Message from Ms Matillon, Director General
Dear Parents,
Today truly feels like a last day of term. So many people, students and staff alike on both campuses, have told me that they are amazed at how quickly the past few months have flown by and how much has been accomplished since January – and how ready they are for a holiday! All mock exams and in-class assessments in our senior years have been completed so students can begin their spring break feeling lighter, our younger children are dreaming of chocolate feasts, and everyone is buoyed by this gorgeous weather.
Far be it from us to take it easy just because we are heading into a break. In fact, only yesterday we packed a huge amount of learning and fun into one day:
In Secondary, we held the final PSHE Enrichment Day of the year, highlights of which were talks by our Head of Pastoral Care, Ms Csoma, on the topic of Relationships, Friendship and Wellbeing, the Year 7 cycling safety session, the Year 11 Geography urban fieldwork outing, and a two-hour first aid session with Nurse Polly for our Year 12 and Year 13 students. In the evening, Ms Newbury hosted Key Stage 3 parents for information sessions on the end-of-year trips to Berlin and Barcelona, based on the language – German or Spanish – their children have chosen to study. Almost every parent with whom I spoke came away saying they’d be thrilled to go on one of these trips, too!
Children in Primary celebrated Easter a bit early with an egg-citing “chasse aux oeufs” organised by our French department. Each class took a turn looking for chocolate eggs which, according to Mrs Brassington, were all eaten within about 30 seconds. In the afternoon, we were delighted to listen to a presentation by representatives of the United Nations Women’s Guild in advance of the UNWG Children’s Walk which will take place at GES on 30th April. Thank you to Sara Castells for devoting her time, for the second year in a row, and for sharing how each of us can make a meaningful difference to the lives of children much less fortunate than our own.
Just this morning in Key Stage 3, Ms Newbury hosted her termly Celebration Breakfast, during which two children per tutor group were fêted for their academic results and for exemplifying the values of GES. This feast of waffles, fruit and chocolate spread was followed by a Performing Arts Assembly in which we were treated to a piano recital, singing and theatre by our multi-talented students.
This week, seven children from other international and local schools have spent “taster days” with us – an unusually high number even for our busy Admissions function – and several other families have come for visits. Thank you to the teachers who opened their classrooms and who took the time to describe our wonderful school and answer questions, to the children who played the important role of buddies for the day, and to all who welcomed these families who may join our community.
Finally, a reminder of our staff training day on Tuesday 22 April, meaning that our new term will begin on Wednesday 23 April. I wish safe travels to those of you who are going away, and a wonderful and relaxing holiday to all!
All the best,
Christina Matillon
PSHE Day 5 | Health and Wellbeing
Yesterday was the fifth and last of our Personal, Social, Health and Economics enrichment days at Secondary!
Focusing on the theme of “Health and Wellbeing”, our students took part in a range of workshops covering topics as varied as:
- The risks linked with the consumption of drugs and stimulants, including the dangers of addiction, dependence and their impacts on decision-making, personal safety, family and wider communities
- The importance of keeping physically active and its impact on mental wellbeing
- The benefits of a healthy lifestyle, including the dangers of excessive sugar and energy drinks
- The pros and cons of social media, with a focus on the healthy and responsible use of online platforms
- The impact of stress, including on school work, revision and exams
- The influences on mental wellbeing, such as social interactions, friendships, group dynamics, violence and anti-social behaviour
In addition to these workshops, our students were also invited to take part in physically boosting and mentally stimulating activities such as a cycling training with Mr Luke Pearce, a wellbeing walk to Mies with Ms Diana De Bortoli, Ms Paola Hopley and Dr Barbara Chalmers, and a First Aid and CPR training with Nurse Polly Pupulin at Versoix beach.
We were also delighted to host Ms Nora Zufferey, a researcher in Literature at the University of Geneva, for an inspiring exchange with our Year 12 and 13 students on how poetry can contribute to wellbeing. Tasked with writing a stanza in the style of poets Aja Monet and Jean “Binta” Breeze on the theme of wellbeing, our students delivered some great rhymes and enjoyed a good chuckle in the process!
This week in class
Our Reception class has been celebrating the arrival of spring this week. Discussing the changes that we see outside as winter gives way to warmer weather, students have enjoyed spotting all the new shoots and buds emerging in our outdoor area and looking at photos of the different baby animals that we also might see at this time of year.
On their spring walk, students spotted daffodils, primroses and lots and lots of buds waiting to open – especially on the magnificent magnolia tree in our grounds, that they estimated numbered in the hundreds, possibly thousands! Students also picked wild flowers from around the school grounds and learnt how to make daisy chains with Mrs Mackenzie.
Back in class, students continued the theme by creating observational paintings of daffodils, hyacinths and primroses, decorating their own eggs, and enjoyed listening to the story ‘Owl Babies’.
Year 2 enjoyed a sunny outdoor Maths session this week during which they practised their mathematical vocabulary, in both French and English, to measure, compare and order the sizes of different items found in the playground and on the campus grounds. There’s nothing quite like getting a breath of fresh air while putting learning into practice!
The local bise of earlier in the week came at the perfect time for our Year 3, who seized the opportunity to test the effectiveness of seed dispersal by wind. Using balloons full of confetti, they measured how far the ‘seeds’ were spread when the balloon was popped. On a breezy day, the results were impressive!
Year 5 have been learning all about angles in their Maths lessons. This week, they worked on predicting the measurement of different angles using their knowledge of acute, right, obtuse and reflex angles. They then used a protractor to check their predictions and find the actual angle size.
As a follow-up to the visit of artist Matt Lowden a couple of weeks ago, our Year 5 and 6 students have been putting the finishing touches to their self-portraits, making sure to apply the precious advice and techniques that he shared with them. As they near the end of their portraiture unit in art, we are delighted to share some of their beautiful creations.
Our Year 7 Science class took on a vernal theme this week, as our budding scientists developed their microscope skills by examining the morphology of different types of pollen grain. While different pollens may all look like a fine yellow or white dust to the naked eye, students were amazed by the different shapes, sizes and ornamentation of pollen from different types of flower when seen under magnification.
Having looked very close-up at some of the smallest parts of flowers, students carried out a dissection exercise, discovering the different parts of a flower – sepals, petals, stamens and pistils – and the roles they play in helping plants to grow and reproduce.
We interrupt our regular programme to bring you a severe weather warning!
Year 8 Geography lessons became a flood of activity as our students stepped into the shoes of news anchors and meteorologists to present a BREAKING NEWS report on storm surges. Explaining the causes and the effects of these extreme phenomena, our journalists made sure to explain their link with low-pressure weather systems and the risks for local populations.
Balancing chemical equations can be tough to wrap one’s head around. By making video how-to guides, our Year 8 scientists (and accomplished videographers) tested their own understanding of this important skill while making useful and practical revision tools for themselves and their peers.
Our A Level Chemistry students had their very last practical session this week! Using thin layer chromatography, they investigated the different components of various medicines. Having spent countless hours throughout the years in our school labs, the moment seemed ripe to strike a pose and mark the moment with a final photo of them in full lab gear.
Beyond the Classroom
A Giant Hunt for Easter Eggs
Anyone looking closely around our Primary campus yesterday will have spotted some brightly coloured eggs of all sizes hidden in the trees, grass, nooks and crannies of the school gardens. At the initiative of our wonderful French department, students across Primary were able to enjoy a campus-wide egg hunt to mark the coming of Easter.
Taking part in a range of pedagogical activities linked with this celebration, students from Pre-school through to Year 6 scouted out their outdoor area to find and tuck into some delicious chocolate eggs.
Medals Galore for Year 2
Another set of swimming medals have come in from Red Whale Swim School, this time for our Year 2 students!
Well done to all our young swimmers who have worked tirelessly on their technique and endurance in the water. They have most certainly earned these medals!
Preparing for UN Children's Walk
Our Primary students welcomed special visitors to their assembly this week, when Sara Castells and Hayat Parrow from the United Nations Women’s Guild (UNWG) came to speak to them about the UN Children’s Walk, in which all Primary students will be participating on Wednesday 30 April on our own school premises.
The Children’s Walk is an annual event, organised by the UNWG since 2002, which normally sees international school students walk laps around the Palais des Nations, in exchange for sponsorship from family and friends. Money raised is used to provide schooling opportunities for secondary students around the world who would otherwise be unable to attend school, and the event helps raise awareness among students that not all children enjoy the same privileges as themselves and highlights the important work of the United Nations.
This year our Year 4 students will also attend the Children’s Walk Ceremony in the Palais des Nations on 13 May, where they will hear directly from UN officials and organisers of the Children’s Walk about the results of the 2025 event and how the money they have helped raise will improve the lives of less privileged children.
Hot Off the Press
This term, Year 5 have been immersed in the world of Ernest Shackleton and his famous Antarctic expedition. Using Shackleton’s Journey as their foundation, the children honed key skills to craft their own independent pieces of journalistic writing.
As with all of our independent writing, we emphasise purpose and audience. For this particular piece of writing, Year 5 knew that the GES community was their targeted audience and that they would be creating a journalistic piece of writing for our very own school newsletter. So please enjoy the factual creations that Year 5 have worked so hard on!
¡Campeones!
Huge congratulations to our Year 8 Spanish students, who celebrated both a collective and individual victories in the This Is School Global Leaderboard Competition!
Placing first as a year group in the Global Classes Leaderboard, they also had two individual champions in the Global Student Leaderboard: Lila achieved third place and Guillermo came in fifth.
The This Is School leaderboards take all classes and students in all subjects from around the world into account, so our students results make for truly impressive achievements! Bravo to all!
During the week, our entrepreneurial students set up their own pop-up Spanish restaurants, Chao Pescao, to practise ordering and serving tapas in Spanish. The mood and vibes even prompted some spontaneous dancing while the food and drink were rushed out of la cocina for the hungry guests. Gracias to Señor Wootton’s energetic team of camareros: Zoé, Ibrahim, James and Bishop.
Year 11 Urban Geography Fieldwork
Our Year 11 geographers took a trip into the centre of Geneva as part of their GCSE Urban Geography unit. Through observation and data collection of two sites (central Geneva and Sécheron), they investigated the land use and environmental quality of these two areas to consider how these impact urban regeneration.
They will then be able to use the data collected for a quantitative and qualitative study of the urban geography of Geneva.
This exercise is a key component of the Year 11 curriculum and enables students to work on their data collection techniques, analytical skills and presentation methods.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Striking the Pose
Welcoming a new cohort of budding performers from the Reception class, our young ballerinas have been making excellent progress this term, developing their technique and progressing through the Royal Academy of Dance ballet syllabus. Under the expert and watchful eye of ballet mistress Fiona Bujard, a trained Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) teacher, our dancers were given the opportunity to work with exercise balls, a training technique that is at the cutting edge of ballet coaching.
We can’t wait to see what they’ve learned when they perform for the school community later this year in our Rising Stars performing arts showcase on 11 June.
Our Performing Arts Club Takes to the Stage
Our Secondary Performing Arts Club wowed their audience of Key Stage 3 students this morning through a series of performances showcasing their talents:
- Inspired by the novel 1984 by George Orwell, Katrina wrote and presented her own drama piece, entitled “2030”, with fellow actors Matt, Vivaan, Stefan and Ahana, and light and sound technicians, Ben, Ravi and Isobel, supporting from behind the scenes.
- Demonstrating their musical talents, Angelica played two pieces on the grand piano and Joan gave a solo vocal performance.
- Displaying incredible flexibility and rhythm, Beatrice, Lara and Isabelle performed an impressive streetdance choreography.
Community News
Coming Soon | Annie
Mark your calendars for the much-awaited performance of Annie by our Year 5 and 6 students!
Brought to you on Wednesday 4 June at 17:30 at the Salle de Spectacle de Genthod, this production will feature the musical and theatrical talents of our young thespians.
Free admission.
The Head in the Stars
Become an astronomer for a week!
Our students are invited to borrow the school telescope to observe the moon, planets and stars from Mr Ken Maclean. Sebastien, in Year 7, did just that and has thoroughly enjoyed star-gazing on clear nights!
Please get in touch with Mr Maclean to be added to the waiting list, in-person or by email to [email protected].
Celebrating GES Values
At GES, our students and staff breathe our school values into everything they do, be it during study and/or teaching, at break times, and in all their daily interactions at school and beyond. As such, they ensure that the experience for everyone at school is one of:
- Integrity
- Community
- Achievement
- Resilience
- Excellence
Nominated by their tutors as shining examples of these values, students Katrina, Zoe, Adam, Lila, Beatriz, Vivan, Arthur and Miri were treated to a celebratory breakfast in their honour.
