Introduction from the Secondary School Principal

Welcome to the Secondary School

The purpose of this Guide is both to provide a point of reference for existing students and their parents and also to give what I hope will be some useful information to those who are joining us for the first time. You will see that it contains a number of links on which you can click to access other documents on the school website.

Every year, we welcome a large number of new students to the Secondary School of the International School of Geneva at La Grande Boissière. Some are from the local area, others from many different parts of the world, some of whom will only just have arrived in Geneva. They come from a variety of different schools, backgrounds and cultures, bringing with them a range of outlooks, talents, languages and interests.

To those who are joining us this year, our aim is to enable you all to get your careers here off to a good start and to do everything we can to ensure that your time here is happy and successful. We hope you will enjoy your life at the School, achieve a great deal both inside and outside the classroom and make good friends.

You will, we hope, find the School a friendly and supportive place. This is certainly our aim and all members of the teaching, administrative, technical and domestic staff work hard to achieve it.

You may think the School is likely to be a large and confusing place to begin with, and would probably like to know what to expect before you start. This guide attempts to explain some of the main things you may wish to know and some of the ways in which the School works and what it has to offer you. We hope you will find it useful and keep it for future reference, but please do not feel you have to memorise it all before you start!

You will be encouraged and expected to work to the best of your ability and to achieve the best results you can. What we ask is simply that you do your best.

You will also be encouraged and expected to take part in a range of activities outside your academic work. This will help you to develop a wide range of interests and skills, and also to make new friends easily.

Every member of the School is an important part of the School community whose achievements and contributions are valued, and we try to operate at all times on the basis of mutual respect and fairness.

Good luck: we are very pleased to have you with us and are all here to help you.

Conrad Hughes

Principal