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Posts Tagged ‘Switzerland’

Old Fashioned Mom Magazine welcomed Jacques Bounin, the admissions director of Le Rosey to New York by hosting an intimate luncheon at the French Bistro Chat Noir.

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Guests were delighted to hear about the rich history and strong academic programs the International Swiss boarding School provides.

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Institut Le Rosey is a boarding school near Rolle, Switzerland. It was founded by Paul-Émile Carnal in 1880 on the site of the 14th-century Château du Rosey near the town of Rolle in the Canton of Vaud. It is one of the oldest boarding schools in Switzerland.

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The school also owns a campus in the ski resort village of Gstaad in the Canton of Bern, where the student body, faculty, and staff move to during the months of January through March. Institut Le Rosey is owned by its fourth generation of directors, Philippe and Anne Gudin, who assumed ownership of Le Rosey in 1980. Michael Gray is the headmaster.

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In 2014, Le Rosey inaugurated the Paul & Henri Carnal Hall, an arts and learning centre for Le Rosey and the La Côte region. The school is also planning the sale of its Gstaad winter campus, and a move to a location that can accommodate more personnel and students.

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Le Rosey’s philosophy is inspired by what Harvard educationalist Howard Gardner has called “multiple intelligences”: “its aim is to develop all Roseans’ talents through academic, sporting and artistic programmes. “The school offers a demanding bilingual and bicultural education with the language of instruction being French or English depending on the student’s academic program; however, students may take many language classes while at Le Rosey. Students may sit either the International Baccalaureate, the most widely recognized pre-university educational program, or the Francophone-oriented French Baccalaureate.

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To sustain an international atmosphere at Le Rosey, there exists a quota where no more than 10% of the students may come from a single country. The student body, ages 7 through 18, is composed of pupils from approximately 58 different countries, with 60% of the students being European. The school’s current enrollment, over 400 pupils, is equally divided between male and female. The majority of students are between the ages of 14 and 18. The student-teacher ratio is 5:1 with the average class size being fewer than 10 students, and the average teacher’s length of stay at Le Rosey is over ten years.

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Students at Le Rosey are nicknamed “Roséens” (in French) or “Roseans” (in English), and former students are labeled “Les Anciens Roséens”. The school’s campus has 28 hectares (approximately 70 acres) of landscaped grounds. The school’s sailing center, the “Fleur d’Eau”, is situated along 100 meters of shoreline on Lake Geneva. Le Rosey is reportedly the only boarding school in the world to change campuses seasonally. In spring and autumn, classes are held at the Château du Rosey campus in the village of Rolle in the Canton of Vaud, located between Geneva and Lausanne in southwestern Switzerland. For the winter months of January through March, the entire student body moves to a group of chalets in the ski resort town of Gstaad in the Canton of Berne.

Le Rosey offers a wide range of sports, including: Football (Soccer), Basketball, Volleyball, cross-country running, Sailing, Rowing, Competitive swimming, and Water skiing during the spring and autumn terms. During the winter term, sports options are Skiing, Snowboarding, Ice-hockey, Curling and Snowshoeing.

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Château du Rosey, a Feudal chateau located on Le Rosey’s main campus at Rolle, dates to the Middle Ages and houses Le Rosey’s central reception area. In 1880, the site of the Le Rosey campus was chosen by the school’s founder, Paul-Emile Carnal, “a lover of nature, history and the countryside”. The Le Rosey campus at Rolle is situated adjacent to the famous Lake Geneva. In 1911, the founder passed the ownership of Le Rosey to his son, Henri-Paul Carnal. In 1917, the school began to go to Gstaad in the German-speaking Canton of Berne for the winter months to escape the dense fog that settles in on Lake Geneva. In 1947, the third generation of directors, Louis Johannot and Helen Schaub, assumed ownership of Le Rosey. Under the same ownership, in 1967, Le Rosey admitted girls for the first time and opened a separate girls’ campus. In 1980, the current owners, Philippe and Anne Gudin de la Sablonnière, became the fourth generation of Directors at Le Rosey.

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Institut Le Rosey’s academic curriculum is designed to “provide education of breadth, depth and quality for an international student body.” Le Rosey offers a rigorous bilingual and bicultural education with the principal language of instruction being French or English depending on the student’s academic program.  Beginning in Class 9 (US 3rd grade; UK year 4) and ending in Class 7 (US 5th grade; UK Year 6), Junior students at Le Rosey follow the Primary Bilingual Programme. The Programme follows the French national curriculum for classes taught in French and the National Curriculum of the United Kingdom for classes taught in English, which are both complemented by the International Primary Curriculum to create an international education.

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Le Rosey students in Classes 6-2 (US 6th-10th grade; UK Year 7-11) choose their principal language and continue their studies in French or English. If possible, students may study their mother tongue and a third or even a fourth language in addition to their principal language of instruction. Over 20 different languages have been taught at Le Rosey in the past five years. During the Secondary Bilingual Programme, English and French classes are obligatory, and upon entering Class 3 (US 9th grade), students begin the two-year “Pre-Bac” Programme to prepare the students for either the internationally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme or the Francophone-oriented French Baccalaureate. At Le Rosey, the IB Diploma Programme and the French Baccalaureate cover the last two years of schooling (Class 1 and Class t).

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Le Rosey’s main campus, near Rolle, is situated on 28 hectares of land adjacent to Lake Geneva. It is divided into two campuses, one for boys situated on the main campus and one for girls called La Combe. The boarding houses contain a total of 179 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, and all together the academic buildings contain: 53 classrooms, 8 science laboratories, 14 specially-equipped rooms, 48 apartments for Le Rosey teachers, 2 infirmaries, a library/media centre with about 20,000 to 30,000 literary and reference works, a theatre, 3 dining rooms and 2 cafeterias, an auditorium, 2 gymnasiums, and an ecumenical chapel. Sports and arts facilities at Le Rosey include: 10 clay Tennis courts, a 25-meter indoor pool and wellness centre, a 25-meter outdoor pool, 3 football pitches, 1 synthetic rugby pitch, 1 wood chip running track, a shooting and archery range, an open-air theatre, and a computer-regulated greenhouse. Off-campus Le Rosey owns: a private Equestrian centre housing 30 horses, 1 indoor riding school, 1 Dressage area, and a clubhouse. Also off-campus is the Le Rosey sailing centre equipped with: 10 dinghies, 3 motorboats, 3 yawls and a 38-foot (12 m) yacht.

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The school’s Winter campus, at the ski resort of Gstaad in the Bernese Oberland, is composed of several traditional chalets within the town. The girls’ campus, at Schönried, is situated a 10-minute train ride away from Gstaad and is composed of 5 chalets used solely for boarding and dining. The students utilize local facilities, including: swimming pools, fitness centres, tennis courts, ice-hockey rink, a bowling alley, Curling, 250 kilometers (approximately 156 miles) of Alpine ski slopes and 120 kilometers (approximately 75 miles) of Cross-country ski tracks, 65 kilometers of Snowshoeing trails, climbing walls, and Via Ferratas.

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Le Rosey is an extraordinary School, and having had my son, Hudson, attend the Summer Camp I was able to see all the extraordinary benefits of an International Education.

We love you Jacques!!!

 

 

An International Polo Tournament in Gstaad.

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The international Polo Gold Cup tournament has established itself as an audience magnet. The “royal” game captivates the spectators every year with top-ranking players and very tough competition for the sought-after world ranking points.

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Program:
Thursday: Qualifikatons Games
Friday: 4.00 pm. Polo parade in Gstaad
Saturday: semifinals & Polo Night (CHF 380.– p.p.)
Sunday: finals
VIP Lunch SA & SU: CHF 340.– p.p.
Price : Free entry

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Polo Club Gstaad

Chalet les Arcades, Post Fach 419

www.polo-gstaad.ch

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The highly anticipated Summer Camp List is about to be unveiled….this list was assembled by Mothers, Educators, and International Leaders in the Industry of matters relating to Children. While there are many good Camps out there we feel these are currently the best in the World. Old Fashioned Mom Magazine announces the following:

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1. Le Rosey Summer Camp – Boys and Girls – Exclusive and divinely rich in Culture. Offers academic courses, sports, artistic activities, and fabulous outdoor excursions. There are two campuses…Lake Geneva, and Gstaad Mountain Campus in Switzerland.

Website: www.roseysummercamps.ch

Phone: 41 21 822 55 00

Contact: Mr. Gregory Guinot-Summer Camps Director, – summercamps@rosey.ch

 

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2. Camp Winaukee – Boys Only – Premiere Sports Camp for Boys, located on magnificent Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. This camp offers boys the best of the best in Sports Instruction. Has a reputation for attracting the most handsome athletes.

Website: www.winaukee.com

Phone: 603-253-9272

Contact: Mr. Mike Karp,- info@winaukee.comimage

 

 

3. The International Riding Camp – Girls Only – Excellent Equestrian Camp offering various riding disciplines: hunt seat equestrian, cross country jumping and polo. The program is wonderfully well rounded and exceptionally instructed in Greenfield Park, New York.

 

Website: www.horseridingcamp.com

Phone: 845-6473240

Contact: arnomares1@mac.com

 

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4. Stagedoor Manor Camp – Boys and Girls – Renowned theatrical training in the majestic Catskills, offering a performing arts program like no other. Campers will learn from Directors, Choreographers, Vocal Coaches, and various other professionals what it takes to be the best performer.

Website: www.stagedoormanor.com

Phone: 845-434-4290

Contact: Info2016@stagedoormanor.com

 

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5. Camp Robindel – Girls Only – Gorgeous facilities offering lovely young ladies the finest athletic and artistic activities. The camp is nurturing and provides a loving environment in beautiful Moultonborough, New Hampshire.

Website: www.robindel.com

Phone: 603-253-9271

Contact: Ms. Jolly – Assistant Director – Jolly@robindel.com

 

 

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6. Camp Laurel – Boys and Girls – Provides an exciting Summer experience with a plethora of waterfront and athletic activities. Clean and lush surroundings with a reputation for excellent food in beautiful Readfield, Maine.

Website: www.camplaurel.com

Phone: 207-685-4945

Contact: Summer@camplaurel.com

 

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7. Camp Takaja – Boys Only – A rich and diverse program that includes skills, water front activities, hobbies, sports and pioneering. Offers a wide range of activities located in Naples, Maine.

Website: www.camptakajo.com

Phone: 207-693-6675

Contact: Info@camptakajo.com

 

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8. Tripp Lake Camp – Girls Only – Fabulous performing and visual arts with team and individual sports. Beautiful camp site with seasoned counselors in Poland, Maine.

Website: www.tripplakecamp.com

Phone: 207-998–4347

Contact: Info@tripplakecamp.com

 

 

 

 

 

Family skiing holidays are something to be cherished – spending time with your children in the fresh air of the mountains, all doing something you love and coming together at the end of the day to tell tales of daring do and obstacles overcome is priceless.

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A key factor in making a family ski holiday effortless is the resort you go to – get it wrong and you’ll be lugging three sets of skis and screaming kids around half the day, frantically trying to remember why you’d shelled out so much cash. But pick your resort wisely and everything else will fall into place. Here’s our choice of ten of the best family-friendly ski resorts in Europe to help you choose your next family ski holiday – whether you’ve got young tots or older teens, there’s a dream holiday out there with your family’s name on.

Alpbach, Austria

Alpbach in the Tirol is one of the prettiest villages in Austria and has long been a favorite with British families – the resort is compact, full of charm and sunny nursery slopes sit right next to it. While the slopes for intermediates aren’t extensive, they’re good for building confidence and practicing technique on, and both the village’s ski schools are very child-friendly. For those in the know there’s also some good skiing off-piste. Welcoming pensions and chalet-style hotels dominate the accommodation – some, such as Der Berghof, are as close as 20 metres from the nursery slopes. If a full day on the slopes is proving too much for the little ones there is an indoor swimming pool and outdoor ice rinks to entertain. Getting there: Innsbruck, the closest airport, is 50km away. Munich and Salzburg are 150km away. 

Alpe d’Huez, France

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Spreading out immediately above Alpe d’Huez is a vast bowl of easy green runs, served by the fast DMC gondola. It’s a veritable playground for beginners, but just watch out for the sometimes dangerously fast passing traffic from the slopes above. There’s a good range of blues for confident youngsters to progress to, plus an unthreatening terrain park near the bottom of the slopes with gentle rollers and jumps. There are plenty of self-catering apartments and more hotels than you’d expect, but perhaps the best option for families is the ski-in, ski-out Club Med Alpe d’huez La Sarenne. Getting there: Grenoble is the closest (and quietest) airport, 105km away. Lyon and Geneva are 150km 210km away respectively.

Avoriaz, France

Avoriaz may not be the prettiest of resorts, but it’s certainly one of the most functional and striking. A car-free collection of towering self-catering apartments perched on a cliff, accommodation is ski-in, ski-out and horse-drawn sleighs are the only vehicles on the snow-covered roads. The Village des Enfants is in the heart of the resort, with Disney characters and special slopes to entertain and educate children aged three and older. There’s a British-run ski school, Avoriaz Alpine Ski School, for older kids needing a challenge or friendly encouragement. Accommodation is mostly in apartments – there are a few small chalets if you’re seeking a comfortable alternative. Getting there: Geneva is the closest airport, about two hours or 90km away.

Cervinia, Italy

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Which child wouldn’t love skiing around the sunny, easy slopes, lunching on pizza and, with a bit of encouragement, making it from top to bottom of the mountain by the end of the week? Cervinia isn’t a big resort, but for ease, pick a hotel near the nursery slopes close to the village centre. From these, progression to the gentle blue runs at Plan Maison then the cruising reds at Valtournenche is a realistic and satisfying achievement for any beginner. There are kindergartens both in resort and at Plan Maison. Getting there: Turin is the nearest airport and approximately two hours (120km) away. Geneva is 2 hours 45 minutes (185km).

Obergurgl, Austria

For families with teenage kids, Obergurgl, the highest parish in Austria, is a good option. It’s a small, focused village with friendly Austrian charm and snowsure slopes, but not so many that the kids would get lost on their own. Excellent English is spoken by the ski school instructors and class sizes are kept small – a promising start for pushing teenagers to their limits and ensuring boredom stays at bay. Most of the accommodation is in three- or four-star hotels – if you’re travelling with younger children particularly, book with Esprit in one of their large chalets and take advantage of their extensive childcare options. Getting there: Innsbruck is the closest airport, 95km away.

Saas Fee, Switzerland

The car-free village of Saas-Fee in Valais is a perfect choice for young children and families – it’s a rural haven perfect for just strolling around and relaxing in. Saas Fee is also a great destination for those with older kids – it has two terrain parks, one, a truly world-class set up, with a huge halfpipe and interesting features like a gondola roof job; the other, aimed at beginners with entry level jumps, rails and lines, near the nursery slopes. Choose your accommodation carefully – the majority of the lifts leave from the southern end of the village, and the large nursery slopes are also at this end. Getting there: Sion airport, served by SnowJet, and Geneva are 75km and 225km away respectively. The nearest train station is Brig, and regular buses run to and from the station to Saas-Fee.

Laax, Switzerland

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Young families will love the extensive beginner slopes at Crap Sogn Gion, high above Laax, and the excellent ski school with fluent English-speaking instructors. For families with older kids, they’ll no doubt be wowed by the five impressive terrain parks, and if you time your visit right, you could catch one of the big international freestyle competitions the resort hosts – bound to help the brownie points with the teenagers. For maximum convenience, stay in an apartment at the RocksResort, striking modern blocks that opened a year ago and are right at the foot of the slopes. Getting there: Zurich is the closest airport. A seamless train and bus transfer from Zurich takes about two hours.

La Plagne, France

A vast expanse of intermediate cruising runs spread out above the 10 villages that together make La Plagne, and the different characters of the bases make it an ideal destination for all types of families and children, from young tots to energetic teens. Most Brits stay in Belle Plagne (good for youngsters with a children’s playground for tots to learn in), Plagne 1800 (lots of chalets so best for groups of families) or Montchavin (the village is pretty and traffic-free, and there are confidence-building wooded blue runs leading to it). Each village has good ski schools and its own nursery run or two, then there are endless intermediate slopes (225km of them) plus five terrain parks or boardercross courses to keep the more adventurous children and big kids entertained. Getting there: Chambery is the closest airport, 120km away. Or take the train to either Aime or Bourg St Maurice at the bottom of the valley.

Puy St Vincent, France

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Puy St Vincent is a couple of purpose-built stations plus an old village. Most of the accommodation, which is mainly self-catering, is in low-rise apartment blocks at the bottom of the slopes in the larger of the two stations, 1600. Tree-lined slopes sit immediately above the resort and are good for intermediates wanting a challenge, while beginners can find their feet in two nursery slope areas. The childcare facilities in resort are excellent, with both ski schools (the ESF and the International school) running kindergartens. The choice of tour operator can make or break a family skiing holiday so choose with care. Snowbizz, who have operated solely to Puy St Vincent since 1986, is a safe bet if you want a well-thought out and convenient family holiday. All the details have been taken care of, from Sunday flights (less hectic than Saturdays) to a full suite of childcare options from six months to 11 years. Getting there: Turin is the nearest airport, approximately two and half hours away.

Ylläs, Finland

If you’re looking for an alternative to the tried and tested Alpine holiday, head to Ylläs in Finland. The gentle Arctic landscape is ideal for beginners, and the alternative activities, such as husky-sledding, reindeer sleigh rides and snowshoeing, will enchant young children. The best time to visit is from March to the end of the season – any earlier and either the sun doesn’t rise during normal daylight hours or it’s February and the resort suffers the same fate as European resorts during the school holidays. Accommodation is not slopeside, but the resort is so quiet and peaceful this isn’t an issue. Getting there: Kittilä airport is 50km away.

Author: Rebecca Miles

I adore Gstaad Switzerland, so much so, I envision myself moving there full time in the not so distant future. Gstaad is a bilingual village in the German speaking section of the Canton of Bern in Southwestern Switzerland.

Michelle-Marie Heinemann & Andrea Scherz

Michelle-Marie Heinemann & Andrea Scherz

It is home to one of the largest ski areas in the Swiss Alps and has a marvelous picturesque promenade in the middle of the village that includes numerous shops, restaurants, and art galleries.

Gstaad Palace

Gstaad Palace

On my recent three week visit I stayed at the Gstaad Palace and found the service and accommodations exceptional. The attention to detail and opulent surroundings convey tradition and refinement while embracing modern day technology.

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The Promenade

On a beautiful sunny afternoon underneath enormous yellow striped umbrellas at Le Grande Terrasse I had the pleasure of sitting down with Andrea Scherz. He is the third generation proprietor of the Palace which has been in existence since 1913. There is a deep love and commitment that I instantly see when we begin to discuss this glamorous Hotel and all its history.

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The Bar and Lounge Area

After graduating from the Hotel management School in Lausanne, and following various training periods and jobs in Switzerland as well as abroad, Andrea began working in his Fathers business as Chef de Reception in 1996. He then after some years was appointed General Manager, a position that fit him perfectly.

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The magnificent view of the Swiss Alps

The Palace has an array of activities for guests, including the Spa and Swimming pools….there is a fabulous out door Olympic size pool that is ideal for children. It is heated and has a lush lawn surrounding the cool blue water so the children are free to run around and enjoy themselves. There is a wonderfully kind man by the name of “Tom” that took such good care of us. My little daughter knew him by name and would always greet him and be sure to say goodbye. There are many devoted employees at the Palace that have been there for decades making it a magical place.

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The Olympic size pool…wonderfully fun!

 

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Le Grand Restaurant

One such employee is Gildo, of Gildo’s Ristorante in the Palace. He has been with the Hotel since the sixties. He is the head Maitre D’ and I had one of his divine pasta dishes prepared table side on the La Grande Terrassa. It was cooked perfectly and extraordinarily fresh as authentic Italian Cuisine should be.

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My suite….breath taking views.

There is no request to large or small that the Hotel Staff will not accommodate. One evening while dining, I discovered it was the birthday of a new friend. I immediately excused myself from the table and found the assistance of the chef who eagerly agreed to make a large birthday cake with candles. At the end of the meal the most extraordinary cake arrived with a fire cracker sparkler on top….it was absolutely perfect!!! This type of accommodating service is legendary at the Palace, which is comforting beyond measure when far away from home.

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Alex celebrating his birthday……

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Strolling the Palace grounds with my daughter Hyacinth.

Andrea believes tradition and respect are paramount in running a five star Hotel. His enthusiasm about his work is inspirational and clearly motivates those around him. He is committed to excellence and maintains high standards for his guests to enjoy.

I look forward to my return and will be sure to organize my paints and easel while there as the Swiss Alps are breathtaking and I can’t wait to capture the magnificence and splendor of it all on canvas.

Thank you Andrea….and to all the wonderful staff who made our visit exceptional. Until we meet again…xo, Michelle-Marie Heinemann

Michelle-Marie Heinemann & Andrea Scherz

Michelle-Marie Heinemann & Andrea Scherz. Such a lovely conversation……and delightful day!