As the year winds down and the days grow a little quieter, we’d like to wish everyone a happy winter break. This is a time to pause, rest, and reflect on all that we’ve shared and accomplished together.

May your break be filled with cozy moments, laughter around the table, and meaningful time with family and loved ones. Whether you’re traveling or staying close to home, we hope you find space to recharge and enjoy the season.

Wishing you warmth, joy, and peace this winter break—we look forward to what the new year will bring!

This week at our Boarding Assembly, Aurora took the stage to share how Christmas is celebrated in Italy. Standing confidently, she brought a piece of her home country into the hall through stories, images, and traditions.

Aurora and Antonio sharing and explaining different traditions plays an important role in building understanding and respect among students from diverse backgrounds. This is very important for us in CDL where we have students from all around the world. When students talk about their own cultures, celebrations, and beliefs, it creates opportunities for everyone to learn from one another and see the world from different perspectives. These moments encourage curiosity, inclusion, and open-mindedness, helping the school community feel more connected while celebrating the richness of its cultural diversity.

Her talk was a reminder of how sharing traditions helps us understand each other better—and how Christmas can feel both different and familiar around the world.

Lots of Love,

Yewande & Aida

Our boarding house was filled with warmth and excitement during this year’s Secret Santa dinner. We all gathered around the table to share a great meal, laughing, talking, and enjoying the festive atmosphere after a busy term. The decorations and soft lights made the evening feel extra special, turning an ordinary dinner into a real Christmas celebration.

After the meal, it was time to exchange presents. One by one, gifts were opened, surprises were revealed, and smiles spread across the room. Christmas music played in the background, adding to the joyful mood as we sang along and relaxed together. It was a simple but meaningful evening that brought everyone closer and reminded us how special the holiday season can be when shared with friends. 🎄🎶

Lots of Love,

Yewande & Aida

Yesterday evening, our Boarding House transformed into a little workshop of Christmas magic. What started as a house competition quickly became something much more meaningful—a moment of creativity, teamwork, and shared joy.

The challenge? Build the most impressive gingerbread house.
The tools? colourful sweets, steady hands, and a playlist full of Christmas classics.
The girls gathered around the tables with the kind of energy that only December seems to inspire. Laughter mixed with the sound of carols, and the room filled with the warm, spicy scent of gingerbread.

What truly stood out wasn’t just the final creation—though the result was fantastic and we’re incredibly proud of it. What mattered most was the process. Patience, collaboration, and a lot of imagination shaped every wall, roof tile, and sugary decoration.

By the end of the evening, we had a beautiful gingerbread house—but more importantly, we had shared a lovely moment together.

This week felt like the start of the holidays in the best possible way.

Yesterday we had our Out Boarding Awards, and it was honestly such a proud moment. Aurora and Valentina both won academic awards for having some of the top grades in Grade 12, they’ve worked so hard, and seeing their faces light up was amazing. Paria took home the Boarding Life Award for really living out our RISE values: Respect, Internationalism, School Spirit, and Excellence. If anyone embodies all of that day-to-day, it’s her. And Gergana won the Activities Award, which just felt so right, she’s everywhere, involved in everything, and always brings such a good attitude.

Before all the award excitement, we started the week by baking sugar cookies Gergana and I made sugar cookies then Paria and Rochelle helped decorate them. We all leaned into the Christmas spirit and decorated the house together. There were lights, ornaments, and a lot of “wait, does this look straight?” moments. The cookies definitely helped with morale (and snacking). We blasted Christmas music, made a mess, laughed a ton, and just enjoyed being together. It was one of those simple evenings that reminds you why community matters.

Feeling grateful, festive, and a little bit covered in cookie crumbs. 🎄✨

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

Since it’s Excellence Week, we’ve been challenging the girls to go a little deeper, push themselves a little further, and show what “excellence” looks like beyond academics. Last night’s house meeting fit that theme perfectly.

Paria brought panettone, we made hot chocolate, and the whole room settled into this warm, relaxed vibe. It ended up being the perfect setting for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had all term: How to Maintain a Healthy Relationship.

This week is all about students stepping up and Aurora and Ayla absolutely embodied that. They didn’t just prepare a presentation; they created a safe space. They led with confidence, empathy, and maturity, touching on communication, trust, boundaries, and all the little things that actually make a relationship work. You could feel the room paying attention in a different way. They set the tone, and everyone followed.

When the floor opened for questions, the girls jumped right in. The conversation flowed naturally, honest, curious, sometimes funny, sometimes vulnerable. It was one of those evenings where you could literally see learning happening, not in worksheets or notes, but in nods, eye contact, and the courage to speak up.

We wrapped things up with the Red Card / Green Card game, which turned out to be equal parts hilarious and thought-provoking. There were debates, laughs, and a few “Wait… is that really a red card?” moments.

In the spirit of Excellence Week, it felt like exactly what we aim for: students leading, engaging, reflecting, and supporting each other. Aurora and Ayla set the bar high and the rest of the house rose right up with them.

A simple night with hot chocolate, panettone, and real connection. Honestly? Pure excellence.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

Vale and Ayla have been home sick this week, and everyone was feeling a bit low, so last night we decided we needed something comforting. Cookies felt like the right answer. We made brown-butter chocolate chip cookies together and of course a gluten-free batch for Vale. The girls were laughing, taste-testing the dough, and just enjoying doing something simple and hands-on. They ate the cookies with milk as soon as they came out of the oven.

While we were all gathered, we used our house meeting time to check in on how things have been going since mid-term. This part of the year can be tough: it’s getting colder, people are getting sick, deadlines are creeping up, and everyone’s patience gets a little shorter. But even with all that going on, the basics of boarding still matter.

We talked about how each of us has been feeling, what’s been challenging, and what small things we can all do to make the next few weeks smoother. It was honest and supportive, the kind of conversation that reminds you we’re sharing the same space and trying our best together.

In the end, the cookies helped, the chat helped, and I think we all walked away feeling a little bit better.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

What a lovely weekend we just had. It was one of those ones filled with small moments that quietly remind you how special our community is. Gergana is still absolutely thriving in her hip-hop classes. Ayla and Valentina spent their morning on the tennis courts, while Emma took things at her own pace with a peaceful Pilates session. Rochelle tapped into her creative side and spent time making art, completely in her element.

But the moment that really stood out was when we all gathered to wrap gifts for the Gift Box Project, a beautiful initiative that brings a little Christmas joy to children in need across Eastern Europe. A special shout-out goes to Paria, who didn’t just participate, she helped t0 organise and promote the whole effort. From collecting donations to rallying volunteers, she poured so much care and determination into making the project happen. And a big thank you as well to Ayla, Emma, Gergana, Laura Jane, and Valentina for jumping in, wrapping gifts, chatting, laughing, and helping each parcel feel truly special.

Here’s to weekends that warm the heart as much as they keep us busy.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

Over the weekend, the girls took part in a range of enriching activities. Aurora, Ayla, and Valentina played tennis, Rochelle explored her creativity at art club, and Gergana continued her passion for hip hop, which she’s really enjoying.

On Sunday, Paria attended bodyshaping, while Emma and Maria took part in a relaxing pilates session which is a great way to recharge for the week ahead.

It’s wonderful to see everyone engaging in such a variety of activities and supporting one another along the way.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

Tonight felt like a warm reset after the October break. We all gathered for dinner in the house and enjoyed a classic comfort meal: lasagne. There’s something about sharing a table, passing dishes around, and catching up on stories that instantly brings everyone back into a shared rhythm.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming Rochelle to our house family. It’s always exciting to bring someone new into our community, and tonight was the perfect opportunity for everyone to get to know each other over good food and good company.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande