Message from Ms Matillon, Director General
Dear Parents,
It has been two weeks since our last newsletter was published and, in that time, we have had a wonderful five-day weekend. I hope you made the most of our half-term break and that everyone is feeling energised for our final month of term!
The end of the academic year is definitely in sight as exams progress, we prepare student reports, and we organise and hold celebrations of key year groups’ achievements, such as Year 6 children rounding out their Primary education, Year 11 students finishing their GCSE exams and, of course, Year 13 students completing their A Levels. In our Leavers’ Assembly, Mr Crabtree highlighted how much our Year 13 cohort has progressed and matured over the past two years, certainly inspiring the Year 11 class in attendance. He took us on a trip down memory lane to 2007, when most of our Year 13s were born, highlighting that the final Harry Potter book was published then, making me feel very old, indeed.
Last week we held our Secondary Sports Day at the Centre Sportif de Versoix. The weather was clear and not too hot, so perfect for the occasion, and we were delighted to have excellent participation and school spirit. In the early afternoon, once all events had been completed and some school records were broken, Mr Sheppard-Burgess announced six winners of Laureus awards (see details below) and the victorious House, Dôle, whose members gave it their all from their first races, throws and jumps to their very last. Congratulations to our winners and to all who valiantly earned points for their teams. A very big thank you goes to our P.E./Sport department and all teachers for such an excellent day.
Congratulations also to Jura House, with Captains Jasmin and Ben, who won the Secondary House competition for the year! House Captains for 2025-2026 were elected, and we wish the best of luck and lots of fun to those carrying the torch for their Secondary teams. They are:
- Léman – Molly and Ona
- Jura – Mitra and Yanji
- Dôle – Stella and Eliott
- Rhône – Youri and Marisa
On Wednesday evening of this week, we were treated to a performance of the musical Annie by Years 5 and 6 children. Members of the Performing Arts Club dazzled in lead roles, and all students in both year groups had the opportunity to take part in the chorus and play parts on stage. As always on these occasions, I was genuinely impressed by the level of quality of the production and by our children’s obvious talent. Most importantly, the children clearly had a fantastic time acting, singing and dancing, and they left the audience humming to themselves ever since. Huge appreciation goes to Mrs Humphreys and Ms Empson for directing their performances, to Madame Durey for the “je ne sais quoi” that made the show fabulously bilingual, to Mrs Chapman for her toe-tapping choreography, and to all parents who designed and built sets worthy of London’s West End.
Next week will be a busy one as we hold our Primary Sports Days on Tuesday (for Early Years) and Thursday (for Key Stages 1 and 2) on our field, and the Summer Rising Stars concert in the gym on Wednesday. Save the dates and please do come to cheer on our children!
With a special thought for those of our senior students who will be writing exams on Monday, I wish all GES families an exciting three-day weekend ahead, and I look forward to seeing children back in school on Tuesday.
All the best,
Christina Matillon
Annie | The Musical
Our school community was treated to a fantastic performance of Annie this week by our Performing Arts Club. Adapting this beloved classic to make it a bilingual show and feature Swiss orphans and a Swiss millionaire, as well as French nightingale, Edith Piaf, singing in New York, our thespians impressed their audience as they effortlessly swapped between English and French in what can only be described as an absolutely stellar performance. Despite being an English national curriculum school, we make sure to integrate French in as many learning experiences as possible so that our students not only develop their language skills in as many different settings as possible, but also because we are proud to celebrate our deep roots in the francophone area that is local Geneva. Bravo à toutes et à tous !
A HUGE shout out also goes to our talented teachers, Siân Humphreys and Karen Empson, for their tireless efforts, boundless motivation and inspiring energy which led to such a terrific production. Last but certainly not least, we are immensely grateful to the amazing team of parents (and grandmother!) as well as our very own Tarik and Ludo, who dedicated countless hours to building the stage and decor, preparing costumes and props, and stepping into the shoes of make-up artists and hair stylers!
This week in class
Our Year 1 students are arborists in the making! They explored the beautiful Primary campus grounds to recall and identify the names of trees by looking at their leaves, correctly noting whether each specimen is evergreen or deciduous.
Well done, everybody!
Year 3 have been busy learning all about millilitres in Maths! Challenged to estimate the capacity of a range of different containers, they then used their newly learned skills to measure each of these receptacles, perfecting their understanding as they went along. All this while enjoying their lesson outdoors!
Our Primary mathematicians were set a number of problem-solving and logic challenges, which they had a lot of fun solving in groups. Tripp, in Year 6, found every solution and even more impressively, was able to explain the mathematical reasoning behind the patterns, showing that you don’t need to write out every option when you understand the maths. Once they started working systematically, they all got there, with bursts of laughter and the occasional cry of frustration as they progressed through their tasks.
Year 8 scientists have been busy investigating wire resistance by running a current through wires of different lengths. They then used their Maths skills to rearrange equations and plot a graph with data collected from their experiment. A great example of interdisciplinary learning.
Beyond the Classroom
A Grand Tour of Geneva
Year 2 were detectives for the day, following clues in French to find various Genevan landmarks to learn all about the history of our wonderful city. Crossing the full length of Geneva, from Parc des Bastions and its Mur des réformateurs and important statues, up to the Old Town to see the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, the Ancien arsenal (canons), town hall and Maison Tavel, back down to the Horloge fleurie (beautifully designed to celebrate the upcoming UEFA Women’s Euro) and Jardin anglais, and finishing the day with a well-deserved ice cream at the plage.
A fun-filled day during which our students practised their French and orienteering skills!
Staying Safe as Part of PSHE
Year 2 were very delighted to welcome Nurse Polly to their classroom as part of their Personal, Social, Health and Economics (PSHE) lessons. Together, they spotted some potential household dangers in an online simulation, with Nurse Polly discussing the importance of making sure that we are safe in our surroundings before helping others. Students learned a special hand gesture to remember the number to call for help in Europe (1-1-2) and then practised placing someone in the recovery position.
Thank you, Nurse Polly, for this lifesaving lesson!
Busy Bees at Primary
Our Primary school students enjoy a beautiful countryside location, with a tree- and flower-filled meadow to learn and play in year round. Conscious to ensure they learn from the very earliest age about the importance of protecting and preserving the natural environment around them, there are numerous initiatives throughout the school year to help them appreciate and understand the importance of biodiversity for the health of the planet and the human species.
One of the most recent projects, led by teacher Nikki Sawyer and Ludo Barthod in our campus facilities team, has been the installation of a “pollination station” at the entrance to the school: a bug hotel, filled with sticks, pine cones and other natural nesting materials, which provides the perfect conditions for bees, beetles and other insects to nest and reproduce, surrounded by lavender and other flowering plants that were planted by our students themselves.
Secondary Sports Day Success
All our Secondary students were up at the Centre sportif de Versoix last week for their much-awaited Sports Day!
Competing in various athletics events, including short and long distance races, shot put and long jump, students proudly and ardently defended their House colours to the cheers of their teachers and many parents who had joined us for the day.
Congratulations to all our students for their efforts, enthusiasm and sportsmanship, and a huge BRAVO to House Dôle for winning the most points during the day’s events!
A new award this year, the Laureus Award, was given to the strongest performers from Sports Day, who were awarded their medal during House assembly. Congratulations to our Laureus Award 2025 winners:
- James (Year 7)
- Lila (Year 8)
- Katrina (Year 9)
- Sam (Year 10)
- Ona (Year 11)
- Lucas (Year 13)
GES Historians Bring Home the Silver
On 31 May and 1 June, four Year 9 students participated in the International Academic Competitions (IAC) European Championships in Vienna, Austria. Arjan, George, Ravi, and Vivaan qualified through the IAC Switzerland History Bee and Bowl Championships held in March.
Competing in one of the most popular and competitive categories, the team made an impressive debut in all Middle School events.
George won first place in the Military History Exam, outperforming all other participants and receiving a medal and plaque at the awards ceremony.
In the individual History Bee, George reached the final round, placing among the top eight. Vivaan, Arjan, and Ravi also performed strongly, finishing 9th, 12th, and 15th respectively.
Day two featured the History Bowl, a team-based knockout competition. Team GES advanced through four intense rounds to reach the final, where they faced a seasoned team from École Jeannine Manuel (Paris). In a tightly-contested match, our boys showcased exceptional teamwork, strategy, and perseverance, earning the Runner-Up award.
Congratulations to Arjan, George, Ravi, and Vivaan on their remarkable achievements and outstanding representation at this prestigious international event, and special thanks to Arti Daswani for her detailed reporting of these events.
Secondary House Captain Handover
After a year of exciting events and superb leadership, the moment came for our Secondary House Captains to pass the baton over to their successors. In their final House registration of the year, our current House Captains recapped the many accomplishments of the academic year, celebrating with their House all of their many successes and their inspiring teamwork.
The morning’s events ended with the Secondary House winner’s breakfast celebrating Jura! Well done to all!
Extra-Curricular Activities
Watercolour Wonders
The fun doesn’t have to end when students return from their residential trip! Inspired by their visit to the Musée du ballon in Chateau d’Oex, our Year 5 and 6 Art Club members were treated to an afternoon of watercolour painting on the theme of hot air ballons. Using what they had seen and learned at the museum, our artists designed and painted some beautiful multi-coloured balloons, impressing their teacher, Ms Marceau, with the calm application they demonstrated while painting.
Testing for Gas in Science Club
There was flaming excitement in Science Club this week as our budding scientists carried out a variety of tests to gauge the presence of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, chlorine and oxygen. This included the use of Bunsen burners, litmus papers, limewater and, in the case of hydrogen, careful listening for the distinctive “POP!” that comes when a lighted splint is held to a test tube.
Year 7 and 8 SGIS Football Final
Our Year 7 and 8 Boys went to the closing SGIS football tournament of the season last week, with hopes high for some silverware.
Competing against local rivals, GES had two teams entered out of a total of 11 teams in the tournament. With matches against tough opposition, both teams performed admirably in their respective groups, scoring goals and turning heads.
GES 1 qualified for the semi-finals after excellent results in their group, eventually playing-off for third place and bronze medals. The all-or-nothing match went to penalties and high drama, with 12 penalties being taken to separate the teams. James W. became the hero of the moment with 5 fantastic saves and scoring his own penalties to give victory to GES!
Well done to all those involved in the tournament and the whole of the GES squad who supported each other through these memorable moments, enjoying a well-deserved joint celebration at the end.
Community News
A Sailor in Our Midst
Congratulations to our Year 8 student Aria, who recently completed her very first sailing regatta! With a very busy weekend involving two full days of sailing, Aria came in 11th position, a great achievement for her first time, especially given the wind conditions were sub-optimal.
We are very proud of you, Aria!
Primary Reading Challenge
Join the J for June reading challenge by reading books by authors beginning with J!
Participants are invited to make a list of all the books they have read and a brief summary of them on the June challenge sheet, available on My School Portal, and earn a certificate and 5 stars for their House.
Lost and Found
This cuddly toy was found at the Salle de spectacle de Genthod after the performance of Annie on Wednesday, after everyone had left the premises.
He awaits his owner at Primary Reception.
Final Assembly for Year 11 and 13 Students
It was with a mix of hope for the future and nostalgia for the past that our Year 11 and 13 students took part in their final leavers’ assembly just before half-term.
Looking to the next part of their academic journeys with excitement and enthusiasm, our future A Level students and our soon-to-be alumni reminisced about all the memorable times they have had at GES over the past two years.
We are proud of all the hard work they have put into their studies for their GCSEs and A Levels, are confident that they will have produced excellent results which we look forward to celebrating with them, and know that they will continue to carry the values of our school well into the future.
Faces of GES
A familiar face to a generation of GES families, the focus of today’s Faces of GES spotlight falls on Jo Marceau, who is a Primary class teacher and also teaches Art to students in Years 5 and 6. A member of the GES family since 2011, Jo first joined the school as a teaching assistant before training to become a qualified teacher.
Before joining the school, Jo worked as an editor for renowned publishing company Dorling Kindersley in London, contributing to books such as Art: A World History and the Eyewitness illustrated art books series.
Inspired by her own experiences as a mother of three bilingual children, Jo knew that a career in education was her true calling. At GES she has discovered a real community spirit, where everyone knows all the children, and loves seeing children develop as they move through the Primary school and on to Secondary, and particularly likes having been at the school long enough to have seen some of her first students graduate in Year 13.
When she’s not teaching – or running the extra-curricular Art Club – Jo loves hiking, animals and theatre, and indulges her own artistic passions and talents as a keen photographer, painter and singer in a local choir, having performed in no less impressive venues than Geneva’s Bâtiment des Forces Motrices!
