Institut International Notre-Dame du Lac

Founded in 1946, the school is a non-profit association of Catholic tradition that welcomes families from diverse international backgrounds. It aims to provide a familial, multicultural environment that balances humanistic traditions with modern pedagogical innovation. The school encourages students to be curious, bold, and engaged, guided by the motto 'Respice Stellam' (Look to the star).

The school offers a curriculum for children aged 3 to 11, spanning from kindergarten (maternelle) to primary school (primaire). It features a strong emphasis on languages, with English instruction beginning at age 3 and German introduced at age 8. The school is an Eco-Schools label holder, integrating sustainable development into its projects, and utilizes a competency-based evaluation system alongside traditional grading.

The school aims to prepare students to be engaged, responsible citizens of the 21st century. It focuses on academic excellence in fundamental subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics, while fostering autonomy and initiative. Students are prepared for international standards, including the Cambridge English Language Assessment, and the school holds the Swiss School Impulse certification.

The school maintains small class sizes, averaging 18 students, to facilitate personalized support and differentiated instruction. A dedicated team of experts, including specialized teachers and pedagogical advisors, works to adapt to each student's learning pace and style. The school emphasizes the development of social and emotional skills, such as creativity, cooperation, communication, and critical thinking.

The school follows a two-step admission process: the submission of a pre-registration file followed by a mandatory meeting with the Director. Families are encouraged to contact the secretariat by phone, email, or via the online form to schedule this meeting and arrange a campus visit. Pre-registration forms and the school charter are available online for submission via email or post.

The school year typically runs from September to late June, with breaks for the Jeûne Genevois, autumn, Christmas, February, and Easter holidays, as well as Ascension and Pentecost. The secretariat is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00 during term time, with a reduced service available during school holidays. Daily schedules include lunch periods and optional supervised study sessions from 15:35 to 16:20 for primary students.

Located on the historic, verdant Domaine Boissier in Cologny, the campus overlooks Lake Geneva and has served the school since 1946. Facilities include a library with thousands of books in French and English, a school restaurant serving locally sourced and organic meals, and classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards, projectors, and tablets. The school also provides a bus service for students on the left bank of the lake.

The school offers over 60 extra-curricular activities, including sports, arts, music, and well-being programmes, available during lunch, after school, on Wednesdays, and during holidays. Specific activities include fashion design, gardening, cooking, dance, and guitar. Additionally, students can participate in the school choir, which has performed at venues such as the Grand Théâtre de Genève.