Our Samba. Our School.

It has been a beautiful return to the last stretch of the semester at our school. While the wonky weather reminds us of April’s mind of her own, the season of renewal and rebirth reminds us that as a school, and as people, we must continue to do the same.

This week’s Spotlight is dedicated to the Parents’ Association and all those who have worked over the past six months to make the upcoming Parent Gala, on 20 April 2024, a showcase event in the life of our school.

This event was born out of the vision of a former member of the Parents’ Association to bring new and existing families together, in a celebration of culture. Last year, we honoured Switzerland, and celebrated the privilege of living in such a beautiful corner of the world.

It was announced at that event, to rapturous applause, that our Brazilian contingent would be the hosts of this year’s event, and so it is that Samba and the school will unite in what is sure to be a colourful, sparkly, sensory display of our community’s strength – our connection.

Yet, what underpins a celebration such as this, must always remain at the forefront of our mind and our work – interculturality.

That we are a melting pot of religions, ethnicities, languages, cultures, experiences.

That what makes us the strong school that we are is in fact the differences that we possess. There is so much to celebrate in this space that we exist in, the space between cultures, and we are working to bring this celebration to life in our learning, in our lessons, and in our commitment to ensuring that the uniqueness of every individual in our school is celebrated.

As we move towards the end of the academic year, we are excited to share with you elements of our Inter-cultural Capacity Framework, an element of the Belonging Directory, that speaks to our commitment to continue to grow in our learning of how we can continue to honour the cultures that combine us.

I very much look forward to seeing so many of you next week, and while my Samba shoes are currently being serviced, I am certain that the sparkle will shine, and our school will again show why it is the best international school in Switzerland.

Kind regards,

Lucy M. Gowdie