BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE Duke of Edinburgh Trip, Chamonix
Winter 2014
ê
EVENTS
EVENTS
TRIPS
INTERVIEWS
Graduation
Summer Fête
French Jura & London
Av. de Chatelaine 95A . 1219 Chatelaine
Teachers and Students
|
T: 022 795 75 10
|
www.britishschoolgeneva.ch
Play&Learn (10 mon - 5 yrs)
EDITORIAL
After the BSG Gazette got off to a cracking start last year, this year we have endeavoured to make it even bigger and better! As this is the first time for most members of the committee to be involved, it was no easy task, but through collaboration and team work, we have pulled it off! Sarah, Megan and Vanessa are the editors; Valentine and Kim are in charge of the photos; and Alastair and Aklesia have arguably the hardest job of all - getting advertising. It has definitely been a learning experience for us all - always under the watchful, helpful eyes of Mrs Leumann and Mrs Prior. Although we have been the ones pulling it all together, we have articles, pictures and drawings from all of Secondary, and I truly believe that there is something in here for everyone. Curious about your teachers? Read the teachers’ interviews or about their summer holidays. Want a bit of fun? Flip forward to the games’ page. To find out about the goings on in school life, read about the school council, the summer fête, the Duke of Edinburgh Trip and many other recent events. All in all, we hope you enjoy this issue, centred around the theme of “sports”. If you would like to be involved in the next issue, feel free to approach us with an article, picture, painting, story, poem, or song and dance (though the latter might be a bit difficult to include!). By Alex Ridley A2 Editor-in-Chief
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 3
GRADUATION 2014
I really enjoyed Devin’s graduation speech and it was nice to see all of the teachers (including some that had already left the school). The food was of course delicious and overall it was quite a relaxing day. Mia Harness
It was a memorable day with heartfelt speeches and amazing performances from Gianna and Tim Inkoom. Giovanna Pariyo
I thought Devin’s speech was fabulous. Gianna sang beautifully despite me jumping ship from our duet three days before the graduation. Aside from that, the ceremony was lovely and short, which are two of my favourite things when it comes to ceremonies. Eating the hors d’oeuvres was like playing a game of Russian roulette. Patricia Dela Pena
The solemn but also light-hearted atmosphere of the graduation was perfect to celebrate the devotion to work (and fun!) my A2 students had shown during the past two years. They looked so much more mature all dressed up and it was nice to have the time to talk to them and their parents over a drink. I know students always think that their teachers won’t miss them (‘all in all you’re just --- another brick in the wall’), but for me no student is ever the same and I will miss every single one of them! Nina Leumann, English and German A Level Teacher
My very best wishes to the 2014 graduates! I hope you will always show enthusiasm for learning and do well in whatever area you have chosen to pursue. Stay in touch in years to come – you will always be part of the BSG family. Raji Sundaram, Principal
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 4
GRADUATION 2014
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 5
THE BSG SUMMER FÊTE 2014 On the 21st June 2014, students as well as their parents gathered at BSG for the summer fête. Like in 2013, it was a great event: fun, entertaining and raising almost 1000.-! The hall of BSG was filled with games, activities and stalls. In the schoolyard there were outside games and luckily we had warm sunny weather. Among the many activities were games like: ‘Roll a Penny’,’ Ping-Pong Cups’, ‘Find the Treasure’ and ‘Splash the Teacher’, which was once again a big hit- who doesn’t want to hit a teacher with a water balloon? Well, to start with, the students threw water balloons at the teachers, but it ended up in students soaking each other instead. At the end of the day most kids were drenched! Other than games, you could find stalls like face painting, nail painting and hair braiding. There were also new additions this year: a bouncy castle and a netball stand! The bouncy castle was great fun for all the younger kids, who often came back for another go. And everyone enjoyed throwing a ball into netball hoops, even though it might have been a challenge for some at first. But it got much more fun after some practice! The stage served as a food hall, which offered a variety of delicious cakes, but what sold most were the hot dogs. Raffle tickets were sold during the fête, too, which resulted in some lucky winners of various vouchers or free netball camps. It was definitely a success! By Iris Mehrabian y9
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 6
Michael Martinez (A2) and Michael Davis (AS)
RUN! DON’T RUN!
Mrs Prior: “Will you play?” asked Mr Palmeira. I hesitated, rounders is designed to be an accessible game for any level of fitness or ability but it had been a long time since I played. Did I remember the rules? Could I hit a ball? Could I catch a ball? “Sure,” I replied, it was all in the community spirit of BSG and I knew it would be a fun afternoon. On the day teachers were fielding first and I found myself in the critical position of fourth base. “I can’t catch a ball,” I pleaded “Someone take over.” Phew! Mr Palmeira eventually heard my cries. I spent the innings avoiding the ball but was dazzled by the abilities of my colleagues; Mrs Stockman’s an excellent catch. Then it came to batting. I was getting into the swing of the game, running full pelt every chance I got. Then catastrophe! Despite my teammates’ shocked cries of “Don’t Run” I ran out Mr Palmeira, our star player. What shame. I, however, remained until the last three. Mr Wiseman to bat, Mr Riis on second base, me on third, the pressure was on to stay in the game. Mr Wiseman launched the ball and sprinted to first base. “Run” shouted Mr Riis, but I hesitated, never made it to fourth base. Oh, I realised, with no one to bat I’d brought our innings to an end. What shame. So if asked again “Will you play?” how will I respond? “Sure”. I had such a good time, enjoyed every minute of it and am eager for the arrival of next summer’s teacher student sporting event. I simply hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. Ciaran Deehan: At the end of this school year we had a rounders match, students vs teachers. In order to decide who was playing we pulled names out of a hat, fortunately for me I was picked to play for the students. The game was so much fun and I want the Student Council and P.E. Department to organise this after every term, not just at the end of the year. We saw a completely different side to most of the teachers, particularly Mrs Stockman, who got very competitive and caught many people out, and Mr Riis, who got so into his game he flung his bat further than where he hit the ball, and that was quite impressive in itself. Sadly, the students lost but to be fair the teachers had a pretty good team. But at the end of the day, who cares? Because the most important thing was that everyone had fun! I hope that next school year we can do more events like this, and I think our school should consider making a rounders team, because we’d be awesome!
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 7
DUKE OF EDINBURGH TRIP The morning of the 26th August was one I had been dreading for a long time. It was the day of the Duke of Edinburgh final expedition. “I’ve never woken up this early during the summer vacations!” was my first thought. After all the pain from the practice expedition that took me two months to recover from (not really), I was hesitant to get myself out of bed and drag myself to school with a huge backpack that was, like, half my size! Anyway, after I did manage to get to school, we were split into two groups, and then we set off in the school bus towards the French Jura. As we got out of the school bus, it was raining and it was cold. We put on our rain jackets and set off into the misty abyss of the Jura. And no, I’m not being dramatic when I say that. The path was muddy with cow pats everywhere. We were soaked and the wind was blowing fiercely when we stopped to have lunch. Freezing would be an understatement, if I had to describe how cold it was. We couldn’t stop for too long, because we had to keep up with the time as well as keep ourselves warm. Finally, we managed to reach the campsite. By the time we got there, we were utterly exhausted from all the walking. We got out of our muddy clothes and changed into something dry. It felt amazing to change into something clean after avoiding/ accidentally stepping into cow pats all day. As night approached, we all gathered in a large shelter and started preparing food. There was rice and bread, baked beans, sausages and burgers. After dinner we all gathered around a campfire and started roasting marshmallows. Hayley and I shared a tent, and each of us was snuggled up in our sleeping bags. It was cold and windy and it started raining in the middle of the night. We were both terrified that the tent might just detach. What was worse, we could hear people snoring in the tent next to us! How could you sleep through such horrible weather conditions?! I woke up at eight the next morning. I got out of the tent, and had bread and jam for breakfast. Everyone then got busy with packing lunch, taking showers, folding up tents and packing their bags again. As I put my bag back on my shoulders, I realised that my legs and my back hadn’t fully recovered from the day before. At that point, I didn’t think I could make it back home. Needless to say, I pushed myself and dragged myself and made it to the finish. I made it and I felt great about it. When I got home, I quickly had something to eat, took a painkiller, because EVERYTHING WAS HURTING, and went to bed. When I woke up, I still had some pain in my legs, but ultimately I felt good about myself, because I had the willpower to get through this expedition, as difficult as it was. At the end of the day, I would say it was a good learning experience, because it brought us all out of our comfort zones. It was definitely an experience that I will never forget! By Archana Madhav AS
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 8
DUKE OF EDINBURGH TRIP
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 9
TEACHERS SUMMER VACATION Skiing in Summer - Thomas Riis The Ober Gabelhorn is described by the guidebook as ‘the most beautiful of all the mountains in the Valais Alps.’ It is, needless to say, a worthy objective for anyone with a sound knowledge of alpine climbing and a basic level of fitness. It was early July and conditions had been ropey in the Alps for the last couple of weeks. On the Northeast side of the Ober Gabelhorn there is a fairly steep face, which is usually a blank sheet of ice in summer. However, with all the recent snowfall, perhaps it would now be covered in a skiable layer of snow? Strapping the skis to the rucksacks, we drove up to the small village of Zinal in Valais, parked the car and started the difficult hike up to the Grand Mountet hut, at the foot of the Ober Gabelhorn. The path takes you all the way up to a glacial basin surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains in the Alps. The undisturbed natural beauty of the place reflects its limited accessibility. Only a long hike will get you to the hut, where the guardian and his crew serve up an amazing plate of spaghetti! We made an early start from the hut the next morning, setting off at 3h00. This would give us enough time to climb the face before it warmed up in the sun and, a good opportunity to ski back down the sun-softened snow! The clear night sky was filled with stars as we left the hut, and an ample moon lit up the mountain. An hour later, we crossed the Ober Gabelhorn glacier, and were making slow but steady progress up the slopes of the Northeast face. We got to the half-way-point at around 5h30, just as the sun was rising, where we stopped for a bite to eat, enjoying the view as the first rays of light hit the tip of the summit pyramid. Refreshed, we started up the main face, soloing the slope on crusty snow. The pace slowed as we got higher and the effects of altitude kicked in. Roping up for the last 30m of the face, we tackled the final 100m leading up to the summit. At 9h00, we were standing at 4063m above sea level, enjoying an incredible panorama of the Valais Alps. As the snow was in good enough condition to ski, and neither of us fancied carrying down the skis we’d so lovingly carried up, we got ready to make the first exposed turns down the 45 degree slope of the summit. Soon, we were looking down the 400m slope, trying our best to contain any signs of apprehension. After a few tentative turns, confidence returned. The skiing, though steep, was great fun and the surrounding scenery, breath-taking. We got 1300m of descent on skis before the snow ran out! An hour later and we were back at the hut, enjoying a massive bowl of soup, and happy to have had an amazing few days in the mountains.
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 10
TEACHERS SUMMER VACATION Scottish Summer - Fiona Crawford When I was a kid, our next-door-neighbours went to the same place every year. I never saw the point of that, with all the other places you don’t get to go. Yet, for over a decade, we’ve done mostly that - returned to the same place in the Highlands, a croft owned by a Glasgow school I worked in. The school rents out the croft to teachers in the summer (it helps let them take groups of kids there cheaply in term time). It’s near an expansive beach called Big Sand, and opposite the Isle of Skye. Every year it’s the same-butdifferent. You hope for dry weather, because to hope for actual summery, warm weather seems pointless and greedy. The beaches are beautiful and mostly deserted. Something about the place just feels right and keeps pulling us back. Some of the roads to favourite beaches are single track; if you aren’t pulling over for passing vehicles, the sheep or cows meandering over the road force a stop. There’s a transcendent quality to the light at different points of the day - I’ve come to realise that the photographs of the Highlands are often taken in a fleeting moment when the clouds and light on the mountains, sea or lochans are just right. Then it’s gone, and the landscape, whilst still quite something, is nonetheless returned to its more ordinary clothes. This year was special. My cousin, and very close friend, was over. She wanted an extended family holiday, and she got it, on the east coast of the Highlands, with my brother and sister and their families. That week, in the Cairngorms, was unreal in one respect: hot summer days following on one after the other. Coming from California, my cousin must have wondered if we really couldn’t stop ourselves repeating, “I can’t get over this weather.” Her husband did the Scottish-y things he wanted to do: whisky distilleries, golfing, trout fishing, and a steam train. Meanwhile, we went to a local loch and did raft-building, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and basked in the freak sunshine. We hiked and hand fed the UK’s only herd of free-range reindeer, which were soft and friendly. We came across a sheepdog demonstration (the shepherd had not left his flock for a day in 13 years). During the first week in Gairloch on the west coast, when it was just my cousin and her daughter with us, I couldn’t book the croft, so we stayed two nights in a lighthouse and three in a wigwam. We found a beautiful beach where we were probably the only visitors all day, as it was a 90 minute hike along the headland from the lighthouse. My cousin came to understand that for a day in the Highlands you needed to come prepared for rain, wind, sun and back again. We went to a ceilidh (traditional Scottish dance), with heaving tables of home baked cakes for the interval (the scones were so good, I ate nothing else). We went on a boat trip and saw whales near the Isle of Skye. We went dune running, dam building, looked for tiny sand rays camouflaging themselves, and ate fish & chips (of course). I got to spend time with one of my favourite people: just driving those roads with my cousin - or pausing, while the sheep or cows took their own sweet time.
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 11
TEACHERS SUMMER VACATION Iceland - Susan Mesa Iceland is a country I have wanted to visit for many years and, finally, the opportunity arose to celebrate my father’s and my special birthday. It was only when we landed that I realised the reality went far beyond anything I could have imagined! Of all the breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and phenomena that we were constantly confronted with, the Strokkur Geysir (a spouting hot spring) in south western Iceland was one of the most powerful visions I brought back. The name Geysir derives from the Icelandic verb geysa, “to gush”, a verb from Old Norse. Nobody is sure why they erupt; some theorists explain it as gaseous subterranean hiccup; others believe that cooler surface water forms a lid trapping superheated fluid below, until enough pressure builds up to burst through as an eruption. A split second before it explodes, the pool surface forms a dome through which the rising water tears. It then spits its load of boiling water, which goes to heights of up to 20 meters, then sucks it back in to what seems to be a very deep dark hole. Slowly the water fills up to ground level and settles for 5 to 8 minutes until the next eruption. To add to the enchanted feeling of our stay, the sun set at approximately 23:45 only to rise again a little after 3:15. This is known as «the midnight sun» and creates a lingering twilight at night. The more we saw and discovered of the island, the more difficult it became to get my mind round the understanding of many geological functions. I’m planning to do a considerable amount of reading and research before I go back, possibly in winter, to experience the 20-hour-long nights and, more than anything, in the hope of seeing the Northern Lights. Although there are scientific and rational explanations of all that contributes to the island’s ethereality, even the most sceptical may be persuaded to believe in magic in that part of the world.
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 12
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
After only one hour and forty-five minutes of netball training, coming second to IIL on Wednesday 3rd December was a great achievement! The first time we all played together was in the match against IIL, which was the toughest one. Although we didn’t actually score any goals, we played really well considering the limited practice time. The team consisted of ten girls, ranging from year 7 to A2. We had girls who had never been on a netball court before, girls who had only played a few times and girls who play regularly. Despite the range of abilities we worked well as a team and this was shown when we won against Nations! Nations has weekly trainings, but we still beat them six goals to one! To be honest, I walked in the gym expecting to score a couple of goals, but I had never even thought that we’d win a match! We are now hoping to get weekly training going and play more games. A massive thank you to Mr Palmeira for helping organise this and encouraging us from the side of the court. His enthusiasm helped us to get those goals and win a match. I have no doubt that we’ll soon be top of the league! By Sarah Irwin A2
Geneva Girls Netball Association Looking for new members Years 3-4 (ages 7-9).
Training takes place every Wednesday at the Institut International de Lancy at 14.30-15.45. The emphasis
at this age is to have fun and learn a team sport without even realising it. The girls are coached in English by qualiÞed coaches and young National Swiss players.
For more information contact Jo Beveridge at jo.ggna@icloud.com or visit our website geneva-netball.net
INTERVIEW Interview with the Heads of the Student Council What are your names and what is your role in the Student Council? Sarah Irwin and Sabah Phillips, we are the heads of the Student Council, so we lead the meetings and then take the ideas discussed in the meetings to Mrs Stockman, The PTA or Mrs Sundaram. We also have to come up with ways to integrate the ideas into the school so that they work. We are in A2 and AS. How many members are there? There are typically 2 representatives per year in secondary, years 7-13. Any thoughts or ideas at the moment? Explain We are currently creating a new merit system for Years 7-11, with different rewards. However, it has to be approved by the teachers first, so no promises yet! We’re also planning different events throughout the year to make it more exciting, such as a possible table tennis tournament. More will be revealed when the events have been organised - there has to be some secrecy, right? These plans started from ideas that have been brought to our attention at a meeting and is seen as something that will allow students to get involved non-academically. How effective do you think the Council is? I believe that we can do some great things for the school that may not have been previously thought of by teachers. We help by getting thoughts directly from other students on how to improve our school. How much power do you have in the school? Do you think you need more? Power? What is power? No, I’m kidding - in all seriousness, though: the Student Council and being the head of the Student Council, isn’t a question of power. We don’t want power over pupils or teachers, we just want to come up with ideas to make the school more fun and have more interaction between students. We have the ability to make ideas come to life within the school, however, we do not do it alone. Are you hoping to change a lot? We are not trying to change a lot of stuff, but just plan events that will be fun for pupils throughout the secondary school. What do you want to get out of the Council personally? I want to make the school more interactive, more fun. (Sarah) Personally, I decided to join the Student Council, because I have noticed things within the school that can be improved, for example, more social events. I also feel that it will help improve my confidence and relationship with the younger students. (Sabah) Interviewed by Megan Haylock A2
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 14
THE RUSH OF RUNNING
I’ve been running for two years now. I have always been a sporty person but only recently took up running. My father started taking me out for runs in the agricultural roads near our house, and showed me what it was to get up every morning, “put in a few kilometers” and keep a record of the amount I would run per week. It wasn’t until he started signing me up for competitive runs, however, that I really became invested in the sport. I felt a rush and motivation that I’ve never felt in any other sport I played before. I was getting good results in my timed races as well! My parents agreed to sign me up for a track team, where I could develop my skills and learn better techniques. I joined the “Versoix Athlétisme” track team and started running mid-distance and longdistance competitively. I loved training with a team and an informed coach to give me pointers and help me through the vigorous training sessions. I’d never done anything as hard as running and training crosscountry and mid-distance track. It tests your mental strength and physical resilience as well as your willingness to succeed in times of self-doubt. Last September, I was fortunate enough to compete in the Swiss Nationals in the 3000 m track event! I hope to continue in that direction and experience my highest potential in the sport. I’ve run the Lausanne half marathon and one day I hope to achieve the full marathon. That would be a great achievement. By Rachel Berman AS
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 15
GAMES ZONE COLOUR ME IN
SUDOKU
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 16
GAMES ZONE WORD SEARCH
created by Sarah Irwin A2
WHERE IN THE SCHOOL IS THIS?
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 17
HISTORY TRIP The A2 History Trip to London The history trip for our A2 class, which included Daniel, Vanessa, Megan and I, was an amazing leap back in time. In the pleasant atmosphere of London, we visited some interesting museums with two of our lovely teachers, Mr and Mrs Hutcheson. A visit to the Museum of London and the British Museum really helped give us an insight in what civilisation was like back in ancient times (it’s crazy how archaeological remains help you visualise things!). There was so much to see and it was so good that we decided to head back a second time to the British Museum during our stay (including a second visit to the mummies…). Furthermore, we got to see the remains of a Roman wall and a Roman amphitheatre, which complemented our history course beautifully. We also went to Churchill’s War Rooms, where we learnt a lot about this famous British prime minister (including his drinking habits). Moreover, we went to the Imperial War Museum, where we visited the WW2 section. Last but not least, we went on the HMS Belfast, a famous warship, which contained quite a few scary dummies, to help prepare us for Unit 3. However, the trip was not only highly educational, but we also had a really nice time visiting the city itself! We saw Big Ben and went to Piccadilly Circus as well as Camden Market (typical tourist stuff!) and we also got to see an exhibition on Sherlock Holmes at the Museum of London! Overall, we all had a lovely time and were lucky to come back in one piece; even the horrible hurricane hitting London during our stay could not dampen our spirits! By Cesar Dyberg A2
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 18
HISTORY TRIP
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 19
INTERVIEW
Ms Mesa
Mrs Prior
What is your full name?
Susan Lucy Grace Mesa
Louise Melanie Prior, although I was born Louise King.
Where are you from?
Glasgow.
I’m from a working class family and a state education. I grew up just outside London near Windsor.
Where were you born?
Glasgow but I grew up in Geneva as a francophone.
Oxford, UK
Did you go to university? If so, where and what did you study?
Yes, I went to the Geneva University to study French literature.
I went to Reading University and studied Maths and Computer Science.
What is your favourite website/ what website do you visit the most?
The Guardian and the weather report. I wouldn’t say they are my favourite websites, but they are definitely the ones I visit daily.
I have a passion for beautiful things produced with skill and care, so it has to be etsy.com. It’s a bit like eBay but you can buy gorgeous handmade articles.
Who was/ is your celebrity crush?
Aren’t I too old to have a celebrity crush? It would have to be Frank Sinatra and Steve McQueen.
Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor of Queen; I loved the single ‘Killer Queen’ and remember Freddie’s charismatic performance on ‘Top of the Pops’, but Roger Taylor was the pretty one and is still a very handsome man.
What goes through your head every time the doorbell rings? Again?! Who? What? Why?
What is your favourite song? Perfect Day – Lou Reed
What is your favourite food?
Too many to mention but... comfort food, bangers & mash (sausage and mashed potatoes), and nothing beats a Sunday roast. I love British food! And cheese.
Has to be Fish and Chips.
What is your favourite drink *wink wink*?
Tea (with milk but never, ever any sugar) or ale. And I do like red wine, from time to time…One learns to appreciate it with age!
A good Whisky sour.
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 20
Ms Mesa
Mrs Prior
Which is your favourite year (or age group) in the school *wink wink*?
No… No… I can’t answer that! I like every year group. But I suppose my favourite age group would be at the higher end of the school - AS and A2 - mainly because that is the time when people change the most. Students might not notice it but we, teachers, do. Their attitude towards all matters and their behavior just all evolves towards the adults they are to become. So, yes, favourite age group purely for that reason - must be AS and A2.
Definitely year 1 (sorry guys); they’re so cute, innocent and eager to learn. Sadly, I don’t teach them.
What type of music do you listen to?
1920s, 1930s jazzy, but it depends on the day. I’ve been listening to a lot of old French music recently, Léo Ferré, Barbara, Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel... If you want something more contemporary; Nick Cave, my all time favourite, Tricky, Balthazar, Anna Calvi, The Dø & Bat for Lashes. And Kate Bush, of course.
A wide range, both new and old e.g. Electro, Indie, HipHop, Soul, Disco, Blues ....
Favourite novels or authors?
There are so many!! But... if I am asked to narrow down the list: Ian McEwan, Johnathan Coe, Haruki Murakami, Siri Hustvedt... And knowing there are many still to be discovered is so exciting!
Tortilla Flats by John Steinbeck, a very humorous story of friendship over money and possessions.
Any piece of advice you want to give the people who have left or are leaving the school?
To make the most of it and really enjoy every minute of it, because it goes by so very fast. Look forward to what awaits you, it gets better by the day!
“Try not to kill anyone- it reflects very badly on us” Mr Gilbert of the Inbetweeners. No seriously, remember “you’re going to reap just what you sow” Lou Reed, Perfect Day.
Interview by Sarah Irwin A2
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 21
INTERVIEW
Sport is a Lifestyle Interview with Mr. Palmeira What sports teams are there currently and will there be any more in the future? We currently have basketball coached by me, and badminton, coached by Mr. Dawson. Next term there will be the possibility to do more sports like netball or football. Will the sports teams compete in any competitions? Yes, BSG has joined the ADISR, which organizes inter-school competitions for International Schools in the Suisse Romande region. They offer a wide variety of sports tournaments, including Football, Basketball, Rugby, Netball, and many more. How often and at what time will you be training? Practice for Badminton and Basketball is every Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:00. Why did you become a Sports Teacher? I have always wanted to be either a plane pilot or a sports teacher. When I had to choose my career, being a pilot wasn’t a possibility, as I didn’t want to join the Air Force, so I decided to be a sports teacher. As a sports teacher, I can teach what I love anywhere in the world. I now also have a commercial pilot license after taking flying lessons, so I am able to do both things I love. What is your favourite sport? This isn’t an easy question, because I love all sports. I have done football, basketball, volleyball, skiing, scuba-diving, and many more, and I love them all, so it’s hard to choose. But I will say football is one of my favourite sports. Do you think that sport is just as valuable as academics? Yes, sport is just as valuable as academics. In today’s world the Sports Industry generates millions of dollars, and there are thousands of job opportunities to explore connected to Sports. However, it is important to have a solid background of academic competences as well. What does sport mean for you? Sport can mean leisure, recreation, fitness, or competition. For me, sport is a passion that I can’t live without, and this is what I try to pass on to my students. Sport has a growing importance in society today. Where else do we see the crowds that the FIFA championships can generate? Sport has the power to bring people together. Just look at the Olympics; wars have been stopped during the Olympics. There are many sport movies that demonstrate how important sport can be to a person, community or country. I would encourage everyone to watch one of my favourite movies, Invictus, which shows how South Africa, a country struggling with apartheid, was brought together by rugby. I always tell my students that sport is a lifestyle, a choice between a sedentary or active life and my main goal, as a PE Teacher, is to foster a love for sports in my students. I make them try as many sports as they can, in the hope that they find the one sport they like, and that they stick to it for the rest of their lives!
Interview by Vanessa Albertolli A2
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 22
STREET GAMES Ela had grown up poor, living in the streets. She lived well compared to other families; they received just enough money every day to buy food, but never managed to put money aside. She longed for school, clean clothes and a house but never complained. A local charity organisation gave them a place to stay in winter, but funds were low, so even then there were nights in the cold. When she was 8 years old, Ela was meandering around the tall, dusty city, passing time before her older brother Miro arrived home. He was the only reason she didn’t need to find work. She was allowed to play all day, while both father and Miro were at the loggers, working long shifts for little money. With many hours still left until it was time to head home to their usual shelter, Ela had been asked by a large group of boys to fill in for a player. Ela, bored, agreed, unsure as to what she was supposed to do but happy to do it anyway. Within a few minutes, she recognised the game as one Miro had played many years before. It was football, much rougher than Ela remembered, but she was a natural. Ela fought a match of her own and instantly became part of the team; her speed and strength made her a key player in all the dusty games of football. Aged 12, she still played but had been offered a place on a ‘proper’ team by several scouts. She’d declined each one. Finally came the day when Miro spoke to her on one of their walks, and told her that he had been offered a new job on a construction site nearby. He would be bringing home triple the money he had been making before. He told Ela of how he was trying to find a place for father, too and if he succeeded, there would be enough money to buy a small place to live, and possibly for her to go to school. Miro soon managed to find another job for father, more minor than his, but bringing in only a little less money. Ela was given a place at an overcrowded local school. She was behind, but quickly caught up on how to read, write and do basic arithmetic. She fell behind, however, on her football team. Before long, she could no longer do both, and Miro made her go to school, so there was no option to continue in the team instead. Ela practised when possible, but whenever Miro caught her playing, he would tell her she didn’t deserve her place at school; that he was working to give her a future, and would yell until she swore never to play again. Miro’s construction site was completed within two years, and only half the workers were given new jobs elsewhere. Both Miro and father were left with no jobs, and no income. They lost their house, and Ela’s place at school. They struggled every day to find food. Miro managed to get his old job back with the loggers, but father had no such luck. Ela returned to the place she had loved, but the football team could only let her play as a reserve; she was too far behind, too out of practice to play properly. This time when the scouts came to observe, they ignored Ela….. she had no future in football any more. Ela was forced to get a full-time job for the first time. Aged 14 she began working in a small shop, working hard every day. The owner was a sweet old lady, but she too was poor and couldn’t pay Ela very much. Father found a job on a smaller construction site, but the pay was just as little as Miro and Ela’s. Every day the three of them would sleep in a different shelter, hungry and cold, Ela remembering the life she had been refused. By Molly Brown y10
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 23
DRESS UP DAY
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 24
DRESS UP DAY
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 25
NEW STUDENT
My name is ChloÊ Ballantine. I was born and raised in France and attended the French public school for primary and went to the Institut International de Lancy for most of my secondary education. I moved to BSG this year and I am now in Year 11. The school is small, but the students have built a happy community. Coming to a new school is sometimes really hard and can be a big problem for some students. However, I have found that BSG is very welcoming. Both the students and the teachers are friendly and always there to help, in any way, shape or form. BSG has small classes which I’m not used to due to having always been in big schools, but it allows the students to get enough attention if they don’t understand a set task. I have made so many amazing friends here, from all the years; from my year to A2 to Year 9s. The great thing about being in a small school is that everyone knows everyone, so you never feel alone and always see familiar faces in the corridors. Overall, I have found BSG to be a great place to learn and meet new people and I do not regret coming here.
PAST STUDENT I spent £300 during my first week at university. And in all honesty, I have no idea what on. The best way to describe the transition from school to university is to imagine yourself being pushed out to sea in a tiny houseboat that is stocked to the ceiling with cans of Heinz beans and a surplus of alcohol. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, can prepare you for the exciting and equally terrifying adventure that is university. At school you tend to follow a very strict routine: there are designated times for you to have your lunch and there are designated times for your classes. If you fail to attend them, without providing a good reason, you will face consequences. At university you can eat lunch at any time. Your lecture times vary, and if you don’t attend them, no one will know. But it’s not all fun and games: having so much freedom has made me quickly realise that you have no one but yourself to rely upon. I sometimes envy the students whose families live a short 20 minute drive away. They can have a tasty meal with their parents each evening if they choose to do so. Despite making new friends, loneliness is a common emotion among many university students. I’ve found the best way to combat feeling lonely is to join as many clubs and societies as possible. That way you’re constantly surrounded by people and always have things to do. The societies I have joined range from film club all the way to the curry appreciation society. Of course, the problem with being a member to a countless number of clubs is that it can get quite expensive. You may also feel morally obligated to attend every one of their events; this becomes extremely tiring. As far as the workload goes, it is essential that you keep on top of it. While many aspects of university life can serve as possible distractions, if you don’t keep up with what you are being assigned, you will eventually drown in piles and piles of projects that have been accumulating for several weeks. I learnt this the hard way when I delayed writing an essay on the psychological effects of social media till the very last second. This resulted in me having less than 2 hours of sleep the day before it was due. Needless to say, university life can be so hectic that one forgets why one is actually there: to learn. All in all, my life at university has so far consisted of primarily positive experiences. How you fair in life after school really just depends upon what you make of the situation that you are in. Complaining and finding fault in everything is easy. Working with whatever opportunities life has given you may be more difficult, but it is also more rewarding. By Mia Harness, studying Psychology at the University of Bath
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 27
10 YEARS OF A LEVEL 10 years of A level- 2005 to 2015 will be celebrated on Saturday 28 March 2015 with an Alumni Event Yes, you have read correctly: our A level programme already existed 10 years ago! Not as part of BSG and not in a purpose-built school building: a little office, two teaching rooms, a handful of teachers and 15 students in the building of the ASC International House language school on rue de Lausanne. It became Geneva Secondary School in 2009 with new classes added for Years 7-9. In 2010 Year 10 and 11 joined and in 2011 a primary section was opened and we became year 12 and 13 of the school now known as BSG! If that’s not reason enough to celebrate‌ Mrs Leumann (Teaching A level English and German since 2005)
Illustrated by Anton Iouriev A2
BRITISH SCHOOL GAZETTE
Page 28
OffTheShelf and Payot are joining forces to bring you an even wider range of English books, and an even better ordering service ! Rediscover everything you love about OffTheShelf at the international bookshop Payot Chantepoulet.
Coming soon ! On 20 th March 2015, follow your Payot Chantepoulet international bookshop to a brand new 1800m 2 location, rue de la Confédération 7 – Geneva. Come enjoy the advantages of your familiar bookshop with an even larger selection, a coffee place and a Nature & Découvertes corner !
SIMPLY THEATRE PRODUCTIONS PRESENT
BY
ROALD DAHL
ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY STUART PATTERSON
17th JANUARY - 8th FEBRUARY 2015 Simply Theatre Studio Theatre Avenue de Choiseul, Versoix www.simplytheatre.com 022 860 05 18
Building your academic future today We provide quality tuition to international school students throughout Switzerland
Tuition across Switzerland
Education Consultancy
IB/IGCSE Revision Courses
One to one tuition in all subjects and all international curricula
We help parents make a choice on the right education system and school for their child
Offered by experienced teachers during February and Spring breaks
For more information visit our website www.tutorsplus.com or contact us today on 022 731 81 48 or email us at info@tutorsplus.com
British School of Geneva International school
English curriculum
Small classes
A-Level Programme
Personal care
Affordable fees
If you would like a nurturing and child-centred alternative to the bigger schools, consider us. The British School of Geneva offers education in English for 5 to 18 year olds in an exceptional, modern setting. Our highly-qualified and experienced teachers achieve excellent results in our Primary, Secondary and A-Level sections, challenging and guiding students through the coherent programme of the English National Curriculum. Your child will benefit from small class sizes and the individual attention that an intimate environment can offer best. Non mother tongue students welcome – we are a school for children of the world.
Schedule a visit to see for yourself what makes us different.
Av. de Châtelaine 95A • 1219 Châtelaine • T: 022 795 75 10 • www.britishschoolgeneva.ch