Lausanne EXPLORE
Welcome to Lausanne Collegiate School.
For close to 100 years, Lausanne Collegiate School has been tailoring education to individuals’ learning styles, skills and interests while widening students’ perspectives to prepare them for college and life in a global environment.
Today, Lausanne’s East Memphis PK2 through 12th-grade campus is one of only 24 schools in the United States to be accredited in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes.
A natural fit with Lausanne’s core values and inclusive community, the International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Through small class sizes, a social and emotional balance to advanced academics, and supportive relationships with faculty and peers, students are prepared and confident to approach new encounters and environments at every age and stage.
After years of exploring different subjects and co-curricular experiences, Lausanne graduates find themselves pursued by colleges and universities across the country and around the world. This outpouring of acceptances and scholarships as well as college credits earned through International Baccalaureate certificate courses exemplify Lausanne’s effort to help each student find his or her own unique path.
We encourage and welcome you to begin your family’s exploration of education: The Lausanne Way!
Lausanne Collegiate School is a coed, nonsectarian school whose mission is to prepare each of its students for college and for life in a global environment.
The core values of Lausanne’s community provide a balanced learning experience for each student: academically, emotionally and socially.
THE LAUSANNE WAY
We create a joyful and challenging learning process. We encourage continual self-reflection. We provide opportunities to succeed. We embrace global mindedness. We forge meaningful relationships. We build character through service to others. We empower individuals to seek their own journeys.
Building on the mastery of traditional college preparatory skills and high academic and ethical standards, Lausanne develops the individual talents, intellects, creativity and character of boys and girls through innovative teaching strategies and passionate and engaged learning within our diverse PK2 through 12th grade International Baccalaureate setting.
As a global school in East Memphis, Lausanne students understand the positive impact they can make in their communities on both a local and global scale. Service learning is incorporated into every grade level experience, as students put subjects and skills into context and action.
Lower School Units of Inquiry projects and Middle Years Programme projects directly impact local non-profit groups. In addition, our 10thgrade students participate in a week of Memphis-driven community education, team building and service learning across the 901 community. Our 11th- and 12th-grade students complete a two-year CreativityAction-Service (CAS) program, including student-designed CAS projects.
Our Upper School students also engage the entire school community in the LynxServe Program, incorporating school-wide service to others and partnering with local non-profits such as the Mid-South Food Bank, MIFA, Santa Elena Primary School in Belize, Promise Academy, Refugee Empowerment Program and more.
PK2–12th Grade at Lausanne
900
TOTAL STUDENT BODY
280 (PK2–Grade 4)
250 (Grades 5–8)
370 (Grades 9–12)
7:1
STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO
14:1
14:1 AVERAGE CLASS SIZE SK–12
(6:1 PK2, 7:1 PK3, 10:1 JK)
LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE
Prepared for Life and a Global Environment
With girls and boys from 74 different countries and 51% students of color, Lausanne truly is a microcosm of the world. Students benefit from the school’s diversity, developing better cognitive abilities in addition to improved social aptitudes.
Learn More!
As we welcome new students each year, a shared sense of hospitality is continually reinforced by students’ respect of one another’s cultures, family traditions and backgrounds.
At Lausanne, we believe the best educational environment makes learning challenging, engaging and meaningful for students. Attention to a child’s social and emotional competencies, executive functioning, and cognitive control fosters self-fulfillment and success in school and life.
Throughout a student’s time at Lausanne, specific characteristics and aptitudes are honed through our International Baccalaureate coursework and actions. As IB learners, Lausanne students and graduates are:
INQUIRERS KNOWLEDGEABLE THINKERS COMMUNICATORS PRINCIPLED OPEN-MINDED CARING RISK-TAKERS BALANCED REFLECTIVE
In addition to the support students receive day to day from faculty and peers, Lausanne has a dedicated Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) platform, counselors and learning specialists, who offer resources to students, parents and teachers to encourage healthy academic and social/emotional development in all students.
Lausanne’s SEL practices ultimately enhance students’ sense of identity, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.
Recent flag additions to the Dining Hall Include Bolivia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Moldova, Mauritania, Nicaragua, and Tunisia.
51%
SIBLINGS
73 COUNTRIES REPRESENT OF THE STUDENT BODY
Largest Country Representations Include the United States, India, China, South Korea, Canada, Pakistan, Germany, Brazil, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and Belgium.
96 % RETENTION RATE
Families recently joined Lausanne from Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
49 % GIRLS 51 % BOYS & 35%
STUDENTS OF COLOR
LAUSANNE
Early Childhood and Lower School
PK2, PK3, JK and SK and Grads 1–4
By the ages of 2 and 3, children are already in the active learning process and have an effortless ability to absorb information. Lausanne’s Early Childhood and Lower School foundation nurtures each child’s development emotionally, academically, physically, socially and artistically every day.
Through an introduction to a collaborative learning environment, creative play, hands-on learning, reflection and discovery through Units of Inquiry, the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme provides a strong foundation for what is to come throughout each child's ongoing academic experience.
During the formative years of Early Childhood and Lower School, it is essential that children develop a deep sense of self. Students at Lausanne learn to realize their ability to contribute to a group while capitalizing on their innate curiosity about the world around them. Teachers work to instill and maintain a sense of wonder and excitement for learning in all of our students as they eagerly and confidently grow through Lausanne’s Early Childhood and Lower School classes.
We believe that each child has his or her own unique personality, learning style and interests. At every grade level, differentiated classroom activities foster each student’s academic, social and emotional well-being. Art, music, physical education, early engineering, science and community service experiences, as well as daily Spanish and Mandarin classes, all enhance children’s development of strong personal interests and values while simultaneously focusing on global mindedness.
The Primary Years Programme generates a stimulating and challenging learning environment, nurturing children’s natural curiosity, creativity and ability to reflect while fostering a lifelong love of learning in every child.
Students delight in the encouragement of their peers and teachers. Lausanne’s innovative teaching techniques, including hands-on projects, group, paired and individual studies, are designed to enhance students’ preparation for the Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.
EARLY CHILDHOOD & LOWER SCHOOL: PK2–GRADE 4
• Units of Inquiry – Teachers work with their grade-level teams and co-curricular teachers to create units of inquiry guided by the six transdisciplinary themes of the Primary Years Programme.
Who we are
Where we are in place and time
How we express ourselves
How the world works
How we organize ourselves
Sharing the planet
Units of inquiry interweave subject areas such as mathematics, language arts, science and social studies, enabling students to make stronger connections to core subject areas and their context in the world. Through this process, children develop strong critical thinking, research, collaboration and communication skills. Several units of inquiry have culminating events when students present what they have learned to parents and peers. While PK2 students work through introductions to these interdisciplinary themes, our PK3 and JK students participate in four units of inquiry. Senior Kindergarten through Grade 4 students participate in six units of inquiry throughout the year. Examples include observing the life cycle of a chick in SK, a study of human habitats in grade 1, robotics and coding in grade 2, marketing and inventions in grade 3 and human exploration in grade 4.
• Small Class Sizes – Lausanne is dedicated to keeping class sizes small to forge meaningful relationships between students and teachers. While PK2 (avg. student to teacher ratio 6:1) and PK3 (7:1) have the most placement availability, there will be a few openings per grade level available each following year. Class sizes remain small throughout a child’s Lower School experience with three sections of each grade level and an average class size of 14-16 students.
• Daily Mandarin and Spanish Classes – Daily world language instruction reflects the vision of the national standards of world language learning stated in the “5 C’s” by ACTFL (American Council on Teaching of Foreign Language): Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons and Communities. It also exemplifies Lausanne’s ongoing response to globalization, interaction among different countries and knowledge and respect of other cultures.
• Literacy – We follow a balanced literacy approach in both reading and writing by focusing on high-interest, skill-appropriate texts, phonics instruction and word study, along with writing for meaning with embedded, explicit grammar instruction. This responsive approach meets learners where they are and helps them grow from there. Our classroom libraries are filled with both fiction and nonfiction texts reflecting varied levels and content and authors from diverse backgrounds so that all learners can see themselves within the pages. Teachers differentiate instruction based on student strengths and challenges while working on reading comprehension as well as creative and responsive writing. All students in grades 1 through 4 publish a book during the year which they debut at the annual Writers Guild Celebration, during which a published author and/or illustrator visits campus.
• Everyday Math – The Everyday Math program developed at the University of Chicago, is a comprehensive Lower School math curriculum that emphasizes conceptual understanding and an early introduction to the six major mathematical content areas: number sense, algebra, measurement, geometry, data analysis and probability. Students also work on memorizing math facts while working through a spiral curriculum of review and introduction of new material to prepare them for the integrated math program in Lausanne’s Middle and Upper Schools.
• Co-Curricular Classes – During a seven-day rotation, students visit the Lower School Library at least once and daily attend one of a variety of co-curricular classes, including art, music, physical education and ANTS (Acquiring New Technology Skills). Early
Childhood students also have a music and movement class. ANTS begins in SK. Additionally, students in grades 1 through 4 go to the science lab twice during the seven-day rotation.
• Field Trips – Each grade level participates in at least two field trips during the school year to do field research for their units of inquiry. Everyone looks forward to the 4th-grade all-day, end-of-year trip!
• Learning Specialists and Counselors – Early Childhood and Lower School students benefit from an average of nine different skilled educators each week. Additionally, two learning specialists and a counselor work with individuals, small groups and whole classes to support academic and social emotional needs. Spanning multiple skills and needs, attention is given to both advanced and remediated academic work as well as engagements around SocialEmotional Learning practices, such as mindfulness, for all students.
• Technology – Each Early Childhood and Lower School classroom is equipped with iPads, touchscreen laptops and smart TVs. Students also make regular trips to the Makerspace and innovation lab in the library to enhance their creative design technology practices, where they also have access to the 3-D printer, recording tools and other design instruments.
• Student-led Assemblies – Each month, a grade-level class works together to present one of their inquiry units on the Elder Performing Arts Center stage, enhancing children's public-speaking and presentation skills. The Lower School also gathers once a month for Community Time focused on a positive message and group activity. Additional programs throughout the year include musical presentations at Grandparents Day with Family and Friends and Lausannia.
• The PYP Exhibition – The Exhibition is an important part of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for all students. In the 4th grade, students work collaboratively to conduct an in-depth inquiry into
real-life issues or problems. Students collectively synthesize all of the essential elements of the PYP in ways that can be shared with the whole school community. It is exciting for our 4th graders to demonstrate their independence and the responsibility they are taking for their own learning and showcase all of the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile attributes they have developed throughout their Lower School experience. The PYP Exhibition is a wonderful celebration of their readiness to transition to the Middle Years Programme in the Middle School.
• Outdoor Discovery Center and Early Childhood Playgrounds –The only one of its kind, the Outdoor Discovery Center has 14 uniquely different structures representing world monuments placed on a multi-colored turf, a replica of a Rand McNally map of the world. SK through Grade 4 students can travel from Cape Horn, South America to the Great Wall of China without touching the ground, traveling through six continents, and interacting with seven monuments on their way. Students can zipline from the Horn of Africa to Australia without getting their feet wet, climb Big Ben, balance on the Eiffel Tower and explore the Taj Mahal. The Early Childhood Playground, for our PK2 through JK classes, reflects imaginative hallmarks of both our school and our city, including the M bridge and the Memphis pyramid. The playground's theme also correlates with the Primary Years Programme (PYP) unit of inquiry on "Who We Are."
Learn More!
LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
Middle School
Grades 5–8
Dynamic transformation is at the epicenter of our Middle School. A developmentally responsive and intentionally designed program meets the needs of growing adolescents. Our teachers understand your child's need for both independence and guidance. Teachers work in grade-level teams to identify each student's unique profile and commit to nurturing individual potential.
Lausanne's Middle School is dedicated to fostering students' confidence, love of learning, self-advocacy and social/ emotional skills. Small class sizes, a daily focus on mindfulness and empathy, collaborative learning environments, and supportive and encouraging faculty are the hallmarks of grades 5 through 8. The friendships built across grade levels in the Middle School’s House System encourage compassion and understanding of others, while strengthening student leadership, peer mentoring and school spirit.
Core courses focus on skill development and foundational content. Motivated by the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme’s cross-curricular objectives, students are asked to evaluate information critically. They use what they learn to take principled action rather than simply memorizing facts to prepare for exams, with a focus on learning how to learn and development of organizational and time-management skills.
Exciting elective courses offer opportunities for self-exploration. Diverse activities outside the classroom provide real-world learning experiences. The development of the whole child prepares students for Upper School and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Progamme's academic rigor.
More!
• Interdisciplinary Teaching – Students learn best when their learning experiences have context and are connected to their lives and their world experiences. Each year of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) is designed to engage students in one or more collaboratively planned interdisciplinary units that connect two or more subject areas. Using the global contexts of the MYP, students develop an understanding of their common humanity and shared guardianship of our earth through explorations of:
Identities and relationships
Personal and cultural identity
Orientations in space and time
Scientific and technical innovation
Fairness and development
Globalization and sustainability
Out of these studies come students’ personal commitments to service and making a positive difference in the lives of others and to the environment.
• Zero Period – The academic day for Middle School students at Lausanne begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m. Most students arrive on campus between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. to participate in the Zero Period, when all of the teachers are in their classrooms. Students can get extra support for lessons or work with teachers and peers on various projects. Some students also use this time to catch up on homework before classes begin, to prepare for an assessment or to continue to build relationships with peers.
• Rotating Block Schedule – Students rotate through a sevenperiod block schedule over seven days. Five classes are held each day with a snack break mid-morning. Core classes include language arts, science, social studies and mathematics. Students in Grade 5
rotate through a world language exploratory program, in which they take one trimester each of French, Mandarin and Spanish. Starting in Grade 6, students select one of the three world languages to study for the remainder of their Middle and Upper School experience. All students benefit from a required physical education course. Students in grades 5-8 have a choice of arts elective offerings. A mix of study hall/flex, including one-on-one help from teachers; Middle School community time; Middle School Meeting or House System activities take place after lunch each day.
• Academic Program Notes – The math program takes an integrated approach to mathematical concepts, including algebra and geometry, to make connections across the content domains leading to higher test scores and better retention. English classes also include Latin- and Greek-root-word studies to strengthen vocabulary in preparation for later ACT/SAT testing. Science classes are lab-based and give students an early foundation for their biology, chemistry and physics classes in Upper School. STEAM and design studies can be taken as individual courses and are incorporated into multiple experiences throughout the core subject areas leading to at least 50 design hours each year.
• Grade-Level Advisors – Students benefit from small classes, which usually average about 14 per class and never more than 20 students. Each student has a homeroom grade-level advisory group and an advisor who is the student’s advocate and program connection for parents. During dedicated time after lunch each Monday, students meet with their advisors to review the upcoming week, organize their planners accordingly and plan for study around their various activities.
• Teaming – While students attend arts and physical education classes, grade-level teaching teams from the core subjects of English, Math, Science and Social Studies meet routinely to coordinate plans and discuss each individual student’s progress. They also pay close attention to each child’s social, emotional and academic needs and create proactive plans of support and communication with parents.
MIDDLE SCHOOL: GRADES 5–8
• Technology – Technology is seamlessly integrated into all academic programs at Lausanne. Supported by our campuswide wireless network, all Middle and Upper School students use personal laptops in all of their classes. Our classrooms and innovation labs employ tools such as 3-D printers, 3-D projectors and laser cutters/engravers to provide a dynamic educational experience including higher-level design and engineering courses for grades 5 through 12.
• Cornerstone Project – As preparation for and an introduction to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme experience in Lausanne’s Upper School, the Cornerstone Project is an independent research project requiring students to think, question, research, and respond. It is a yearlong endeavor and for many students will be the most time-consuming and in-depth project they have ever undertaken. Each student will be assigned a mentor who will meet with them over the length of the project to help brainstorm, discuss, and suggest ideas for the students in their research process. Students will configure their topic as a challenge, a question or an opinion, through which they will explore their passions and interests, trying to understand their impact and place within a global society. Their research will culminate in a 6- to 8-page extended essay, panel presentation and a creative product of their choice. The project will spark a deep, personal curiosity that is meaningful and purposeful.
• House System – Lausanne's House System, the first of its kind in the Mid-South, offers students and teachers the opportunity to work with one another outside of the academic arena. Through weekly house competitions that promote a healthy sense of school spirit, students establish connections that transcend classrooms and grade levels. Houses also provide Middle School students with leadership opportunities through positions on our House Council and through the organization of school-wide activities. All students new to the 5th through 8th grades are sorted into one of four
houses: Cottingham, Lendenwood, Massey and Monmouth, each named after a street surrounding our campus.
• Class Trips – Grades 5 through 8 take overnight class trips to enhance their classroom discussions and solidify friendships. Upcoming trips include:
5th grade: St. Columba Conference Center, TN
6th grade: Camp McDowell, AL
7th grade: Camp McDowell, AL
8th grade: New Orleans, LA
• Learning Specialist and Counselor – Students benefit from the extra support of a learning specialist and counselor, who manage student learning plans and lead small group and individual exercises to help build student community and strengthen student self-advocacy.
• Mindfulness – The Middle School motto is “Work Hard: Play Hard.” Students in grades 5 through 8 go through many personal physical and emotional changes, and face new academic challenges while learning to balance special interests. The Middle School strives to help students approach learning mindfully by providing classroom exercises that heighten student awareness and ease anxieties. Each morning begins with a 15-minute “Daily Focus,” providing students with time to engage in continual self-reflection that empowers them to develop vital self-management, social and communication skills. Each class period also begins with a brief “mindful moment” to get focused and centered. This proactive, holistic approach to our students’ social and emotional development provides a foundation for becoming open-minded, caring and thoughtful society members.
Learn More!
Upper School Grades
9–12
Upper School students in the 9th and 10th grades at Lausanne benefit from continued development of critical thinking, researc h and communication skills while exploring the interdisciplinary studies of the last two years of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. Our goal is to develop students who are global-minded, collaborative, empathetic and active learners with the intellect and skills to pursue lives of purpose and meaning.
Classroom, co-curricular activities, student-organized interest clubs and community service experiences aim to help students develop their potential, explore their own learning preferences, take appropriate risks and develop a strong sense of personal identity. Through this self-reflection as well as the completion of most graduation requirements within their first two years of study in the Upper School, students are better able to design their schedules through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the 11th and 12th grades to develop their individual skill sets and interests and to enhance admittance to their preferred colleges and universities.
Grade-level faculty advisors, small peer groups and a structured four-year college advising process provide students the support, guidance and self-reflection opportunities to find their individual college or university of choice. Learn More!
• Middle Years Programme – Lausanne’s 9th and 10th grades are part of the Upper School while also an extension of the Middle Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate. In addition to continuing the development of students’ Learner Profile attributes, students in the 10th grade will complete a long-term personal research project.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme – The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a rigorous academic program during the junior and senior years of high school. Students choose from a selection of classes offered at both standard (SL) and higher level (HL) in each of six different academic areas of study. All SL and HL classes are taught over two years. Students also write an extended essay, take a Theory of Knowledge class and participate in the Creativity, Activity and Service program (CAS). All students in the Upper School at Lausanne benefit from participation in the full Diploma Programme or participation in two or more IB Certificate Courses. Fifty percent of the junior and senior classes participate in the full Diploma Programme, and IB Math and English are required of all students. The math program is integrated to make connections across the content domains leading to higher test scores, better retention and advanced studies. Students who complete IB coursework with high marks should expect to have college credit applied towards their college graduation requirements.
• Flex Block – Each academic day, students in the Upper School have a 50-minute Flex Block starting at 1:25 p.m. This is a time when most teachers are in their classrooms. Students can get extra support on lessons or work with teachers and peers on various projects. National Honor Society students are also available for peer-tutoring. This is a great time for students to get one-on-one support in areas of challenge or a jump start on major projects or homework assignments.
• Advisory – Each student has a grade-level advisor and a peer advisory group of nine to ten students that meet daily. Teachers build meaningful relationships with all members of their advisories and their advisees’ parents and help shepherd them through the academic and social challenges that present themselves over the year. The advisor is the primary school contact for the family.
• Counselor & Learning Specialist – Lausanne's Upper School counselor organizes activities and discussions for the advisory groups throughout the year and is available to meet with students and parents as needed. Our learning specialist reviews special testing provided by families upon entry to the Upper School. A family meeting with the student's teachers is organized at the beginning of the school year so that teachers are aware of the student's specific accommodations and learning styles. The learning specialist will continue to monitor and provide support to students with learning plans throughout the school year.
• Clubs – There are over 50 student-organized clubs represented by the Upper School annually. Interests include community service efforts, academic clubs such as the Knowledge Bowl, Model UN and Health Occupation Specialists of America (HOSA), athletic and arts clubs and special interest clubs such as robotics or music history. Students can participate in two clubs during the community time block offered each Wednesday.
• Rotating Block Schedule – The academic day for Upper School begins each morning at 8:50 a.m. and concludes at 3:40 p.m.
UPPER SCHOOL: GRADES 9–12
Upper School students rotate through six academic classes over two days. Following best pedagogy practices, academic classes are 95 minutes long, allowing students to dive deep into each subject. Students can tailor their experience with over 100+ course offerings, including but not limited to Anthropology, Business, Computer Science, English, Languages (French, Spanish, Mandarin), Math, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Sports and Health Sciences, and the Performing and Visual Arts, taught through three different art studios. There are never more than 20 students in a class, and class sizes actually decrease in size as students enroll in various electives of interest. The average class size experience is 14 students.
• Technology – Technology is seamlessly integrated into all academic programs at Lausanne. Supported by our campuswide wireless network, all Middle and Upper School students use personal laptops in all of their classes. Our classrooms and innovation labs employ tools like virtual reality headsets, 3-D printers and laser cutters/engravers to enhance lessons across the curriculum. The Upper School’s Virtual Reality Suite offers students a multi-sensory and contextualized learning experience.
• Active Learning – Utilizing our flexible furniture, our highly trained teachers use active learning strategies to keep engagement high and optimize the student learning experience with each lesson.
• Community Time & Dress Code – On Mondays, the students follow the Business Formal requirements of the dress code in preparation for the Convocation before lunch. Convocation includes a guest speaker, club announcements, honors ceremonies, and/or a performing arts presentation. Tuesdays through Fridays the grade levels meet for different community and club activities as well as advisory meetings.
Grades 9 and 10 participate in SEAL (Social, Emotional, Academic, Leadership) and LLL (Learning Lynx Life). Guest speakers, group activities and the practice of science-based techniques during these meetings boost students' executive functioning skills and assist them in self-reflection, decision-making, critical-reasoning skills and community building. Grade 10 works on the IB Personal Project
with a faculty mentor. This research project is a precursor to the Extended Essay of the IB Diploma Programme. Grade 11 begins their weekly college advising meetings and ACT/SAT prep. Grade 12 concentrates on their college application process in the fall followed by preparation for IB exams with advisory groups in the spring.
The dress code for Tuesday through Thursday is Business Casual followed by Spirit Dress on Friday, when students are encouraged to wear blue and gold! Lausanne, college and university T-shirts and sweatshirts are allowed Tuesday through Friday.
• Class Trips and Internships – At the beginning of the school year, each class in the Upper School benefits from a unique weeklong class experience designed to create a strong support system and opportunities for future planning. The freshmen go on a retreat with the 9th-grade faculty to learn about the Upper School culture and build community through varied games and team-building activities, water sports, the ropes course, and advisory group conversations. Sophomores participate in a week-long internship in a local non-profit, allowing them to realize their impact on the communities in which they live. The junior class visits eight to ten colleges within a region with their college and faculty advisors to explore the differences between the types of schools. The seniors organize a week-long internship of their choosing, although corporate internships are encouraged. This internship’s timing is important to the college application process as seniors narrow down their choices of program interests.
• College Advisory – Guidance from both faculty and Lausanne’s three-member college advising team gives students the support and encouragement needed to explore their individual passions as well as to design specific areas of academic concentration based on college and university interests. College advisors give multiple presentations to students and parents and create discussion cues for faculty advisory groups throughout the year. The college advisors meet individually with each student and family annually and host over 160 recruiters each fall from various colleges and universities to visit with students.
Lausanne Fine Arts & Design
We believe a strong arts education helps students appreciate global culture, sharpens communication skills, encourages creativity and hones self-confidence. We strive to instill a life-long love of the arts to enrich and deepen the whole range of life experiences.
From PK2 through 12th grade, fine and performing arts are interwoven across the disciplines. In addition, visual and performing art classes encourage the discovery of relationships between the creative process and evaluative skills that enable a clearer understanding of our world.
Early Childhood & Lower School
Daily Co-Curricular Classes
7-Day Rotation in Fine Arts
Music and Voice (Orff Instruments)
P.E.
Studio Art
A.N.T.S – Acquiring New Technology Skills
Music & Movement - Dance (EC) Library
Middle School
Grades 5-6
Trimester Rotation in Fine Arts Options
Creative Performing Art Dance
Visual Art
Grades 5-6 Year-Long Options Band Strings*
Grades 7-8 Year-Long Options
Advanced Design (8th Grade Only) Art Band
Chorus
Dance Performance & Technique
Lynx Performance Ensemble
Music Technology Strings*
Theatre Design & Production
*Strings for Middle School grade levels meet on Saturday mornings.
Upper School Visual, Design and Performing Arts Classes
Theatre Production
Theatre Arts and Speech I
DP Theatre SL and HL
DP Dance HL
Dance Performance
Dance for Athletes
Concert Band
Morning String Ensemble
Chorus
Lausanne Design Agency: Digital Video & Film, Illustration, Graphic Design
Photography
Advanced Photography HL
Yearbook Design
DP Visual Arts SL and HL
Atelier Grades 9-10, SL and HL
Art Studio Apprentice
Sculpture
Ceramics
Multimedia Arts
Multimedia Design
Industrial Design
Product Design & Development
Programming Through Robotics
AI (Artificial intelligence)
Cyber Security
DP Design Technology SL
Game Design
DP Computer Science HL
THE CONSERVATORY
The Conservatory at Lausanne offers after-school performing arts classes to build creative, confident and expressive performers with a life-long appreciation for the arts. Both private and group lessons are available.
Many of Lausanne’s theatrical presentations are part of Lausanne’s after-school enrichment programs. The Lower School Musical is offered through Conservatory classes. 5th through 12th-grade students may audition for after-school participation in the Middle School and Upper School musicals and plays. In addition to these performances, students may also audition for The Night of Broadway and StudentDirected One Acts.
Conservatory Private or Group Lessons and Classes
Pre-Piano, Piano, Violin/Viola, Guitar, Ukulele, Voice A Capella
Discover Art I and II
Artists in Action
Acrobatic Arts
Fashion Design & Construction
Upcycled Art Lab
Discover Dance
Discover Ballet
Discover Tap
Tap I and II
Discover Theatre
Pre-Primary Ballet
Intermediate Ballet
Pom Dance
Hip Hop I and II
Lynx Athletics
Our students and community take great pride in supporting our Lynx and the blue and gold. While striving for personal growth and development in student-athletes, athletics at Lausanne also reinforces positive influences, self-confidence and the ability to excel inside and outside the classroom.
Our physical education classes are built into daily schedules from PK2 through our Middle School. Although there is not a physical education graduation requirement in the Upper School, most students enjoy participating in team and/or individual sports.
When it comes to our athletes' overall health, our athletic trainers work closely with OrthoSouth sports medicine doctors and physical therapists to provide injury prevention education, build healthy training habits and facilitate treatment and rehabilitation for athletic injuries. The athletic training team possesses more than 30 years of combined knowledge and experience with athletic injury and rehabilitation. In addition, our varsity athletes are given the opportunity to work on the mental aspects of their respective sports by working with a mental performance coach. Doing so enables them to work on their mental skills such as: focus, grit and resilience, which are keys to peak performance. In addition, they are coached on how to deal with stress reduction and recovery.
As our student-athletes leave to pursue their dreams at colleges and universities, 18% of Lausanne student-athletes go on to play at the next level. That number is more than double and well above the national average of 7%.
Our hope is to help student-athletes realize the results of unyielding commitment, focus and drive. We believe the lessons learned through athletic participation are integral components of the educational experience. Lausanne’s student-athletes take their leadership responsibilities seriously and, in addition to building athletic abilities, make every effort to build school spirit across the divisions.
Lower School Sports
Basketball
Cheer
Cross Country
Flag Football
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
Track
Middle School Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Football
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
Track
Volleyball
Upper School Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Pom
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track
Volleyball
AFTERSCHOOL
Lausanne’s Afterschool program is designed to provide children with organized, creative and supervised after-school activities. Any PK2 through 8th-grade student staying on campus after dismissal (3 p.m. for Lower School and 3:25 p.m. for Middle School) is required to be enrolled in the supervised Afterschool program. Special activities are available for all grade levels, and Afterschool is available each school day from dismissal until 6 p.m.
Estimated Cost of Afterschool
DAILY DROP-IN RATE: $25 per day
MONTHLY RATES: Average $18 per day
Enrichment Opportunities
Private Tutoring in Academics – 2ND–12TH GRADE Chess Club & Chess Team – SK–12TH GRADE Robotics & STEAM Classes – 1ST–8TH GRADE
Art classes available during Afterschool are listed on page 19. Sports available are listed on page 21.
PLAY DAYS
Play Days are offered to children in PK2 through 6th grade on select days when Lausanne is closed or dismisses midday. The program offers care and activities from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at a cost of $65 per day or $45 for midday dismissal care from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch and snacks are included, and counselors lead children through board games, group play, gym and playground time, crafts and occasional movies or field trips. Rest time is also included for PK2–SK students. Pre-registration is required.
SUMMERS@LAUSANNE
From the end of May through August, Summers@Lausanne offers weekly special-interest camps designed to provide children with engaging and enjoyable experiences allowing for substantial academic, athletic and emotional growth.
Lausanne 360˚ incorporates our extended arts and athletics activities, after-school programs, summer programs, service learning outside of school projects and travel. From afternoon sessions of chess, tennis or ballet; to global experiences in Peru and New Zealand; to volunteer work in Belize and Memphis, Lausanne 360˚ provides students countless opportunities to grow, lead and evoke change at Lausanne, in Memphis and across the globe. Follow Us!
LAUSANNE 360˚
LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
While some organized travel takes place as part of the Middle and Upper School curriculum, Lynx Travel exists to extend the Lausanne 360° mission beyond state lines and international borders.
We believe that providing our students with opportunities to learn through travel promotes global involvement while encouraging them to explore their personal talents and interests. To facilitate this mission, the Lynx Travel coordinator works with teachers to design and promote domestic and international study tours that take place during summer, fall and spring breaks. Open primarily to students in grades 7 to 12, trip offerings vary annually but are consistently broad in scope, spanning the spectrum from curriculum-based study tours to service-oriented community projects to culture/language immersion stays. Whether it is living with a host family in the south of Spain, learning about water ecology on a rafting trip in Colorado or stepping into the history on a WWII study trip to Japan, our students are embarking on journeys that expand world knowledge and inspire passionate and engaged learning.
LYNX TRAVEL
LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
A Typical Lausanne Senior Class
92 Graduates
100% Graduation Rate
100% Acceptance Rate
Acceptances to 167 Different Schools
Matriculation to 66 Different Schools
13% Attending Top 25 Schools in Nation
$14 Million in Merit Scholarships
440 Hours of College Credit | 146 Intro Courses
50% International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidates
97% Reception of International Baccalaureate Diplomas
78% Received Globally | 65% Received in United States | 56% Received in Tenn.
$149,290 average in awards per student
The Lausanne Way Forward
Through the supportive relationships of faculty and peers as well as the ownership students take of their own academic endeavors, Lausanne students are confident risk-takers with an understanding of a broad and balanced range of disciplines.
Lausanne’s students all benefit from having all three divisions on the same campus. From an early age, Lower School students gain a sense of the collegiate-prep journey they are on as they connect their early learning connections with older students. Middle and Upper School students are inspired by the interests and encouragement of their peers.
After years of exploring different subjects and co-curricular activities, internships, class trips and reflective conversations with faculty and friends, students work closely with Lausanne’s college advisors to apply to a wide range of schools.
Each senior class at Lausanne boasts a 100% graduation rate and a 100% acceptance rate. Due to the wide range of schools attended by Lausanne graduates, 85% of our graduates are matched with an alumni mentor who is still attending the college or university of the graduate’s choice or has settled in the area. Regional alumni representatives across the country also provide a network of resources for graduates.
Several times a year, Lausanne alumni return to campus as guest speakers as well as faculty and artists in residence, enhancing classroom experiences for all ages. In January, the Upper School welcomes back several alumni for the Young Alumni Panel event, who share their recent experiences of college, graduate studies and professional growth.
Annually, the younger grade levels look forward to seeing the opportunities that await the senior class when they walk across campus with their college t-shirts.
The 8th graders have their first college advising experiences as they begin meeting with Upper School administrators and tour the Upper School. They complete their first college advising reflection and study during the spring semester parent/teacher conference. Parents also have the opportunity to meet with the college advisors and tour the Upper School.
In 9th grade, both an Upper School administrator and a college advisor meet with each family to discuss their student’s aspirational college goals. Students receive guidance on what courses, internships and extracurricular activities will help them as they move forward through their academic journey.
In 10th grade, students and parents meet with their college advisor to assess academic progress and address any concerns through early intervention. PSAT testing is reviewed, and students make goals for junior testing. Students also begin creating their college resume and conducting mock interviews.
In 11th grade, students begin the year visiting a variety of different college campuses during their class trip. The tours create a great learning environment showing students how to explore academic options and find their “right fit” institution. Throughout the year, students will continue to receive guidance on their resumes and mock interviews. Additionally, a customized ACT prep program is made available to all 11th-grade students. Weekly meetings focused on college advising will begin in the spring. Over 130 colleges and universities will send representatives to Lausanne during this time to recruit our students.
The 12th graders benefit from previous years of personalized reflection with the college advisors and faculty mentors. Students and parents will meet with college advisors at the beginning of the 12th-grade year to create a targeted and tailored application list based on the student’s academic profile, personal goals and professional plans. Together, they will review application deadlines and identify potential scholarship opportunities. A college application boot camp in the fall will help seniors learn tips and best practices for filling out applications.
Lausanne has long been a place that helps students find their passion and confidence in an environment of empathy and true community support. Students’ interests are unlimited, and their passion for learning is lifelong. Through thoughtful and intentional learning experiences and the International Baccalaureate Programmes’ depth, students excel academically and personally,
gaining a competitive edge when applying to the top universities in the world.
The variety of colleges and universities Lausanne graduates choose to attend year after year exemplifies Lausanne’s efforts to help each student find his or her own unique path. We hope their opportunities for success inspire you to explore Lausanne for the students in your life.
Review College Matriculation
Forging Meaningful Relationships
When a child enrolls
at Lausanne,
they set out on a path filled with the transformative benefits of the International Baccalaureate and exceptional collegiateprep experience.
While the Early Childhood program represents our foundation, the school is strengthened by the hundreds of students and families that join us throughout Lower, Middle and Upper School.
It is a joy for the entire school community to welcome new students and families to Lausanne. Building upon that sense of community, Lausanne families can look forward to a versatile calendar of events which bring everyone together and foster meaningful relationships that last far beyond graduation.
Additionally, upon enrollment, every parent/guardian automatically becomes a member of Lausanne Parent Connections (LPC), whose goal is to provide meaningful, rewarding and inclusive opportunities for all. Monthly LPC meetings as well as LPC eNews, Facebook and Instagram posts keep the parent community readily engaged and informed, and there are ample opportunities throughout the year for parents to volunteer in areas which suit their schedules and talents.
ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENTS
AUGUST
• Senior Send Off
• New Family Orientation Day | Meet the Teacher |
• LPC Information Fair
• First Day of School for All Divisions | Senior Breakfast & Drive-Thru | Tapping of the Seal | Kick-Off Pep Rally | Ringing of the Bell
• All-School Tailgate
SEPTEMBER
• Friday Night Tailgates and Football Games
• Senior Appreciation Week
• Night of Broadway
• Spirit Week
• Homecoming/Alumni Weekend
OCTOBER
• Fall Homecoming Dance
• SK Artists at Play
• Upper School Fall Play
• Middle School Class Trips
• Fall Carnival
• Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Upper School Fall Dance Concert
NOVEMBER
• Veterans Day Program and Concert
• Fall Book Fair
• Grandparents Day with Family and Friends
DECEMBER
• Middle School Musical
• Middle and Upper School Band & Choral Concert
• Young Alumni Week
• Winter Dance Concert
JANUARY
• Young Alumni Panel
• MLK Remembrance Day Concert
• Spirit Week
• Student-Directed One-Act Plays
• LPC Spaghetti Dinner
• Re-Enrollment
FEBRUARY
• Winter Homecoming Dance
• Student-Led Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Annual Auction
MARCH
• Upper School Musical
• Lausannia Lower School Performance
• Sing into Spring
• Chair of Ideas
APRIL
• Swing Into Spring
• Prom
• Middle and Upper School Band & Choral Concert
• ArtsFest/SportsFest
MAY
• Early Childhood Art Show
• Lower School Musical
• Middle School House Cup Awards
• Senior Luncheon and College T-Shirt
Walk-Thru
• Teacher Appreciation Week
• Kite Festival
• Spring Book Fair
• Spring Dance Recital
• Graduation
JUNE AND JULY
• Summers@Lausanne
• New Family Events
UPPER SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOWER SCHOOL ARTS
Construction of Lausanne’s new Upper School and expanded Arts Wing began in June 2024. The Norfleet classrooms were also renovated, and a new Makerspace was built for the 7th & 8th grades. The new Upper School will open in 2025. Middle and Lower School renovations and construction of the Lausanne Global Institute will take place between June - August 2026. The final phase of Middle School renovations will take place between June - August 2027.
“The foundation of Lausanne’s future begins with us all – continually pushing forward to make an impact on our students that is effective, relevant and enduring. As we undertake this next stage of campus growth, creating spaces where our students will thrive is what motivates and inspires us to be and do our absolute best.”
–
Stuart McCathie, Headmaster
Fueling the Next 100 Years
As Lausanne approaches 100 years, we find ourselves at a crossroads.
Thanks to decades of Lausanne’s support of the individual student, dedication to global-mindedness and preparation for college, Lausanne has:
4 The best students 4 The best faculty 4 The best curricula 4 The best futures
It’s time to update our current campus to the best facilities by providing the size and number of spaces needed to support our dynamic curricula of TODAY and to look towards TOMORROW.
TIMELINE
Current Campus Highlights
At Lausanne, we always strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Below are some of our current highlights to be enhanced through our Campaign for Best over the next four years.
• PK2 – Grade 12 on 32 Lakeside Acres in East Memphis
• Gated Campus & Security Team
• Indoor/Outdoor Sports Complex
• 6 Tennis Courts
• Sprint Track
• Synthetic-Turf Field and Natural Grass Field
• Press Box and Field House
• 2 Gymnasiums
• 2 Floors for Women’s and Men’s Conditioning
• OrthoSouth Training Room
• Gagliano Baseball Fields (off campus)
• Designated Nature Area with Beehives, Gardens & Composting
• Global- & Memphis-Themed Playgrounds
• Nurse’s Clinic
• Divisional Learning Specialists & Counseling Offices
• 4-Year College Advising Team
• Library: Blue Heron Café & Tech Center
• Tully & Alumni Dining Halls (500+ Seating)
• Outdoor Amphitheater & Dining Area
• 500-Seat Theater | 3 Art Studios | 2 Dance Studios | 6 Conservatory Music, Instrumental Ensemble and Chorus Rooms
• 6 STEAM, Computer Programming and Robotics Areas
• 10 Science Labs
FUTURE CAMPUS MASTERPLAN
New Upper School
New Middle School
Lower School
Renovations
EXPANSION BY THE NUMBERS
Visual & Performing
Arts Conservatory
Global Institute
LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE
Upper School
“Simply put, our students and teachers deserve the best... the most technologically adept and flexible learning spaces available. This is our niche, our history and our legacy.”
– Stuart Dunster, Head of Upper School
The new Upper School will offer tomorrow’s opportunities for…
• Ample learning space that is purpose-built for collaboration and innovation that will meet the growing demand for expanded International Baccalaureate class offerings.
• 32 state-of-the-art classrooms that are designed with flexibility, function and technology at the core, including collaborative spaces which enable flexible learning among diverse cultures, experiences, opinions and interests.
• New state-of-the-art lab spaces for Science, Robotics, the Lausanne Design Agency and more.
• Two Faculty Hubs with 20 workspaces in each and two conference rooms, all designed to be flexible, to provide privacy and to promote student-teacher partnership.
• New dedicated outdoor spaces for Upper School including a covered garden terrace spanning the length of the new building, 1st floor café patio, 2nd floor veranda and covered performance space at the building’s entrance.
“Meaningful relationships arise from students collaborating and developing a sense of academic purpose. Students are at their best when they’re able to explore, create and innovate. As such, classes should be customizable and adaptable to our IB curriculum.”
– John Donecker, Head of Middle School
The renovated Middle School will offer tomorrow’s opportunities for…
• Ample space for teaching and learning; space that is purpose-built for collaboration and innovation to fully accommodate student interest and teacher collaboration.
• Six additional classrooms accommodating the growing International Baccalaureate curriculum and to maintain small class size experiences for our growing student body.
• Redesigned classrooms with flexibility, function and technology at the core, thereby supporting the International Baccalaureate learner philosophy.
• Two new STEAM/Design labs, a Robotics lab and four new stateof-the-art science labs.
• Dedicated fine arts space to better support our students’ need for self-expression and creativity.
• Dedicated greenspace providing overall improved well-being for middle school students.
Middle School
LAUSANNE
Upper School
“Simply put, our students and teachers deserve the best... the most technologically adept and flexible learning spaces available. This is our niche, our history and our legacy.”
– Stuart Dunster, Head of Upper School
The new Upper School will offer tomorrow’s opportunities for…
• Ample learning space that is purpose-built for collaboration and innovation that will meet the growing demand for expanded International Baccalaureate class offerings.
• 32 state-of-the-art classrooms that are designed with flexibility, function and technology at the core, including collaborative spaces which enable flexible learning among diverse cultures, experiences, opinions and interests.
• New state-of-the-art lab spaces for Science, Robotics, the Lausanne Design Agency and more.
• Two Faculty Hubs with 20 workspaces in each and two conference rooms, all designed to be flexible, to provide privacy and to promote student-teacher partnership.
• New dedicated outdoor spaces for Upper School including a covered garden terrace spanning the length of the new building, 1st floor café patio, 2nd floor veranda and covered performance space at the building’s entrance.
Visual & Performing Arts Conservatory
"Lausanne students strive for the very best when they perform, act and create. To support our students' aspirations, we need spaces where sound and light are partners, not roadblocks, to the creative process."
–Tara West, Director of Music Programs
A new and expanded Arts Conservatory will offer tomorrow's opportunities for...
• Ten specialized practice rooms (individual and ensemble), a stateof-the-art Black Box theater, a dedicated classroom/green room and ample storage built around the existing Elder Performing Arts Center.
• New dance room with a sprung floor, lighting and proper square footage for rehearsals and performances, thereby creating a more supportive platform for our dancers.
• New fabrication lab, design classrooms and 2D art room with natural lighting.
