Dear all,

Dear all,

Tonight, we enjoyed the delicious flavors of the Philippines! The cooking team prepared Chicken Adobo, Tortang Talong, Kililaw Tanigue, and Bubble Tea for dessert.

Did you know the Philippines has 7,641 islands? It’s also home to the world’s smallest volcano, Taal Volcano, which sits on an island within a lake!

It was sarap!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

And just like that, another weekend has whizzed by (far too quickly, some of the boys would say!)

They made the most of it, having had great fun at Balexert on Saturday, playing games in other houses, and partaking in some of their favourite weekend activities.

Now, it’s time to roll on to the new week

The Champs-des-Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

Today, the lads from Champs-des-Bois and the girls from Terray got the chance to go the Balexert shopping centre; for a trip to the cinema, have a bite to eat and have fun shopping to their heart’s content!

We went to see The Wild Robot, a beautiful animation, made all the better as everyone selected their favorite snacks and settled into cosy seats for the movie. Then it was a spot of lunch before chilling out and exploring Balexert.

This outing was more than just entertainment—it was an opportunity for students to bond, grow their independence, and create memories.

The Champs-des-Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

Tonight at Collège du Léman, we took a flavorful trip to Ghana! The dining hall was filled with the aromas of traditional Ghanaian dishes, and it was a feast to remember.

Our cooking team served up Beef stew, Plantains, Spicy prawns, and a tasty sauce, followed by Boflot with a choice of coulis for dessert.

It was ɛyɛ dɛ!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

What a fantastic weekend we had here at Champs des Bois! We kicked things off on Saturday with tons of fun activities. The kids got to enjoy activities like badminton, horseback riding or tennis, keeping everyone active! In the afternoon, we took a stroll into Versoix, where we picked up some treats and essentials—snacks and a few fun items to make their rooms feel even more like home!

Sunday was a bit more relaxed, and we took full advantage of the morning to sleep in and recharge for the week ahead. Later, we set off for a beautiful two-hour hike through the Versoix forest. It was a perfect way to wrap up the weekend on a peaceful note!

To end the weekend, we spent the afternoon making sure the house was spotless and ready for the new week. All in all, it was a weekend full of fun, fresh air, and a bit of home care—a perfect balance!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

Tonight at Champs des Bois we witnessed a showdown for the ages! It all started innocently—a tray of delicious burgers served up for dinner, as it was Dinner at Home evening! But as soon as the last burger came into view, tension filled the room… The boys looked at each other, and we all knew: “The burger is strong with this one.”

In seconds, lightsabers were drawn, and an epic Jedi battle began. With sound effects worthy of the galaxy far, far away, each one was determined to prove that “This is the way”—to claim the final, glorious burger. The dining hall rang with intensely, and Donny, after a memorable fight declared, “I am one with the burger, and the burger is with me!”

In the end, peace was restored and bellies were full. The Force was strong in Champs des Bois last night, and we’re already looking forward to the next adventure. May the burgers be with them!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

Being in a community such as ours is a true privilege. We have so much to offer the boys in Champs-des-Bois, that their opportunities are limitless, and this goes beyond the classroom, activities or trips.

Sometimes it can be something as simple and impactful as lending a helping hand. One of the greatest things that the boys have is the chance to hang out with older students, their peers, from senior houses.

We in the house owe our thanks to four fantastic students who brighten our week with their visits, to meet with the lads in CDB. Due to no obligation other than that they want to spend time with them.

So, thank you – to Coco from Portena who comes on a Monday to help the boys with their homework, that they can struggle with. To Adame from Léman who comes on a Tuesday to engage with the boys in learning French. To Mila from Portena who pops by on Wednesdays to cook and bake tasty treats with them. To Aydan from Léman, who on Thursdays, brings chill vibes,   playing and hanging out with the boys.

They are a credit to our community, their houses, but most importantly, to themselves. It is inspiring to see such inter-community spirit well and alive at CDL.

The Champs des Bois Team

Dear all,

This evening we enjoyed a taste of traditional Italian food, and it was a wonderful experience for everyone. The evening gave us a real feel of Italy— buonissimo!

The cooking team prepared Tomato bruschetta, Olive and Grana Padano, Aubergines parmigiana, Sicilian-style Polenta, and Caponata. Every dish was delicious!

Our Italian students were impressed, and I can honestly say it was molto buono!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

Each evening, after a long day filled with the hundreds of things the boys do daily, they gather for our Evening Reading Wind Down Time. This new tradition helps the boys relax, away from screens – a calm  space where they can chill out with a book before bed. This routine is helping them unwind and building a natural love for reading.

Right now, it’s about creating a calm space to read together, but we’re excited to build on this. Eventually, we’ll introduce friendly challenges to make it even more exciting, but for now, our focus is on creating a peaceful time to read. It’s a simple yet powerful way to encourage the boys to engage with books and to enjoy reading as part of their evening routine.

The Champs-des-Bois Team 🏡

Dear all,

After a long week of school, there’s nothing like a weekend packed with fun and relaxation!

Kicking things off with laid-back mornings, activites to occupy the time and plenty of moments for pure relaxation!  From cooking, gardening, and climbing, to taking part in the Novemeber Fitness Challenge (kick started off by our very own Mr Sergio) and then capping off the weekend with a trip to Airloop, for some fun jumping around trampolines.

The boys were kept busy but made the most of it, and we can be assured that they will never let a moment fall idle with everything they get up to – not to even mention their usual antics!

The Champs-des-Bois Team 🏡

Hoop skills with Jin

Hangin’ loose with Mana

The Chess Master Paul-David at work!

Planting good vibes 🌱🌞

Who can do the longest plank, I wonder…

Always can rely on the Sunday Brunch to keep us well energised

Climbing to success with Nuttakit

The CDB boys and Terray girls ending the weekend at AirLoop

Nothing like a nice Sunday afternoon spent gardening with Ms. Rym.

Dear all,

The CDB lads had an absolute blast over the past couple of days, making the most of this most haunting of seasons! We started by carving our pumpkin – The CDB Witch – with everyone pitching in to bring this ghastly creation to life. Then came the costumes! Everyone showed off their unique looks, from the spooky to the downright hilarious. Trick-or-treating was a fun adventure, and the boys’ candy bags were overflowing by the end of it. To wrap up the events, Mana, Kimi and Ethan gathered for a Halloween party, hosted by the Middle School (Thank you team!) sharing laughs, treats, and scares.

This Halloween was un-boo-lievable! 🎃👻

The Champs-des-Bois Team 🏡

Beware The CDB Witch!

Captain Chika and Officer Frog (Donny) reporting for duty!

Team at work!

Carving Pumpkins? 🙅‍♂️ Collecting pumpkin seeds to snack on? 😍

We’re back from the October break, and we’re feeling more recharged than ever! After a well-deserved rest, everyone has returned to campus with big smiles and plenty of energy, ready to jump back into classes and activities.

The kids came back so happy, bringing along some special treats, souvenirs, and stories from their home countries. It’s been such a joy to watch them sharing little pieces of their cultures with each other, from delicious snacks to small gifts and fun tales of their time at home.

Champs des Bois is so alive with all the laughter, stories, and excitement about being back together. We’re all looking forward to this new part of the term, and we can’t wait to see what new memories we’ll create along the way!

Dear all,

It has been a busy start of term, but the time has simply flown by! The boys in the house are looking forward to a well earned break, and we look forward to hearing the adventures and stories of what they got up to when they return!

It’s time to recharge the batteries, enjoy some time off and relax-to-the-max!

Please also find here a helpful link to the CDL News App, which is the best way to stay up to date with important updates and information: https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/college-du-leman/parent-essentials/cdl-news-app

We wish you all a safe, joyful and pleasant break.

All the best,

The Champs des Bois Team,

Ronan, Alex, Sergio & Andrés

Dear all,

Dear all,

For the first weekend of October, we had a full schedule of activities here at CDL!

On Saturday morning, the boys enjoyed a variety of exciting activities, including tennis, badminton, football, and cooking. In the afternoon, some of us took a trip to Geneva for shopping. Since most of them were eager for chocolate, we visited the Lindt store to pick up some delicious sweets, and then we treated ourselves to ice cream on the main avenue.

On Sunday, we had planned to visit an adventure park, but due to the weather, we decided to stay at the Boarding House. We enjoyed some engaging games together and finished the day by watching Raya and the Last Dragon.

It was a weekend full of fun and great moments!

Dear all,

Dear all,

As House Parents, we’ve always known that our boys are talented in many activities, but we didn’t expect to find such amazing football players here in the Champs des Bois!

This week, we encouraged them to play football after dinner, and we were shocked by their skills! Each of them showed impressive footwork, bringing to mind the legendary ‘Galácticos’ of Real Madrid or Arsenal’s unbeatable ‘Invincibles’.

We always enjoy playing different sports together, but this football match was especially fun.

Check out the photos below—you’ll see we almost look like a real All-Star team! And just look at Donny’s face, you can really see how excited he was!

The Champs des Bois Team 🏠

Dear all,

Tonight, we had the pleasure of enjoying a Chinese dinner, and it was a fantastic experience for everyone. The evening was all about delicious food and great vibes!

The amazing cooking team prepared classic Chinese dishes like fried shrimps, teriyaki chicken or fortune cookies!

Dear all,

Today we were able to celebrate The Chinese Moon Festival, or the Mid-Autumn Festival, with the boys in CDB. It is a time for family, unity, and gratitude.

Our very own Kimi did a wonderful job explaining to all of us the history of the event, that it celebrates not only the harvest but marks the full moon’s brightest glow. Families gather to enjoy mooncakes, symbolic treats, and gaze at the moon together. Lanterns light up the night, representing hope and prosperity. This festival is not just about traditions but also about appreciating loved ones and the world around us.

It was a time where we were able to enjoy each other’s company and appreciate the special bond that being in Champs des Bois has granted to all of us, wherever we come from.

The Champs des Bois Team 🏠

Dear all,

Today, we were able to enjoy some of the last Autumn sunshine at the welcome back to schol BBQ hosted in Concha. We were able to welcome students, families, and teachers to celebrate the start of another new year!

The Champs des Bois Team 🏠

Dear all,

It has been another fun-filled weekend, the boys have been having a blast. Thank you to all the team who always go the extra mile for the CDB boys! Please see below for a glimpse into what they have been getting up to.

Thank you.

The Champs des Bois Team 🏠

Mana’s photography skills at work

On Friday, September 6th, the entire Champ des Bois house, along with the Boarding team, embarked on an weekend adventure in Leysin, nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps!

Saturday was a perfect day for hiking, where we not only enjoyed the incredible scenery and sun but also learned fascinating facts about the mountains and the local culture. Sunday brought a creative twist, as the children spent the morning blending art with nature—what more could we ask for?

Now it’s time to rest and get ready for the exciting Discovering Days ahead!

The Champs des Bois Team 🏠

Dear all,

The boys in CDB had a great weekend. The highlight of which being all of us getting to welcome Paul-David into the House!

From goofing around playing games, enjoying the sun, exploring Geneva, their variety of activites or cooking up a storm in the kitchen (ft. the Terray girls). A fantastic opportunity for them to rewind and relax before the week starts all again tomorrow!

The Champs des Bois Team 🏠

If only we could all be as free-spirited as Chika!

Dear all,

Today we got to celebrate Donny’s 10th birthday! If anyone is in doubt about picking between two available cakes to have, which would Donny choose, he will always go for, ‘Both!’.

The Champs des Bois Team 🏠

Dear all,

Last night, we enjoyed an American-themed dinner, and it was a great success! The evening was filled with delicious food, giving everyone a taste of American cuisine.

Our kitchen staff prepared classic American dishes like hamburgers, ribs, and other favorites. The dining hall was full of happy chatter as students enjoyed the meal and the fun atmosphere.

It was a wonderful chance for everyone to come together, share a meal, and learn a bit about American culture.

Here are some photos from the evening that show the great time we had. We’re already looking forward to the next themed dinner!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

As the new House Tutor of Champs Des Bois, I’m excited to share how smoothly the first days of the new school year have gone! The students have settled in warmly, quickly adapting to their new routines and filling our halls with excitement and lots of energy.

What’s truly heartwarming is seeing how well they’ve bonded. Even though they come from completely different corners of the world, they’ve formed close friendships almost instantly. It’s amazing to see them learning from each other, sharing their cultures, languages, traditions, and passions. This exchange is not only enriching their experience but also creating a warm and inclusive community.

We also had the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic dinner with the Swiss Day as a theme, where we savored some delicious traditional Swiss dishes. It was a wonderful way for everyone to come together and experience a bit of Swiss culture, and the students loved trying new foods and learning about the local traditions.

In the attached photos you will see Mr. Alex, Nuttakit, Donny, Xingyu and Ethan having fun after the Swiss meal! I’m so proud of how well they’ve embraced this opportunity to connect and grow together. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead, you can be sure!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

Today, Sunday, August 25th, we had the pleasure of venturing into the great outdoors for one of our favorite activities – hiking. Thanks to the guidance and organization of Mr. Xavi, we were able to plan an exciting excursion to Mount Mourex, a beautiful mountain located right on the French border.

Our entire group set off together, and we spent a delightful morning exploring and learning about the various elements that nature has to offer. The hike provided a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and to deepen our understanding and appreciation of the natural world.

It was a truly memorable experience that combined exercise, education, and the joy of being together in such a beautiful place. We are already looking forward to our next adventure!

Here you can see some photos of the wonderful time we had!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

Every saturday, we have a movie night, and tonight’s pick was Baby Boss! (As always, Alex made an amazing choice!) It was a fantastic evening filled with laughter and fun. We were also excited to welcome some students from Terray, who came over to join us for the movie meeting.

Movie nights are such a great opportunity for everyone to relax and enjoy some downtime together – especially when snacks are involved! Welcoming other students made it even more special. It was a wonderful chance for everyone to get to know each other better, share a few laughs, and discover common interests.

We’re already looking forward to next Saturday’s movie night!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Dear all,

The Champs des Bois team are delighted to have welcomed the first group of our new boarders into the house. It was a busy day, but brilliant to have gotten things started.

Speaking of introductions, it is my pleasure to introduce the team that will be in CDB for the upcoming year!

And don’t forget to watch this space for all the fun adventures ahead!

The Champs des Bois team 🏡

Mr. Sergio, Mr. Alex, Mr. Ronan & Mr. Andrés

From the Champs Des Bois Team, we are delighted to welcome you back for another exciting year for 2024/2025!

As we bid farewell to this year 2023-2024, A Huge Thank You to parents and Agents for your trust, collaboration and support. May your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and wonderful experiences.

Warm wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season !

With heartfelt thanks and best wishes,

The CDB Boarding House Team

Celebrating the graduation of our boy Mana to grade 6. This marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of an exciting new journey. As he move up to the next grade,we are confident that he will continue to excel and make us proud in grade 6 and beyond.

Congratulations to our boys for receiving their silver and bronze certificates, Jin finalist and cup winner of May fitness Challenge and Mana for graduating to grade 6. The future is bright, and we are excited to see all that you will accomplish!

What a wonderful way to finish the year!  two fantastic birthday parties, enjoyed a delightful shopping trip, and spent a weekend packed with fun social activities.

Sunday was a truly fun day! We started the day with Mr Zach and Mr Georges Science Project. The boys made rafts about of recycled materials. The rafts were then tested on the pool. We tested buoyancy, load limit and hydrodynamics. In the afternoon we joined a boarding wide party at Concha which celebrated the end of the year. Lots of fun had by all.

On Saturday, Mana, Chika and Me George embarked on an epic 6KM run in the Runners vs Riders event. The two groups were competing against each other. The cyclists rode 170KM around Lake Leman and the runners had a 60KM relay. The cyclists won by about 20 minutes. Amazing effort from everyone involved, especially our very own Mana and Chika!

Saturday saw our boys take a house trip to Geneva to buy some important end of year presents and treats from their home country’s. After dinner we went to the Primary Campus to enjoy some dodgeball! A very busy day, enjoyed by all.

Friday is here! Our boys went to the Olympus gym for an intense game of hockey. What does the rest of the weekend have in store?

We are very proud of our CDB student Chika for earning his new belt during graduation.This sport require these values in each lesson Courage, Respect, Modesty, Friendship, Honour, Sincerity, Self-control and Politeness.

 Grade 5  Today!

Today was a truly remarkable day as the talented students of Grade 5 put on a spectacular performance  of William Shakespeare’s classic plays. Their hard work and dedication were evident in every scene, and they brought the timeless story to life with enthusiasm and creativity.

A huge well done to Mana for successfully completing Level 4 in swimming! After a year of dedication and hard work attending after-school swimming sessions. Keep up the great work, Mana!

Our end-of-year event was a great celebration, bringing the CDL community together in a vibrant display of cultural diversity. The flavours from around the world were exquisite, the entertainment kept us enchanted throughout the afternoon. From captivating performances to engaging activities, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

A massive thank you to Ms Perrine and Ms Iola for organising this great outing for all the winner of May Fitness challenge. The students loved it 🙂

Champs des Bois embarked on a Boarding Day Trip to the Aquapark. While there we enjoyed a relaxing ride down the Lazy River, sped down some looping slides and splashed around with our friends. A great time and all the students had massive amounts of fun.

While some boys chose to relax in the Boarding House Kimi and Chika rathered a trip into Geneva. They made some nice memories, Chika bought a gift for his brother and Kimi did his casual shopping.

Amazing young chefs have done it again. This time making use of local fruit. We were lucky enough to recieve 5 apple pies! Each one was baked by Jin, Mana, Chika, Kimi and Donny. Good thing their hungry boys!

Mr. Manu, house parent, recently conducted engaging workshops for our younger boarders on how to respond to peer pressure. He thoughtfully adapted the resources to ensure active student participation, making the session both informative and interactive.

1.The workshop began with a video introduction, setting the stage for the topic. Following this, a student advocate facilitated a game where students were presented with real-life scenarios and asked to discuss how they would respond to peer pressure in those situations. This hands-on approach allowed students to actively engage and think critically about their responses.

2.The following week, the focus shifted to tips on decision-making. Students filled out a toolkit designed to help them make informed and confident decisions when faced with peer pressure.

This small but impactful workshops provided a platform for students to brainstorm ideas and share their strategies for handling various scenarios. We are pleased with how Mr. Manu adapted this important topic for our boys, and we truly enjoyed the experience.

Fabulous Saturday at Champs Des Bois! We truly cherish our weekends here, making the most of every moment.

Our senior volunteer and friend to the boys visited last night and treated them to a delightful sushi feast as a token of appreciation for his time at Champs Des Bois. As he prepares to leave for university, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for his unwavering support and dedication to our young students. Thank you for everything you’ve done; you will be greatly missed!

We are proud to showcase Mana’s latest photographs. He has been attending an after-school photography club all year, and his teacher has praised his progress and the quality of his work. We will continue to encourage him to further develop this skill.

The boys cycled with Mr George 15 Km straight after breakfast, they truly enjoyed riding their bikes and later in the day they went on a  trip to Luna Park in Lausanne. Whilst Jin completed the final designs to the tepee sheets.  Our project is almost done 🙂

Our boarders Sunday was spent running 5km as part of the May fitness challenge and spending the afternoon at the Concha Blanca boarding house.

On Saturday, our own tennis fanatic Jin went to the Geneva open to watch some first class tennis. He stayed the whole day and watched all the games that the Centre Court had to offer. Amazing experience!

We at Champs Des Bois would like to wish Jin a very happy 12th Birthday and a fantastic weekend.

As you stroll along the corridors, immerse yourself in Champs des Bois’ latest project through history and time.

From the Magna Carta to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, each milestone represents a step forward in our collective quest for dignity, equality, and justice.

Enter the realm of the samurai, where honor, discipline, and courage reign supreme.

From the genius of Isaac Newton to the brilliance of Albert Einstein, our timeline celebrates the towering figures whose scientific discoveries revolutionised our understanding of the universe.

Immerse yourself in Anne Frank’s diary, penned in the midst of World War II, offers a poignant glimpse into the life of a young girl grappling with the horrors of persecution and prejudice. Their stories on our timeline serve as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a solemn vow to never forget the lessons of history.

Among the pages of history, we find the universal language of football, a sport that transcends borders, cultures, and languages. As we celebrate the passion and camaraderie of the beautiful game, we honor the athletes who have graced the pitch with their skill, dedication, and sportsmanship.

Finally, our house’s timeline isn’t just a chronicle of events; it’s a reflection of our shared humanity and the enduring quest for justice, knowledge, and excellence. It’s a reminder that, despite our differences, we are bound together by a common heritage and a collective aspiration for a better world. So, as you walk past our walls, take a moment to pause, reflect, and draw inspiration from the stories held on our walls.

A Night of Marvellous Performances

This evening, our auditorium was transformed into a stage of inspiring talent, the students showcased their exceptional abilities in vocals, instruments, and stage acting. It was an evening filled with electrifying energy and breathtaking moments, leaving the audience utterly captivated. Congratulations to all the students and to our boarder Mana who played beautifully his violin and looked the part.

A huge well done to our Champs Des Bois boys for their participation in May Fitness Challenge, we are half way through the month. They proudly sit on leaders board. 🙂

A fantastic long Ascension weekend filled with great fun moments and the weather was just perfect!

A wonderful 2nd day in Venice, they visited the fabulous Doge Palacio, where they enjoyed a guided tour to discover its history.

Great Sunny day at Annecy today, the boys went on a boat ride, then a walk in the old town, with its colourful pedestrian streets and a well deserved ice cream to cool down.

Kimi and Mana on their way to Venice!!!

During the woodwork workshop last weekend, the boys made a bird feeder for our garden, It took them 3 hours to complete. Our senior helper Coco assisted the boys to put the finale touch. The results is just fantastic!

Golf Club with the boys, it’s lovely to be out on the driving range!

Today, some of our boys joined another boarding house on their trip to Geneva. It involved fun, friends, bubble tea and their favorite snacks from their home country.

The boys at Champs Des Bois partook in the May Fitness challenge. Today’s challenge was: How many ‘around the worlds’ can you do with a ball in one minute? Transferring the ball around your waist as quickly as possible.

We achieved some of the highest scores in the school, well done boys!

Hello weekend!

The boys from Champs Des Bois enjoyed the warm spring evening with a fun game of football. The perfect way to ‘kick off’ the weekend!

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend ahead.

Donny went on stage during our boarding assembly to trial the first task of May fitness Challenge water bottle flip. He loved it, tonight the boys are taking part.

Homework, school projects, French immersion and games our volunteers are always present and happy to support.

CDB students embarked on a hike to explore Saint-Cergue. Mr. Nathan’s passion for the outdoors ignites a spark within each student, fostering a deep appreciation for the beauty that surrounds them. They’re all about climbing trees and finding awesome spots in nature. It’s all laughs and adventure as they make memories and soak up the outdoors together.

Thank you so much to Ms. Lucelia, our wonderful activity leader, for organising all the groceries to permit such a fantastic workshop for our boarders. We had a blast diving into the art of sushi making! Each student had the chance to craft their own unique sushi creation, mastering the delicate technique needed to seal the rolls perfectly and achieve those flawless, evenly sliced pieces that hold together beautifully. Lunch was an absolute triumph, and we’re all eager to repeat this experience again in the near future.

Un grand merci à nos volontaires, Ines et Ablai, pour leur contribution exceptionnelle à l’accompagnement de nos jeunes internes à travers des jeux ludiques.

Sunday was a fantastically bouncy day. We went to the local trampoline park and spent all afternoon jumping, racing, flipping and flopping. We were all very tired from all the fun we had when we got back to the school campus.

Kimi joined his friend Miyuki and took the train for a nice day out in Geneva.

During our little visit to Villa du Lac we also got in the kitchen and made a delicious apple crumble!

On Saturday we visited another of our neighbouring Boarding Houses, Villa du Lac. They were kind enough to let us play on their PS5 and we all played a racing game.

Jin vs Mr. Alex is an ongoing tournament and it seems that they have become impressivly good at this classic game. Look at the size of that tower!

Donny was amazing in his Guitar Assembly. Alongside his peers from Guitar Club they played a beautiful piece of music from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

Dear families,

We at Champs Des Bois would like to wish everyone a happy Easter. May it be full of lasting memories.

Wishing you all a fantastic Spring Break ahead.

Champs Des Bois.

We’re proud of our student Kimi for taking part in this great performance of Myths and legends revisited, he performed his lines really well. Bravo Kimi

Another creative weekend, the students enjoyed cooking, and baking. We had a couple of visitors for a playdate, Jin attended a great session of pilates and Mana and Kimi went to the thermal baths in Lavey.

May the Persian New Year bring a wealth of opportunities and enlightenment to our students and their families.

A few activities before bedtime, decorating our entrance with clay Easter eggs and making paper planes to test our skills.

The largest festival in Switzerland dedicated to chocolate, a family-friendly event with free entry which brings together more than 30 Swiss artisan chocolatiers. Tastings, sales, exhibition of chocolate sculptures, activities and food stands allowed us to have a delicious… & chocolatey time!

Here’s a sneaky peak into one of our Boarding Talent Show stage rehearsals, we can’t share any more information until the evening of the Big Show!

Well done to the boys in CDB for always being enthusiastic about joining clubs. Just this weekend we’ve had boys take part in Cooking Club, Tennis Club, Art Club and Climbing Club. It’s nice to see them so active and making the most of their weekend.

A great weekend at Champs Des Bois, You’ll find there’s never a dull moment in this house.

The boys started their day making a wonderful black forest gateau. They brought me back a huge slice, the cake was creamy and light in texture. I truly enjoyed it! After lunch, we went to Geneva, where the stores displayed some incredible chocolate selections for Easter. We finished our evening in front of a good movie with our guest from OP Boarding House.

Kimi and Donny had a fantastic time at the amazing Geneva Motor Show. There they saw old cars and all types of new innovations from car makers. They had lots of inteligent questions about how cars will progress in the future. All the boys showed good behaviour towards the House Parents who went with them.

It was a nice to have some of the boys’ friends from Old Portena Boarding House over on Sunday afternoon. They played outside on the swings, kicked about the football, bounced on the trampoline, played a game of ”Jenga!” while singing songs together and also played Hide ‘n’ Seek. We were all very grateful that our guests had baked a nice chocolate cake for us too. Thank you, it was very tasty!

A perfect way to spend the afternoon, a little kick about with the boys. Final score 4-4 and well done to all boys for playing so nicely together and working hard.

Balance is key!  Team games, grocery shopping, baking, playing, movie night and much more… welcome back boys we missed you 🙂

These blog pictures capture the essence of a memorable winter camp experience, highlighting the beauty of nature and the warmth of camaraderie amidst the chill. The boys had a FANTASTIC TIME.

We wish you all a great break and we hope to hear all your stories when you’re back!

Some of the best memories and most fun times happen at the park. The boys spent all morning making new friends and speaking French with the locals, running, chasing, climbing and sliding their way around the play park.

Unity, diversity and awareness can help create a better future.

A great project in progress with CDB boys, a native American tipi in our own garden! more to follow…

Students participated in their weekend activities, and they started helping me with planting our seeds in time for spring planting outside in the garden beds. We went to our local grocery shop to get some essentials. As twilight descended, we extended an invitation to the Old Portena girls, joining together to immerse ourselves in an old classic: Titanic. The movie swept us away, evoking emotions that saw each of us sharing in heartfelt moments, shedding a tear or two as we were captivated by the film’s profound resonance.

We wish our students and their families a year filled with happiness, health and prosperity. Happy New Year

Sunday the boys put their skates on and were all keen to learn or improve their skills on the ice. They all showed great enthusiasm to push for better technique and had a fab time while doing so!

Our fantastic Boarding Activity Coordinator booked us in for a thrilling day at the trampoline park in Geneva. The boys were very happy and excited to jump and chase each other.

We’re always searching for fun activities to do in Champs des Bois and this weekend we went to our Primary Campus and enjoyed playing in the sun.

As part of our ongoing well-being program, we discussed a sensitive topic during Phase 2: microaggressions. These are subtle words or actions that unintentionally discriminate against individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds. After educating our students about the impact of microaggressions, we facilitated discussions where they shared real-life instances where they had encountered such behaviour.

To make these experiences tangible, we encouraged them to express their encounters through cartoon strips. This creative outlet allowed them to depict moments when they felt saddened, rejected, bullied, or subjected to racial inequality. By addressing these issues head-on, we empower our students to understand and articulate their emotions, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic community.

Embarking on Weekend 2 for all our boarders, we found ourselves in the middle of the breathtaking beauty of Leysin, a remarkable ski resort nestled in the mountains. Thank you to our Camp team who organised this amazing weekend gateway, we came back well-recharged.

Today, students tested their knowledge of Switzerland, and each team put in a great effort to earn the most points. Team 1 and Team 2 both scored 25 points, while Team 3 emerged victorious with 35 points. It was a fun time with our fantastic prefects!

What a fantastic weekend we enjoyed in the mountains, a fresh layer of snow made for perfect conditions on the pistes and the sun kept shining throughout the whole weekend. Some of our boys went skiing, we also had snowboarders and a few of them joined non-skier activities such as tobboganing and igloo building.

As part of our well-being program; Pillar 3 has begun! In our ongoing commitment to holistic well-being, this takes centre stage, dedicated to the cultivation of positive friendships and relationships. At Champs des Bois, our boarders recently engaged in a collaborative brainstorming session to explore the nuances of this crucial aspect of personal growth. Excitingly, we are set to embark on a series of weekly activities, each thoughtfully designed to underscore the significance of recognizing and fostering the characteristics that define positive friendships.

Each week will introduce a distinct and engaging activity aimed at reinforcing the importance of positive friendships. From team-building exercises to reflective discussions, these activities are crafted to impart practical insights and skills that enhance our collective ability to build and sustain positive relationships.

Week 1 & 2: Identifying characteristics of positive friendships and reflecting on the type of friend you are. How can I be a better friend?

Week 3:Delving into international friendships and addressing microaggressions.

Week 4:Examining toxic friendships and relationships.

The weekend kicked off with an exhilarating start on Friday evening as we delved into the world of jungle puzzles. The boys, brimming with enthusiasm, were determined to conquer as many puzzle pieces as possible. However, Mr. George couldn’t resist the challenge and ended up putting the finishing touches on it. Little did we know, that once you start working on a puzzle, it becomes an addictive adventure that’s hard to walk away from!

In the afternoon the kitchen became a hub of creativity as we embarked on a baking adventure, concocting a banana and chocolate cake that left our taste buds dancing with joy. The boys participated in a fantastic cookery workshop where they crafted cordon bleu paired with creamy mashed potatoes.

As the day progressed, Donny revelled in the exhilarating experience of scaling new heights and other boys revamped the old flower pots this activity added a therapeutic touch to the already dynamic weekend.

Look! it’s snowing outside! Let’s Go and Play!

Students loved playing snowball fights, slip and slide, running down the hill, snow angels and a fat snowman. Simply having fun before it melts away.

SNOW you are truly magical 🙂

Exit 2023, enter 2024. We are delighted to welcome back our boys to Champs Des Bois. During the arrivals weekend, the boys have been helping us to spruce up our home. Aiding our French language learning along the way.

Wishing you all a fantastic year ahead!

Wishing our parents and beloved students a heartwarming Merry Christmas! May this festive season envelop you in boundless joy, health, and success. Enjoy your holidays!

Christmas festivities at school always bring an abundance of joy and entertainment. Today’s highlight was undoubtedly the splendid pantomime put on by Grade 4 students. The combination of enchanting songs and captivating acting truly made it a remarkable spectacle.

Donny delivers his lines flawlessly while commanding the centre stage. Ending the term with such a fantastic showcase filled everyone with immense pride.

Such moments truly make the holiday season unforgettable.

A fabulous performance from our boarder Mana for the winter Concert, the Christmas songs were delightful.

Seasons greetings!

On Saturday 9th December, Champs Des Bois dressed up to attend the annual Winter Ball. It was a beautiful occasion with all boarders in attendance. There was food, dancing, photos and important speeches. Well all enjoyed it and look forward to the next school celebration that brings all of our boarders together.

Today was a day of immense pride for CDB House as we celebrated the outstanding achievements of three remarkable students.

• Mana’s triumph in clinching the Best Boarding Live Award speaks volumes about his exceptional attributes and dedication.
• Chika’s win for the Best Boarding Activities Award. His enthusiasm and commitment to actively participate in all after-school activities and engage in various clubs during the weekend is truly commendable.
• Jin, whose remarkable academic accomplishments have earned him the best Academic Achievement Award with 85%.

Well done boys 🙂

Another delightful evening spent crafting our annual gingerbread house competition, with the kids turned out to be quite an adventure this year. Despite a few mishaps with the foundation collapsing, we had an absolute blast exploring our creative sides.  A couple of biscuits and smarties might have mysteriously disappeared while we were hard at work constructing our masterpiece. The competition among the boarding houses was fierce, but it added an extra layer of excitement and joy to the experience. I will let you know the result soon!!

Sunday saw us at Montreux’s renowned chalet market, a chilly yet delightful outing.

The weekend is here, CDB students favourite 2 days of the week, lots of fun things to enjoy and do!!! we made a start on our Gingerbread house Competion. Stay tuned…..

A great birthday celebration, we were spoilt with cakes and homemade pizzas made by our grade 12 students as part of their CAS project. Our best wishes to Muyan, and may all your birthday wishes come true.

We have been busy since the weekend started. Christmas decorations, chasing each other around, visiting other boarding houses to play games and baking our cake for tomorrows competition.

At Champs Des Bois, there’s never a dull moment. We’re relishing a long winter weekend, engaging in activities we truly enjoy.

Each month, Champs des Bois students and house parents deepen their knowledge about Switzerland. This month, the focus is on natural landmarks, famous monuments, and historical places.” Keep checking our blog to discover next month’s Swiss topic!

A moment of immense pride for our Champs Des Bois Boarders unfolded when their painting was enlarged into a billboard proudly displayed at the entrance of CDL. The students found great joy in participating in this project on World Children’s Day. The concept revolved around a painting created by the students, symbolizing the essence of love and a warm embrace of inclusion for children worldwide. The underlying message of this artwork is to raise awareness and serve as a reminder that children’s rights must be honored, safeguarded, and fulfilled, regardless of their location in the world. Irrespective of diverse cultural backgrounds, every child deserves an equal opportunity to soar and carve their own unique path. This concept is represented by painting the children uniformly in grey, while using contrasting colors for the worlds and doors to depict the diverse possibilities and experiences children face globally, each with their own set of limitations and challenges.

“I would like to extend a huge thank you to Mr. Roger, the Senior House Parent from Leman, for selecting CDB for this project, and to  Ms Manuella, the digital content creator for the billboard.”

Embracing Unity in Diversity!

Students gathered to discuss and reflect on the similarities and differences that make each of us wonderfully distinct. To bring these insights to life, we employed a Venn diagram exercise, pairing roommates to explore the intricacies of their individuality. The beauty of this exercise lies in its simplicity. Students eagerly shared in conversations, discovering facets of their roommates’. The Venn diagrams, serving as visual representations of their discussions, became windows into the rich tapestry of our diverse community. Through exercises like these, we celebrate the uniqueness of each student and house parents.

What a spectacular show we saw this Sunday! We went to La Rosey and they told a wonderful story about a siberian tiger, and an incredibly talented sand artist was creating art simultaneously with the play that was being performed.

Some of our boys visited the Olympus Boarding House and have started to learn how to play pool. Begginer’s luck on their side they proved themselves worther of a good match.

A huge thank you to our Prefects who took the time to create interactive board games to support our young boarders in learning French. Merci 🙂

On one of those rainy Sundays, we thought to enjoy various indoor activities and games, we had senior visitors who joined in and we made a start on a painting project. Whilst others boarders went to Cailler chocolate factory and Tennis lessons.

Happy 12th birthday Yingfan! 🎉🎂🎈

May this year be full of exciting adventures, new discoveries, and wonderful moments. Enjoy every moment of being 12 and make beautiful memories to cherish. Here’s to an amazing year ahead and a fantastic birthday celebration!

Fierce competition every year!!!!

Halloween is students’ favourite day of the year, dressing up, visiting other boarding houses, and hustling for sweets.  We had a great time.

An enormous thanks to our incredible chefs and kitchen staff for creating unforgettable celebrations! The students were truly spoiled. The Halloween party continues this evening… BEWARE !!!

We would like to welcome back all our boys to Champs Des Bois.

Here is a picture of our very own Donny, he was the first to arrive back to our house.

A truly enjoyable game took place between CDL day students and boarders, Thank you to our dedicated colleague Perrine who organised this wonderful entertainment for us all. Despite losing, we can only congratulate the boarders for their performance.

C’est merveilleux de voir nos élèves du secondaire s’investir avec autant de dévouement dans l’enseignement du français et partager leur bonne humeur avec les jeunes internes. Ils ont consacré du temps à préparer des jeux interactifs pour captiver leur attention et passer un moment agréable. Un grand merci à eux pour leur précieuse contribution et leur engagement envers l’apprentissage et le partage de connaissances. C’est grâce à de tels efforts que notre communauté scolaire prospère. Bravo!

Today, our grade 5 student Mana was the only boy from Champs Des Bois to run the 5km race organised by our school. Both students and staff took part in the race. And our very own Mana was a medal winner. We are all so proud of his bravery and determination. Well done Mana!

Well done to these young men for making the mature decision to finish their homework before the weekend!

A Happy Sunday 🙂

Our Boys proudly watched the live ceremony at Tian’anmen Square. We wish a Happy National Day to all our Chinese students and the people of China. Xièxiè

On a beautiful sunny day, the students enjoyed the afternoon in our garden exploring, playing and gardening, especially in a world filled with screens and gadgets, there’s something truly magical about watching students getting their hands dirty in the soil and discovering the wonders of nature up close.

The full moon is a symbol of family reunion and an evening of celebration to light lanterns, eat moon cakes and appreciate a special meal together. We were delighted to receive this wonderful mooncake box that we shared to mark this event.

A Breath of Fresh Air, A Trip to the Mountain with all the class 🙂

Incorporating meditation into our nightly routine can help our boarders enjoy restful nights and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.

As a school, we couldn’t be prouder of the initiative taken by our Prefects and senior boarders. Their willingness to share their knowledge and make learning French fun is an opportunity for senior boarders to connect and mentor younger students.

We have a wide variety of amazing Clubs and Activities to offer in Collège du Léman. It’s wonderful to see our young boarders so engaged in these wonderful opportunities!

This afternoon we all went for a lovely stroll to the nearby stoney lakeside beach. We spent time chatting, skimming stones, enjoying the wildlife and admiring the spectacular views across the water.

Teachers paid a special visit to our boarding house. It was an afternoon filled with warmth, excitement, and a delightful afternoon tea.Our students took immense pride in guiding their teachers through the boarding house, offering insights into their room setups, and all the communal areas in the house. It was a chance for teachers to connect with students on a personal level, to understand their daily routines, challenges, and joys.

Thank you to our dedicated teachers for taking the time to engage with our boarding house students. Your presence today meant the world to them, and it’s moments like these that make our school community truly special.

Brunch is the only thing that’s mandatory on Sunday!!! A Huge THANK YOU to our wonderful Kitchen staff.

The breathtaking view of the Swiss Alps left the borders in awe, and they truly relished this extraordinary experience.

A perfect weekend escape for CDL boarders at Fiesh Resort, the students shared unforgettable moments, breathtaking views, and lifelong memories in this mountain haven. Thank you to our fantastic Camp team who organises these fabulous outings.

Jeûne Genevois is a public holiday in the canton of Geneva where people observe a fasting day and indulge in a special homemade plum pie.

Grade 4 working hard on their project about famous folktales from home.

Looking for an adrenaline rush and some serious outdoor fun? Look no further! This weekend, our boarders have two fantastic activities lined up that are guaranteed to get their spirits soaring – Acrobranche and Paddle Boarding! 🌊🌲 Others enjoyed joining a new woodwork workshop and watering our vegetable-raised beds 🙂 We decided to end this beautiful day by stopping at our local grocery store for some essentials.

We travelled to Senegal with this exquisite dinner, Mate chicken was delicious, served with an exotic salad and for pudding a traditional banana and chocolate cake.

Today, we had a birthday at Champs Des Bois. We celebrated with presents, music, cakes, games and friends.

This evening, one of our families came to Champs Des Bois to help their sons with their homework.

Today, the boys from Champs Des Bois went to an Aqua-park. They had a chance to enjoy lots of different things such as the slides, lazy river, wave pool and jacuzzi.

Today we visited a nearby park. The boys from Champs Des Bois had lots of fun running into the wide open spaces and exploring on the various play areas that were on offer.

We are lucky to have such an amazing variety of activities and clubs over the weekend. Our children chose a nice mix between sporty and hands on activities, cooking, wood works, climbing and tennis.

We started the weekend with a bang. Our Friday evening consisted of sports. Basketball and hockey were firm favourites amongst the boys from Champs Des Bois.

We started off this evening with a little bit of studying. Nothing too serious, we wanted to see the children’s reading levels. Some of our young ones wanted to get an early start in learning French and Mr. Alex is here and ready to help with pronunciation.

Our Boarding students had their first day at CDL, the boys ejoyed meeting new friends and new teachers.

A great few days filled with wonderful activities to allow students to bond, get to know each other better and build some strong friendships.

A fabulous afternoon with the young boarders, the escape games kept them entertained and working well in teams. We finished the afternoon in the pool cooling down.

Today marked the beginning of our academic year; seeing parents, agents and new students on campus was delightful. Get ready for a fantastic ride, your experience starts now and we are here to ensure it’s nothing short of amazing!!!

A warm welcome back from Collège Du Léman Boarding Team.

From Champs Des Bois Team, we are delighted to welcome you back for the exciting year 2023-2024

A huge congratulations to our boys on their graduation! We are so proud of their achievements and successes. Well done Grade 5

Bravo, young musicians!

I want to take a moment to applaud and celebrate the grade 3 exceptional musical performance. Your talent and dedication were truly remarkable, and you captivated the audience with your wonderful music and singing abilities.

Well Done Ms Picasso and her Team!

Donny was at the observatory learning about space, he came home enchanted with his day trip, and the rest of the boys enjoyed an afternoon by the pool. Today was our last Brunch together, we took time to enjoy this copious meal and discuss our summer plans!!

Donny ran and Bomb Dived in the pool, he swam, swam and swam until closing time.  LOVE IT

Thank you Coach Roquain, My last private tennis lesson of the year!!

Nicholas attending his classmate’s birthday, a nice day at Aquapark

Boys having fun in the garden, Big thank you to Ms Bea for this archery set!!

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” ― Nelson Mandela 

Jin was anxious about this fun boat activity, so I accompanied him this morning when he saw the first student in action. He took his courage and overcame his fear! The quote above just resonated with this FABULOUS Achievement.

Today, we shared a wonderful moment with the students, teachers, Boarding staff and all the people who made this experience memorable for the young boarders. This afternoon’s drinks were a token of appreciation. The students were able to make little speeches, and they were presented with their end-of-year boarding portfolios. which they truly loved!!!  I knew this personalized present will give them their timeline since their arrival at Collège du Léman.  Thank you Everyone for being part of this wonderful Journey at CDB:-)

Kids’ favourite Burgers, hotdogs and cold ice tea!!! and  Donny making funny faces 🙂

Remarkable graduation ceremony, every child was awarded a new belt, and we had a chance to try some katas, this sport teaches students to learn about the values of perseverance, respect, loyalty, and discipline. Well done Donny for this great achievement.

All grade 5’s performed a fantastic performance this evening, their dance teacher proudly shared that they chose and agreed on the choreography themselves. Well done to Cinar and Nicholas for taking part.

Donny is a very talented kid for drawing, he loves this character in a movie.

He had a lot of fun drawing and coloring it.

A fantastic afternoon organised by our boarding activity leader Ms Lucélia, Champs Des Bois students played all the games available to them whilst Donny spent 4 hours swimming none stop 🙂 we indulged in yummy ice creams, popcorn, candy floss and drinks. Later, in the evening dinner was at a great food truck with Mexican wraps. Great way to finish this year on a happy note and fun day! Thank you Lucélia

This morning started with an amazing cookery workshop, the students baked a delicious Charlotte cake, and the end result was superb. Whilst Donny enjoyed scootering around campus and exploring the banana leaves 🙂 For lunch Jinwoo a senior student invited Jin for a belated birthday treat, it was postponed until he finished his exams, Jinwoo has been volunteering at CDB since the start of the year, he has been a role model for the younger boarders and his help every Wednesday was very much appreciated and valued. Later in the afternoon, the students enjoyed an old classic film, Mrs Doubtfire.

Exquisite cuisine from Singapore for our special dinner, students and house parents enjoyed outdoor dining making the most of the lovely weather.

Ms Dia the Photography teacher shared these pictures with me today, the topic was friendship. The students captured some fantastic shots of each other, and at the same time, they were having a fun time. The first picture speaks for itself !!!

Jin impressed us by cycling 27 km, he kept a good pace despite a small tumble on the pavement, we stopped at Coppet for refreshments then we checked a wonderful annual town sale where people sell unwanted items from their attic. I found Jin’s perfect present an old tennis racket dating from 1940’s. He was thrilled and happy with this special gift. Then we continued our venture to another nearby town Nyon, for a well-deserved ice cream. The cycle back was slightly harder for me but we’ve done it. A great day 🙂

On Saturday, June 3rd 2023, Cinar, Nicholas and I went for a trip to Geneva.

The boys had a great time: we went to MANOR, bought Japanese snacks and went to McDonald’s. Cinar had bought the Oreos McFlurry with caramel coulis for the first time and he actually loved it !!

Little photoshoot with Mr. Jin in Champs Des Bois.

Today I was delighted to take my two girls to the stables, their commitment to attending weekly shows excellent effort. They are so comfortable being around horses. We left for a nice local woodland walk, the weather was beautiful. What a FANTASTIC start to a day 🙂

On Friday, it was an amazing and sunny day.

Donny had a lot of fun with his little ballon is was trying to blow.

Donny worked on his school project with a senior boarder, she was very patient and supportive.

We decided to make miniature animals out of soft clay, and the results are not bad on the first try. Donny decided to make his own object the results is quite astonishing.

Thank you, Mr Manu, for a surprise visit with a nice cold treat during this hot weather.

Melissa invited her friend Julie for a play at CDB, the girls are just adorable xoxo

Melissa’s mum paid us a visit this afternoon and brought some delicious cakes for all the boys who celebrated their birthdays *Cinar, Jin and Luca.* A thoughtful treat thank you

We

 Prior to taking his shower, Donny acted out being a chicken, he was so funny 🙂 these are priceless moments with younger boarders!

An extra day off for the students, who clearly enjoyed a day trip to Luna Park Funfair in Lausanne. Whilst other boarders stayed and equally enjoyed activities in CDB, we went for a long walk that stopped by the lake. As soon as the boys got back they wanted to play football, and then they returned home to sample Jin’s cake. The verdict was very positive no leftovers 🙂

One of our older boarding students, Chady from Leman Boarding House (Grade 9), was kind enough to step in as Coach for our young football enthusiasts. It was great to see them all running drills, listening to his advice and most of all having fun!

After a delicious Sunday brunch we went for a lovely stroll through the trees. We followed the stream and then detoured to the Sports Centre, where we did some laps, worked out a bit and played some more football.

Here is a wonderful video of Melissa showing off her horse-riding technique.

A quiet but fulfilling day overall!! a milder weather today we sat and finished our stone painting activity, please stay tuned for the end result:-) As always there is always something for the students to enjoy, from baking brownies, climbing, tennis, Olympus court, afternoon movie and some gardening. Fun Fun Fun…

Fantastic day out in Geneva sightseeing, shopping and enjoying a delicious artisanal ice cream by the lake. The boys invited their best friend James for a sleepover. Overall we had an enchanting day together 🙂

What an awesome time we had at Jin’s birthday party. We bounced and bounced and bounced until we couldn’t bounce anymore.

Today we are celebrating Jin’s 11th Birthday, he was delighted to have a slice of his cake prior to the big party on Thursday. We wish him an amazing day with his friends and may all his dreams come true.

Luca put in some great times on his laps around the circuit. It was a wet race but Luca did his best to not slip off the track!

At CDL we manifest the acronym ”RISE”, ”I” stands for Internationalism. CDL International Day was a magnificent event planned by the PFA to raise money for charities. CDL families from as many as 25 nationalities set up food stalls with their home country’s cuisine for all to try. It was amazing to see an incredible mix of all cultures and everyone enjoying themselves.

”The best part of climbing is when it all clicks and gravity ceases to exist.” – Chris Sharma

On Monday May 7th, 2023 it was a pretty sunny day and Melissa and I enjoyed being outside, on the grass, listening to music and singing together.

It was very hot, so she enjoyed snacking on a watermelon popsicle.

Today, on Sunday May 7th 2023, we celebrated Cinar’s 11th birthday.

We shared a delicious double chocolate cake, sang happy birthday and wished him all the best for the year ahead. It was pretty fun!

A great way to connect kids

Jin, Cinar, Nicholas, and Donny were all having fun.
Cinar was practicing his shooting’s skills with Nicholas.
Nicholas also was practicing his goalies’ skills with Jin.

Donny was also enjoying being with the boys and Mr. Zac.

The boys are having fun by playing football.

Climbing Club is always a success with our young climbers. This week the boys had fun in the climbing gym and made sure to put enough chalk on their hands to stick to the wall.

Jin started getting artsy this weekend using some spray paints and experimenting with new techniques of art that he hadn’t tried until now.

Every Wednesday we have older boarders visiting for a couple of hours, we are delighted to have them around so the students were busy baking cookies for them!!!

Students are enjoying outdoor activities, Melissa and Nicholas attended their photography workshop at the lake, and the remaining boarders had a great time playing in the garden.

We had a nice stroll together down to the lake again after a big brunch. We skipped stones, played with the water and said hi to the ducks.

The amazing views across the lake are only a short walk away from Collège du Léman. We went for some fresh air and to throw some stones.

Horse riders and wall climbers!

A wonderful first few days back to Boarding, from new hairstyles, baking, stone painting and a good game of badminton.

A warm welcome to Shirley our new House Tutor

We are excited to welcome back our young boarders from their Easter Break.  We are embarking on the last leg of the school year, and we will try our best to provide them with a rich experience, filled with exciting summer activities and lots of fun!!!

Luca’s 9th birthday falls during the Easter break, and tonight we wanted to celebrate with him. We shared a delicious double chocolate cake, sang happy birthday in 5 different languages and wished him all the best for the year ahead.

Climbing is a top choice for the boys on the weekend, they like to attend this club together and have really helped each other improve by pushing themselves to do harder climbs.

Also, we love going to Olympus sports gym to play whatever sport that we feel like. Today we tried a bit of table-tennis, basketball, football and even some improvised dances by Donny.

Melissa and Hannah love spending time at the stables with their favourite horses and ponies. It was a bit rainy this weekend but still nice under the shelter that the stables provided.

Today we spent our afternoon in Villa Franconis and helped Mr. Tarun set up a microscope. We then used tweezers and other tools to collect things from the garden and around the house to put under the lenses and investigate. We tried pollen from the flowers, onion peel and even a hair from Mr. Tarun’s head!

The students enjoyed a fierce Easter hunt in the house this afternoon, then we had a little tea party and of course they were discussing their findings 🙂

At CDB we covered the topic of Online Safety for over 2 weeks, To conclude this pillar students completed an online game and a quiz. Then we discussed their safety during their online activities. This led nicely to explaining the rules at Champs Des Bois on devices and why they are in place.

• 30 minutes of device time weekly and 1 hour during the weekend
• Using their devices downstairs and not in their rooms
• Call to their parents are permitted anytime and can be done privately in their room.
• Ipads and phones are kept safely in the office

Let’s celebrate our Community and School Spirit! A day packed with great activities 🙂

The second part of St Patrick’s Mishap,

This has been by far the best St Partick’s quest the students have encountered, it kept us all very much entertained these past 3 days.

1. The students had to find 7 puzzles hidden in the dining hall
2. Put them together and solve the challenge
3. They had to take 7 selfies with items described in the challenge and then forward these pictures to the highest building on campus.
4.   This led to today’s  challenge as the students earned the trust of Seamus they had to help find over 200 coins scattered in the garden
5. If the students found at least half they will receive a huge reward
6. The reward was BIG 🙂

A massive Thank you Mr Gordon from Champs Des Bois Students, we truly enjoyed this mystery mission and solving the clues was fun! The reward was super generous and we shall enjoy every bit of it immensely.

CDB

If one place can do Brunch, CDL can! Every Sunday our Boarders and House Parents look forward to this wonderful selection of food. Our chefs and kitchen staff are incredible Thank you 🙂

A massive thank you to Senior House Parent Mr Gordon for engaging CDB students in this quest, they truly enjoyed receiving a hand-delivered letter this morning to begin this St. Patrick’s Day Mishap, their curiosity and eagerness to solve the mystery were enchanting. We agreed to continue this quest and wore something green for dinner. We collected a box left in our pigeonhole, and the boys were keen to open it as soon as we got home, challenge 2 was complete we drew our Leprechauns on the mini canvas provided. STAY TUNNED, the quest continues…

We decided to go for a walk this afternoon with the boys and visited the festichoc exhibition taking place in Versoix.

The boys meant to perform on stage this evening but unfortunately, stage fright changed our plan. Nevertheless, we came up with a plan B, You can watch the video below which captures that moment. The fastest challenge to solve a Rubik’s cube goes to *Jin 41 seconds*, *Nicholas 54 seconds* and *Luca 1 minute 30*You can watch the video below that captures that moment.

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A short drive from Collège du Léman and we are in such an awesome park. We had a great time playing tag, swinging on the swings, climbing on the jungle gym and whizzing around on the zip-line!

The boys remembered the skateboards that were tucked away in the house and wanted to try skateboarding this weekend. With a few helpful tips they manged to get on the boards and ride. So cool guys!

Jin and Donny made some mini boats together and went to the stream to test them. They managed to float and they had a little race against each other. It was a lovely walk down to the lake were the boys stopped to take in the scenery.

The boat trip tied in nicely with Jin’s IPC homework as a nice experiment of the topic that they are studying in his class.

Well done boy!

This four-legged dog has made many happy people today in  Champs Des Bois, her friendliness and playfulness were a breath of fresh air. The boarders really enjoyed having a dog home the wellness Dixie brought was priceless.

CDB students learned how to make these lovely crumpets, they didn’t know the difference between a crumpet and a pancake? Crumpet batter is similar to a pancake batter but with a raising agent which makes it bubble and become thicker, light and fluffier than a pancake.

The boys had a great time in Olympus, a great space to enjoy all sorts of activities and socialise with other boarders.

We started painting these tins for our planting project at the start of the week, and now the students added details to their tins, we are extremely happy with the results!

Originating from France in late 1950, scoubidou is still a very popular knotting craft! we all had a go-to unwind 🙂

Children must know that the internet, and social media in particular, can make it very easy to share our information with people we don’t know. For example, on a social media profile, they may disclose their full name, the area in which they live, and where they go to school. Would you drop your information for others to find? The internet leaves trails too… Don’t let STRANGERS find your details. these are the type of reflective questions we will discuss in the house.                                                                                                                                            Teaching children the importance of social media safety is essential, here in Champs Des Bois students will start brainstorming this important Pillar about online safety throughout the next 2 weeks.

Another great start to the weekend. Luca and Nicholas did a fantastic job representing Champs des Bois in our inter-house ski competition, Hannah was reunited with her favorite pony Candy and Cinar, Donny and Jin improved their climbing skills. What a fun day!

  Our first trial of making something out of clay   *Carrot, pig, Rubiks cubes, football, birds feeder*            

Lazy snooze this morning for some boarders after an intense week at Crans Montana, the weather was splendid today we decide to start planting our seeds in line with the spring early planting guide. Jin had a marvellous time on the trampoline, Whilst the others were busy building a new lego kit! Later in the afternoon we went for a stroll in the area and pick up some sushi treats. After dinner, we decided to have a little game in Olympus. Overall it was a chill day doing what we enjoy most 🙂

We would like to wish everybody a lovely ski break. We are looking forward to seeing all the children back again soon!

We were able to share a few techniques to release stress with Ms Marina this afternoon. The boys had a good giggle, and a great social activity. Thank you

CDB students arrived this afternoon to find this wonderful addition to our garden, and they were thrilled with this superb trampoline. A massive thank you to our head of boarding for purchasing this trampoline for the kids. They love it

This afternoon, Melissa’s mother came to teach us how to make the perfect dumplings, she catered for all including the vegetarians, and it was truly an amazing experience with all the students. Sharing a culinary experience on Sunday with several visitors who filled the house with such a warm homey feeling. We agreed to repeat this again with another dish from around the world.

Despite a cold start here in Versoix, the weather changed and we had a lovely sunshine today 🙂 We enjoyed a long cycle in the area, then we picked up Donny from woodcraft. After lunch, we left for Geneva for some more treats!!! In the meantime Ms Erika took the girls horse riding. Overall it was pretty good day!!!

IMG_9875 IMG_9881

As always, Friday evening our young boarders can stay later than usual, the weekend mode is on, and the boys love playing in Olympus so much. We captured that moment, some fierce games were on last night!!!

A real treat for us this evening, Sushi, Dumplings, Mochi, Steamed Rice and all the trimmings… Students favourite food 🙂

Number 1  🙂

Nicholas made us proud this evening by representing CDB during our boarding quiz night, he was fast and knowledgeable !! He prepared well and reviewed random questions about Switzerland. It paid off!!

At Collège Du Léman, charity and service for others is something that we like to embed with our Boarders. With this type of contribution, we allow all students to understand why these actions are taken! Collectively we can support people in need and locked in poverty. Hopefully one day together we can abolish hunger in the world and around us.

This weekend the children wanted to relax and play in the big garden we have here in Champs des Bois. They also had fun participating in their weekly activities and clubs such as climbing, woodcraft and ice skating!

A fantastic 2nd weekend at Fiesch, the students were able to enjoy various snow activities from snowboarding to skiing, ice-skating or trips for non-skiers. I took a group to a near town from Fiesch called Brig where we had a great time sightseeing this lovely place and we enjoyed  a shared lunch at McDonald’s, students’ favourite place to eat 🙂 overall it was a fabulous weekend that ended too fast.

As part of our friendship pillar programme, CDB agreed for each student to make a pancake of choice to give to someone in the house as a caring gesture. We had two visitors who also enjoyed this yummy treat.

Tonight we discussed this wellbeing Pillar with our boarders, and we decided to conduct several games throughout the week to emphasise the importance of positive friendships. We also would like to foster these friendships qualities amongst our students in the boarding house and school. To complete this pillar we asked each boarder to make a friendship bracelet to give to their best friend as a token of appreciation.

HOW TO BE A GOOD FRIEND

“Friends share, play together, laugh with each other, a good friend cheer you up, be there for you, listen to you, makes you feel good, friends you can trust and share memorable moments”.

Low temperatures but high spirits up in the Swiss Alps. What a remarkable weekend we’ve had together.

Champs des Bois and the rest of the Boarding Houses traveled to a lovely ski resort high in the mountains. We all wrapped up warm and spent our time snowboarding or skiing, relaxing in the thermal baths, playing Bingo or board-games or even hiking to the summit at 3984m – with a little helping hand from a gondola and a chairlift.

Our New Boarder performed in his primary assembly to share with his peers how the Lunar New Year is celebrated,  alongside him other students who also contributed to this wonderful event.

The second part of our weekend was filled with Chess club, Escape rooms, Nature Walk, Climbing, the best Brunch ever and a birthday party all happening here in CDL. Our younger boarders picking up some new skills and having lots of fun.

Another great weekend enjoying ourselves in CDL campus and a wide range of activities on offer for our boarders to choose from.

New activities to explore this 2nd term, our student made this clay mouse which he proudly put on display in his bedroom. We played various board games after school the boarders love to compete against their House Parents.

This evening during our 1st welcome-back Assembly, these 2 students made us proud House Parents. They stood in front of an audience and read beautifully a lovely poem that we wrote about diversity. I am delighted that our senior House Parent Mr Antonio gave our younger boarder an opportunity to showcase their work.

                                                              Diversity

 If I could change the world to a rainbow

What if everyone was forced to see

The world exactly like me

A world where all think as one

So, we do not judge anyone!

What if one person chose to know

In unity we stand is the way to go

What if one person desire to grow

And invites humanity to this show

What if one person’s heart sought love

To purify and unite us all

What if that person rose above

Throw away hatred, spread only love

If someday I sit on top of this world

Bring on changes with a single word

RAINBOW

A rainbow of diversity

A rainbow of beauty

A rainbow of bright happy colours

A rainbow of happiness

A rainbow of forgiveness

A rainbow sent from above with a blazing brilliant sight

A life multicoloured is a life unified

A very warm welcome to these 2 boys to Champs des Bois, we are delighted the house is filling up with wonderful students. Let’s start making memories and have fun doing it!!!

A good old classic game of Monopoly is just the perfect way to spend the afternoon when it’s too wet to go outside and play! Plus this super cool Dragon Ball Z version is great, thanks for sharing and letting us play Nicholas!

We are back in the Boarding House and have a new student joining us for this term. Welcome Cinar, he’s a fan of footy and also a keen mathlete!

We wish  all our students and their families a wonderful Christmas, enjoy your holidays and see you all in the New Year

This afternoon we had a lovely farewell party for our boarder Yifan, who is sadly returning home earlier. We couldn’t let her go without a proper celebration. The afternoon started with a scavenger hunt they made 2 teams, of course, boys vs girls. Followed by a sweet and chocolate search around the house 🙂 the students had a marvellous time! We had dinner at home and Hannah’s mother surprised us with a delicious cake. We had many visitors from other houses too. Yifan’s was thrilled and sad at the same time. So we took this opportunity to present her with an end-of-semester portfolio filled with many memorable moments made at CDL.  GOODBYE, YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!

On Sunday, the boys took part in the traditional breaking of the chocolate Marmite. This
Geneva tradition celebrates the Mère Royaume pouring her cauldron of hot soup over the
enemies during the Savoyard invasion in 1602, keeping them from advancing any further.

This morning we had a visit from Jack Frost. There was a lovely blanket of fresh white snow covering the garden. Let’s wrap up warm today!

At CDB the students each decorated their piece of the gingerbread house to enter another fierce competition, some boarding houses delivered some fantastic designs. Stay tuned for the announcement !! which boarding house will win?? let’s hope we made the first 3 🙂

The boarding life Award has been given to Nicholas for his outstanding contribution in day to day life in CDB and the Activities Award has been given to Hannah for her sheer commitment and hard work in attending a wide range of activities.

At Champs des Bois we discussed how insects and birds needed shelter during these winter months so we decided to start a little project to make a bug hotel. The boys learned some great DIY skills and it helped their creativity by using various resources and upcycling them 🙂

Jam-packed schedule this Saturday * Climbing, horse riding, Thai massage, movie and Take away, Melissa’s parents attended horse riding lessons and invited our boarders for lunch, only one student could attend a fabulous Japanese lunch and treats for all (bubble tea for House parents and students) later in the afternoon a private tennis lesson followed by a Thai massage. In the evening an older boarder from Olympus invited the boys to pick up some sushi and we happily watched a movie.

Jin and Nicholas participated in the Christmas decorating this weekend, with a little help from Mr Zach to reach the top of the tree!

Today all the Boarding Houses competed in a Bake Off Competition. Our boys decided to make a sponge cake and decorate it with strawberries, cream and lots of sprinkles! We hope the judges liked it!

This past Thursday we were lucky enough to be treated to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. The Chefs prepared a delicious meal and students and staff had decorated the dining hall very nicely. We all shared what we were thankful for and had a lovely celebration together.

We discovered Canadian food this evening, their cuisine looks fairly good and taste great! the fries were divine mixed inside a combo box with cheese, veg and sauce. DELICIOUS 🙂

Today both students had an incredible day at their horse riding lesson, the weather was just fabulous the teacher decided to take them on a ride locally, it was just perfect. We then cleaned the ponies and she taught them how to care and use all the equipment accordingly to their use . We took time to stroke other horses and truly embraced the experience immensely and that includes me.

At Champs Des Bois, we had a private session with our professional photographer Dia who came to our boarding house and taught our students how to create fantastic picture effects using various strategies. The pictures below were made by using different lights and movements then the camera captures these movements and sequences of lights, together the outcome is just incredible. We had lots of fun, messing about and creating these outstanding art pieces 🙂

A great Asian supper this evening infused with lots of wonderful flavours. We are always looking forward to Wednesdays special meals from around the world. Thank you to our great kitchen team 🙂

Our students covered a very important topic part of our wellbeing program, we took the time to watch a short video on respecting diversity and being mindful of bullying others, we then brainstorm what the words meant in real life. They all discussed how important to support and respect others despite their background and ethnicity and we came up with written quotes for our display board. We truly enjoyed this group activity  helping our young boarders to understand the importance of words and acts.

On Sunday, Yifan celebrated her 10th birthday. We were very excited to be able to share this special day with her. We enjoyed playing laser tag with the other Junior Houses, classic party games like ”the floor is lava” and ”hide n seek”. Then we all gathered together to sing her Happy Birthday in the afternoon.

On Saturday, the children enjoyed their weekly activities and had lots of fun getting muddy in the garden!

A great weekend filled with many wonderful activities, the kids made a start  deweeding an area of the garden, we are planning to create a sensory garden *project ongoing…* continue following our blog to watch the progress.  Cooking and baking club made some delicious brownies and biscuits. Each week students who takes on the same activity such as horse riding  shows a great deal of improvement in their skills.  Saturday the weather was pleasant we went to Geneva for some shopping and sightseeing and finally Sunday we indulged in our Sunday brunch then I performed my sound bath therapy with a special assistant 🙂

Students enjoyed dressing up for Halloween tonight and trick or treat in different boarding houses. However, they were not many tricks but much more treats 🙂

A fantastic trip to Portugal for half term!

We had an exceptional dinner at home last night, the kids helped to mark a special moment In CDB with our House Parent Alex! *First shopping trip to Coop  * Menu agreement Chinese meal  * Menu prep and table set up * scrumptious supper * games to complete the night. It was a great evening overall 🙂

Today at the primary school children dressed up to close this term and bring a flavour of Halloween. This celebration brought so much excitement and  fun in the playground this morning.

Students were so excited by Wednesday special dinner, we were spoiled with a lovely Japanese selection of sushi, stir fry and  Mochi puddings.

We made the most of the sunshine today by taking a trip to the local park. The boys were very excited and had lots of fun, particularly on the swings and the big climbing frame!

We all had lots of fun today running around, jumping around, playing tag and trying all sorts of crazy jumps.

The children were very grateful for such an awesome birthday party.

Without a fail another wonderful brunch at CDL, we all looked forward to Sunday to enjoy a great selection of food, pastries, smoothies, breads, fruits, donuts and much more… served by our skilled chefs and kitchen staff. Thank you 🙂

A fantastic weekend at Disneyland, the students had lots of fun. I cannot wait to hear all about it this evening!!!

We were excited and looking forward to hosting an open door at our boarding house, primary teachers and leadership paid us a visit this afternoon, the students were so happy to show off their rooms,personal things and the entire house. We sat and socialized over a selection of cold, hot drinks and treats. This gave us an opportunity to share a moment to familiarize with each other. We played a quiz game to break the ice and bring a homey atmosphere throughout this visit. It was so enjoyable that we have agreed to plan a second get together but this time we will ask our students to invite a friend each from their classroom too.

Champs Des Bois boys visited our local hairdresser, they looked just amazing with a fresh stylish trim.

Here is a wonderful photo of Nicholas and Liam. Liam was a Primary Boarder with Champs des Bois last school year, it was nice to see him looking after Nicholas and being a role model to our young ones.

At Swiss Vapeur Parc the children and House Parents were lucky enough to see the sun and ride many small trains around the park visiting lots of miniature Swiss towns and villages.

Hannah has again joined a Horse-riding lesson this past Saturday. Covered from the rain, Hannah and Candy (the horse) worked on improving her ‘trot’ and Hannah is building up the courage and skill to start to ‘gallop’.

We didn’t let the weather get the best of us this weekend. Although some might have said the weather was a bit miserable we refused to let it get us down!

We have amazing packed days to enjoy various things throughout the week, house visitors, clubs, special dinners, cooking, photography, Lego and lastly just socializing over a good puzzle. At Champs des bois, no day is the same 🙂