Blog

Cooking up a cultural feast!

 This week saw our first international evening of the new school year. What better way to learn about a country's culture than through its food! At BM international evenings pave the school year and our students are always very excited and proud to be able to show-case their country to others who might know very little about it. They work together with our chef and our kitchen team to cook delicious food for over 100 people and put a lot of thought and energy into the little details.

We're back home!

 Join us for regular posts from students & staff. This week, the Château girls celebrate being back in residence after the summer break. Here's what some of our châtelaines have to say!

A new school year is ready to start at Brillantmont International School. As students across the world pack their bags, ready to step into this exciting new period of their lives, many will probably feel a bit nervous. It's understandable. Leaving  the security and comfort of home to go to boarding school is a huge step. "Will I fit in? Will I make friends? What happens when I get homesick" are just some of the apprehensions they may have.

Last week we had a lovely celebration of Brillantmont International School’s 135th birthday! The weather was sunny and hot as alumni of all ages gathered on our campus to remember their time at the school and immerse themselves in the wonderful legacy BM has built. Below, enjoy some of the photos from the afternoon.

This year our graduation and prize giving ceremony was another incredible reminder of the amazing accomplishments of our students and how far we have come as a Swiss boarding school in our long history in Lausanne. The ceremony included some great vocal and instrumental performances by students, a message from Ms. Anne Frei, President of the Board and co-owner of Brillantmont, and the giving of awards and diplomas. I had the great pleasure of welcoming all the friends, family, staff, and students to the event and as the Director of the school, I would like to share some of my words with you here.

Over the course of building and expanding our ever-more-popular school blog that explores all aspects of boarding school life, we have spoken with many parents, students, staff, teachers, and alumni about what makes a top Swiss boarding school. Some strong themes have come out of these discussions and interviews over the years. One of the big ones is that the size of your boarding school has a huge effect on a student’s learning experience and level of connection with teachers and other students.

This spring at Brillantmont International School students had the opportunity to attend a number of great events, take school trips all over the country and even abroad, learn new sports and perfect old favorites, and join in on club activities like the annual MUN conference. One of the highlights of this Swiss boarding school year was the 2017 Brillantmont Leadership Conference that was organized to help nourish student potential. Mr McClean described the aim of this year’s conference as follows:

Boarding school field trips, excursions and other extra-curricular activities are always some of the most memorable times at boarding school, whether they are close to home or farther afield. This year at Brillantmont International School, students enjoyed many smaller trips around Switzerland as well as several trips abroad (Barcelona, Singapore, The Hague, Belgium, Andalucia), which included two incredible trips to Greece and Azores.

Swiss boarding schools are ranked among the best in the world. For centuries Switzerland has been known for the exclusivity of its private educational institutions and the excellence of their programmes. There is a legacy of parents from across the globe who have sent their children to Swiss schools for their formative years. This article is written to help parents and students who are considering boarding school in Switzerland. Find out what the benefits of Swiss boarding school are and what kinds of experiences students who decide to attend have here.

There is no denying that food and nutrition are an integral part of life and essential to health. This year has seen the introduction of a nutrition class and cooking workshop under the umbrella of PSHE classes (Personal Social and Health Education).