Family Guide
Partnership with Parents
The partnership between the school, your child, and your family is key to their academic, social, and emotional growth. Built on trust and open communication, this partnership encourages parents to engage with the school and support their children in solving problems independently. Families may represent other children only with written consent, in line with the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act.
Family Communication & Campus Visits
Parents have access to comprehensive information about their child’s progress at LAS, including grades, assignments, teacher feedback, trips, dormitory details, activities, and health and financial information. All this information is available through the LAS Family Portal.
This is the first step to access all platforms listed in this table.
From the LAS website, click on FAMILIES (mobile) or the people icon (browser).
Contact Communications: communications@las.ch
View School Pass type and give approval.
Contact Dean of Students: pfomalont@las.ch
Find information about grades, teacher comments, dormitory comments, activity comments, and attendance.
Contact LAS Registrar
Keep up to date with medical records and Health Center visits.
Contact Health Center
Closed online community for LAS families to connect with each other and see additional news from campus.
Contact Communications
This page will lead you to the LAS Journal where we share news from campus on our website.
Contact Communications
Depending on your needs, the following contacts are available:
- LAS Faculty Family Parents: Offer insights into your child’s experience and LAS life.
- Admissions & Advancement: Directors assist parents with navigating LAS.
- Academics: Teachers and staff support academic matters.
- Student Life: Guidance on activities, travel, events, and conduct.
- Residential Life: Dormitory supervisors offer support.
Parents may visit during the school year. To schedule teacher conferences, email at least one week in advance. Please review travel policies before visiting or taking your child off campus to avoid schedule conflicts.
Family Support
LAS on the Road
LAS administrators (including the Admissions Directors, Director of Institutional Advancement, Head of School, and Steven & Doris Ott) travel worldwide to meet parents. These visits offer opportunities to discuss student progress, share updates, and explore ways to support each student.
Family Volunteers
Ways to Help LAS:
- Host events: Support LAS by hosting alumni or family events. Contact advancement@las.ch for details.
- Spread the word: Share your positive experience to help us grow.
- Volunteer: Help during Student Orientation (August), Family Winter Week (February), and Graduation (May). Contact advancement@las.ch to get involved.
- Donate: Support the latest LAS fundraising initiatives.
Donations
The Impact Fund: Established in July 2022, the Impact Fund has provided over CHF 100,000 in faculty grants. These grants have been used to renovate student spaces, support scholarship students at global conferences, host Alumni Visiting Scholars, and fund field trips. Your generosity helps continue enhancing the LAS student experience. Every donation benefits students and accelerates initiatives. For more info, contact advancement@las.ch.
Senior Gift Initiative: Each graduating class renovates a campus space, leaving a legacy for future students. The LAS community is invited to support this meaningful project. To learn more, contact advancement@las.ch.
Living in a Dormitory
Supervision and Dormitory Life
Each LAS dormitory has live-in faculty members on call during nights and weekends. In emergencies, the dorm staff on duty and Dorm Head are primary contacts, with senior student leaders assisting. Dorm staff may enter rooms for cleanliness checks, lights-out enforcement, or device removal, prioritizing safety while respecting privacy. Faculty of all genders may be in dorms, so students should dress appropriately.
Please be sure to report any damages to the Dorm Head. Students are financially responsible for damage incurred. A cleaning fee applies for unkept rooms, and additional furnishings require approval.
Before Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer, students must leave their rooms clean. A 500 CHF cleaning fee may apply if rooms are not maintained.
Rooming Assignments
Room assignments for returning students are based on requests, including roommate preferences, with priority given to diversity. Dorm Heads, in coordination with the Director of Residential Life, consider factors like seniority, grade, and language balance when making assignments.
Students may be reassigned due to space, leadership roles, or age. Dorm changes require Director approval, while room changes require Dorm Head approval. No changes are allowed in the first month of each semester, and reassignment may occur for dorm harmony.
Roommates
Room changes are not allowed until one month after arrival, but requests can be made after that. Students should be prepared for a new roommate at any time, with 48 hours notice.
Language Considerations
LAS aims to room students with different mother tongues to promote global citizenship. Whenever possible, students will not be placed with others who speak their home language, though this may not always be feasible due to logistical constraints.
Mediation
Conflicts are resolved through formal mediation with dorm staff or faculty parents.
Cooking, Cleaning, and Decorating Rooms
Cleaning Rooms
Each dorm has a cleaning staff for common areas, but students must keep their rooms tidy:
- Keep floors clear of trash and personal items.
- Keep study areas clean and shelves for books only.
- Make beds daily and store laundry in baskets.
- No open food or containers in rooms.
- Turn off lights and lock doors when vacant.
- Keep rooms odor-free and empty trash regularly.
Failure to meet expectations may result in disciplinary actions and financial responsibility for damages.
Room Decorations
Room decorations depicting tobacco, alcohol, drugs, nudity, violence, discrimination, or racism are prohibited. Students should be mindful of how symbols may affect others. To prevent damage, follow these guidelines:
- Keep dorm room doors unobstructed.
- No nails, tacks, or staples on wooden surfaces.
- Stickers are prohibited.
- Dorm Heads will provide specific decoration guidelines.
Candles and Open Flames
Candles, incense, and other flammable items are prohibited in dorm rooms.
Laundry Facilities
Grades 9-12 students are responsible for laundering their clothes using dormitory facilities. Bedding is collected and replaced weekly by our Housekeeping Department.
Grades 7-8 receive a laundry service for 150 CHF/month but will learn to do laundry as part of the life skills curriculum, with the option to opt out once they demonstrate proficiency.
Cooking in the Dormitory
Each LAS dorm has kitchen facilities for student use, and students must clean up after themselves. Cooking appliances (except water boilers) are not allowed in rooms, and water boilers must be unplugged when not in use. Rooms have a small shared refrigerator for food storage.
Pets
Pets of any kind (including fish) are not permitted.
LAS Gender Inclusion Policy
LAS fosters a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where students can express their gender and sexual identities as they choose. We use students’ chosen names and pronouns and offer support through groups like the Technicolor Fellowship and S.A.F.E. (Students Actively Fostering Equity).
To promote inclusion, LAS provides non-gendered restrooms, mixed-gender dorm visiting hours, and staff training on gender diversity. While some programs align with passport-designated gender, LAS remains committed to a welcoming space for all.
Sexual Relations
Sexual relationships are prohibited. Students will be referred to the Health Center for counseling. Sex education is provided in the dorms.
Search Policy
We may inspect belongings or search rooms or bags if there are concerns about theft, substances, or other serious issues.
Shipping and Storage
LAS partners with an independent contractor for summer storage and shipping of student belongings. On-campus storage is not available. Large items, such as bikes, ski equipment, and furniture, must be stored with the contractor. Unclaimed items left in dorms or ski rooms will be discarded or donated. Families and students are responsible for all arrangements with the contractor, including costs and scheduling. LAS facilitates the connection but assumes no further responsibility. For more information, contact Eric Turner, Director of Residential Life.
Guidelines for Electronics
Computer Usage
All LAS students receive a personal laptop for academic use. While computers are allowed for academics and communication with family, they cannot be used after lights-out or during study hall or class for non-academic activities like videos, gaming, or chatting.
Video gaming is a privilege at LAS, allowed only at specific times and locations in the dorm. In grades 7-9, gaming consoles and computers are prohibited in rooms but available in lounges. In other dorms, consoles are allowed with guidelines. If gaming interferes with academics or sleep, LAS reserves the right to confiscate the device. Gaming is not permitted during study hall. Repeated violations could lead to disciplinary action.
LAS Personal Phone Policy
LAS has a restrictive phone policy designed to foster student well-being, reduce distractions, and encourage face-to-face interactions.
- Grades 7–10: Students will turn in their phones each evening and will receive them back only after the school day ends.
- Grades 11–12: Students may keep their phones but must leave them in the dormitory during academic hours.
This policy aligns with best practices followed by many peer institutions that aim to limit students' screen time and promote healthier social habits. Our overarching goals are to enhance student focus, improve academic engagement, and support a stronger sense of community within the school environment.
Day Students & Five-Day Boarders
Day students must leave after their last obligation and return by 07:00 the next day. Infractions must be served over the weekend. They are expected to follow LAS standards in Leysin.
Five-day boarders must depart after their last obligation on Friday. To stay on campus, parental permission is required by 13:00 on Wednesday, with a 150 CHF per day fee. Without permission, LAS is not responsible for the student. Infractions must be served before leaving.
Ski Equipment
Spring Break marks the end of the ski season. Students should take their skis or snowboards home or store them with our external contractor. Leftover equipment will be donated or discarded.