Tonight we had a delicious Turkish dinner. Normally when we talk about Turkish food, kebab comes to mind, but their gastronomy is much broader than that. This time we had Pilavi (Cracked Wheat Pilaf), Börek (Cheese & Spinach Pastry) and chicken with vegetables.
Afiyet olsun!
Today was the classic of Spain. The football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The boys got together in the living room and watched it together. There were supporters of both teams so there were mixed feelings. In the end the score ended up 4-3 with Barcelona winning the clasico.
The other day Aijuka won a personalised cake made by Mr Iker at the Boarding Auction. The guys decided they wanted a burnt Basque cheesecake. This cake is originally from San Sebastian, where Mr Iker is from as well. The boys enjoyed it tonight and it was the icing on the cake for a great weekend where they met up with friends from last year.
This weekend, following a rather dreary week, the sun finally appeared, giving the boys the chance to experience the joys that Lake Geneva has to offer! Despite a slight chill in the water, great fun was had by our boys who went Wakeboarding, going on the lake for the first time this year. Great fun was also had by our other boarders, who enjoyed a variety of other excellent opportunities, including Golf, Tennis and a visit to the Biopark Zoo! We hope you enjoyed your weekend, boys.
The Léman boarding team would like to take this opportunity to wish Rui a very Happy Birthday! Profite bien!
It has been his first birthday outside of home for Rui and even he usually does not celebrate it much, we wanted to do a small gathering so he can have a special moment with some of his friends and the people who care about him.
This week, our very kind dining staff took us on a trip to New Zealand, preparing a variety of delicious dishes for us to eat. Tender and juicy lamb and soft, sweet potatoes were on the menu, giving us insights into the delightful flavours of New Zealand. Kiwi fruit was, of course, also on the menu and was enjoyed by all! Whilst New Zealand is known for its rich indigenous cultures, the kiwi bird and its prowess in rugby union, this evening showed us all that the country has some delightful flavours to offer!
In order to welcome the students back to the boarding houses this semester, it was decided that a celebration of Venezuelan cuisine would be held. The meal was delicious, consisting of tangy and aromatic beef within a soft red-tinted bread loaf. Crunchy salad and mayonnaise completed the sandwich, a delightful celebration of Venezuelan culinary culture. Nachos and guacamole completed the main course and were supported by a sweet coconut pudding. Overall, this meal not only tasted and looked excellent, but it also offered an opportunity for the Leman boys to catch up with peers and share stories of the holiday. We hope you enjoyed, boys!
The Leman Boarding House is opening for the final stretch of this academic year and we would like to wish all the boys a warm welcome back for the last semester. In particular, we would like to wish the best of luck to the Grade 12 students entering their final period of schooling, and to all of our students entering their exam period. We have had an excellent academic year so far, enjoying considerable success both inside and outside the classroom since August. We are sure that this will continue from now until June!
In the fast pace of boarding life, getting swept up in routines, responsibilities, and the constant motion of the day is easy. But it’s in the quiet, seemingly ordinary moments that the real magic happens.
Whether it’s a shared laugh over a late-night snack, a conversation after prep, or gathering around the TV to watch a Champions League match, these moments matter. Watching the game with our boys isn’t just about football; it’s about connection. It’s about cheering together, sharing the highs and lows, and creating memories that last far beyond the final whistle.
These little moments are the heartbeat of boarding. They remind us why we’re here—not just to guide and support, but to be present, to share in the everyday joys, and to build bonds that turn a house into a home.
So we take a step back, we pause, and we soak it in—because it’s in these moments that relationships grow stronger, and the boarding experience becomes something truly special.
Tonight, we had our last dinner at home together before the spring break, enjoying kebabs which went down as a treat and making the most of our time as a group. Now, it’s time to pack our bags and get ready for the end-of-year exams, which start right after the holidays. It’s a good opportunity to relax, recharge, and prepare for what’s ahead.
A massive thank you to our kitchen team for providing an amazing evening!
We wish you the happiest of birthdays, Stefan! We hope you have a lovely day and a prosperous and successful 17th year!
Spring is truly in full swing at Collège du Léman! The first weekend of April brought some sun and warmth to the boarding house, and with it boundless enthusiasm for the various activities on offer. Golf, as always, was a favourite among the boys, with Adi and Nurtorezhan heading to the driving range to refine their skills. Tennis, Boxing and Climbing were also enjoyed by many. These weekend activities give the boys an excellent opportunity to get some fresh air and sunlight and to allow them to socialise with friends across other boarding houses. We hope you enjoyed your weekend, boys!
Every year, the top chocolatiers from across Switzerland flock to the shores of Lake Geneva to partake in “FestiChoc”, one of the leading celebrations of chocolate across the world. Incredible chocolate creations and a diverse array of flavours are available to purchase within a short walk from CDL. The amazing artistry and incredible talent of the various chocolate manufacturers are displayed, allowing students a unique opportunity to taste and purchase chocolate from the most gifted producers.
This evening, the dining staff took us to India for the most recent iteration of our international dinners! Fragrant chicken curry, fluffy rice, spicy samosas and crisp vegetables were on the menu this week, taking the boys’ taste buds to South Asia. The international dinners continue to bring our boys together as they celebrate the delectable cuisine that other cultures have to offer and offer a period of respite following an intense week of study. We hope you enjoyed, boys!
In less than three weeks, our house organized a performance for the Boarding Talent Show, where students sang, played acoustic guitar, electronic guitar, hulusi flute, and drum box. The highlight was a powerful group rendition of Wavin’ Flag by K’naan, with some students singing while others waved flags from the countries represented in our house. The performance, with students both on stage and around the auditorium, was a fantastic display of unity and cultural pride. We’re proud of everyone involved and can’t wait to see the results tomorrow!
In recognition of the beginning of the Spring season, the weather here at CDL remained excellent, casting long rays of sun over Geneva. As a result, among other long-standing activities offered by the school, Golf was back on the menu! Adi, Nikita, Filippo and Shaokun all took advantage of the excellent weather and hit the driving range, practising their skills in preparation for the warm months ahead. Our boys also took part in numerous other activities, including Tennis, Climbing and Boxing. Some of our boys also travelled to Geneva to take part in the exciting Cube Challenge!
On Saturday evening, the weather was perfect for outdoor activity, with a bright, sunny day transitioning into a warm, golden evening. As the sun began to set, over 20 students gathered on the main football pitch for an exciting match. The fading light created a beautiful backdrop as the game kicked off, and the players, full of energy and passion, dove into the action. Everyone showed great enthusiasm and a strong sense of fair play, making the most of the ideal conditions. The play continued as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, and the students were so caught up in the fun that they played for nearly three hours. By the time bedtime approached, the field was quiet, but the memories of a thrilling, sun-drenched evening of football lingered in the air.
This evening, as it is the night before the Persian Nowruz celebration, Iranian food was on the menu in the Collège du Léman cafeteria! Fragrant rice, tender lamb and delicious slow-cooked vegetables were on offer, taking our taste buds to Iran to experience the deep and layered flavours of their national cuisine. The food was enjoyed by all and great fun was had, with the boys continuing to enjoy their culinary tour of the world from within the school.
“This year, I spent Nowruz far from home, but the warmth of my Persian friends, Paria, Kia, and Emir, made it feel special. Though we were away from traditional celebrations, we still found a way to welcome the new year together. Instead of a classic Nowruz feast, we indulged in steak and pasta—an unexpected but delicious way to mark the occasion. Between laughter, stories, and reminiscing about past celebrations, we created our own version of Nowruz, blending cultures and making new memories. It wasn’t the usual setting, but with good friends and good food, it still felt like a fresh and joyful beginning.” Seyed
Every Tuesday some of our boys have photography. This afternoon they went to the lake and captured these beautiful colours of the sky. Ignacy put his modelling skills into practice.
Bravo guys, you are great artists! 📸
For the house supper this week, the boys and staff of the Leman boarding house took a trip to Indonesia, sampling the various delectable delights of the country. Savoury and spicy fried rice, sweet marinaded chicken skewers and a refreshing slaw salad were the backbone of our delicious meal this evening.
Great fun was had, and the boys had the opportunity to convene together and discuss, chat and laugh. The house dinners represent a unique opportunity for the boys in the house to sit and talk amongst themselves in a more relaxed environment, thus creating a stronger and more unified culture within the house. What’s more, we all get to enjoy some excellent food!
This evening we had the wonderful opportunity to attend and enjoy the different artistic performances in the Performing Arts Evening. We have been able to see dramatic performances and listen to artists singing, playing violins, piano, cellos, guitars… The evening involved students who have just started their first steps in music and students who are going to university next year to continue their studies in the dramatic arts. Among them we can find Apollo and Michael, two of our Leman boys who are part of the cast of the second musical of Collège du Léman. They opened the evening by singing one of the songs they will perform in this year’s musical, giving us a glimpse of the new play they are working on. And they closed the evening singing This is Me, from the movie The Greatest Showman, along with all the other participants of the evening. We ended the evening on a high note and with the goose bumps of voices and instruments playing at the same time.
In a perfect illustration of the changing seasons, the weather this weekend was excellent, a considerable contrast with many previous weekends. Consequently, our boys took advantage of the opportunity to spend some time outside in the fresh air by taking part in the Running club. Climbing, Tennis and Boxing were also popular with the boys, with those attending setting positive examples for their peers through their participation in sport. Lastly, for those wishing to put their brains to the test, Chess proved to be popular. Well done, boys – we are looking forward to more weekends like this as the weather warms up!
Following a great start to 2025 and the second semester of the school year, the February Holiday has begun! It has been a pleasure to work with the boys this semester, and it has been a privilege to support their development. We look forward to welcoming the boys back to the Léman Boarding House at the beginning of March to continue a very rewarding term!
Please note that the boarding house will be closed from 09:00 on Saturday 22 February to 09:00 on Saturday 1 March, so please plan return travel accordingly. In the meantime, you can stay connected with the school through the Collège du Léman News app that can be downloaded here.
Last night after our dinner at home, some of the kids got out their board games and enjoyed some time and laughter with friends. Some went downstairs and got on the table to play Catan, while others took over the living room sofa to play what’s on my mind. We were happy to see them also spending time with each other and laughing because the game was fun or something funny came up.
These are some matches that we are making in the school. By now, we have won both of them, 10-3 and 2–3. Incredible players with a lot of potential, we combine all the systems in this match, High School and French section, so we get to know each other and make friendships. All grades are allowed, so we can have fun all together with some competition too. – Oscar.
Tonight we had dinner at home. We do this so to spend some time with just the members of the house and to make it feel more like a family, in our case, to spend time with the big family that being from Leman means.
For tonight we have been able to enjoy Mexico and feel it a little closer. We had tacos and guacamole and as one of the Mexican guys in the house said “Sir, esto es cena de campeones” (Sir, this is dinner of champions).
Wednesday was the first assembly after the lunar new year, that’s how Michael opened his section. Together with Filippo they co-directed a small but great play about the history of how the Chinese zodiac signs came about. In the play we could see other boys from the house involved representing the different animals of the zodiac and the Jade Emperor.
The legend
The Jade Emperor, ruler of heaven, called all the animals of the world to a race and said that the first twelve would enter the zodiac. To reach them, they had to cross a river.
In those days, the rat and the cat were great friends. But, although they were very intelligent, they were the worst swimmers in the animal kingdom. So they decided that the best and fastest way to cross the river was to cross on the back of an Ox.
The Ox agreed to carry them across the river. However, as there was a prize involved, the rat decided that to win, he had to do something, so he threw the cat into the water: from then on the cat became a natural enemy of the rat and the water. After this, the rat reached the shore and claimed first place in the race, closely followed by the strong Ox, who was named second animal of the zodiac.
Behind the Ox came the tiger, who explained, panting, how he had had to fight the currents and how, thanks to his great strength, he was able to reach the shore and become the third animal.
The fourth place in the zodiac went to the rabbit, who thanks to his jumping ability was able to hop from one bank to the other, although he also explained to the emperor that he would have fallen into the river had it not been for a piece of log floating in the water.
Later, the dragon flew up and told the emperor that he could not get there first because he had to stop to create rain in order to help the people and creatures of the land. In addition, on the final stretch he had come across a rabbit clinging to a log, which he helped by nudging it with his breath so that it could reach the shore. The emperor, surprised by his kindness, awarded him fifth place in the zodiac.
Shortly afterwards the gallop of a horse was heard, but a snake frightened him and made him fall. Thus, the snake finally took sixth place while the horse took seventh place.
A short distance away were the goat, the monkey and the rooster, who were approaching the river bank. The three creatures helped each other to cross: the rooster built a wooden raft for the three of them, while the goat and the monkey cleared the undergrowth and so, rowing and rowing, they managed to reach the opposite bank. The emperor, very pleased with the teamwork of the animals, named the goat the eighth animal, while the monkey and the rooster were given the ninth and tenth places respectively.
Although the dog should have got a good place because he was the best swimmer of all the animals, he was delayed because he needed a bath after the long race, and when he saw the cool water of the river he could not resist. So he was assigned the eleventh place.
Just as the emperor was about to close the race he heard the grunting of a small pig that had started the race when it was very hungry, so soon after the start he feasted and took a nap. When he woke up, he continued the race and arrived just in time to be named the twelfth animal of the zodiac.
Finally, the cat arrived too late, occupying the thirteenth place and unable to gain any place in the calendar, so that his hatred of rats made him forever their bitterest enemy.
This is how the Chinese horoscope would have been created.
During our boarding assembly today, the boys got to see and listen to a broad array of individuals from the school presenting various topics. We had the opportunity to watch several of our boys take part in a uniquely entertaining play on the cultural significance of the Lunar New Year calendar, listen to Mr Antonio discuss a charitable initiative encouraging students to take ownership of positive volunteer work and enjoy the music being played by Samuel. These were just a few of the wonderful presentations that we had the opportunity to see. The boarding assembly is a monthly opportunity for our boys and the broader Boarding community to listen to other individuals present ideas and express themselves creatively.
