As part of a homework task for AP Geography, boys in the class were asked to cook a dish from their home country. William showed himself to be quite the chef in the kitchen, aided by his sous-chef and roommate Santiago. They cooked the famous Nigerian and West African, staple dish of Jollof rice. A dish known for its powerful punch of flavour and colour, with chillies, onions, tomatoes and other spices really giving it a kick of flavour that leaves you wanting more! Once cooked, William was kind enough to give the boys and staff a try, with it receiving glowing praise for its tastiness! In Olympus we hope to see this sort of tradition continue as it builds a nice sense of community and camaraderie in the House.

The days grow shorter and the mornings become more crisp, it is a sure-fire sign of one thing and one thing only, that winter is here! Students will have begun to notice the changes over the last few weeks, needing to add more and more layers to battle the cold. Now we are starting to have the visual and meteorological confirmation of this with the overnight temperature hitting zero degrees Celsius. The freezing temperatures left their mark over the football fields of the College with students waking up to seeing them covered in thick frost. Moreover, the temperatures are promising to plunge into the negatives later in the week, potentially bring the first bit of snow for the winter – anyone up for building a snowman? It is important that students wrap up and keep warm to ensure they don’t get sick and can enjoy the winter.

This weekend the students came together for something a little different from our usual routine. Each house donated money to support our annual Gift Box Appeal, and with those funds we were able to buy a range of small but meaningful items for children in orphanages across Eastern Europe.

What made the afternoon special wasn’t just the cause, but the atmosphere. Students gave up their free time to help sort, organise and pack the gifts. The dining room turned into a small production line — wrapping paper on one table, toiletries and toys on another, and plenty of teamwork holding it all together.

There was a real sense of purpose in the room. The students were focused and proud to be doing something that will make a child’s Christmas a little brighter.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and took part. It was a good reminder of what our community can achieve when we pull together.

@thatboardingvibe 2025 Gift Box Appeal #thatboardingvibe #schoollife #giftboxappeal #shoeboxappeal ♬ Christmas Nostalgia – NC MUSIC

It is has been a busy two weeks returning to school, with birthdays, trips, activities and parent-teacher meetings. Over the weekend the house celebrated the birthdays of Sava and Henry, it is really nice to see the way the boys embrace these special occasions with one another.

Additionally, the boys are really enjoying the activities offered on the weekend such as horse riding, cooking classes and Mr László’s dance class. As well, as doing their bit to help pick up rubbish around the lake to ensure it continues to look pristine, even as the lake is used frequented during the late autumn and winter months.

Finally, over the weekend there was a school trip to Barcelona, which was attended by Marco and Maxim. The boys visited famous Gaudi’s architectural marvels such as La Sagrada Familia and La Padrera, as well as being given time to explore the city and all its wonderful sites. They took in a night of Spanish culture with a Flamenco and Spanish guitar show, followed by a dinner by the beach to soak in the Barcelona coast line. On Sunday they visited the famous Camp Nou – the home of FC Barcelona and had a stadium tour, before returning on Sunday night. All in all, a successful trip with Marco and Maxim reporting on how much fun they had.

This week, Olympus was transformed into a house of cobwebs, pumpkins, and eerie laughter as our boys threw themselves into the Halloween spirit. From the moment the first decorations went up, the energy in the house shifted.

Pierre and William, did our pumpkin carving for the House Competition!

It has been great to see the boys returning from their adventure-filled October breaks! I hope it has afforded them the opportunity to get some well needed rest and recovery and allowed them to catch up with family and friends with a tale or two from their first term at CDL. The boys who went on the Tanzania and Southern Spain trips came back on Saturday with glowing reviews of their travels and the new memories they created with friends new and old. Others have arrived back and settled in beautifully, trading stories with their friends whilst unpacking their suitcases. On the academic and school side of things we have the first term’s academic review being sent out as well as Parent-Teacher interviews being held on Friday 7th of November. We are looking forward to a great second term.

Octobers Poem

The autumn sun on Versoix’s shore,
Tells us it’s time to pause once more.
The weeks have flown in class and hall,
At College du Léman, we’ve given our all.

From morning bells to twilight skies,
We’ve grown, we’ve learned, we’ve laughed, we’ve tried.
Now suitcases close, and planes depart,
But CDL still holds each heart.

Some journey home to lands afar,
Some stay beneath the Swiss Alps’ star.
The lake reflects a calm, clear hue,
A mirror for the things we’ve been through.

So take this break, breathe deep, explore,
Return refreshed to learn once more.
For every path and plan we choose,
Will lead us back to CDL’s views.

This month’s Boarding Assembly centred on responsibility, what it means to take ownership of our actions, to admit when we’ve made mistakes, and to stay true to our values even when no one is watching.

We discussed how accountability isn’t about blame, but about growth. The students reflected on the idea that being responsible builds trust, strengthens relationships, and helps us mature into dependable young adults. It’s not always easy to say, “I was wrong,” but doing so shows courage and integrity and qualities that matter far beyond school.

In boarding life, lessons like these are just as valuable as anything learned in the classroom. Living together teaches empathy, respect, and independence. Each decision, big or small, shapes the kind of person we become. By focusing on responsibility, we’re helping our boarders develop the character and self-awareness that will serve them long after they leave CDL.

This week’s International Dinner brought a taste of Spain to campus, filling the dining hall with the warm aroma of chorizo, tapas, and seafood. The students enjoyed sampling classic Spanish flavours and sharing plates around the table just as it’s done in Spain.

The lively music and colourful setup made it feel like a real Spanish fiesta, with plenty of laughter and conversation flowing. It was another great evening of food, culture, and community and a reminder that our boarding dinners are about much more than what’s on the plate.

@thatboardingvibe International Dinner – Spain! #thatboardingvibe #boardinglife #spanishfood #tapas #schooldinners ♬ Passionate Spanish Flamenco, Spanish(1324031) – tmk93

Teeing Off in Style

This week, Jorge proudly represented Collège du Léman in an inter-school golf tournament against several Swiss schools. He played with focus and composure throughout the day, showing real consistency on the course.

After a strong performance, Jorge finished an impressive 3rd place overall — a fantastic result and a great reflection of his hard work and calm under pressure.

Well done, Jorge! The Olympus house is proud to see one of our own performing so well and representing our community with such sportsmanship.