What a week it’s been, full of great food and important conversations.

We kicked things off on Tuesday with a cozy house dinner. Lasagne was on the menu, and we wrapped it up with a delicious tiramisu for dessert. There’s something about sitting around the table together, laughing and catching up, that makes the house feel even more like home.

Wednesday: Talking Empathy at Our House Meeting
On Wednesday, we continued working on our 5th Pillar: Making Safe and Responsible Choices. This week’s focus was all about empathy—specifically, the tricky but powerful idea of seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.

The Advocates team led us through a video that broke it down in a simple but meaningful way: what empathy really means, why it’s not always easy, and how it helps us grow stronger as a community. The goal was to help us not just talk about empathy, but really understand how to live it.

Tonight’s Boarding Assembly was something special. Sofiia and her friends took the stage to tell us about Maslenitsa, a beloved Russian tradition that celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Also known as Pancake Week, Maslenitsa is full of joy—sleigh rides, singing, games, and of course, blini (thin pancakes that symbolize the sun). Sofiia and her group shared what this tradition means to them and brought a little bit of that festive spirit to all of us. It was beautiful to see culture shared with such pride and openness.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

What a weekend!

Vale started things off with some wakeboarding and even though she’s done it before, she had an absolute blast out there. Emma followed with a calming stretching session, and Marina powered through a bodyshaping class (go Marina!).

We also kicked off our May Fitness Challenge, and it’s already bringing out everyone’s energy and team spirit. Friday’s challenge was pull-ups. Vale gave it a try and nearly got one—so close! We love seeing that determination.

On Saturday, the goal was to do as many jumping jacks as possible. With some enthusiastic encouragement from Vale and Mo, Marcela pushed through and hit 65. Such a great moment!

And today, we switched it up with a creative twist: make a TikTok. Emma and Étoile jumped in and filmed a short, funny one that had us all laughing.

Can’t wait to see what next week brings!

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

Life in a girls’ boarding house is anything but dull. Every day brings a mix of energy, focus, and camaraderie. From early morning workouts to late-night study sessions, these young women juggle academics, fitness, and friendships with impressive grace.

Ther was time during this weekend for everything, all of the girls quite focused on studying, but also time to play some tennis, do som stretching or bodyshapping.

As exam season approaches, the mood shifts. The library becomes the heartbeat of the boarding house. Students gather around tables, notes spread wide, highlighters in hand, supporting one another through the pressure of revision. Quiet determination fills the room, mixed with whispered encouragement and shared snacks.

Together, these girls are building more than just good grades—they’re building resilience, independence, and lifelong friendships.