1974-2024
50 YEARS IN GENEVA
In January 1974, the school relocated to Meyrin, close the CERN and other international organisations. Stina Lagergren became president. A committed group of 30 parents decorated and prepared the interior of the premises during evenings and weekends before the opening. The school was ready for its opening just after Easter.
Swedish Ambassador Sven-Eric Nilsson joined the community at the official inauguration in June 1974. Consul General Patrik Falkman, Geneva school minister André Chavanne, Headmaster of Collège des Coudriers and Swedish pastor Lennart Söderström also joined the friends and families to celebrate the occasion.
As the school was not yet financially secure, Monica Sagnell, the school’s accountant, paid the first rent privately. To save money on postage, she ordered books in 5kg packages from Föreningen för Svenskhetens Bevarande i Utlandet (Association for the Preservation of Swedishness Abroad). During the first summer, the postman arrived almost every day to drop off another package and ask for a glass of water!
By the mid 1980s, the school was offering preschool, primary and secondary (by distance learning), and had grown to 60 students and 10 teachers.
In the autumn of 1972 Bo Mårsäter and his wife Ulla formed a non-profit association. Bo Mårsäter became President of the association. From the very beginning to this day, parents and school staff have worked hand-in-hand to make the school a wonderful place for children to learn.
At the start with just 27 Swedish-speaking students, teachers held classes in welcoming schools. Maths and English classes were held outside regular school hours at the Collège de Budé in Vernier. Eventually the school opened its own primary school with just 12 students on the premises of the Collège des Coudrier.