We had a wonderful ski season with generally good snow conditions. Fortunately we made it through the season without any serious accidents: students were safe and still enjoyed the winter term! Other recent fun events were the Dorm Olympics where students of the residence halls competed against each other in various sports events. Our traditional Cow Bell games were very successful and this year even some adventurous faculty members participated in the games. The Art & Music Department’s Evening with the Stars, musical performances with a wonderful dinner was also a memorable event. The last event of the term was the Cool Piano at the Belle Époque Campus, which included one piece with the tap-dancing twins, Igor and Dennys Bastov! For more information, visit our blog at http://www.las.ch/news/student-life-news/.

The end of the school year is rapidly approaching with less than 8 weeks of school left and, yet, there are many exciting events still planned! Prom will take place at the beautiful Aigle Castle on Friday, April 16. International Week is planned the following week, which will culminate with International Day, an event open to the public. The Theater Department will be putting on the Little Shop of Horrors at the end of April. Late May, after the IB exams and LAS finals, students will go off on Spring Cultural Trips. Underclassmen, students in grades 8 to 11, then depart on June 1 and 2, while graduates will stay for the Class ’10 Commencement on Friday, June 4.

Following here is additional information from our Academic, Admissions, Accounting and Development Offices.

Academics: SAT, IELTS & TOEFL ibt Preparation Course in August

All students planning to apply to U.S. universities must take the SAT (Standardized Aptitude Test). LAS offers an optional special 10-day course before the school year begins to students entering 11^th and 12^th grade.  The purpose of the course is to prepare students for the SAT. They will learn to take the test; in other words, students will learn test methodology, vocabulary, required mathematics, and writing skills to maximize their scores. The importance of the SAT tests for students seeking admissions to universities in the United States cannot be overstated – the higher the SAT scores the greater the choice of universities the student has. Studyworks, an organization based out of the United States, provides trained professionals to teach this course at LAS. For more information on Studyworks, visit http://www.studyworks.com/.

The IELTS exam and the TOEFL ibt measure non-native speakers’ use and understanding of academic English. A score in one of these exams is necessary for entry into a university or college where instruction is in English. A higher score will give a student a greater choice of universities or colleges. Seniors enrolled in the English-as-a-Second Language program at LAS require an IELTS or TOEFL score to graduate. This intensive 75-hour course helps students gain experience of the IELTS and the TOEFL ibt exams. Extensive practice leads to higher test results. ESL teachers with experience at high school and university level will teach this course. It focuses on the skills required to perform well on both these standardized exams: reading and listening comprehension, speaking, academic vocabulary and essay writing. Students will learn test-taking skills and sit for several complete IELTS exams and one TOEFL ibt. Prerequisite for enrollment in this course is an intermediate level of English-language mastery and 11^th or 12^th grade standing.

Registration is necessary for both of the above courses and sign-up forms are available to download from our website at http://www.las.ch/parents/orientation.html or upon request from the Admissions Office.

Accounting & Admissions

The LAS Accounting Office is currently in the process of sending by email the 2010/11 school year invoices for students planning on returning to LAS in the fall. If for any reason your child(ren) will not be returning to LAS next year please inform our Admissions Office in writing before May 1, 2010. If cancellation occurs after this date, the security deposit is forfeited except under extenuating circumstances.

Re-enrollment forms and other information relevant to the 2010/11 school year will be mailed in June 2010. All forms should be returned to LAS no later than August 1, 2010. If for some reason the package does not arrive, please note that you can download them from the LAS website http://www.las.ch/admissions/applying.html.

For 11^th and 12^th graders wishing to participate in this year’s SAT Prep Course, arrival day is scheduled for August 13, 2010.  Arrival day for returning students is Wednesday, August 25, 2010.

Development

I would like to extend sincere thanks to those families who have contributed so far to the Annual Fund.  Thanks to the generous contributions already, we are able to proceed with a major refurbishment of the Belle Époque Campus Student Center, The Cave, one of the special projects for this year.  Your contributions to help with the various projects are very much appreciated and make a real difference to what we can offer our students.  For those who would like to contribute, please refer to the website, http://www.las.ch/alumni/support-the-foundation.html or contact Mr. Ian Mclean at imclean@las.ch.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. Planning for next school year is well underway, which will be particularly exciting with the 50^th anniversary of LAS coming up next school year! While enrollments for the academic year 2010/11 look very promising, please continue to refer LAS academic year and Summer in Switzerland program (SIS – http://www.las.ch/summer/) to family and friends.

As always, please contact us with your concerns and questions. I look forward to meeting many of you in June.

Warmest regards,

Dr. Marc-Frédéric Ott

Head of School

I am writing to you at the end of another busy week at LAS. Last Wednesday we had our second surprise ski day of the year, excusing students after the first class for some recreation and rejuvenation in the Alps. We are truly blessed with our surroundings and our easy access to winter sports of all kinds.

I would like to take a moment to address upcoming travel plans, new test preparation opportunities, clarification of our alcohol policy, and information on the Admissions & Development Offices.

Travel

First, we have made improvements in the travel options available to students for the upcoming two-week spring break.

For students who are 16 or older, parents may now give permission (in writing, via email, to travel@las.ch) to depart Leysin for Geneva on Friday, March 26, with a coach bus leaving at 16:30. Those students taking early morning flights on Saturday, March 27, may then stay overnight in Geneva prior to flying, instead of leaving from Leysin as early as 3:00 in the morning. However, once in Geneva, students will no longer be under the care of the school.

LAS will provide shuttles Saturday, March 27, and Sunday, March 28, according to the timetable below. Parents are encouraged to build flights around this set bus schedule. All students UNDER 16 years old or who do not have written parent permission must take one of these shuttles.

Student will be arriving in Leysin after the two-week break on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11. Buses will be provided according to the table below.

Please confirm all flight arrival times with the travel office (travel@las.ch). We will assign students appropriate pick-up times for their return to Leysin.

Test Preparation

Second, we are pleased to offer a new on-line course to assist students in their preparation for college entrance exams. Many colleges and universities use the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing (ACT) Program to screen applicants. Therefore, scoring as highly as possible on either of these tests is important for your child. A new web-based program is available at no cost and can be used by students at any time. The program:

• adapts to each individual student’s level
• provides instant feedback
• complements other SAT and ACT prep courses, like those offered at LAS during the summer or in the week before the fall term begins.

All juniors will be introduced to this program in their mandatory college preparation classes this spring. Any interested student in grade 9 and 10 should contact the College Counseling Office to get setup online.

Reminder on alcohol policy

Third, I am writing to ask for your continued support with our alcohol policy. Except for seniors whose parents have given explicit permission, no LAS student has permission to consume alcohol. In fact, in the town of Leysin, the only establishment where seniors with parental drinking permission are allowed to drink alcohol is the Top Pub, located just down the street from the Esplanade dormitory. When parents and friends visit Leysin, we ask you not to let your daughter or son consume alcohol in restaurants or bars. We appreciate your support in enforcing our drinking policy.

Admissions and Development Offices

As you may know, the Admissions and Development Offices moved to our Belle Époque building in January.  They are excited in their new home and encourage parents to stop by for a visit next time on campus.  This is a busy time of year for Admissions as they continue to receive many applications from students eager to join our school in August.  Parents of returning students should be aware that they will soon be receiving a reenrollment invoice and forms to register their son or daughter for next year.  Please be sure to do this promptly. The admissions office has also worked in making the LAS web site more dynamic by adding blogs. We encourage you to visit our site at www.las.ch. You will find a lot of exciting information on school life!

My parents, Steven and Doris Ott, Chairman of the Board and Administrative Director, and Ian McLean, our Director of Development, have just returned from a successful trip to the Middle East where they met most of our current families. They were able to share plans for the future development of LAS and were pleased with the positive reaction from the families.

Last week, we have mailed details of the LAS 2010 Annual Fund to all current families.  Your support for the various projects – at whatever level – will make a difference and be greatly appreciated as we continue to improve the facilities and opportunities for our current and future students.

The Development Office is also working on preparing the 50^th anniversary of the school, which will commence in October – a Gala Dinner at LAS on 7^th October and a number of dinners around the world. We will be sending out invitations to parents, alumni, and local dignitaries in the spring.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. We are having a very successful school year and, to date, a safe ski season. We will make a strong academic push right up to spring break and look forward to returning after vacation reenergized for the final stretch of academic year 2009/10.

As always, please contact us with concerns and questions.

Kindest regards,

Dr. Marc-Frédéric Ott

Head of School

To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, LAS is pleased to announce that the school will offer a number of full and half scholarships for the 2010/2011 academic year. (Partial scholarships are also awarded).

Preference for full scholarships will be for students entering 11th grade who will enroll in the full IB program (International Baccalaureate). Preference to half scholarships will be for students entering 8th or 9th grade with the potential to make long-term, positive contributions to the LAS community.

All candidates must be in the top 10% of their class to be considered. For more information please write to the Admissions Office (admissions@las.ch) and download our 50th Anniversary Application Form.

Last year's snowshoeing group

A group of five LAS students and two teachers will snowshoe up the Berneuse on February 25th to raise money for a service trip to Nepal. The 6kms trek will begin in Leysin Village (1268m) and end at the summit of La Bernuese (2048m), aiming to simulate the physical challenge and mandatory team work facing them this spring.  The Berneuse Snowshoe Challenge is a major event in a series of fundraisers for the 2010 “Nepal Shelter for Life Project.”

During the trip students will provide the poor village of Mugu with clean energy to curb the young mortality rate and to directly better the lives of villagers by installing smokeless stoves and solar panels.

The optional spring break trip is part of our unique curriculum which combines formal study with travel.

The group needs your help!

You can help by pledging upon the team’s successful snowshoe trek to La Berneuse. Their goal is to raise CHF 16′000 toward the overall cost of solar panels, smokeless stoves and their transport by helicopter to the region. Your donation, however small or large, will make small steps towards making the world a more equitable place.

Please feel free to contact Laura Sommariva or Erin Dobson for more information. You can also learn more about the 2010 Nepal Shelter For Life Project by visiting www.las.ch/lifestyle/nepal.html .

Students:

• SaraOlivia Granberger (Switzerland)
• Richard Goto (USA)
• Simon Romano (Mexico)
• Swanee Messerli (Switzerland)
• Beth Donaldson (Scotland)

Teachers:

• Laura Sommariva (Teacher of Mathematics)
• Erin Dobson (Teacher of Science)

We hope that you enjoyed a wonderful winter break with your families. The sun is shining on a fresh blanket of snow, so students should return to Leysin in a beautiful picturesque setting.

Our Winter Schedule, which includes skiing and snowboarding on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, begins on Monday January 18 and finishes on Friday March 19. We look forward to a safe and memorable ski season.

On the communication front, there are several items worthy of note. First, due to the winter schedule teacher-parent conferences may only be scheduled on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please contact Ms. Emma Dixon at edixon@las.ch for appointments at least one week in advance. Second, our main web page has added active blogs from each department to update you with the latest news. They can be accessed at www.las.ch/news. And finally, our Magic Mountain database which provides all personal account, discipline, health information is now accessible with your PowerSchool access codes at the following link: https://login.las.ch/remote/login.

I would also like to extend a warm welcome our new students, and trust that our staff will provide them with a smooth transition into the LAS community.

In closing, I wish you and your families all the best in the New Year. As always, I remain available for any questions or comments you may have and can be contacted at your convenience.

Kindest regards,

Dr. Marc-Frédéric Ott

Head of School