Celebrating Movement and Wellness: Our First Annual Pep Day and the 10th Anniversary of Generation Pep
What a wonderful day it was at Swedish International School of Geneva! The energy across our school community was fantastic as we gathered on the Meyrin Rugby pitch, the large open public space just next to our school, to host our very first annual Pep Day. This special event brought everyone together to celebrate physical well-being, supportive teamwork, and the sheer joy of movement.
We are incredibly fortunate with our unique location. Being situated just steps from the local public swimming pool, the ice rink, the rugby pitch, and the beautiful forest gives our pupils unparalleled opportunities for daily outdoor learning and movement. We also benefit from many diverse outdoor recreational spaces right on our doorstep, where our younger learners can explore every day, challenge themselves, and test their physical strength in a natural environment.
We are very grateful to our teachers and staff, whose dedication ensured every part of the day was organised beautifully. A big thank you also goes to our upper primary students, who stepped up as leaders to guide the younger children through the various games on the pitch. Most of all, we thank all of our students. Your outstanding empathy, brilliant teamwork, deep love of learning, and pure joy made this a truly memorable day.
Celebrating 10 Years of Generation Pep
This year’s Pep Day holds an even greater significance as we join in celebrating the 10th anniversary of Generation Pep. Founded by the Swedish Royal Couple, Generation Pep is a non-profit organisation dedicated to giving all children and young people the opportunity to live an active and healthy life. Over the last decade, their work has transformed how schools approach physical well-being, highlighting the critical connection between physical fitness, mental health, and classroom success.
As a certified Generation Pep school, Swedish International School of Geneva is deeply committed to these principles. This certification is a testament to our systematic work in integrating physical capacity and a balanced daily rhythm into the educational environment, ensuring that active living is a natural part of every child’s routine. Gathering in an expansive outdoor setting like the Meyrin Rugby pitch is a perfect reflection of this approach.
Deep Roots in the Swedish Curriculum
Lotta Bartosch. Principal & General Director at the SISOG first-annual Generation Pep Day in May 2026.
Our certification, the choice of an open public space for our gathering, and our annual Pep Day align perfectly with the core principles of the Swedish Curriculum that guides our primary and preschool frameworks. According to our curriculum, education must be planned and implemented in a way that actively promotes the development, health, and well-being of every child.
The curriculum specifically highlights how physical mobility and regular encounters with the local environment positively impact health and well-being. Our annual Pep Day brought several of these goals to life:
The Joy of Movement: The primary objective within our physical education framework is to help children develop an all-round movement capacity and spark a lifelong interest in remaining physically active.
Empathy and Social Solidarity: The curriculum mandates that education must give children the opportunity to develop empathy and consideration for others. Seeing our older primary pupils encourage and care for the younger ones perfectly mirrored this foundational value.
Responsibility and Leadership: Our curriculum states that teaching should encourage children to take initiatives, accept responsibility, and develop their ability to work successfully together with others.
By connecting our pupils to the ideals of Generation Pep on its 10th anniversary, we are proud to foster an environment where health, learning, and democratic values thrive hand in hand. Thank you to everyone who made our first annual Pep Day such a success!
