A very original and unusual weekend in New Portena ๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿผ๐Ÿฅž

We are truly proud of Sayuri and Mei mei who took care of their mental and physical health by engaging in outdoor workouts as well as of Gergana and Ana Karina who offered their very precious help during the International Cooking Evening, which took place last Friday.
The aim of this activity was to involve students in preparing traditional meals of countries different from their own, that could match well: what winning combination better than a dessert with beneficial fruit and chocolate chip complemented by a hot golden milk which reigns supreme for a healthy, healing and anti-inflammatory Indian drink (and bonus… it is super delicious)?

 

New Portena Girls March for Women’s Rights!

This Sunday, March 10th, our New Portena girls came together to mark International Women’s Day. They marched around Versoix, standing up for women’s rights and equality. Their unity and determination echoed the spirit of empowerment celebrated on this special day. Together, they marched for a brighter future for all women. โœŠ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ #WomensRights #Solidarity

“What would you tell your 10 year-old self?”

During one of our House meetings we have asked the students “What would you tell your 10 year-old self?” and their answers have been so incredibly interesting that Giuliana and Gergana want to tell you ๐ŸŽค

Embracing Global Citizenship ๐ŸŒโœจ: Our House Assembly Reflections

During our last house assembly, the girls delved into what Global Citizenship means to them. Words like Acceptance, Together, Inclusivity, and Internationalism emerged, reflecting a spirit of unity and diversity. Concepts of Equality, Liberty, and Openness underscored their commitment to a world of fairness and freedom. As a community, we celebrate the beauty of diversity and embrace the values of Globalisation, Location, and Celebration in fostering a global mindset.

Discovering Rovaniemi: A Winter Wonderland Adventure! โ„๏ธ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฎ

Sayuri, Rin, Ashley, Yufei, Gergana, Paulina, Melissa, Vladislava, Lily, and Chihana embarked on an unforgettable journey to Rovaniemi, Finland, during the winter break. The Arctic landscape welcomed them with a fresh blanket of snow, setting the stage for an enchanting experience.

From visiting Santa Claus’s village to exploring the pristine wilderness through ice skating and sleigh rides, each day was filled with magical moments. Despite cloudy skies, the anticipation of witnessing the Northern Lights kept spirits high. Some were lucky enough to witness them on the second night!

Although the auroras remained elusive, the group’s spirits weren’t dampened as they embraced every adventure, from dog sledding to visiting a reindeer farm. Each experience added to the magic of their winter wonderland excursion. โ„๏ธ๐ŸŒฒ๐ŸฆŒ #NewPortenaJourney

Welcome Back, New Portena Girls ๐ŸŽฟ๐ŸŒŸ

Welcome back, New Portena girls! ๐ŸŽ‰

We hope you had an incredible winter break filled with adventure and relaxation. From skiing in the Alps to exploring the enchanting wonders of Rovaniemi, Finland, it sounds like everyone had an amazing time! With just five weeks until the Easter break, we’re excited to dive back into school life and hear all about your experiences. Stay tuned for updates on the unforgettable trip to Finland, and let’s make these next few weeks unforgettable together! โœจ #NewPortenaJourney

PS: Leaving you with a glimpse of our official New Portena Family picture

Valentine’s Day in New Portena ๐ŸŒน๐Ÿ’•

Our Valentine’s Day message for students in New Portena is that everyone is unique for their own characteristics and it is very important to love oneself before than loving other people.

Happy Valentine’s Day, lovely ladies! โค๏ธ๐Ÿงก You are amazing!

 

 

Celebrating Women in Science: Coco’s Inspiring Video Tribute

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, New Portena proudly salutes Coco, an aspiring aerospace engineer/test pilot. Alongside her peers from CDL Boarding, Coco’s video tribute emphasizes the importance of female representation in STEM. Let’s continue to inspire the next generation of women in science! ๐Ÿš€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ

A Roman Adventure with CDL! ๐Ÿ›๏ธ๐ŸŽ‰

Last weekend, CDL students embarked on an unforgettable journey to Rome! Among them were Lulu and Yufei from New Portena Boarding House, adding their spark to the adventure.

They visited the Vatican, where they explored St. Peter’s Square and marveled at the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. They wandered through Rome’s iconic landmarks, from the Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain, with some shopping time thrown in.

The next day, it was Lulu’s 15th birthday! ๐ŸŽ‚ The day was packed with history as they toured the Colosseum and the Roman Forum . A quick lunch break, and it was time to bid farewell to the Eternal City.โœˆ๏ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น

Positive benefits of dog sitting ๐Ÿฆฎ๐Ÿšถ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

Getting out of one’s own daily routine is very important for mental and physical health and Hanna has found a great relaxation habit: going out with a sweet dog called Dixie four/five times per week.

Indeed spending time with animals not only is incredibly therapeutic but it also helps to reduce stress and facilitate social interaction.

Positive and inspirational initiatives in New Portena ๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿ’“

Since the beginning of the school, we have done our best for creating an uplifting and motivational atmosphere inside the House and among the girls by sending them self-reflection good morning and good night messages in different languages as well as with “take a smile” and “take a hug” post-it which can brighten students’ days.

Positive and inspirational House decorations in English and French are the news of 2024!

If these initiatives piqued your curiosity, you will find all the details below ๐Ÿ™‚

ย ย 

 

Second ski weekend: sporty and happy moments in Crans Montana! โ„๏ธ๐Ÿ”๏ธ๐Ÿฅฐ

While all the other girls of New Portena were enjoying the second ski weekend in Leysin, Paulina, Melissa, Ana Cristina and Maria Fernanda spent two sunny ski days in Crans Montana.

This video captures all the fun and excitement the girls had during this trip ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿค—

๐Ÿ‚ New Portena’s Ski Weekend Fun in Leysin! โ›ท๏ธ

This past weekend, the Grade 9s and 10s of New Portena embarked on an exhilarating journey to Leysin, where sunny skies set the stage for a winter wonderland adventure. They tried skiing, snowboarding, and even ice skating. To chill out, some of the girls relaxed in the thermal baths. It was a weekend full of snowy adventures and big smiles! ๐Ÿ˜Žโ„๏ธ #SkiFun #NewPortenaSnowTrip

 

First ski weekend of 2023/2024 academic year โ›ท๏ธ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŽข

Igloo building and excursion to Glacier 3000 are just a few of the original and unique experiences that girls from New Portena made during the last ski weekend in Leysin: if you are curious, do not hesitate to watch this video ๐Ÿ™‚

๐ŸŒˆ Exploring Friendship Within: New Portena’s Week of Self-Reflection ๐Ÿค”

This week at New Portena, our attention turns inward as we delve into self-reflection on our qualities as friends. Every girl took a moment to ponder and articulate the essential qualities they seek in a friend. ๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ‘ญ #NewPortenaJourney

๐ŸŒŸ Nurturing Positive Friendships at New Portena Boarding House ๐Ÿค

In Collรจge du Lรฉman’s 2024 second semester, New Portena Boarding House introduces the third pillar of its Wellbeing Program: Cultivating Positive Friendships.

Emphasizing mutual respect, open communication, shared values, and healthy boundaries, we guide students in building connections that endure. Conflict resolution skills are honed to transform challenges into opportunities for stronger bonds.

Join us in creating a supportive environment for lasting, meaningful connections this semester. ๐Ÿกโœจ

Welcome back: New Portena House puzzle is almost complete again ๐Ÿงฉ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ง

Most of the girls are back and New Portena House has come to life again:
the corridors echo with laughters and the common rooms fill with stories from many experiences. It is like all the missing puzzle pieces are going to be back in place. The whole New Portena House puzzle will be finally complete next week when all the girls will be back.
Welcome back! We are so happy to have you here again ๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿ’

 

Wrapping up 2023 at New Portena! ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŽ‰

As the year draws to a close, the New Portena family extends warm wishes to all for a joyous holiday season filled with laughter and love. It’s been an incredible first semester together, and we can’t wait to create more memories in 2024. Wishing you all a Happy New Year! See you at New Portena in 2024 for another exciting chapter. ๐ŸŽ #HappyHolidays #NewPortenaJourney

New Portena Christmas Party ๐Ÿฅณ and Secret Santa gifts exchange ๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ’

Yesterday evening we organized a Boarding House Christmas Party including Secret Santa gifts exchange ๐ŸŽ: indeed during the last weeks New Portena girls made a list of the gift they wished to receive and yesterday they got them. This has been a wonderful way to strengthen their bonds.

Have a look at this video where our students wish Merry Christmas to everyone in their own language. ๐Ÿ™‚

Happy holidays girls, we wish all of you to spend wonderful moments during this break and get from New Year everything you desire! ๐ŸŒ 

Winter Ball ๐ŸŽถโœจ

Last Saturday December 09 all the students from Collรจge du Lรฉman went to the Hilton hotel in Geneva to join the Winter Ball, an elegant event to celebrate all together the first months of the academic year as well as the end of 2023.

During this night filled with shiny lights and smart attire all the New Portena students had a lot of fun. ๐Ÿ’ƒ

Smashing the Marmite

To celebrate the Escalade, one of the oldest traditions in Geneva, we come together to “Smash the Marmite”. According to the tradition, the smashing should be done by the youngest and oldest person in the room and when doing it, they should pronounce “ainsi pรฉrissent less enemmis de la rรฉpublique”.

Well done to Lily and Melissa for this powerful smashing!

Gnocchi day ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น

Promoting internationalism among students is important for us to let the girls know about other cultures and traditions. Having a big House with girls from seventeen nationalities is a great opportunity to involve them in activities that can enrich them.

Before the Winter holidays, we have decided to have a convivial moment all together: we kneaded gnocchi dough, cooked, and ate together. Special thanks to Gergana for making also original hearth-shaped gnocchi ๐Ÿคฉ

 

Happy birthday Yufei ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‚

Witnessing Yufei making a wish on her birthday has been an incredibly touching experience. The sweet glow of candlelight on her face, the anticipation in her expression when closing her eyes and smiling really impressed us.

Dear Yufei, we really hope all your wishes will come true.

Happy birthday again! ย ็”Ÿๆ—ฅๅฟซไน

December Delights: New Portena Weekend Highlights

This first weekend of December was packed with excitement for the New Portena girls. Ingrid showcased her skills in her first fencing competition, proudly returning with a silver medal.

Meanwhile, Ana Cristina, Melissa, and Paulina glided through a fun-filled day at the local ice skating rink, creating memories on the ice.

Aliki, Lulu, Bice, Sayuri, He, Yufei, Hanna, and Valentina embraced the festive spirit, spending a delightful Sunday at the Montreux Christmas market.

Gergana braved the cold and participated in her first Escalade race!

Cheers to a weekend filled with achievements, laughter, and festive joy at New Portena! ๐Ÿ…โ„๏ธ๐ŸŽ„ #NewPortenaJourney

 

Bake-Off House Competition ๐Ÿฐ

Baking is a nice different way to spend the weekend, but if this moment is shared with friends, music, having fun and as preparation for a House Competition, it can be really amazing ๐Ÿ˜

Since the beginning of the week Aliki has taken charge of the Bake-Off House Competition, making a list of all the ingredients needed and last weekend, with the help of Valentina and Daliya, has prepared a great colorful cake.

Everyone is very happy and proud of the result… we just have to wait to know who is the winner ๐Ÿคž๐Ÿผ๐Ÿงก

๐Ÿฅ‡ First place in the Senior Girls volleyball tournament ๐Ÿฅณ

Valentina and some girls from the other houses have been selected to participate to the Senior Girls volleyball tournament which have taken place in Warsaw last weekend and they won the first place.

Congratulations for this victory. Vale, well done! We are very proud of you!๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ˜˜

Samedi du partage ๐Ÿฅฐ

The “Samedi du Partage” is a specific day dedicated to promoting solidarity and sharing with people in need. The aim is to encourage people in doing positive actions by sharing food, time, or skills to make a difference in the lives of other people.

We are really proud of Manuela who, in the early morning of today and with a big smile on her face, went to Aldi with 3 other students to take part in this very generous initiative to donate some food to people who really need it.

 

Gergana’s incredible acting skills ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ’ฅ๐Ÿ’“

Last Tuesday a very niceย  performance took place in Eiger Auditorium. It exuded an enthusiasm that electrified the atmosphere, captivating the audience with an unwavering passion that radiated through every movement and expression. ๐Ÿคฉ

Indeed our sweet Gergana showed her incredible acting skills and the audience was utterly astonished when witnessing such an extraordinary acting talent. It was like uncovering a hidden treasure, leaving everyone in awe of the sheer brilliance displayed on stage. โœจโœด๏ธ๐Ÿ˜

After this magnific show Gergana has been asked to take part in the other upcoming events of the year, so we are really looking forward to see her on stage again! ๐ŸŽ‡

Feliz cumpleaรฑos, Cami ๐ŸŽ

Yesterday our dear Camila had a birthday full of wonderful moments ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿค— starting from her parents surprise of the balloons with a touching birthday message, a dinner with her dearest friends, ending then with some time spent with her New Portena family to eat all together the birthday cake ๐Ÿฐ๐ŸŽ‰

Happy birthday again, Cami โค๏ธ Feliz cumpleaรฑos! ๐Ÿ˜˜

Wrapping Love: CDL’s Gift Box Activity

This Sunday, the 19th of November, marked a heartwarming event at CDLโ€”the Gift Box Wrapping activity. After gathering donations from our boarders a few weeks ago for the Gift Box Appeal, it was time to transform those contributions into beautifully wrapped gifts.

Leading the charge on this compassionate project were Bice, Sayuri, and Hanna, alongside the dedicated efforts of Coco, Ingrid, Mei Mei, Paulina and Melissa among our New Portena Girls. Together, they brought warmth and joy to the season, showcasing the spirit of giving and camaraderie.

This initiative is another step in our #NewPortenaJourney, a journey that embraces not only diversity and unity but also extends a helping hand to those in need. Stay tuned for more updates on our collective efforts to make a positive impact in the world. ๐ŸŽโœจ

A Rainy Adventure at Europapark: #NewPortenaJourney

Last weekend, Ana Cristina, Darina, Manuela, Yufei, Adela, Valentina, Giuliana, Lulu, and Janelis embarked on a thrilling #NewPortenaJourney to Germany’s Europapark. Despite the rain, the girls laughed, braved crazy rides, and made unforgettable memories. Here’s to the joy of spontaneous adventures and the bond that turns rain-soaked days into endless fun! โ˜”๐ŸŽข

13th November 2023: Odd Socks Day in Collรจge du Lรฉman

The new week has started with today, November 13, the “Odd Socks Day” in Collรจge du Lรฉman.

This day is an important part of the second pillar of the school wellbeing program about which New Portena girls are continuing to work on by preserving a culture of respect, inclusion, and empathy, and reducing the negative impact of bullying on individuals and communities.

Embracing Diversity at New Portena: The Wellbeing Journey Continues

We’re thrilled to kick off the second pillar of our Wellbeing program at New Portena: “Protecting Against Bullying and Respecting Diversity.” Yesterday’s house meeting marked the beginning of our ethnicity and diversity challenge, a meaningful initiative to foster connections and understanding.

In a heartwarming exercise, roommates in each room came together to discover what they share in common. From shared interests to cultural connections, the process was a celebration of diversity and unity within our boarding house.

Here’s to the journey of embracing diversity and building stronger bonds at New Portena! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿกโœจ #NewPortenaJourney

โœ๐Ÿผ Words from Sofiia

Hello !

My name is Sofiia and I’ve been living in New Portena for three years now. I’d like to share with you the reasons why I think New Portena is the best home.

First of all, there’s the location, it’s not far from the school.

I also appreciate the rich diversity in our house, with students of various nationalities. This diversity has expanded our social circles and deepened our connections, enabling us to welcome and connect with new students as they join our community at the beginning of the year. Being in a big house for a long time has also allowed me to build meaningful relationships with my friends and the house parent team.

Thank you New Portena, I love you!

Sofiia

Rainy Autumn Weekend Delights at New Portena

The first weekend of November greeted us with a gentle rain and the unmistakable feel of autumn in the air. Our New Portena girls, undeterred by the weather, seized the opportunity to whip up some warmth and sweetness.

On Saturday morning, Adela, Ashley, Lily, Vladi, and Yufri went over to their cooking activity to create a delightful cooking experience. The result? Delicious, homemade รฉclairs.

๐ŸŒง๏ธ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿฎ #AutumnDelights #NewPortenaMoments

 

New Portena Halloween party ๐Ÿฆ‡๐Ÿฅณ

Yesterday evening New Portena house and its living room decorated with fake spider webs, bats, cockroaches as well as a table full of candies, marshmallows dipped in chocolate, scaring Oreo biscuits and much more hosted students from other houses who had a lot of fun playing board games and baking ghost, bat, pumpkin, brain-shaped sweets with New Portena girls! ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿง

 

Halloween preparations ๐Ÿ•ท๏ธ๐Ÿ•ธ๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ป

The whole house is decorated and everything is ready for the evening of Halloween.

We made every effort to complete the decorations before the arrival of the girls from holidays and we are very happy that they enjoyed this surprise.

Vietnam and Cambodia trip

During the October break Melissa joined an amazing trip in Vietnam and Cambodia with other students of the school. The two weeks were filled with exciting activities and places to visit. Trips like this can be incredibly enriching and provide a wealth of experiences and memories.

Vietnamย 
After being in Hanoi, students went to Sapa which is one of the most interesting towns in North Vietnam and where there are beautiful mountain-spaces, diversity of minority people, and rice terrace fields, especially Fansipan Mountain well-known as Indochina Top. Students had the opportunity to interact with the locals during a visit to a Primary boarding school in the area and they did a boat tour in Trร ng An. They also did a one-day cruiseย where they could do some kayaking in a lagoon and visit Sung Sot Cave. They visited the Vietnam Military Museum to learn about their history and enjoyed a rickshaw tour of the city and shop for souvenirs.

Cambodia
Memories of Cambodia will also always be unforgettable for the students. In Siem Reap they embarked on a culinary adventure with a cooking lesson, where everyone learned how to cook traditional Cambodian dishes and received certificates for their culinary achievements!ย 

It was a great luck also to have the opportunity to visit an orphanage: the time spent with children was truly heartwarming.
The 15 students who went on this trip generously donated school materials to 65 local students in need, a seemingly small gesture which meant so much to these children. We are so proud of Melissa and all the students for taking time to do such a beautiful thing.

Students were delighted to have a traditional dinner while enjoying a lovely Apsara Dance show.

The visit to the Angkor Wat and the Tomb Raider temple captivated them and after that they journeyed to the capital, Phnom Penh.

On their last day they had the privilege to interact with the local students, an enriching experience that touched their hearts.

A happy and lovely return to New Portena

The last two days were particularly full of happiness and hugs for the return of the students to the house. After spending time away from their regular routines and studies, New Portena’s girls feel recharged, relaxed, and excited to return to their daily lives. We were looking forward to having them back with us. ๐Ÿงก

Wishing New Portena Girls a Fantastic October Break!

The first half of the term is officially in the books, and it’s time to recharge and enjoy some well-deserved time off.

To all our New Portena girls, we wish you an incredible October break filled with relaxation, adventures, and the opportunity to explore the world around you. Take this time to rejuvenate and make the most of the moments that lie ahead.

As we bid farewell for now, remember that the friendships and memories we’ve created will always be with us. Cherish this break, and we look forward to seeing you all reenergized and ready for the second half of the term.

Enjoy your time off, and make the most of every moment! ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒŸ #OctoberBreak #NewPortenaJourney

 

A Cozy Farewell Dinner at New Portena

Today, we gathered for our second at-home dinner, and it was a heartwarming affair. Our menu featured mouthwatering tacos with soft tortillas and a delightful chocolate cake for dessert.

This relaxed dinner gave us all a chance to unwind and savor the simple joys of community living. As we shared stories, laughter, and delicious food, it felt like a perfect evening.

Tonight holds a special place in our hearts because starting tomorrow, many of our New Portena girls will set off for the October break. So, in a way, this dinner was a farewell, a moment to cherish together before we embark on our individual journeys, knowing we’ll reunite soon.

Here’s to a fantastic October break for everyone, and we can’t wait to create more beautiful memories when we return. ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ๐Ÿฐโœจ #NewPortenaJourney



0-5 km race: young students showing outstanding running abilities ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿผ

Yesterday the 0-5 km race took place in Collรจge du Lรฉman: the aim of the event was to initiate the student to healthy habits as the run. Everyone was free to participate by covering the distance best suited to their abilities and it was amazing to see the enthusiasm of the students in trying to push themselves harder than what they originally planned.

It was also a nice way to spend a sunny Sunday morning in the open air, in good company, among many laughs… โค๏ธ just like a real family!!! ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿผ

A Delicious Stop on the #NewPortenaJourney: Mrs. Fana’s Crepe Night

Every evening, Mrs. Fana brings her culinary magic, and last night was no exception. She’s a kitchen wizard, and the girls absolutely love her. For our latest adventure on the #NewPortenaJourney, Mrs. Fana treated us to a French classic: crepes. Some girls pitched in with the cooking, while others eagerly waited to savor these delectable delights.

As the crepes sizzled on the griddle, our excitement grew. Mrs. Fana’s expert hands turned batter into golden pancakes. It was like witnessing a master at work, and we couldn’t wait to dig in.ย Smiles, laughter, and the taste of France filled the room.

Bon appรฉtit, and here’s to more tasty adventures! ๐Ÿฅž๐Ÿ˜„

 

CDL’s Second Boarding Assembly: Talent and Giving Back

At Collรจge du Lรฉman’s recent Second Boarding Assembly, our New Portena Family members, Bice, Hanna, and Sayuri, shared their heartwarming project: the “Gift Box Appeal.” This annual fundraiser aims to provide Christmas boxes to those in need.

The Gift Box Appeal embodies our community’s spirit of compassion and giving. It’s a simple yet impactful initiative where we collect and distribute Christmas boxes filled with gifts, spreading holiday joy to those less fortunate. Itย reminds us of the importance of giving back, nurturing empathy and generosity in our students. It showcases our diverse community’s unity and collective power for positive change.

As we approach the holiday season, let’s be inspired by the Gift Box Appeal and commit to making a difference in the lives of others.

Sunday Funday at Walibi Theme Park! ๐ŸŽข

This Sunday, adventure called, and some of our New Portena girls answered! ๐ŸŽข They embarked on a thrilling day trip to the Walibi theme park, making unforgettable memories on their #NewPortenaJourney.

Laughter, excitement, and endless fun were the order of the day as they tackled roller coasters, explored new worlds, and enjoyed the thrill of the rides.

We’re all about creating lasting memories and seizing every opportunity for excitement and bonding. Stay tuned for more exciting adventures as we continue to make the most of our time together! ๐ŸŽก๐ŸŒŸ


Congratulations Bice on Joining the National Honor Society!

We have some incredible news to share today! Our very own Bice has been selected to join the prestigious National Honor Society (NHS). ๐ŸŒŸ

The National Honor Society recognizes and celebrates outstanding high school students who excel in the areas of leadership, service, character, and scholarship. Bice’s achievement is a testament to her dedication and hard work.

Congratulations, Bice, on this well-deserved honor! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿค

 

A Heartfelt Welcome to Gergana from Bulgaria ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ

This weekend was a special one at New Portena as we opened our doors to a new member of our close-knit family. Gergana, hailing from Bulgaria, has joined us on her exciting #NewPortenaJourney. Her cheerful spirit and positive energy have already lit up our home.

We can’t wait to see all the adventures and experiences that await you on this remarkable journey ahead. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿกโค๏ธ #WelcomeGergana

New Portena: Walking the World ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ

New Portena embraces Nord Anglia’s global challenge! Our mission: walk the distance between all Nord Anglia schools worldwide. As part of Collรจge du Leman, we kick-started this journey with an evening stroll after our weekly house assembly. Here’s the quick rundown.

Our diverse group of girls from around the world unites for this global challenge, promoting fitness and unity.

ยกFeliz cumpleaรฑos, Giuliana! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿฅณ

Yesterday, on the 15th of September, our dear Giuliana celebrated her fifteenth birthday in style. She enjoyed a wonderful birthday dinner with her close friend, Lulu, who is also a fellow boarder here at New Portena.

ยกFeliz cumpleaรฑos, Giuliana! ๐ŸŽ‚๐ŸŽˆ๐ŸŽ
Wishing you a year ahead that’s even more extraordinary than you are! ๐Ÿ’ซ๐ŸŒŸ

A Homey Night at New Portena: Our First Dinner at Home

This Thursday marked our inaugural “Dinner at Home” event here at New Portena, and it was a hit. This monthly gathering is all about fostering a sense of family within our boarding house.

A Culinary Treat

Our taste buds were in for a treat with lasagna, summer salad, and panna cotta on the menu. Each dish was a delight, leaving everyone satisfied and content.

Heartwarming Atmosphere

Laughter and conversation filled the room as students and staff bonded over shared experiences. These moments of connection are what make New Portena special.

Follow #NewPortenaJourney to stay updated on our adventures.

Amazing mountain weekend in Verbier!

During the last weekend, exciting activities have not taken place only in Fiesch but also in Verbier as some of the students went there to spend the mountain weekend. Trotinnetting, also known as scooter touring, as well as rock climbing, were on the agenda !ย  Activities that appeals to individuals seeking adventure, physical fitness and the thrill of conquering challenging routes.ย  ย This includes the zipline, a funny way to enjoy the thrill of flight and the beauty of nature.ย  Here are just a few of the moments that made this trip amazing. ๐Ÿ˜€

In the photo at the top right Paulina was on the highest zipline in the world.
In the photo at the bottom left Bice, Coco, Mei mei, Hanna and Sayuri were spending time together.

Skill development and fun in Fiesch!

During the mountain weekend all the students took part in plenty of activities by learning new skills or improving existing ones. Knowing how to be able to perform a task or tackle a challenge successfully enhances self-efficacy, which is the belief in oneโ€™s ability to achieve goals. Small successes foster a positive feedback loop that encourages continued skill development.

The activities that the students have most appreciated are the rope course, a great way to test agility, balance, and bravery while enjoying the beauty of the outdoors in Fiesch, and mountain biking. Many students also took part in Via Ferrata, which offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape while providing a thrilling climbing experience.
Another breathtaking activity is hiking around Aletsch, the largest glacier in the Alps.
During the last day students had so much fun in the tennis court taking part in team games like sack race or wearing inflatable costumes, which created a whimsical and larger-than-life appearance.

One of the best gems of the resort is the swimming pool with windows that overlook a wonderful landscape view: a unique and luxurious feature which allows us to enjoy the experience of swimming while being surrounded by the beauty of the natural surroundings.
What more could one ask for? ๐Ÿ™‚

๐ŸŽ‰ Happy Sweet Sixteen, Rin! ๐ŸŽ‚๐ŸŒŸ

September 7th, 2023

Last Thursday, Rin celebrated her milestone birthday in style at the Pavillon restaurant in Versoix, and what a night it was! With the stunning view of Lake Lรฉman as the backdrop, Rin was surrounded by all her incredible friends from the boarding houses of Collรจge du Lรฉman. ๐ŸŒ„

Here’s to many more memorable moments and birthdays ahead, Rin!๐ŸŒŸ #NewPortenaJourney

Mountain weekend

Last Friday some of the students left the campus to spend a weekend in Fiesch with a focus on relaxation and well-being. Fiesch’s mountain air and beautiful surroundings make it an ideal place for such an experience. The region also offers amazing landscapes: breathtaking views of towering mountain peaks, lush meadows and serene valleys.

Valentina, Camila, Rin, Ella and Yufei – First morning in Fiesch

New Portena Scores Big in Sports House Competition ๐Ÿ†

September 3rd, 2023

On Sunday, September 3rd, the highly anticipated Sports House Competition unfolded at Concha, bringing together spirited teams from various boarding houses. Among the fierce competitors, our very own New Portena proudly squared off against Villa Du Lac, and the atmosphere was electric!

As we eagerly await the final ranking, which will include all the participating houses, we want to keep our readers informed and excited about our journey in the Sports House Competition. The final standings will reveal just how well our team performed in comparison to the others.

A heartfelt congratulations to all the girls who participated and contributed to this remarkable win. Your dedication and hard work paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder of your achievements!

Stay tuned for the final ranking and more updates on our #NewPortenaJourney. We’re excited to share our progress and celebrate our successes with you all. Until then, let’s bask in the glory of this fantastic victory!

Ella’s 15th Birthday: Sweet Celebrations

On September 2nd, Ella turned fifteen, and it was a day to remember. She spent quality time with her family. The celebration continued the next day with all the girls from New Portena, sharing a delightful cake. In these simple yet heartwarming moments, we were reminded of the power of family and friendship to make birthdays truly special. Happy 15th, Ella! ๐ŸŽ‚๐ŸŽ‰

 

A Memorable Saturday in Geneva: New Portena Girls Bonding

After an entire week of settling into their new school routines at the New Portena boarding house, the girls decided to make the most of their first free Saturday afternoon. Their plan? A day trip to the enchanting city of Geneva. This simple yet special day allowed them to forge new friendships, share laughs, and soak in the beauty of their new surroundings. #NewPortenaJourney continues

Presenting to you our beautiful New Portena Family

Diverse Beginnings, Shared Journey

Excitement fills the air as we introduce thirty girls who are part of our New Portena Boarding House family. Hailing from different corners of the world, they’re ready to embark on a year of growth, friendship, and discovery. As they settle in, friendships bloom, and personal development takes center stage. Our mentors are here to guide their academic and personal journeys, ensuring a holistic year ahead.

#NewPortenaJourney Begins

From conquering challenges to celebrating successes, this year is more than just studies โ€“ it’s a voyage of self-exploration. We’re thrilled to share in their triumphs and experiences along this exciting #NewPortenaJourney.

Presenting our two House Captainsโ€ฆ
Bice & Manuela! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

Weekend full of activities

Collรจge du Lรฉman offers a well-rounded experience for the students, providing both academic engagement during the weekdays and a variety of activities over the weekends to foster personal growth and enjoyment. This approach can help students develop skills beyond the classroom and create a balanced learning environment.

This weekend our students enjoyed different activities like horse riding, cooking, tennis and some of them also went to aquapark.

We are excited to have again with us some of the students who have been in New Portena in the last years and we are looking forward to welcoming all the other returning students.

In this photo Sayuri, He he and Bice met the new lovely students Hanna, Yufei and Xinyuan.

So happy to have all of you in our New Portena family.

Terri, Perrine, Irene and Iola

Welcome to the 2023-24 School Year at New Portena Boarding House!

Hello and warm greetings to all our lovely students, both familiar faces and newcomers, at New Portena Boarding House! As we embark on the journey of a new academic year here at Collรจge du Lรฉman, we are brimming with excitement and anticipation. On behalf of Mrs Terri from England, Perrine from France, Irene from Italy, and Iola from Ireland, we extend our heartfelt welcome to each and every one of you.

The corridors and rooms of New Portena are buzzing with renewed energy and an air of camaraderie as we eagerly await the start of this year’s adventures. To those who are returning, welcome back! Your presence brings a sense of continuity and comfort to our boarding house family. Your stories from last year have woven the threads of our community, and we can’t wait to see the chapters that unfold this year.

And to those who are new to our cherished boarding house, a special and warm welcome awaits you. The doors of New Portena stand open, ready to embrace you in a tapestry of diverse cultures, experiences, and friendships. As you step into this wonderful abode, know that you are not just joining a school โ€“ you are becoming a part of a close-knit family that spans the globe.

The entire New Portena family are here to support and guide you through every step of this incredible journey. We understand that embarking on a new school year can be both exciting and a tad bit nerve-wracking, especially for those experiencing it for the first time. But fear not, for you are surrounded by peers who share in your anticipation, mentors who are ready to lend a helping hand, and a vibrant community that will soon become your home away from home.

So, whether you’re returning or joining us for the first time, let us make a pact to embrace every opportunity that comes our way. Let us challenge ourselves, support one another, and create a vibrant tapestry of experiences that define the essence of New Portena Boarding House.

Here’s to the 2023-24 school year โ€“ a year filled with growth, laughter, learning, and countless beautiful moments. Welcome back, dear students, to the embrace of New Portena. Let’s make this year unforgettable!

With warm regards,

The New Portena Boarding House Family

Happy summer โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒด

Dear all,

Today marks the end of an amazing school year where we had the change to welcome 7 new girls to our house community. Although some of them are not coming back next year, we know they will always carry with them the friendships and the memories they made during these 10 months New Portena.

Saying goodbye, even if it’s only for a few months, is not easy. But we know the girls will fully enjoy their holidays and will come back with hundreds of stories and plenty of energy.

Thank you girls for an beautiful year; we couldn’t have ask for anything better.

Happy summer, and see you soon.

Happy Summer 2018 Wallpapers - Wallpaper Cave

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana

End of Year event๐ŸŽŠ๐Ÿ–๏ธ

Dear all,

Last Sunday we had one of the most anticipated events of the year: the End of Year event. For 5 hours, all of our boarders enjoyed a cloudy but warm day of spring where they participated in different activities such as a water gun fight, water slide, bubble football, and bungee trampoline.

It was a very exciting and funny afternoon were everyone ate ice cream, cotton candy and popcorns.

Later, for dinner, we enjoyed a delicious Venezuelan dinner in the Concha gardens.

video

video 2

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana.

The last dance๐ŸŽ“

Dear all,

On Saturday, we celebrated our Grade 12’s graduation. Some of the girls went to support and celebrate their friends’ success.

Rei did an amazing cover of “Rolling in the deep” by Adele, and made an emotional speech as Valedictorian.

 

We wish them all the best of luck in their future.

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna, and Fana.

 

Graduation ceremony ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŽ“๐ŸŽ“

Dear all,

Graduation day has arrived, and we could not be more proud of our graduating girls Cherry, Carina, Sara, and Rei.

If you cannot attend graduation, you can join them on this big day via the link below from 10 a.m.

Graduation (nordangliaeducation.com)

We want to take this opportunity to thank the girls for all the love they showed us during their time in the house and all the good memories we will always care with us.

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana.

Leavers assembly !! ๐Ÿพ

Hello everyone,

In a momentous celebration, four remarkable young women bid farewell to their school years, marking a significant milestone in their lives. Today, amidst cheers and applause, they stood tall on the stage of their leavers’ assembly, embodying the culmination of their hard work, determination, and growth. These extraordinary graduates have left an indelible mark on their school, and we, their proud supporters, couldn’t be happier. Through countless hours of studying, extracurricular pursuits, and personal development, they have become confident individuals ready to take on the world. As they embark on their next chapter, we applaud their achievements and eagerly anticipate the extraordinary journeys that await them.

Congratulations, Carina, Cherry, Rei and Sara!!

Wishing you all the best!

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana

 

Long weekend (yes, again๐Ÿคฉ)

Dear all,

This lovely and sunny weekend was the first real spring weekend we had this year. Sun was out, temperatures were up and the girls didn’t want to waste their last free weekend before the exams in the house (but don’t worry, we can assure you they are studying).

Luisa and Roberta spend their Saturday morning in the lake doing Wakeboard. Even if it was their first time doing this, they enjoyed it a lot, had fun, and managed to stay still (at least a few times).

Ingrid went back to physical activities and enjoyed doing some climbing (she doesn’t want to admit it, but we are sure she is training to climb the Everest).

On Monday, as it was a non-school day, some of our girls joined the trip to Luna Park, in Lausanne. For those who don’t know, Luna Park is a temporary amusement park that works all around Switzerland. They have dozens of different rides and food trucks where you can have from ice creams to hot dogs or Asian food.

Darina, Samira, Sofiia, Bice, Joslyn and Rin had lots of fun; they ate a lot, had slush and went on some rides (or all of them if you ask Samira).

But it’s Monday night and we are back in the house, preparing the coming week and studying for the final exams. Only 3 more weeks of school!!!

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana.

Long weekend, lots of fun!

Dear all,

This long weekend we had in Switzerland was the perfect excuse for most of our girls to go back home or to travel somewhere in Europe and enjoy the good weather.

But this didn’t stop the girls who stayed in the house from enjoying themselves to the max.

Bice, Sayuri, and Rin had a lovely time by the lake with Miss Bea on the Banana Boat activity. Despite the bad weather from the last couple of days, Saturday was sunny enough to allow us to enjoy some water activities. We have to say, the girls were not convinced at first as the water was cold. But the night before the activity the excitement was visible around the house. As you can see, they had LOTS of fun and can’t wait to do it again.

 

Miss Sarah, as lovely and sweet as always, baked some Banana muffins and Blueberry muffins for the girls. If you were not here this weekend don’t worry, we are sure Miss Sarah will bake again soon (right, Miss Sarah? ๐Ÿ˜‰).

But this weekend is sadly over, the girls are back in the house, getting ready for the week and studying for the coming exams.

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana.

Weekend activities 13-14 May

Hello everyone !

Despite being in the midst of the exams the girls managed to include in some exciting leisure activities last weekend, such as go-karting and golf, aside from their usual activities like baking and body shaping!


Love,

Tarri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana

5th-7th May – Weekend activities ๐Ÿ›ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿณ

Dear all,

Summer is approaching in the beautiful city of Geneva and the girls took advantage of the sun and the good weather. Some of the girls attended their beloved Saturday morning activities: tennis and cooking, where they prepared Bolognese pasta; before heading to Geneva.

But the surprise arrived Saturday afternoon when we received THE call. Mr. Usher, our Head of Boarding, was looking for 6 students to go on a speedboat ride after lunchtime. Sara, Bice, Rin, and Cherry called Coco and He from Villa du Lac and they all headed to the lake to enjoy the good weather on the boat (they loved the speed).

From all the pictures we received and the big smiles on their faces when they came back, we think they really enjoyed it. (Mr. Usher, if you are reading this, they are looking forward to the next boat ride!!).

But unfortunately the weekend is coming to an end and the girls are back in the house getting ready for the start of the weekend.

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana.

May Fitness Challenge ๐Ÿ’ช

Dear all,

As exam season is coming, we want to make sure our students stay active and are taking breaks from time to time. For this, Mr. Rob and Mr. Rodrigo have created the May Fitness Challenge, where every day there is a different challenge you can complete. Boarders and House Parents from all houses have been participating since the beginning of the month, challenging themselves to improve every day.

We can proudly say Defne I. won Friday’s challenge as she managed to do 23.881 steps in a single day ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ. Congrats Defne!

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana.

Final exams ๐Ÿ€

Dear all,

Exam season is coming and our grade 12 girls Sara, Rei, Carina, and Cherry are getting ready for their final step in High School.

We wish you the best of luck, we are sure you are going to do amazing. We are really proud of you โ™ฅ๏ธ


Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna, and Fana.

Trip to Lyon ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท

Dear all,

This weekend, some girls had the chance to go on a day trip to Lyon, a city in the south-east of France. Lyon is well-known for being at the junction of the rivers Rhรดne and Saรดne, its Roman history, and its beautiful architecture.

The girls had an amazing time traveling to Lyon by train, exploring the city, and doing some shopping.

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana.

Birthday girls!!

It’s never too late for wishes!

During the Easter holidays, Sayuri (April 10th), Zoya (April 11th), Darina and Yvonne (April 16th) had their birthdays! And today, we celebrated Ingrid’s birthday!

Wishing you all the best!!

Our weekly meeting also allowed us to prepare something for the girls!

Adults had fun, too, preparing a fruit salad…

Love,

Terri, Sarah, ย Maria, Ioanna and Fana

Welcome Back!

We hope everyone enjoyed their holiday!

We are very happy to have the girls back at the house.

This has been a lovely welcome back weekend, the girls are happy to be back and so are we!

 

Happy holidays !! ๐Ÿž

ย  ย “It’s the first week of April and the start of the spring holidays! The girls have left for break, which they will all be spending differently, some with friends while others return to their homes to relax and enjoy spending time with their families”.ย 

Zoyaย (IB1 student)

 

New Portena wishes everyone a lovely spring holiday!

Enjoy your Easter break!

The boarding house will be open again from Saturday, 22.04.

See you soon!

Best wishes,

Terri, Sarah, Maria, Ioanna and Fana

 

Wellbeing pillar – Online Safety๐Ÿ“ฒ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ’ป

Dear all,

The Wellbeing Pillar 4: Scams, Security, and Identity Theft has come to an end. Our girls have learned multiple things about online safety and the importance of staying safe in the digital world.

It is extremely important to make sure we are safeguarding our personal information, our identity, and our digital devices. We must be mindful of who we interact with on social media, the sites we visit, and the information we share.

For this, our girls created this TikTok to share with everyone some tips on how to stay safe.

Best,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna

A loving home ๐Ÿก๐Ÿ’–

New Portena is a place where our girls can develop their creativity to the maximum and decide what they want their future to be like. It is home to 28 women, but has been home to thousands more. We are proud of each one of them and the people they are becoming.

Thank you for creating a home in which to share experiences, a home full of laughter, emotions, and good times.

New Portena is home, today and always.


Best,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

International dinner: Belgium! ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ช

Hello everyone,

On Wednesday we were all excited to celebrate the cuisine of Belgium through an international dinner featuring braised beef, frites, vegetables, and waffles for dessert. The savory braised beef is slow cooked to perfection while crispy frites are perfect for dipping in sauces.ย  For dessert, students can enjoy light and fluffy Belgian waffles with chocolate sauce and syrup. Sharing this meal together is a powerful way to celebrate diversity and learn about different cultures. Let’s raise a toast to the delicious flavors of Belgium!
New Portena team
ย 

Kindness is a super power!!

In last nightโ€™s house meeting, the girls were encouraged to discuss kindness and how it can be a superpower in life. The girls were given a list of qualities such as empathy, integrity, popularity and public image and were asked to organise them based on what they found most important.ย 

Kindness and loyalty were among the most common words found on top of the girlsโ€™ lists, and some have shared why exactly these qualities were so important to them. Our House Parents then explained just how far someone can get with kindness as it allows this person to express all of the other attributes weโ€™ve seen.ย 

Zoya IB1

New Portena

Weekend recap๐Ÿธ

Dear all,

After a lovely, sunny, and warm week, the weekend started with lots of rain and cold, but this weather didn’t stop our girls from enjoining their free time and attend their weekend activities. The girls attended plenty of activities such as Badminton, Ski Club, Bodyshaping, Chess Club or Stretching and Relaxation.

Despite Saturday’s afternoon rain, our girls went to Geneva to do some shopping, have lunch or enjoy the views. Just one more weekend before the Easter break ๐Ÿฅณ



Best,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

Saturdayโ€™s pancake night ๐Ÿฅž๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿณ

Saturday night can be very quiet in New Portena. Some of the girls may be studying, watching TV or walking around campus with their friends.

One of the girls favourites activities is pancake night! They always ask Miss Sarah for pancakes (the best one weโ€™ve ever tried, to be honest) and we spend a really good time chatting and enjoying each other’s company.

Have a lovely Sunday,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

Boarding talent show ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ๐Ÿชฉ

Dear all,

Last Tuesday we had the pleasure to participate in the Boarding Talent Show. Our girls, Manuela, Venรผs, Defne I, Sayuri, Bice, Raquel and Roberta, did an amazing performance with lights and a choreography by Miss Terri.

No wonder with this talent we won 5thย place!!

Congratulations girls!!

Best,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

Nowruz

Dear all,

Today our Iranian, Persians, Albanian and some Turkish students will celebrate Nowruz, the New Year following the Iranian calendar. In this day, it is a tradition to visit friends and family, do some shopping, clean the house and prepare dinner for the celebration.

We wish everyone celebrating this day an amazing evening.

Best,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

Volleyball tournament and more!

This weekend our girls participated of a national Volleyball Tournament, they won the third place!! We are very proud of them, as they put so much effort into going to practice and giving their best out at the court. Congratulations to Defne and Luisa for their well deserved medals!!

Our girls also had the opportunity to participate of a day at the SPA, as well as many more activities offered by the school.

 

 

Proactive start!

Hello from New Portena!

The first week after the mid-season break has already passed. Our girls gave us moments of pride and reflection at our previous boarding assembly. The assembly started with Rei’s enchanted performance on “Skyfall”. Defne A., Defne I., and Venus are leading a Charity Event to raise funds for the Turkish-Syria earthquake victims and presented an overview of the disaster, and how we can make a donation. You can visit the TRENDYOL site as well as the web pages of two Turkish organizations, AFAD and AKUT. Finally, Sara shared her experience as a Prefect and how the Prefect role could contribute to the school community.
This weekend some of our students travelled to the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona. They had the opportunity to visit some of Gaudi’s masterpieces, such as Sagrada Famรญla and Gรผell Park and, of course, the Camp Nou football field. For Those who chose to stay here for the weekend, there were plenty of activities such as badminton, ski, cooking, baking, and music club, to name a few. Here are some photos and Rei’s performance video!

https://blogs.cdl.ch/newportena/files/2023/03/IMG_4834.mov

Love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

 

Photo competition ๐Ÿฅ‡

Hello everyone!

A few days ago the students had to take a photo that would reflect international friendships. The girls won the first place by presenting internationalism and friendship โ€ฆ hand in hand.. With this photo they created a wonderful memory of their time at CDL!

We are always proud of you

New Portena team

Partage food bank

At Collรจge du Lรฉman we like to be able to help those who need it most; at the beginning of the school year we collaborated with the food collection at COOP supermarket and, just before Christmas, with the gift box appeal.

This February, from the 6th to the 14th, we are supporting Partage food bank, aย hunger-fighting charity which supports thousands of less-fortunate individuals and families each week.

From New Portena, we encourage our girls and everyone who wants to donate to participate in this campaign to help those who need it most.

https://mailchi.mp/cdl/22-23-partage-from-pfamads

Partage_Feb2023_poster_digital

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

Boarding Newsletter๐Ÿ“ฐ

Good afternoon everyone!

The second edition of the Boarding Newsletter is out. During the weekend you received via email the full version but in case you didnโ€™t see it, here you have a direct link:

https://img.nordangliaeducation.com/resources/europe/permacache/a25/e04/700/e705e834cdac52ba6acd46a3cb55b93e.pdf

We want to give a big thank you to Defne A. and Anna; both of them helped contributing to this amazing project with articles and editing.

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

Second Ski Weekend๐Ÿ”๏ธ

This weekend we had the privilege of enjoying a wonderful weather at Fiesch!

A ski resort with amazing slopes and the opportunity to admire the most incredible views.

We not only had 1, but 2 days of sun on the mountain.

The girls had the opportunity to make new friends, explore the mountain, spend time with their friends, and improve their skiing/snowboarding skills.

We hope you everyone enjoyed their weekends as much as we did!

Wishing you all a lovely week!

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

 

Well Being – Pillar 3. Building Positive Friendships๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ

Welcome to the third pillar of our well-being programme.

This pillar is a short pillar, however it is a topic that is at the forefront of our student’s progression and development.

The Takeaway point for this pillar will be:

  • What are the benefits of an international friendship?

There are several options to discuss with our students:

  • How does the boarding house support and encourage international friendships, give examples
  • What advice would you give future students coming into an international school environment
  • Can you think of some examples of famous international friendships?
  • Self-Reflection – Do you embrace the international community, or do you prefer the convenience of building friendships within your own culture and language?

International Friendship Day – YouTube

Weekend in Fiesch โ›ท

Good afternoon everyone!

This weekend, our boarders went to Fiesch, a little town in the Swiss Alps. There, they discovered the alpine landscape that characterises this country. They had the opportunity to do plenty of activities such as skiing, snowboarding, a visit to Brig and the thermal baths, playing bowling or enjoying some free time.

While the girls are looking forward to their return to the mountains next weekend, here are some photos of the beautiful Fiesch.



Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Ioanna and Maria.

Piano nights๐ŸŽน๐ŸŽผ

Good afternoon everyone!

Last night we got delighted with a piano concert thanks to Darina. She played โ€œSomeone like youโ€ by Adele and Rin sang along to it. Darina has been practicing a lot over the last few weeks and it is always a pleasure to listen to her.


Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

1st weekend back ๐Ÿคฉ

Hello everyone,

After a long Christmas break the girls are back on campus with their usual weekend activities.

Within the wide range of activities to choose from, most of our girls opted for sports such as Tennis, Bodyshaping, Fitness or Stretching and Relaxation.

Others, like Venรผs and Defne, cooked couscous with meatballs in Cooking or a chocolate cake in Baking as Skyler did Skyler.

As it was the first weekend back, most of our girls spend their afternoon doing some shopping and enjoying our wonderful Geneva.

We hope they did all their ski shopping, cause next weekend we are heading to Fiesch โ›ทโ˜ƒ๏ธ

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

Winter Dance โ„๏ธ๐Ÿชฉ

Good evening,

Last Saturday we celebrated our annual Winter Dance with all of our Boarders. They enjoyed a lovely dinner full of joy, laughs and music.

Rei, prefect and head girls of boarding, did an amazing speech we she talked about the importance of knowing our strengths and ourselves.

To end the night, the students showed their best moves on the dance floor and they spent the last weekend together before the winter break.

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Ioanna and Marรญa.


Lโ€™Escalade – Geneva Tradition

In 1602, Geneva was coveted by the Savoyards. Chales-Emmanuel I intended to make Geneva his capital north of the Alps.

On the night of 11-12th December 1602, one of the darkest nights of the year, a troop of 2000 soldiers launched a surprise attack. Arriving in Painpalais, the mercenaries climbed the walls surrounding the city. That is why the commemoration is referred to as โ€œlโ€™Escaladeโ€ (which means โ€œthe climbโ€ in French).

The alarm was sounded at 4:30 a.m. by a watchman firing his harquebus. La Clรฉmence, the bell of Saint Peterโ€™s Cathedral, rang the alarm supported by all the bells in the monuments.

Armed with nothing more than courage and halberds, the citizens of Geneva, men and women alike, ran out of their houses to defend the city alongside the bourgeois militia and the cityโ€™s soldiers. They fought off the enemies using any means to hand.

A number of stories recall the courage of La Mรจre Royaume, who scalded one Savoyard with her pot of soup. Since 1881, chocolate cauldrons decorated with the coat of arms of Geneva have been sold and eaten at this time every year in honour of the bravery.

The enemies withdrew empty-handed, leaving 54 casualties behind.

To celebrate this tradition, each year, the youngest and oldest person in each houselhold smash a chocolate โ€˜Marmiteโ€™ and recite the following sentence:

โ€œAinsi pรฉrissent les ennemis de la Rรฉpubliqueโ€



IMG_0497

*Click on the link above to see a video of Cherry and Amaliya smashing the โ€œMartmiteโ€.

Boarding Awards Ceremony ๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…

Good evening!

Last night we celebrated the first Boarding Award Ceremony of the year.

Sara, Manuela and Luisa received the boarding life award.

Skyler, Defne and Darina won the boarding activities award.

Manuela and Amaliya won the grade 9 academic award.


Bice and Skyler won the 10th grade academic award.

Anastasiia won the Premiรจre Maturitรฉ academic award.


Rei won the IB2 academic award.

We are really proud of all our girls, you are doing amazing ๐Ÿคฉ

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Ioanna and Marรญa.

Europa park ๐ŸŽข

Good evening!

This weekend Luisa, Manuela, Defne I, Defne A, Venรผs, Rin and Amaliya went on a trip to Europa Park, in Rust, Germany.

They enjoyed the beauty of the different European countries being represented in the park and also the rollercoasters (they lost count of how many times they went on the Silver Star ride). They had plenty of food and did some shopping for Secret Santa๐ŸŽ…๐Ÿผ

Enjoy the lovely pictures they took ๐Ÿคฉ

Terri, Sarah, Ioanna and Marรญa.

Wellbeing pillar 2 – Fighting Bullying and Promoting Diversity

Good evening.

Last week we started the 2nd pillar of our Wellbeing Programme.

Take away point 1 – Integration and diversity are part of the international agenda of the world’s most important institutions. ย 

We talk about it at a lower level, at schools, work and public places. However, that topic is at the heart of the identity of all the major international organizations and that is something that sometimes we overlook to consider diversity something to think of at an individual level. Beyond the political message on the importance of diversity, institutions like the UN have a policy of promoting diversity in their work force and enabling all types of people to access job position within their ranks and therefore setting the example on integration and teamwork.

During our house meeting we asked the girls to celebrate diversity by creating a project where we could identify each girl and the country they are from.


The final idea is to have all the girls do something that represents them and decorate the house with this art.

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Maria and Ioanna.

Gift Box Appeal๐ŸŽ๐Ÿงธ

Christmas is the best season to give back. We are aware of how privileged we are and we want to help those in need. This year we are bringing joy and happiness to children in Ukraine and Moldova.

Thank you to everyone who donated and participated wrapping the boxes.


Much love,

Terri, Sarah and Marรญa

Weekend activities 11th-13th November

Good afternoon everyone!

Another weekend has passed by and our girls have enjoyed different activities.

Coco, Bice, Sara, Sayuri and Rin enjoyed a lovely Friday afternoon playing Badminton; Amaliya attended horse riding on Saturday; and Sofiia, Anastasiia, Samira, Anna and Yvonne did some Tennis.

In addition, this weekend we had the chance to do a very different and funny activity: laser tag. Skyler, Sally, Joslyn, Ingrid and our House Tutor Marรญa had a lot of fun playing against some of the Villa du Lac girls (and we won!!).

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah and Marรญa



Happy birthday Rei!

Good morning everyone,

On Wednesday we celebrated Reiโ€™s birthday with all the girls in the house. In exchange, Rei bought the girls some chocolate to enjoy during the house assembly.

We hope you had an amazing day xx

Much love,

Terri, Sarah and Maria

Weekend activities 4th-6th November

Good evening everyone:

The girls spent this sunny but cold weekend doing some activities around campus, before going to Geneva on Saturday. Most of the girls attended Sandwich Club, where they ate some delicious sandwiches made by Miss Sarah.

Our two Prefects, Rei and Sara, did a escape room with the rest of the Prefects and Justin Usher, the boarding director.

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah and Marรญa.

Halloween Party

Good evening everyone!

Yesterday we celebrated Halloween with a particularly spooky dinner and costume party, where our girls let their imagination run wild and chose some amazing costumes!


Darina and Rin dressed up as two sad girls looking for some candy.

Defne was wearing a costume inspired in the movie โ€œThe great Gatsbyโ€

We were honoured to have Mr and Ms Bieber in the house last night portrayed by Roberta and Raquel.


Rei had matching costumes with Sofya from Vila du Lac and theyโ€™re dressed as Steve and Robin from Stranger Things.

And finally, Ingrid had an amazing vampire costume and also a really scary Raven named Edgar.

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah and Marรญa.

Happy Holidays !!

We want to wish everyone a lovely October break!

Make the best out of the last bit of summer and look forward to the lovely autumn colors.

See you in one week! Enjoy your well-deserved holidays!

-The New Portena Team

 

Weekend activities

Good evening everyone!

This weekend the girls have been doing lots of activities!

Coco, Bice, Sayuri, Skyler, Sara and Rin did some badminton, Darina played volleyball and Taisiia, Nastia, Sofiia and Samira had an amazing tennis game.

In the afternoon some of them went to Geneva and, as well as doing some pre-Holliday shopping, they also visited an art gallery.

Much love Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie.

Fribourg day trip

Good morning everyone!

On Saturday, Roberta Luisa and Rei went on a day trip to Fribourg, where they visited the Art and History Museum. Once the visit was over, they had a few hours to explore the city and do some shopping (and even climbย a hill).

Much love Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

ย 

Board games night

Boring Thursday night? More like board games night!

Last Thursday we had an incredible Monopoly game going on in New Portena where Ingrid, who was slowly building a huge hotel empire, won the game for no oneโ€™s surprise.

Much love Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

Weekend 7-9 October

Good evening everyone!

This weekend, Roberta, Amaliya, Defne I, Manueala and Darina went to Disneyland, the weather was amazing and so were the rollercoasters!

Bice and Coco went to Annecy and meanwhile, back at the house, a lot of cooking and baking happened, we made an art collage and the girls joined many activities including baking, cooking, stretching, bodyshaping and the club the Sound of Soul

Weโ€˜re looking forward to next weekend!

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

 

 

Teachers in the house!

Hello everyone,

Today we had the pleasure of welcoming some of the girls teachers to the house. They had the opportunity to get to know the place where they live and study, meet their housemates and chat a bit (and even play some board games as Jenga and Uno!)

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

Weekend activities

Good evening everyone!

This weekend, our girls attended a myriad of activities. Darina and Defne did Volleyball, Sally, Skyler and Carina attended the cooking class, Samira, Sofiia and Anastasiia baked macarons, Ingrid went climbing and Amaliya did horseback riding.

Grade 10 also attended a 5 minute night time meditation for the well being pillar healthy bodies healthy minds.

much love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie


Weekend 23-25 September

Hello everyone,

As every weekend, we had lots of activities to enjoy!

Amaliya joined her weekly horse riding lesson; Coco and Sara attended the Munich Philarmonica Orchestra’s concert in Geneva; ย Rei, Ana and Coco did meditation; Luisa, Yvonne, Anna, Sofiia, Samira and Anastasiia baked apple pastries, and many of the girls visited the rainy Geneva on Saturday for some lunch and shopping.

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie.

 

Mediterranean food club

Hello everyone!

Tonight Luisa and Manuela got the chance to try a traditional Portuguese dish called โ€œBifanaโ€, made with pork, onion, tomato sauce and bread.

Next week, we will be cooking Italian food!

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

Healthy body, healthy mind

Hello everyone!

Tonight we had a small cooking session in the theme of the first pillar โ€œHealthy body and mindโ€. Together we made granola bars, avocado on toast and banana/avocado smoothies!


We ended the night with a 5-minute meditation session to ensure a good night rest zzzโ€ฆ

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

 

Wellbeing Pillar 1 โ€“ Nurturing Healthy Bodies and Minds

We are now approaching the third week of delivering the first pillar of our wellbeing programme in our Boarding Houses โ€“ย โ€˜Nurturing Healthy Bodies and Mindsโ€™.ย 

Throughout this pillar we will be ensuring our students understand the importance of taking care of our bodies and our minds in our day to day lives. Furthermore, we will be highlighting sport participation, sleeping patterns, nutrition and relaxation methods, as sub topics. With the students, we will discuss and discover how all these could play a key role in maintaining a healthy balance.

This week we will be asking the students how a healthy balanced diet can help with sports performance, as well as academic performance, brain development and growth. We will show the videos below to the students.

Timur and Antoni are the student wellbeing advocates for our Boarding House and they will be presenting in our wellbeing session again this week. They will be sharing their experiences and answering a range of questions regarding the importance of good nutrition for sports and everyday life.

Nutrition is key to sports performance | Ohio State Medical Center – YouTube

Nutrition for a Healthy Life – YouTube

Here our some recent photos of some healthy dishes that we have served to our students in the Dining room. Please feel free to visit the Dining at CDL Blog Page following this link: https://blogs.cdl.ch/diningatcdl/

 

Weekend 16-18 September

Hello everyone,

As always, the weekend was filled with activities. Cherry and Luisa joined the lake cleaning, Venรผs, Anastasiia, Samira, Sofiia and Anna baked muffins, Rei joined the running club and many of our girls visited Geneva to do some shopping and enjoying amazing meals.

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

Mountain weekend: Verbier

Hello everyone!

Our 11 and 12 girls went to Verbier to enjoy a sunny and funny weekend in the mountains.

We arrived on Friday, and our girls had some free time to have dinner and discover the city.

On Saturday, they had plenty of different activities to choose! Some of them went mountain biking, rock climbing, or hiking. Others preferred to go to a ropes course, do multi-sports on camp or a Via Ferrata. The girls also had the chance to do study hall in the afternoon๐Ÿค“.
For the last day, we had plenty of Carnival games for the girls! They all had a lovely time and, in the end, Rei, Carina, Cherry, and Yvonne won a silver medal for the house!
Much love,
Terri, Sarah, Maria and Marie.

Saturday activities

Good afternoon everyone,

The weekend isn’t over yet, but our girls have attended many activities already!

On Saturday, Amaliya went horseriding, Luisa joined the running club, Ingrid went climbing, Skyler played beach volley,ย  almost half of our girls joined us baking cheesecakes and Joclyn made some beautiful pictures during the photography activity.

Most of the girls also visited Geneva yesterday which included a lot of shopping and delicious meals!

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

 

Friday is movie night!

Good evening everyone,

Last Wednesday we had a formal dinner, theย food was delicious and the girls looked amazing!

Tonight, some of the girls cooked their own food and afterwards we had a movie night with popcorn! Weโ€™re looking forward to the weekend which is filled with all sorts of activities and โ€ฆ the first house sports competition of the year!

Much love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa, Marie

Everyone arrived!

All of our girls arrived!
Last night we had our first house meeting during which we did a small quiz to break the ice and get the know each other.

Today, they had their first day of school and some of the girls will join their first activity tonight!

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

Lake activities

0Tubing video

Today, Luisa, Roberta and Skyler joined us for some lake (and on shore) activities, the day started cloudy but thankfully skies cleared up after the girls came out of the water! Afterwards, we had a lovely brunch with the whole boarding family ๐Ÿ™‚

(Click on โ€œtubing videoโ€ to see one of the lake activities)

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

First weekend with our new students

Hello everyone!

It has been a pleasure to welcome all of the new girls.

This weekendโ€™s focus has been on getting to each other and the surroundings of the school. Our new girls Skyler, Ingrid, Luisa, Roberta and Amaliya have attended many activities including visiting Versoix and the chocolate factory Favarger, a movie night and a wonderful tour in Geneva this Saturday.

Lots of love,

Terri, Sarah, Marรญa and Marie

 

 

Welcome To New Portena!

Welcome back to those who are returning and a very warm welcome to those who are new in this adventure!

We are very happy to receive you in your home away from home.

Within our team we have two wonderful House Tutors, two House Parents and an activity leader who will come every evening to organize different activities with the girls.

Together with the entire boarding community we are looking forwards to this wonderful year ahead of us.

Welcome to the New Portena family!

With love,

Terry, Sarah, Maria and Marie.

 

 

 

 

Have a great summer!!


The girls are gone and the house is closed, Thank you all for being part of the New Portena family this year it has been such a wonderful journey!!

best of luck next year and have a great summer holiday!!!

lots of love,

The New Portena team

xxxxx

End of year party !!!


Everybody in the house had a lot more fun than they thought they would at our super fun end of year party in concha. All the boarders were there, we had ice cream, laser tag and a variety of fun water and inflatable activities.

It was a lovely way to cool off in the heat and take a well deserved break from all the studying that has been happening over the weekend.

lots of love,

The New Portena team

xxx

House Assembly

Tonight we held the final house meeting where everyone would be present. We wanted to make it a special one to remember. Ms. Emily created a video collage of some our best moments. We also asked parents to send a little message or video for the students to say thank you for the year. It was very nice moment and any tears were shed.

We hope we enjoy our video collage.

aa45a21c-e37a-4fe4-884e-a1c9964bb06a

Lots of love,

The New Portena Team

Quiet weekend and Copenhagen trip


It was a quiet weekend here at New Portena the majority of our girls were away for the long weekend including Maria, Defne and Venus who joined me on the school trip to Copenhagen which was very busy and a lot of fun, we saw the little mermaid, the Palace and Tivoli to name a few.

Some of the girls who stayed enjoyed a trip to Montreux and activities such as biking and Tennis.

Lots of Love,

The New Portena Team

xxx

Cooling Off!

We threw a water fight and ice cream party. The girls had a fantastic time and cooled off on the hot summer day. Here are a few captured moments from the day. Enjoy!

 


Lots of love,

The New Portena Team

xxx

 

Hot spring weekend


With the temperatures rising and the grey skies clearing our lovely ladies have been doing their best to stay out of the sun and in the shade of the trees.

We had some fun activities like nature walk, baking, sound of soul, art club and molli did a 10k run! Carina participated in the community clean up, thankfully there was shade!

Lots of Love,

The New Portena Team

xxx

 

 

 

Beach Volleyball !!!


Really pleased I got to see Maria, Defne and Zoya in action playing volleyball against Old Portena today!

The girls boarding beach volleyball tournament has begun now that the weather has started to get warmer and the sun is shining and Iโ€™m happy to say New Portena won their first game.

Old Portena played a very good game there is lots of talent and I canโ€™t wait to see how the tournament unfolds!

Lots of love,

The New Portena Team

xxx

Weekend Activities

This weekend our girls participated in a range of activities like tennis, badminton, nature walks, art and baking.


A few of our girls also volunteered to take score at the volleyball tournament held in CDL this weekend.

Lots of Love,

The New Portena Team

xxx

Fun in the holidays!

Coming back from the holidays, we were all tired, but happy to be home. I had a great time in Paris with some friends and visited a few museums. We went shopping and spent a lot of time walking around the city. Even though, as an IB student, I had a lot of work to do for school and a few exams, I still tried to have some fun before going back to studying. Iโ€™m a bit scared, but happy to be back at the boarding house and at school.

Sara Slaj, IB1

Weekend Activities

Our girls participated in a variety of activities this weekend that they really enjoyed.

There was a relaxing visit to the spa.

IMG_0342

A few girls went to the chocolate festival and sampled some Swiss chocolate.


Other girls went on a beautiful nature walk.


Lots of love,

The New Portena team

xxx

Weekend shenanigans



The girls had a lovely weekend where they went to Chamonix ice cave, Nature walk, tennis and cooking.
They were also able to enjoy the warming weather to study outside for the warming spring season.

lots of love,

the New Portena team xx

Week 4 Pillar 4 – “Online Wellbeing”

We use our electronics in every part of our lives – whether at work or in our free time. However, it is the imbalance of use in our free time that can then cause issues. Who is guilty of being with friends but still checking their phone and sending messages; Or watching Netflix but sneaking in a game of Candy Crush; Or ignoring the moment in favour of getting the best picture for Instagram. Addiction is a strong word, but obsession may be more appropriate in these scenarios.
We want the students to think about the following points;

  1. Are you conscious of how much time you spend on your phone?
  2. Who really wins by you spending more and more time on your apps?

Here is a video that has been made by the Student Advocate Group.

Another resource is the Phone Detox Challenge in the attachment.

The Art Explained

This is a picture from the exhibition of art for grade 12. The artworks that are showcased and which I am working on in AP are focused to portray childhood and telling a story of my brother living with an invisible friend. I was able to work with different mediums and techniques like digital art apps, charcoal, and monoprintsย and that made the overall process exciting.

I see art as a great way for people to express themselves, that is why I decided to take up this AP course. It also was a great opportunity for me to make my ideas real and create anything I wanted.

When my artworks were showcased I was worried if they would look good enough in front of others, but it made me realize how everyone is different and tells a unique story which makes it more interesting. I was also proud of having the opportunity I havenโ€™t experienced before.

In the future, I am planning to do many more artworks using other techniques as well as and I am very excited about that.

 

Lots of love,

Sofiia Baran

 

Sofiia Art Show


Our lovely Sofiia had her AP art show this evening with some pieces about childhood and imaginary friends ๐Ÿฅฐ

We are so proud of you Sofiia and I had a great time at the art show.

lots of love,

The New Portena Team xxx

Week 3 pillar 4 “Your Online Life”.ย 

Students are not able to open Insta, TikTok, Youtube etc, without being bombarded by the Life of Influencers. It has been glamorised and normalised as an aspirational pursuit to have 1000s of followers, likes and comments.
We want the students to think about the following points;

  1. What is our true reason for posting our pictures, videos etc online?
  2. Why do we think society now values followers, likes and comments on someone’s post as a measure of their success?
You can create or design your Wellbeing Session in whatever way suits your house. Or below are some resources you can use.ย 

Here is a video that has been made by the Student Advocate Group. It may prompt a discussion which you can then use for your own students to share their thoughts.

we also played a really fun kahoot in our weekly meeting.

Lots of love,
the new portena team xx

Week 2 Pillar 4 ‘What you post….in that moment’.

We want the students to think about the following points;
  1. When we think we are being funny or witty or purposefully insensitive towards someone elseโ€™s post are we really aware of the potential harm or hurt we can cause.
  2. Posting a funny picture or video of someone or your friend can be online- forever!
Here is a video that has been made by the Student Advocate Group.

 

Our lovely Sabine and Sara led our meetings using the above video and poster

Or attached is a poster that can prompt a discussion

Classical

A few of our girls were lucky enough to receive tickets for a lovely classical concert on Friday evening, with the lead solo violinist from Ukraine and with the artistic leadership of the world-renowned violinist Renaud Capuรงon. The concert took place at Victoria Hall in Geneva.

 

The girls said they had an amazing time at the concert and treated themselves to some Starbucks.

Lots of love,

The New Portena Team,

xxx

 

Game Night!

We had a fantastic game night this week. A couple of the girls brought out different types of cards and taught each other how to play different card games from different countries.

 

Lots of love,

The New Portena Team

xxx

Kate and Kseniia


During the boarding assembly this evening Kate and Kseniia gave a powerful presentation about the importance of peace and friendship regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Kseniiaโ€™s photograph featuring Kate is a collaboration between two friends urging everyone to come together, portrays the media silence in Russia and shows the connection between the two countries.

We are very proud of these two girls and they did an amazing job.

lots of love,

The New Portena Team

xxx

Welcome Back!


After a lovely week of rest and skiing for some weโ€™re happy to welcome the girls back to the house!

We are so excited to have everyone start coming back and canโ€™t wait for the house to be full again.

 

lots of love,

The New Portena team x

Pillar 4 week 1 – Online Safety

Our next pillar is online safety below are the takeaway points for this pillar

1) Cyberbullying

What You Send in “That Moment When … “
When we think we are being funny or witty or purposefully insensitive towards someone elseโ€™s post or picture- are we really aware of the potential harm or hurt we can cause. Being honest is important, but is there such a thing as being too honest? Comments or actions can easily escalate online when we can hide behind our screens. When is it cyberbullying?
2) Your Online Life
My Social Media Life
For most students being on some form of social media is a great way of staying connected with friends, sharing moments and keeping up to date. But it can also mean big-time distractions, over sharing, social pressures, and more. How can we navigate this?
3) Online Wellbeing
Can going online be Addictive?

The word “addiction” has a big meaning behind it. Research is inconclusive on whether it’s truly accurate when it comes to digital device use. What’s certain, however is when we use our apps, the companies are profiting from it. Most of the apps we use are designed to keep us hooked. What is the right balance?

 

lots of love,

 

the New Portena team xxx

Friendship and Holidays!!!

As part of our friendship wellbeing pillar, a few girls painted some rocks to symbolise what friendship means to them.


โ€œIn the cookie of life friends are chocolate chipโ€

Have an amazing break and gets lots of rest.

Lots of love,

The New Portena Team

xxx

Crochet art club

The beginning of crochet art club at new portena joined by some of the kids from champs des bois.

 

we had lots of fun painting and relaxing as well as finding out Carina is a natural at crochet !

lots of love,

The New Portena team xx

Weekend Activities!!

Our girls participated in a range activities this weekend.

ย 

Coco, Defne, Sara and Sabine had an amazing day on the slopes.


Molli and Rei enjoyed a lovely nature walk and a sunny Sunday afternoon.


Carina, Maria and Samira learned how to make frittatas in their cooking class.

 

Lots of love,

The New Portena Team

xxx

Friendship by Nastya and Ana Karina

The Power of a Balanced and Healthy Friendship

ย 

Friendships are vital for our wellbeing and in them we create some of the most powerful bonds we can experience throughout our existence. But with that term, which is friendship, there come many broad meanings to it, that can mean different things to different people. Our overall being can impact the way we view and experience that friendship. Most of the typical friendships are formed through:

 

  • People you know and with who you have a mutual affection.
  • A sense of connection, companionship, support, and understanding.
  • Sharing time, experiences, and confidences.
  • Give and take such that sharing is, perceived to be a two way street.

 

 

Benefits of Healthy Friendships

ย 

Connecting with other people is one of the most urgent impulses of us humans. With examples of life experience and research, having a life with the inclusion of friends helps makes us better adjusted in life. Having healthy friends helps to deal against negative mental health outcomes. Friendships improve our confidence and self-worth, help us cope with serious life events or trauma like break-ups, illness, or losing a job, improve our feeling of belonging and encourage us to avoid unhealthy behaviors or change them when it comes to numeros things in life.

 

 

Toxic or Unhealthy Friendships

ย 

While close friendships often serve in order to bring usz positive, protective, and healthy feelings, some friendships can have the opposite effect causing antagonism, conflict, and inequality in ourselves and the overall friendship. These relationships are considered toxic, unhealthy for our us. Examples of toxic friendships include:

  • Encouraging harmful behavior.
  • Having an unbalanced relationship or a relationship thatโ€™s a one-way street (all give, no take or all take and no give)
  • Continuing to think and repeatedly talk about shared worries, wounds, or challenges, with no solution or alleviation.

Tips for Supporting Friends

ย 

  • Connect Regularly ( message or even a simple call)
  • Share your own struggles in order to make them like they have someone.
  • Know when they need help
  • Take care of yourself ( Donโ€™t forget to also take care of yourself while supporting your friend)

 

 

NOURISH YOUR FRIENDSHIPS !

 

Crans Montana


The boarders all went to Crans Montana this weekend for a lovely little getaway.
The girls had fun skiing and snowboarding, they enjoyed the town of Crans Montana and the city of Sion as well as an escape room!

we canโ€™t wait to go back in March!

lots of love,

The New Portena Team x

 

Well-being Pillar!

We are now in the second week of our third well being pillar which focuses on boundaries.

Boundaries!ย  Why are they so important in building positive relationships.
ย 
We know….when you think of boundaries you think it’s a rule or a block to stop someone from doing something.ย  Perhaps you think boundaries are a great way of keeping someone out of your life or getting closer.ย  We want you to take this concept and turn it on its head.ย  Boundaries are a great way of creating a very open, honest, and positive relationship.ย  Please look at the video to find out moreย ๐Ÿ™‚

We all watched this video during our weekly house meeting and had a really enlightening conversation with the girls. They seem to understand the importance of having boundaries and also enforcing said boundaries. We hope you also give it a watch and maybe learn a few things.

Lots of love,
The New Portena Team
xxx

 

Weekend Activities

Our girls enjoyed a range of activities this weekend.

Taisiia and Kate played a few rounds of tennis.

Zoya enjoyed a game of volleyball and her skills are very impressive.

Carina went to an escape room and was doing equations without a calculator.

Maria and Molli had an amazing time on donuts in the snow.

lots of love

The New Portena team

xxx

 

First Weekend back

After a long week of school we are all incredibly excited to welcome everyone back for a new year and semester.

Everybody enjoyed their fun weekend activities from skiing to wood crafting.


lots of love,

The New Portena Team

x

Happy Holidays

From all of us at New Portena we wish you a happy holiday season and a refreshing holiday and we look forward to welcoming you back in the new year. It has been a wild year filled with lots of learning and joy โค๏ธ
We will miss you girls a lot and hope you enjoy the time you can spend with your family and friends!

lots of love,

The New Portena Team xx

Christmas Dinner

We got all dressed up and attended the annual boarding Christmas dinner.


The venue was beautifully decorated and the dinner was great.


We had a great time and canโ€™t wait to do it all again next year xxxx

UNO!!


At new portena we love playing UNO after school to unwind. Itโ€™s our favourite game to play together and reminds us of when we used to use UNO to get to know each other at the beginning of the year.

lots of love,

The New Portena team x

Award Ceremony

Shout out to our New Portena Super stars who received awards tonight Sayuri, Rei and Zoya for boarding life. Sakura(not pictured) Cora and Coco for their participation and effort in activities. Rei, Bice and Nastya for their hard work at school and their excellence in academics.

Lots of Love,

The New Portena Team x

Weekend Adventures!

It snowed this weekend and the girls were very excited.

Coco and Cora visited Gruyeres and the Cailler Chocolate Factory

Fun fact Coco is a descendant of Daniel Peter who is the inventor of milk chocolate at Nestlรฉ.


Rei and Yvonne enjoyed a nature hike.

 

Football champion!


Congratulations to our football champion Joelle !

Her team received 3rd place after a tournament in Lausanne today, she is really pleased and the trophy is on display in New Portena!

lots of love,

The new Portena Team

x

Weekend fun!

ย 
Lots of our girls were in Paris this weekend and having so much fun and we had some incredible painting with lights and nature walks with the others! Another fun weekend at New Portena!

lots of love,

the New Portena Team

 

 

Weekend Fun

This weekend was packed with fun activities.

Taisiia played some tennis on Saturday morning with a friend.

Bice, Joelle and Defne made some delicious tiramisu which they kindly shared with the house.


Sabine, Sara and Sayuri baked some delicious white chocolate chip and strawberry muffins with the Champs de Bois kids.

Volleyball Tournament

This past weekend the school volleyball team participated in the Suisse Group of International Schools tournament in Leysin.

On the Saturday they won all the matches they played. On Sunday they won all the matches except for one and they came 3rd overall.

We are so proud of the entire team and want to give a special shout-out to our very own Zoya for their incredible work.

Happy mid autumn festival!!!!


Today is the Mid Autumn festival in China, our amazing Mary showed a video about the festival to all our girls and then we all shared some delicious mooncakes ย ๐Ÿฅฎ๐Ÿฅฎ๐Ÿฅฎ

thank you Mary for sharing the story of the festival and a small piece of your culture!

lots of love,

The New Portena team x

Lake Clean Up!

Yesterday a lot of our new Portena girls volunteered to help the lake Geneva Cleanup project. They were there to help with setting up the equipment and tents for divers and volunteers that would be the ones actually cleaning the lake. Here are some pics from the day.

Why is Sleep Important?

Pillarย 1 of ourย wellbeing programme in CDL is Nurturing healthy bodies and minds. One of the takeaway points from this pillar isย โ€œHow important is sleep?โ€. We find it a crucial topic for the students to explore when discovering how to take care of themselves and how they can maintain a healthy body and mind.

The teenage years are a formative period. The brain and body experience significant development, and the transition to adulthood brings important changes that affect emotions, personality, social and family life, and academics. Sleep is essential during this time, working behind the scenes to allow teens to be at their best. Unfortunately, research indicates that many teens get far less sleep than they need. Sleep is vital for people of any age. For teens, though, profound mental, physical, social, and emotional development requires quality sleep.

During one of our Boarding House assemblies, we asked each girl the effects that can be caused from lack of sleep, and how it can impact many areas of our lives? We got a lot of good answers and have condensed it into this poster. Enjoy!

Teacher visit

Some of our girls teachers came to visit us today and it was so nice to have a chat and for them to see the house. It was great for us to meet them and share some cakes !

 

 

lots of love,

The New Portena Team x

Mountain Weekend!!!

This weekend our lovely ladies went to the Leysin Mountain weekend with all the boarders. It was a full weekend of fun where they did a range of activities from acrobranching and castle visits to mountain biking and Hiking.

Lots of love,

The New Portena Team x

Cheffing it up

It was a big week for cooking and baking in the New Portena house.



Sara, Sayuri and Sabine made some delicious pasta arrabiata.

Sakura baked some chocolate chip cookies.



Both Defnes, Anya and Cora made some apple crumble as well.

Wellbeing Pillar 1 – Nurturing Healthy Bodies and Minds – Week 2

We are now entering the second week of the first Pillar of our wellbeing programme โ€“ Nurturing Healthy Bodies and Minds.

One of the takeaway points from this pillar is โ€œHow important is sleep?โ€. We find it a crucial topic for the students to explore when discovering how to take care of themselves and how they can maintain a healthy body and mind.

During our Boarding House assemblies this week, we will be talking to the students about the effects that can be caused from lack of sleep, and how it can impact many areas of our lives.

Lack of sleep reduces focus and it will make it more difficult for studentโ€™s to learn. Studies have shown that poor quality sleep, or not enough sleep, can lead poor organisational skills, a decrease in mood or behaviour, reduced attention span and even memory loss. We would like to outline the importance of sleep to our students so that they are fully prepared and they give themselves the best opportunity possible to achieve their full potential โ€“ in all aspects of their lives. Allowing the brain the sufficient amount of time to rest and recover means we give ourselves the best chance to succeed.

Also throughout this pillar, we are running a Daily Fitness Challenge across our Boarding Community. This is to encourage our students to get active, have fun and take their minds off things that may be causing them stress. The participation, competitiveness and enthusiasm the students have shown so far has been fantastic and we hope to see this continue throughout September with even more students taking part. Please find some photos below from the challenge so farโ€ฆ..

 

 

Weekend Hang Outs

This weekend, the girls headed into Geneva, ย hung out on campus and ate out and in together. Enjoy the photos of the good times had.


Kate, Taisiia and Kseniia grabbed some boba tea.


Defne and Venus shopped till they almost literally dropped them grabbed some food.


Moli and Sayuri chilled on the sports pitch.

Defne, Moli and Anya took some selfies.

Mary, Ghida, Cherry and Sofia visited one of the outside villas.

Cherry, Mary and Carina had dinner with a friend.

 

Movie Night!!!

We had our very first movie night of the year. We have a movie jar which was filled with 3 movie ideas by each of the girls. We watch whatever is pulled from the jar.

Defne A was the first to pick a movie and she pulled out Jumanji.


We made some popcorn, sโ€™mores and hot chocolate for the big event and gathered together for the movie.

Canโ€™t wait for the next movie night!

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!

We would like to formally welcome Ana Sofia aka Molina to our boarding house. She taught us a new card game and we taught her our very strict uno rules. She already fits in so well and we are really happy she has joined us.

Home cooked meal


After a long first week back at school some of our lovely ladies made everybody some Spaghetti Carbonara and we all sat down to have our beautiful meal together.

Thank you Sakura, Bice, Sayuri and Sara !!!

P.S. ย it was delicious

lots of love,

The New Portena Team

First day back

So exited to have our house filling up with all the lovely ladies of New Portena!


itโ€™s a pleasure to see all the girls smiling! We enjoyed a fun game of UNO Defne, Coco and Anna were our three champions!!

Love,

The New Portena team x

 

Welcome to New Portena !!!


We are so excited to welcome you back for another wonderful year at New Portena!

You may already know Ms. Terri Davis and we are so excited to welcome our new deputy Ms. Maria-Sofia Mantonakiย and our two new house tutors Ms. Yewande Ajala and Ms. Emilie Keating.

Love,
The New Portena team

 

End of Year Party

Our girls enjoyed the amazing weather and had so much fun!!!

We had a sister fight, who do you think won?

Mary looking professional with her water gun, be careful, she is ready to shoot

Of course, our party soul … THE SPEAKER ๐Ÿ™‚

Sabine tried first the slide, what an experience

Why canโ€™t basketball players go on vacation?

They arenโ€™t allowed to travel…. *Ba dum chhh*

On Wednesday, we came face to face with Leman in the basketball tournament. We dodged, dribbled, passed, scored and sweated, but sadly not enough to come home with a victory. Our girls played hard and well, and we are proud of them taking part in these tournaments.

We have one more tournament to go, let’s see how we match up against Olympus!

Quiz Night

Tonight, all houses took part in an EPIC competition to find out who had the best general knowledge. We came a respectable 4th place, to Villa Du Lac’s 1st place, Leman One’s 2nd Place, and Megard’s 3rd place. Well done to Ghida and Sabine for representing New Portena and all houses. And thank you for a fun, friendly and competitive tournament.

Bonus Question: How many bones Sharks have? (Scroll for the answer!)

Answer: none, their skeleton is made out of cartilage!

New Portena raises chefs!

 

Today in New Portena we were craving cookies, so we made them!

First, we needed to find the perfect recipe, Yvonne helped us with her culinary knowledge.


Next step, wash our hands properly

And we started the process:

Mixing ingredients and giving them shape

we could not forget, the less fun part, but most important, cleaning afterwards


And what goes last?

ENJOYING THEM!!!!

Thank you very much Sabine, Yvone and Liam for this fun rainy Sunday afternoon. You are great cooks!!!!

EID MUBARAK – 13th May 2021

Happy Eid-ul-Fitr (Eid Mubarak) 2021

The holy month of Ramadan has come to an end and the Muslim community is all geared up to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. The religious festival is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal, on which people do not observe fast on this day. Eid is usually celebrated a day after the crescent moon sighting in Saudi Arabia, which is considered sacrosanct

Observed by the Muslim community around the world, on this day, loved ones come together to break the fast. Not only that, on this day people express gratitude and pray to Allah for everything they have. They wake up early in the morning, dress up wearing new clothes and wish their loved one

Having a WHEEL good time

Congratulations to Sakura who came runner-up in Day 9 of the May Fitness Challenge- How many cartwheels can you do without stopping? Sakura aced this challenge by doing 50 cartwheels! Well done as well to Elise and Bianka who got 20 and 25 respectively.

Wellbeing Discussions

‘Making Safe and Responsible Choices’: Last Wednesday, we sat down in groups and discussed the positive and negative consequences of different decisions. We discussed topics surrounding; smoking and vaping; sexual activity; bullying online and in person; judging others online; underage drinking; not following your dreams.

We were very impressed with the answers and comments the girls gave us and hope they will put into practice these types of pros and cons mentally before making risky decisions.

Wellbeing Pillar 5

Second week of our Pillar 5: Making safe and responsible choices.

The discus-sion points of week 2 will be around:

The ESSENCE of teen brain and the science behind decision making process.

The objectives are to :

  • Debunk some of the most misleading and disempowering myths around adolescence
  • Explore how changes in brain structure during adolescence are just part of anatural, innate and healthy development which simply prepares teens for grown-up life
  • Being aware of this process and honouring this unique and fascinating moment in our life, can help teens and adults (caregivers) alike to support each other
  • Explore how the awareness of upsides and downsides of the different cardinal features of adolescence can help our kids to develop a fully integrated mind,and reduce and contain the risks of harm and serious injuries. At the same timethis awareness can help educators (and parents) to bring a more empathic andcompassionate approach when interacting with, looking after and guiding ado-lescents during these tumultuous years.

 

Morges Tulip Festival

On Sunday, we went to lovely Morges, a lovely town on the edge of Lake Geneva. Created to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vaud Horticultural Society in 1971, the Tulip Festival continues to delight the many annual visitors from Switzerland and abroad.

Fun in Geneva

Our girls profited from the lovely weather and long days by going to Geneva either on Friday night or Sunday. Everyone enjoyed spending time by our beautiful lake surrounded by the wonderful mountains.

Kata’s Plank Challenge

For the past month we have been challenging the house and visitors to see how long they can hold a plank for!

A plank is a good way to train your abdominal muscles, but has many other benefits such as: improving stability, aiding posture, reducing back pain, strengthening your back and arm muscles!

Check out our leaderboard:

Keeping it reel at the lake

Bianka took full advantage of our beautiful weather and surroundings, by going to relax by the lake and even went for a swim! The lake was 10 degrees Celsius and Bianka felt the benefits!

Benefits of swimming in cold water:

1. It boosts your immune system

The effects of cold water on the immune system have been studied widely. Cold water helps to boost the white blood cell count because the body is forced to react to changing conditions. Over time, your body becomes better at activating its defences.

2. It makes you happier

Cold water swimming activates endorphins. This chemical is what the brain produces to make us feel good during activities. Cold water swimming is also a form of exercise, and exercise has been proven to treat depression. Cold water swimming brings us close to the pain barrier. Endorphins are released when weโ€™re in pain, to help us cope with it.

3. It improves your circulation

Cold water swimming flushes your veins, arteries, and capillaries. It forces blood to the surface and helps to warm our extremities. Repeated exposure adapts us to the cold.

4. It burns calories

The heart has to pump faster in cold water and the body must work harder to keep everything warm while swimming. Overall, far more calories are burned during cold water swimming than swimming in warmer conditions. The idea that drinking cold water increases the number of calories you burn may be a myth, but it is a fact that cold water decreases your body temperature so much that the body must act.

5. It reduces stress

Cold water swimming places stress on the body physically and mentally. Many studies have identified the link between cold water and stress reduction. Cold water swimmers become calmer and more relaxed.

Online Safety- why is social media dangerous? (By Linda Grade 10)

There are many disadvantages of sharing personal information online. The biggest disadvantage is that we do not fully understand privacy on the Internet. Although people think that they’re accounts are private, do we really know how private they are and how different organisations use our information ? For example, social media doesnโ€™t provide much privacy protection for the users. They watch users and see what kind of things they put into their profiles and what interests them, through their interactions.

In addition, sharing personal information online will expose all of your privacy and can be used by people with ulterior motives. When using the Internet, people can steal your ย personal information. When you post things like your name, birthday, credit card number and your place of residence online, there will be a risk of your information being used by others and what they can and will do with this.

How to create a secure password (by Kseniia Grade 9)

This article is written by Kseniia in Grade 9, as part of her individual project. She decided to research what a strong password is and how to create it.

What passwords are not strong?

Passwords are ordinary words or phrases, letters or numbers in a row.ย ย People often use them when they don’t think about security or just want to quickly finish registration.

Ex: Alex1234; Dog56;

What passwords are strong?

Strong passwords are combinations of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Ex-aYn72Wn; QqHoi@73Hj

How to create a strong password?ย 

1. Take any random phrase, for example, EgyptCat.

2. Replace some letters with special characters.ย ย It will be easier to remember if you replace the letters on the basis of similarity.ย ย For example, a on @, i on!, O on 0.

Ex- Eg!pedK0t

How not to declassify your password?

Create a new password for every important service.

Enable two-factor authentication wherever this option is available.

Do not put your passwords in the browser.

On your marks, get set… POST!

For this Pillar’s Community Project (Online Safety), we have separated the girls into 5 teams. Each team must come up with a post, either a photo, video or combination of both, and post it onto their social media accounts. After a week, we will see which team has the most interactivity from their followers and others (interactivity includes: views, likes, comments and shares). Whoever has the most wins a special prize at the end of the week! We hope this challenge allows the girls to think twice before posting as they will be able to see how easy it is to get things to go ‘viral’/ seen by other people, including people they never met!!

Good luck girls! May the most creative and best team win.

Wellbeing Workshop- posting on social media

In tonight’s house assembly, we explored social media and how what we post can effect many different aspects in our current and future lives. We asked the girls questions which they had to answer with ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘I don’t know’ showing their answers on a piece of card. We then discussed the answers to gain a better understanding surrounding each topic and question. It was great to hear and see the girls responses. We hope this session was inspirational and educational.

A fun filled weekend!

This weekend has been packed full of activities! For the first time in months, the girls were allowed in Geneva which made them all very happy. Today some girls went on a trip to the Alimentarium in Vevey whilst others went skiing in Verbier!

Welcome back!

We are very happy that the girls who stayed on campus enjoyed this last sunny week, those who chose the Winter Camp had the best time as well.

The Boarding House is open, and we are really excited to welcome back the remaining girls, and get the rest of the term underway!

Happy Valentine’s Day

Today at dinner we had a very nice decoration to enjoy this lovely day.

On Valentine’s Day we think of those

Who make our lives worthwhile,

Those gracious, friendly people who

We think of with a smile.

I am fortunate to know you,

That’s why I want to say,

To a rare and special person:

Happy Valentine’s Day!

By Joanne Fuchs

February Boarding Assembly

We had the opportunity to listen to our lovely Elisa with this amazing song. Such an amazing talent. Well done!

We could also share some moments and ideas for the end of the Pillar 3 of the Wellbeing Program, this time we talked about building positive friendship.

Let’s talk about peer-pressure

During our house-meeting we addressed the subject of peer-pressure, which is a common phenomenon amongst youngsters. Negative impulses can come from friends, classmates and social media, and can effect our decision making and behaviour. Smoking, vaping, drinking, conformism are just a few of the worrisome results of peer-pressure.

It’s very important to learn about independent decision making, and peer resistance skills in order to avoid peer pressure. It’s also essential that the students have confidence and trust in their adult caregivers and therefore, if and when, they experience peer pressure, we encourage them talk about it and ask for help.

Winter dinner

In order to celebrate the end of the year before the vacation, we enjoyed a nice and bright winter dinner in school. The cafeteria was transformed for the occasion and it was absolutely stunning!! Everyone made an effort to be well dressed and prepared.

We all had a good moment while keeping our usual precautions, as we were sitting by house, what we’re doing for a while already.

ONE, TWO THREE – masks off!

Award Ceremony

Tonight we had the great honor to give medals to the winners of the award ceremony. We were rewarding the students for their participation in the boarding life, their participation in activities, and for their good academic results.

Unfortunately, we were missing some girls (Alison, Cherry, Yvonne) but we keep their medals and we will give them to them on their return.

Congratulations to Sabine and Bianka for the boarding life award and Ghida for her best academics achievement for GR11 / IB1!

And then we ate the “chocolate marmite” broken according to the Swiss tradition!

It represents a battle between French and Swiss people where the Swiss citizens defended themselves by throwing boiling soup onto the invaders.

Samdi Du Partage

The CDL Make A Difference Society (MADS) and the Parent Faculty Association (PFA) are teaming up to support the Partage food bank this year. Partage is a Geneva-based, hunger-fighting charity, which supports thousands of fortunate individuals and families each week with 3 main goals:

  • Social:ย helpingย those in a precarious situation and fightingย hunger
  • Economic:ย providingย professional rehabilitationย for job seekers
  • Ecological:ย reducingย food wasteย while maintaining a small ecological footprint

During these difficult times, it was nice to see Elise jump at the opportunity to help others. This was her individual project for the Wellbeing Pillar 2, celebrating diversity and combating against bullying.

Well done, Elise!

Bake-off competition!

 

Sakura thank you for this project which can be linked to our wellbeing project. Bringing diversity and ย inclusion through a Japanese recipe.

Bianka and Radka thank you so much for helping with the decoration.

WELL DONE GIRLS!

Gift Box Appeal

Some of our girls helped packing and carrying boxes for the gift box appeal as part of their individual project for this Wellbeing Pillar, which is celebrating diversity and combating against bullying.

This appeal is aimed at helping children learn about giving to others not as fortune as they are. The timing links well with the UN โ€œRights of the Child Dayโ€ on 20th November. A number of schools use the appeal to show that poverty is not so far away and help students to understand how others live. This is a non religious and purely humanitarian appeal. The Gift Boxes get sent to needy children in Eastern Europe children who have never had a gift, many living in unbelievable poverty. In the boxes are special treats, sweets and toys, provide toiletries and especially school needs, so helping them attend school with items not provided by the state.

 

Wellbeing Community Project

This wellbeing pillar is all about celebrating diversity and protecting against bullying. Therefore, New Portena joined 2 primary boys in their a cappella singing activity. The aim was to give the students a different experience, trying something new, whilst providing support to the youngest members of boarding.

The teacher prepared a tailor-made session aiming to have a constructive exchange between students of different ages. We hoped us joining the activity helped to boost the boys confidence as well as allowed our girls to experience diverse moment out of their usual weekly routine.

 

Movie night- The Great Gatsby

Last night, we watched ‘The Great Gatsby’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio. A film request made by Mary as she is studying the book in English classes. We love when we mix education and entertainment! Our movie snack were cut up pieces of apple, bananas and pears.

Note: we do not have to wear masks in the house as we are a ‘family’.

“Nick Carraway, a World War I veteran who moves to New York with the hope of making it big, finds himself attracted to Jay Gatsby and his flamboyant lifestyle.”

Reward system!

Our house reward system is officially up and running with Eva D being the first one to choose her reward!

This system was designed and created by the house parents with the student’s helping to come up with rewards ideas they would want. Good collaboration and teamwork!

We are back!

Welcome back home ladies!

We are getting ready for all of you.

We can not wait to see you back home.

We hope you have enjoyed the Summer Holidays and are rested for the amazing year yet to come.

Loads of love

Terri, Rosana, Sarah and Cristina

 

Message from Inge & Francis Clivaz

When Inge and I arrived in Versoix, on a beautiful spring day in April 1960, we didn’t think, BUT REALLY NOT 60 years later, that we would find ourselves in this magnificent campus of nearly 2’000 students which has become one of the jewels of Swiss private education. The worldwide reputation of the Collรจge du Lรฉman is such that it has inspired and served as a model for the creation of several campuses around the world: Brussels, Cheng Du in China, Dubai, Kigali in Rwanda and Manhattan in New York.

Sixty years ago we opened the doors of the CDL to receive our very first students: beautiful Hala, Zeena from Baghdad and the very shy Carine from Tel Aviv. These young girls were followed day after day by students from all over the world! Since the first day, we have lived together in perfect harmony.

Your origins, your social background, your diverse religions were a source of constant enrichment and gave rise to magnificent exchanges. Your well-being and academic performance were always at the centre of our concerns.

Your deans and professors came from all over the world. Think of Mr. Marchi (Italy), Mr. Nawar (Egypt), Mr. Salamin (Switzerland), Mr. Boschert (USA), Mr. Gale (England), not forgetting Chief Robert (Holland) who all contributed greatly to the cultural diversity of the campus.

During your years at the CDL, you have forged bonds of deep friendship for life.

You were like our children! You are forever part of this wonderful family at the CDL. We are always happy with your family, social and professional successes and are so proud to see you put into practice on a daily basis what we have taught you all these years: respect for others!

We would like to remind you again of the college’s motto which is: “Educate and teach in a spirit of openness and tolerance so that its students become citizens and leaders of a world respectful of differences”.

We send you our warmest messages and hope to have the pleasure of seeing many, if not all, of you again in June 2021 in Geneva to finally celebrate the 60th anniversary.

Versoix, May 2020,

Inge & Francis

Collรจge du Lรฉman

From Tuesday 17th March, our students and teachers will move to Remote Learning Online. Communication has been shared with all our parents and we welcome any questions. As part of the Nord Anglia Education family of schools our students will have access to online resources around the world. We want to take this time to wish our families all the best and we hope everyone stays safe during this challenging period.

ร€ partir du mardi 17 mars 2020, nos รฉlรจves et nos enseignants passeront ร  lโ€™apprentissage ร  distance en ligne. La communication a รฉtรฉ partagรฉe avec tous nos parents et nous sommes ร  votre disposition pour toutes questions. En tant que membre de la famille des รฉcoles Nord Anglia, nos รฉlรจves auront accรจs ร  des ressources en ligne du monde entier. Nous voulons profiter de cette pรฉriode pour souhaiter ร  nos familles tout le meilleur et nous espรฉrons que chacun restera en sรฉcuritรฉ pendant cette pรฉriode compliquรฉe.

#collegeduleman #internationalschool #nordangliaeducation

Boarding Assembly


During the Boarding Assembly, this month we welcomed Linda. And Christine was super Brave to go on stage and talk about Corona Virus.

โ€œThis is time for science, not rumor,

this is time for solidarity, not stigmaโ€

 

 

 

 

Our Crystal in THIMUN!!

The THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations) conference is a five-day simulation of the United Nations for secondary school students, which takes place at the end of January each year in the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague.Our Crystal along with other CDL students are participating this year.We are expecting them back to give us their insight and thoughts from this valuable experience.

She is somewhere in there:

ย 

From the closing ceremony:

House Assembly!Valuable communication every week!!

A very warm evening where we communicate important information to the girls!Main topic the coronavirus which has already affected lots of people in the worldย  in many areas.We explained that The virus is still too new to entirely predict how it will evolve , however, basic hygiene is the best recommendation for all.Furthermore the risk in our territory is very very low.

Following Cristine with the valuable help of Linda gave a heartwarmingย  presentation about the Chinese spring festival and its great importance to Chinese people.

You can find it here :ย Presentation

And Yes we had smoresย  from Mrs Kata and Mrs Dace!!!!

Welcome Polina and Alexandra!!!

This week we had the pleasure of welcoming two exceptionalย  ladies in New Portena.Polina comes from Russia she joined grade 10.Alexandra comes from Spain and joined grade 11.Both very extrovert and friendly, managed to make an excellent first impression to the rest of the girls.They also have chosen a variety of afternoons activities from our extended extra curricular program. Kickboxing ,Yoga,Horse-riding,Chinese and many more will keep them proactively busy.

WELL-BEING / GEOGRAPHY

In our 3rd Pillar we are talking about Internationalism for that reason we wanted to give a probe of how many different nationalities we have in our House. The girls not only knew where their friends live but also they learned where the country is.

A GEOGRAPHY REVISION never hurt anyone.

Sunday soup!!

Sunday today and it is time for our soup.We had aย  chat with the girls about the importance of eating seasonal vegetables and fruits.They retain more nutrients than their counterparts making them the better choice for your health. Other benefits of eating seasonally : Supports local farmers who choose to farm sustainably and preserves the environment.

We enjoyed a creamyย  leek soup and olive oil drizzledย  croutonsย  !!

Homemade whole wheat bread by Eva D!!

There is one food that definitely unites most of the civilizations of the world: bread.Throughout recorded historyย  it has been a prominent food in large parts of the world and is one of the oldest man-made foods, having been of significant importance toย  households and often the only food parents could provide to their children in times of despair.

The carbohydrates which are rich provide energy and nourishment just to face the day, they also contain proteins, salts and vitamins essential for the proper functioning of the body.

And what better than homemade whole wheat bread…New Portena bakes!!

 

Welcome to New Portena Linda!!!

A very warm welcome to Linda who comes from China and joined the 9th grade!!Our aim is to ensure that you, and all our students, have access to the best possible opportunities and experiences during your time in CDL, so that you can reach your full potential and are better prepared for the future.

 

House assembly : Building positive friendships

A very important topic was brought up during our house assembly which is also a part of our wellbeing programme this year.

The Role of Positive Friendships in Youth Development

Adolescence is a period of rapid change โ€”physically, emotionally, and sociallyโ€”and relationships with friends play an important role in the lives of adolescents as they become increasingly independent , develop their own identity, and grapple with self-esteem.Positive friendships provide youth with companionship, support, and a sense of belonging. They can encourage or reinforce healthy behaviors, and evidence suggests that positive friendships in adolescence can lay the groundwork for successful adult relationships, including romantic relationships.

And at the end each of us had to pick a heart-shaped card with an attribute written on it and hand it to the person we think possesses this quality..a lot of smiles and good vibes from this evening for all of us!!

ย ย  ย ย  ย  ย  ย 

Crystal participating in Youth Forum of Switzerland.

Our talented and motivated Crystal will participateย  in Youth Forum of Switzerland representing CDL along with 4 more day students,in Zug.

The vision: Connecting changemakers to address the challenges facing our planet.

The Youth Forum Switzerland is committed to:

  • Exploring relevant issues in inclusive, respectful, and constructive ways.
  • Connecting youth and the worldโ€™s leading changemakers to inspire innovative solutions to pressing global issues.
  • Empowering youth to become purposeful changemakers.Carbon neutrality and being a zero waste organization.

ย The Youth Forum Switzerland will measure its impact through:

  • Assessing youth understanding and engagement with global issues.

  • Curating student initiatives launched through participation in the Youth Forum Switzerland

 

You are welcome to visit : https://www.youthforumswitzerland.ch/

January Boarding Assembly!!

This assembly was a little about history and a lot about people who make an impact and stand out for their actions and voice about equality,diversity,freedom of speech,justice and honor.We focused on the importance to see the good things that happen everyday and everywhere rather than surround ourselves and our loved ones with negativity.

Good vibes and positiveย  attitudeย  from Albion,Giorgio,Amir and Sofia.Albion and Giorgio demonstrating tenor abilities,Amir accompanied them on the piano and Sofia gave an inspiring speech about the importance of exercise our bodies and souls.

At the end we had the pleasure of welcoming our Ms Cristina on stage where she pointed out that good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Combined with physical activity, your eating habitsย  can help you reach and maintain a healthy life.ย โ€œlet food be your medicine and medicineย beย your foodโ€

Charity project!!

GIVING TO CHARITY MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.๐Ÿ˜GIVING TO CHARITY STRENGTHENS PERSONAL VALUES.๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿ‘GIVING IS MORE IMPACTFUL THAN EVER๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘.GIVING TO CHARITY INTRODUCES OUR BOARDERS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF GENEROSITY๐ŸŽˆ.

Alison and Cherry helped Mr Salva tonight gathering all the gifts our girls donated to a child shelter.A noble cause which we hope will put a lot of smiles to child faces๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Š

Trip to Europa park and Freiburg!!!

Memories ofย schoolย Educationalย tripsย are among the most prominent of the formative years, largely becauseย theyย are a welcome break in the routine for both students and teachers. While their purpose is essentially to educate,ย theyย can also be a fun bonding experience for everyone involved.

Our Wellbeing session: Diversity and inclusivity

As a school with almost over 100 nationalities present , diversity is our common language.It helps us recognize and respect โ€œways of beingโ€ that are not necessarily our own. So that as we interact with others we can build bridges to trust, respect, and understanding.It helps dispel negative stereotypes and personal biases about different groups. With that in mind we discussed a lot and at the end of our session the girls were encouraged to bring something from home,that they always keep with them no matter where they are,which shows their culture andย  to share it with their housemates.

 

Ekaterina showed us a presentation about her beloved Moscow.

Steph showed us handcrafted bags from Bali, and pointed the importance of spirituality of Balinese people

Doria and Camila talked with passion about Peking Opera.Louise shared secrets of French cuisine.Kokoro told us about Osechi and its importance to Japanese people.Yuqi prepared traditional tea from her city in 3 different tastes. Alisonย  holdingย  a Chinese artcraft who she keeps for good luck, finally decided to put it in New Portena for all of us!!!!๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’•โค๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ™Œ

Eva and Manya gave a heartbreaking speech about the importance of their families in their lives.

ย 

ย ย 

A wellbeing session: Stereotypes and their effect on young people.

From โ€œgirls are not good in mathsโ€ and โ€œmen are so insensitiveโ€ to โ€œhe is getting a bit senile with ageโ€ or โ€œsome people struggle at universityโ€, thereโ€™s no shortage of common stereotypes about social groups. Chances are we have heard most of these examples at some point. In fact, stereotypes are a bit like air: invisible but always present.With the girls tonight we tried to clear the air bit , about this hugely important issue, merely byย  being aware of the damaging effects that stereotypes can have.

At the end of our session we played a game..a small piece of paper with the name of a country was placed in ones girls forehead, while the others should share stereotypes about people and culture of this country and the aim was for the girl with the paper in her forehead to guess ,according to these stereotypes, the country the rest of the girls were talking about.The girls acknowledge the inaccuracy of these stereotypes by simply not recognisingย  them in their friends behavior, in the house and school.We may not be able to avoid stereotypes completely and immediately, but we can try to clear the air of them.

 

 

Masterchef Team!!!

Well done toย  Anca,Ria,Louise,Doria,Camila,Eva and our petite Isla!!!

They prepared an elegant and demanding dish.Cauliflower velvet puree,edamame and romenesko bites,glazed saint jacques in herb and noisettes butter.Perfection!!

Wellbeing session :What is Bullying

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is a distinctive pattern of harming and humiliating others, specifically those who are in some way smaller, weaker, younger or in any way more vulnerable than the bully.

The girls opened up and gave their opinions over a questionnaire with the company of some hot tea and cookies …

more to come about this important issue.

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The 5 Days of Diwali!!!

Diwali, Deepawali or Dipavali is the Hindu festival of lights, which is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali or Deepavali symbolises the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance”.

Happy Diwali to ALL!!

What can turmeric do you for you?

Today for our wellbeing session we got familiar with the many benefits of Turmeric or Curcuma root as it is also known.Girls devouredย  a delicious vegetable soup with this incredibly beneficial spice.

Turmeric among others,

  • Detoxifies the Body,
  • Lowers Cortisol Levels,
  • Improves Your Complexion,
  • Balances Blood Sugar,Improves Cardiovascular Health,
  • Calms the Digestive System,
  • Sharpens Memory,
  • Lowers Blood Pressure ,
  • Works as an Natural Headache Remedy,
  • Calms Eczema,
  • Fights Inflammation and
  • Helps You Get a Better Sleep

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Girls also learnedย  how to prepare hot beverages to fight common flue that burstsย  this time of the year.

 

 

Huskiesย Are High-Energy and Easily Bored!!Just Like SUSANA

Huskiesย are loving, gentle, and playful, they do well in families with active children and adults. Theseย dogs tend to be social and relaxed. They also don’t bark much, but do enjoy howling on occasion.

A Husky loves to be in a centre of attention.And today they were as Susana and the rest of our boarders enjoyed hiking with them, an amazing and rewarding experience.

 

Breathing for your Wellbeing

Breathing: it should be the most natural thing in the world. We do it without thinking, some 20,000 times a day. And from their very first gasp, babies respire as nature intended, ribs expanding, torso rising and falling.

Poor breathing techniques adopted over time are responsible for increasing stress and anxiety, lowering energy levels and even affecting cardiovascular health. The good news, is that we can reverse these effects simply by relearning how to breathe properly.

New Portena Ladies practiced 8 different techniques of breathing and elevated their energy levels.

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You are welcome to try …click and breathe

breathing techniques

Stretch Stretch Stretch..breath..Repeat!!

Why stretching is important?

Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight.

Our Sofia from VDL organised our first stretching session.At the end we relaxed having to think about 3 good things that happened the passed week,smile and be thankful.

Mentors and prefects sharing experience!!

Tonight during our house assembly we were delighted to have with usย  some of our mentors and prefects who enthusiastically shared their experience in CDL, spoked about the difficulties they facedย  when ย they first arrived and sharedย  ideas and practices which boosted the confidence of our girls.They also reassured themย  that they will stand by them whatever they may need.We could not be more proud of them.

 

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CDL Talks!!!

A new initiative launched yesterday ,where a network of todayโ€™s most influential figures across business, arts, politics and more will donate some of their valuableย  time , open up their thoughts and curious-fuelling experiences to our students and CDL community.

Yesterday we were privileged to welcome Mr Edward GIRARDET who gave an inspiring speech about his life and work.We were all urged and motivated to write as much we can,express ourselves and feelings,take nothing for granted, search,question and think.

Sleep well and Thrive!!

In our wellbeing session tonight we covered the vital issue of sleep and how the lack of it can severely affect our health.

The girls were motivated at the end to do an experiment to find out if they actually have enough sleep.

Along with nutrition and exercise, good sleep is one of the pillars of health.

You simply cannot achieve optimal health without taking care of your sleep.

 

Dixie is waiting for you!

Numerous studies have shown the importance of Dog Walking. Benefitsย include improved cardiovascular fitness, lower blood pressure, stronger muscles and bones (built up byย walkingย regularly), and decreased stress. A regularย walkย is vitally important for yourย pet’s health too..We offer our boarders this unique experience ,to Have fun with Dixie.This afternoon Kate took her for her walk and hey both enjoyed it endlessly.ย 

Wellbeing day ^^

For our wellbeing day we tried a spanish merienda full of colours and fruits.

We cut the fruit and spent time together trying to introduce and know Alty, our new Portena girl ๐Ÿ™‚

We did banana, apple and 100 % chocolate shake. Of course SUGARFREE ; )

We enjoyed it outside in our wonderful terrace.

Cooking for our Wellbeing

Chooseย yourย food wisely.ย YOU AREย whatย youย eat and whatย youย cook inย theย kitchen and how much effortย you put into dedicates how you look and feel. … Our Ladies prepared bagels with 2 ingredients , Greek yogurt and whole wheat flour!!

 

How does social media affect your well-being?

Connections between online communication, social life and well-being.Was social mediaย  meant to help us work smarter?Orย  has it only given us additional work?These were only some of the topics that we discussed yesterday during our house assembly.Stephanie gave an impeccable speech,made all of us think deeper and made this evening memorable.Thank you Steph!!

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social media…necessity or waste of time!!

During our house assembly tonight we talked a lot over how social media Influences our mental health and overall happiness.Then the girls had to discuss in groups and come up with ideas and propositions.And this is what Doria,Susana,Louise,Kokoro and Eva brought to the table on how to limit the time we spend on social media..and we couldn’t agree more Ladies!!!

Walk n’ Talk for Wellbeing

This afternoon, as part of our wellbeing programme this year, a small group of our Ladies had the chance to explore the surrounding forest, paths and recreational areas.They chatted a lot and enjoyed the calmnessย  of the environment as no phones were allowed 0n our walk.More to come…

Welcome Assembly!

Tonight we had our welcome assembly followed by a cocktail dinner.We had the chance to meet all new and old students with their parents.We were extremely happy to see all those new enthusiastic faces, eager to start their Journey in CDL.

Fruit for brain power!

This weekend the girls have been working extremely hard and have spent most of their time revising for their upcoming exams. In order to keep their brains ticking over we shared a watermelon given to us by Miss Dace, and made fruit smoothies. Keep it up girls, your hard work and efforts will pay off!

Athens

The first day with a historical visit to the Acropolis and a lunch in a typical street on a lovely terrace. In the afternoon students visited the Acropolis museum. Later, everyone went back to the hotel to study or relax.

Empowerment Lab

A few weekends ago Ria, Helen Li and Natalina had the opportunity to take part in a Digital Workshop in Geneva, focusing on ways to use multimedia approaches in their learning. The three of them had a great time and came away having learnt some impressive new skills!

Excellence in CAS

Margie was selected to receive an award of excellence and last Wednesday she shared some of their most proud moments being a Prefect in the Boarding. Margie and Constanza explained to everyone what is the role and how can a student became a Prefect. Well done ladies!

Malia visits South Africa!

Malia was lucky enough to have one of the spots on our very exciting trip to South Africa which ran over the Easter Break. Malia had the opportunity to carry out community service work as well as having the amazing experience of going on a safari! We’re looking forward to seeing the rest of the pictures!

Weekend trip to Barcelona

Malia and Noora had an amazing time in Barcelona visiting the ” Sagrada Familia” and watching the Barcelona F.C as one of the main activities. They also enjoyed as well the weather and the delicious food. Both of our girls came very happilyย from their trip.

Academic Awards

We are very proud of Steph, Malia and Sophie who won the awards for the highest GPA in their academic programmes in Grade 9. Steph and Malia achieved an impressive 3.75 and 3.76 respectively, while Sophie has scored 5.3/6 in her 3รจme programme.

In addition to this, Crystal also won an award for the highest GPA in IG2, an amazing 4.04.ย 

We are very proud of all of our girls in New Portena who’s hard work and dedication has contributed to a House average GPA of 3.26! Amazing work, ladies!

Activity Award

Congratulations to Natalina and Becky who were the deserved winners of the Activity Award at last night’s Boarding Awards Ceremony. This award is given to the students with the highest Activity attendance, and those who create a varied programme for themselves. Well done girls!

Boarding Life Award

Congratulations to Sophie and Herluce who won the Boarding Life Award at the Boarding Awards Ceremony last night. This award is given to those who embrace being part of the Boarding Community and are enthusiastic about the opportunities and experiences available to them. Well done girls!

Talent Show 2019

Congratulations to all of the New Portena girls who participated so enthusiastically in last week’s Boarding Talent Show, earning themselves 2nd place! Also a big well done to the rest of the Boarding Community for putting on such a great show!

The girls did a live recreation of the Girls Like You video by Maroon 5 and Cardi B!

Thermal Baths

It wasn’t just skiing and snowboarding on offer for those who took part in Ski Week. Natalina and Herluce followed the Non Ski programme and had the chance to visit the local thermal baths. A calm and relaxing time was had by all!

 

Welcome Back!

New Portena is now up and running after the February break and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of all the girls. Katya, Natalina, Christine, Herluce, Tatiana, Alina, Helen Li and Noora have all returned from an exciting Ski Week in Crans Montana and we look forward to hearing what the rest of our girls have been up to. See you soon!

Mountain Weekend 1!

This afternoon we returned home from our first of three weekends in Crans Montana! The girls had the chance to take part in a variety of activities including skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and snowtubing. We all had an exhausting but great time! More pictures to follow..

Welcome Back!

New Portena is now open and ready to welcome you all back for an exciting and busy term ahead! We hope you all had a lovely and enjoyable holiday and wish you a Happy New Year. Have a safe journey back to Geneva and we look forward to seeing you all soon!

Christmas Action Project

This Christmas many of the girls in New Portena have contributed to the Christmas Action Project. The goal of the project is to spread a little extra love to children in Geneva who may be in foster care, or are refugees, and are away from their families during the festive period. The girls received a card from a child asking for something they really wanted this Christmas, and the girls then went out and found them this gift, and also wrote a little note to give it that extra special touch. A total of 30 presents will be sent from the Boarding Community. Well done girls, a lovely project and a great cause!

Europa-Park!

This weekend a lucky group of girls had the opportunity to spend the weekend at Europa-Park in Germany. A lot of fun was had by all as we enjoyed the exciting rides and delicious food that was on offer!

E-Safety and Cyber Bullying

This month’s focus topic for our House Assemblies was E-Safety and Cyber Bullying.

Tonight we watched a Ted Talk, sourced by Steph, about how we should think carefully about what we type and post online.

Last week we also posted a photo on Facebook and asked people to comment with their location, and share it when they have seen it. Too often the girls can post, comment and share things without thinking and we wanted to show them how far wide these things can end up with just a few clicks. Within 24 hours the photo had been shared over 100 times, half of those by people unknown to the original poster. The maps below show all the locations the photo reached.

 

 

 

Disneyland Paris

This weekend a lucky group of Boarders set off on the first trip of the year and enjoyed an exciting yet exhausting weekend at Disneyland Paris. Aya, Yuqi, Christine, Jasmine and Amy all had a great time meeting the famous characters and riding the rollercoasters!

Lake Geneva Clean Up

This weekend the local area hosted the annual Lake Geneva clean up – an initiative to keep our stunning lake clean and beautiful . Celine, Helen and Jasmine dedicated their free time to go along and help with the big tidy. Well done girls, we are very proud of your efforts!

Welcome Back from New Portena!

We hope you all had a wonderful summer – the staff of New Portena are ready and eager to welcome you all back for the 2018-2019 academic year!

Your team this year is made up of House Parent Terri Davis, Deputy House Parent Rosana Busso, and House Tutors Jemma Stanton and Cristina Sanchez.

We look forward to seeing you all soon, if you have any questions before getting here please contact newportena@cdl.ch

 

Aquatis Trip

The first weekend of the new term has come and gone and today the girls enjoyed a trip to the new aquarium Aquatis, in Lausanne.

We learnt about freshwater fish and habitats across all continents of the globe, and some of the girls even decided to be part of the Komodo Dragon exhibit.

Christmas Break

The first term has drawn to a close and the girls are slowly leaving New Portena and heading back to their family and friends for a well deserved break.ย The past few months have flown by with the girls showing dedication to their studies as well as engaging in a wide variety of activities and house events.

Last Saturday we celebrated all our achievements at the Christmas Dance, a lovely evening including a delicious meal followed by a dance, partly DJed by our very own Natalina!

From all of us here at New Portena we wish you a lovely holiday season and a great start to 2018.

Terri, Jemma, Costanza and Tharyne x

Sunday Trip to Chocolate Factory & Gruyere

On Sunday Alina and Romina visited the beautiful village of Gruyere, and Maison Cailler, the famous Swiss chocolate factory.

The girls explored Gruyere in the snow before moving on to learn about the story behind how chocolate is made. A great day was had by all!

 

Christmas Box Appeal

Here at CDL the boarding community have been busy creating Christmas boxes to send to children in Eastern Europe.

There are many children in Eastern Europe who may not receive presents this Christmas so these boxes will definitely put a smile on their faces.

The boxes include school supplies, toys, snacks and items used for personal hygiene. The New Portena girls have put a lot of heart into this project and managed to complete eight boxes to send off this Christmas.

 

House Competition: Masterchef

Today was the sixth house competition of the school year; Masterchef. New Portena were given the challenge of making a Starter and the girls decided to focus on the diversity of our house to create a colourful and healthy dish.

Well done Dahlia, Natalina, Irina, Alessia and Alina! And a big thank you to Dahlia’s Mum for Facetiming us and making sure we didn’t face any culinary disasters.

Now to wait for the results….

 

Guitar group

On Saturday afternoon, Tatiana, Celine and Helen enjoyed a guitar and ukulele lesson given by Costanza.ย  New Portena is becoming a very musical house. The music group will continue in two weeks when the girls will learn new songs.

The guitar group on Saturday afternoon

Turning the bad into good!

Last night disaster struck as Coraline removed her jumper from the washing machine only to discover it had shrunk! Coraline and Andrea combined their artistic flairs and created a jumper for Coraline’s cuddly bunny to keep it warm in these autumnal evenings. Good job girls!

Motto and Logo Competition

Well done to all our New Portena girls for taking part in the Motto Competition; the first House Challenge of the year. Diana, Katya, Tanya and Margie had amazing confidence to get up on stage in front of all the boarding community to explain our motto and logo and we came 5th! Amazing effort girls!

And congratulations to our neighbours Old Portena for taking home the win!ย 

Chamonix et Mer de Glace

On Thursday it was Jeune Genevois, a local holiday; 13 of our New Portena girls headed to France for a trip to Chamonix and the Mer De Glace. Here’s a few photos from our fun day out!

 

A fun filled first weekend!

The girls have had a great weekend getting a glimpse of the activities they can take part in throughout the school year! This weekend we’ve enjoyed Horse Riding, Tennis and Body Shaping; today Jasmine, Becky and Coraline also headed into Geneva to take part in a treasure hunt around the city while doing some sightseeing along the way.

ย Tanya, Dahlia, Scarlett and Andrea at horse riding with their new friends!

Coraline, Becky and Jasmine exploring Geneva.

New Portena are now having a relaxing evening in the house before school starts again tomorrow – the girls are looking forward to starting their new activity programme this week and a chance to visit Chamonix and Mer de Glace on Thursday!

Let the New Term Begin!

We hope you have all had a wonderful summer break and we are looking forward to filling New Portena with fun and enthusiasm!

Here is the new team eagerly awaiting your arrival!

Costanza, Tharyne, Terri & Jemma

Terri, the House Parent of New Portena, is joined this year by Costanza (far left) our lovely, musical Italian who studied in the UK; Tharyne from Brazil who has previously studied pharmacy, and Jemma from the UK who grew up in Belgium.

We can’t wait to welcome you all over the next few days!

 

Happy Birthday Paula and Veronika!

This week we celebrated Paula’s 17th Birthday on Monday and Veronika’s 18th Birthday on Tuesday.

Both had fabulous days despite exams. Paula celebrated with a meal in the Chinese restaurant in Versoix. Veronika will celebrate on Friday with a meal with friends in Geneva.

Happy Birthday Girls!

House BBQ

Tonight the House celebrated the penultimate weekend of the School year with a BBQ and a water fight. It was a great end to the weekend and a great release to the revision stress.

We even sampled some of the delights from the Eco-Garden. We tried the lettuce, Berries and Peas. They were very yummy, thanks Olly!

Perfect end to a beautiful weekend and School year!

Moody Weekend in Geneva

The weekend weather has been pretty moody! With lots of rain it was the perfect weekend to study and watch films! Those preparing for IGCSE’s have been working hard at their books. With other members of the house venturing out to Geneva or even Lyon.

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Happy Birthday Anya, Ila and Shelly

This week has been a busy week celebrating 3 birthdays. Anya and Ila had their birthdays over the Spring Break and Shelly was at the beginning of this week.

We celebrated in the house with cake!

Happy Birthday to Anya, Ila and Shelly, Hope you had a great time celebrating!

Marshmallow Tower Challenge

Tonights house meeting was about team building and working with different people. They were split in to groups and given 20 pieces of Spaghetti, tape, string and a Marshmallow. They were instructed to build the tallest tower they could with the marshmallow on top.

The winning team was Sabrina, Ayaka, Hailun, Sofya and Yuquin. Their tower was the tallest free standing tower at the end. Though credit must go to Lorena, Cam Thi, Alina, Anya and Veronika who built a huge tower but it sadly fell as they let go.

Ski Week

Wishing you all a Happy Ski Week.

Yansey, Celine, Jasmin, Paula and Ivy are all attending the Ski Week with school. Another week in Crans Montana learning to ski.

The other girls have all headed on holiday or home.

We wish you a great week.

Ski Weekend in Crans Montana

On Friday the Boarding School headed for the mountains for a weekend of fun in the snow. The girls had a great time skiing and snowboarding with plenty of fresh snow. On Saturday night they ventured to the town to taste some of the ย local cuisine and explore the town.

Gruyere and Maison Cailler

Some of the girls went on the Sunday activity to Gruyere. They had an hour to explore the quaint town before we moved on to Masion Cailler. This is the chocolate factory museum. It starts with a history in to the cacao bean and how chocolate originated and then goes through to a tasting. The girls got to taste 12 different samples of their chocolate.

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Christmas Gift Box Appeal

The girls in the house worked together to create Christmas gift boxes. This is a great charity which provides children living below the poverty line in Eastern Europe a Christmas present. The girls had fun compiling the necessary items which go in to the box such as; shampoo, conditioner, tooth brushes, stuffed toys, exercise books and pens.

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Masterchef House Competition

Yesterday Arin, Anya, Margey, Ayaka and Ivy took part in the Masterchef House Competition.

Anya and Ivy created a Tasty Thai style Fried rice with Giant Shrimp ย and Margey, Ayaka and Arin created Vanilla and Banana Freakshake.

Below are some pictures of the girls plating their dishes, the final dishes and the girls serving the food to the Judges.

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Italian Dining

Before the October break a group of New Portena girls tried out the new Italian restaurant in the dining room. This will happen every Thursday, an area of the dining room will be sectioned off and run as a restaurant. The theme of the restaurant will change throughout the year. The girls attended Italian night where they had an Anti-pasta, Pizza and a Tiramisu.

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Doodling with Margey and Ivy

Before we left for the October Half term Margey and Ivy started doodling on the board. Their doodles turned in to quite the piece of art. There was a link to Greek Mythology – Pandoras box. The first picture shows the girls at work on the drawing, the second has the finished piece.

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EUROPAPARK

The house went on a house trip on Friday to Rust in Germany. We spent the night in a hotel and on Saturday visited Europapark. Europe’s 2nd largest theme park. The girls had a fabulous day at the park and rode as many of the roller coasters as they could in a day. The favourites were: Blue fire, Silverstar, Wooden and Euro star.
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Cheer Competition!!!!!!

This Sunday New Portena will take part in the Boarding Cheer Competition!
The idea of cheerleading is very important, because it brings a community closer together. We in CDL, really value team spirit, because that is what moves us forward-MOTIVATION and SUPPORT.
After all we are a big family, we have sad and happy moments, but we will always RISE higher and higher and reach our goals!!
Good luck to everyone this weekend!

cheer

BBQ with The Stern Family

Theย Stern Family kindly had a bunch of the girls over for a BBQ and Thai food. The girls all had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed all the food.

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A big thank you to Mrs Stern for hosting and cooking! We loved the chicken satay too!

Welcome to New Portena 2016-2017

Having been at school for a week the staff are truly excited that arrivals weekend is underway and we are excited to have the house slowly filling up. After all a school is not a school without children!

welcome to np

We have already welcomed Valeriia, Ivy, Sabrina, Alina, Cam Thi, Shelly, Louise, Lorena and Paula. They are all unpacked and settling in to their new rooms.

CDL rise

The CDL campus is revelling in beautiful sunshine.

The House parent this year is Ms Terri Davis. (Photo below: Middle)

The Graduate assistants in the House are Miss Stephanie Fournier (Photo below: Right) and Miss Sophie Bentley (Photo below:Left).

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Any questions or queries please get in touch.

 

 

 

First Breath Cycle Challenge – Geneva to Nice

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/First-Breath?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=First-Breath&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Thank you for visiting our JustGiving page raising money for the โ€˜Serenje Orphans Childrens Homeโ€™ (SOCH)ย  in Central Zambia. We are aiming to raise ยฃ3000 to help complete the guest house at the Orphanage.

The SOCH orphanage supplies food, education and support for 44 orphans at a time.

Until recently, there was little evidence of any self-sustaining project that would be able support the orphanage for years into the future.

Local management advised Kevin Gilbert (founder of the SOCH Orphanage and the SOA charity that supports it) that the most viable option was to build a guest house. Serenje is on the T2 (Great North Road) connecting Lusaka Livingstone and the Copperbelt to Tanzania in the Northeast. The guest house will provide accommodation for those travelling along this route. Once built, it should provide the orphanage with an income of approximately ยฃ16000p.a., which is 67% of the ยฃ24000 needed annually.

The total cost of construction was estimated to be ยฃ27000, of which nearly ยฃ21,000 was raised by Edward Lloyd, a past student of Collรจge du Lรฉman, and ยฃ3000 received as an Outreach Grant from the ECIS. Our ยฃ3000 will go towards the total cost of the build. The building is past the roofing stage โ€“ all that remains is the internal tiling of bathrooms and the purchase of furniture.

We hope you can help provide as much support as possible, in order to make SOCH self-sustainable long into the future.

Thankyou,

Ricardo, Morgan and Tom

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Painting the Walls for the Orphange

Dear Viewers,ย 

One of our girls, Anya is trying to raise money to help kids in Zambia. Please read the story that is further below and help her cause. Any amount helps. Thank you for taking the time. ๐Ÿ™‚

STORY

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

The reason why we are raising money to paint the walls is to brighten the children’s world with beautiful artwork. Art is a part of life which brings a community together in many cases. The children would have a enjoyable time with this activity and it’s easy and fun!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving โ€“ theyโ€™ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, theyโ€™ll send your money directly to the charity. So itโ€™s the most efficient way to donate โ€“ saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

CLICK HERE – > SOA.

Serenje Orphans Appeal (SOA)

SOA seeks to relieve the suffering of orphans in Serenje, Zambia. SOA supports local Serenje orphanages which strive to maintain the natural bond between orphan and legal guardian – the โ€˜Serenje Orphans Childrens Homeโ€™ (SOCH) in Serenje, and the โ€˜HMP Orphanage at Chiboboโ€™, 20km from the township.

GRADUATION 2016

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GRADUATES, BUT ESPECIALLY TO FOUR OF OUR GIRLS. CELINE, ANNA-MONIKA, SEDA AND MONICA THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR HOUSE AND FOR ALL YOUR HELP IN THE HOUSE. WE WILL MISS YOU!ย 

Boarding Life

Boarding life can sometimes be difficult, especially when there are exams coming up and you are away from your family, but in New Portena we give each other needed support. Here we are taught to be strong, break through the limits and fight for happiness. We take the advantage to build our future. Not everyone is capable of this, but here we all find the strength to accomplish our goals and reach for success.
Life is like a zebra, it will always change.
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Online Tools and Apps for Poetry

tools

April is National Poetry Month! ReadWriteThink.org!ย As youโ€™re planning poetry activities during this month (and beyond!) consider using these poetry-focusedย ReadWriteThink.orginteractive toolsย andย mobile apps.

Theย Acrostic Poemsย toolย helps students learn about and write acrostic poems, a poetry form that uses the letters in a word to begin each line of the poem. All lines of the poem relate to or describe the main topic word. Also available as aย Mobile App.ย Inย this lesson plan, ย students create acrostic poems using their names and the names of things that are important to them.

In theย Diamante Poems toolย orย Mobile App, users can learn about and write diamante poems, which are diamond-shaped poems that use nouns, adjectives, and gerunds to describe either one central topic or two opposing topics (for example, night/day or winter/spring).ย Writing, revising, and publishing are just a few of the tasks students will complete inย this lesson planย in order to take their cause-and-effect diamante poems from an idea to a reality.

Students can learn about and write haiku usingย this interactive toolย that guides them through the writing process. There is a correspondingย Mobile App.ย Using the Haiku Poem App or the Haiku Poem Interactive, students summarize papers they have written using the traditional format of a haiku inย this lesson plan.

Theย Letter Poem Creatorย provides an online model for the thought process involved in creating poems based upon a letter; then, students are invited to experiment with letter poems independently. Inย this lesson plan, students explore letter poems and experiment with writing letters as poems, using the placement of line breaks to enhance rhythm, sound, meaning, and appearance.

Theย Line Break Explorerย explores the ways that poets choose line breaks in their writing. After viewing the demonstration, students are invited to experiment with line breaks themselves. They can learn more in โ€œWhat Makes Poetry? Exploring Line Breaksโ€œ.

Theย Riddle Interactiveย outlines the characteristics of riddle poems and provides direct instruction on the prewriting and drafting process for writing original riddle poems. โ€œWhat Am I? Teaching Poetry through Riddlesโ€ has students explore figurative language in poetry by reading and writing riddle poems.

Users learn about and write theme poems, a poem written within the shape of the subject of the poem using theย Theme Poems toolย orย Mobile App. โ€œTheme Poems: Writing Extraordinary Poems About Ordinary Objectsโ€ invites students to select a familiar object online, build a bank of words related to the object, and write theme poems that are printed and displayed in class.

Word Moverย allows children and teens to create โ€œfound poetryโ€ by choosing from word banks and existing famous works; additionally, users can add new words to create a piece of poetry by moving/manipulating the text. Additionally, thereโ€™s anย Appย version.ย Use the Word Mover tool to play with word families and listen for rhyme, then sort real and nonsense words, alphabetize the words, and create a story or poem using the words inย this activity.

 

Source:ย http://blogs.ncte.org/index.php/2016/04/online-tools-apps-poetry/

 

OPEN HOUSE – This Saturday!

openhouse

Open House

Register now for more information about our different programmes!

Programme
9.30 a.m. – 12ย p.m. :

– Welcome and presentation of Collรจge du Lรฉman
– Visit stands (admissions, bus and lunch, extracurricular activities, camps, learning support, college advisory, PFA etc.)
– Tours of the School
– Informal meetings with Principals
– Visits of extracurricular activities

 

Register HERE ->>ย http://www.cdl.ch/openhouse

14# AUTOSCHEDIASM

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Citationsย forย autoschediasm

Itย isย ofย courseย possibleย thatย Eur.ย indulgesย inย autoschediasmย โ€ฆย andย freelyย inventstheย monument,ย butย moreย likelyย heย conveysย aย contemporaryย traditionย which,ย forwhateverย reason,ย Aristodemusย couldย notย verifyย inย hisย dayย โ€ฆย Donaldย J.ย Mastronarde,ย “Commentary”ย inย Phoenissaeย byย Euripides,ย 1994

Asย aย specimenย ofย Greekย trickeryย thisย doesย notย strikeย usย asย veryย inspired;ย onlyย animbecileย wouldย haveย beenย takenย inย byย it.ย Iย suspectย thatย itย isย anย autoschediasmย ofPherecydes’,ย andย thatย theย padย wasย suggestedย toย himย byย thatย metopeย ofย theย templeofย Zeusย atย Olympiaย โ€ฆย M.ย L.ย West,ย “Theย Prometheusย Trilogy,”ย Hellenic;ย Volumeย II:ย Lyricย andย Drama,ย 2013.

13# RODOMONTADE

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Citationsย forย rodomontade

“Theย sloopย Iย haveย theย honourย toย commandย isย alwaysย readyย toย putย toย sea,”ย saidClonfert.ย Thatย wasย mereย rodomontadeย :ย noย shipย wasย alwaysย readyย toย putย toย seaunlessย sheย neverย usedย upย anyย water,ย stores,ย powderย orย shotย โ€ฆย Patrickย O’Brian,ย Theย Mauritiusย Command,ย 1977

Sheย knowsย whatย she’sย about;ย butย he,ย poorย fool,ย deludesย himselfย withย theย notion thatย she’llย makeย himย aย goodย wife,ย andย becauseย sheย hasย amusedย himย withย someย rodomontadeย aboutย despisingย rankย andย wealthย inย mattersย ofย loveย andย marriage,heย flattersย himselfย thatย she’sย devotedlyย attachedย toย himโ€ฆAnneย Brontรซ,ย Theย Tenantย ofย Wildfellย Hall,ย 1848

12# RABBLE-ROUSER

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Citationsย forย rabble-rouser

Sheย usedย everyย emotionalย trickย ofย theย rabble-rouserย toย whipย themย upย intofrenzies,ย madeย themย drunkย onย emotion,ย createdย aย sceneย ofย back-pounding,shouting,ย jitteringย maniacs.Markย Clifton,ย “Whatย Now,ย Littleย Man?”ย Theย Magazineย ofย Fantasyย andย Scienceย Fiction,ย 1959

Heย isย notย theย rabbleย rouserย butย theย persuader,ย theย manย whoย givesย theย reasons.Robertย Pennย Warren,ย “Dividedย Southย Searchesย Itsย Soul,”ย Life,ย Julyย 9,ย 1956.

#19 NORWAY

Did you know that Longbearbyen in Norway is also both the brightest and darkest place on the planet?

Here’s a look at one of its brighter day:

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And did you know that Norway allows any student from anywhere in the world to study at their universities for free?ย (This allowanceย has no limits, either: undergraduate, Masters and Ph.D.s included.)

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11# BISSEXTUS

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Thisย oddย dayย wasย insertedย afterย theย sixthย dayย beforeย theย kalendsย ofย March,ย i.e.,afterย theย 24thย ofย February,ย andย wasย notย countedย asย anย additionย toย theย year,ย butย asaย sortย ofย appendix.ย Henceย theย sixthย ofย theย kalendsย ofย Marchย wasย calledย bissextus,ย orย doubleย sixth,ย whichย rootย isย stillย retainedย inย ourย wordย bissextile,ย thoughย theย dayย isnowย addedย atย theย endย ofย February.E.ย S.ย Burns,ย “Historyย ofย Chronology,”ย Theย Popularย Scienceย Monthly,ย April,ย 1881

Theย Romansย lookedย uponย theย Bissextile,ย orย leapย day,ย asย unfortunate,ย andย inย theMiddleย Agesย thisย superstitionย wasย extendedย toย theย wholeย year.ย Theย Frenchย areย stillinย theย habitย ofย saying,ย whenย anyย misfortuneย happens,ย thatย theย bissextusย hasย fallenuponย theย business.T.ย F.ย Thiseltonย Dyer,ย “Antiquarianย Gossipย onย theย Months,”ย Theย Leisureย Hour.

Happy Birthday Anna-Monika!

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It’s been four enjoyableย years with Anna-Monika in our house! She was so small when we first saw her and now she is 18 years old. In 3 months she will be graduating from CDL and we will miss her!

Happy Birthday Anna-Monika! We wish you all the best!

#18 PERU

Did you know thatย Peru is one of the most diverse countries in the world? โ€” And thatโ€™s a fact. Home to 84 out of the 117 โ€˜life zonesโ€™ existing on earth and 28 of the 32 different types of weather there is no better place to experience the wonders Mother Nature has thrown our way.Peru_llama_post_620

The city of Machu Picchu, one of the most famous landmarks in Peru, was voted in 2007 as one of theย New Seven Wonders of the World.

And did you know thatย Lake Titicaca located along Peruโ€™s border with Bolivia is the largest lake in South America? It is also the highest navigable lake in the world with a surface elevation of 3,812 meters.

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10# PREMIATE

A great word for today! Oscars are coming…
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Citationsย forย premiate

Iย assumedย thenย thatย theyย mayorย mightย wantย suggestionsย aboutย whoย shouldย beย ontheย commissionย toย ”ย premiateย ”ย theย buildings….[Theย commission]ย producedย aย listofย thirty-nineย buildingsย toย beย designatedย landmarks.Leonย M.ย Despresย withย Kenanย Heise,ย Challengingย theย Daleyย Machine:ย Aย Chicagoย Alderman’sย Memoir,ย 2005

Weย believeย thatย itย isย moreย desirableย toย premiateย thriftย thanย toย premiateย strikes.,ย “Addressย byย Dr.ย Talcottย Williams,”ย Yearย Bookย ofย theย Economicย Clubย ofย Newย York,ย Volumeย III,ย 1913

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…

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Vote for the Oscars leaving your comments:

BEST PICTURE

The Big Short

Bridge of Spies

Brooklyn

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Room

Spotlight

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Matt Damon, The Martian

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Cate Blanchett, Carol

Brie Larson, Room

Jennifer Lawrence, Joy

Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years

Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christian Bale, The Big Short

Tom Hardy, The Revenant

Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight

Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

Sylvester Stallone, Creed

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

Rooney Mara, Carol

Rachel McAdams, Spotlight

Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

Bridge of Spies

Carol

The Hateful Eight

Sicario

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Anomalisa

Boy and the World

Inside Out

Shaun the Sheep Movie

When Marnie Was There

On Monday we will know the winners ๐Ÿ˜‰

#17 NIGERIA

Did you know that…

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…English is the official language of Nigeria and is extensively used for education, business transactions and for official purposes? Despite being the first language, English is not spoken at all in some rural areas. Because the majority of the population of the country stays in rural areas, indigenous languages such as the Yoruba and Igbo are spoken by the majority. A derived language called the Nigerian Pidgin English, also called the ‘Pidgin’ or Broken English is also a popular lingua-franca in the country.

nigeria-map

And did you know that the Niger Delta covers 20,000 kmยฒ within wetlands of 70,000 kmยฒ formed primarily by sediment deposition (which makes it the second largest delta on the planet), and has the highest concentration of monotypic (sole member of biological group) fish families in the world?

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9# NATTER

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Citationsย forย natter

โ€ฆscholarsย natteredย awayย atย oneย anotherย onย suchย mattersย asย theย proprietyย ofstartingย aย vocalย trillย fromย theย upperย note,ย andย aย critics’ย convocationย natteredย back.Alanย Rich,ย “Theย Desiccationย ofย ‘Poppea’,”ย Newย York,ย Juneย 15,ย 1981

You’veย interferedย inย ourย affairsย forย noย reasonย atย all,ย kidnappedย usย andย lockedย usย uplikeย monkeysย inย aย zooย forย theย restย ofย ourย lives,ย andย nowย youย natterย onย aboutย therichย workย ofย theย mind!Hayfordย Peirce,ย Napoleonย Disentimed,ย 1987

THE PEOPLE I LIKE

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THE PEOPLE I LIKE

I like the people that vibrate, that donโ€™t need to be pushed, that you donโ€™t have to tell them to do stuff, because they know what needs to be done and just do it.

I like the people that cultivate their dreams until those dreams take over their own reality.

I like the people that are able to face the consequences of their actions, people that risk whatโ€™s true for whatโ€™s uncertain to go after a dream, people that allow themselves to run from โ€œsensitive adviceโ€ leaving solutions in the hands of our father God.

I like the people that are fair with their own people and themselves, people that are thankful for each new day, the good things existing in their life, people who live every hour with good enthusiasm giving their best, thankful for being alive, for being able to give smiles, for being able to offer their hands and help kindly, waiting for nothing in return.

I like the people that are capable of criticizing me constructively and up front, but without hurting me. People with tact.

I like the people with sense of justice. These are the people I call my friends.

I like the people that acknowledge the importance of joy and preaches about it.

I like the people that with jokes teach us to conceive life with humor.

I like the people that never stop being childish.

I like the people that are sincere and honest, capable of opposing with reasonable arguments to anyoneโ€™s decisions.

I like the people that are loyal and persistent, that fight tirelessly for their goals and ideas. I like people with criteria that are never ashamed of recognizing a mistake or recognizing ignorance about something. People that, when accepting their mistakes, genuinely make an effort not to make them again. People that fight against adversities. People that look for solutions. People that think and meditate. People that value their equals not by a social stereotype or how they look. People that donโ€™t judge and donโ€™t let others judge. I like people with personality. People capable of understanding that humanityโ€™s biggest mistake is to try to get out of their head something that wonโ€™t go out of their heart.

Sensitivity, courage, solidarity, kindness, respect, peace, values, joy, humility, faith, happiness, tact, trust, hope, gratitude, wisdom, dreams, regret, and love for others and oneself are fundamental things to be called PEOPLE.

With people like this, I can commit to anything for the rest of my life, because just by having them next to me, I consider myself well rewarded.

โ€”Mario Benedetti

8# INTERNECINE

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Citationsย forย internecine

Scientistsย suchย asย Albertย Einstein,ย Robertย Oppenheimer,ย andย Edwardย Tellerย claimedthatย onlyย byย unitingย inย aย worldย governmentย theย peoplesย couldย avoidย internecinenuclearย warsโ€ฆFurioย Cerutti,ย Globalย Challengesย forย Leviathan,ย 2007

โ€ฆRotaryย doesย notย supportย theย viewsย ofย theย Unitedย States,ย orย England,ย orย France,ย orGermany,ย orย anyย otherย country,ย butย simplyย takesย theย standย thatย theย disarmamentconferenceย mustย succeedย unlessย theย worldย isย toย setย upย anotherย internecinecompetitionย inย armaments,ย leadingย toย aย moreย terribleย war,ย perhapsย fatalย toย ourcivilization.Sydneyย W.ย Pascall,ย “Publicย Opinionย andย Disarmament,”ย Theย Rotarian,ย November,ย 1931.

 

#16 New Zealand

Did you know thatย New Zealand has three officialย languages: English, Mฤori and New Zealand Sign Language and that there are more vending machines in Japan than there areย peopleย in New Zealand?

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And did you know that in 2008, TripAdvisor named Milford Sound (pictured below) the worldโ€™s top travel destination?

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7# SUPERCILIOUS

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Citationsย forย supercilious

Inย theย shadowย underย theย greenย visorย ofย theย capย Ignatiusย J.ย Reilly’sย superciliousblueย andย yellowย eyesย lookedย downย uponย theย otherย peopleย waitingย underย theย clockย attheย D.ย H.ย Holmesย departmentย store,ย studyingย theย crowdย ofย peopleย forย signsย ofย badtasteย inย dress.Johnย Kennedyย Toole,ย Aย Confederacyย ofย Dunces,ย 1980

Isย itย trueย that,ย fromย anย appreciationย ofย theย lustreย whichย wouldย reflectย backย uponhimselfย fromย allowingย hisย sonย toย becomeย aย decidedlyย fashionableย youngย man,ย hehadย encouragedย himย inย extravagance,ย dissipation,ย andย heartlessย worldliness;ย hehadย broughtย himย upย toย beย supercilious,ย expensive,ย unprincipled,ย andย useless.Anthonyย Trollope,ย Theย Kellysย andย theย O’Kellys,ย 1848

by Dictionary.com

 

#15 ISRAEL

Did you know that Einstein was offeredย theย presidency of Israel which he politelyย declined?

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And did you know that all Jewishย people who are between 18 and 26 years old are entitled to aย free 10-day tripย toย Israel?

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#6 HALE

sin ttulo 3

Definition:

:ย free from defect, disease, or infirmityย :ย sound;ย alsoย :ย retaining exceptional health and vigor

Examples:ย 

“He was a rich and powerful noble, then in his sixty-second year, butย haleย and sturdy, a great horseman and hunter and a pious man.” โ€” Edith Wharton, “Kerfol,” 1916

“These twins were New Year’s babies in 1926. Today the two men areย haleย and healthy and love to banter with each other about old times and their lives.” โ€” Marilyn Salzl Brinkman,ย The St. Cloud (Minnesota) Times, 18 Dec. 2015

byย MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARIES.

#14 ARGENTINA

Did you know that the toothpasteย “Colgate”ย in Argentineย Spanishย translates toย “Go Hang Yourself.”?

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And did you know that the world’sย widest avenueย is the “9th of July” in Argentina, withย 14 lanes, plus 4 lanesย of parallel streets?

400px-Buenos_Aires_-_Monserrat_-_Avenida_9_de_Julioescudo

5# CALUMNIATE

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Citations with Calumniate:

Theย “plauditsย ofย theย multitude”ย canย notย longย beย heldย byย theย poet,ย andย areย notย worthholding.ย Theย multitudeย knowsย nothingย ofย poetryย andย doesย notย readย it.ย Themultitudeย willย applaudย youย to-day,ย calumniateย youย to-morrowย andย thwackย youathwartย theย mazzardย theย dayย after.Ambroseย Bierce,ย “Edwinย Markham’sย Poems,”ย Theย Collectedย Worksย ofย Ambroseย Bierce:ย Volumeย X,ย 1911

“Inย justiceย toย thatย individual,ย theย muchย ill-usedย peasant,ย Ziemianitch,ย Iย nowย declaresolemnlyย thatย theย conclusionsย ofย thatย letterย calumniateย aย manย ofย theย people–abrightย Russianย soul…”Josephย Conrad,ย Underย Westernย Eyes,ย 1911

#13 INDIA

Did you know thatย India’s Hindu calendar hasย 6 seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and preverbal?

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And did you know thatย India’s “Go Air”ย airline only hires femaleย flight attendants because they areย lighter, so theyย saveย up toย US$500,000ย per year inย fuel?

goair-india_2602642b

#12 GERMANY

Did you know thatย Berlinย isย 9 times biggerย thanย Parisย and has more bridges than Venice?

Berlin-Skyline

And did you know thatย Duringย WWI, theย King of England, theย Tsar of Russia, and theย Emperor of Germanyย were allย first cousins?

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4# EXONERATE

sin ttulo 3

Definition:

1 :ย to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship

2 :ย to clear from accusation or blame

Examples:ย 

Dana wasย exoneratedย for the crime of taking the money after it was found that her fingerprints did not match those on the cashbox.

“โ€ฆ a 2015 measure approved by the Legislature will provide more opportunities for convicted people to request DNA testing of evidence that mightย exonerateย them.” โ€”ย The Daily Herald(Everett, Washington), 23 Dec. 2015

 

byย MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARIES.

#11 ANGOLA

Did you know that the official language in Angola is Portuguese, but they also speak Bantu and other African languages?

angola

And did you know thatย Angolans greet by shaking hands but when introduced to an older person or to someone with a higher position, Angolans typically bow their heads as a sign of respect? Africans are always disciplined, you know? That is the Southern hospitality.

Angola

3# JOCUND

sin ttulo 3

Definition:

: marked by or suggestive of high spirits and lively mirthfulness.

Examples:ย 

Clayton gave aย jocundย shout when he entered the room and saw the many friends who had come for his surprise 50th birthday celebration.

“Theย jocundย nature of Beethoven’s Second Symphony is in utter contradiction with Beethoven’s pathetic letter expressing the despair of inevitable deafness, both written at approximately the same time.” โ€” D. S. Crafts,ย The Albuquerque (New Mexico) Journal, 13 Jan. 2012

byย MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARIES.

2# WHILOM

sin ttulo 3

Definition:

: former.

Examples:ย 

I was pleased to find an interview with theย whilomย president of my alma mater in the local paper.

“On the eastern side settlement and agriculture have all but obliterated theย whilomย tallgrass prairie, so that it is hardly visible to anyone who would not seek it out on hands and knees….” โ€” William Least Heat-Moon,ย The Atlantic, September 1991

byย MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARIES.

#10 POLAND

Did you know that Poles eat pizza with ketchup?ย Pizza, or zapiekanka, in Poland does not contain tomato sauce. It is a popular street food served on a baguette with melted cheese, mushrooms, and ketchup.

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And did you know that Poland is the 6th most populous and the 6th largest of the European Union’s 27 member states? Most of the country is flat, with an average elevation of 173 meters.

FB_Warszawa_panorama map-poland

Re-enrolment 2016-2017

Capture

Dear Parents,

The re-enrolment campaign has begun.

The process will once again be online and you will receive an email notification.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the admissions team atย admissions@cdl.chย or +41 22 775 55 55.

We look forward to welcoming your child back to Collรจge du Lรฉman next year.

Best regards,

The Boarding Team.

1# REMINISCE

sin ttulo

Definition:

: to indulge in the process or practice of thinking or telling about past experiences.

Examples:ย 

Justin met up with some of his college buddies toย reminisceย about old times.

“Most of us have a comfort food we eat when we areย reminiscing, sad or depressed.” โ€” Marion Goldberg,ย The Poughkeepsie (New York) Journal, 16 Dec. 2015

byย MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARIES.

NEW SECTIONS IN OUR BLOG!

Last month we started with the category:ย “Did you know?” where each day we post a few interesting facts of one country. Our house has many nationalities and we thought it was a great thing to share with the community.

DidKnow

This month, we are feeling proactive, so we start with the category of “Word of the Day” where each day we will learn a new word in English so we can improve our vocabulary. ๐Ÿ™‚

word-of-the-day

Hope you all like it!

New Portena Team.

#9 Kazakhstan

Did you know that The Republic of Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world in terms of area: 2 million 724.9 thousand sq. km (152089.77 sq.miles) and that it is also the worldโ€™s largest landlocked country bordering Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan?

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Kazakhstan is a multicultural country with more than 120 ethnic groups and nationalities including Kazakh, Russian, Korean, German, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Uzbek, Poles, and Lithuanians to name a few.

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#8 CHINA

Did you know that fortune cookies areย not a traditional Chineseย custom. They were invented in early 1900 in San Francisco?

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And did you know that The Forbidden City, a palace complex in Beijing, contains aboutย 9,000 rooms!?

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#7 GABON

Did you know that Gabon is home to hundreds of dolomite and limestone caves many of which are yet to be explored?

map_gabon

And that almost 80-85% of Gabon is covered by rainforests, 11% of which has been dedicated for national parks making these parks some of the largest nature parks in the world?

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SNOWING IN NEW PORTENA

A couple of days ago started snowing at night and all of our girls wanted to enjoy and experience it. Everyone was watching it and taking pictures. Such a great experience to see everything covered in white. JOY was definitely the feeling that you could see in their faces.

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#4 Cyprus

Did you know that Cyprus is known as the Island ofย Love? This island has a long history of love. It wasย thought to be the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greekย goddess of love, Antony gave it to Cleopatra asย gift, and Richard the Lionhearted fell in love with aย woman there, prompting him to put the Crusades onย hold for a year while he stayed with her.

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#3 Brazil

Did you know the word โ€œBrazil,โ€ meaning โ€œred like an ember,โ€ comes fromย pau brasilย (brazil wood), a tree that once grew abundantly along the Brazilian coast that produced a deep, red dye. Brazil wood was valued by European traders who came from the Portuguese coasts in the 16th century to trade with the Tupรญ-Guaranรญ Indians.

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Teaching Good Study Habits, Minute by Minute

Minute-by-Minute Study Strategies

UnknownBut is the question-answer strategy really the best way to study? No single way works for everybody, as each child has a different set of strengths and preferences when it comes to internalizing information. Here are some other ways to use this time (also provided asย a downloadable PDF to print for your students):

1. Flashcards

Turn those questions and answers into flashcards and have your adolescent quiz herself. The simple act of flipping the cards around and putting them into piles of “mastered” and “needs practice” may be enough to keep an active kid moving. Some kids are motivated by timing themselves. Flip those flashcards around, have her read the answer, and try to reproduce the question for a bigger challenge.

2. Categorizing

Use the flashcards to organize the information by categories, put them in some kind of order, or match them up in pairs. The idea is to organize them differently each time so that your student can make more than one connection in his brain for the information.

3. Word combining

Language lovers won’t mind creating sentences with vocabulary. If the test is vocabulary-heavy, start by either writing or speaking the sentences with one word in each and then moving to two words, then three, etc.

4. Song lyrics

Ask a musical or rhythmic adolescent to take the lyrics of her favorite song and rewrite it to include as much of the required information she can. This may take multiple sessions to accomplish, but once it’s done, she can sing it over and over again.

5. Picture notes

During the study session, have a more visual adolescent draw pictures of his notes on flashcards, paper, or a whiteboard, and then describe them.

6. Talk-through

Many adolescents are highly social. If yours is, too, have her go through flashcards or a study guide and explain each aspect in as much detail as possible without reading from the printed information.

7. Picture walk

Have him use the visuals provided in the textbook, online text, worksheets, notes, etc. to explain information either out loud or in writing, depending on his preference.

8. Mnemonic devices

Have her rhyme or create sayings to help her remember information. Creating acronyms or sentences with the first letters of words can also be fun for students who like to play with language.

9. Oral visualization

Read a portion of the notes or worksheet and have your student describe what comes to mind visually.

10. Perspective talk

Talk or write about the material, pretending to be somebody or something else.

11. Superhero letter

Have a word-smart adolescent write a letter to a superhero explaining the material and why the information should be important.

Ultimately, studying comes in dozens of forms, and it’s important to help your adolescent figure out what’s going to work for him or her. Whatever her strengths, whatever his level of comfort, start there. Keep it short. Keep it simple. Keep it painless. And watch what happens when studying becomes a familiarย routine — and when students see the fruits of their efforts.

 

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/good-study-habits-minute-by-minute-heather-lambert

Open Door Day

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Tomorrow is the open door day. All the teachers are welcome in our hospitable Boarding House.
Any questions are welcome, we’ll be very pleased to see you tomorrow and show you our life in New Portena.

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New Portena 2015-2016 :D

 

New Portena is a big, comfortable and spacious house with a small paved square and a fountain behind it. Compared to other girlsโ€™ boarding houses, New Portena remains my favourite. All the surrounding views from the windows are picturesque, just one glance out of the window will cheer you up. We are never bored. Here we have our own small library, a TV, a Nintendo Wii, an elegant piano and soft sofas stretching along the living room edges.
But anyway, New Portena is NOT just a building. It is also a community consisting of
32 wonderful people of different ages and nations, various appearances, characters and souls. Living here is a rare opportunity to observe different cultures and traditions and also to learn new phrases in other languages. It is a great experience, which can help you in learning how to get on and to make compromises with other people. It enables you to solve problems and avoid conflicts.
We also have three kind and friendly house parents in our boarding family. They look after us and they are truly concerned about us, if something is not right. We can ask them for help for any kind of reason. You can always talk with them if something/ someone is pulling you down. Of course they can be strict, but only when it is justified.
We all love each other just the way we are, thatโ€™s part of being a community.

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CHINESE DINNER

Last week we had the Chinese Dinner and it was a success. A lot of our girls helped and they did a great job. Thank you to everyone involved in the event… it was delicious! ๐Ÿ™‚

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AQUAPARK

Today some of our girls went to Aquapark to spend the day having fun and playing in the water. This was the first time that our girls went and ย they had a blast! ๐Ÿ™‚

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From left to right: Anya, Marilia, Deborah, Valentina, Oyin, Yassia, Heather and Fernanda.