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May 2025
May 2025
From the Beat the Bells Run and the Spring Arts Festival to Graduation Week events and our 69th Commencement Ceremony, we take a photo-driven look at the past month at TASIS.
This Month at TASIS
“Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens”
Guided by Director Matthew Frazier-Smith, Choreographer Julie Frazier-Smith, and Music Director Angela Dusing, the TASIS Middle School Theater Company delivered three outstanding performances of The Sound of Music: Youth Edition in the Palmer Cultural Center over the weekend of May 1–3. Learn more.
Outdoor Adventures
During the first two weekends of May, High School students had the opportunity to sail the waters off of Sardinia, rock climb near Lake Garda, hike and camp across Cinque Terre, and mountain bike in Ticino. See more photos of these outdoor adventure Academic Travel trips.
Beat the Bells
Thirty members of the TASIS community set out from campus at 9:15 on the morning of May 4 with the goal of running to Lake Lugano and back before the Chiesa di Sant'Abbondio bells rang at 10:00. Learn about this year’s record-setting run.
Laudable Scholars
At the annual High School Spring Academic Awards Ceremony on the afternoon of May 5, Head of High School Dr. Mark Abisi announced that five students from the Class of 2026 have been inducted to the TASIS Cum Laude Society chapter in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements. Learn more.
In addition, each High School department chair handed out awards to students who have demonstrated academic excellence throughout the 2024–2025 academic year. See more photos.
The Great Outdoors
Members of the Elementary School Nature and Exploration Club searched for crickets and other creatures in the grassy fields near campus on May 7. See more photos of this spring’s Elementary School After-School Activities.
Stellar Student-Athletes
Athletic Director Masa Yo hosted the annual Spring Athletics Assembly on the morning of May 9 and announced this year’s Pride Award and Triple Tiger Award recipients in addition to the winners of the Varsity Tennis and Track & Field team awards. Learn more.
From Tradition to Tomorrow
On the evening of May 8, Headmaster Christopher Nikoloff presented about the distinctive features of TASIS’s knowledge-based approach to learning and discussed the importance of deep academic knowledge and skills in meeting the real-world challenges of today and the future. Learn more.
Demonstrating Their Understanding
International Baccalaureate (IB) students spent much of April and May preparing for their final exams, which they took from April 25–May 21.
Putting Their Knowledge to the Test
Advanced Placement (AP) students took their final assessments on May 5–28 after spending the spring reviewing for their exams.
Celebrating the Arts
The 2025 Spring Arts Festival kicked off with an exciting Opening Assembly in the Palestra on May 12. Watch the assembly and see more photos.
Confident Conductors
Fifth-grade music classes participated in an Introduction to Conducting Workshop led by Maestro Andrea Cupia on May 12. The students conducted members of the Opera ViVa Orchestra through famous works by Aaron Copland, Maurice Ravel, and George Gershwin. Watch some highlights and see more photos.
Gold Medalists
The Girls Varsity Track and Field 4x100-meter relay team executed all their handoffs en route to a first-place finish at the SGIS Championships in Geneva on May 15. Read a recap of the meet and see more photos.
Sunshine and Fresh Air
Sarah Hertig’s 2nd-grade class gathered outdoors to read E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web on May 16.
Talents on Display
Featuring a wide variety of artworks produced by students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, the Visual Art Exhibition was on display in the Palmer Cultural Center on May 14–18. See a 3D rendering of the gallery.
Wild
The 2025 Spring Arts Festival concluded on May 17 with more than 200 students from all three TASIS divisions taking to the Palestra for Wild, a spectacular performing arts showcase. Watch some highlights of the show, view the entire performance, and see more photos.
Circled Up
After dinner on May 19, a group of 9th-grade students gathered outdoors for a chat before returning to their homes and dorms for the evening.
Spark Awards
The Palmer Cultural Center was transformed on the evening of May 20 for the biannual Performing Arts Red Carpet Event, a magical evening designed to celebrate the many achievements of our High School performing artists each semester.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of this semester's Spark Awards to Allegra Garcia-Atance Arimont '28, Beatriz Kesselring Marchi '27, Maia Silva Alegre '27, and Nile Walton '28. As a nice touch, these awards were presented by the four students who earned their own Spark Awards earlier this year: Ihsan Bektas '27, Rougy Diallo '26, Gaspar Habony '27, and Minami Murata '26.
Established this year by Director of Performing Arts Erika Cramp, the Spark Awards "honor performing artists at TASIS who ignite inspiration and bring unparalleled energy to their communities. These students are not recognized for their solos or the spotlight but for their profound ability to transform the experience for everyone around them. Whether through dedication, kindness, leadership, or quiet yet impactful support, they spark something in their peers, encouraging others to shine brighter. The Spark Awards celebrate those whose presence elevates performances, builds camaraderie, and creates a sense of belonging. These are the students who remind us that the true magic of the performing arts lies not just in talent but in the connections we make and the sparks we share."
See more photos from an enchanting evening on campus.
Magnificent 7
Nine Middle School students were recognized with Magnificent 7 awards during the division’s Spring Virtue Award Ceremony on May 21. The students received the awards for exemplifying the seven timeless values TASIS stands for: Respect, Integrity, Responsibility, Compassion, Humility, Service, and Vision.
This I Believe
On the afternoon of May 21, parents were invited to Mr. Jacob Rose and Ms. Laura Hand's 4th-grade classrooms to enjoy a podcast listening party that capped off an opinion writing unit in which students learned how to craft their own belief statements and support them with evidence. After revising and editing their drafts, students transformed their essays into engaging "This I Believe" podcast recordings with the help of Mr. Rose, Ms. Hand, and Elementary School Language and Literacy Teacher Ms. Melissa Fogal. At the listening party, parents and other guests moved around the room to listen to the podcasts and leave written feedback for the young content creators.
Language Tour
Middle School students taking Simone Meister’s Advanced German course traveled to Bern on May 22 to put their language skills to the test while touring the city. See more photos.
Senior Prom
The Class of 2025 enjoyed a spectacular evening celebrating their Senior Prom at beautiful Castello di Morcote on May 23. See more photos.
Out and About
On May 23, Elementary School students explored a number of exciting destinations around Ticino and northern Italy while on class field trips. The students and faculty chaperones visited Parco Gole della Breggia in Morbio Inferiore, the Contra Dam in Valle Verzasca, Museo del Cioccolato Alprose in Caslano, Museo in Erba, the Safari Park in Varallo Pombia, Swissminiatur in Melide, and Azienda Agricola Ponzio in Sant’Antonino. See more photos.
Close-Knit Class
Students from the Class of 2025 gathered in the Palestra on the evening of May 23 to enjoy an elegant dinner and reflect on their time at TASIS. Their families and members of the faculty joined them for a special evening that included three senior speeches and many student musical performances. Learn more.
Presenting the Class of 2025
TASIS honored the 100 members of the stellar Class of 2025 with a beautiful Commencement Ceremony in the Palestra on the morning of May 24. Watch the full ceremony, see a gallery of images, and enjoy a highlight video.
Junior Awards
Each spring the High School Faculty selects three students in grade 11 who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to service and recognizes them with the prestigious Junior Awards, which were announced at a High School assembly on May 28. Learn about this year’s recipients.
Chinese Calligraphy Workshop
Elementary School students in Caroline Rossi’s art classes, under the guidance of a visiting artist, participated in Chinese calligraphy workshops on May 27 and 29. See more photos.
A Time for Goodbyes
Middle School students and faculty members convened in the Palmer Cultural Center on May 29 for a touching Farewell Assembly that featured a poignant speech by 8th-grader Alice Marini, performances by the Middle School Choir and Drama classes, and a celebratory slideshow created by Middle School Intern Miha Babic. See more photos.
As You Like It
High School students in Mr. Bill Dalton’s and Ms. Amy Vander Heiden’s AP Language and Composition classes (and a few special faculty guests) performed William Shakespeare’s As You Like It in the Palmer Cultural Center on the evening of May 29. Watch the play and see more photos.