HAUT-LAC BOARDING
PHILOSOPHY & PRINCIPLES
We believe students need to feel happy, safe and respected to grow into confident, responsible and successful global citizens.
Our school and boarding staff therefore provide an excellent all-round experience in a nurturing environment, so that every boarding student is able to develop emotionally, physically, morally, socially and academically.
We make sure they:
Feel Welcome
▶ All boarding students are able to study, play and rest in the comfort of their home away from home.
▶ Communication is open, honest and frequent between boarders, staff and parents.
▶ Boarding students are encouraged to interact and support their international peers through Haut-Lac’s House system.
▶ Personalised care and support is provided for up to 30 boarding students in a small and homely boarding house.
Are safe and well
▶ The students’ physical and mental safety on and off campus and at the boarding house is a top priority.
▶ School and boarding house staff are available to listen to, support and advise boarding students.
▶ The school counsellor is available to talk to Haut-Lac day and boarding students in confidence by phone and/or in person.
▶ Boarding students are encouraged to stay active by joining at least one of the many exciting Haut-Lac sports clubs.
▶ Haut-Lac day and boarding students attend sessions on mental well-being, healthy eating, alcohol/ drug abuse prevention, emotional development and more as part of their tutor programme and/or special awareness campaigns.
▶ Boarding house staff limit screen time by collecting and locking up studentdevices overnight.
▶ Boarders are able to take time out to relax by participating in exciting evening and/or weekend activities and trips.
Are challenged
▶ Boarding students are encouraged to develop their creative, sporting and cultural skills and talents alongside their academic studies.
▶ Boarding students are able to develop their knowledge of English and French through Haut-Lac’s long-standing bilingual academic and extra-curricular programmes.
▶ Boarding students are given the chance to lead, to work cooperatively as a team and to take in creasing responsibility for themselves and for others through the Student Council roles, community service projects, boarding house life, etc..
Are open-minded
▶ With 50 nationalities at school, diversity is what brings Haut-Lac students, boarders and staff together.
▶ Respect for self and for others regardless of nationality, gender or religion is evident at Haut-Lac.
▶ All day and boarding students develop an international mindset through interaction with peers from across the world.
▶ All day and boarding students are encouraged to discover and get involved in the local and international communities through class themes, school trips, individual or group project work, etc.
Boarding Contacts
The Boarding Duty Phone is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during term time.
All communication with the boarding team should be done via the duty phone or Boarding House email.
Boarding House duty phone number: +41 (021) 555 5090 Boarding House email: boarding@haut-lac.ch
The House Parents are the primary contacts for parents on all matters relating to pastoral care outside of the school. House Parents and academic staff liaise regularly with regard to the boarders’ progress.
Accurate contact details must be provided in writing and signed by parents prior to the start of the school year, including e-mail addresses and phone numbers. Please ensure any changes are communicated with the House Parents as soon as possible.
Post and packages should be sent to the boarding postal address: Route du Tirage 14, 1806 St-Légier-La Chiésaz
Please use this address to find the Boarding House: (Post should not be sent to this address) Route de Fenil 40 1806 Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz
Information regarding school can be found on the Haut-Lac Parent Portal, and information regarding Boarders’ academics on ManageBac.
The school runs online and face-to-face parent information events throughout the year.
Parents receive regular school and boarding newsletters as well as the following reports:
•Settling-in report in October
•Formative report in December
•Parent-Teacher meetings in January
•Parent-Teacher meetings in May
•Summative report in June
Term Dates
SCHOOL HOLIDAY CALENDAR 2025-2026
TERM 1
New Boarders arrive between 13:00 and 18:00 on Monday 25 August, or after the New Student Orientation Day on Tuesday 26 August. Returning Boarders arrive on 26 August. School starts 27 August.
JEÛNE FÉDÉRAL
Official holiday Monday 22 September 2025
No school but Boarding House remains open
AUTUMN MID-TERM HOLIDAY
Starts / Ends Saturday 18 October - Sunday 26 October 2025
Return E1-IB2 Monday 27 October 2025
Boarders depart Friday 17 October after school or Saturday 18 October by 13:00. Boarders return to the House on Sunday 26 October by 21:00.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
Starts / Ends Saturday 13 December 2025 - Monday 5 January 2026
Return E1-IB2 Tuesday 6 January 2026
Boarders depart Friday 12 December after school or Saturday 13 December before 13:00. Boarders return on Sunday 4 January by 21:00.
FEBRUARY MID-TERM HOLIDAY
Starts / Ends Saturday 14 February - Sunday 23 February 2026
Return E1-IB2 Monday 23 February 2026
Boarders depart Friday 13 February after school or Saturday 14 February by 13:00. Boarders return Sunday 22 February by 21:00.
EASTER HOLIDAY
Starts / Ends Thursday 2 April - Sunday 19 April 2026
Return E1-IB2 Monday 20 April 2026
Boarders depart Thursday 2 April after school or Friday 3 April by 13:00. Boarders return Sunday 19 April by 21:00.
ASCENSION
Starts / Ends Wednesday 13 May - Sunday 17 May 2026
Return E1-IB2 Monday 18 May 2026
Boarders depart Tuesday 12 May after school. Boarders return Sunday 17 May by 21:00. All Boarders unable to travel home will join a Boarders’ trip.
WHITSUN
Official holiday on Monday 25 May 2026
No school but Boarding House remains open.
SUMMER HOLIDAY
Starts on Saturday 27 June 2026
Boarders may leave after school on Friday 26 June or by 13:00 on Saturday 27 June.
The Boarding House remains closed during holiday periods. We ask parents and students to please respect the departure and return dates and times.
Weekly Routines
Daily routine
7:10 Wake up
7:20-7:50 Breakfast
8:00 Bus to school
Boarders are encouraged to walk if they set off a little earlier (10 minutes)
8:15 Homeroom with tutor
8:25 Lessons start. Boarders have lunch at school.
15:30 / 16:20 Lessons end (depending on year group)
15:40 – 17:30 After-school clubs
17:45 – 19:00 Free time at the boarding house
19:00 – 19:45 Dinner
19:45 – 21:00 Study time
20:45 Study time finishes for MYP1-3
21:00 Study time finishes for MYP4-IB2
21:30 MYP1-3 need to be in their rooms ready for bed, having handed in their electronics
22:00 MYP4-5 need to be in their rooms ready for bed, having handed in their electronics. The house should be quiet from 22:00 onwards.
22:30 IB1&2 need to be in their rooms and quiet
On Wednesdays, school finishes at lunch time. Boarders eat lunch at school before returning to the boarding house. They then either have town leave in Vevey, or participate in a group activity (such as the trampoline park, bowling or swimming). In the winter, MYP1-5 boarders go skiing (optional for IB1&2).
Friday nights are no homework nights.
On Saturdays/Sundays, breakfast starts later and lasts longer unless an early start is required for an activity. There are usually activities on either Saturday or Sunday (these are not compulsory for IB1&2 students, but we highly recommend coming along!).
Getting to school and back
The Boarding House is located a short distance from the school campuses. Students may either ride the school bus to and from school or walk.
For their health and well-being, we encourage them to walk when they can. Students may also use a bicycle if they have a helmet and the necessary lights for darker evenings. They must also be competent at riding on the road and have parental permission.
Homework
All students must either do their homework or read a book during the supervised homework session from 19:45-21:00. Computer games, social media, etc. are not permitted during this time.
MYP1-4 are supervised in the study room, but MYP5 and IB1&2 may study in their rooms. Boarders may also use other areas such as the dining room, conservatory, terrace (when the weather allows) or common room with boarding staff permission. Regardless of where they are studying, the atmosphere should be a quiet and studious.
It is each student’s responsibility to ensure they know what homework they need to do and to complete it on time. House Parents are there to ensure a quiet environment and to help if needed/where possible.
Laundry
Boarders must ensure that ALL their clothes are named before arriving. This can either be done with a permanent laundry pen, or with name labels. The school will not be held responsible for unnamed lost clothes. Laundry will be sent off on a Monday and returned on a Thursday.
Requests for time off
Absences for medical appointments, routine dental check-ups etc. should be kept to a minimum during term time and be scheduled for the holidays to avoid interference with your child’s educational programme. Boarding must be informed in advance about these appointments by email to boarding@haut-lac.ch.
If exceptional circumstances require a child having time off school other than for medical appointments, a formal request must be submitted to the Head of School (rossella.cosso@haut-lac.ch), copying in boarding@haut-lac.ch as far in advance as possible.
Parents are asked not to request time off from school for their children directly before or after a school holiday. Haut-Lac holiday dates are generous, enabling you to make your vacation arrangements without the need to disrupt your child’s schooling. Early departures and late returns around holiday times mean your child will miss a part of the curriculum. If a child is unwell and therefore absent at these times, a medical certificate will be required.
Free time
It is very important for young people to have time to relax, either by themselves or with their friends.
Boarders can do so in the Boarding House and surrounding grounds in their free time. There is a football pitch, a basketball court, a French bowls court and some woodland in which they can burn off their energy!
They may also meet with day school friends.
Signing Out
The Boarders may be able to visit the local town of Vevey on Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays. They can either take the school bus or make their own way using public transport (train from St-Légier Village or bus 215 from the boarding house).
MYP1-4 boarders may only go by two or more (either with other boarders or with day student friends), whilst MYP5-IB2 boarders may go alone. All must carry a fully-charged mobile phone (with credit and data and the boarding duty phone number in the contacts list) and be back at the boarding house by 18:30.
Boarders must always ‘sign out’ with a House Parent before leaving, and ‘sign in’ again on their return to the house.
Boarders wishing to visit a friend’s house for an afternoon/day must have a written invitation from their friend’s parent/guardian and written permission from their own parent/guardian.
Food & meals
Healthy eating is important for our well-being. As such, we ensure boarding house meals are freshly prepared and of a high standard.
Meal routine
Breakfast is served in the boarding house every morning between 7:20 and 7:50. It is a continental breakfast with fresh fruit, cereals, ham, cheese, eggs, yoghurt and different bread and pastries as well as juice.
At the weekend, we have later and longer breakfasts (9:30 – 11:00) with more choice such as bacon, pancakes, toasted sandwiches, smoothies and different types of egg. If we have an early activity we will have an earlier, less extensive breakfast.
Lunch is eaten at school during the week. There is always a choice between the meal of the day and an alternative such as pasta.
At the weekend, lunch is at the Boarding House. If we have an activity, we take a packed lunch. Dinner is prepared with fresh local ingredients by our school chef for 19:00. The menu is varied to reflect our international community. We sit together as a community to eat, and we place an emphasis on good table manners.
Snacks
Snacks are available after school and during the evening. This will sometimes be a homemade cake or cookies, or it could be crudités & hummus, crêpes, toast, toasted sandwiches etc. Fruit is always available.
The students can also take a snack to school for morning break if they wish.
There is a simple kitchen available to boarders with a fridge, microwave, toaster, smoothie makers, sandwich toaster, kettle and ‘Nespresso’ style coffee machine. A small amount of ‘dry’ snacks may be kept in rooms, but hot/cooked food should not be taken to rooms.
Dietary requirements
The boarding house can cater for most dietary requirements.
Food Deliveries
As Haut-Lac International Bilingual School is a fully-catered boarding school offering nutritious daily menus, the delivery and consumption of take-away food on campus during the week is not allowed.
Extra-Curricular Activities
After-school clubs and activities
Extra-curricular clubs and activities play an important role in a young person’s development. Sharing an interest, exploring new interests and developing new skills contribute to improved health, well-being and self-esteem.
Haut-Lac offers a very wide variety of after-school clubs and activities. MYP1-5 boarders are expected to take part in 3 clubs per week. Boarders may also take part in ‘external’ clubs or activities should they wish to do so, but will be responsible for their own travel arrangements.
Music Lessons
Boarders are welcome to learn an instrument. Lessons can be organised through the music department at the Praz-Dagoud campus. There is a piano at the boarding house for boarders who wish to practice.
Wednesday Afternoons
Lessons finish at lunchtime on Wednesdays. The boarders use Wednesday afternoons to shop in Vevey, or take part in activities such as climbing, archery, swimming, skiing or lasertag.
Weekends
The weekend starts on Friday evening. Full boarders may take part in an activity or relax at the boarding house to recover from their busy week!
We offer a varied and exciting weekend programme, which includes day trips and occasional weekends away. Over the course of the year, boarders take part in activities that are adventurous, cultural, charitable and community-centred. The activities are compulsory for all MYP1-5 boarders, but optional (and highly recommended) for IB1&2. The boarders are regularly asked for their input in choosing activities and trips.
Examples of activities and trips include:
•visits to nearby towns such as Bern, Lausanne, Domodossola, Chamonix
•visits to museums such as the Olympic Museum in Lausanne or the Red Cross Museum in Geneva
•hikes in the surrounding mountains
•charity events
•archery, high ropes courses
•lakeside activities such as paddle-boarding, banana boating and rafting
•winter activities such as skiing, sledging, ice-skating and snowshoeing
Dress Code & Packing List
It is school policy that students wear correct uniform at all times during the school day. The school uniform and dress code expectations can be found in the Haut-Lac Parent Guidebook. Please familiarise yourself with them before you arrive.
The following lists are the minimum required given that laundry is handed in on Mondays and returned on Thursdays.
The following school-branded uniform items can be purchased online* before arrival or in the School Shop during the welcome day:
•6-7 polo shirts with blue school logo
•2 blue hoodies or sweatshirts
•2 pairs of sports shorts
•minimum 2 sports t-shirts
•1 House t-shirt
•1 pair of sports trousers
*online orders will be made up and left in the boarder’s room for when they arrive.
The remaining uniform items should be brought from home, as follows:
•1 pair of formal, plain black shoes
•1 pair of indoor sports shoes with non-marking soles
•1 pair of outdoor sports shoes
•9 pairs of plain black socks
•5 pairs of white socks for PE & sports clubs
•Black tights (optional for girls)
•2 pairs of formal, plain black trousers
•1-2 pairs of formal, plain black shorts (optional for summer)
•1-2 formal plain black skirts (optional for girls)
Free Time Clothes
Boarders may wear their own clothes in the evenings and at weekends. Here is a suggested packing list, bearing in mind the limited storage space in each room:
•3 pairs of trousers
•2 skirts or dresses (girls)
•2 collared shirts
•6 t-shirts
•3 sweatshirts / jumpers
•1 or 2 outfits for school balls / festive occasions
•1 light raincoat
•2 pairs of casual shoes (one for autumn & one for summer)
•1 pair of hiking shoes/boots
•1 pair of flip-flops or sandals
•1 pair of slippers / ‘house shoes’
•2 sets of pyjamas
•1 pair of jogging trousers
•8 days worth of socks
•8 days worth of underwear
•1 pair of swimming trunks or swimsuit & towel
•Sports shorts, joggers or leggings
•Sports t-shirts
•Sports socks
For the 2nd half of term 1 and all of term 2:
•1 Winter coat/jacket
•1 pair of Winter boots (must be waterproof/water-resistant)
•Woolly hat
•Winter gloves
•Scarf
Personal Items & Accessories
•Toiletries
•Medication, if necessary
•Hair drier, if necessary
•1L water bottle
•Sun hat or cap
•Sunglasses
•Small, decorative items for your room
•Photos of home, friends and family
•Sports equipment (optional) Electronics
•Mobile phone
•Adaptors
MYP1-4 students receive a school iPad to use in class and for homework during the year. MYP5 students purchase a MacBook Air from school to use for the remainder of their school years and beyond.
Ski Equipment
Skiing is a compulsory part of the sports programme until IB1 at Haut-Lac. The boarding staff will help boarders hire skis and boots for the season before their first day on the slopes.
•1 pair of downhill skis or 1 snowboard
•1 pair of ski or snowboard boots
•1 pair of ski poles (skiers only)
•1 helmet (compulsory)
•Ski socks
•Thermal underwear (top and bottoms)
•Fleece jumpers
•1 pair of ski trousers/salopettes and 1 ski jacket
•Ski goggles (compulsory)
•Sunglasses (100% UV protection & category 3 or 4)
•Ski gloves or mittens (with wrist protection for snowboarders)
•Buff or face mask (highly recommended)
•Back protector (highly recommended)
Respect for cultural differences
Living and ‘working’ with people from different cultures requires respect of each other’s differences. This includes consideration and respect for cultural values and beliefs and goes for clothing as well as other behaviour. We therefore ask each student to consider whether their choice of clothing might be offensive in other cultures and likewise accept clothing different to their own.
School shop
The school shop sells all uniform items and is located on the Praz Dagoud campus. It also sells some basic stationary items.
Student voice
The input of Boarders into their boarding community is vital. Boarders may hold open discussions in a formal context during weekly house meetings. More often than not, most matters are discussed informally at mealtimes. Boarders’ opinions are sought on all matters ranging from food to activities and everything in between.
Boarding House Accommodation & Facilities
The boarding house is set among fields and woodland, with impressive views over Lake Geneva. It is designed to make the most of the views and natural light, and boasts a large, bright common room, a conservatory and a terrace.
Nearby is a grass football pitch, a basketball court and some woodland for the boarders to explore.
Communal areas are for everyone to enjoy and look after. Students are expected to clean up the kitchen/ dining area after use and help tidy up after meals.
Students are expected to respect the environment and support the school in reducing its impact on the environment through sensible use of energy, recycling etc.
Room Allocation
All rooms are twin rooms with an enclosed balcony and either a lake or mountain view. They all have en-suite bathrooms with shower and toilet.
Boarders may submit roommate requests, which are accommodated where possible.
Single rooms are limited and available to IB1&2 students for an extra CHF3000 per term if free.
Room Decoration
Boarders are encouraged to decorate their rooms with photos of family and home using the pinboards provided. Sellotape, nails and screws should not be used on the walls, and boarders will be charged for any damage done to the rooms.
Room Tidiness
Boarders are expected to keep their rooms neat and tidy every day. Beds should be made every morning, clothes should either be folded or hung in their wardrobes, shoes should be in the shoe racks and toiletries should be neatly stored in the bathroom. Desks should be clear of clutter and the floors should be clear so the cleaners can easily clean the rooms. Lights and other electronic items should be switched off before leaving the room.
Breakages
Boarders are responsible for any damage in their rooms and should notify the Houseparents of any breakages immediately so that the necessary repairs can be carried out. Any damage in the boarding house will be paid for by those responsible for causing it. Any unpaid costs will be taken from the student’s deposit.
Candles
Candles, matches and lighters, and any other item that constitutes a fire hazard, are not permitted in the boarding house. Students may use battery powered candles.
Safes in rooms – valuables
Safes are provided in the bedrooms for each boarder. Students are asked not to bring large amounts of money or valuables to the boarding house. The school does not accept responsibility for any lost money or valuables.
Pocket money
Boarders should not have large amounts of money in cash at the boarding house and the school does not take any responsibility for money lost.
Parents can arrange for Boarders to receive pocket money weekly through school/the boarding parents if they don’t have a Swiss bank account or credit card. Parents are invoiced for this at the end of each term.
We recommend a small weekly allowance for students. Suggested amounts are:
• MYP1 & 2: CHF15
• MYP3: CHF20
• MYP4&5: CHF40
• IB1&2: CHF50
For students over 15 years old, we recommend setting up a Swiss bank account. We can help with this through the UBS bank, but parents will need to sign some documents.
Weekend Sign outs
Requests for full boarders to take a weekend ‘Leave-Out’ should be sent to the Houseparents for authorisation (boarding@haut-lac.ch) by 17h00 on the preceding Wednesday in order to be authorised using the ‘weekend leave request’ form.
If boarders are invited to a friend’s house then weekend request forms should be sent by the inviting parent and the boarder’s parents.
For weekend ‘Leave-outs’, there should always be a responsible adult looking after the boarder. This should be someone over 21 years of age, who is able to look after and accommodate the boarder in the event of an emergency.
Weekly Boarders
Weekly Boarders leave after lessons and before dinner on Friday, usually straight from campus, and return either for dinner on Sunday evening or in time for school on Monday morning, as agreed in advance with parents.
There will be a bus to St-Légier Gare at 16:30 on Fridays and from St-Légier Gare at 20:00 on Sundays.
Holiday Travel
The boarding house will open on the arrival date specified in the calendar.
Boarders may make their own way to/from the boarding house (there are regular train connections to Geneva airport) or take advantage of the school transfer service, which is included in the school fees on arrival and departure days at the start and end of each term. Students requiring transfer to/from the airport outside the published arrival/departure day will be charged for the service.
Boarder’s start and end of term travel information should be sent to the boarding house (boarding@ haut-lac.ch) 3 weeks before the start/end of term using the ‘holiday departure & return’ form. The school may not be able to provide transport to or from the airport if requests are made after this time.
Boarders may leave their belongings in their rooms during school holidays. The exception is the Summer holiday, when all rooms must be cleared and belongings stored in a single large suitcase or trunk in the storage room. This suitcase/trunk/belongings must be clearly named. If a student leaves school for good, their belongings must be collected within 6 months of the end of term. After this time they will be disposed of, with the items being donated to charitable causes.
Passports
Passports, ID cards and permits must be handed to the House Parents on arrival to be stored in the office safe.
Permits
Swiss permits are organised by school upon the student’s arrival. It can take up to several weeks for a permit to be issued.
Health, Safety & Security
Switzerland is renowned for being a safe place to live. The boarding house is situated in a safe and quiet area, but we take additional measures to ensure boarders are kept safe while in our care.
Safeguarding
Haut-Lac International Bilingual School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all its students. Each student’s welfare is of paramount importance.
If a student is concerned about themselves or a fellow student, or if they feel they have been unfairly treated, they can speak to any member of the boarding team, the nurse, their tutor, or another staff member in confidence.
The school has two Designated Safeguard Leads: Sharon Fleming and Renaud Milhoux.
Other useful contact numbers:
•Swiss Child Emergency Line: 147
•Narcotics Anonymous: 10840 121 212
•Crisis Line (Samaritans): 143
Access to the Boarding House
The boarding house is protected by pin code entry, which is changed regularly. The code must not be shared with anyone. If the code is shared with someone, the boarders must report this to the House Parents who will arrange a change. Anyone found to be sharing the code will face severe consequences as this is a serious security / safeguarding breach.
Male/female separation
Boys and girls are roomed on separate floors. It is absolutely forbidden for boys to go onto the girls’ corridor outside the immediate vicinity of the staircase, and vice-versa. Anyone found to be in breach of this rule will face severe consequences.
CCTV
The house is protected by CCTV cameras in the corridors and motion sensors on the staircases, which will detect anyone leaving their corridor at night, or entering/exiting the building.
Door Alarms
The house is protected by a security system, which includes door and window sensors.
Staffing
Staff are present in the boarding house whenever the boarders are home, including overnight. There are staff rooms at the end of each corridor.
Access Rules
All visitors to the boarding house, including parents and other students, must sign in and sign out in the boarding office with a member of the house team in the boarding office. Visitors may accompany their child to their room, but must not go on any other boarding floors without a member of the boarding team.
Wifi
WiFi is available throughout the boarding house.
Laptops & Gaming Consoles
MYP1-4 students receive iPads from the school. Students in MYP5 and above receive MacBooks. Boarders may bring their own laptops for boarding should they wish to. Gaming consoles are not permitted in rooms.
House Parents will monitor screen time closely. Should they feel a boarder is spending too much time gaming, they may decide to remove their access to gaming consoles.
Electronic Rules
We place a great deal of importance on health and well-being, the cornerstone of which is a good night’s sleep. As such MYP1-3 boarders hand in their electronics at 21:30 for safekeeping overnight. MYP4-5 hand in theirs at 22:00. IB1&2 are trusted to have developed good sleep discipline and may keep their devices overnight.
On Friday and Saturday nights, MYP4-5 may keep electronic devices overnight.
Swimming
Swimming in the lake is strictly prohibited unless in a lifeguard protected area such as the Piscine VeveyCorseaux Plage and with the permission of Houseparents and written consent from parents.
Swiss Phones
All boarders must have a cell phone which works in Switzerland. This should be arranged before arriving at the boarding house as parents are required to sign Swiss SIM card contracts for their children. The phone should have credit on it, so that boarders may contact the House Parents in case of emergency on trips. Alternatively, they can use their home phone if it has unlimited data.
Well-Being
The boarders’ well-being is paramount to us. Swiss healthcare is world-class and we are fortunate to have excellent facilities within easy reach of the boarding house, should they be needed.
Health Care
To ensure the best medical care possible, the school nurse and the Houseparents must be fully informed about students’ illnesses (physical and mental), allergies, current therapies, regular use of nonprescription medicine and prescription medicine, and specialist treatments.
Parents must fill in a medical form when a student enters the school, and submit a copy of their child’s vaccination certificate.
Parents are obliged to keep the school informed about any current medical situation. In the event that a failure to communicate relevant information leads to complications, parents will bear responsibility.
Haut-Lac has the services of a school nurse and a counsellor. Boarding staff have up-to-date first aid qualifications. Further assistance from doctors, counsellors etc. can be arranged outside school if necessary. For any serious illness or medical emergency local doctors or hospitals will be consulted.
The boarding office offers a limited stock of non-prescription medication, which can be administered to students, provided parents have given consent on the medical form.
Students who fall ill outside lesson time should speak to the Houseparent immediately. Depending on the illness, students might need to rest in their own bedroom or in an isolated bedroom.
All Boarder’s personal medication must be kept in the boarding office, to be administered by the Houseparents. A detailed record is kept. If a student is deemed ‘Gillick competent’, they may be allowed to keep their own medication in their rooms.
Any long-term absence requires justification by the local doctor. In general, the School Management Team reserves the right to take decisions based on advice from the local doctor.
Dentist and Medical Appointments
We have good relations with a number of doctor’s surgeries and dentists in the area. When needed, the Houseparents will arrange appointments. Where possible boarders will be accompanied by a member of the boarding staff. Older students may go alone by taxi or public transport. Younger students and students who require assistance will always be accompanied.
Behavioural policy
The expectations at the Haut-Lac boarding house are designed to support a safe, healthy and happy environment for everyone.
An important part of growing up is ‘getting it wrong’ and learning from our mistakes. Boarders are expected to act with integrity, owning up when they make a mistake and accepting the consequences understanding that some mistakes carry greater consequences than others. Boarders should then show that they have learned from their mistake and move on in a positive direction.
Boarders at Haut-Lac and their parents are expected to have read and understood the following expectations:
Smoking
Vaping and smoking are banned, both on and off campus (including the boarding house). This includes all smoking-related products, including snuff and nicotine pouches.
Alcohol
The possession and consumption of alcohol is prohibited both on and off campus.
Drugs
Possession, consumption, dealing and attempting to acquire behavior-changing substances (drugs) on and off campus are banned. Anyone found to be breaking this rule is likely to be expelled from the school. The school reserves the right to test students at random or at random within targeted groups.
Room Searches
If deemed necessary, the boarding parents may conduct room searches at their own discretion. These will usually be accompanied by another member of staff or student. While desirable, it is not always possible for the student whose room is being searched to be present.
Bullying
Haut-Lac boarding prides itself on an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. Kindness and tolerance are central to our community.
Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face-to-face or online.
Bullying can include:
•Making others feel unhappy, fearful or threatened
•Making fun of someone else
•Peer-on-peer abuse
•Physical hurt
•Teasing, name-calling, humiliation
•Spreading gossip
•Excluding or isolating others
•Stealing and/or damaging property, including hiding someone else’s belongings
•Insensitive, offensive behaviour, including aggression, bullying, cyber-bullying and sexual misconduct, is unacceptable and may lead to suspension or expulsion.
Personal relationships
Public displays of intimacy which cause others to be embarrassed are totally inappropriate and will be challenged.
Couples will not be alone together in a closed room without specific authorisation or supervision from an adult. Acts of sexual intimacy or cases where students are found in compromising situations may lead to suspension or expulsion.
Diversity and inclusion
Haut-Lac International Bilingual School is committed to building a culture that firmly embeds diversity, equity and inclusion, creating a climate in which every member of the school community feels valued.
As a member of the Haut-Lac community, it is everyone’s responsibility to help create an inclusive culture and environment in which all staff and students can positively engage and develop their selfconfidence.
We aim to provide opportunities to discuss views and ideas in a respectful, constructive and professional environment in which challenging and robust conversations are integral.
Birthdays
We love to celebrate birthdays with a home-baked cake! Older boarders may go for dinner in Vevey or Montreux with friends. Younger boarders may choose to go on a special outing with their friends (to aquapark, jumpspot etc.) should they wish to do so.
Making the most of it
There is a lot on offer at Haut-Lac and the Boarders who really enjoy the experience are those who grasp every opportunity with both hands, get involved, try new things, and make lots of new friends along the way!
