Chataigneraie provides an identity. Its strong sense of community and loyalty, along with an excellent academic record, makes it the choice of an increasing number of international families. La Chat community becomes the extended family to uprooted internationals dealing with emotional and cultural isolation. The social side of the school’s personality are what makes it a unique educational opportunity for these families who lack the traditional extended family structures. La Chat offers a program that supports the values of community, cooperation, mutual support and social exchange. Dual-language teaching is an essential part of La Chat’s identity. The mix of French and English cultures contributes strongly to the values of tolerance and understanding so present on the campus and so necessary for integration.

Cutting the school off at the top would be inconsistent with the strategic plan. A study made in 1997-98 to assist in setting up the strategic plan concluded that the Population of La Chat wanted a separate identity from LGB.

La Chat provides continuity. This continuity is not only academic with it PYP, MYP, and IB programs. The existing program of grades 1-13 on the same campus provides continuity at both the social and academic levels, an element so often missing in the stressful lives of international families. It is a "complete" campus that allows teachers to monitor individual growth and development. The sense of belonging does not stop there. Over the years a unique social structure has developed providing students with a valuable set of human references and a very strong sense of belonging, qualities not to be easily ignored in a fast-changing society. Imagine a child arriving in the 6^th grade at Pregny, transferring to Chat, then to Saconey, before, helas, moving on yet again. The upheaval is guaranteed to take its toll. Patterns of positive social behavior are more effectively built when there is continuity.

La Chat encourages exchange between older and younger children. The High school level children become role models – big brothers and sister – to the middle school children. Having positive role models during the challenging years of puberty (6-9^th grades) can help ease students through this period. La Chat offers a number of very successful activities that reinforce this concept. These programs would be lost if the middle and high school levels were to be separated. Maintaining a structure where such activities can operate in an environment with limited exterior distractions and temptations (which the Chat location provides) is considered equal in importance to guaranteeing a high academic standard.

-peer counseling : 10^th through 13th graders are trained to counsel peers and younger students and learn to identify potential problems so that they may intervene and offer guidance. This is a rare opportunity to learn a valuable life skill.

-student council: 12th graders lead younger students in acquiring leadership skills and in learning to resolve problems. They oversee programs such as: the fashion and talent shows, both fundraising events where seniors encourage juniors in modeling, production and design; Spirit Week; Hunger Day; International Night; and Dances, where seniors organize the dances and assist faculty in chaperoning.

-Tanzania Project: seniors are sent to work with young Africans and return to share this experience with younger students, encouraging them to develop goals of service. Younger students strive to follow in their footsteps.

-security council: a committee of high-school level students oversees enforcement of school rules to control aggression and vandalism, patrolling corridors. Aggression is not considered an important problem at Chat since its presence is quite limited, due to programs like these.

-CAS (Creativity/Action/Service): Students need 50 hours of service in each of these categories as part of the I.B. program. Without access to younger students and their classes, this project would be very difficult to complete. i.e. Seniors help tutor both secondary and primary students; they help primary and secondary teachers with classroom work; assist with arts and crafts in the primary school; help students with computer skills; offer help to the practical skills club.

-music and theater projects: faculty, seniors, and juniors work together to hone skills in these areas, working hand-in-hand in related productions. The wider base of skills and larger choice of participants provides greater possibilities.

-Kermesse and all fundraising events: these events mobilize the entire school to work together, drawing in families which enlarges the international community atmosphere. Breaking the school up would dilute the potential of such events.

A general climate of harmony depends greatly on the exchange between juniors and seniors. Confidence building is a result of this friendly and supportive peer program. This exchange has a positive effect on general behavior whether it be academic, social, sports related or political. The lack of aggression on the Chat campus is appreciated by parents and faculty and is a real credit to the strong community ethic maintained by the school. Children who come in from other schools, be they public or private institutions, often comment on the friendly, harmonious climate of the Chat campus. Teachers attest that barely a day goes by without an alumnus popping in to say hello, something that happens when a school becomes one’s community.

Security is an issue. A senior school in Geneva does not answer the needs of the Chataigneraie population. A large majority of the families live in the Canton of Vaud. The logic of bussing or sending their children on the train into Geneva is not even a consideration. Parents of both the English and French Sections of the school have made their choice based on location. The school provides a spacious, country atmosphere, free of city pollution and the endless traffic and security problems rampant in a big city. No parent will choose to expose their children to the drug trafficking, which is a very real problem on the local trains and particularly at the Gare Cornavin. Presently, a number of children ride their bikes to school. Moving to and from a city campus is a choice families will not make for the same reason they chose to live outside Geneva. The Chat campus is chosen for its location and its situation, at all grade levels in both the French and English sections.