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School Year 2018-2019 - Useful Information
August 2018
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Useful Information
School Year 2018-2019

Dear Parents, 

We are looking forward to welcoming your children for the new school year 2018-2019. 

Once again for this new academic year, the whole team will do its utmost to provide your children with all they need to succeed in their time at La Garenne and beyond.

It is our pleasure to send you information for the academic year 2018-2019, and we thank you in advance for reading it carefully.

We had a very successful summer camp and now it is our turn to have a break. The office will be closed from Monday 13th August until Monday 3rd September.

We remain at your disposal for any questions you may have.

Kind regards from Villars,

Family Méan

School Calendar & Events 2018-2019
Please find on the following link the school calendar for the academic year 2018-2019.
Academic Overview

2018-2019 is a milestone year for La Garenne. As part of our aim for constant improvement, we are moving steadily towards full accreditation by the Council of International Schools (CIS). We have successfully completed our Preparatory Study and have now been given the green light to begin the full Self Study. This will involve the whole school community and the students will be very much part of the process.

Read more
"Express Yourself"
Mrs Denise Myers will be joining the school in September. She is an experienced educator and teacher of English and Drama, who will be leading the teaching of English and Language Arts in the IMYC programme.

In the context of our clubs programme, she will also be working with the Junior students on the development of their self-confidence in public speaking. This will be via drama training but will also include instruction on debating and the effective delivery of presentations.

Communication and the development of interpersonal skills are vital in today’s world and we feel that this addition to our progarmme will add to the holistic education of our students.   
School Organisation
This year at La Garenne, we have improved the structure within the school and in order to organise the students into groups for activities and events, we have created an additional level within the school, Seniors.

The Reception to Year 4 students remain Minis, the Years 5,6 & 7 are Juniors and our last two years, Years 8 & 9, are now our Seniors.

The clubs and weekend activities will be organised by groups which will be more age appropriate. This does not though, affect the academic lessons which remain by Year group.
 
  • Minis: Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4
  • Juniors: Year 5, Year 6, Year 7
  • Seniors: Year 8 and Year 9
Extracurricular Activities
Life outside the classroom is an important factor for a child’s wellbeing.  At La Garenne we take a holistic educational view and offer a variety of activities, which are sure to appeal.  

After-school clubs, private lessons and individual learning programmes provide the framework for extra-curricular activities, enriching each and every day. Club options reflect the children’s interests, providing opportunities to share passions, improve knowledge and skills.  

Each child chooses his/her clubs, as this is the time of day to unwind and devote time to personal development. Students are challenged during their scheduled academic classes and this continues during their club time.  Chinese, Japanese, French, German and Spanish Clubs are on offer, as are private language courses in Portuguese, Russian and Italian.  

Please click here for a summary of the available clubs.
Register for Clubs and Activities
Private Lessons and Other Additional Options
Throughout the school year, there are a variety of private lessons such as French or Japanese and additional options available such as the yearly photo album or health package.
If you are interested in any of the choices, please complete the form below and submit it.

Should unfortunately, there be no available places as some choices are very popular, we will inform you.
Register for Private Lessons
School Trips 
October 2018 - MSC Fantasia Cruise
  • The students from Year 5 to Year 9 will have the great opportunity to discover the "Western Mediterranean" experiencing a cruise on, the "MSC Fantasia“. 
MSC Fantasia is not only a voyage of pleasure, but one of discovery. A transparent ceiling allows passengers to experience all the magic of sailing as they gaze at the starlit skies. With 27,000 m2 of public space, including the luxury MSC AUREA SPA, 5 restaurants, 4 swimming pools, 12 hydro-massage pools, coffee bars, shops, a children’s area, a Formula 1 simulator and an interactive 4-D cinema, the students will have all they need to keep them occupied when the ship is at sea.

This trip will take place during the October mid-Term break: From Sunday 21st to Sunday 28th October 2018. Due to limited number of places, this trip is already fully booked for new bookings.


February 2019 - Young Voices in Manchester

Years 3 and 4 will be going to Manchester in the UK to take part in a Young Voices Children’s Choir Concert. 

For the past 20 years, Young Voices has staged the largest children's choir concerts in the world. Over 2 million children have taken part in a Young Voices concert. Each night, between 5,000-8,000 children perform as a single choir to a sold-out audience of family and friends.

More information can be found on the Young Voices website. Further details on our participation will follow.


June 2019

We are very pleased to confirm the school trips, which will take place during the third term of the academic year. The last two years have been areal success. We hope that you are as excited as the children will be about the fantastic opportunity they will have. Such an experience will contribute to a truly holistic education going beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. The trips all combine exciting activities and learning experiences for each year group.

  • Year 9 students will travel to Costa Rica. The beautiful natural environment of this Central American country will provide the setting for a trip with sustainability and environmentally-friendly Ecotourism as its main themes.   
  • Year 8 will experience the very popular school trip to the USA "The NASA educational tour”, based in Orlando, Florida. Humans are driven to explore the unknown, discover new worlds, push back the boundaries of science  - and then push still further. This experience gives the students an insight into this fascinating human adventure, enjoying the best of the Kennedy Space Center and a variety of theme parks.  
  • Year 7 students will fly to Lisbon and on to the breathtaking Azores archipelago of islands in the Atlantic Ocean - a fabulous opportunity to view marine life and the geological phenomena associated with volcanic activity.
  • Year 6 students will travel to the Ardèche area of France. This beautiful region will provide the natural backdrop for the trip, with protection of the environment and global citizenship as its central theme.  
  • Year 5 will explore the German and Italian speaking  parts of Switzerland. These regions offer exciting attractions such as Mont Pilatus, the famous Lucerne Transport Museum, the fascinating Swiss Science Centre « Technorama » in Winterthur and much more.

Further details and prices about each trip will reach you in due time.
Read more
Please take a look at the photographs from last year:

 Mediterranean Cruise

 USA

 Belgium & France
Arrival and Departure Information
The start of the academic year is important, therefore please respect the days and schedules planned for the arrival of your child(ren). All the students will follow an induction programme on Monday 10th September 2018.
  • New boarders and new day students are expected on Saturday 8th September from 09h00 to 17h30 (check-in, visit of the campus, uniforms, etc.).
  • Former boarding students are expected on Sunday 9th September from 10h00 to 17h30. Former day students will also be expected on that same day to pick up their uniforms.
  • On Monday 10th September, the induction programme will begin at 08h00.
Arrival at Geneva Airport and Transport to La Garenne

If you are sending your child by plane, please provide us with the travel itinerary and the Unaccompanied Minor payment confirmation to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible (if required).

We remind you that all arrivals at the airport between 10:00 and 16:00 will travel free of charge to La Garenne. School transport is available only to students. Mr. Serafim Leite de Azevedo - the school driver - is responsible for meeting all the “UM” (Unaccompanied Minors) and other students arriving during the scheduled times mentioned above as long as their flight details have been sent to the school office prior to arrival.
 
Details for the “UM” (Unaccompanied Minor) forms are as follows: 
 
La Garenne International School
Ch. des Chavasses 23
CH 1885 Chesières
Tel: +41 (0) 24 495 24 53



Your contact person is: Mr. Serafim Leite de Azevedo (Swiss Passport N°: X1105102)
 

Mr. Serafim Azevedo
For parents meeting us at the airport, the meeting point will be in front of the Jazz Café, 20 meters on your right after exiting the arrivals hall.

Students Arriving With Parents

If you are accompanying your child(ren) directly to school on the arrival day, please send the estimated time of your arrival time to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible. Students arriving with parents are expected between 09h00 and 17h30.
Luggage 
So that your child's room can be a bit more like home, please remember to bring some personal items (photos, teddies, ...). 
We remind parents to give your child(ren) the code or key of the suitcase(s) and to put a name tag on each suitcase.
Phone Calls and Internet Access 
At the La Garenne check-in, all electronic devices (such as telephones, iPads, iPhones, iPods, iWatch and tablets) are to be handed to the staff member greeting to you. Please make sure the name of your child(ren) is written on the device as well as on each cable, charger or any additional accessories.
 
During the telephone times mentioned below, you will be able to contact your children either on the school line at +41 (0) 24 495 24 53 or by using their electronic devices (iPad, iPhone, mobile phone, etc.). To avoid additional costs related to “Data roaming”, please be sure to prepare the telephones by turning off this option. This is the parents’ responsibility.
 
We will always ensure the children speak with their families. If the school line is busy, please phone back later.  If you are unreachable during official hours, let us know in advance and we will organize another time for your to speak with your child(ren).
 
Finally, if you plan to talk with your children on “Skype”, please ensure they know their username and password. To avoid connection difficulties, inform the school office of these details. 
Sundays and Wednesdays are the official days to call your child(ren), at the following specific Swiss times (other times may be scheduled for families living in very different time zones)
 
Sunday from 11h00 to 12h30 & Wednesday from 19h30 to 20h30.

Year 8 & 9 students will be allowed to use their electronic devices every day for 30 minutes, between 16h30 and 17h00.
Clothing & Uniforms
All items of clothing should have the student’s name written inside sewn on a name-tag, if not, the school will charge the price of CHF 250.- to do this for you. The name and the first letter of the family name must be written. Example for: John Smith – Write: John S.

Thank you in advance for following the list and please do not add any other items. The school is not responsible for any items that have not been tagged.
Download the Clothing List
Download the La Garenne Uniform List
List of Stationery
Please find the list of stationery that we recommend for Junior and Mini students here.
A complete set of school material can be also bought directly from school (CHF 250.-).

Students will be provided with all the necessary equipment for their classes apart from a pencil case, which we suggest they bring themselves.
Pocket Money 
To ease the parents' organisation, from this year the pocket money has been charged in the school year invoice. We will make sure your child(ren) receive it in instalments during their stay.

The Direction declines any responsibility for money loss if it is not given to the school office where it will be kept safe.
Birthdays 
For students celebrating their birthday during the academic year, do not hesitate to let us know if you wish us to organise a special celebration (cake, gift, drink, etc.). If this is the case, we thank you in advance for providing us with an additional amount of CHF 250.-
Head Lice 
Prior to arrival at school, we ask that you check your child(ren) carefully for head lice. Please inform the school if lice are found and if a treatment is already underway. All children will be checked again upon arrival and treated if necessary.
Well-Being and Medical Care
We have chosen the ‘Eldora’ food specialist group to provide school meals. They are committed to delivering varied and balanced menus using high quality local products and guaranteeing the highest levels in food production, hygiene, preparation and storage.

We ensure that children sleep for 9 to 10 hours each night, in modern and comfortable rooms. Sports and leisure activities are daily and varied. Our professional team does its utmost to provide stability and pastoral care.

Switzerland is world renowned for the excellent medical training of its health professionals and the latest technologies in hospitals - which guarantee quality care. Given the close proximity to the local doctor, we are able to take care of an unwell child immediately when the first symptoms of illness appear.

The school benefits from a wide network of health specialists (orthodontists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists and psychologists) who help us provide the best possible care for your child(ren). The pediatrics department of Aigle Hospital is 10 km from school, and the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) is 40 minutes away. A nurse is responsible for the daily health and well being of the children in our care and staff members are trained in First Aid annually (BLS/AED).
Health Package
Following the success of the previous years and the fact that we have limited places, we would like you to confirm as soon as possible if you would like your children to be signed up for  for the health package .

The price of this package is CHF 650 per term and includes:
  • Meetings with the naturopathic specialist Dr. Margit Hartwig who will evaluate the individual needs.
  • The possibility of the parents to suggest a particular ailment/problem to treat. 
  • All the natural medicine, vitamins, oils, depending on their individual needs and the climate, altitude adaptation of the child.
  • A session once a term with the Osteopath, massage specialist Delphine Vandendriessche 
The specialist will work with each child, depending on what Mrs. Hartwig has suggested. She will either give a Chinese Massage or an Osteopathic session. 
 
We are very confident that these treatments will reinforce their immune system, improve their overall wellbeing and uphold a balanced mind and body.
Personal Photographic Report
A former pupil of La Garenne, our photographer Philippe Latour has been a professional photographer for over 10 years. He joined our team three years ago, as he wanted to offer our students unforgettable memories of their time at La Garenne. Philippe knows La Garenne extremely well and it is a genuine pleasure for him to capture the best moments experienced by your children over the course of the school year. The years will pass but their time at La Garenne will be preserved forever.

Options per term:
Package 1: 20 photos during the term - CHF 350
Package 2: 30 photos during the term - CHF 450
Package 3: 50 photos during the term - CHF 650
 
Options for the school year:
Package 4: 60 photos during the school year - CHF 900
Package 5: 90 photos during the school year - CHF 1'200
Package 6: 150 photos during the school year - CHF 1'800

The choice of this option does not mean that these pictures will appear with our daily photos on the school's website or the pages of various social networks such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. At the end of each term, you will receive a virtual album directly via a "Flickr" type Internet link. The photos will be in high definition.
 
New: My Year at La Garenne
Finally, this year we are pleased to announce a new option: an album called "My Year at La Garenne". This will be a high-quality paper album, designed and hand-made in Italy, featuring photos of your chosen option, placed inside a most elegant box. This will be a wonderful souvenir that your children will keep for life!
 
"My Year at La Garenne" CHF 900.- (including production, mounting photos from the file, printing and sending to your postal address) - (e.g. 60 photos + "My Year at La Garenne"  = CHF 1'800.-)

For any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Extra Costs
For your information, please find all the school year extra costs 2018-2019.
Download the Extra Costs
School Rules 2018-2019
Find the updated version of the school rules 2018-2019
 
Download the School Rules
Computer Rules & Regulations
The computer rules and regulations are available on a separate document that we are happy to enclose with this letter.
Download the Computer Rules
Parents' Portal
As you know, we are now using the school system for the management of our school data, including the school reports. The Parent Portal provides quick and easy access to everything parents need to know about their child’s school life, including, 
  • Daily Bulletin
    • General Information 
    • Private Lessons Schedule
    • Food Menu
  • Daily Attendance Records
  • Academic Report
  • Calendar
  • Documents and Files
  • Photo Gallery
  • Blog
  • Virtual Tour
You will receive your access information in due time before the start of the term. 
Weekly Timetables (from Monday to Friday)
- for information only and subject to changes -
Download the Weekly Timetables
Additional Information:
  • Wednesday & Sunday: Telephone, Skype, Computer (For Y8 & Y9, 30 minutes per day)
  • Friday: Weekend departures leave at 16h30
  • Saturday & Sunday: Activities, Excursions, Expeditions, Shopping
  • Sunday: Church (optional) and return of students away for the weekend at 18h00
Charity Projects
La Garenne actively supports the following organisations: "Sparadrap" (recreational room for hospitalised children at Aigle Hospital), "Make a Wish" (www.makeawish.ch) and "AClem" Foundation (www.aclem.ch)

Throughout the school year, the students and the staff organise events and challenges to raise funds for the different organisations. You will receive regularly news about the fantastic actions made for the children around the world.
 
Weekend Information
During the first weeks of the school year, we prefer to limit the number of family visits. The children need to adapt to their new environment and the daily programmes are intense. There will be no weekend departure the first week. However, if you wish to visit your child(ren), or take them for another weekend, please contact the school office at the latest by Wednesday prior to the weekend to allow us to plan. Thank you for your understanding.

Weekend leaves start on Friday at 16h30 and end on Sunday at 18h00.
Where We Are
Where we are
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CONTACT US

Tel: +41 (0)24 495 24 53
Fax: +41 (0)24 495 21 57
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.la-garenne.ch
 
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Copyright © 2018 La Garenne School, All rights reserved.

 

A QUICK LOOK AT LA GARENNE SCHOOL

Outstanding Features

THE INTERNATIONAL BOARDING SCHOOL IN SWITZERLAND

One of the best boarding schools in the world is how parents describe us. La Garenne is highly valued by parents and students with a 96% satisfaction rate.
We are an international boarding school for children from 4 to 18 years old and located in Villars, a beautiful and sunny ski resort in the Swiss mountains of the Alps. We are a family-run private school and are proud of our values, close-knit international family atmosphere, security and cultural diversity.

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4-10

Ages
Primary School

11-13

Ages
Middle School

14-18

Ages
Senior School

Curriculum

We value academic excellence through highly committed and passionate teachers, inquiry-based learning, state-of-the-art educational technology.

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School Blog

Academic excellence, a warm international family ambience in which diversity is welcomed, and a safe location in exceptional surroundings, are our core values.

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Beyond the Classroom

Activities are extremely important in the development of a child. As well as enriching a child, these activities support his or her wellbeing, evolution...

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La Garenne Camps

Children from around the world join our authentic Swiss summer and winter camps, with a choice of sessions...

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Term Dates

Important dates of the school year

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Photo Gallery

Click on the image for the photo gallery: see school life at La Garenne and enjoy new photos each week...

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Boarding Life

Your child receives individual attention from our professional, caring staff. Our shared goal is to raise happy, motivated, healthy and resilient...

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Virtual Tour

Click on the image for a virtual tour: see La Garenne and Le Roc Campus and enjoy the extraordinary panorama...

Take the Virtual Tour

Our Values

Personal attention

International diversity

Global awareness

Healthy living

Passion for learning

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Academic Excellence

Accredited curriculum

Passionate teaching

Lessons in English

French for all

Small class sizes

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Beyond the Classroom

Outdoor learning

Art, drama & music

Expeditions

Snow sports

Clubs & activities

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Pastoral Care

Day & boarding

Safe environment

Wraparound care

Exceptional location

State of the art campus

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