Yesterday, our kids had the opportunity to visit the Christmas Market in Montreux. Some of them were already there the week before and wanted to go again to show their friends around.

Firdavs, who knows the city and the market itself really well, was the perfect tourist guide for the others. He showed them the best stands and restaurants in town to have an unforgettable Christmasy meal together.

The kids really enjoyed walking around the Market, exploring and discovering crafts, Swiss and other international flavours and witnessing the lights show! Although it was a bit crowded due to its growing popularity, the kids found it really enriching and it is a good way for them to get to know more about they country they are currently studying in! 🇨🇭

Look at this duo! 💪🏻

Zhengtai has amazing photography skills! 😱📸

The Christmas Market was busy! 🎄

Bon Appétit! 🍴

Every December, the streets of Geneva come alive with the Escalade, a cherished tradition celebrating the city’s victorious defense against invaders in 1602. For our students, participating in this historic event is both an adventure and a cultural immersion.

Decked out in medieval costumes, students parade through Geneva’s old town, blending with locals and tourists in a jubilant atmosphere. The event culminates in the Escalade Race, where individuals and teams dash through the narrow cobblestone streets, cheered on by enthusiastic crowds. Boarding  and Day students often take on the challenge, forming teams to compete in the spirit of camaraderie and fun.

Beyond the race, they learn the story of La Mère Royaume, the heroine of the Escalade. For Concha’s boys, it’s more than just an event; it’s an unforgettable experience that ties them to Geneva’s rich heritage.

Another great Saturday morning at the climbing gym filled with great energy. After a gentle warm-up, our boys were eager to climb and get on the wall.

Quique is showing that he can keep up with the others as he moves up to another grade of climbing difficulty. Firdavs had fun swinging from the top when he completed his climbs. João was once again relentless and his determination is admirable, his arms will most definitely be sore later on today. Rodrigo’s cool and calm style of climbing is a joy to watch, he’s a natural and his flow is something special.

We hope to see these boys more often in the Climbing Club because, separately they are all good climbers but seeing them work together today as team can only lead to greater success. Awesome stuff lads!

Quique battling with the top of this boulder problem.

Fist bump for Firdavs

A face-off between João and his nemisis!

Rodrigo’s posing while climbing – too easy!

Tonight, Concha transformed into a vibrant Greek taverna, bringing everyone together for an unforgettable evening. The boys gathered around long, communal tables, the air buzzing with excitement and the irresistible aroma of Mediterranean cuisine.

The feast began with a spread of warm pita bread, tzatziki, and olives, followed by plates of fresh Greek salads topped with tangy feta. The main course was the highlight of the night: perfectly grilled beef meat, dishes so delicious that seconds were inevitable.

As laughter and conversation filled the room, the evening became even more festive with the sounds of traditional Greek music. A few students even ventured into a playful attempt at the sirtaki, their enthusiasm making up for any missteps.

By the end of the night, everyone left the table with full bellies and even fuller hearts, grateful for a shared experience that brought a taste of Greece to the heart of their home.

For his Sports Science class, Joao was tasked with cooking a high protein meal with plenty or iron and potassium to help with recovery after sport. He had to buy all the ingredients, cook them himself and plate it up!

He did quite a good job and made a very delicious and nutritious meal (details & recipe below):

Meal: Grilled Chicken Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Vegetables

• Carbohydrates: Quinoa and roasted sweet potatoes for glycogen replenishment.
• Proteins: Grilled chicken breast for muscle repair and recovery.
• Fats: Avocado slices for essential fatty acids and energy.

Micronutrients:

• Iron (from quinoa and spinach): To improve oxygen transport in the blood.
• Potassium (from sweet potatoes and avocado): To support electrolyte balance and prevent cramping.

Ingredients

• Protein: 150g grilled chicken breast (skinless, boneless)
• Carbohydrates:
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup roasted sweet potatoes (cubed)
• Fats:
• 1/2 avocado (sliced)
• 1 tsp olive oil (for roasting)

Micronutrient Sources:

• 1 cup steamed spinach
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
• Seasoning: Salt, pepper, paprika, and a squeeze of lemon (vitamin C aids iron absorption)

Preparation

• Grill Chicken: Season the chicken with paprika, salt, and pepper. Grill until cooked through.
• Cook Quinoa: Rinse and cook quinoa according to package instructions.
• Roast Sweet Potatoes: Toss cubed sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast at 200°C (400°F) for 25 minutes.
• Prepare Vegetables: Steam spinach lightly and slice avocado and tomatoes.
• Assemble: In a bowl, layer quinoa, sweet potatoes, spinach, and cherry tomatoes. Add grilled chicken and avocado slices. Top with lemon juice.

Nutritional Profile (Approximate)

• Calories: 600 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 60g
• Proteins: 40g
• Fats: 20g
• Iron: 6 mg
• Potassium: 1200 mg

Verdict: delicious.

Today was a vibrant and fulfilling day at Collège du Léman! Our December monthly assembly brought the community together, with Mr. Victor delivering an inspiring presentation on the Well-Being Pillar, highlighting the value of care, connection, and balance in our lives.

The energy carried on with a spirited football match, showcasing teamwork and enthusiasm, before we wrapped up the day with a delicious Norwegian-themed dinner—a perfect way to bring everyone together over great food and conversation.

A day full of learning, bonding, and fun—truly the spirit of CDL!

..The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

This evening we gathered once again for our biweekly reading club. It was cozy under our newly put up Christmas decorations.

It was quite an interesting session! Fanbo noticed that Enid Blyton likes to use the word “Excitement” a lot, sometimes 2 or 3 times on a page, which led to us talking about how there are programs that can scan an author’s entire works and identify their favorite words and phrases.

We talked about the names of things, and characters that we like because they remind us of certain people.

Adrian is particularly (that’s one of our words today!) liking the Outsiders, though he has correctly identified it as quite sad so far.

Rodrigo has been learning about Bag-End, Bilbo Baggins house, as well as Bilbo’s frustrating extended family.

Here are our words for today: Excitement, Particularly, Promising, & Marooned.

Christmas spirit filled the Concha Boarding House, as we invited the kids to help decorate the living room. With Christmasy decorations ready, the boys eagerly came downstairs and the fun began! 🎄😎

They worked together, laughing, making jokes and sharing decoration ideas. Christmas songs were being played in the background, adding to the warm and joyful atmosphere. The living room quickly transformed into a cozier place for them to stay, reflecting the creativity and teamwork of everyone involved. 💪🏻❄️

Moments like these remind us how special it is to come together, celebrate and make memories that will last well beyond the holiday season. 😁🎅🏻

It all started like this: Mr Tarun and Mr Jack bringing all the decorations from the basement 😱

What a good team! 🤗

Rodrigo and Edu adding some Mexican touches 🎄

That looks good, Zhengtai! 🤩

We love the idea Joe but please don’t fall! 😵‍💫

House picture, say cheeeeese! 🧀

Look at this beauty! 🎄

Another appreciation picture of our Concha tree

This weekend a whole Concha contingent headed over yonder to Disneyland Paris to enjoy a wonderful day of roller coasters, fireworks and Disney magic!

The Disney Crew at the gates of the Magic Kingdom!

“WE’VE GOT A HULK”

At the entrance and raring to go!

Simbaaaa

Out there, somewhere, there’s a Mickey missing a hand.

Pixar’s newest animated character in the movie “Tortuga”, we haaaaaaave Rodrigooooooooooo

“I’ve got little arms!”

La Piece de Resistance

The castle lit up beautifully, but just wait, they aren’t done yet!

A special show for the winter season! Absolutely stunning.

FIREBALL! What an impressive shot

The boys came back with some spoils of war from their trip to Disney (not pictured below is the coolest little baby Yoda figurine)

THEY ARE WORTHY!

Shunyu’s Creepy Crawlies

All in all, an incredible trip that I’m sure will last in their memories for a lifetime