Message from Mr Williams, Headteacher
Dear Parents,
I have thoroughly enjoyed being back in school over the last two days, in particular seeing both the preparation which is taking place for end of year activities, as well as the students calmly and studiously taking their exams in the hall.
Miss Parker attended a wonderful Rising Stars performance at Primary on Wednesday evening, and we are very proud of all the children who sang, danced and demonstrated their musical skills to parents watching in the audience. A massive thank you to Mrs Humphreys for the organisation, and to all teachers who coordinated multiple creative opportunities in preparation for the event.
Over at Secondary, our Key Stage 3 students have been busy on expeditions in recent weeks, building their resilience in all weathers. Year 9 took part in a 2 day Kayak trip on the Rhône last weekend, in practice for their Bronze International Award. Luke Pearce and Nikki Sawyer led them from Seyssel to Lucey, crossing several dams, weirs and rapids en route. Morale was difficult during periods of pouring rain, and there was some debate as to whether it was type 1 or 2 fun, but all students battled through to complete the full route! As I write, Year 7 and 8 are on their way to Rolle for an afternoon of sailing on Lac Leman, followed by a night of camping. Thanks to Gaetan Dupont-Panon for organising this trip and to our science technician Amik Lanfranco for stepping in to help support.
I would like to say a huge thank you to the P.E. team for arranging such brilliant Sports Days across both the Primary and Secondary campuses, and the Early Years one is still yet to come – fingers crossed for continued sunshine. Each event was smoothly run, enabling both races and athletics events to take place simultaneously, and the sporting achievements of our students continue to improve year on year.
With the weather now improving, and in particular owing to the number of activities taking place outside, please ensure that children are equipped with sunscreen, a hat, as well as a water bottle. These items will enable us to keep everyone safe and comfortable in the now warmer weather.
Have a great weekend,
Matt Williams
From the Primary School
A Sporting Extravaganza at Primary
Another successful edition of Sports Day for our Key Stage 1 and 2 athletes this week! Holding high their House colours, our students shone by their sportsmanship, teamwork, determination and hard work.
Cheered all morning by their families, peers, teachers and the wonderful Secondary Sports Leaders who coached them throughout, our athletes competed in numerous athletic disciplines, including an obstacle course, sprints, relay races, standing long jump, vortex and javelin throw. Well done to all participants!
Click here for photos of Key Stage 1 Sports Day
Click here for photos of Key Stage 2 Sports Day
Piano Prowess in Primary
Year 4 student Sienna Chen has just passed her Music Teachers’ Board Grade 3 piano exam! Receiving commendations for her performance of the pieces “Comptine d’un autre été: L’après midi”, “Dance” and “Game of Patience”, she especially impressed the jury with her confidence, preparation, energy and accuracy of execution. Well done Sienna!
GES Netball and Football Teams Results
Netball Tournament
Last week, our Year 5 and 6 girls welcomed the Year 7 La Châtaigneraie girls for a netball friendly tournament. In preparation for the match, before La Chât’s arrival, the GES girls worked on developing their defence skills, shooting skills, and teamwork.
Anticipations were high, with every team member wanting to do their best for their team. As the match went on, our girls got stronger and stronger, showing amazing defence with strong interceptions and attacking skills. Though the match went in favour of La Chât, the day’s events marked a fantastic start to our girls’ competitive match play, especially considering some had never played in a real match before and the opposing team was older.
Many members of the GES community came out to support the girls, creating a fantastic sporting environment and atmosphere. After the match, the girls enjoyed some snacks together under the sunshine. Well done to everyone who took part!
Football Tournament
Last Friday, our Year 5 and 6 football teams participated in a tournament under tough, cold, and wet conditions. Despite the challenging weather, both teams demonstrated outstanding skill and determination.
The boys’ team made a fantastic start by beating Campus des Nations Team and La Châtaigneraie, finishing top of their group! However, they were beaten in the quarterfinals by Institut International de Lancy and lost in their 5th/6th playoff match on penalties to La Grande Boissière.
The girls team also had a strong start, beating Collège du Léman and Haut Lac, and drawing with La Châtaigneraie. They reached the semifinals, facing La Châtaigneraie in a thrilling, end-to-end game, but came up short. Unfortunately, they lost their 3rd/4th playoff match to a strong Haut Lac team.
Although no medals were won this time, both the boys’ and girls’ teams showed great team spirit and excellent sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Overall, it was a fantastic experience for our Year 5 and 6 students to develop their skills and play competitive football.
Rising Stars at Primary
We have some incredible talent at GES! Performing for an audience of parents, peers and teachers, our musicians and dancers dazzled onlookers at the Summer Rising Stars event on Wednesday.
Over 50 artists showcased their musical skills and dance moves after months of hard work. Having diligently learned their choreographies and notes, our students demonstrated how well they worked as part of a wider ensemble. The arts truly do have the power to bring individuals together.
Bravo to all our performers and to their teachers!
Sports Results Beyond School
In addition to shining in our school’s P.E. lessons and sports fixtures, many of our students are also accomplished athletes in local and regional teams. We received some exciting news about recent results they have produced:
Last Saturday, Year 4 student Leonard Brandao and his water polo team, the Cercle des Nageurs de Nyon, brought home the silver from the U11 Swiss National League competition in Kreuzlingen.
Year 6’s Ciara O’Reilly, Lara Smith and Sara Button all took part in the USTS Field Hockey U12 Girls national competition in Wettingen. Coming second, they are now vice champions of Switzerland!
Well done to all of them for their efforts, resilience and determination!
News from Secondary
Year 9 Kayaks Down the Rhône
Despite the rain, our Year 9 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh International Award expedition goers had a fun and successful trip down the Rhône. Departing from Seyssel, they teamed up to kayak down the river to Culoz, where they spent the night in the Camping de Colombier. From there, they continued their progress downriver to Yenne to catch the bus back to school.
We are proud of how well-prepared our students were for this adventurous journey, which involved carefully planning their route ahead of departure (and successfully following it once on the trip), collaborating on the provision and preparation of meals, and more generally developing their independence. Congratulations to all our participants!
Musical News from Secondary
Congratulations to Joseph Walker in Year 7 who recently passed his ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Grade 3 violin exam with merit!
The ABRSM exams focus on performance skills, including interpretation and delivery, and are designed to inspire and challenge young musicians and celebrate their progress.
School news
Reminder | End of Term Picnic
Join us for the GES End of Term Picnic on Friday 28 June – the last day of school! Starting at 12:20, this event is the perfect way to end the school year and for families, friends, staff and students to enjoy a relaxing time together before we all head out for the summer holidays.
Hosted on the beautiful grounds of our Primary campus, this event will include a bar and pizza van. So bring along your picnic blankets and snacks and come and join in the fun!
