Accompanied by Helen Cass on Saturday 3 October, several of our Environmental Committee students took part in one of the 12 lake clean-ups that the Association pour la sauvegarde du Léman organises every year. This association hopes to raise awareness about the amount of "invisible" waste at the bottom of the lake, and show everyone that we can work together to preserve the environment around us. It also thoroughly researches the dredged up waste, 90% of which is the result of human activity and not biodegradable. This severely pollutes the aquatic ecosystem, and impacts all living organisms in the lake.
How can schools combat cultural expectations and bias to help their students aim for the futures they really want?
There are a range of soft skills we have to work on if we want to lead happy lives in this age of pandemics and evolving status quos. Yet focusing on happiness and being the source of our own positivity takes effort and demands a great level of self-awareness. Ironic though it may seem, it can be hard to maintain a bright outlook 24/7.
At Haut-Lac, we are strong proponents of internationalism and cooperation. That is why the International Day of Peace is an important marker in the school year. We are committed to instilling our students with a peaceful and respectful attitude in an effort to contribute to a better world. The more conscientious young people we send forth into the world, the better our chances are of it going in a positive direction for the future.
Nowadays, books and online gurus promote the benefits of mindfulness from all angles, which makes us think – is there something in this to which we should be paying attention?
At Haut-Lac, we are beginning to resume some of our normal school habits and routines after the summer break. However, if one of our alumni were to turn up for a visit, they would find that quite a few things have changed since they were last on campus!
Coronavirus. We’re probably all weary of hearing about it, seeing it on the news and witnessing its devastating effects the world over. Yet, even months on from lockdown, it is undeniably still relevant and will continue to dominate our reality for some time to come. When it comes to students in particular, one of the most anxiety-inducing repercussions of this pandemic has been the cloud of uncertainty it has cast over the future.
Have you been hearing the term ‘soft skills’ flying around a lot recently? Or ‘transferable skills’? Buzzier than springtime bees, these terms are taking over the conversation around education.
At Haut-Lac, we’re known for our truly bilingual approach to education. Through our Learning Means the World and International Baccalaureate programmes, we are able to tailor our academic offerings so that students can learn bilingually, in English only or, as of September 2020, in French only.
RELEVANT YOUNG ADULT NOVELS FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS THIS SUMMER
With the summer in full tilt, you might be looking to get stuck into for a good book, so why not pick one up that could prompt a bit of reflection, or show you a different way of thinking? Teenagers are very sensitive to what is going on around them, and we can certainly say that 2020 has been an explosive year.
International schools like Haut-Lac offer so many great trips and events that our calendars fill up fast. Yet, when a country has as rugged and diverse a cultural landscape as Switzerland, it's important to make the most of it! So why not take the kids out and hit up some of these places as a family?
Introducing Jenny Quénard – an Haut-Lac alumnus bringing an exclusive, new experience to Haut-Lac camps!
