Walsworth Publishing representative, Russell Viers, meets with the yearbook staff for an evening workshop in early March.
Mid March means different things to different people. The weather improves day by day and many are looking forward to being outside, college applications are all filed and seniors watch their mailboxes, and then there are those on yearbook staff. March means one thing, FINAL DEADLINES!!! In early March, Russell Viers from Walsworth Publishing who produces the yearbook was on campus for an evening workshop to help the yearbook staff with final questions, smooth out workflow issues, and take another look at the 2009-2010 TASIS yearbook. Ms. Raines said it was just what the doctor ordered and great for morale. His comments reminded the staff of the challenge ahead, the shrinking timeline, and also reinforced what a good job they are doing this year. Mr. Viers stated many schools are outsourcing yearbooks and giving up on the efforts of a the traditional yearbook advisor and staff to complete books, so they should all be proud of themselves.
Ms. Raines has reined in close to forty students to work on the 2010 Yearbook. There are photographers, section editors, and staff all led by Siobhan Fraser, Emily Menton and Elias Kronwitter, Editor in Chief. In order to have the book in hand by the end of May, the final proofed pages are due to Walsworth in the next few weeks. This crunch comes at the same time as IB internal exams, midterm exams, the Spring Musical, and a variety of schools trips. For those students who have chosen to work on a yearbook, the lessons learned are invaluable! Time management, responsibility, and problem solving top the list!
As other students and faculty are preparing for Spring Break and a nice two weeks of relaxation, remember the few who remain behind recreating the 2009-2010 between the pages of the 2010 Collina d'Oro!!! The Editors in Chief and their adivsor, Ms. Raines, will be spending almost a week reveiwing the pages completed by the entire staff.
Posted
by knelson
on Wednesday March 24 at 11:55AM
Stories happen every single day at TASIS. The weekly schedule creates a rhythm all of its own and days seem to fly by. Special weeks like Ski Week and International Week break up the this routine, and are photographed and recorded to share with the world. But it is the smaller stories that make up the true fabric of the TASIS community - a Friday afternoon snowfall, the Middle School's baking club, the Build-a-Bridge activity in the 9th Grade Introductory Physics class, or the faculty taking time to sing Christmas carols to the personale. Below is a selection of these stories. A gallery of accompanying photographs can be viewed here: TASIS Stories Gallery!
Valentine's Day Flowers! - The TASIS Parents Association sells roses every February for Valentine's Day. Since this year Valentine's Day was the first day of Academic Travel, the TPA delivered any pre-ordered roses and sold roses on Thursday, February 11. A bake sale of assorted Valentine's themed treats were also available for purchase! Needless to say, De Nobilit smelled wonderful on February 10 - flowers and chocolate!!
February 5 Snowfall - The snow started in Thursday evening (February 4), and by Friday morning the snow made travel difficult. Huge flakes fell all day, and by the afternoon the students began making snowmen, throwing snowballs, and enjoying the start of the flurry-filled weekend.
Middle School Winter activity awards - The Middle School Assembly on February 9 recognized MS participants from various winter activities, including baking, arts and crafts, tennis, afternoon sports, and dance.
Faculty Christmas singing - Every year the faculty secretly gather in the Faculty Lounge to rehearse a few Christmas carols to sing to the Personale. The singing is but a small thank-you to show appreciation to the personale for helping keep the School running, from picking up the faculty workroom and cooking to ensuring classrooms have enough desks!
ES Christmas concert - Though many of the MS/HS community had already left for the Christmas holiday, the Elementary School put on quite a Holiday concert in the Palestra for parents, teachers, and students.
9th grade bridge builders!!
9th Grade Build-a-Bridge - Ms. Blum's 9th grade Introductory Physics class created their own bridges in December using glue guns and pasta. The object was to build a bridge which could support as much weight as possible.
Flying Pancake Breakfast - Who knows how it started, but each year the De Nobili "flying pancake" breakfast takes place on the De Nobili terrace. Pancakes are cooked and then flipped over the edge of the upper terrace railing to waiting students/faculty with food trays.
Tutoring - Many teachers are involved with tutoring students who need extra assistance and help in a variety of subjects. At any time of the day, one can usually see a teacher and student in De Nobili or other quiet spots on campus pouring over a math or English book. The relationships built in many of these tutoring sessions continue throughout the student's time at TASIS.
Faculty Orientation Activity - This story is from August!! Faculty and staff were all involved in a creative community-building activity. Faculty and staff were divided into groups, armed with masking tape, newsprint, and one of the Magnificent Seven words their task was to build a sculpture to illustrate their given Magnificent Seven word.
Posted
by knelson
on Tuesday February 16 at 02:16PM
TASIS celebrated Halloween through a number of events and parties. The Advisor Dinner before Academic travel found many MS/HS students in Halloween costumes and enjoying a fun and festive evening. Middle Schoolers were an important part of the Elementary School's Fall Family Festival on October 22nd. They helped to decorate, set up, and then ran the haunted house for the ES participants.
Enjoy a few photos from the Halloween celebrations on campus!
Captains Tom/Jen Bendel and their crew (advisors) enjoy the Starship De Nobili.
What a strange sign these mimes are making? (members of Ms. Blum's advisor/mime troup)
ES students enjoy an evening at the Fall Family Festival!
Ms. Barton's MS advisory came ready to play (and eat dinner) as the LA Lakers.
Posted
by knelson
on Wednesday November 4, 2009 at 08:55AM
Mr. Fredericksen leads the crowd during a JV Girls Tournament game!
Nearly every TASIS sports contest boasts a small group of dedicated teachers and students who cheer on their TASIS Tigers. This is no small feat; it is difficult for students to attend evening games, since an early study hall is required and all homework must be done. As most venues are off-campus, attendance also involves finding drivers or hiring buses for Fan Vans. The hearty few that make the effort to attend TASIS games are very much appreciated, and are important to the teams and the coaches.
In early October, the TASIS Girls Volleyball teams hosted a one-day tournament. Although the number of fans was small, their enthusiasm was big - especially our own superfan, Mr. Fredericksen. He screamed, clapped, jumped, danced, and eventually lost his voice while supporting the girls. His excitement brought others into his frenzy, and the performance on court reflected the 'extra player' in the stands.
As many parents and families are unable to attend TASIS sporting events, support from people such as Mr. Fredericksen is important. Not only do players feel more confident and energized by a vocal crowd, but they also get involved in the true spirit of teamwork. If you're interested in watching our Tigers play, check the Athletics Calendar and team pages for upcoming sporting events. Recaps, photos, and scores are also found there! Thank you to all who come out to support our TASIS teams.
The final weeks of August found faculty and staff feverishly working to get the campus, their
The Boat Dance 2009!!!
classes, and plans for the year ready by the time students arrived on September 4th. The new faculty arrived around August 24th, with the remaining faculty on campus for the first all-faculty meeting on August 31st. The proctors also came that final week in August to help get the dormitories and plans ready for opening day.
The first week of classes could be described as "busy!" On Monday, September 7, the Middle and High School began classes. On Wednesday, the entire Middle and High school took off for class hikes all around Ticino. The senior class returned from their hike to attend the first lecture in the Senior Humanities program, climber and adventurer - Jamie Andrew.
The TASIS Elementary School began their first week with an open house where parents and children could meet their teacher and find their classroom. Tuesday, September 8 was the official first day of school, and although there were a few tears the first day went smoothly!
The week did not end with classes on Friday! On Saturday morning the Middle Schoolers headed to Val Verzasca for a day of hiking and swimming. A pizza party followed once they returned to campus. The High School spent Saturday evening on Lake Lugano for the annual Boat Dance. Although the first week was filled with many activities and classes, it was a great first week for the 2009-2010 school year.
May begins with students in both the IB and AP programs taking their exams, sports teams competing in final season tournaments, and classes are winding down before final exams. The Arts Festival also is a big part of every May at TASIS, and this year was no exception. The Middle School musical, Into the Woods, was also performed. It seems that every day and every week is absolutely full.
Photo galleries on both the school's and the TASIS Smugmug site will be added throughout both May and June. Please keep checking back to see what the TASIS community has been up to for the final month of the 2009-2010 year! Here are a couple examples of early May events!
On May 3rd the WISER (Women's Institute for Secondary Education and Research) group sponsored a Carnival to raise money for its program. Click here for links to a story and photos. WISER Carnival
May 7th brought a bit of spirit to campus! After classes were done for the day, the Student Council organized a Spirit event complete with grade level competitions, a performance by a TASIS Hip Hop group, and culminating in the announcement of next year's Student Council President and Vice President. Check out the Spirit Day photo gallery.
Please check out the Smugmug galleries and remember you can purchase these images from all over the world.
Posted
by knelson
on Saturday May 23, 2009 at 09:26AM
Over twenty Middle Schoolers along with four teachers headed south to Como, Italy for the day (April 25th). When asked to describe the trip Ms. Fragole, one of the TASIS chaperones, summed up the trip in two words - "fun and funiculares"! The group could not have asked for better weather to explore and tour Lake Como from the ride up the funiculare to the village of Brunate where the group enjoyed the area's spectacular scenery down to the city of Como and its markets - it was a great day. Rumor has it they also discoverer a wonderful gelateria (Italian ice cream) and tasted many flavors! No George Clooney sitings, however!!
Throughout the year the Middle School take weekend trips off campus to see nearby sites in both Switzerland and Italy. Previous trips have included days spent in Milan, Luzern, and exploring a ropes course on nearby Mount Tenero.
Posted
by knelson
on Wednesday April 29, 2009 at 12:43PM
As students and faculty filed into the Palestra for the Tuesday, March 3 all-school assembly, it was obvious by the grand piano sitting in the middle of the floor that a concert of some sort was to take place. What many students and faculty were not aware of was that the concert would be performed by one of their own! Lydia Lee, a current 9th grade student, is an accomplished pianist, and she performed the following pieces for the TASIS community:
reflected the 'extra player' in the stands.
