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December 2024
December 2024
We provide a look at the many things that have happened on and off campus during a wonderful holiday season at TASIS.
This Month at TASIS
Spreading Holiday Cheer in Zurich
The Middle School Choir kicked off the holiday season by performing in the famous Singing Christmas Tree at the Zurich Christmas Market in late November. Watch highlights and see more photos from their trip.
Skiing Zigzags in Zermatt
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Middle School boarding students and faculty chaperones made their annual trip to Zermatt to ski near the stunning Matterhorn. See more photos.
Thankful for More Travel
Many High School students and faculty chaperones spent the long Thanksgiving weekend of November 28–December 1 traveling on Academic Travel trips to five exciting destinations around Europe: Malta (Ancient & Medieval History), Rome (Ancient & Medieval History), Florence (Modern History), Fuerteventura (scuba diving), and Paris (Performing Arts). See more photos.
Performing Artists Light Up Paris
High School singers and dancers and members of the Performing Arts Department made the most of their special Academic Travel trip to Paris.
All of the High School dancers—members of Competition Dance, Concert Dance, and the Performing Arts class—participated in a two-hour workshop with Disney professionals in which they learned a choreography that was performed at last year’s FanDaze event in Disneyland Paris. Following the workshop, the TASIS dancers delivered a stunning 20-minute excerpt of their own full-length Sweet November Dance Concert—Paris: La Ville Lumière (which premiered at TASIS the evening before the group departed for Paris)—as part of this year’s Disneyland: On Stage event. Watch their electrifying performance.
The following day, the High School Choir—guided by Director of Performing Arts Erika Cramp—attended a workshop with the Disneyland Paris conductor and then proceeded to put on two amazing performances in front of sold-out crowds at the Disney’s “Let’s Sing Christmas” event. See their excellent work.
To wrap up the incredible weekend, the Competition Dance team—led by coaches Julie Frazier-Smith and Guilherme Frugoni—placed third in their division at Future Cheer Brings it On 2024. Have a look at their outstanding routine.
Scuba Lessons
While some classmates visited Rome, Florence, or Malta and others performed in Paris, 13 High School students and three faculty chaperones earned their scuba diving certification and explored the waters off of Fuerteventura, the second largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. See more photos.
Fall Athletics Awards Announced
At a High School assembly on the morning of December 2, Athletic Director Masa Yo ’04 and Associate Athletic Director Alex Zanecchia ’02 presented the 2024 Fall Athletics Awards to deserving members of the cross country, volleyball, and soccer teams. Learn more.
Spreading Cheer on Campus
As part of an annual TASIS tradition, High School students were allowed to wear Christmas sweaters in place of their usual uniforms in the weeks leading up to the winter holiday, and the prefects got in on the action early by wearing matching sweaters on December 3.
Helping Out Locally
On December 4, members of the Swiss Chapter Cohort of TASIS’s Service Learning Program collected toys, books, and other essential items for the Lugano Toy Hospital (L'Ospedale del Giocattolo), which aims to promote child growth through play and will redistribute everything that was collected to needy families throughout Ticino.
From Chess and Coding to Chinese and Crochet
Elementary School students had the opportunity to pursue many budding interests through TASIS’s After-School Program throughout the fall semester. See more photos.
Building the Future
Considerable progress has been made on the Collina Alta phase of the TASIS Global Village project this fall.
An Annual Tradition
The annual TASIS Christmas Service was held at historic Chiesa di Sant'Abbondio on Friday, December 6. Under the direction of Performing Arts Director Erika Cramp and Middle School Music Teacher Angela Dusing, this year’s service included beautiful musical performances and readings from High School and Middle School students and faculty members. Watch the full service and see more photos.
How-To Writers
Students in grade 1 wrote how-to manuals—in English and Italian—and shared them with pre-Kindergarten students on December 6. See more photos.
Villa Principe Leopoldo Tree-Lighting Ceremony
Guided by Melody Zanecchia and accompanied by Alessio Di Tonno and Sara Capone, the Elementary School Choir did a great job singing a handful of Christmas carols at the Villa Principe Leopoldo’s tree-lighting ceremony on the afternoon of December 7. See more photos.
THE VIEW Lugano Christmas Market
The following afternoon, students from the High School’s instrumental and vocal studios performed beautifully at THE VIEW Lugano Christmas Market. See more photos.
Lynch Global Service Program Extension Award Announced
At a High School assembly on the morning of December 9, Director of Alumni Relations Michelle Arslanian presented Juan Francisco Soldavini Nores ’25 with the third annual Lynch Global Service Program Extension Award. This award was initiated in the spring of 2022 by Ned Lynch PG’66 to honor the memory of his parents, who recognized the importance of the TASIS international educational experience. It comes with a $1000 scholarship and is accorded to a senior who wishes to continue working on an Opsahl Global Service Program (GSP) project or go on a second service trip abroad.
Singing With Santa
Santa and his elf paid a visit to the Elementary School on the morning of December 11 for spirited sing-alongs led by Melody Zanecchia in the Palmer Center for grades 2–5 and at Al Focolare for grades pre-Kindergarten through 1. See more photos.
Winter Garden Treats
The dedicated members of the TASIS Parent Association (TPA) transformed the Kay Hamblin Terrace into a delightful Winter Garden for the holiday season and organized several community events designed to spread holiday cheer on campus. See more photos.
TASIS Tree-Lighting Ceremony
On the afternoon of December 13, the TASIS community gathered outside to commemorate the lighting of the TASIS Christmas Tree with remarks from Headmaster Christopher Nikoloff and carols sung by members of the Elementary, Middle, and High School Choirs. See more photos.
Santa’s Village
Right after the Tree Lighting Ceremony, a huge group of Elementary School students and parents moved inside the Palmer Cultural Center, which was converted into a spectacular Santa’s Village by the TASIS Parent Association. The fun-filled event, which helped raise thousands of dollars for the local and international partners the school’s Service Learning groups work with, included photos with Santa, a juggling act, a magic show, holiday craft stations, and more. See more photos.
Holiday Market
While the younger members of the TASIS community were enjoying Santa’s Village, High School Service Learning groups sold holiday gift options, crafts, and lots of treats in the Winter Garden to raise money for the organizations they partner with. See more photos.
Middle School Christmas Celebration
Later that evening, Middle School students enjoyed their annual Christmas Celebration in the Palestrina and Dance Studio. This festive event was organized by the Middle School Student Council and Fun Coordinators Service Learning group and included dancing, games, and lots of delicious treats. See more photos.
Prepping for Ski Season
Members of the High School Snowsports Club spent December 14 participating in a mountain safety training workshop on Gemsstock Mountain above Andermatt. See more photos.
Holiday Piano Recitals
Elementary, Middle, and High School students from the piano studios of Angela Perini, Sara Capone, and Angela Dusing shared their impressive talents in the Palmer Center on the evening of December 17. See photos of the Elementary School and Middle and High School recitals.
Showing Their Appreciation
On the morning of December 18, a group of faculty members and High School students sang Christmas carols in Villa De Nobili for the TASIS personale. This annual tradition is one small way in which faculty members and students express their gratitude for everything the hardworking personale do behind the scenes to keep the school running smoothly all year round. See more photos.
Taking a Closer Look
Grade 6 students in Dr. Brett Merritt and Brian Barry’s science classes used microscopes to take a closer look at the structures that make up bone and tissue on December 18 in the Campo Science Center. See more photos.
Red Carpet Celebration
High School Performing Arts students commemorated a successful fall semester full of outstanding performances by gathering in the Palmer Cultural Center on the evening of December 18 for a red-carpet celebration. See more photos.
Elementary School Christmas Concert
On the afternoon of December 20, the final day of classes before the three-week winter holiday, the Elementary School capped the holiday season at TASIS by delivering a terrific concert in the Palestra. Guided by Melody Zanecchia, singers, dancers, and instrumentalists from grades Pre-Kindergarten through five performed 12 holiday numbers. Watch the full concert and see more photos from this heartwarming annual production.