TERMLY NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2022

SECONDARY AND SENIOR SECTIONS

Lower Secondary

The secondary section grew this year with the welcomed addition of the Grade 6 students. A special Junior Section Graduation / Welcome to the Secondary Section event was held in order to celebrate their transition. Grade 6, 7 & 8 had for the past three months weekly PSHE lessons where they learnt about healthy lifestyles, tolerance and leadership, which culminated in a Talent Quest during a celebration assembly at the end of term.

The lower secondary students grasped the opportunities given to them in order to show off their prowess in sporting competitions, expeditions and the arts. It was wonderful to see so many of them involved in the Christmas show.

Upper Secondary

It was a delight to welcome so many G9 Régents in September with a breadth of programme choices and a busy autumn term to start Upper Secondary. As well as busy weeks of learning, their curriculum was complemented by the opportunity for students to embark upon their first expedition of the year, involving an overnight hiking trip to the Gemmipass before the snow arrived !

Grade 10 are in a crucial year as they are getting ready for the IB diploma programme next year. They have been thinking ahead to the IB with the

recent IB Taster day and strategizing upcoming subject choices. To support their studies, they have also had opportunities for workshops in regard to key revision tips ahead of the mock exams, as well as an introduction to university guidance.

Senior

The IB1 students had a busy term following their introductory expedition in September. In addition to their academic subjects they had the opportunity to support several local charity events, as well as attending a recent talk on sustainable investments.

The IB2 students are to be congratulated on completing such a busy and challenging term. This is always a busy period with university applications as well as academic deadlines.

We look forward to seeing them back for their final winter term, a chance to enjoy the mountains and make the most of their final ski season.

JUNIOR SECTION

Lots of learning, new experiences and development happened across the Junior Section this term.

Reflecting Back...

• It has been a successful and busy term ! We have welcomed new teachers, new babies (thanks to Ms Lindsay and Ms Bredow) as well as new students - and we are expecting new students in January.

• For the first time, we implemented our new phonics programme for classes up to grade 4 - this is a new approach to teaching both reading and writing and it has already shown signs of success.

• The children have experienced many extra curricular events this term, all of which were designed to broaden and enhance their learning : a Creative Arts morning, a performance by the Superworm Theatre company, a school theatre trip to watch “ Hansel and Gretel ”, a performance by the Swiss Military drumming corp, an afternoon of House Sports competitions, a Times Tables Week … and all of this on top of their usual busy teaching programme !

• Our blog, the Junior Scoop is a great place to read about our events and activities. Please visit regularly to discover our most recent stories.

Looking Forward to the Winter Term !

From January onwards, the children will be asked to enter and exit the school building on -2 (around the side of the school building). This will allow direct access to the ski room, where all of their equipment will be stored. The first ski session will be on Wednesday 11, but children are asked to bring all of their ski equipment to school before this date.

Please note that Wednesday afternoon ski sessions with Le Régent are optional for non boarders - if you would like your child to be signed out - for the term - to ski or train separately from the school, please email me directly.

I will be delivering a start of term presentation on Monday 9 between 16:15-17:00 in the Junior Library to any parent who wishes to attend. This information will be related to our ski provision in particular and will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the coming term.

I look forward to seeing you in January, but in the meantime, all of the Junior Team wish you a wonderful Christmas holiday and New Year !

Claire Park Head of Junior Section

INFANT SECTION

The autumn term has marked some fantastic learning opportunities, a successful programme of Forest School and some extra special activities.

The introduction of the ‘Read Write Inc’ Phonics programme from Reception - Grade 4 has been a huge success, we have implemented phonics groups across the Infants and Juniors and as a result we are seeing a great improvement in reading and writing across the curriculum.

The children in kindergarten and grade 1 experienced a morning of road safety practice. They celebrated Halloween with a whole day filled with exciting activities. Most recently, they enjoyed a whole week of fun during their ‘Activities week’, which

consisted of a walk in Chermignon with some yaks, a day of fun at Dori Land Kids soft play, swimming at Thermal Baths & Spa in Leukerbad, cooking pizza at the local pizzeria and a trip to the cinema.

We would like to say a massive congratulations to Ms Bredow on the birth of a healthy baby girl. Matilde Vittoria Marie Bredow Gallet was born on 21 November 2022. Both mother and baby are doing well and we look forward to Ms Bredow’s return at the end of the winter term.

My team and I look forward to another term of fun and learning during the winter term. The children (and staff) are counting down the days until the ski season begins !

Shelley Naylor Head of Infant Section

CREATIVE ARTS

We had a fun filled term in the Creative Arts Department. The students worked collaboratively and creatively on many projects and had some great opportunities to explore the wonderful world of the arts.

Creative Arts Morning

Grade 1-8 drew their inspiration from the performance group Stomp to create their own work, focusing on rhythm, stage and prop design. They had to work with students from different year groups and had free reign on the school buildings to find and make their instruments. They really enjoyed themselves and came up with some fantastic performance pieces at the end of the morning.

Superworm

The Infant Section and the Régent Theatre Company students enjoyed a performance of Superworm from the local professional theatre group compagniedigestif. The interactive performance was fun for all and gave us an opportunity to appreciate some live theatre in the comfort of our own school.

Hansel and Gretel

The Junior Section went to Geneva to see Simply Theatre’s Christmas production of Hänsel and Gretel. They were thrilled ! We will definitely be looking to book more events like this in the future.

Régent Theatre Company

The students enjoyed a selection of workshopsparticularly the sessions on stage combat, stage makeup and special effects. They also took the lead in organising their performance part for the Christmas show working in three teams to prepare their work- backstage, G2-5 and G6-IB2 performances. There is a real sense of community in this activity and the students are working really well as a company to explore and learn about the theatre and all the wonderful skills and opportunities it has to offer.

Le Régent Celebrates Christmas

Finally, the Christmas show was a fantastic celebration of the students’ work this term. We celebrated a mix of dance, drama and musical performances from all three sections of the school. It was a joy to see the whole school come together for one big celebration.

Looking Ahead

We have some wonderful theatre trips booked for next term. For more information and to secure a place for your child, please visit our school portal.

• Cirque Du Soleil on Ice : Saturday 28 January

• Peter Pan Musical : Saturday 11 February

• Charlotte’s Web : Saturday 13 May (reservations for this show will be available later in the term)

The main highlight of competitive sport this term was the return to normality following the COVID restrictions. We have taken part in SGIS and MLS tournaments in football, basketball, volleyball and netball.

The category D boys’ football team became the school’s first ever winner of a boys’ tournament, with the category C boys repeating this feat in volleyball, as well as beating Le Rosey 4-1 at football !

The category C girls have continued to develop in all sporting areas (including netball) and we have seen the introduction of a category B girls’ football team who finished runners up in two tournaments. Volleyball has developed massively and we are now able to field competitive teams in three different age categories. It has been fantastic for the students to be able to take part in so many competitions this term.

Well done to all the students who have represented the school in such a positive, supportive and talented way.

SENIOR BOYS’ HOUSE

In many aspects, the first term of this academic year can be qualified as ‘extraordinary’, for there have been many situations that went beyond the ordinary for the Senior Boys’ House. First of all, the number of boarders doubling from one term to another is not common. Yet, it all went very smoothly right from the start, and the feedback from the boarders is that they thoroughly enjoy the community feeling and the balance between studies and free time, allowing them to forge their friendships and develop academically and personally.

So much has happened since September that our first house weekend in Brigerbad seems very far away. Thereafter, the boys enjoyed cultural and sporting activities. The first ski outings of the season are wonderful reminders to all of us in the community of the extraordinary setting and environment that surrounds Le Régent. We are all looking forward to next term and the opportunities offered to have several weekly sessions on the pistes.

This term was also the final one of Mr. Tait, who has been a resident part-time boarding tutor for

the past four years. His professionalism and care will be missed by the whole community, and we would like to wish him all the best in his future endeavours : sailing around the world. This is extraordinary ; his recent house talk on his past and future trips was fascinating and an inspiration for all of us. We would also like to thank Mr. Gray Calvo and Mr. Goovaerts for all their work and dedication.

We wish all the boys a wonderful holiday and a well-deserved rest. We hope that they will have the opportunity to connect with their friends and families, and we look forward to seeing recharged young men for the next term. Spoiler alert : it will be a busy and memorable one ! There are lots of exciting projects and initiatives, and we are confident that the community will continue to grow from strength to strength. Finally, we would like to thank the parents for their continuous support and trust, which makes a huge difference.

Our sincere best wishes for the festive season.

Fabien & Véronique Hanique Houseparents

SENIOR GIRLS’ HOUSE

What a marvellous first term we had with our 62 boarding girls ! The sense of sisterhood they have managed to develop is amazing. Without exception, in one way or another, they showed a true sense of community, always supporting each other and showing consideration to all the members in the house. Since the beginning of the year, we have had nothing but positive feedback from the staff and this has been hugely encouraging. So much has happened since our first weekend at the Thermal Baths in Leukerbad - many film evenings have gone by, chats in the TV room and countless Tik Toks in the house reception that made us cherish every moment together. The girls took part in the United Nations Model conferences - and received a significant amount of praise. Our sport girls enjoyed a heavy football and volleyball training and match schedule leading to some significant successes. Many contributed to making our Christmas show magical.

Last but not least, we are proud to announce that a member has been added to our community. Valentina, our first daughter arrived in November

and she is the first boarding baby at Le Régent. The girls have been ever so kind and genuinely happy for us. It truly feels as if Valentina has 62 older sisters (who ‘go crazy’ whenever they catch a glimpse of her). We cannot thank you and your daughters enough for the support Roberto and I were offered during this very exciting time. Miss Gillet, Miss Didlock and Miss Tasiou were instrumental in supporting the girls and we are hugely grateful to them.

We wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas break. We trust that the girls will enjoy this joly season and we hope they will charge their batteries, ready to start the winter term, which is known to be very busy with lots of skiing.

Warmest wishes for a happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year.

Iria Carnota & Roberto Maydana Houseparents

JUNIOR HOUSE

It was a long and exciting term for the junior boarders. If we look back at the photographs, it is amazing to see how much they did. The juniors generally have two activities per weekend and this term, all of them participated with enjoyment and enthusiasm.

There is little time for your children to get bored and the opportunities they are given is something they will remember for many years to come. Many took part in activities they were a little scared about - zip lining over a 200 metre deep canyon is one of them - but they overcame their fear and afterwards felt exhilarated and proud of themselves.

We think one of the huge benefits of boarding is that the children are taken out of their comfort zone from time to time and are given a wealth of opportunities to broaden their horizons, but most importantly is the fact they live in a small close-knit community ; it leads them to be supportive and protective of one another. Mrs Webber and I have noticed, this year in particular, a huge sense of camaraderie. If a boarder is struggling, there is always someone who will come to have a chat and give a comforting word. Our junior boarders this year are particularly caring and thoughtful. We are very lucky !

Warmest wishes for a joyous holiday season!

and Rory Webber Houseparents

Keiko

SAT PREPARATION COURSES

Next month, IB1 students who are participating in SAT preparation will be registered for the exam which takes place at Le Régent on Saturday, 3 June, 2023.

For those in grade 10, it is recommended that students sit the examination at the end of IB1 in order to take advantage of the additional math and English skills that they will develop in their first year of the IB Diploma Programme.

DETAILED CALENDAR : WINTER 2023

The following are key dates and in some cases may affect weekend arrangements. Dates and events are subject to change. The full winter calendar is available on the portal.

Sunday 8 January

Boarding Students Grades 10 to IB2

Monday 9 January All Grades 10 to IB2 Grades 6 to 8 Junior Section

Tuesday 10 January Infants G6-8

Wednesday 11 January G2-5 G9-10, IB Grades 10 to IB2

Arrival of all Boarding Students SAT Prep Course (on registration)

Start of Winter Term Classes SAT Prep Course (on registration) Winter Term Presentation to parents (SE Library) Winter Term Presentation to parents (JS Library)

Start of Ski Classes (AM) Start of Ski Classes (PM)

Start of Ski Classes (PM) Start of Ski Classes (AM) Mock Exams start

Wednesday 18 January IB Mock Exams end

Thursday 19 January Grade 10 Mock Exams end

Thursday 19Friday 20 January All Ski Race hosted at LRIS

Saturday 28 January IB2 Art Booster Session

Sunday 29 January Grades 9 & 10 Winter Expedition training (compulsory-blocked weekend)

Wednesday 1Thursday 2 February Grades 9 & 10 Winter Expedition - Overnight

Monday 6 February Grades 2 à IB2 Le Régent-Le Rosey-Kennedy Ski Race hosted at LRIS

Friday 10Sunday 19 February Infant Section Holiday

Thursday 16Sunday 19 February Grades 2 to IB2 Long Weekend - Departures from 17:00 on Wednesday

Saturday 25 February Grades 4, 5, IB1 & IB2 Winter Expedition training (compulsory-blocked weekend)

Wednesday 1Thursday 2 March Grades 2 & 3 Grades 4, 5, IB1 & IB2

Saturday 4 March IB2

Winter Day Trips Winter Expedition - Overnight

Maths Booster Session - Provisional Art Booster Session

Sunday 5 March Grades 2 to IB2 Grand Prix Crans-Montana - “ Coupe Le Régent ” (blocked weekend)

Friday 10 March IB2 Torchlight Graduates Descent

Saturday 11 March Grades 6 to 8 Winter Expedition Training (compulsory-blocked weekend)

Tuesday 14Thursday 15 March Grades 6 to 8 Winter Expedition - Overnight

Thursday 16 March All End of Winter Term Classes - Departures from 17:00

Friday 17 March All Boarding students

Parent-teacher Meetings Departure Day for Spring Holidays

CALENDAR FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024

AUTUMN TERM

Monday 28 August

Arrival of Student Leaders and Grade Ambassadors

Tuesday 29 August Arrival of new students (day and boarding)

Wednesday 30 August

Arrival of returning boarding students before 17:00

Thursday 31 August Start of autumn term classes

From Friday 20 October 16:00 to Sunday 29 October (before 18:00 for boarders)

Half-term holidays

Thursday 14 December 16:00 End of autumn term classes

Friday 15 December

Sunday 7 January

Monday 8 January

Parent-teacher meetings Departure for Christmas holidays (boarding students)

WINTER TERM

Boarding students return to Le Régent

Start of winter term classes

From Wednesday 14 February 16:00 to Sunday 18 February (before 18:00 for boarders) Long weekend

Thursday 14 March End of winter term classes

Friday 15 March Departure for spring holidays

SUMMER TERM

Sunday 7 April

Monday 8 April

Boarding students return to Le Régent

Start of summer term classes

Thursday 27 June End of summer term classes

Friday 28 June

Graduation ceremony Departure for summer holidays after 15:00

EMBRACING CHANGE

LES NOUVELLES DU RÉGENT 2023

Academic Skills vs. Life Skills : Striking the Right Balance

Academic excellence is no longer enough to make a success of one’s career and personal life. It is our conviction that developing our students’ human qualities will enable them to become strong and resilient adults and give them the tools to envision a very different world from the one we know today. Mental force, capacity to undertake self-criticism, empathy, being a good listener, self-awareness, tenacity are all attributes that we collectively develop within our community.

These qualities, when combined with academic knowledge, complement and maximise their respective potential. They will allow our grown-up Régents to face a volatile and uncertain future and empower them to successfully address the major challenges that humanity has not yet been faced with.

Le Régent is growing fast. It is now home to 250 students from 48 different nationalities : a magnificent playground to learn how to live together and embrace language, cultural and behavioural differences in a safe and caring environment. Through the wide range of activities

they are expected to engage in, Régents are confronted with the unknown on a daily basis which allows them to develop a growth mindset and reach their potential. It also invites them to realise and intimately understand that beyond their perceived differences they are interdependent and interrelated beings with universal needs and a common human destiny.

My team and I all share a passion for education and personal growth. And our school, Le Régent, is like many of our students, a teenager in full transformation. We can foresee its potential, even if some contours are still indistinct. However, the qualitative development of the campus is precise and additional buildings and sport areas will soon be built. We are also precise in our intention to create a culture of self-awareness, respect for the environment, mindfulness, and mutual respect, for it is this intention that will drive the sustainable development of our community.

Philippe Vignon Director General

Rethinking Academic Choices

Switzerland has four national languages : German, French, Italian and Romansh.

Le Régent is already on the road to French-English bilingualism ; Italian and German, amongst many other languages, are currently taught as additional languages and IB students can study literature in their native tongue, connecting with their cultures and heritages. The next step : including both Italian and German in the mainstream curriculum. Students who have become fluent in a national language will be able to pursue further studies in one of the top Swiss universities, amongst them EPFL, St. Gallen and EPFZ.

On the Road to Bilingualism

Being truly bilingual is a key differentiator. Developing French-English bilingualism is a priority. More opportunity to study or practise French, inside and outside the classroom, is being given to the whole school community. The use of French is widely encouraged in greetings, small talk, at the school restaurant and where possible, informal conversations and meetings. As we become increasingly bilingual, additional key documents are produced in both English and French.

Regardless of their levels, all students are expected to study French, which is taught by native French teachers. French courses are adapted according to the range of linguistic abilities in each grade, ensuring that beginners grow in confidence and that advanced learners are stretched with literature.

The number and range of subjects taught in French will continue to increase. PSHE is currently being taught in French ; art and forest school are next in line.

University Tours

To help students make the most informed choices, Régents and Roséens took a guided tour of universities during the October 2022 break. They visited numerous universities in the UK and the US, notably Imperial College, University of Oxford, University College London (UCL), London School of Economics, King’s College London, Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, Boston University, and Georgetown University.

“During our trip to the United Kingdom, we were intrigued with the idea of visiting universities and exploring their cities. We went to two universities each day and the majority of them were quite unique and eye- opening. For example, the UK has many high quality universities including King's College London which offers many humanity courses within highly specialised fields. We were most astonished by the University of Bath : its UNESCO-heritage architecture, its sports facilities and the size of its campus - it felt like a miniature city !”

UNITED STATES

• American University

• George Washington University

• Hult University

• Loyola Marymount University

• Northeastern University

• Pepperdine University

• Santa Clara University

• University of California - Davis

• University of California - Riverside

• University of California - Santa Cruz

• University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

• University of Oregon

• University of San Diego

CANADA

• University of Alberta

• University of British Columbia

• University of Calgary

• University of Toronto

SWITZERLAND

• University of Exeter

• Glion Institution of Higher Education

• Università della Svizzera Italiana

• Webster University Geneva

”University Offers

UNITED KINGDOM

• City, University of London

• Goldsmiths, University of London

• Holt University

• King's College London

• Oxford Brookes University

• Queen Mary, University of London

• St Mary's University

• University College London (UCL)

• University of Bath

• University of Brighton

• University of Bristol

• University of East Anglia

• University of Glasgow

• University of Leicester

• University of Sheffield

• University of Warwick

• University of Westminster

• University of Exeter

CROATIA

• University of Split

ITALY

• Luiss University

SPAIN

• IE University

Calvoz

Interview with Claire Park

Head of the Junior Section

“

Your role is to oversee the academic and pastoral programme in the Junior Section. How does it feel to be fully dedicated to the juniors ?

Brilliant ! I have thoroughly enjoyed my 21 years of teaching secondary school students, but from the moment I started teaching junior classes last year I realised that it was a career move that I would relish. Working with children from Kindergarten age up to Grade 5 has filled my days with smiles and laughter (as well as lots of hard work !) and I feel as excited to teach now as I did when I first qualified.

Your responsibilities are academic, pastoral and managerial. What do you enjoy most about your job ?

I don’t think I could choose between these 3 areas. All are challenging, rewarding and stimulating. I’m enjoying teaching the IPC (International Primary Curriculum) which is new to me. It’s a fabulous curriculum that I wish my own children had experienced - teaching metacognition to 10 year olds this term was a challenge but incredibly rewarding !

What is your overarching approach ?

Helping children to develop a healthy attitude towards learning - and failure ! Celebrating the learning of the children and encouraging them to feel pride about their endeavours and growth is embedded in the way in which we reward the children.

Tell us more about junior boarding at le Régent.

I used to be a houseparent myself, and I know first-hand that if the children feel comfortable, happy and secure in their boarding, the school environment also benefits as “the days that make us happy make us wise”. There is a real family feeling amongst the junior boarders and this feeling permeates through the whole of the Junior Section.

In your opinion, what makes Le Régent stand out ?

Le Régent is an exciting and dynamic place to work. The teachers are all committed, and experienced in many areas ; but their passion and enthusiasm is fresh and contagious. Older schools can and do benefit from heritage and impressive traditions, but Le Régent is unencumbered by ideas of how things have “always been” allowing us to create modern and relevant learning experiences based on the most recent educational studies and current needs. In this way we truly prepare children for the future.

Interview with Theodor

Grade IB1

How long have you been learning the violin for, and what made you want to start ?

I have been learning the violin for almost 13 years now. My father is a violinist and so is my mother. When I was little, before I could barely speak, my father put a violin in my hands. Now when I look back, I'm very grateful for that.

Who is your favourite violinist, and who do you look up to ?

I don't have a favourite violinist, but if there was one I would look up to, it would be my father. I have always looked up to him and always will.

How many hours a day do you practise ? It must be difficult to find these hours when you have such a busy schedule and a 16 year old's social life !

I practise up to 4 hours a day and 5 on weekends when I have more time. It is quite difficult to manage time between my studies and practising. Once I finish school, I directly try and go to practise. Balancing violin studies and my social life isn't the easiest but sometimes you need to make sacrifices.

If you could go back in time and have dinner with one major musical figure, who would it be and why ?

If I could go back in time and have dinner with a major musical figure it would be with Yehudi Menuhin for the outstanding career he had and the person he was. He also taught my dad for some time but unfortunately passed before I could meet him.

“ ”

Le Régent Theatre Company

RTC continues to develop and now provides our students from Grade 2- IB2 with the opportunity to explore the world of theatre, working with artists and practitioners from all aspects of the theatre from backstage, to front of house, and on the stage itself.

Our Creative Arts mornings allow our Grade 1-8 students to take some time to step away from their usual studies, to breathe and to explore their learning in a more collaborative and holistic way. Bilingual performances are on the drawing board.

Visual Arts

Learning visual art is a personal and intimate experience. When asked what art meant to them, our IB2 students spoke with emotion.

Nurturing

a Love for

Music

Weaving music into the fabric of Régents' lives is the mission of our blossoming music department and opportunities abound. Our music department supports a variety of musical bands and groups, from rock bands to classical ensembles and, for the first time this year, a school orchestra. Some older Régents are studying music production with future ambitions to become DJs, while others wish to become classical soloists. Demand for learning instruments is such that a brand new music space on campus will soon be inaugurated.

CAS Students Active in the Community

Once again this year, CAS students were very active in the community. The role that they play is often an unsung one, not fronting the events themselves, but providing the vital support that such events need to be able to go ahead.

2,715

for

FURTHER AFIELD, in the British Virgin Islands, Ariane helped in the tagging of critically endangered turtles. This work is of great importance as it allows scientists to track their movement and provides invaluable information that could be critical to the turtle's survival.

OPEN COMMUNITY

HELPING THE PLANET

CAS students joined the collective community effort to collect and distribute winter clothes and other donations to local families in need.

EVENT

“I recently met with an elderly lady, she helped me grow as a person through the advice she gave me. She had a challenging childhood and this made me realise how grateful I should be for my own life.” Sophia

“We are helping the planet to engage more with environmental concerns. By planting trees, in our own small way, we begin to tackle the problem of deforestation”. Maya

AUTISM VALAIS CHARITY RUN

Molly and Ayuri ran approximately 13km in the pouring rain while other students volunteered as race marshals.

C-SHARP, a charity group founded by Le Régent students several years ago, is not a novelty anymore, it is part of the school’s DNA. Fully run by students, it personifies the core values of their school and aims to make the world a better place.

“

Just last year, we raised a total of CHF 900 through various events that involved the whole school. Maya, Camilla Elena in IB1, Nwaf, Kovidh and myself in Grade 10, Nina and Stephanie in Grade 8 are actively involved in planning fundraising events, recruiting more students and managing the association. It is very rewarding, we learn a lot and we have a lot of fun as well.”

Manon

UNIFORM RESALE CHF

was raised

charity ! Discontinued uniform was donated to the Aide & Assistance Foundation and non-uniform was donated to a community appeal supporting local Ukrainian refugees.

A Tight-Knit Local Community

“As news of the war and displacement of millions broke out, we, like many others across the world, felt compelled to help. Le Régent offered us the use of a school minibus and through local volunteer groups for displaced Ukrainians, we filled it to the brim with clothes, hygiene supplies and food. On Friday 18th March, just as school broke up for the mid term break, we set off to a refugee camp on the border of Poland and Ukraine, in Chelm. Our main concern was that we would just be “a drop in the ocean”, that our impact could only be minimal. As we entered Poland and got closer to Ukraine, we started to notice that the cars on the road were also filled to capacity with donations from all across Europe. By the time we passed Lublin, the individual drops had become a river moving in one direction for a unified cause. We spent a week working at a makeshift refugee camp in a church which was welcoming hundreds of refugees per day. Our work was split between cleaning the facilities and remaking beds in the church, and working in a warehouse which collected donations and repacked them ready to be distributed into Ukraine.”

Anton & Magdalena Bredow, Music Department

“We were delighted to open our door to a young mother with a 4 year old daughter and even more thrilled when 'Dad' was able to join them a couple of months later. They live in an independent annexe that we would normally have used as a music and art studio and a guest apartment for our own family when they come to visit us, but it was a no-brainer that this comparatively small sacrifice of our own comfort was an essential part of the global effort to support Ukraine - and a change that we were determined to embrace.”

Lucy Shaw, English and art teacher

“War is grief. Leaving the country, we understood that we were leaving not from a bad life, but from the grief of war. It's like jumping into the unknown, where you don't know how to behave, what will happen tomorrow, who you will be with. When I came to Switzerland, to Crans-Montana, I felt surrounded by care and love and was able to continue to trust people. And already when I got the opportunity to also support and care, I felt how my strength and confidence returned. Being a volunteer at the centre of Ukrainian families has become not just a help to others, but also a help to myself. Clothes, toys, essentials - these are the little things that have become an occasion for communication and interaction. They were not even the main reason why people came. Behind all this were living people who showed their love and care, complicity, empathy and support. We felt part of the community.”

Oksana Krasa, and her mum, Valentina

“For me, the volunteer centre is emotional work. There is hope, care, confidence, integration, and communication. All this is now very important for the Ukrainians here. Even just to hear native speech. And of course the gratitude.”

Holub

Oksana Krasa

Eating for the Planet

Novae Restauration is the school restaurant management company. It stands out for its strong commitment to the environment.

Its ambitions ? To develop menus in support of sustainable nutrition. In other words, cook with seasonal and local produce, reduce animal protein intake while providing wholesome balanced meals and reducing food waste.

Achieving such goals often means changing eating habits which, in a school with young consumers, must be done gently and in a fun way.

Last year, Novae decided to stop cooking with avocados imported from distant countries. Why ? For two reasons : (1) avocado production is highly water-intensive and (2) it is difficult to make sure avocados outside Europe are produced according to ethical standards. To make this a positive change, Novae chefs had to put on their creative thinking caps and come up with other recipes for all the famous dishes containing avocados such as guacamole and sushis. The outcome was highly positive ; rather than missing the taste of avocados, the students enjoyed discovering new flavours.

Novae’s sustainable roadmap includes the deployment of a purchasing model favouring direct contact with local farmers and excluding purchasing platforms. The goal is to purchase “ultra-locally”. The eggs at Le Régent restaurant now come from a local farm in the canton of Valais ; it is actually where the Régent chef buys the eggs for his own family’s consumption.

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.” (Mahatma Gandhi). We could not agree more and we are convinced that we can be arbiters of change. We already are.

Improving Biodiversity

Improving our sustainability has been a school wide priority since we embarked on the Eco-School journey. Increasing biodiversity was the focus in 2022. Students planted 300 trees, shrubs and bulbs around several key areas of the school, creating a habitat which will someday provide food and shelter for local animal species (including us) and embellishing our campus in the process.

All students from the Infant Section up to IB2 were involved in getting their hands dirty, and for many of them, planting their first tree. The older students were paired up with the younger students and they worked nicely together. In the years to come they will be able to come back and see a thriving habitat where there was once just grass.

What’s next ? Reducing our environmental impact, becoming carbon neutral in the short term and after that, carbon negative.

October Break Cultural Trips

Journey to Kenya

Benvenuti a Roma

"After a pleasant trip and an accommodating welcome from the local hotel, we rushed to enjoy the wonders of Rome. Out of the numerous sights we saw, two left a deep impression on me - the Vatican and the Colosseum. I felt as if I had been transported to another world. It was great to feel and see history right in front of my eyes. But our trip was not just about the past, it was also about helping others, today. We helped make and serve food to the refugees. This experience widened my perspective on how easy life is for us. It was also exciting to hear the stories from the locals and the journeys they have travelled. My trip to Rome was an experience I’ll never forget."

Roman

"Kenya is an amazing country and the Maasai are fascinating people. I learned so much in only a few days at Chyulu Wilderness Camp. For a start, we were not allowed to use our phones for the entire week.

It was strange at first but we quickly forgot about it.

On the first day we went on a game drive. Our guide led us to amazing places and we took a lot of pictures. Back at the camp, we edited them and sent a few to our parents - we all were so proud ! On the second day we went on a safari and saw some lions. It was surreal ! On the third day we visited a Maasai village and discovered how they live as a tribe - this was so new to me and I am really happy to have seen it first hand. I bought a lot of souvenirs from the shop.The rest of the week went by very quickly : we went on a beautiful hike, played a game of football and planted trees." Ryan

ITALY

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Truly Swiss Truly International

Diversity is celebrated across boarding and day school life and prepares our students with the cultural sensitivity to flourish for the needs of tomorrow, and the buzz in the corridor demonstrates that a new school culture and identity is being born. ‘Truly Swiss’ in their immersion to local culture, and ‘truly international’ in spirit.

With an influx of 78 students at the beginning of the autumn term, amongst them 63 boarders, boarding and community life has reached a totally new dimension.

A Growing Alumni Association

As the school grows, so does the vibrant community of Le Régent fellow graduates, the RIAA. A novelty was launched in November 2022. Future graduates and alumni met online for a dynamic Q&A session about life after Le Régent. Many questions on various topics were asked to the two sets of panellists, one in the UK and one in the USA. What is life at university like ? Do you live on or off campus ? Is it tough to move on your own to a new country ? The outcome was an increased feeling of belonging to one family. As one of our former graduates said, “Régent pour un jour, Régent pour toujours.” More panels are now in the making, including one in the Netherlands.

Various virtual class reunions are being organised. Sunday, October 16th, marked the very first one for the first ever graduating class, that of 2020. This made for an emotional moment. How do the alumni keep in touch ? Mainly via @regent.alumni, on Instagram and Facebook. Mikaela Lindström, the current RIAA president, is always happy to post photos of gatherings and announce upcoming events. The next step : build the RIAA website.

In June 2023, four IB2 classes will have graduated ; the RIAA is thrilled to welcome an increasing number of new faces and plan more and more events in support of their current graduate fellows and soon-to-be IB graduates.

The Rosey World

As Le Régent moves into the fourth year of a productive collaboration with Le Rosey, Le Rosey World is thriving.

A “Commonwealth of Schools”, Le Rosey World brings together Le Rosey in Rolle and Gstaad, John F. Kennedy International School in Saanen and Le Régent in Crans-Montana. The “sister schools” share a humanitarian vision and a focus on the future of education ; they show mutual solidarity, develop common programmes and engage in joint promotional efforts.

Le Rosey inspires the development strategy of the sister schools and ensures they promote its internal culture which hinges on a set of “intangible values" :

• international recruitment is guaranteed by quotas ;

Beyond our Borders

The Rosey Abantara is a school complex in Bamako Mali. It was built fifteen years ago under the direction of Le Rosey and is currently undergoing expansion. Le Rosey Charity Steering Committee oversees its programmes and development while striving to share as much knowledge and experience as possible. The school has about 1,800 students, including 200 boarders who live in a beautiful new boarding house. Rosey Abantara has recently opened a new building that houses “Le Rosey des Métiers” to provide vocational training in the fields of construction, administration and IT.

Still in Africa but on the other side of the continent, in Kenya, Le Rosey has opened its Chyulu Wilderness Camp whose campus offers a purely African design. It welcomes not only Roséens, but also other schools who wish to include in their programmes an authentic African experience drawn from spectacular landscape, the understanding of the importance of environmental conservation and ecotourism, the discovery of the Maasai culture, and the opportunity of sharing special moments with Maasai school children.

• open-mindedness is demonstrated by a diverse workforce who embrace diversity and inclusivity, have a genuine open-door policy, and promote a strong family spirit amongst students and teacher ;

• a focus on developing all the talents of each student through a multiplicity of intellectual, sports, artistic and social activities ;

• excellence in teaching (qualified teachers and rigorous curricula) ;

• limited class sizes (around 16 students) ;

• discipline inspiring respect for one's fellow man, and respect for safeguarding regulations.

Mornings

Afternoons

Le RégentCelebrates Christmas

Happy Holidays

All the photos of the Christmas Show can be found here