Message from Ms Matillon, Director General
Dear Parents,
The mood in our Secondary school this week has been focused and serious as exam time is well and truly here. That said, there continues to be a great deal going on inside and outside classrooms on both campuses, as you will see when you scroll down this week’s newsletter.
With the weather getting brighter, we look forward to upcoming outdoor events in school, notably the whole-school International Carnival taking place at Primary a week from today. There is still time for you to sign up to contribute a flavour of your home country but, even if your talents do not lie in the culinary sphere, I hope to see you and your family there.
Save the dates, too, for our upcoming Sports Days – Tuesday 3 June for Key Stages 1 and 2, Tuesday 10 June for Early Years, and Monday 26 May for Secondary – as parents are encouraged to come cheer on their children and the Houses to which their families belong. Each year’s races for the House championships are tight and enthusiastically contested, and this year is sure to be the same, so bring along your school spirit and enjoy a morning with us!
Finally, on a practical note, it was brought to my attention last week that the games painted on the Primary playground were slippery in the rain. In order to ensure the safety of the environment in which our children play, these games will be resurfaced this weekend with a gritty texture.
All the best,
Christina Matillon
Day Trip into the Heart of Particle Physics
On Tuesday, physics students in Years 12 and 13 visited CERN, the particle physics laboratory in Meyrin. They began at the Synchrocyclotron (SC), a decommissioned particle accelerator that played a significant role in CERN’s history. Operational from the 1950s to the 1990s, the SC was one of Europe’s first large-scale accelerators, helping to establish CERN as a world-leading research center.
Next, they visited the ATLAS control room, the operations hub for the ATLAS detector, one of the four particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Together with the CMS experiment, ATLAS was instrumental in the 2012 discovery of the Higgs boson, an elementary particle which became the last unverified part of the Standard Model of particle physics. The detector itself is enormous, with a similar mass to the Eiffel tower. It analyses the products emerging from high-energy proton collisions in the LHC to study fundamental particles and their interactions. A highlight of this part of the tour was watching a 3D film of the ATLAS detector.
Our physicists concluded the morning tour at CERN’s Antimatter Factory, where researchers produce and study antihydrogen, the antimatter version of hydrogen. Scientists trap antihydrogen atoms in magnetic fields and compare their properties to regular hydrogen. These experiments may shed light on why the observable universe is dominated by matter and not antimatter, which is still a mystery.
After visiting the experiments, they visited the Science Gateway exhibit followed by lunch in the CERN restaurant with PhD students from the UK, who answered questions and presented their research. After a brief visit to a small garden with famous decommissioned detectors, and a look at the corridor where Tim Berners-Lee worked on the World Wide Web, it was time to go home. Students left with a copy of the CERN Courier, CERN’s magazine for particle physicists, to read at home.
This week in class
Ahoy there! Reception class has been having some swashbuckliung fun!
After receiving a letter from pirate Captain Harry, students learned that his pirate ship had sunk in the lake when he was out looking for a treasure, and that he now needs some extra crew to go and help him find it. They decided to write a letter back to Captain Harry, and asked him all sorts of questions about his life as a pirate.
Students have been taking their role as potential pirate crew for Harry very seriously and have been finding out many facts about pirates. They drew mind maps and wrote sentences recalling all of the facts that they have learnt.
There’s nothing quite like pizza to put maths into practice! Our Year 1 students had fun learning about division by doling out toppings fairly onto pizzas cut into 2, 3 or 4 pieces.
Following their fantastic trip to the Mont Salève last week, Year 2 were awarded an exciting promotion: they were placed in charge of using what they had learnt about our wonderful local area to attract tourists to Geneva!
After choosing their favourite landmarks and tourist spots, they were tasked with giving reasons for their choices before applying their persuasive English skills to entice visitors to the area. All showcased some very convincing presentations!
The word “peace” has been on everyone’s lips in Primary after the hugely successful UN Children’s Walk last week. While Year 6 designed beautiful Peace Pledges, which now adorn their classroom walls, with messages calling for respect, inclusion and empathy, Year 4 took advantage of the sunny outdoors to start working on their posters.
Watch this space for their final productions!
En Suisse, la fête des mères approche !
Cette semaine, les élèves de primaire ont commencé à préparer leurs cartes avec enthousiasme. Laissant libre cours à leur créativité, les classes se sont transformées en véritables ateliers fleuris, remplis de couleurs et de tendres messages à l’attention de leur maman. Ils ont également pratiqué la récitation de leur poème en français, afin de pouvoir transmettre toute leur affection ce dimanche.
Des moments simples, mais précieux, pour célébrer ce lien unique entre une mère et son enfant. Bonne fête à toutes les mamans ce dimanche !
Cliquez ici pour voir les photos.
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Mothers’ Day in Switzerland is just around the corner!
Primary students have enthusiastically started designing their cards this week. Drawing on their endless creativity, French lessons transformed into floral workshops, full of colours and loving messages for their mum. Students also rehearsed their poem in French, which they will be able to recite passionately this Sunday.
These simple but precious moments are a wonderful way to celebrate the unique link between a mother and her child. Happy Mothers’ Day to all!
Secondary Science lessons have been full of interactive learning this week!
Year 8 have put their knowledge of photosynthesis into practice by decolouring a leaf to remove the chlorophyll. This enabled them to test for the presence of starch using iodine solution. A positive test for starch is observed with the solution changing colour from yellowish brown to blue-black. Starch is the product of photosynthesis which is used by plants as nutrition. Later in the week, they were challenged with figuring out how to complete a circuit with only one wire to light a bulb. This practical experiment showed how current flows through a series circuit by connecting light bulbs, batteries, switches and an ammeter in different configurations.
Meanwhile, Year 9 have been discussing that most central of scientific tools – the periodic table of elements – and how it has changed over time since its first iteration by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869.
In Year 10, our chemists have been investigating the reactivity series by reacting various metals with acids, with a focus on variables (independent, dependent and control) and why they must be considered during an investigation.
Accustomed to setting a high bar for themselves academically, and learning different strategies to clear obstacles that they find in their way, Secondary students applied the same skills to P.E. this week, with a lesson dedicated to the high jump. Learning the difference between the Fosbury Flop, the Western Roll, the Eastern Cut-Off and the Straddle, students benefited from the excellent indoor sports facilities we have at our disposal to practise and perfect their skills in one of the most popular athletic field disciplines.
Beyond the Classroom
Eating a Rainbow in PSHE
Personal, Social, Health and Economics (PSHE) lessons were all about nutrition this week for Year 1 students, who had fun learning about what foods are healthy and how to ‘eat a rainbow’ with a balanced diet. To put theory into practice, they enjoyed making and eating a delicious fruit salad!
Champions of Antarctica
Year 5 have been on an expedition to Antarctica with Oddizzi!
The aim of this expedition was to learn about the extraordinary and awe-inspiring qualities of this continent and learn about its role as a natural reserve for science and peace. Students have been learning from Jenny and Olive at Oddizzi, who travelled to Antarctica, as well as from Antarctic explorer, Rob Swan. In fact, Oddizzi have been training Year 5 to become Champions of Antarctica, because it is when they are adults, between 2041 and 2048, that the world will decide on the future of the continent.
Learning how global warming has been impacting Antarctica, Year 5 have come up with how we can make little changes in our day to day lives to help reduce this effect. As the adults of the future, Year 5 felt it their duty to educate the rest of GES on how they can help, and why it is so important, through a whole school assembly at the end of which they received a surprise video message from Jenny at Oddizzi to let them know that they had succeeded in becoming 2041 Champions of Antarctica.
Congratulations Year 5!
House Elections Coming Up!
This week’s House Registration was, once again, successively led by House Captains who have been busy preparing for Sports Day and next year’s elections.
Each House assigned students to the various rounds and teams for Sports Day, which will take place on Monday 26 May at the Centre sportif de Versoix.
The election process for next year’s House Captains was also launched with students invited to nominate candidates over the next two weeks. While the current Year 12 House Captains will preserve their titles throughout their final year, they will be joined by a new cohort of House Captains chosen among the current Year 11 students.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Busy Bakers in ASC
Bienvenue à la Pâtisserie GES !
Our After School Care bakers busied themselves this week as they made over 24 puff pastry delights with crème fraîche, mascarpone, vanilla and fresh fruits as a topping….. so yummy!
Orchestra Rehearsals Underway
Our young Primary musicians have been working hard to prepare for the Rising Stars concert in June. Practising to play in harmony through the combination of multiple instruments, students have demonstrated inspiring teamwork and it has been lovely to watch our older students supporting their younger peers during Orchestra rehearsals.
We can’t wait to see them perform!
Golf Club Tees Off!
Our extra-curricular Golf Club started last Friday with excitement from the 13 Primary and Secondary students who have signed up to learn this fantastic sport, and we couldn’t have asked for finer weather to launch this much-awaited activity.
Learning from two professional coaches, our golfers have been expertly guided as they practised chipping, putting and even some driving in their first lesson!
Silver Awards Galore at Secondary
Several students completed their Duke of Edinburgh International Awards this week, receiving certificates to mark the progress they have made to date.
Special congratulations go to Ella in Year 11, who has obtained her Silver Award (following successful completion of her assessed cycling expedition in Alicante last November) and is already working on the Gold Award a year ahead of schedule!
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is available to youngsters aged 14-24 years old and is the world’s leading youth achievement award. It equips young people for life regardless of their background, culture, physical ability, skills and interests. Doing the Award is a personal challenge and not a competition against others; it pushes young people to their personal limits and recognises their achievements.
The International Award comprises four sections:
- Service to encourage a sense of responsibility to the community
- Skills to encourage the development of cultural, vocational or practical skills
- Physical recreation to encourage improved performance and physical fitness
- Adventurous journey to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery
- And for the Gold Award only, a Residential project to broaden experience through involvement with others in a residential setting
Community News
Reminder | International Day and International Carnival
We are very much looking forward to the International Carnival next week on Friday 16 May and are keen to extend the celebration of our wonderful, diverse community into the school day for the children.
Many thanks to those of you who have already been in touch to offer to come into school to support us with this initiative. We encourage more of you to join us, if you can.
Some examples of offerings this year or in previous years that may provide inspiration are:
- reading a traditional story from your home country, perhaps in your home language
- sharing music or dance, be it an instrument demonstration or video for the children to dance along to
- art and craft sessions such as origami or traditional painting
- a presentation about your home country or traditions, which can be led with your child(ren)
- food tasting or preparing (adhering to our nut-free policy please)
- language introduction session to give the children a taste of another language!
Any of the above could be for a single class, year group or larger group of pupils, depending on your preference, and could range in duration from 15 minutes to a longer session. We appreciate how busy life is, but if you are able to spare some time to help us make this a truly special day for the children, we would be very grateful for your involvement.
If you are able to help, please contact Sally Livesey at [email protected] with details of your preferred year group, suggested activity and times you are available.
It goes without saying that we also very excited to see many of you at the International Carnival, which will start at 15:00 on our Primary campus. Students and their families from both Primary and Secondary are invited to attend!
Year 2 Comprehension Workshop
We were thrilled to host many Year 2 parents earlier this week for the Comprehension workshop led by Shelley Vavrecka, Head of Primary English.
Presenting our approach to teaching reading skills, Ms Vavrecka explained the RWI Comprehension programme, developed by Ruth Miskin, which develops children’s reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, spelling and composition.
These workshops are key to strengthening the home-school partnership which is so important in ensuring continued learning beyond the classroom and a positive school experience for students and their families.
Thank you to all the parents who joined us for this event and for their interest and questions about our pedagogical approach.
Save The Date | Secondary Sports Day
Our Secondary Sports Day will take place on Monday 26 May at the Centre sportif de Versoix (Rte de l’Etraz 201, Versoix) from 8:00 until 13:00*.
Throughout the morning, our athletes, divided into their Houses, will take part in a range of track and field events, including high and long jump, shot put, individual and relay races (which includes both students and teachers!).
Parents are invited to join us and cheer our students in this convivial, community event celebrating sportsmanship, teamwork and collaboration.
Save the date!
*Please note that free parking is available only for the first two hours at the Centre sportif de Versoix.
Save The Date | SEND Coffee Morning
Join us at our Secondary campus on Tuesday 27 May for a Coffee Morning led by our Director of Inclusion, Jodie Noble, on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
In this meeting, Ms Noble will deliver a presentation about her role as Director of Inclusion and SEND Coordinator, including our school processes for identifying additional needs, how we monitor students’ progress, our SEND educational ethos and the different ways in which we support our students at the Primary and Secondary sites.
Parents of all students are invited to come along and learn more about the ever-changing world of special needs provision and how GES is keeping up with these developments. Parents are invited to arrive at the Secondary Grand Café/Chaplin Room from 8:15 to share a coffee and the presentation will begin at 8:30. There will also be an opportunity for general questions and to discuss school life afterwards.
If you wish to attend, please email Gaël at [email protected] to confirm your attendance.
In the meantime, if you have any individual concerns or questions and would like to contact Jodie Noble, please do so by email to [email protected].
Faces of GES
Living by the maxim that “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” (Nelson Mandela), today’s Face of GES is French and Spanish Teacher Emilie Berron.
Since moving to GES from an international school in Dubai in 2022, Emilie has been struck by the high level of French of GES students, as well as their positive and enthusiastic attitude and high standards of behaviour and politeness, both inside and outside school. Keen to impress upon students that making mistakes is a vital part of the learning process, Emilie also insists on the importance of learning languages in helping to understand other people’s cultures.
No stranger to immersing herself in foreign cultures, keen hiker Emilie counts the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru as one of her personal highlights, and she also enjoys exploring cultures through cooking, with her signature guinea fowl recipe a particular favourite!
