Travel Passes and School Travel

A pass allows a student to leave campus with parental and/or school approval for activities in Leysin, day trips to nearby cities, or overnight excursions, either with school or independent permission.

CULTURAL TRIPS

LAS organizes mandatory faculty-supervised cultural trips in October and May to Switzerland and Europe. These trips enhance cultural understanding and foster connections. Students unable to attend must seek approval from the Director of Student Life. If there are extenuating circumstances and your child cannot attend their cultural trip, please inform James McKenna by the cancellation date indicated for the trip. After this date, cancellation fees of 500 CHF will apply. We will send trip itineraries and a list of the trip leaders in May, but if you have any questions in the meantime, please contact James McKenna.

 

SCHOOL-SPONSORED WEEKEND PASS PROGRAM

The LAS Student Life Department offers chaperoned weekend trips for recreation and cultural enrichment. Most are free, with some charging a fee, including a 30 CHF no-show fee. Students sign up via Orah. For details, contact the Director of Student Life at activities@las.ch.

 

PERSONAL TRAVEL PASS PROCEDURE

Please see the 2026-2027 LAS Trip & Travel Guidelines document here. Travel permissions are subject to the requirements in the linked document and are approved by the LAS Contact listed in the chart, under the direction of the Dean of Students (DOS).

Parents and students should not book travel without school approval, as LAS is not responsible for financial losses. Beyond the travel listed in the document above, the following passes are available:

  • Medical Pass: For urgent care, approved by the Health Center via Orah. A medical certificate from the attending physician is required upon the student's return.
  • Parental Visit Pass: Parents/guardians may check out their child by signing out with the Dean of Students or Administrator on Call.

University Pass: Grade 12 and second-semester Grade 11 students can apply for two University Passes per semester, with at least one week’s notice and verification from the University Advising Office or ELA Department Head.

 

GRADES 7, 8, AND 9 PASS PROCEDURE

General passes must be communicated and approved in advance by the Associate Dean of Students—Savoy Campus.

Golden Pass Program
The Golden Pass Program, starting after the Fall cultural trips, rewards grades 7-9 students with excellent academics, attendance, and citizenship. It grants privileges like day travel permission, reviewed weekly. Grade 9 students may apply for day travel after winter break with parental approval in Orah. Students must sign out with the Administrator on Call.

Parental Responsibility
Students are accountable for their conduct while traveling. Any incidents may affect their standing. By approving travel in Orah, parents accept responsibility for risks, including legal or medical issues, and understand that LAS will assist in emergencies at the family's expense

Personal Pass Dates
The LAS calendar includes two types of Passes on OPEN weekends:

  • Overnight Weekend Pass: Available to Commendation List students for overnight travel.
  • Day Pass: Available to Commendation List students for day trips (9:00–19:30). On Closed Weekends, students must stay in Leysin.

Commendation List
To earn a pass, students must:

  • Academic: Meet LAS standards, with approval from deans.
  • Behavior: No Ns (Not Yet Meeting Expectations) in learning behavior grades.
  • Assignments: No excessive missing assignments.
  • Attendance: No more than 1.5 attendance points.
  • Conduct: All restrictions served.
  • Activities: No activity absences for the semester.
  • Merit: At least one merit earned.
  • Pass Revocation: A Friday night or greater infraction revokes the pass.
  • Illness: Health Center and Dean of Students will review travel eligibility if ill; poor health or tardiness after a weekend trip results in losing the privilege of the next travel weekend.

Students are responsible for tracking their eligibility on the commendation list, published on Mondays after school. Once published, the list is final, except for bureaucratic errors.

Day Pass Requirements

  • Students must be on the Commendation List.
  • Students must have parental day pass permission.
  • Students must fill out an online Pass request in Orah.  
  • Grades 10 and 11 must travel in groups of at least 2.  

Overnight Pass Requirements

  • Students must be at least 16 years old.
  • Students must complete an online Pass request in Orah before Wednesday, 13:00 CET.
  • The travel form must be accurate and complete.
  • Parents must approve the request in Orah before Friday, 13:00 CET.
  • Any errors with the commendation list have to be cleared by Wednesday 13:00 CET.
  • Students may not stay overnight in Leysin.

Change of Pass Plans: Early Return
If plans change and early return is necessary, the student must call the AOC with their expected arrival time. Upon arrival, the student should check in at the dorm to end their pass.

School Response for Late Returns Following Overnight Pass
Students must return by 22:30 on weekends and 19:30 on Sundays. If delayed, they must contact the school with proof of the delay. Late return consequences are as follows:

  • Not on Commendation List for the upcoming week.
  • Not allowed to travel on the next travel weekend.

 

EARLY DEPARTURES AND LATE RETURNS

Students leaving after 22:00 or before 06:00 must hire an LAS driver for departure and transfer at a cost of CHF 350 to GVA (more for other locations). If returning after 23:00, a CHF 100 fee will apply for dorm access assistance.

 

SCHOOL BREAKS & PASS ARRANGEMENTS

Parents must submit travel plans for breaks at least two weeks in advance via travel@las.ch or Orah. LAS provides shuttle service to/from Geneva Airport on official travel days, with transfers outside the schedule costing about 350 CHF. Grades 11-12 may stay in a hotel before their flight with approval. Grades 7-9 must use the LAS shuttle or be picked up by an approved adult. For Unaccompanied Minors, parents must arrange airline escorts and request a LAS staff escort in Orah for 150 CHF (up to 5 hours), with additional hours at 30 CHF each.