The Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in many Asian cultures and it marks the start of the lunar calendar year. This celebration symbolizes fresh beginnings and hopes for prosperity, happiness, and good fortune. Usually, before the holiday begins, families clean their homes to sweep away bad luck. They decorate with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cuttings.

One of the children’s favorite traditions is receiving red envelopes filled with money, wishing them good fortune. Fireworks and lion or dragon dances are common, believed to ward off evil spirits and bring prosperity. As it occurs in many cultures, food is the center of the celebration and each dish carries symbolic meaning. Dumplings represent wealth, fish symbolize abundance, and rice cakes signify progress.

Every year we celebrate this important day with our Asian students; a way to bring them a piece of home far from home.

Happy Lunar New Year!

What a wonderful weekend we just had in the Crans-Montana ski resort!

Our senior students, including Ada and Serena, went on their first ski trip of the year to the Swiss Alps! Whether it was skiing, ice skating, enjoying the city, or studying, the girls had a great weekend that helped them unwind from the stresses of the routine. This weekend has been the perfect time to recharge our batteries and enjoy the fresh air that the mountains and snow have to offer.

Kseniia, Haruka, Manuela, and Sofiya are facing their last year with us as they will graduate in June, and this weekend has been an unforgettable experience that they will carry with them forever. It is these kinds of memories that they will take with them after graduation that make boarding school life a unique experience.

Last night, we celebrated our first Dinner in the House of the semester and Serena’s first dinner in the house! For dinner, we enjoyed some delicious turkey Croque-Monsieur with French fries. During the evening, we shared our excitement for this weekend, as we will visit the beautiful alpine resort of Crans-Montana.

This past weekend brought a peaceful atmosphere to campus, as most of the girls ventured off for their own adventures. For those who stayed behind, it was a relaxing change of pace. The house felt calm and quiet, offering a chance to unwind and enjoy some slower moments.

Sofiya made the most of her time on campus, turning the quiet weekend into an opportunity for creativity and connection. She enjoyed experimenting in our cooking club, whipping up delicious recipes that filled the house with wonderful aromas once she brought us her creation. She also spent quality time with her friends walking around Versoix and enjoying a lovely lunch in Geneva.

While the house may have been quieter than usual, the weekend was a reminder that simple joys can create memorable moments. A peaceful campus sometimes makes for the best kind of weekend.

This past weekend, we kicked off the ski season with an unforgettable trip to Crans-Montana, a picturesque ski resort in the Swiss Alps. Nestled in the heart of Valais, Crans-Montana is renowned for its stunning mountain views, expansive slopes, and sunny weather – a perfect destination for a winter getaway.

While the ski slopes were a highlight, Ada and Serena, had an absolute blast exploring other activities the town had to offer. From lively games of bowling to exhilarating tobogganing adventures, there was never a dull moment. They also relished the opportunity to connect with nature, breathing in the crisp alpine air and soaking up the sunshine.

This weekend was the perfect blend of fun, relaxation, and adventure, setting the tone for what promises to be an amazing ski season ahead! We can’t wait to return to Crans-Montana next week with the rest of the girls!

Welcome back to the second term at Villa Ecureuil! We are so excited to welcome back our girls for this term. We can’t wait to hear about everyone’s holiday adventures and to welcome our new student, Serena.

The snow welcomed us yesterday afternoon, introducing the ski season we have ahead of us!

What a wonderful first semester we’ve had in Villa Ecureuil!

This year, we had the pleasure of welcoming three new students into our close-knit community house. Each has brought a unique personality, talents, and energy, enriching our shared experiences and making our house even more vibrant. It has been a joy to watch them settle in, form friendships, and become an integral part of our community.

The girls are already on their way home and we are preparing to close the house. We want to thank everyone for your kind support during these past months. Can’t wait to see what the second semester brings us!

Tonight, we celebrated Secret Santa in the house, marking the last evening before the holidays when all the girls are together. And what better way to say goodbye than by exchanging gifts and enjoying some delicious homemade cookies.

Having prepared wishlists for our Secret Santa exchange made the process so much easier! Each girl received exactly what they truly wanted, and their happiness was contagious. The highlight of the evening came when everyone tried to guess who their Secret Santa was, with plenty of laughs as suspicions were shared and guesses were made. Overall, it was a heartwarming and memorable evening that brought us closer together, strengthening the bond we share in our little community house.

The Winter Ball at Collège du Léman is always a night brimming with emotions. Whether it’s the excitement of the semester’s end and the anticipation of the trips back home, the poignancy of first goodbyes, or simply the magic of the evening, the Winter Ball is a cherished tradition, forever etched in our memories.

The girls donned their finest outfits, and together, we made our way to the Hilton Hotel for a delightful evening with the entire community. The night was filled with radiant smiles, hearty laughter, countless photos, and treasured moments shared by all. Since this will be the final Winter Dinner for most of our girls before they graduate in June, they made the most of the evening, capturing countless photos to immortalize the night.

We hope everyone had a lovely evening❤️

During three intense days, I had the unique opportunity to accompany my grandfather as he gave lectures at the UN in Geneva, during a highly relevant event focused on Human Rights and the role of Brazilian businesses in this context. It was an incredibly enriching experience, not only because I was in such a prestigious and transformative environment, but also because it expanded my understanding of contemporary global challenges.

Through each panel, discussion, and interaction, I was able to absorb a wealth of knowledge about how corporations can and should act in support of human rights, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the complex intersections between business, ethics, and social justice. Watching my grandfather, a respected figure in his field, share his insights with such a diverse and international audience was both a personally and intellectually rewarding experience.

This experience motivated me to seek further knowledge and become actively involved in discussions about how the private sector can be a force for positive transformation in society.

Manuela, G12.