School Guardians
Omar Kalouti
"My name is Omar Kalouti and I was born in Geneva to Palestinian parents.
I attended schools there until I was lucky to come across Aiglon College, to which I transferred in 2005.
The four years I spent here were instrumental in shaping me, allowing me to find a passion in mountaineering, facilitating my academic ambitions and giving me the invaluable skills of learning how to function within such a close-knit community. I was delighted to be appointed as School Guardian at the end of last year. To me, it was the epitome of embodying the culture of a school that I love, in addition to being the best way I could give back to a place that had given me so much.
The foremost feeling I have about this year: optimism.
I have solid confidence that our new Headmaster, Mr McDonald, is taking Aiglon forward and I am keen to do my best to facilitate this journey.
In terms of my contribution as Guardian: I want to bolster the role of the student council to maximize the quality of communication between students and decision making bodies. I wish to tap into the potential of the school 's charity, by organising more events that will help those in need, while creating activities for the student body.
My wish is that the students and staff remember the year 2009-2010 as a year of renewal of the school’s vitality and of innovation in the way things work".
Mischa Beccaro
"Aiglon became part of my life when I arrived at the age 9 and joined the BPF, and La Casa became a home away from home. It was the first time that I had left home or my family. I came from frenetic Milan to the peaceful mountains of Villars. When I arrived at Aiglon I could not read a book nor write much, but now 9 years later, with a lot of patience from the learning support team to help me with my dyslexia, I am studying for my A-levels to go to university. Aiglon gave me a passion for the outdoors from my very first expedition, and I have tried to take advantage of all the opportunities that Aiglon has offered me from down hill skiing to ski mountaineering.
Being appointed Guardian was one of the proudest yet most humbling moments for me. It is a challenging post, yet inspiring and stretching me to learn so much about myself and providing great opportunities to work with student groups and staff members. I am very proud of my school and I hope in return to do Aiglon proud.
This year I am working on organising the first charity ski mountaineering competition in Villars. Working together with the Villars Tourist office and lots of other very supportive people to make this event possible so that we can give something back to the community and Aiglon.
Apart from possibly being the shortest Guardian the school has ever had, I hope that the school will remember this as a true Aiglon year where the students give back to Aiglon a little of the magnitude that we have received. So, where in 2001 Aigon became part of my life, by 2010 I hope that I have become part of Aiglon and all it stands for and that it will stay with me always".
