A Proud Day: Graduation Ceremony Highlights

The graduation ceremony on Saturday was a joyful and memorable occasion. The atmosphere was filled with pride, celebration, and a strong sense of accomplishment.

As the graduates took to the stage, each name called was met with warm applause and cheering from the crowd. The ceremony moved smoothly, with heartfelt speeches and moments of reflection that highlighted the dedication and growth shown over the past years.

Laughter, smiles, and even a few emotional moments were shared throughout the event. The energy in the room was uplifting, and the celebration felt well-deserved.

It was a day that brought people together to recognize hard work and success. Every graduate should feel incredibly proud—this milestone marks not just an ending, but the beginning of exciting new paths ahead.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

Weekend Recap: Jerónimo Takes on the Biker vs. Runner Challenge!

This past weekend was full of sunshine, good energy, and a bit of friendly competition here at CDL!

One of the highlights was the annual Bikers vs. Runners Challenge, where cyclists race around Lake Léman while runners take on a 60km relay. We’re proud to share that Jerónimo joined the runners’ team and completed a strong 6km leg of the race!

It was great to see him put in such dedication, and even better to see him enjoy the moment. His commitment to his fitness routine really showed, and his cheerful spirit brought a lot to the team.

 

While the cyclists were a bit faster this time around, Jerónimo’s effort and attitude were a big win in themselves. Well done, Jerónimo!

🌤️ A Calm and Enjoyable Weekend in Franconis 🌿

It’s been a quiet and refreshing weekend here in Franconis, with a few fun activities sprinkled in as the boys found a good balance between rest, social time, and preparation for the final stretch of the term.

Antonio proudly represented Italy during our International Day, offering a delicious homemade cake at the Italian stand. He also managed to squeeze in a run between study sessions as he gears up for his upcoming exams.

Jeronimo and Diego joined the rest of the Houses for a lively Quiz Night on Thursday, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the competition and taking 1st place. Jeronimo also had a chance to try something new this weekend—wakeboarding—which he took on with courage and a big smile!

Today, Jeronimo and Diego made the most of the beautiful weather by taking the boat from Nyon to Yvoire, enjoying a peaceful day exploring the charming French village.

Meanwhile, Kaishu enjoyed a more relaxed pace, spending quality time with friends and eating out, soaking up the last few weekends before summer.

All in all, it was a lovely mix of calm, connection, and new experiences.

🛠️ Wellbeing Pillar 5 – Week 3: Respect & Conflict Resolution 🤝

This week marked the final session of Pillar 5: Making Safe and Responsible Choices, with a focus on the second key takeaway: Respect as a tool for resolving conflict.

During our House Meeting, the Advocates Team led the way with a thoughtful video that explored how conflict is a natural part of life, especially in a shared living environment like ours. The message was clear—disagreements will happen, but how we handle them makes all the difference.

The video highlighted how respect forms the foundation for healthy, effective conflict resolution. Whether it’s listening to another point of view, staying calm during tense moments, or finding common ground, respect allows us to move through challenges and strengthen our relationships.

A great way to close out this wellbeing pillar, filled with meaningful conversations.

A Weekend of Giving, Celebration, and Community Spirit

This past weekend was full of meaningful moments here at the boarding house.

On Saturday, Antonio continued his CAS project by cooking and delivering food to the homeless in Geneva. His efforts were truly appreciated and made a real difference. Well done, Antonio!

We also cheered on students who took part in the 24-hour charity run here at school—a great show of energy, teamwork, and commitment to a good cause.

And of course, we celebrated Kaishu’s 18th birthday! He enjoyed a speedboat trip to Geneva (a prize from our recent charity auction), and on Sunday evening we gathered at the house for cake, singing, and plenty of smiles.

A weekend filled with kindness, celebration, and community spirit!

🌟 Wellbeing Pillar 5 – Week 2: The Power of Empathy 🌟

This week in our Wellbeing Pillar: Making Safe and Responsible Choices, the focus was on a vital skill for building positive relationships—empathy.

During our House Meeting, the Advocates Team guided the students through an engaging video that explored what empathy really means, why it can sometimes be difficult, and how it plays a key role in understanding and supporting others.

The main goal of this session was to help students reflect on how empathy grows through active listening, perspective-taking, and showing kindness in daily interactions.

The group had the chance to share their thoughts and examples of when empathy made a difference in their own friendships and community. It was a great step forward in building stronger, more understanding relationships in our boarding family.

🍽️ House Dinner & Ice Cream by the Lake! 🍦

This week’s House Dinner was a real treat as we all gathered to enjoy a delicious, homemade lasagna together. The boys loved the hearty meal, and the atmosphere in the house was full of laughter and good conversation. It’s always great to sit down as a group and share a meal like family!

After dinner, Diego and Jeronimo joined the Tuesday Fun Nights group for a relaxing walk down to the lake, where they enjoyed some well-deserved ice cream by the water. With the sun setting and the calm lake view, it was the perfect way to end the evening.

A big thank you to everyone for making it such an enjoyable night. Here’s to more fun evenings ahead! 🌅🍝🍦✨

 

🌿 A Restful and Active Weekend in Franconis! 🌞

It’s been a perfect balance of rest and activity here in Franconis House this weekend! With exams underway for some and upcoming for others, the boys have taken time to recharge while still staying active and enjoying the sunshine.

Diego got involved in our May Fitness Challenge and later joined Jeronimo for a walk and lunch in Geneva. Jeronimo has also been keeping his fitness up with running and gym sessions. 💪🏃

Antonio had a busy and fun weekend too—cooking a delicious chicken meal with Lucy, attending the Karate activity, and playing football in the garden with his sister Alessia. ⚽🍗🥋

Wenyan and Zitian enjoyed the beautiful weather with walks around Versoix, while Kaishu had a great day out exploring the BioPark! 🐾🌳

All in all, it’s been a weekend of balance, fun, and fresh air! 🌟👏

Here’s to a great week ahead! 🎉

🌟 Pillar 5 Launched: Making Safe and Responsible Choices 🌟

This evening in Franconis, we officially launched Pillar 5 of our Wellbeing Program: Making Safe and Responsible Choices. The focus of this pillar is all about encouraging students to reflect on how their actions impact themselves and others, and how thoughtful decision-making plays a key role in building a respectful and supportive community.

As part of the launch, the students watched a video introduction presented by Mr Manuel, which outlined the goals of Pillar 5, introduced the student advocate team, and explained how this topic was selected. The video also gave insight into the feedback process, which involved visiting nearly all of the boarding houses to listen to student voices and shape a theme that truly resonates.

Following the video, the group took part in a discussion, reflecting on two key takeaway points for this pillar:

🔍 The difficult art of seeing the world through others’ eyes – how empathy helps us understand perspectives and avoid misunderstandings.

🗝️ Respect is the key to resolving conflict and building connection – the foundation for open, honest, and supportive relationships.

The evening set a strong tone for the weeks ahead, as we continue exploring what it means to make safe and responsible choices both within the house and beyond. A big thank you to the students for their engagement and thoughtful reflections tonight—this is what wellbeing in action looks like. 💬💡

Antonio’s Sicilian Adventure 🌞🇮🇹

Antonio recently returned from an unforgettable school trip to Sicily! Despite a rough start — with a cancelled flight leading to a long day of travel — the group’s spirits quickly lifted once they arrived on the sun-soaked island.

Blessed with warm temperatures and lots of sunshine, the students explored fascinating ancient sites, immersed themselves in the rich local culture, and of course, indulged in Sicily’s world-famous cuisine.

It was a perfect mix of learning, adventure, and relaxation — a trip to remember!

Welcome back, Antonio!