui était originaire de la station où on skiait, Morgins.
Nous avons gagné trois coupes en équipe et une médaille d’argent individuelle remportée par Jonathan en classe 8.
From the Office
Primary Parent Teacher Meetings next week
A reminder that only Primary external clubs will be running on Monday 6, Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 March.
Clubs run by GES Staff will not take place, except for:
- Monday’s PA club with Mrs Ball (Bugsy rehearsal)
- Tuesday’s Science club run by Mr Taylor at GES Secondary.
After School Care will continue as normal until 18:00 on all 3 days.
Buses will be leaving school at the usual times on all 3 days: Monday 15:30, Tuesday 16:30, and Thursday 16:30.
Easter Holiday Camps
During the 2nd week of the easter holiday, from Monday 17 to Friday 21 April, Ms Sawyer will be running a bilingual Yoga and Wellbeing camp, along with 2 external qualified teachers, for 9-15 year olds.
We will be doing Yoga and Acroyoga sessions in the morning, including breathing (pranayama), postural (asanas) and short meditation/visualization exercises.
In the afternoon we will participate in different wellbeing activities such as painting, massage, brain gym and Chinese medicine, mantras and songs… depending on the interest of the students.
Meet Dani and Sarah and sign up on our website here.
From the teachers
Primary Carousel showcases and half-term overviews
If you were not able to make it on Monday and Thursday for our STEAM and Creative Carousel showcases, here are the videos:
This half term’s curriculum overviews (until Easter) are now available in My School Portal, under Curriculum Information & resources: Early Years for Pre-School and Reception, and under Curriculum Information & resources: Primary for Key Stage 1 and 2.
Theatre recommendations - From Mrs Ball
For all of our theatre and performance lovers, here are Mrs Ball’s latest recommendations for local theatre productions.
If you would like further information about any of these, you are welcome to email Mrs Ball at [email protected].
With Mrs Humphreys at the clarinet, and Mrs Ball as Director and Choreographer, we are proud to recommend:
Sister Act, the Musical
A feel-good musical comedy, based on the story of the blockbuster movie starring Whoopi Goldberg.
- GAOS
- Théâtre de Marens, Route du Stand 5, Nyon
- 30 March – 2 April
- Details and tickets here
Secondary students have been invited to see it as part of a Culture Vultures trip on Sunday 2 April at 14:00. Deadline for registration is next Wednesday 8 March.
