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.

by Federico VILLARREAL RUSSEK

Today we had a pretty cool activity downstairs in Olympus. Everyone made a big circle, and Mr. Gordon stood upstairs on the balcony calling out different questions like, “Who has a brother?” “Who’s the youngest in their family?” and other fun ones. If your answer was yes, you stepped into the middle of the circle. When I went in, I fist bumped into the other people who had the same answer. It was fun to see how many people shared the same things as me.
Every time Mr. Gordon asked a new question, a lot of people would move to the middle. It was interesting to look around and realise how many of us had something in common. People were smiling and laughing as they saw who else was joining them.
This reminded me of Respect Week, which we’re celebrating right now. Our house has almost 18 different nationalities, which means we all come from different places, speak different languages, and have our own traditions. Sometimes it can feel like we are all very different, but activities like this show that we share a lot too, like family experiences, sports we enjoy, or things we like to do.
Respect Week is all about noticing and appreciating both our differences and what we have in common. Standing in that circle made me realise that we are all connected in some way. Even if we come from different countries, we can still find things that bring us together.
It was a simple activity, but it made me feel like we’re part of one big community. That’s exactly what Respect Week is about respecting each other and celebrating the things that unite us.

@thatboardingvibe Respect Week at CDL #thatboardingvibe #cdl #collegeduleman #respect #friendships ♬ Golden Brown x Love Story – Apollogirl

This week’s International Dinner took us to Belgium, with everyone enjoying the country’s famous mussels and frites. It was a new taste experience for some, while others went back for second helpings.

The evening felt extra special as our own Pierre from Olympus, who is from Belgium, was able to share in a tradition from home. He was all smiles tucking into the dishes and proudly telling others about the food.

Moments like these remind us how lucky we are to have such a diverse community, where students can both discover new cultures and celebrate their own.

@thatboardingvibe International Dinner! #thatboardingvibe #belgium #mussels #boardinglife #schoolfood ♬ Belgium One Love – David Cretta & Jacky Mercury

On Tuesday this week, with many students away on the overnight Discovery Days, those who stayed behind enjoyed a quieter evening together in the boarding house. Dinner was delivered to our door, with kebabs providing a relaxed and tasty meal. The smaller group made for easy conversation, giving everyone the chance to connect as house members and enjoy a more intimate atmosphere.

Afterwards, the evening continued with games of pool, chess, and table football. It was a simple but meaningful way to spend time together, turning an ordinary night into one filled with laughter, friendly competition, and the comfort of good company.

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This week our International Dinner took us to Italy, with a food truck serving fresh pizza straight from the oven. The boys enjoyed a variety of toppings, from the classics to some more adventurous choices, and the atmosphere was lively with everyone gathered together to share a slice (or two).

These evenings are always a highlight, giving us the chance to celebrate different cultures through food and to enjoy time together as a community. Italy certainly brought the flavour this week – and we’re already looking forward to seeing which country is next on the menu.

@thatboardingvibe Another amazing International Dinner – Italian this week! #thatboardingvibe #boardinglife #italianfood #pizzatruck ♬ Che La Luna – Louis Prima