Message from the Head of School - September 2022

Dear Champiteans,

Welcome back to school! I hope that you have had a relaxed and pleasant summer; with a little boredom which sparks creativity, quality time with your loved ones and, ideally, some reading and revision.

More than 800 students have started the new school year in Pully and Nyon, about one fifth of whom are new to Champittet. The 90 full-time equivalent teachers at the school will ensure their smooth integration and will assign them buddies chosen among the experienced students. As last year, the teacher-student ratio remains 1:9. Taking into account the additional support functions (supervisors, tutors, nurses, etc.), the ratio is 1:5. On average, we have 15 students per class, with the exception of the secondary section where students are divided into smaller groups according to their academic options. The school also continues its pioneering Forest School project for the younger students in our region.

The world continues to change rapidly: in addition to the challenges created by the digitisation of everything and the global warming, there is now the challenge of defending democracy against autocrats of all kinds. Our intention is to help students gain autonomy, a sense of responsibility and the motivation to act.

At a more operational level, I expect new waves of Covid, but —except in the event of an unfavourable mutation— with no major impact on the functioning of the school. I am more concerned about the scenario, announced by the Swiss government, of power cuts, potentially since this winter.

The 120^th anniversary of the school will be celebrated throughout 2023: initiatives from students and parents are welcome. Until that time, I would like to quote the motto of André Comte-Sponville, the famous French philosopher who came to the Collège last March: to know, to act, to love.