Leysin American School

About us

Located in the breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Alps, Leysin American School has a history of nurturing talent and motivating students to succeed in education, sports and arts.

WELCOME TO LEYSIN AMERICAN SCHOOL, A SCHOOL WITH “FAMILY” VALUES.

Located in the breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Alps, Leysin American School has a history of nurturing talent and motivating students to succeed in education, sports and arts. We bring together students from around the world to create a campus community with a global perspective and a family atmosphere. Our ethos of maintaining strong links with students and parents underpins the education we provide from grades 8 through 12, culminating in the International Baccalaureate or the U.S. High School Diploma.

We believe in the traditional Swiss values of quality and excellence, and our academic program reflects those attributes.

Extracurricular activities, including ski term, team and adventure sports, and excursions to cities that many only dream of visiting, round out the outstanding lifestyle experience.

A visit is the best way to understand why so many students and their families have made Leysin American School such an important part of their lives. Contact us to schedule a visit and receive your warm welcome to Leysin and Switzerland.

HISTORY

Established by Fred and Sigrid Ott in 1960 Now managed by the third generation of the Ott family Not-for-profit foundation since 2005

ACADEMICS

• Teaching in English
• Grades 8-12 ( 12-18 years old)
• Postgraduate Year, Year 13
• IB, International Baccalaureate
• U.S. High School Diploma
• English as a Second Language
• English Bridge Program (April-August)
• Faculty-to-student ratio, 1:8
• Average class size, 12
• Full-time faculty, 72; 95% live on campus
• Special optional academic tutorial program
• SAT preparation and testing

LIFESTYLE

• 350 students, 60 nationalities, Full boarding school, Located in the Swiss Alps, Vaud Canton
• French-speaking part of Switzerland
• Mountain location, ski resort of Leysin
• Two hours from Geneva
• Sports teams
• European travel
• Arts and cultural performances
• Ski-Term, January to March
• Caring community
• Partnership with parents
• Afternoon activities
• Model United Nations
• Weekend excursions
• Faculty Family

FACILITIES

• Belle Époque Campus for International Baccalaureate studies
• Savoy Campus for Middle school, ESL and U.S. High School Diploma studies
• Twelve buildings
• Shared accommodation with bathroom
• Media centre
• Black box theatre
• Performance hall
• Art centre
• Two libraries
• Apple Technology at LAS (ATLAS)
• Gym for indoor sports
• Squash court
• Two fitness rooms

UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE PLACEMENT

• 99% of graduates attend colleges and universities worldwide
• Over 80% continue to U.S. universities
• Annual visits by over 70 universities from U.S., Canada and Europe

TRAVEL

• Swiss excursions: Geneva, Berne, Lugano
• Italian trips: Florence, Rome, Venice
• European trips: London, Paris, Barcelona
• Spring Break trips: Tanzania, China, Egypt
• Weekend excursions

SUMMER IN SWITZERLAND

• 3-7 week program, June-August
• 8-18 years old; 3 age groups, 8-12, 13-15, 16-18
• Culture week
• European adventure (Madrid, Rome, London, etc.)
• French language immersion
• English, science and art classes
• Adventure, exploration, challenge

WINTER IN SWITZERLAND

• Ski lessons
• Theory of Knowledge, Language
• One-week tour of Italy

STAY LENGTH

FROM 3 WEEKS UP TO 7 WEEKS

LOCATION

Leysin is a sunny alpine resort village at the eastern end of Lake Geneva in proximity to Montreux, Lausanne, and Geneva. In prior years, Leysin was known for its sanatoriums for tuberculosis; today its spectacular Alpine views across the Rhône Valley towards the Dents du Midi invite year-round mountain sports and recreation.

The entire village of Leysin and hamlet of Veyges are designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

• Leysin American School
• 1854 Leysin

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

The guiding force at Leysin American School is to encourage all students to reach their full potential in every area, developing new skills and strengths in the process.

We are committed to the philosophies and principles behind the International Baccalaureate Organization because we believe that quality work and high standards are attainable by all young people, whether or not they choose to pursue the full International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

The International Baccalaureate Organization, founded in Geneva, Switzerland, oversees this rigorous academic and prestigious academic programme, which is internationally recognized as one of the best university preparations available. The two-year programme usually begins in the eleventh grade and continues through the twelfth grade.

At Leysin American School, we offer a range of subjects for the IB in a supportive high school setting. This has resulted in strong university placements and offers for our students, including college credit in selected IB subjects based on each university’s policies.

IB Campus and Teaching at LAS

Our LAS Belle Époque Campus is now home to the IB Programme, with dedicated teachers who specialize in developing each student’s potential.

This allows students the chance to fully focus on obtaining the highest possible personal score. Combined with university preparation and visits from university representatives, IB and U.S. Diploma students optimize their opportunities to enter their chosen universities.

The LAS location is an idyllic mountaintop setting in a ski resort. Separate male and female dormitory wings include staff members who supervise and take care of students’ requirements. Facilities include a dining hall, gym, art and music rooms, and various resources for recreational activities.

Over the course of the two-year programme, students will study: Six subjects chosen from the six subject groups Five core subject areas,

Students whose native language is not English, and who are unable to study literature in English at the A1 level, have the option to pursue Language A1 Self-Taught. IB Diploma candidates must take at least three Higher Level courses and no more than three Standard Level courses.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)

To graduate with the IB Diploma, students must complete the Theory of Knowledge course and an Extended Essay and also document the required number of CAS hours (150 hours). Successful candidates may earn the IB Diploma in addition to the LAS high school diploma. Students who demonstrate above-average work on Theory of Knowledge assessments and their Extended Essays may earn up to three bonus points toward the IB Diploma.

IB courses are given final, cumulative scores on a scale of 0-7. Diploma candidates must earn a minimum score of 24 points for six courses to earn the IB Diploma. IB Diploma candidates must take at least three Higher Level courses and no more than three Standard Level courses. Typically, internal assessments will count between 20 percent and 30 percent of a final subject score.

Leysin American School recognizes that scores provided by the IBO represent external standards that, although representative of the values we seek in students, do not always reflect a student’s work in the classroom. To that end, LAS provides its students with percentage grades rooted in IB standards but based on performance and effort in the classroom.

Although there is no formal admission process to the IB Diploma Programme, students will be expected to have earned good grades in all subjects and to have shown active engagement in the learning process that marks the successful IB Diploma candidate. Non-native English speakers will need to show sufficient mastery of the English language to be admitted to IB studies.

LAS students have many opportunities to take IB courses, even if they do not wish to pursue the IB Diploma. Students who take IB-level classes will be expected to complete all IBO assessments relevant to each course.

• Language
• Second language
• Social studies
• Science
• Mathematics
• Plus,
• Any core subject area or arts
• Complete an extended essay.
• Follow a theory of knowledge course (TOK).

U.s. Diploma Program (Grades 8-12)

All students who graduate from Leysin American School are awarded the LAS U.S. High School Diploma, including students who take the International Baccalaureate. This prestigious high school diploma is accredited by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association and the Council for International Schools.

LAS offers an academically balanced curriculum from Grades 8 through 12 leading to this award, with an ESL option for those who need support in English.

Over the course of the program, students will concentrate on the key academic areas required for university entrance, English, mathematics and science, as well as other important subjects that help to develop greater personal and social awareness, modern languages, social sciences, humanities and arts.

U.S. Diploma timeframe and credits:

• Start of year: August • End of year: June • Two semesters per year, beginning in August and January • Students take at least six subjects per semester. • Each course provides one credit per year.

Our students come from many countries and bring the value of their cultural experience and education to the campus. To accommodate the differences in curriculum and academic focus of each country, and to give each student the best opportunity to succeed, students are guided to obtain a certain number of credits at LAS to graduate, based on the entry-level grade determined by their transcripts.

• 9th grade need 24 credits to graduate
• 10th grade need 18 credits to graduate
• 11th grade need 12 credits to graduate
• 12th grade need 6 credits to graduate
• English 8
• History 8
• Music/Art 8
• Earth Science 8
• PE/Life Skills
• Math: Pre-Algebra Algebra 1 Geometry Algebra 2
• Optional Modern Language: French 1-4 Spanish 1, 2
• English 9
• History 9
• Biology
• Required Modern Language: French 1-4 Spanish 1, 2
• English 10
• World History
• Physical Science
• Drama
• Math: Algebra 1 Geometry Algebra 2 Precalculus
• English 11
• US History
• Chemistry
• Math: Precalculus Calculus Applied Math Statistics
• English 12
• Physics
• Business

Residential Life

Our residential way of life strives to educate students to be responsible, productive and ethical citizens with the skills to think creatively, reason critically, communicate effectively and maintain an attitude of respect toward people of other cultures.

Dormitories have several live-in faculty members who rotate supervisory nights and weekends throughout the year. Students know who is on duty each night so that in an emergency, the person on duty is the primary contact. Dormitory supervisors also rely on student prefects for assistance. These students must be familiar with apartment locations and contact numbers should an emergency arise.

Living with a roommate and away from home is a unique opportunity for a teenager. It provides ripe opportunitis for sharing about one another’s cultures, personal histories, and forming wonderful bonds that can last a lifetime. It also can be challenging to learn how to share a space at this age.

Differences between roommates are not uncommon when considering the various needs and habits that may present between two or more young adults. We work extensively with the students to establish an air of mutual respect in the rooms, and work on voicing issues with regards to the room in a respectful manner.

This provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn how to listen to others’ concerns openly while also having theirs heard; and to then, under the guidance of an adult mentor, devise an agreement that meets each person’s needs to the extent possible.

Learning how to communicate effectively, adapt, and share a common space while taking into consideration their own needs and those of others provides opportunities for life lessons and growth students would not normally get until university or beyond.

It is one of the more challenging, but also more special, aspects of attending a boarding school. Our experienced dorm staff work extensively to mediate and foster positive roommate relationships.

Building a community is our primary objective.

We believe in a stable, caring, supportive, family-like environment where students receive adult guidance through frequent daily interaction. “Family” is the key word because, given the distance that many of our students are from their own families, our faculty is committed to providing a positive “in loco parentis” role model for students.

The residential houses of Leysin American School are vital to the well-being and positive functioning of the school community. Our students feel at home on campus, and this helps them to feel positive about themselves and to appreciate their life at LAS.

In the dormitories, students have the opportunity to appreciate and understand other cultures. Living together, they recognize the differences of language, food or traditional costumes and then begin to explore the ideas, values and histories that have created each cultural group’s uniqueness.

This rich experience opens up another avenue to realize that, despite our obvious differences, we share many similarities as human beings that we might not have previously recognized.

LAS Uniform and Dress Code

The LAS uniform is not a traditional school uniform, but it does help to give students a sense of identity. This is their home away from home, and by wearing the school badge, they feel they belong. Upon arrival and during orientation, students choose from a range of clothing items that are then tailored on the spot to fit them correctly and comfortably.

Items available include polo and other shirts, skirts and ski jackets. The dress code must be respected during the school day.

Athletics and Activities

The Leysin American School strives to offer a balanced program of study, sports, arts, recreation and cultural travel. The nonacademic life is equally important and helps to mold our students into model citizens of the world.

At LAS we believe that exercise and fitness contribute to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The habit of regular physical exercise during adolescence can continue for years to come and is important in maintaining health and well-being. Our students choose among recreational activities for fun or participate on a competitive sports team.

Team sports allow students to experience the value of teamwork, engage in leadership roles and enjoy the benefits of healthy competition, all while having fun and making new friends. Students who play on a sports team often learn to manage their free time and excel academically. At LAS, we recognize the value of sport and leisure.

Our sports coaches instill the importance of sportsmanship and fair play from the first practice to the last game and beyond. Our student-athletes are expected to uphold the virtues of good sportsmanship, such as winning graciously, accepting failure with dignity and always showing respect for opponents and officials.

Several teams represent LAS in Leysin and throughout Switzerland. We compete in two leagues, the Swiss Group of International Schools, and the Association des Directeurs des Instituts de Suisse Romande. SGIS events consist of weekend tournaments hosted by various international schools throughout Switzerland, while the ADISR schedules weekly matches within a league of private schools located in French-speaking Switzerland. LAS also competes in several non-league and invitational tournaments.

Most sports competitions take place during the fall semester. Tryouts are held during the first week of classes, and teams practice two to three times a week after school. Sports teams typically have one ADISR match each week and attend a few multi-school tournaments throughout the year. ADISR play-offs and finals are held in late November. LAS annually hosts the SGIS Volleyball Championships in early November for both boys and girls. Track participants train and compete in the spring term. Some teams, such as swimming and tennis, attend tournaments throughout the year.

Outdoor Program

The Outdoor Adventure program is a series of excursions and activities designed to showcase the natural outdoor resources in the area surrounding LAS. Leysin is located in a prime alpine location, with abundant rock climbing, high-mountain trekking, via ferratas (mountain routes equipped with fixed steel cables and footholds) and several ski resorts and mountain huts nearby.

The Outdoor Adventure program encourages students to be active in the outdoors and the Swiss mountains, with hiking boots, snowshoes or ropes and harnesses, to see the view from the top. The program consists of afternoon activities and weekend trips. The fall semester includes an overnight trek to the summit of the Dents du Midi (the highest peak in the area), as well as an after-school activity of orienteering and avalanche awareness. This activity includes hiking around the local ski resort terrain and surveying the various aspects of the slopes, becoming familiar with piste and off-piste trails.

The series of outdoor activities and weekend trips are open to all interested students. They include (but may change because of weather factors and enrollment):

Ideally located in the heart of Europe, Switzerland’s Lake Geneva region serves as the gateway for travel to the cultural treasures of nearby France, Italy, Austria and Germany. Centuries of history come to life before students’ eyes on school-sponsored excursions to cities such as Rome, Paris or Athens. For example, when students visit the Sistine Chapel, they learn about the election of Catholic Church popes over the centuries. In Athens, they visit the sites where democracy was born. Leysin American School combines formal study with travel as part of the curriculum. Students are expected to pursue academic tasks on these visits, complete reports and projects, and are graded on their work.

September Weekend Students get to know their faculty family brothers, sisters and parents. These trips are generally within Switzerland and often involve sports and team building activities. Swiss Culturals (October) Students in Grades 9, 10 and 11 visit cultural centers of their host county, Switzerland, such as Basel, Berne, Geneva, Lucerne and Lugano. Italian Culturals (October) Senior and postgraduate students visit Florence, Rome or Venice as part of their Theory of Knowledge class. European Culturals (May) Students have a choice of European cities to visit. Thse trips generally include Barcelona, London, Paris, Venice, Istanbul, Vienna, Munich, Prague or St. Petersburg. Through a Swiss chapter of Habitat for Humanity, students may participate in community service trips to such countries as Romania and Poland to assist the less fortunate. Our Peace Corps Partnership provides an opportunity to visit and work with struggling communities in Morocco. Optional Spring Break Trip (March/April) At extra cost, students may opt to go on a faculty-sponsored trip over Spring Break. Past destinations have included community service trips to Bosnia as well as cultural trips to Tanzania, China, Egypt and Nepal.

Weekends Weekend field trips are organized throughout the year within Switzerland and to neighboring countries. Every weekend, school-sponsored trips are offered to nearby Lausanne, Geneva, Montreux and Bern to take advantage of museums, theater and shopping. Weekly sports and leisure excursions include Zermatt for glacier skiing and the Aquapark adventure destination in Bouveret.

• Overnight trek to summit the Dents du Midi mountain (3257 m; 10,686 ft.)
• An overnight hiking trek organized by the students
• Sailing on Lake Geneva, a team-building exercise
• Via ferrata up the Tour D’Ai, Leysin canyoning and/or whitewater rafting (in the spring)
• Indoor and outdoor rock climbing
• Early season overnight ski trip
• Winter overnight hut trip
• Overnight spring camping trip
• Lake Geneva bike touring trip

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award, bringing together practical experiences, life skills, and fun. It operates in over 140 countries and has involved more than 8 million young people. Universities and employers look favorably on Bronze, Silver, or Gold International Awards because they demonstrate a student’s commitment to goal setting and achievement.

The Leysin American School is proud to introduce the International Award during the 2014-2015 academic year. During this first year we are particularly aiming at 8th and 9th graders working toward Bronze Awards, but we are also welcoming older students direct-entering into Silver or Gold. Most of your effort toward the International Award can be accomplished through your existing activities, though some additional time will be needed for the Adventurous Journey and service requirements.

What is involved? The Award is voluntary, non-competitive, enjoyable, and requires effort over time. Students design their own Award program, set their own goals, and record their own progress. They choose Service, Physical Recreation, Skills activities, go on an Adventurous Journey, and, to achieve a Gold Award, take part in a residential project away from home or school.

Extra Help from Teachers

Students obtain help from teachers during each teacher’s Extra Help session, when they can review academic content covered in class. Students are encouraged to attend as often as possible when they need extra support. This is the first option for support and can be scheduled directly with the teacher.

Study Skills

A full study skills program is offered every two years in collaboration with READAK to help students gain skills that will help them achieve academic success. Concepts include learning styles, daily preparation for the classroom, note-taking strategies and test-taking skills.

Supervised Study Hall

Students may be enrolled in Supervised Study Hall, conducted in the dorms by dorm staff, where homework is monitored to ensure that academic study habits are developed. Students can approach dorm heads about this option or may be recommended by a teacher to a dorm head for this extra study.

Peer Tutoring (Free of charge)

Students who need one-on-one support may be paired for assistance and guidance with high-achieving students who are members of the National Honor Society.

Faculty Mentoring (Fee paying)

Students with difficulties in organization and motivation may find it beneficial to work with a faculty mentor to improve study skills. Parental permission is required and will be discussed with parents before any mentoring begins.

Private Tutoring (Fee paying)

Students may request additional help in a specific subject after attending three Extra Help sessions. The LAS academic office must provide approval, and parental permission is required. Students work one-on-one with a faculty member to reinforce academic learning in the subject.

Students with Special Needs

Students with moderate learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and ADHD, receive accommodations within their mainstreamed classes and exams. Progress is monitored by a school-employed learning support specialist. We offer educational assessment services through collaboration with an educational psychologist.

E.L.S.P. (Extended Learning Support Program) (Fee paying)

This program uses a holistic approach for students who are experiencing difficulties on multiple levels (academic and personal). Students may enroll for a semester or full academic year for 10 hours a week with qualified staff. The program runs parallel to the Study Hall schedule and has a limited number of places available.

LAS provides students with a first-class education that prepares them for their future beyond high school.

With our increasing prestige worldwide, IB Program, and Belle Époque campus, LAS attracts outstanding students. Our strong focus on academic excellence, along with our mission to develop innovative, compassionate and responsible global citizens, significantly enhances student commitment, student outcomes and college admissions.

Not only is LAS attracting strong students, but we are also attracting the attention of strong universities. We have seen a 25% increase in college visits in the last two years. College visits have more than doubled in the last seven years, with more than 70 college representatives making the trip up the mountain to interview our students.

In addition, LAS students have an opportunity in the fall to attend a College Fair in Geneva, where they can visit with representatives from about 90 universities from many countries.

LAS students have a 99% acceptance rate to universities worldwide, including:

85% U.S. 6% U.K. 4% Canada 5% others, including Switzerland

Each student, on average, applies to about eight universities. Each year we send out 800 applications to more than 300 universities.

The LAS college counseling program in grade 10 works with ISCO, an organization that helps prepare students for opportunities through professional career guidance and information about higher education. Students receive one-to-one guidance interviews and access to career information and paths, as well as updates on college and university options. The program opens their eyes to career and university opportunities and how to get to where they want to go.

Students are introduced to Naviance, a software program designed to research options for college studies. Parents also have access to this program, providing them with opportunities to advise their children and be directly involved with university selection.

In weekly classes, students are guided through the sometimes confusing college application process. Students also meet regularly in individual appointments with their college counselors.

Students who wish to apply to American colleges/universities need to take the challenging Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Each year, StudyWorks assists juniors in optimizing their test scores. The results are well worth the effort on the part of students and the investment by parents.

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the smiles of students and parents as graduates receive their LAS diplomas, well prepared to make their place in the world. It is gratifying to know that LAS played a significant part in that journey.

Acceptances To Us News & World Reports 2012 Top Universities & Colleges Based Upon Results From Last Year (# Reflects School Ranking):

• 7. UCL (University College London)
• 11. Stanford University
• 15. McGill University
• 20. University of Edinburgh
• 23. University of Toronto
• 27. King’s College London (KCL)
• 29. University of Manchester
• 30. Univesity of Bristol
• 31. University of Melbourne
• 50. University of Warwick
• 51. University of British Colombia
• 61. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• 70. Boston University
• 72. University of Sheffield
• 84. Georgia Institute of Technology
• 85. Purdue University
• 94. Pennsylvania University
• 95. Durham University
• 97. University of St. Andrews
• 99. Dartmouth College
• 5. Stanford University
• 11. Dartmouth College
• 13. John Hopkins University
• 23. University of Southern California
• 29. Tufts University
• 35. University of Rochester
• 36. Georgia Institute of Technology
• 38. University of Miami
• 45. Pennsylvania State University
• 46. University of Illinois
• 50. Rensselaer Polytechnic University
• 53. Boston University
• 54. Fordham University
• 58. Texas A&M University
• 62. Northeastern University
• 63. Purdue University
• 71. Virginia Tech
• 82. American University
• 83. University of Denver
• 94. University of Colorado- Boulder
• 95. University of Massachusetts- Amherst
• 97. University of California- Riverside
• 1. Williams College
• 2. Amherst College
• 3. Swarthmore College
• 4. Pomona College
• 5. Middlebury College
• 6. Carleton College
• 16. Wellesley College
• 17. Hamilton College
• 21. Colgate University
• 24. Oberlin College
• 25. Bryn Mawr College
• 27. Colorado College
• 29. College of the Holy Cross
• 30. Mount Holyoke College
• 42. Pitzer College
• 49. Skidmore College