School Year 2023-2024 - Useful Information

USEFUL INFORMATION

SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024

Dear Parents,

We hope you are enjoying a lovely and relaxing summer holiday. Below you will find comprehensive information and links to help the return to school go smoothly. Thank you for reading it carefully and sharing it with your child.

We were delighted with our students’ excellent results in their International Baccalaureate exams, with an average score of 34 points. This is a testament to their hard work over many years. They are now preparing for life at university and college. Congratulations to them all.

So our students have a big act to follow and we know that they will be applying themselves from the moment they arrive back at La Garenne at the beginning of September. In the meantime, we hope that holiday homework has already been completed.

As we come to the end of our biggest and most successful Summer Camp ever, we are giving all our staff a much needed break. As a result, the school will be closed from Monday 7th August to Monday 21st August 2023.

Kind regards from Villars,
Family Méan

Handbooks

Please read the Handbooks thoroughly as they include all of the information concerning school life, academic programmes, extra-curricular activities and communication with parents.

Academic Handbooks

Primary Curriculum Handbook

MYP Curriculum Handbook

Seniors Years Curriculum Handbook

School Life Handbooks

Primary School Boarding Handbook

Middle School Boarding Handbook

Senior School Boarding Handbook

Welcome Booklet for Day Students

What to bring: Download Clothing List

Calendar, Term Dates and ECAs

We offer a huge variety of after school activities - ECAs - in which all students are expected to take part. These clubs range from mountain biking to music, from baking to boxing. Students will be given the opportunity to sign up at the start of term. For inspiration, check our website: https://www.la-garenne.ch/life-at-la-garenne/clubs
Activities, excursions, and exam dates are updated throughout the year on the school calendar. Please check it frequently for changes. Please use the following links for the academic year 2023-2024:

Term Dates 2023-2024

2023-2024 School Calendar

School Trips

This year, we have planned an exciting series of trips which will take our students all over the world. We are also repeating our highly successful Juventus FC soccer training programme, which includes a stay in Italy to see Juventus in action at their stadium in Turin.

We will also be offering a trip during the October half-term to Spain, for students who cannot return home at that time. This trip is only for students aged 8 and above. Please let us know if your child would like to join the trip.

Term 1

Malaga - 21-29 October Year 3 and above
Juventus - 23-27 November MYP
USA Universities - 11-17 November MYP5, DP1
Krakow - 4-8 October MYP 4
Barcelona - 1 -3 December MYP 4 and above long weekend

Term 2

Young Voices - 30th Jan - 2nd Feb - Year 4-6
UK Universities - 11-14 February - DP1
Long weekend - 16-19 Feb

Term 3

France Camargue - April 23-27 - Y5-6
Amsterdam - May - June MYP1
Lisbon - MYP2
Marrakech - MYP3
Costa Rica - MYP4 4th May
Sri Lanka - MYP5
Thailand - DP1

Read more about our School Trips in 2023-2024

Arrival Information

Please note the following arrival schedule to ensure an organised and efficient start to the school year:

Date	Who	Times
Friday 1st Sept	Prefects only	As communicated
Saturday 2 Sept	New & Returning Boarders	Airport 09:00 - 16:00 School 14:00 - 18:00
Sunday 3 Sept	Day students' induction	14:00 - 16:00
Monday 4 Sept	Classes begin for all	08:00

Arrival at Geneva Airport and Transport to La Garenne

If your child is travelling by air, please send their travel itinerary and the UM Unaccompanied Minor details (if applicable) to info@la-garenne.ch as soon as possible.

Students arriving at Geneva airport between 10:00 and 16:00 on the above official arrival dates are transported to La Garenne free of charge. School transport is only for students.

Our driver Mr. Serafim Leite de Azevedo is responsible for meeting La Garenne students on official dates, provided their flight details have been sent to the school office in advance.

For parents handing their children over to us at the airport, the meeting point is at the La Garenne desk in the designated area of the Visitors' Centre, on the arrivals floor.

Designated person meeting UM arrivals:

Name: Mr. Serafim Leite de Azevedo
Swiss Passport X1105102
Date of birth: 06.12.1963

 Address:
La Garenne International School
Chemin des Chavasses 23
CH 1885 Chesières
Tel: +41 (0) 24 495 24 53

For parents handing their children over to us at the airport, the meeting point is at the La Garenne desk in the designated area of the Visitors' Centre, on the arrivals floor.

Students Arriving at School with Parents

If you are accompanying your child to La Garenne on arrival day, please send the estimated time of your arrival to info@la-garenne.ch as soon as possible.

Useful Contacts

To help you reach the best person quickly, please use the following contact details. The school phone number is +41 24 495 24 53.

Department	Email
Student Transport & School Trips	smean@la-garenne.ch
Admissions	admissions@la-garenne.ch
Academics	academic-office@la-garenne.ch
Health	health@la-garenne.ch
IT	it@la-garenne.ch
General	info@la-garenne.ch

Financial Conditions & Extra Costs

The following documents have been revised for 2023-2024:

Additional Costs

Financial Conditions 2023-2024

Stationery and Computers

Our recommended stationery list is below. Students can either provide their own items or purchase a complete set (excluding laptop) directly from school for CHF 250.- All students should bring a pencil case.

Download Stationery List

Download Computer Rules

Wellbeing

Our school is passionate about ensuring all students receive support for their physical and mental health. Students may opt for complementary health treatments including Beauty, Naturopathy, Osteopathy, Sophrology and Massage. Please contact health@la-garenne.ch or register below.

Complementary Health Package

Photography Packages

Our official school photographer offers individual packages documenting a student's school year. Prices start from CHF 350. Please contact us at comms@la-garenne.ch for more information.

Photography Package Application Form

Private Lessons and Additional Options

Students may have additional private lessons in English, French, Russian and Maths and instrumental music. Please register your interest using the form below.

Reading and the School Library

We are always delighted to receive donations of books and magazines in any language for use by our students. We also recommend that students bring books to read in their own mother tongue.

75th Anniversary and Graduation

Graduation Video

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 75th Anniversary. What a spectacular event celebrating our first graduates and the school’s founding. Please look out for information this Autumn about our Alumni Association events and the launch of our campaign to build the new sports centre. And here’s an important date for your diaries: Graduation Day for DP2 students will be Friday 24th May 2024.

See more on the Photo Gallery