Ecolint - Newsletter.indd - Ecolint Alumni Office
Transcription
Ecolint - Newsletter.indd - Ecolint Alumni Office
1 ALUMNI NEWSLETTER ALUMNI In last year’s annual DirectorGeneral’s report I wrote that the year 2003-2004 had been one in which the school community had reflected on what it felt were its distinctive characteristics and where it wanted to go in the future. It was a year in which we looked again at the Foundation’s vision, explored issues of governance and communication and developed a strategic plan to guide our work over the next few years. The present school year, by contrast, is proving a year of action in which we begin to put in place the measures on which we have agreed. At the centre of this year’s action is the creation of our new campus at Grand-Saconnex: the Campus des Nations. What prompted, some years ago now, the decision to construct a new campus was the growing difficulty experienced by members of the international and local community in finding places for their children within the school. One of the main effects of the new campus should be to reduce pressures on places elsewhere in the Foundation and make it easier in particular for us to find places for whole families when they first arrive in Geneva. Although competition for our places is less severe now than it was a few years ago, and will improve further with the opening of the new campus, there is still a widespread view that it is impossible to get one’s children into the International School. We will be combating this view over the next few months with a media campaign designed to remind people that, after eighty years of service to the Geneva community, we still exist, that we have places, and that we are about to open a splendid new campus. La construction du Grand- Saconnex a maintenant atteint un stade avancé, dans les délais prévus pour son ouverture en septembre 2005, et toujours en parfaite conformité avec le budget annoncé. J’ai mis mon casque de chantier l’autre jour pour faire un tour complet du bâtiment. C’est une construction impressionnante: lumineuse, claire, spacieuse, où il est LA GRANDE BOISSIÈRE • LA CHÂTAIGNERAIE • PREGNY-RIGOT • MIES ECOLINT EXPANDS .... CAMPUS DES NATIONS photo : Sue Anthony SPRING 2005 NEWSLETTER Campus des Nations – March 2005 Nouvelles du Directeur général aisé de se déplacer et de se réunir. Ce sera un cadre stimulant pour les futurs élèves qui y seront instruits. Les étages supérieurs offrent des points de vue magnifiques: au nord, sur le bel arboretum de l’Ambassade du Brésil et au sud, surtout si l’on parvient à faire abstraction (je sais que ce n’est pas facile) du bâtiment du BIT à gauche, sur le Jet d’Eau, les Voirons et le Mont-Blanc. Le nouveau campus inclura le nouveau site de Saconnex et Pregny. Ce dernier accueillera les enfants de 3 à 7 ans (jusqu’au terme de la classe de seconde) et Saconnex, les enfants Dates des Kermesses Mark your Calendars La Grande Boissière : 28 mai 2005 10-12 June 2005: La Châtaigneraie Special Alumni Reunion (see page 4) Pregny-Rigot : 4 juin 2005 La Châtaigneraie : 11 juin 2005 cont’d on page 2 27 – 31 July 2006: Colorado Reunion The members of the Rocky Mountain Ecolint Alumni Chapter are pleased to announce that the 2006 Reunion will be held in the Colorado Rockies at Copper Mountain Resort, Colorado, USA – See you there !! (see page 5) ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2 de 8 ans et plus. La première année, le site de Saconnex recevra des élèves jusqu’à l’âge de 16 ans (classe de 11e), que viendront rejoindre les deux années terminales, successivement en septembre 2006 et en septembre 2007. Pregny subira des transformations au cours de l’été pour offrir des lieux mieux adaptés à des enfants en bas âge. Au bout du compte, ce sont 960 élèves au total qui fréquenteront le campus. At the same time as the new campus opens both Rigot and Mies will close. Both schools have contributed massively to the education provided by the Foundation. Many alumni will have begun their schooling at Rigot and will have fond memories of it. Mies is of course a much more recent addition, but has been a huge success and, in its short history, will also have left behind many lasting memories. We hope to mark the closing of both schools with ceremonies at the end of the school year. One of the major issues facing us in the new campus has been what educational programmes it should adopt. Given the diversity of practice within the existing schools of the Foundation we obviously had a choice. The decision has been to adopt the programmes of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) throughout. We will therefore be following its Primary Years Progamme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and, once the top two years have been added, the IB Diploma. This is highly appropriate, I think, in a school that helped set up the IB Diploma and the IBO, and in a new campus that has as its immediate neighbour the international headquarters of the IBO. The programmes offered at the school will be primarily anglophone, as that is where the greatest demand exists. Pour perpétuer les traditions de bilinguisme de la Fondation, le français fera l’objet d’un enseignement plus poussé qu’une simple langue étrangère. Tous les efforts seront déployés pour que les élèves maîtrisent la langue française à l’heure de quitter l’école. Nous offrirons en plus à tous les élèves de l’école secondaire la possibilité de suivre certaines matières en français si leurs parents le souhaitent. The new campus has a small team already in place planning every aspect of its functioning, headed by the new campus principal Mrs Lesley Stagg. Staff and students are being recruited, resources are being ordered, and a myriad of decisions being made about the timetable and the daily life of the school. The new campus will be different in some respects from any other existing part of the Foundation. Its creation, we hope, will make for livelier debates and exchanges across the whole Foundation. It will be established very firmly, however, within the Ecolint tradition and carry forward all the values and emphases that, over eighty years, have made our school the very distinctive place that it has become. I very much hope that some of you may be able to visit it once it is open and hard hats are no longer de rigueur. Meanwhile we continue to be active on a whole variety of fronts on our existing campuses, not least with plans for a number of major improvement projects. But that will have to be the subject of another newsletter. I wish you all the very best for the remainder of 2005. Elections au Conseil de Fondation – 2005 Elections to the Governing Board – 2005 Les membres souhaitant voter par la poste pour les élections 2005 du Conseil de Fondation doivent remplir et renvoyer le formulaire d’inscription au Bureau des Anciens. Le matériel de vote vous sera envoyé afin que vous puissiez le remplir. L’Assemblée générale consultative du Conseil de Fondation aura lieu le mardi 24 mai 2005 à 20h00 à La Châtaigneraie, Nouveau Bâtiment, 1er étage (Salle Polyvalente 1), chemin de la Ferme, 1297 Founex. Members wishing to vote by post in the 2005 Elections to the Governing Board should complete and return the registration form to the Alumni Office. The voting documention will then be forwarded to you for your completion. The Governing Board Consultative General Assembly will be held on Tuesday, 24 May 2005 at 20h00 at La Châtaigneraie, New Building, 1st floor (Salle Polyvalente 1), chemin de la Ferme, 1297 Founex. Venez nombreux nous rejoindre ! Assemblée générale de l’Association des Anciens Nicholas Tate Director-General La prochaine Assemblée générale de l’Association des Anciens de l’Ecole Internationale de Genève aura lieu à La Grande Boissière le samedi 28 mai 2005 – jour de la Kermesse – à 11 heures, dans l’ancienne bibliothèque devenue l’actuel Salon des Professeurs dans l’Orangerie. A l’issue de cette réunion, vous êtes tous attendus au stand des Anciens pour le traditionnel ‘verre de l’amitié’ offert par le Comité central. 3 ALUMNI NEWSLETTER President’s message DC. The traditional “B.E.E.R” reunion was held at the Pickwick Pub here in Geneva just before Christmas with a good showing of alumni from both La Grande Boissière and La Châtaigneraie campuses. There are also a number of upcoming events, including: The La Châtaigneraie reunion will be held on Friday, 10 June, Saturday, 11 June and perhaps Sunday, 12 June. Please see page 4 for more information and the website is www.lachat.ch. I t’s just over three months since I sat down to write my article for the November Newsletter and I have been asking myself what has changed since then. For the Association, this is a period of necessary reorganisation. Having negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the Foundation (the governing body that runs the three school campuses) we are now starting to put it into practice. Needless to say there are many details that need ironing out but with goodwill on both sides we are making excellent progress. Working closely with the Development Office we have started the onerous task of cleaning and integrating our various databases. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sue Anthony who has been hard at work on what is a very unglamorous but absolutely essential project, since an accurate database is the cornerstone of virtually all our activities. Fortunately the Development Office has recently appointed Christine de Loriol ([email protected]) as communications attaché and she will be adding to the resources of the Alumni Office, focusing in the first instance on the database and then on our next major project, updating the alumni website. The result of all this hard work will be a better more proactive service for our alumni members throughout the world. Despite the time & effort involved in these administrative projects alumni activities have continued a pace thanks to enthusiastic alumni around the world. Successful Escalade dinners were held in Denver, Geneva, London, New York, Sydney, and Washington The LGB class of ’72 are holding an informal get-together in Southampton, UK, this summer on the weekend of July 9-10. The proposed venue is Chilworth Manor (contact Ratko Djukanovic for details R. [email protected]) The Rocky Mountain Ecolint Alumni Chapter of the Alumni Association has announced plans for a reunion next year which will be held the weekend of July 27-31 2006 in the Colorado Rockies at Copper Mountain Resort. (see page 5). For those involved in the International School today the last three months have presented the usual continual challenges. The construction of the Campus des Nations continues according to schedule and is due to open in September this year and will provide much needed places for those students who attend the Pregny Primary School as well as catering for the increasing numbers of students coming to Geneva each year. The existing campuses of La Grande Boissière and La Châtaigneraie are not being ignored though. The Governing Board has approved a major capital development programme to improve facilities on both campuses some of which are badly in need of updating. Given the extent of the program, the Foundation will need to supplement available capital resources with a fundraising campaign. This will be targeted at, amongst others, those of you who would like to help Ecolint improve the quality of the educational facilities offered to today’s students. Of course the International School is not just about bricks and mortar but also about ideas and ideals. One of the strange things about being both a parent of a current student as well as an alumnus is that, while I am very aware of the many changes that have taken place over the years, I also frequently have a sense of déjà-vu which convinces me that the Ecolint spirit is alive and well. Just before Christmas my daughter represented Nicaragua at The Students League of Nations (many of you will remember this as the S.U.N), and talking with her about the experience it was clear that students still struggle to leave their own ideals behind and adopt the rather more pragmatic positions of the countries they represent, and while the SLN now involves more schools it remains much the same institution as it was when Bob Leach founded it back in 1953. In any case change can also be a positive thing. Class 13 have just finished their mock IB exams (remember those?) But while the pre-exam nerves remain the same the International Baccalaureate has changed considerably. When I sat mine in 1972 we were only the second year to sit the full diploma and the concern then was whether sufficient universities would recognize the fledgling system to make it a success. Today the International Baccalaureate is one of the most recognized educational diplomas worldwide its success a lasting testimony to the faith that parents & teachers of the time had in the ideals of an international education. As an active Alumni body we can play a part in keeping the spirit of innovation that led to the creation of the IB alive for future generations. Sam Jarrell/72 Very important !! Alumni Website We urge you to visit our website : www.ecolint-alumni.ch and register with the ONLINE DIRECTORY and the THREE ALUMNI LISTSERVES ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 4 Reunion at La Châtaigneraie 10 - 12 June 2005 Dates for your diary .... Dear Global Alumni and friends, We are getting another Alumni reunion off the road at the LA CHATAIGNERAIE campus!!! The 80’s Alumni have got back together with some vital input from La Chât. staff. Cheers Phil Hill/82, Ian Cogswell-Prince/81 for the students and Béatrice Hoesli, Gus Ritson, Liz Whitehead and Michel Chinal for the Staff (and students of course). The concept is a very relaxed get together over the 2 day period, but orientated around the Kermesse. Friday 10th June: Given the welcome and the ample food last summer, we are returning to the Relais de Chavannes for dinner, the village being just up the road from the campus. Saturday 11th June: Kermesse on campus starting 11h00 with the traditional food stalls, kiddy entertainment, dance shows and plenty to entertain all age groups. The Kermesse will officially be over at 16h00 - but starting at approx. 14h00 and just around the corner, where the former tennis courts were..., lies the Alumni AREA and Alumni with kids area. There will be a Barbecue, drinks, live band and DJ and the time will be ours. We have left the Sunday open for improvisation on a picnic, brunch or any other indecent proposal. If you will be or can be around La Chât. that weekend come along and why not bring some classmates with you. You know, it could be worse than a lazy June weekend staring at Lake Geneva! If you are able to help us join up with other La Chât. alumni, do e-mail this invitation on to them. We are always looking for ‘lost’ alumni and for people to help us coordinate different year groups : if you are interested please contact us at [email protected] . The booking form and hotel information will be available on the website www.ecolint-alumni.ch. Other than that, best wishes, be safe wherever you are and see you in June!!! Leona Godfrey/84 [email protected] photo: Isabelle Albrow/84 Web edition A web edition of this ‘Newsletter’ has been posted on the Alumni website at : www.ecolint-alumni.ch Une version internet de cette ‘Newsletter’ peut être consultée sur le site des anciens : www.ecolintalumni.ch Phil Hill/83, Sarah Lambert/84 and Leona Godfrey/84 GENEVA ESCALADE – for text see page 6 Genève: Luc Hamzavi, Jo Jennings and Isabelle Gilliéron/82 Genève: Arlette d’Amico, Hélène Forneris, Monique Florimond, Les Wise, Marie-Françoise Polliand and Nicholas Tate 5 ALUMNI NEWSLETTER Colorado Reunion 27 - 31 July 2006 Dear Ecolint Community, The Rocky Mountain Ecolint Alumni Chapter is pleased to announce the site and date of the 2006 Ecolint Reunion. It will be the weekend of July 27-31 in the Colorado Rockies at Copper Mountain Resort. Copper is a small mountain resort 90 minutes west of Denver off I-70. Through local Ecolint contacts, we were able to get excellent room/condo rates which will be available from July 24 to August 6 for those interested in pairing the reunion with a family vacation. Included in the room /condo prices are free parking, spa, pool, and workout room. Copper offers a multitude of activities; hiking, horse-back riding, white water rafting, golf, tennis, and shopping. A free shuttle is available to towns in Summit County most notably the historic town of Breckenridge perfect for an afternoon of quaint shops and restaurants and the factory outlet at Silverthorn, an excellent bargain for those powerful Euros. We encourage Ecolinters around the world to mark their calendars and make plans for a memorable reunion with old friends in the Colorado Rockies. For those interested in a virtual tour of Copper please go to: www.coppercolorado.com. If you know of Ecolinters not online or who do not read their emails, please share this information with them. Warmest regards to all, Pennie Aldrich/65 Rocky Mountain Ecolint Chapter Room & Condo Rates available at Copper Mountain Resort Hotel Rooms: Bronze 92.00 Silver 98.00 Gold 106.00 1 Bedroom Condos: Bronze 105.00 Silver 122.00 Gold 130.00 2 Bedroom Condos: Bronze 150.00 Silver 191.00 Gold 220.00 3 Bedroom Condos: Bronze 252.00 Silver 269.00 Gold 289.00 Beds in all hotel rooms and condo bedrooms come in a variety of sizes; king-size, 2 queen-size, 2 doublesize, and 2 twin-size. Reservations for specific sizes are based on availability. All condos have full kitchens and living rooms with queen-size sleeper sofas. Rates are based, per night, on room or condo size NOT OCCUPANCY. Those of us who would like to double, triple, or quadruple up to save money, have that option. Reservations can be made by contacting Copper Mountain via the website given above and identifying yourself with the International School. REUNION FEES Registration $40.00 Events Fee (Friday Evening Reception & Saturday Dinner Dance) $90.00 Registration instructions will be available at a later date. U.S. Midwest States Alumni Group The Alumni Association, together with Sergio Mazza, is trying to encourage the formation of a US Midwest states regional alumni group. The intent is to organize occasional alumni events such as the Escalade dinners that have been such a great success in cities around the world, and possibly a local “kermesse” or a regional alumni reunion. “There are times when it would be wonderful to reconnect with old friends or simply others that have shared the Ecolint experience and still share the spirit, without the need to physically travel back to Switzerland. I attended Escalade dinners in California and New York and would love to see the tradition take hold in Detroit.” – Sergio Mazza /76 LGB. All Ecolint Alumni in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana interested in participating in future local events please contact Sergio at [email protected]. ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 6 Around the World with the Escalade December 2004 Denver Geneva London: Breaking the marmite: Felicity Clemens, Michaelene Stack, Sundiatu Dixon-Fyle and Roger Murray. Photos de l’Escalade à Genève page 4 London: l. to r.: Agnes de Guzman and husband Antonio Borges, Joanna Clemens, Nicolas Bonard, Robin Dormer, Nick Hembrow. London: Agnes de Guzman and husband Antonio Borges, Joanna and Felicity Clemens. Former and present administration and teaching staff joined the alumni for the traditional Alumni Escalade dinner held on 8 December in the cafeteria at La Grande Boissière. We were about 90 present and it was as usual an opportunity for the Alumni to thank those teachers who retired in 2004 after many years service. Sam Jarrell presided over the festivities, Dr. Nicholas Tate graciously presented the honorary diplomas, and Luc Hamzavi took us through the stirring events of 1602 in masterly style. Thanks as ever to Jo Jennings for leading us in the Escalade victory songs. Richard Vyvyan/01 Les anciens et actuels membres de l’administration et les professeurs nous ont rejoint pour le traditionnel dîner de l’Escalade qui s’est déroulé à la cafétéria de La Grande Boissière. Avec près de 90 participants, ce dîner était à nouveau l’occasion pour les anciens de remercier les professeurs qui ont pris leur retraite en 2004 après de nombreuses années d’enseignement. Sam Jarrell a présidé les festivités, Dr. Nicholas Tate a remis les diplômes honorifiques et Luc Hamzavi nous emmena magistralement dans les événements passionnants de 1602. Encore un grand merci à Jo Jennings de nous avoir guidés dans les chansons victorieuses de l’Escalade. Photos : Nick Hembrow/81 The annual Denver Escalade was held once again at the clubhouse of Bruce Barta’s /73 in-laws. The group was treated to a combination cheese - meat fondue dinner. The highlight of the evening was as usual the singing of Escalade songs, and the breaking of our Geneva marmite. Breakers this year were Sonny Massey, mother of Judy Ackerman/70, Lori Ackerman/73 and Marloes Miller/95. In addition to our regular gathering we also had an out of state guest from Washington, Judy Howenstine/65. Judy enjoyed the evening so much she vowed to check out the Seattle group next Escalade. A very festive evening was had by all and we look forward to next year’s Escalade. Pennie Aldrich/65 London The recently-formed UK alumni chapter organised an extremely enjoyable Escalade dinner at the St Moritz restaurant in London’s Soho district on Wednesday, 8 December. It had been quite a few years since any such event had been held in the UK and all who took part were agreed that it should become a regular event in future. Chapter members Agnes de Guzman/90 and Nicolas Bonard/89 ably organised the dinner, attended by some 15 UK-based alumni and their partners. It was especially nice that the participants were more recent Ecolint graduates, along with a few older stagers! The UK chapter was also delighted that Ecolint’s new development director, Michaelene Stack, was able to come from Geneva especially to take part. This gave her a first opportunity to meet a group of alumni in a social setting and judging by the animated conversation that marked her part of the table they enjoyed the chance of meeting her so soon after she had taken on the job formerly held by Scott Lane. The other participants included Roger Murray/67, Robin Dormer/ 68, Nick Hembrow/81 plus wife Penny, Helen Storckmeijer/89 and her partner, Sundiatu Dixon-Fyle/86, Fabrice Bourelly/90, Laura Anson/ 90 plus partner Jay, Agnes’ husband Antonio Borges, Joanna Clemens/90 and her younger sister Felicity/92. The St Moritz is the only Swiss restaurant in central London and therefore the ideal venue for such an event – Swiss cheese fondue was, unsurprisingly, the menu choice for most, although Bratwurst sausages and rösti was another popular choice. The large Marmite sent over by the Alumni Office – many were pleased Sue had chosen dark rather than milk chocolate – was broken in traditional manner by the oldest and youngest at the table, respectively Roger and Felicity. The chocolate and marzipan vegetables all disappeared in about 5 minutes – most had chosen not to take a dessert to leave enough room! Roger Murray/67 7 New York Sydney Washington DC Sydney Alumni celebrated Escalade at the University and Schools Club - where I think we are regarded as the most exotic of the members on December 10, 2004. Those who braved the weather - Marcus Sherwood arrived by motorbike, dripping wet - (“It was a dark and stormy night...”) and savoured the marzipan provided by the Alumni Association included: Alex Buzo/62, Janet Dawson/74, Robert Horninge/74, Fiona Manning/ 83, Susan Norbom/80, Ariella Ryner/ 92, Christine Sherwood/80, Marcus Sherwood/79 and Ann Tothill/79. Alex Buzo/62 The 2004 Washington DC Escalade Reunion for the International School of Geneva took place on December 11 2004 at “The Melting Pot” - the one restaurant in the region that serves fondue. The Alumni Association kindly went to great lengths to send us an authentic commemorative chocolate ‘Marmite’. Attendees – some accompanied by guests, spouses or children were: Franz Oppenheimer/37 LGB, Patty Moran Steelman/63 LGB, David Williams/68 LGB, Shanta Devarajan/ 71 LGB, Yukiko Omura/73 LGB, Jeff Berkin/74 LGB, Alexander Smouha/84 LGB, Jacien Carr/85 LGB, Tom Taylor/86 LGB, Nathalie Albrow-Kavalier/91 La Chât, Vanessa Camilleri/91 LGB and Erin Emerson/ 97 La Chât. Alexander Smouha/84 Washington DC: Photos : Rock Brynner/63 Ecolint NE Alumni held its Escalade bash on December 13, 2004 in New York City at our favorite wine-cellarlike location, the back room of French restaurant, Tout Va Bien. The event was extremely well attended by a combination of regulars and new members, some of whom have just moved here. It was a great, fun-filled evening to catch up on news, make new acquaintances and celebrate the 402nd anniversary of Escalade! The marmite, kindly supplied by the Alumni Association in Geneva, was smashed per tradition. Peggy Troupin/60 ALUMNI NEWSLETTER New York: l. to r. facing us: Jane Sharp, Steve Tobias, Peggy Troupin, Madeleine Howenstine l. to r. back to us: Robert Hobbs (husband of Jean Crutchfield), Judy Thomas, Ellen Schwartz Photos : Alexander Smouha/84 New York: l. to r. facing us: Madeleine Howenstine, Hélène Potter, Liz Frank, Charles Potter l. to r. backs to us: Judy Thomas, Ellen Sherman Schwartz, Jerry Schwartz, Riva Freifeld, Jean Crutchfield (Jerry and Riva face us in the mirror) New York: l.: Karl Cerni, Amir Mehdiza (hidden by Karl) r.: Lorena Cerni, …., Jens Krummel Our thanks to the Organizers of these Escalade dinners...... ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 8 Campus News – La Châtaigneraie Photo : Sabah Al-Basri Salman l’école une étude de déclassement est en cours. La réunion des anciens, prévue au moment de la Kermesse le week-end du 11 juin, sera, je l’espère l’occasion de renouer des liens. C’est avec plaisir que je me joindrai à vous la soirée du 11 juin. Je vous invite donc à vous contacter mutuellement et je vous encourage à faire le déplacement. Le comité vous conseillera sur les possibilités de logement. Michel Chinal Directeur du Campus From the 2005 ‘La Châtaigneraie’ Governing Board Report : Secondary School at La Châtaigneraie : ‘This year has seen another step in our gradual move towards increasing the level of bilingualism in the school. The Bilingual Maturité was offered for the first time this year and much preparation has been done to be ready to teach the Humanities subjects in English. Exam results have been very good this year.’ Vie de l’Ecole ‘Les compétitions sportives, grâce à l’apport d’un budget spécial et Photo : Sue Anthony La Fondation de l’Ecole Internationale de Genève fête son 80e anniversaire. La Châtaigneraie a rejoint l’Ecole Internationale en 1971 soit 34 ans de vie commune. Fondée en 1908 la Châtaigneraie a connu une histoire plus mouvementée et bien qu’il y ait encore des visites d’anciens de la période pré-écolint, il est difficile de pouvoir constituer une association des anciens de la Châtaigneraie depuis sa création. Nous avons d’ailleurs actuellement très peu d’archives sur la période de 1908 à 1971. Une histoire de cette période serait intéressante à écrire. C’est la raison pour laquelle je fais un appel à toute personne en possession de documents sur cette période. Je tiens à remercier Mme Meyhoffer pour les photos quelle m’a communiquées. Ainsi que M. Sheppard (USA) pour les documents remis lors de son passage. Les anciens de la Châtaigneraie ont parfois de la peine à trouver leur place dans la structure actuelle de l’Association des Anciens. Un groupe s’est récemment constitué pour relancer, redynamiser l’association. L’objectif n’est pas de faire une sécession, mais de constituer une fédération des anciens. Avec Internet il est plus facile de reconstituer un réseau il faudrait que 2 anciens par décade s’attellent à la tâche. Un site indépendant à été ouvert par un ancien Ian Cogswell-Prince. D’autre part, je vous invite à consulter le site www.ecolint.ch de l’école qui vous donne régulièrement des nouvelles. Le campus est en pleine mutation. L’annexe de Mies qui avait été ouverte en 1999 va fermer à la fin de cette année scolaire avec l’ouverture du nouveau Campus des Nations au GrandSaconnex. Je vous communique cidessous des extraits du rapport annuel établi pour le Conseil de Fondation. Parmi les grandes innovations, il faut rappeler l’adoption du programme primaire de l’office du Baccalauréat International pour les écoles primaires, l’introduction de la Maturité suisse bilingue, la construction d’un terrain de football artificiel et l’organisation d’un concours d’architectes pour la construction d’une nouvelle salle de sport. La rénovation de l’ancien bâtiment suit son cours et suite à l’achat d’un terrain de 17.000m2 en face de d’une nouvelle coordinatrice sont en plein essor. Nos élèves participent aux rencontres internationales (ISST), nationales (SGIS, ADISR) ou locales. Nous participons essentiellement pour le football, le basket, le crosscountry, le rugby, le minihockey et le badminton, le ski et le tennis.’ ‘La récente Ligue des Nations des Etudiants (LNE, SLN) a réuni 15 écoles dans la grande salle de l’ONU à Genève. Les débats ont été focalisés sur les problèmes sensibles du moment : gestion mondiale de l’eau potable, le rôle du Conseil de sécurité dans les crises internationales, les relations israélo-palestiniennes, la lutte contre le terrorisme, la légalisation de l’euthanasie.’ Terrain de football synthétique à La Chât. 9 Pour la première fois dans l’histoire de La Châtaigneraie des élèves de la section francophone ont exposé leurs travaux artistiques de diplôme. En effet, en septembre 2004, trois étudiants de la première volée de la nouvelle Maturité Suisse : Fiona MacFarquar, Mélanie Borès et Kai Pham, trois anciens à présent, ont passé avec grand succès leurs examens finaux en option spécifique Arts Visuels, un programme qui ressemble beaucoup à celui des Arts du BI. Ils ont exposé leurs travaux dans la poterie, métamorphosée pour l’occasion en galerie et la soirée fut un grand succès, les anciens étudiants ayant pu expliquer avec brio leur cheminement artistique à leurs anciens professeurs, leur famille et leurs amis. Le département des Arts Visuels de La Châtaigneraie a bien grandi depuis son séjour dans la sympathique petite maison à côté des courts de tennis, il occupe à présent une grande partie du rez-de-chaussée du vieux bâtiment ; la cafétéria, la cuisine et les anciens frigos, certains bureaux ayant été réaménagés en ateliers, sans pour autant perdre leur architecture si particulière, les formes des fenêtres, de certaines portes ayant été respectées et une ancienne fenêtre « œil de bœuf » ayant été redécouverte et mise en évidence. Chaque année le département organise quelques expositions, celle des étudiants BI en mars-avril, maintenant les diplômés Maturité Suisse en octobre, et, selon les envies et les idées, de petites expositions thématiques comme cette année les travaux inspirés par l’Afrique, pendant la semaine africaine et les autoportraits après les vacances de Pâques. Les travaux IGCSE sont mis en évidence chaque année dans le hall d’entrée du Centre MultiMédia. Aimeriez-vous être tenu au courant de ces manifestations ? N’hésitez pas à nous contacter et nous vous ajouterons avec plaisir à notre liste : [email protected] Béatrice Hoesli Message from the Executive Committee of the Student Council (La Chât.) Le comité Exécutif du Conseil des Elèves se compose des présidents du Conseil des Elèves – Ashley Oldacre, Dylan Boynton et Mylene Maillard, le secrétaire, Evan Boggs, et du Trésorier, Sridhar Tamminayana. Already we find ourselves in March, with less than half the school year remaining, and it feels like we’ve only just gotten started. Elected last June, it seems we have worked tirelessly to uphold the legacy of our predecessors and improve on that which we deemed lacking in past administrations. Our main goals for the year are that of bettering the everyday life of the students we serve and improving the system of the Student Council itself. By this summer we hope to have created something worthwhile to pass onto the next generation of the La Châtaigneraie Student Council. Yet less than eight months ago we found ourselves sitting around a table discussing just what it was we hoped to achieve during our term of office. Each year the Executive Committee goes through an initial period of tentative plans and projects as they work to assemble a group of committed, intelligent Committee Heads and construct a preliminary list of events, projects and overall goals. This period occupied a major part of June and September as we quickly learned that organizing Council-wide meetings and small-scale projects proved more difficult than initially expected. Our first test as an effective student organization truly came in early November with the Junior Halloween Dance. Hiccups were minor, and overall we now consider the night to be a success. We were now into our stride, with a pair of fundraising events following hot on the heels of the dance and accompanied by the newly invented Activities Week – seven days worth of hilarious costumes and exceptionally unusual hairstyles. A pair of dances – one held at school and the other in an upscale Genevoise hotel – and the annual sale of roses on St. Valentine’s Day brought us into late February, as major planning for the Bal des Neiges got underway. The yearly Fashion Show is also fast approaching, and yet few of our fellow Student Council officers seem overtly anxious. The workings of the Council have become ‘business as usual’ as we move into spring, and we hope for this steady stream of events and improvements to continue well into the summer. At this point our greatest success has been the fact that students now view the Council as an active, informative body rather than a ragtag band of students pulling together every once in a while to get a dance planned. I would say that our being considered a positive force within the La Châtaigneraie community is proof that we’re doing our job right. Photo : Philippe-André Kzink Nouvelles du Département des Arts Visuels de La Châtaigneraie ALUMNI NEWSLETTER Département des Arts Visuels (La Chât.): Exposition B.I. ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 10 Campus News La Grande Boissière Jean-Guy Carpentier Campus Principal LGB Gates Physical Education Department Sports Field Many of you will remember the mud-baths and wet feet suffered due to the poor drainage of the Sports Field. Well, we have been working hard to find funding to remedy the drainage problem and re-configure the whole Sports Field. Thanks to a very generous donation of CHF 500’000, we can now go ahead with this project. The final proposal was brought before the CDG for review on February 23. All components of the project received strong support. It is hoped that the work may take place over the summer 2005. The target is that the facilities will be available for the students at the beginning of the school year 2005-2006. Voici l’équipe senior de foot de LGB, qui a participé et gagné le tournoi indoor soccer de la SGIS (Swiss Group of International Schools) le 21 Novembre 2004. Elle est accompagnée par son entraîneur, M. Boudehane . Re-naming the Reception/ Guidance building Following wide consultation, several names were put forward to the CDG for their views concerning renaming the old Guidance/Reception building. With a strong consensus Photo : Alfonso Fojo At LGB we had an unfortunate start to the second term. The magnificent XVIIIthC entrance gates were badly damaged by a truck driver who misjudged the height of his truck. The wrought-iron gate, crosspiece, stone pillar and urn suffered the consequences of this error of judgement. It is the first time that the gates have suffered such damage. However this is not the first time that they have been dismounted. In 1965 the gates and pillars were taken down to allow a better flow of traffic. Fortunately a preservation order ensured that they would not be destroyed. In 1978 the gates were reinstated (in a different location) thanks to the perseverance of Madame Vicky Stereva, an alumna who also persuaded the authorities to restore the elegant edifice. Considerable restoration work will have to be carried out to bring the gates and pillars back to their original splendour. We are liaising with the state to see that this is done as quickly as possible. the CDG considered that this building should keep its original name, which was unfortunately lost somewhere in the history of our school. It was felt that since the Foundation Strategic Plan calls for greater sharing of our school history with the school community, it would be appropriate to keep this historical element. From now on, we will refer to this building as “La Ferme”. Photos : Pablo Lopez Dear LGB Alumni, Le football féminin est une activité très importante à LGB. Ici on peut voir l’équipe de football senior qui, après avoir gagné le tournoi scolaire à Genève, a participé à la finale de la Coupe Suisse à Berne. L’équipe est accompagnée par Sue Kline, la responsable du succès du football féminin à l’école. 11 What’s going on in the Theatre Arts Department : Photo : Edmundo Timm Main School production (English) : Musical ‘Blood Brothers’ – all years. LGB Theatre : 27-30 April – 19h30 Fashion Show – all years – LGB Theatre 26-28 May – 19h30 and 31 May – year 12, IB Theatre Arts evening performance – year 12 – LGB Theatre 2 –3 June, 19h30 Marshall Sapherson Head Theatre Arts Vernissage : Class 13 IB Visual Arts Photos : Alfonso Fojo An excellent evening was spent with the Class 13 IB Visual Arts students, and Stephen Preece, on 23 March in the Visual Arts department. This was a celebration of the termination of three days of examinations. The students presented their Research Workbooks, Studio Work and explained their work to a large group of visitors. Thank you, Class 13 students. LGB Boarding Students of the 60’s : We found this photograph of the Boarders in the mid 60’s period. There are many we can identify, but if you recognize yourself or other friends, please get in contact with us – alumni@ecolint. ch From your Boarding House ‘parents’ of long ago…….. Two LGB Exchange Programmes : L’échange Laflèche/Ecolint A l’initiative d’Hélène Dupuis, professeur de français au Collège Laflèche, à Trois- Rivières, au Québec, nous avons organisé un échange pédagogique et culturel entre des élèves préparant le BI . Dix élèves de classe 12 de français A1 ou A2 du secondaire de La Grande Boissière sont partis avec deux professeurs de cette discipline, Marie-Claire Vigneau-Ribal et Martine Maudet vers les neiges du Québec et les glaces du Saint-Laurent, pendant les vacances de février 2005. Là-bas, nous avons été reçus comme des rois. Nous avons découvert un système scolaire complètement différent, même si l’examen final est le même. En effet, au CEGEP, sorte de pont entre la fin des études secondaires et l’Université, des étudiants, sélectionnés sur la base d’une réussite académique pendant leur scolarité obligatoire, préparent le BI sur deux filières, l’une à dominante scientifique et l’autre à dominante littéraire. L’une des grandes surprises, pour nos élèves, fut de constater qu’au Collège Laflèche, tous les étudiants étaient québécois, et qu’on pouvait vivre sans téléphone portable greffé dans la main. Nos étudiants logeaient dans les familles des correspondants, nous allions en cours le matin et nous visitions la région l’après-midi. Après cette semaine de découvertes, les Québécois sont venus à Genève. Ils furent reçus chez leurs correspondants désormais amis et nous avons fonctionné de la même manière, alternant cours et visites. L’une des grande surprises, pour les Québécois, fut de constater que tous les étudiants n’étaient pas suisses. En somme, cette extraordinaire aventure a été un grand succès, sur tous les plans. En effet, à l’Ecole ALUMNI NEWSLETTER Internationale, nous parlons beaucoup de nos diverses cultures, mais finalement, nous évoluons tous dans une sorte de « culture » commune : celle de l’Ecolint. Avec cette expérience, étudiants et professeurs ont vécu un véritable échange culturel et pédagogique. L’un des participants m’a confié : « J’ai plus appris avec ces 15 jours d’échange qu’en 15 ans d’école ». Merci à tous ceux qui, de près ou de loin, ont rendu ce projet réalisable. Merci à tous ceux qui croient que la pédagogie peut aussi se vivre extra muros .... Marie-Claire Vigneau-Ribal Mauritius Exchange Programme The exchange to Mauritius was felt to be a good idea from many points of view - first of all we would be establishing ties with the first International School on the island of Mauritius and the International School of Geneva. Le Bocage International School, like ourselves, offers the IB Diploma Programme. In the February break a small group of students came to Geneva and were hosted by our LGB students. Several activities were arranged for them including a visit to CERN, the UN and ICRC, a trip to Chamonix and visits to museums in Geneva as well as a guided tour of the Cathedral and La Vieille Ville. They spent two days in school experiencing different lessons and on their final evening we all went out for a fabulous fondue. The return visit will take place at Easter 2005 – and will be hosted by families in Mauritius. We’ll let you know how it goes …. in the next alumni ‘Newsletter’ …. Jane McKenzie ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 12 What’s New With You ? Just what have you been doing since you left the different campuses? Have any novel and exciting things happened in your personal and professional life? If so, please let us know and we will try to include your contribution in future editions of the Alumni ‘Newsletter’. We keep the ball rolling with news from Pablo O. Canziani, graduated 1977 Profile: Pablo O. Canziani Graduation from La Grande Boissière in 1977. Some perspectives from the South of South America Good Lord! 28 years have gone by since the Graduation Ceremony at the Thônex Townhall (it was raining) and the Senior Prom on one of the wheelboats of the Compagnie Genevoise de Navigation. That means I am 45 and some of the more recent members of the Alumni community are thinking ‘Help, more dithering from another oldtimer’. And yet… and yet I feel great and I feel young, as if only a few years had gone by since my 9 years at Ecolint: Doris Rushton, M. Thedy, Mr. Quin, Mr Dorsay, Mme Bonhomme, Mme Rivoire, the Unitts, the Anthonys, Mr Sharpe, Mr Montgomery, Mr Bonnan, Mr Phillips, Mr Thomas and so many others. I feel young and active not just because I am doing what I like. It is so because I learnt about keeping an open mind and heart, starting with the efforts requested and expected from us at Ecolint, and continuing with many difficulties over the years a war between the UK and Argentina, because people at the helm in both countries, one a dictator, the other an elected Prime Minister, each had their own petty reasons which needed an expensive and deadly circus to remain in power rather than discuss and negotiate the issue as requested by the UN since the sixties, the sacrifices of my fellow citizens and the glorious return to democracy in 1983, hyperinflation and unemployment (yes, I too was unemployed for a while), the dismantling of my country through the blunders and corruption of its very own politicians, together with the connivance of some others from abroad and institutions that ´helped´, supporting behind the scenes corrupt practices to their benefit while supposedly preaching ´transparency´ and ‘globalization’(one way only please, mind you) with a tinge of superiority, the untimely death of my mother… I learnt how important it is to remain young in mind and heart to lead my young doctoral students and junior scientist, to transfer them the patience and enthusiasm for the job and the good things in their life choice, despite our local problems and difficulties. I know, above all, how important it is to remain young and enthusiastic for my wife and children. A brief chronology… In 1985 I finally earned my MSc. in Physics at the University of Buenos Aires and married beautiful Mercedes, an art teacher, friend and spouse. Our first son, Tomás was born in 1986, as I started my PhD in Physics, specializing in Geophysics, while working at the Naval Research Service. My mother died in 1987 after suffering multiple schlerosis for over 10 years, and some time later we lost a child during pregnancy. In 1989 our first girl, Julieta, was born and in early 1991 I earned my PhD. By September 1992 I was a PostDoc Fellow at the University of Washington, Seattle, under Prof. Jim Holton, a great scientist and an even greater person. We stayed there for almost 2 years, while I worked as a member of the NASA UARS Science Team (Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite). There, due to the partial failure of the satellite instrument whose data I was going to work with, a momentous change in my career occurred. I began research on the issues of ozone depletion and climate dynamics and change. While in Seattle my wife introduced me to camping, which has become a family activity ever since. Furthermore the Cascades scenery and a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, triggered the shutterbug in me, and photography has been a part of me ever since. Our last camping adventure this year was a trip to Bariloche at the northern end of the Patagonian Andes, almost 1800km away from Buenos Aires. At the time we faced a difficult choice. We could stay in the US, where probably I would lead a good scientific career, not necessarily brilliant but reasonably good and well paid. Or we could return home, avoid the pain of being foreigners for the rest of our lives, in particular for our children and for the family, but have a more difficult evolution in my career and economy. Yet at the same time back home we would contribute to development of our country and recovery of its selfrespect. We opted for the second, more difficult path: nor my wife nor me, despite many difficulties including a significant bout with ill-health for my wife, regret our choice. Prof. Holton kindly provided his support for this enterprise and kept me as a member of the UARS Science Team for a number of years. Shortly after our return our youngest daughter, Maria Paula was born. I joined CONICET, the National Research Council of Argentina and slowly opened a professional path for my work and my scientific ideas. My research includes data analysis from NASA, ESA and Argentine satellites, as well as modeling in cooperation with universities in UK, Italy, Canada, Germany and the US. Foreign recognition for our results came along and I have been involved in Vienna Convention (Ozone layer) activities, in the last two U.N. State of the Ozone Depletion Assessments and special assessments for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as co-author and one of the representatives of the South American scientific community in the field. I am a member of the Steering Committee for one of the World Climate Research Programme projects (SPARC) and have actively worked to bring scientific meetings and expertise to the South of South America, to help develop the scientific capabilities in the region and to share our own activities with the rest of the 13 world. Despite the worn out, almost caricature-like image many people in the First World still have about South America, many things are happening in the fields of science and the arts, and the exchange of ideas and the sharing of cultures and values is after all what the true globalization is about. Since last July I lead, at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina a new programme which includes physicists, chemists, engineers and meteorologists in an interdisciplinary effort, which in the future will include researchers from the Social Sciences and Economy, in order to study climate related global change issues in an integral approach. A further goal is to contribute to the development of a scientific research tradition at this university. A last and proud milestone, my eldest son is starting to study Architecture next month. Since our return home I have been active in what we call ‘extension’ activities. This means that as member as CONICET we have to interact with the media to inform society on our research results. Since ozone depletion and climate change are major social issues down here (Chile and Argentina share the dubious honor of having each spring the Antartic Ozone Hole fly over their southern territories and populations). Thus I won a national journalism prize back in 1998 for a three part serial article on the ozone issue. Occasionally I also write opinion articles for La Nacion, one of the major newspapers in Spanish, referring to Science and Technology and their role in society and sustainable development, as well as on environmental issues. Seeing what we use in our research and realizing how damning the current trend is in the global society as well as in its relation to the environment it is impossible to remain quiet. Together with camping and photography (I always travel with my camera), I continue with my passion for trains. I am currently trying to start work again, this time with my children, on model railroading (CFF of course). It has become terribly expensive but then that is an added challenge to manufacture everything yourself. As an anti-stress activity, but as joint activity with Mercedes as well, we have been taking tango lessons for a while now. To those who know me as a person not very much in touch with bodily activities this is probably surprising! It is not the old Valentino style, nor the stage version better known abroad. It is the classic and popular Argentine ‘milonguero’ style, which is now becoming known in far away places as Japan, Finland or Germany. Tango is undergoing a major rebirth here, and it is a very pleasant way to exercise, specially for couples. None of you can imagine the pleasure of stretching a crumpled backbone, to the rhythm of Tango, embracing your wife, after many hours in front of a computer screen. Bear with me through one more important issue in recent years. During December 2001 the level of years of compounded political ineptitude, together with the weight and pressure of the questioned and questionable foreign debt and the internal social debt reached a dangerous level in my country. In a surprising peaceful civil uprising society forced many changes, while respecting democracy, and a new period began. Despite the goodwill of the people, we came too dangerously close to a civil war, but somehow or other that was avoided. At the time the UN Office in Argentina and the Catholic Church launched a special programme, known as the Argentine Dialogue, to mediate and promote the exchanges between the different parts of our society and with the politicians. Over the next year this process evolved to the point that it is now jointly chaired by over 40 social organizations, including the Catholic Church, Jewish organizations, Protestant entities, Muslim communities, human rights groups, Argentine YMCA and YWCA, etc. Specific consultative working groups were created to develop, through open democratic debate and social consensus, blueprints for State Policies on such diverse issues as housing, judiciary reform, health, transparency policies for political parties, etc. These consensus based concepts represent the baseline which all political parties must engage to respect. Once major guidelines are established the working groups interact with the government and national Congress to reach the implementation phase. Progress at this stage can be painfully slow as many old political and business habits die hard. For the first time presidential debates, albeit non-televised, were held in Argentina under the sponsorship of the Dialogue. As chair of the Science and Technology ALUMNI NEWSLETTER working group I participated in many of these town meetings. I must say it has been a fascinating experience, particularly since the debates were co-chaired for example by a rabbi and a sheik, a bishop and a rabbi or a pastor and a sheik, etc, side by side, in an example of mutual respect and tolerance. Forcing politicians to try to be transparent at least for a while was interesting. The UN is studying the evolution of this democratic tool and is promoting its use in other countries undergoing stress and crisis under democratic systems. Last year the Argentine Branch of the B’nia Brith awarded the Argentine Dialogue and its members their human rights for their work in helping restore democracy and its institutions in this country. The members of our working group are active scientists, lawyers and development economists with diverse experience. We work with the various science and technology models currently operating in different countries, in order to rebuild the once excellent science tradition in this country. We do not do this in our free time for fun. We are mostly overworked, underpaid researchers, many of whom also teach at different universities, doing research with threadbare grants in order to compete in the international arena. We do this for the sake of a better country and, why not, a better world, where democracy and dialogue and real tolerance can become a way of life, and the respect for others a trademark in a wide variety of activities, including international affairs and maybe, some day, even in the world of business. Daydreaming? May be...and so? After all, why not? Let’s return to the beginning of these lines: youth is not so much about wealth or external revamping through surgery, miracle creams, botox, whatever. Youth is about the heart and about being happy with what one is, has and does. It is about ideals, it is about caring, it is about love. It is about always working to make this a better place for us and for others. Youth is about learning from mistakes and failure and yet not giving up. Youth is about opening new and better paths. ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 14 Retirements Pregny Rigot Ted Weldon (1974-2004) Ted started working at the United Nations School (now Pregny-Rigot) in September 1974. The director of the school at that time was Joyce Wakenshaw. She told me that it was unusual to have an application from a man to teach Class 2, but as many of the children had fathers who were often away from home she decided that the influence of a male teacher in the classroom of such young children would prove to be a real advantage. Ted went on to teach Class 2 for more than 20 years, so clearly Joyce was right in thinking that employing a man to teach young children was a good idea. In 1997 Ted moved down to Rigot to teach the Primary Reception class. He was much appreciated by the parents, who found their young children were having a unique experience being taught by “the man-teacher” as the little ones called him. There are very many happy and amusing memories of Ted, which were recalled, fondly, by both colleagues and former students at the time of his retirement last summer. Many remembered the stories Ted used to tell his class, mostly very “tall” stories, but all too believable. At any rate, he told them in such a way that his class were never entirely sure, but they loved the sensation of being just a little bit scared, especially when it was a trusted and loved teacher who was telling the stories. Former students spoke about Pumpkin the rabbit, which roamed freely around the classroom, ate any snack that was (accidentally) dropped on the floor and loved to join in class activities. They also recalled with amusement Mr. Weldon’s incredibly loud sneezes which used to rock his classroom and the Central Space and which featured prominently in many an End of Year assembly when the Class 6 students shared their memories of life at Pregny. In 1976, Ted’s future wife Keeney Ryan joined us at Pregny on a oneyear exchange. They surprised us all by getting married in August 1978. We were so delighted that Ted brought Keeney into the International School family, and as colleagues and friends we spent many happy times with them both, until her untimely passing after a long and courageous struggle against cancer in 2001. We did our best to support Ted during her illness and grieved with him, because she was such a wonderfully talented and devoted teacher and a truly loyal and caring friend who left us much too soon. Ted was also a long-serving Staff Representative, who worked tirelessly on various committees over a number of years to ensure that the working conditions of the staff were respected. We thank him for his sterling efforts on our behalf and wish him a long and contented retirement. Sandra Oakley La Châtaigneraie Monique Florimond (1984-2004) Depuis la rentrée 2004, les choses ne sont plus tout à fait comme avant à l’Ecole Primaire de la Châtaigneraie: Monique Florimond, enseignante des classes 6, a pris sa retraite. Monique était une de ces personnalités marquantes de notre communauté scolaire et son absence se fait fortement sentir. Au début de sa carrière Monique a cherché de nouvelles frontières au Canada. Ensuite, après quelques années à l’Ecole Active Bilingue de Paris, elle a enseigné dans une école internationale en Suisse. Elle a finalement trouvé sa place à La Châtaigneraie où elle a marqué tant d’élèves pendant 20 ans. Nous étions très attachés à sa forte personnalité, une personnalité nourrie aussi par une vaste culture et sa passion pour l’enseignement, choses qu’elle savait faire partager. Monique aimait être en classe avec ses élèves, allant jusqu’à refuser une réduction de sa charge d’enseignante en compensation de son travail de coordinatrice du programme francophone, travail qu’elle accomplit avec son efficacité caractéristique. Attachée à des convictions et principes qu’elle savait défendre haut et fort, son engagement constant contribuait à animer les assemblées et réunions où elle n’hésitait pas à rappeler à l’ordre collègues, parents, voire directeurs qui déviaient tant soit peu de sa vision des choses (Gare à celui ou celle qui ne remettait pas l’agrafeuse à sa place !). Les réunions, les pauses dans la salle des professeurs ne sont malheureusement plus tout à fait les mêmes depuis son départ et nombreux sont tous ces petits évènements et détails de la vie scolaire qui ne manquent pas de régulièrement nous rappeler l’absence d’une chère et très respectée collègue. Fine gastronome mais aussi défenseur passionné de la culture francophone et de la langue française, sa curiosité envers les autres et sa soif de lecture des littératures du monde étaient restées insatiables. Au travers de ses récits de voyage, de ses connaissances et passions, elle nous enrichissait de ses enthousiasmes. Pas pour elles des numéros ou noms banals pour des locaux – nous avons des salles qui s’appellent ‘Les Impressionnistes’ ou encore ‘Les Lumières’. Son dynamisme et son rayonnement nous manqueront beaucoup. Désormais elle va mettre son énergie et ses talents au service de ses loisirs (bien mérités). Nous espérons toutefois qu’elle continuera à nous faire partager ses découvertes et sa vision des choses tout en maniant la langue de Molière avec esprit et habileté comme elle savait si bien le faire. Ann Le Diraison Hélène Forneris (1972-2004) 32 ans de carrière dans la même institution laissent des traces sur la personne sans doute mais aussi sur l’institution. Normalienne confirmée, Hélène en 1972 se laisse tenter par l’expérience d’un poste à l’étranger par le biais d’un détachement de l’éducation nationale française. Il s’agissait à l’époque de relancer un collège que l’Ecole Internationale de Genève venait d’acquérir. En y faisant carrière, Hélène a largement contribué à la renaissance, au développement et au succès de notre campus de la Châtaigneraie. Je tiens à la remercier pour ces 32 ans de collaboration. 15 Le parcours d’Hélène est exemplaire : elle a mené de front les multiples facettes du métier d’éducatrice. Comme professeur, elle a enseigné le français, l’histoire et la géographie. Elle a préparé des volées d’élèves au Brevet des Collèges et à l’option français B du Baccalauréat International. Ella a introduit les examens de français comme langue étrangère du DELF et du DALF. La préparation régulière des pièces de théâtre était le prolongement naturel de son enseignement. Maîtresse de classe pendant toutes les années, elle a conduit les conseils de classe « d’une main de fer dans un gant de velours » pour reprendre un commentaire d’élève. Organisatrice hors pair de la traditionnelle course d’école annuelle, elle a fait découvrir entre autre les volcans d’Auvergne, les gravures rupestres du Val Camonica et surtout Venise, sa destination préférée. Innovatrice, Hélène a testé les nouvelles méthodes de grammaire et surtout elle a participé à l’introduction de l’informatique dans le département de français dont elle a été la coordinatrice pendant plusieurs années. Enfin, pendant les 7 dernières années, Hélène a partagé son énergie entre l’enseignement et le département de la guidance, autre prolongement naturel de la salle de classe vers l’université ou la vie active. Créatrice, elle a mis en place des stages en entreprise d’une semaine pour les élèves de 11e. D’un tempérament bien trempé et maniant le verbe avec brio, Hélène a toujours tenu sa place dans les différentes commissions de travail et autres comités dont notre école est coutumière, n’hésitant pas à manifester vertement ses désaccords. Hélène a fait valoir ses droits à la retraite anticipée. Les mots utilisés par les élèves et ses collègues lors des incontournables cérémonies de départ ne trompent pas sur les qualités du personnage, chacun y est allé de sa trouvaille pour faire une fête joyeuse d’une rupture qui n’est jamais anodine. Nous attendons maintenant que Hélène accepte de servir dans le nouveau comité créé pour relancer l’association des anciens. Bonne retraite Hélène. Michel Chinal Directeur du Campus de la Châtaigneraie Important : Tributes to Mme Piera Bonada, Mme Arlette d’Amico and M. Roman Tomzack, who retired from La Châtaigneraie in August 2004, will be given in the next Alumni ‘Newsletter’. La Grande Boissière Marie-Françoise Polliand (1963/ 67-2004) Arrivée en 1963, Marie-Françoise a été tout de suite saisie par l’esprit d’ouverture et l’internationalisme qui font partie des valeurs de l’Ecolint. C’est ainsi qu’en 1964 elle partit à l’aventure, lorsqu’elle accepta, au nom de l’Ecolint, une mission de 9 mois à Dar-es-Salam pour créer le département de français de l’école internationale de cette région... elle y est restée 4 ans. A son retour, elle reprit ses allées et venues entre les unités primaire et moyenne de la Grande Boissière. Au cours de ce long périple dans l’enseignement, Marie-Françoise a beaucoup apporté aux collègues qui ont eu la chance et la joie de travailler à ses côtés. Celles qui, comme moi, l’ont accompagnée pendant quelques décennies ont pu apprécier: Sa disponibilité: toujours présente pour prêter main forte là où c’est nécessaire, mettre à disposition son temps et son expérience pour les nouveaux arrivants, ou pour les autres. Son professionnalisme: toujours disposée à envisager de nouvelles approches pédagogiques, avec sérieux et compétence, ayant pour objectif de susciter chez les élèves, à tous les niveaux, l’enthousiasme, le plaisir d’apprendre, d’utiliser et d’apprécier la langue française. Son enthousiasme et sa générosité à partager avec les collègues ses approches pédagogiques et sa connaissance du milieu Ecolint. Sa foi sans faille dans les valeurs de l’Ecolint qu’elle a toujours non seulement défendues mais vécues et fait vivre aux nombreux élèves qui ont eu le privilège de l’avoir comme professeur. Sa solidarité dans les moments difficiles, quand, aux instants d’agacement ou de découragement elle nous disait toujours, avec l’optimisme qui la caractérise: ”N’oubliez pas, il y a les élèves en premier... et puis cette école est quand ALUMNI NEWSLETTER même formidable!” Marie-Françoise ne prend pas de retraite. Elle quitte l’école et les élèves mais son horizon s’élargit vers les sommets de Saint-Gervais qu’elle affectionne tant. Ski, raquettes, randonnées été comme hiver, voyages et autres activités sauront rythmer, à une autre cadence, des journées riches d’expériences nouvelles. Merci Marie-Françoise pour tout ce que tu as donné de toi-même à la communauté de l’Ecolint et Bon Vent ! Gladys Doebeli Rocourt David Ryan (1969-2004) David Ryan “retired” in August 2004, though the school immediately acknowledged his indispensability by asking him to return for one final IB class. David came to Ecolint in 1969. In 1973, Alison Russell arrived in the Maths department. She soon became Mrs Ryan and, in due course, the mother of Philip and Andrew, both now alumni of Ecolint and Cambridge, a fact which David tends to play down with typical modesty. I begin with David’s family because that is where his life is centred. The world is full of teachers who neglect their families for their work and administrators who encourage them to do so: it is to no one’s benefit. We teach nothing if we do not live the values that make human life worthwhile. David, with the quiet normality of a decent family man embracing the tried and tested values of civilized society, conveys more of these than many a preaching, politicising, awarenessraising proselyte. Indeed, that has been the secret of his outstanding success with students and especially with those most prone to going off the rails. By quietly presenting the role model he is through his gentle, methodical way of working, he enabled students to feel the value of a well-regulated, honest, unpretentious way of being, free from threat or intrusion. Here, students knew, was a stable family man par excellence and so his classes became stable families in their own right. He never went in for “pastoral care” or “whole child” policies – he just got on and did them: the whole world of aims, goals, objectives, educational philosophy, pedagogic theory, ologies and isms was alien to him and he preferred not to analyse ALUMNI NEWSLETTER or articulate the knowledge he had built for himself over a life-time’s authentic classroom experience. He nevertheless (or therefore?) achieved by his own quiet, honest, sound practice a teaching career that many would envy and all could learn from. His students were the lucky ones to be able to experience this at first hand. Melvyn Elphee Alan Sharpe (1965-2004) September 1924 – Ecolint opens with three teachers. September 1965 – Ecolint opens with over one hundred teachers, including Alan Sharpe as a newly recruited physics teacher. September 2004 – Ecolint opens with well over three hundred teachers, but Alan Sharpe is 300 km away in France, enjoying his first days of retirement! For nearly half of its existence Alan served the School. He lived through many of its political and administrative upheavals and crises but as a true professional he never allowed these to deflect him from his primary task of teaching, encouraging and guiding the young people entrusted to him. His innovative and sometimes unorthodox ways of presenting Physics as an exciting and accessible subject inspired many of his students to continue on to brilliant careers in science or technology, but even those who chose other directions can look back on his classes as “fun places to have been”. Whether in the Physical Science and, later, Integrated Science courses he developed for years seven and eight in the pre-Middle School days or Chemistry for classes nine and ten or “la physique” for francophone classes Alan’s infectious enthusiasm communicated itself to the students. A generation of IB students will have experienced his talents through the compulsory Theory of Knowledge course. Not all will know that Alan worked hard and long with the IBO in trying to develop a course which would be interesting, thought provoking and relevant to all students, whatever their particular specialities, yet not overburden the hard-pressed Diploma candidate. From his earliest days at Ecolint, Alan was recognised by his students as a friend in whom they could confide and who would champion them as individuals or as groups. He 16 was always ready to help with student activities, whether by chaperoning dances, accompanying groups to the Walabi Fun Park or sports events, or facilitating the annual Students Day Fairs. Alan’s talent for pastoral care was recognised more formally in his duties as Class Tutor and later as Assistant Principal. Through his wise and concerned mediation many potential disputes between individual students, or between students and members of staff, were quietly and tactfully defused and settled. His personal integrity gives Alan an authority respected by students and colleagues alike. His salary statements will dryly record Alan as a science teacher, a tutor, an assistant principal. To the wider Ecolint community he was much more than these. Who can forget his stage appearances, or the English Pub which Alan and his wife Carole have run at the LGB Kermesse for so many years? Staff will remember his gastronomic prowess when along with Les Wise and Mary Sorrentino, he carved and served mouth-watering ham and gratin in “Piggies” at the Student Day Fairs whereas Alumni attending the 5th World Reunion last June will remember Alan, Isobel Wise and Frank Lunt as the master chefs of the Sunday morning Bar-B-Cue at LGB. I had the privilege of working closely with Alan in the Physics (later Science) Department for over thirty years. He taught me a lot about Physics, about people, about life in general and I value his continued friendship. Alan deserves a long and happy retirement, to give him time to indulge his passions for antique scientific equipment and veteran cars but it seems unlikely that Ecolint will not be able to tempt him back into the laboratory from time to time. Tony Montgomery Anne-Marie Trémeaud (1982-2004) est partie avec sa Mini vers d’autres horizons en juin 2004 Pour elle, pour notre Dame, quelques mots agencés en acrostiche. A comme Actrice de talent, à tout moment, à chaque instant, mais aussi un A comme Amatrice éclairée d’arts de toutes sortes, en particulier la musique, la peinture, la littérature. N comme Nouvelle venue perpétuelle, qui demande à son voisin : « Mais qui est donc ce Monsieur ? » « C’est le DG, Anne-Marie, depuis quelques années déjà ! » N encore comme Narratrice passionnante d’anecdotes amusantes ou des mariages de ses trois enfants. E comme Enseignante originale, attachante et brillante, qui a aimé tant d’élèves qui le lui rendaient bien ! M comme Magnifique dans sa simplicité seigneuriale de femme de qualité à l’esprit raffiné. A comme Amie des bons et mauvais jours, toujours fidèle et bienveillante, compréhensive et tolérante. R comme Rigolote et facétieuse qui sait rendre supportable une réunion ennuyeuse, faire disparaître un coup de spleen et ensoleiller un matin brumeux, à 8h sur le parking. I comme Innocente, même devant le pire tribunal de malfaisants et médisants. E comme Economie, bien sûr, discipline difficile qu’elle a su rendre passionnante pour 22 générations d’élèves turbulents que pourtant elle appelait toujours « mes petits chéris ». T comme Travaux à corriger, cauchemar des profs et voleurs de dimanches dont elle est désormais débarrassée. R comme Rageuse devant l’incompétence, l’injustice et la bêtise. E comme Ecolint qui perd avec elle un membre emblématique, charismatique, intelligent, fin et cultivé. M comme Mini noire légendaire à l’intérieur apocalyptique garée devant la grille et remplacée désormais par une autre Mini verte. E comme à l’Ecoute des autres, de ses amis, de ses collègues, de ses élèves, des membres du CDG où elle a siégé quelques temps. A comme absolument géniale et irremplaçable dans sa singularité. U comme Utopiste et néanmoins réaliste qui apporte sa petite pierre lumineuse à l’édifice du monde pour le rendre meilleur, par exemple avec sa chronique littéraire dans le Journal des Français à l’Etranger. D enfin, D comme Départ vers une nouvelle vie que nous lui souhaitons tous, avec ceux qu’elle aime, longue et bienheureuse. … Connaître Anne Marie Trémeaud est une chance, compter parmi ses amis, un privilège… Marie-Claire Vigneau-Ribal 17 Les Wise (1970 – 2004) It all began back in 1970 with a misunderstanding. I was in London to interview applicants for a Chemistry teaching position – amongst them a certain young Leslie Wise. We waited in different areas of the chosen venue. We waited and waited and waited. Finally, and I am not quite sure how, we managed to make contact. This was our first misunderstanding. It was also the last! Like so many of us, Les came to Geneva thinking it would be for just a few years. I doubt that he ever imagined that he would dedicate the rest of his teaching career to Ecolint. Les is an accomplished Chemist and a skilled communicator. Generations of alumni are indebted to Les for their achievements in Chemistry. However he is more than just a Chemist. His knowledge of Geography and many other subjects makes him a formidable opponent in Trivial Pursuit. Indeed he might well have studied Geography rather than Chemistry at the University level had not a School Careers adviser told him that with a degree in Geography he would be condemned to teaching! One particular area of Chemistry in which Les excels is the thermal molecular structural modifications, of triglyceride, protein and carbohydrate materials. Yes, he is a superb cook and so many of us have had enormous pleasure by being on the receiving end of his skills in this area. However above the knowledge and expertise is Les the human being. He has been a caring and compassionate teacher who has always had the welfare of his students at heart. He also managed to inject a great deal of humour into his teaching. There were times when I would hear him teaching in the adjacent lab and it sounded to all intents and purposes rather like an episode from Fawlty Towers. His students laughed and learned. Les, yours has been a long and distinguished career at Ecolint. Countless colleagues and students remember you with affection and respect. Enjoy a long, happy and well-earned retirement. And don’t forget to invite us round for your next culinary creation! Eric Anthony Jacques Mandallaz Le 31 décembre 2004, après avoir travaillé 21 ans à l’imprimerie, notre cher collègue Jacques nous a quittés pour une retraite bien méritée. Nous lui souhaitons beaucoup de bonheur pour cette nouvelle étape de vie. Nous reviendrons plus complètement sur son passage parmi nous dans la prochaine édition de notre ‘Newsletter’. ALUMNI NEWSLETTER Très important !! Site web des Anciens Nous vous prions instamment de visiter notre site web: www.ecolint-alumni.ch, de vous inscrire en ligne à l’ANNUAIRE DES ANCIENS et d’adhérez aux TROIS FORUMS Alumni News I am aware of many alumni who have exceptional musical talents but I hesitate to attempt a comprehensive list for fear of offending by omission. However two of our former students have caught my attention of late. I chanced to see a TV programme recently in which Ju-Ying Song/87 LGB was performing. She seems to be doing very well indeed in her career. I have read an enthusiastic review of a performance back in 98 at her Alma Mater Stanford, where she included in her recital, a piano duet with a certain Condoleezza Rice! I also read a review in the Gramophone magazine which said “And finally there is the Taiwanese pianist Ju-Ying Song who in this, her first recording, gives evidence of extraordinary talent in the shape of Oriental fingerwork allied with razorsharp intelligence. Maybe, sometime in the next millenium, she will be the one to put on disc my perfect performance...”. We have lost contact with Ju-Ying – so if anyone out there has an e-mail we would appreciate it. In November 2004, CERN for its 50th anniversary celebrations promoted a concert at the Victoria Hall. This featured the celebrated Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and equally celebrated violinist Maxime Vengerov. The conductor was alumnus Tommaso Placidi/82 LGB. Tommaso has conducted some of the great orchestras of the world, including a period as assistant to André Previn with London Symphony Orchestra. Know of others who are making their mark? Eric Anthony/97 Frances Leon Quintana/33 – Albuquerque, NM, USA [email protected] Frances’ son, Joel, writes: ‘The big news for this 2004 was the publication by Alta Mira Press of my mother’s book ‘Ordeal of Change: The Southern Utes and their Neighbors’. It’s a book that is both scholarly and easy reading. If you’d like to learn a bit of Americana, I recommend it. (www.altamirapress.com). Because my mother is no longer able to travel, we were grateful for visits from our family. The decline in my mother’s health has also brought a retinue of home medical help, so we are rarely alone. Life goes on, but at a slower pace.’ Alexa MacKinnon Payan/38 – Morelos, Mexico Alexa has written a book on Flora Tristan (Gauguin’s grandmother) which has just been published by the Grijalbo Group in Mexico. She and her son, Donald/66, would like to see it published in English. Alexa is in contact with Susie Sweetser-Clifford/ 39, Cora Lee Gethman/39 and Loïs Meyhoffer/33. Cora Lee Gethman Gibbs/39 – Newport, Rhode Island, USA [email protected] ‘I send my very best wishes and would so like to be there with you at the B.E.E.R. night. I am wondering if there are any members present from my “generation”. I attended the school probably almost as long as anyone, from 1929 to 1939 and I have many wonderful memories of those years. I have stopped by the school several times over the years and my eldest son ALUMNI NEWSLETTER spent one year there in 1967-1968, I am now located near Newport, Rhode Island, retired from my position as director of the Newport Art Museum Previously I was a curator at the Museum of Art of the Rhode Island School of Design while my husband was a professor at Brown University. He subsequently became President of Amherst College before his untimely death in 1983. I think back to the influence Mme Maurette and Miss MacKinnon had on me developing my appreciation for art and so much more. I would love to hear from any “old timers” who attended La Grande Boissière in the 1930’s.’ Stéphanie Oats Farrall/51 (class of ‘59) - Australia [email protected] It was wonderful to return to Ecolint last December, to renew friendships and make new connections and to join in the Escalade dinner. It’s not easy to get to Geneva from as far away as Tasmania, but going to see our young family and our first grand-child in Grenoble brought us closer and gave us this opportunity to visit the school. A special part for me was meeting with Sue Anthony and Richard Vyvyan, to share memories and to learn about Richard’s work in the archives, continuing Vicki Stereva’s task of preserving the past of the school. Seeing photos from this collection brought back many happy memories from 1949-51, of being in Manguère’s class, and of Alouette, the Roquette family, “Mutti” Hartoch, Miss Lidster, and singing with Monsieur Buard. But our main focus was on my father’s (Bill Oats’) strong links with Ecolint, first in 1938-40 as a teacher at the beginning of the Second World War when he was asked by Madame Maurette to take a group of students to safety in her home in Hendaye, SW France, then in 1949-51 when he returned as directeur-adjoint, to work with Monsieur Roquette. The archives held some treasures for me. Richard showed us a letter my father had written to Vicki Stereva on hearing of Madame Maurette’s death, in 1989: “Who but she could have had the willingness to trust a raw young teacher with the challenge - you take the kids down to Hendaye, set up a school in exile and I’ll cook for you.” It was good to see George Walker again, and to be reminded of another 18 link with Ecolint - through the IB which we recently introduced at The Friends’ School in Hobart. Catching up with fellow Anciens, and at last meeting Georgia Achard after being in touch by e-mail made this a special homecoming. Jane Hougen Fast/59 [email protected] ‘I have just returned from Ecuador (the Galapagos Islands and Quito) and Peru (Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lima). Besides the amazing natural beauty of these incredible and unique places, I was able to spend an evening with Hernando de Soto/59 (Ernie to us) in his gorgeous home. I found him to be very involved with the welfare of his country and the economically disenfranchised of the world. He looks well and fondly remembers so many from Ecolint. Now, if you can only get him to a world reunion! As for me, personally, I am adjusting to a new life without my 35 year marriage partner, Chet Fast, who passed away in Oct. 2004. My mother, now 95, continues to live with me and encourages me to “go forth” so I do! A trip to Mexico and southern Utah in April; then, who knows? Best wishes to all.’ Joan MacPhail Knight/60 Woodstock, NY, USA [email protected] ‘After leaving Ecolint I moved back to the US with my family who had been living in Tunis, spent my senior year at Mt. Vernon Seminary in Washington DC and then graduated from Smith College. The mother of two daughters, Elizabeth and Sophie, I lived most of my adult life in Manhattan, working as a children’s book editor and have become a writer myself - most recently a series of books set in the 1890’s about Charlotte who travels to France with her mother and father who is a painter. Six years ago Bill and I moved to Woodstock, NY, and started a company, Catskill Mountain Pictures, a location services company for fashion and film. I enjoy writing, gardening and long walks with my Brussels Griffon dogs. I would love to hear from friends and can be reached at : [email protected], 20 Lasher Rd., Woodstock, NY 12498.’ Riva Freifeld/61 New York, NY, USA [email protected] Riva lives in New York City and is currently producing a one hour historical documentary on Annie Oakley, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and WGBH-TV in Boston, MA, USA. It will air as part of the “American Experience” series on American public television in late fall 2005. Richard Bruland/64 Los Angeles, CA, USA [email protected] Richard writes, ‘A survey of the last 15 years of my painting at LA ArtCore in downtown Los Angeles just ended. It was very well received, and was a wonderful chance to show the progression and evolution of my current work. On April 16th will be the opening reception for a month long solo show of all new paintings at the Gail Harvey Gallery, Bergamot Station, B-5, 2525 Michigan Avenue Santa Monica, CA. Tel: (310)829-9125. In the fall I will be having a solo show at Mt. San Jacinto College, San Jacinto, CA. All my painting is still absolutely connected to what I absorbed and learned in Mr. Holmes and Mr. Uzzell’s art classes at Ecolint. Both those teachers (particularly Mr. Uzzell) had a huge impact on my development and understanding of what art and painting is all about. Farifteh Hafezi-Robb/66 Edinburgh, Scotland, UK [email protected] ‘I can’t believe it’s almost a year since I made that emotional and such a happy a visit to Ecolint and Geneva. Life is extremely busy for me at present as I have added a new re-search adjunct to my post as NHS midwife here. I visited Ecolint for the first time after nearly 40 years (I left in 1966) last April, and what took me most by surprise was the number of motor vehicles around the school, also the fact that my Primary School playground at La Grande Boissière is now a car park!, and the general disappearance of the green open spaces of my childhood memories within the school. Otherwise, I suppose, “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”. Many thanks once again for all your kindness in showing me around and entertaining me.’ 19 ’Also, I am still in touch with: Thomas Munch who was in my year at Ecolint (his wife Meg is godmother to one of my daughters!) He is presently a History lecturer at Glasgow University, has a grown-up son and daughther, and has written several books, and Michele Castle Klein also in my year until approx. 1963, and my best friend at Ecolint. She studied psychology, married Jacob Klein a physics lecturer, has four grown-up children and divides her time between Israel and Oxford, and has also written several books.’ Lori Lieberman Cali/69 Los Angeles, CA, USA [email protected] ‘I’m living in Los Angeles with my husband, Joseph, and our blended seven children (I have three), and have continued to pursue my recording career - currently at work in the studio completing my sixteenth album/CD.’ Lori’s website is www.lorilieberman.com. Joseph is an actor (best known for his role in ‘Saturday Night Fever’) as well as a home theatre designer. ‘My sisters, Kim Lieberman-McCarty and Susan Lieberman/67 are doing well in their fields. Susan owns an incredibly beautiful store in Santa Monica called ‘Paris 1900’ (website www.paris1900.com) and Kim is an artist with tremendous success with many shows throughout the country – notably in New York and Los Angeles. (website www.kimmccarty.net). Kim and her husband, Michael McCarty, own two chic restaurants called ‘Michaels in New York and Los Angeles.’ Arthar Sutan-Khan/73 Geneva, Switzerland [email protected] Athar would enjoy hearing from his former classmates – especially Cindy Burgess and Ann Rehlaender. Nigel Edmonds/78 Ottawa, Canada [email protected] Nigel is looking for old school friend Tom Lho/78 E. Kate Robertson/83 (La Chât) [email protected] Kate is looking Stephenson/83 for Charlotte Linda Hanson/86 Boston, MA, USA [email protected] ‘We have a 19 month old son, Daeven, and are expecting our second baby in April. I run my own Estate & Tax Planning Law Practice just outside of Boston and would very much like to get in contact with other Alumni living in the Boston area’. Ilona Tar/90 Sydney, Australia [email protected] ‘After graduating from Ecolint in 1990 I completed one year of Architecture at Uni de Genève and then moved to Sydney to complete a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at the University of New South Wales. The culture shock of moving to Australia was so enormous that I have been left with an affliction - after 13 years away from Geneva - I still have an American accent! After achieving my goal of seeing my landscape work on TV, I then became Graphic Artist. I am now working at Backpackers World Travel, Sydney, as a Creative Designer. I return to GE whenever I can and always miss it!’ Sara Furstenborg-Zitouni/92 Geneva, Switzerland [email protected] ‘Since January 2005 I have been working as the Administrative Assistant to Ms Lesley Stagg, Campus Principal of Campus des Nations. After leaving Ecolint in 1992, I attended the Ecole Hôtelière de Genève and graduated in 1995 with a Hotel Management Degree. I then worked at Le Richemond, the Crowne Plaza and finally at Hotel President Wilson, one of the Leading Hotels of the World, before coming back to Ecolint in October 2000 in the role of School Secretary at Pregny Campus. This was a welcome change in my career allowing me to spend more time with my two children Saïd and Sonia, who are now 6 and 2 years old. I am very much enjoying working with Ms Stagg and look forward to assisting her in opening Ecolint’s 4th Campus in September 2005.’ Marc Luanghy/97 Genève, Suisse Je m’appelle Marc Luanghy et suis un ancien élève de l’Ecole Internationale ALUMNI NEWSLETTER de Genève (La Grande Boissière). J’y suis arrivé en septembre 1994 pour terminer le cursus en juin 1997 (Baccalauréat Français, ES). Après avoir effectué mes études de droit en Angleterre, je suis rentré à Genève d’où je vous écrit. Dwight Crabtree/98 Bangkok, Thailand [email protected] I find myself in Bangkok, Thailand, where I’ve been working for AIG ever since graduating from Princeton in June, 2002. Besides the day-to-day of working for a finance company, my Thai has improved dramatically (e.g. “same same, but different”), the food is spectacular, and travel in S.E. Asia is tops. I’m heading to Southern Thailand at the end of March to coordinate a donation of supplies, equipment and building materials for two primary schools in areas that were severely damaged by the tsunami. For those who come to visit, you may be in luck to be introduced to the best place in Bangkok to eat what I fondly call “soupy barbecue.” Illustrious Ecolinters such as Tyler, Shona and Carolynn Crabtree, Eraj Wirasinha, Matt Robinson, Paul Robinson, Sandra Mullins, and Deborah Beran (who is teaching in Chiang Mai) have all taken part. In addition, Marcia finds herself happily retired in Maine with fond memories of the classroom but realizing that retirement can also be just as busy! Alumni T-shirts for sale We have Alumni T-shirts and pens for sale. If anyone is interested in purchasing these souvenirs please contact the Alumni Office. Vente de souvenirs Nous vendons des tee-shirts “Anciens” et des stylos. Toutes les personnes désirant acheter ces articles sont priées de s’adresser au Bureau des Anciens. ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 20 In Memoriam Jean-Pierre (Jumpy) Dufour/60 – 9 November 2004 Jumpy, You have left an indelible impression on all who knew you. Already your name was a distinguishing factor : a misprononciation of Jean-Pierre in China where you were born. You subsequently became known as John in the years that followed your Ecolint experience, but you remained the same intrepid, personable, jocular person you were then. A bon-vivant who loved life and people and who excelled in the art of conversation, whether mundane or erudite. You would not have us mourn you, as was your wish, so simply allow these few words to be a tribute and a loving celebration to your memory. We all send our heart-felt condolences to your wife Helga and your son Michael. Lovingly, your sister Adrienne/58 Marie-France Bertherat Felley/72 et fils, Nicolas - 26 décembre 2004 A tout mes amis de classe (Nathalie, Antoinette, Denis, Jean-Jacques, Isabelle, Michèle... etc. ) qui sont sur le réseau Ecolint, comme certain de vous le savez déjà, notre chère MarieFrance est décédée avec son fils aîné Nicolas (Clément ayant survécu) dans le Tsunami à Sri Lanka. Elle était une de mes plus chères amies depuis l’Ecolint avec qui je parlais et que je visitais régulièrement lors de mes séjours réguliers à Genève. J’espère que vous me rejoindrai pour exprimer à sa famille nos sincères condoléances. To all Ecolintiens. Marie-France and her oldest son Nicolas perished in the Tsumami on the coast of Sri Lanka. Marie-France was a woman of extraordinary kindness who had a very accomplished career with the Red Cross (Nicaragua, Israel and South Africa) and worked for the Protestant Church administration in Geneva. A service was held in Geneva for them which was extraordinarily well attended. She had 2 sons of which the youngest survived and the oldest disappeared along with her. She was one of my closest friends since school and I am absolutely devastated at her extremely premature departure. She was a great listener and was always there for me when I needed her. Her son Nicolas was a pillar for her and his younger brother, in what was sometimes a very hard life, and a superb young man adored by his younger brother Clément. Clément is back in school and trying to lead a normal kid’s life. Luckily he is cared for by his father and companion and seems to be coping well for the moment. Please join me in wishing our fellow Ecolintien a very sad goodbye, may she and Nicolas rest in peace and may we all express our grief to the remaining family for the untimely loss of such a wonderful person. Steven Zimmer/72 Nurith Konikoff-Levy/58 – 1 February 2005 Nurith passed away in Tel Aviv, Israel, on 1 February 2005, following a courageous battle with cancer. Nurith graduated from Ecolint in 1958 and for many years had taught Art in Jerusalem. Nurith was the sister of Roni and Daniel, and the sister-in-law of Daniela (née Bucher), and the aunt of Anne and Stéphanie – all of whom are alumni. Our heartfelt condolences to Nurith’s family and friends in Israel and Geneva. Sue Anthony Naissances Toutes nos félicitations à : Gilbert Moeckel/80 (La Chât) and his wife are very pleased to announce the birth of their baby daughter, Sophia Grace, on 26 October 2004. She is the delight of her brothers Julian and Nickolas. Linda Hanson/86, and her husband, who live in Boston, have a 19-month old son, Daeven, and are expecting their second baby in April 2005. Barbara Armas-Loughran/88 and Steve Loughran are happy to belatedly announce the births of their children – Aidan Joseph, born on 18 January 2003, and Ciara Armas, born on 28 April 2004. Both were born in Princeton, NJ. Alex Aziz/89 (La Chât) and his wife, Hilary, are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter, Megan Tarana, on 15 September 2004 in Geneva. Mariages Félications à : Philip Ryan/94 (La Chât) who married Lucinda Hutchinson on 4 January 2005 in Perth, Australia. International School Alumni Association Association des Anciens de l’Ecole Internationale 62, Route de Chêne CH - 1208 Genève Tel: +41 22 787 25 55 Fax: +41 22 787 26 35 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ecolint-alumni.ch Portable: +41 79 449 50 43 Editing : Sue Anthony Proof-reading : Donate Dobbernack les membres du conseil des élèves, un stand pour marier les étudiants avec alliances et lancer de riz, ainsi qu’une agence matrimoniale. Nous avons organisé en coopération avec le conseil des élèves de la Châtaigneraie, les Bals des Neiges Junior et Senior à l’hôtel Noga Hilton. Avec une partie des bénéfices des bals, ainsi qu’un généreux don du PTA, nous avons pu faire nous même un don à Clair Bois, une association pour jeunes gens handicapés à Genève et nous espérons continuer à créer des liens avec eux. Nous avons été actifs au sein du CDG, particulièrement en ce qui concerne les grands projets de développement du campus. Nous avons par exemple pu faire poids pour sauvegarder la colline, espace vert privilégié des étudiants de l’école, dans le cadre du développement d’un nouveau complexe sportif qui fera le bonheur des étudiants. Nous avons maintenant pour objectif d’assurer la création d’un lieu pour LGB – Student Council En juin 2004, les deux groupes concurrents en lice pour l’élection du conseil des élèves de la Grande Boissière se sont unis pour former un groupe commun suite à une élection mal coordonnée par nos prédécesseurs. Nous avons préféré former un conseil de coalition plutôt que de faire durer les échéances ce qui, du même coup, aurait pénalisé les étudiants. Dès le début de l’année, pendant les derniers beaux jours, nous avons organisé un tournoi de basket sur environ deux semaines qui a rassemblé une quarantaine de participants. Nous avons ensuite organisé un bal de début d’année pour les neuvièmes et dixièmes années sur le thème de Las Vegas, avec des jeux de cartes qui permettaient de gagner à manger ou à boire. Juste avant Noël, un concours de groupes de musique. Pour la St. Valentin, nous avons organisé la traditionnelle distribution de roses, avec livraison dans les classes par les membres du conseil des élèves, un stand pour marier les étudiants avec alliances et lancer de riz, ainsi qu’une agence matrimoniale. Nous avons organisé en coopération avec le conseil des élèves de la Châtaigneraie, les Bals des Neiges Junior et Senior à l’hôtel Noga Hilton. Avec une partie des bénéfices des bals, ainsi qu’un généreux don du PTA, nous avons pu faire nous même un don à Clair Bois, une association pour jeunes gens handicapés à Genève et nous espérons continuer à créer des liens avec eux. Nous avons été actifs au sein du CDG, particulièrement en ce qui concerne les grands projets de développement du campus. Nous avons par exemple pu faire poids pour sauvegarder la colline, espace vert privilégié des étudiants de l’école, dans le cadre du développement d’un nouveau complexe sportif qui fera le bonheur des étudiants. Nous avons maintenant pour objectif d’assurer la création d’un lieu pour Photo : Julien Domercq En juin 2004, les deux groupes concurrents en lice pour l’élection du conseil des élèves de la Grande Boissière se sont unis pour former un groupe commun suite à une élection mal coordonnée par nos prédécesseurs. Nous avons préféré former un conseil de coalition plutôt que de faire durer les échéances ce qui, du même coup, aurait pénalisé les étudiants. Dès le début de l’année, pendant les derniers beaux jours, nous avons organisé un tournoi de basket sur environ deux semaines qui a rassemblé une quarantaine de participants. Nous avons ensuite organisé un bal de début d’année pour les neuvièmes et dixièmes années sur le thème de Las Vegas, avec des jeux de cartes qui permettaient de gagner à manger ou à boire. Juste avant Noël, un concours de groupes de musique. Pour la St. Valentin, nous avons organisé la traditionnelle distribution de roses, avec livraison dans les classes par les élèves au centre même du campus, à l’emplacement de l’actuel service technique lorsqu’il sera relocalisé dans le cadre du nouveau complexe culturel qui remplacera les actuels départements d’art et de théâtre. Il est aussi prévu de revoir la constitution du conseil des élèves pour assurer une meilleure représentation des différentes tranches d’âge ainsi que relancer l’engouement pour constituer un véritable esprit d’école. Julien Domercq Photo : Julien Domercq LGB – Student Council les élèves au centre même du campus, à l’emplacement de l’actuel service technique lorsqu’il sera relocalisé dans le cadre du nouveau complexe culturel qui remplacera les actuels départements d’art et de théâtre. Il est aussi prévu de revoir la constitution du conseil des élèves pour assurer une meilleure représentation des différentes tranches d’âge ainsi que relancer l’engouement pour constituer un véritable esprit d’école. Julien Domercq
Similar documents
Alumni Newsletter Spring 2004 - Ecolint Alumni Office
62, Route de Chêne • CH - 1208 Genève • Tel: +41 22 787 25 55 • Fax: +41 22 787 26 35 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.ecolint-alumni.ch • Portable: +41 79 449 50 43
More information