Valentine’s Day is often associated with romantic love, chocolates, and roses exchanged between partners. However, within the cozy confines of our boarding community, this day takes on a unique and heartwarming twist. Far from family and hometowns, boarding house residents come together to celebrate love in all its forms – friendship, camaraderie, and the bonds that make their shared space feel like home.

In the dining hall, dinner is a delightful affair. Tables are adorned with heart-shaped treats and roses. Residents exchange roses, cards and small gifts, expressing gratitude for the support and companionship they’ve found within these walls. Laughter and chatter fill the room as stories are shared and memories are made.

Valentine’s Day in boarding may not always involve grand gestures or extravagant displays of affection, but it’s a celebration nonetheless – a celebration of the love and friendship that make this place feel like home.

As we welcome the Lunar New Year, excitement fills the air with anticipation and joy. This vibrant celebration, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, marks the beginning of a new lunar calendar and is observed by millions around the world. Families gather to honor age-old customs, from cleaning their homes to prepare for good fortune to savoring traditional dishes bursting with symbolic meaning.

The Year of the Dragon heralds a sense of renewal and optimism, as vibrant red decorations adorn doorways and lanterns light up the night sky. It’s a time for reflection, gratitude, and coming together with loved ones to embrace the promise of a fresh start.

I will leave you with the legend behind the red decorations.

Today, we wrapped up our exploration of the third pillar, which centers on cultivating positive relationships. We reflected on our progress and shared insights gained throughout our journey. Our discussion delved into the topic of microaggressions, and we explored feedback received. The girls and I thoroughly enjoyed preparing for and presenting this pillar. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated and hope they found the experience rewarding.

Gia turned 18 yesterday. May each day bring you closer to your dreams and be a celebration of the amazing person you are becoming. Cheers to the journey ahead! 🎉🎂

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

This is the final week of our wellbeing pillar 3. We delved into the world of toxic friendships and relationships, exploring the warning signs that often go unnoticed.

Through Kahoot scenarios, students were presented with various situations commonly found in friendships and partnerships. Each scenario prompted them to choose between red, yellow, or green flags, creating a visual representation of the dynamics at play. This interactive approach allowed for a deeper understanding of the subtle nuances that can indicate toxicity.

What made the session truly impactful was the openness with which students shared their personal experiences. Students discussed strategies they employed to navigate toxic situations and highlighted the importance of setting boundaries. By sharing personal experiences and insights, our community demonstrated resilience and a commitment to cultivating relationships that contribute positively to our well-being.

Lots of love,

Aida & Yewande

Entering the third week of our focus on building positive relationships, we delved into the realms of international friendships and microaggressions. The boarders, enjoy a distinctive experience at international schools as they have the incredible opportunity to build connections with peers hailing from various corners of the globe

International friendships enrich their lives by exposing them to diverse perspectives, cultures, and traditions. These connections foster mutual understanding, breaking down barriers and promoting global harmony.

However, even with positive intentions, international friendships may inadvertently give rise to unintended microaggressions due to cultural differences and misunderstandings. To navigate this potential challenge, it’s essential to approach these relationships with an open mind, cultural sensitivity, and a genuine willingness to learn. This proactive approach not only helps steer clear of unintentional microaggressions but also cultivates a deeper and more authentic understanding between individuals from diverse backgrounds.

They learned how to spot microaggressions and what to do in such situations. It was educational for the students and sparked a lot of conversations. ion proved impactful for the students, sparking numerous meaningful conversations. Feel free to join the dialogue by scanning the QR code below – your input is highly valued!

Lots of love,

Aida & Yewande

This weekend, the boarders turned the snowy slopes of Leysin into their playground, with choices ranging from skiing and snowboarding to tobogganing, ice skating and a cool excursion to Glacier 3000.

Gabi and Gia, glided effortlessly through the freshly fallen snow, and carved their way down the slopes with skill and precision. Laughter echoed across the hills as the students embraced the thrill of speed and the joy of mastering the slopes. For Zoya and Stacy, tobogganing offered a delightful alternative. Clad in warm winter gear, they raced down the tracks, wind in their hair, and smiles on their faces.

The highlight of the weekend for Melissa, Martina and Zia undoubtedly the excursion to Glacier 3000. A short journey brought the students to an otherworldly landscape of ice and snow. The panoramic views from the top were nothing short of breathtaking, with the Alps stretching out in all directions like a majestic white carpet.

Until the next winter adventure,

Lots of Love

Aida & Yewande

Positive friendships are an important part of the journey to adulthood. They help children and teenagers learn important social and emotional skills, like being sensitive to other people’s thoughts, feelings and wellbeing.

Healthy friendship and relationships occur when both people:

* Care about each other.

* Understand and respect each other and are responsible for each other.

* Solve problems together and communicate with honesty.

* Share at least some of the same goals and values.

In the previous week, we delved into the qualities we value in our friendships. Now, in the current week, we’ve taken the opportunity to inquire with our friends about how we come across as friends ourselves.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

We love when we get to have dinner together in the house . We swapped stories about the day’s adventures, discussed classes, and simply enjoyed a moment of respite from the IB mock exams.

Lots of love,

Aida & Yewande

Today marks the starts of our third well-being pillar, centered around fostering positive relationships with a particular focus on friendships. As a house, we are taking the lead in championing this pillar.

We understand that friendships are some of the most important relationships we build in life. Our friends are the families we get to choose therefore it is essential to introspect on the reasons behind our friendships, ensuring that these bonds contribute positively to our lives

This week our emphasis is on identifying the qualities we desire in our friends. We have created a brief video to delve into this topic, aiming to inspire students to contemplate their friendships more deeply.

Lots of love,

Aida & Yewande