Every year, students at Leysin American School in Switzerland find a home away from home in one of the six dormitories on our campus. Each dorm caters to a different age group, so dorm life stays fun and age-appropriate for every student.

Each dorm is led by live-in faculty members called "dorm parents," supported by assistant dorm heads and resident assistants. Together, this team provides guidance, comfort, and structure throughout the school year. Weekly dorm meetings keep students informed about organization, rules, expectations, and any schedule changes. Faculty and staff also take on weekly and weekend dorm duties, giving students the chance to build deeper relationships with both adults that they already know from the classroom and those they might not otherwise meet in daily campus life—one more way LAS feels like a tight-knit community.

Common Questions from Students and Families
There are a lot of adjustments when moving to boarding school and families naturally have questions about what dorm life is really like. Here are answers to the questions we hear most often:

What will be in my room?
Every student has a single bed, desk, built-in shelving, and storage for clothing, along with a full ensuite bathroom shared with roommates and a small fridge for snacks and personal food. Rooms have spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, valley, or forest.

How are roommates assigned?
We pair roommates intentionally to bring together different home languages—a student from Brazil might room with a student from China, for example—to encourage cross-cultural connection and even a little language learning outside the classroom.

Every student completes a detailed survey covering living preferences, habits, goals, and interests, which we use to create pairings that are both culturally enriching and personally compatible. After their first year, students can request a specific room or roommate, though we still prioritize language diversity; seniority plays a role in how these preferences are granted.

Who's leads the dorm?
Each dorm's team of dorm heads, assistant dorm heads, and resident assistants is on hand throughout the school year, backed by dorm parents—faculty and staff who take on regular dorm duty shifts. There are also student-elected dorm leaders. Students always know who to turn to for support, guidance, or help resolving day-to-day issues.

Can I make my own food?
Every dorm has a communal kitchen available during set hours for cooking and baking—often a natural gathering spot where students share dishes from home and socialize. Students can also buy snacks from supervised "dorm stores," with proceeds going to a charity chosen but the dorm residents.

What will be my responsibilities?
All students learn to use kitchen equipment, wash their own dishes, pots, and pans, and keep their rooms tidy for regular inspections. Everyone above grade 8 also learns to do their own laundry. There are regular “dorm contributions” where students work in teams to perform community chores like gathering recycling, unloading grocery orders, or taking out the trash. 

Are there common spaces?
Yes—there are thoughtfully-designed spaces for quiet study, movies, yoga, exercise, gaming, cooking, meditating, or simply hanging out with friends. We shape these spaces around what residents actually want and adjust them as needs evolve.

Can I work out in the dorm?
Beau Site and Belle Époque have their own workout spaces with cardio machines, weights, and resistance equipment. Savoy, Beau Réveil, and Esplanade are a short walk from the Magic Mountain Athletic Center (the MMAC), where students work out, play ping pong, or join pickup basketball, volleyball, or indoor football—often followed by a smoothie at the MMAC's Café 7.

Is there storage available?
Every dorm has space for ski and snowboard gear as well as large suitcases, keeping rooms neat, orderly, and comfortable.

What does a typical day or evening look like?
Our residential life program balances free time and structure to support students' overall wellbeing. After classes and activities, students have time to relax, recharge, study, or socialize before dinner. Free time continues until study hall, which is structured differently by grade level to match students' study needs and help them build healthy time-management habits. Dorm staff monitor study hall and are on hand to help with homework. A short free period follows before winding down for the evening, supported by routines that promote healthy sleep habits.

Learning Independence and Life Skills for the Future
Dorm life teaches students powerful life skills. Beyond navigating cultural and language differences with a roommate, students learn to manage their own time, build healthy study and sleep habits, and handle their own household chores. These experiences build confidence, self-reliance, and independence—skills that will serve students well long after they leave LAS.