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May 2026
May 2026
From the Beat the Bells Run and the Spring Arts Festival to Graduation Week events and our 70th Commencement Ceremony, we take a photo-driven look at the past month at TASIS.
This Month at TASIS
"Truly Scrumptious"
Led by Director Matthew Frazier-Smith, Music Director Angela Dusing, and Choreographer Robert Robinson, the TASIS Middle School Theater Company put on three exceptional performances of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. in the Palmer Cultural Center over the course of May 1–4. Learn more.
Outdoor Adventures
During the first weekend of May, High School students had the opportunity to rock climb near Lake Garda and hike and camp along the Italian Riviera. See more photos of the Academic Travel trips.
Adventure Bound
Intrepid High School students braved icy alpine waters to hike, jump, slide, and rappel down a canyon in Ticino as part of the Weekend Activities offered on May 2. See more photos and watch a highlight video.
Beat the Bells
Twenty-six runners took off from campus at 9:15 on the morning of May 3 with the goal of making it to Lake Lugano and back before the Chiesa di Sant'Abbondio bells rang at 10:00. Learn about this year’s run.
Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Program
Since the fall of 2021, TASIS has been proud to be a licensed Independent Award Center for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, a world-renowned education program that challenges young people to dream big, celebrate their achievements, and make a difference in the world.
The prestigious award, which is recognized and offered in more than 130 countries, has various tiers based on age and commitment and requires students to demonstrate prolonged commitment in four major areas: Physical Recreation, Skills, Service, and an independently-planned Adventurous Journey. TASIS students are eligible to pursue the Award at the Bronze (must be 14 or older), Silver (15 or older), or Gold (16 or older) level, and so far 29 students have successfully earned either a Bronze or Silver award.
Another 32 students are currently pursuing the award (including 12 at the Gold level!), and all of them are actively planning—or have successfully completed—either a Practice or Qualifying Adventurous Journey: a team-based, purpose-driven adventure that takes participants out of their comfort zones to promote resilience, navigation, and outdoor skills. Adventurous Journeys take weeks of planning and training in navigation, menu preparation, safety protocols, and risk assessment, and the students deal with any obstacles that arise largely on their own, as they are only supervised remotely by adults.
Recent journeys have included camping and hiking in the Tenero and Cinque Terre regions and a more than 100-km bike-trekking trip from Faido to Locarno. See more photos from April and May.
Out and About
On May 8, Elementary School students explored a number of exciting destinations around Ticino while on class field trips. The students and faculty chaperones visited Parco Gole della Breggia in Morbio Inferiore (grade 5), Miniera d’oro in Sessa (grade 4), Museo dei fossili in Meride (grade 3), the forests of Gentilino and Lake Muzzano (grade 2), Cardada in Locarno (grade 1), Ca. Stella Farm in Meride (Kindergarten), and the zoo in Magliaso (Pre-Kindergarten). See more photos.
Stellar Student Athletes
Athletic Director Masa Yo ’04 hosted the annual Spring Athletics Assembly on the morning of May 8 and announced this year’s Pride Award and Triple Tiger Award recipients in addition to the winners of the Varsity Tennis and Track and Field team awards. Learn more.
Putting Their Knowledge to the Test
After spending the spring reviewing for their exams, International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) students took their final assessments in May. Learn about last year’s exceptional IB and AP test results.
Legacy and Leadership
On the evening of May 8, Khan-Page Master Teacher Award recipients enjoyed a special dinner in Casa Fleming with the TASIS Board of Directors, marking the latest iteration in a tradition started by Chairman of the Board Lynn Fleming Aeschliman and Headmaster Christopher Nikoloff back in 2021. These occasional meetings provide the Board and the award-winning teachers the opportunity to discuss current trends and best practices in pedagogy and examine how to continually create the best classroom experience for TASIS students.
Exploring by Bike and by Sea
Nearly 50 High School students and faculty chaperones spent the weekend of May 7–10 on adventurous Academic Travel trips. A group of mountain bikers enjoyed the trails of Finale Ligure while another group had a wonderful time learning how to sail in Sardinia. See more photos.
Celebrating the Arts
The 2026 Spring Arts Festival launched with an exciting Opening Assembly in the Palestra on May 11. The assembly featured introductory remarks from Visual Arts Department Chair Andre Adami; two performances by the TASIS Orchestra; an explanation of the incredible backstory for this year’s Performing Arts Showcase, Moon Tree, from Director of Performing Arts Erika Cramp; a video message from NASA European representative Gregory Mann, who answered questions from TASIS students during a Zoom call on May 12; and solo performances from Maria Julia Tomas Cardoso ’26 and Rodrigo Chavez Lizarraga ’26. Watch the assembly and see more photos.
Future Maestros
Fifth-grade music classes participated in an Introduction to Conducting Workshop led by Maestro Andrea Cupia on May 11. The students conducted members of the Opera ViVa Orchestra through famous works by Aaron Copland, Maurice Ravel, and George Gershwin. See more photos.
Talents on Display
Featuring a wide variety of artworks produced by students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, the TASIS Visual Art Exhibition was on display in the Palmer Cultural Center on May 12–16. See a 3D rendering of the gallery.
A Milestone To Celebrate
On the evening of May 15, TASIS Lower School Head Tim Fitzgerald and Elementary School Assistant Head Guia Berera hosted a gathering for faculty and staff members at the beautiful Tenuta Bally & von Teufenstein estate in Vezia to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the TASIS Elementary School!
The festive evening included poignant remarks from Headmaster Christopher Nikoloff and Chairman of the Board Lynn Fleming Aeschliman (who founded the Elementary School), a team trivia challenge, delicious food and drinks, and lots of dancing and celebrating!
The TASIS Elementary School, which serves students in grades Pre-Kindergarten (starting at age three) through five, opened its doors as the first English-language elementary school in Ticino in the fall of 2005 and has remained the region’s premier independent school ever since. Since its inception, the Elementary School has grown from 43 students to a vibrant international community of 205 children representing more than 30 nations and speaking more than 20 languages as a mother tongue. Its hallmarks remain a rigorous, knowledge-based curriculum and a caring, dedicated faculty. Learn about the history of the TASIS Elementary School.
Moon Tree Takes Flight
The 2026 Spring Arts Festival concluded on May 16 with more than 200 students from all three TASIS divisions taking to the Palestra for Moon Tree, a spectacular performing arts showcase that featured performances from orchestras, choirs, instrumentalists, theater groups, bands, dancers, and soloists. Watch some highlights from the show, view the entire performance, and see more photos.
Moon Tree follows amazing Performing Arts Showcases from our last three festivals—Shine in 2023, Dream in 2024, and Wild in 2025.
Finding Inspiration Outdoors
On May 19, Megan Pendleton’s Grade 11 IB Visual Arts students visited the home and garden of Director of Alumni Relations Michelle Arslanian to paint en plein air. Drawing and painting from observation is a major focus of the TASIS Visual Arts curriculum, and the beautiful garden provided much inspiration. See more photos.
Spark Awards
On May 19, at this spring’s Red Carpet Event, a special evening designed to celebrate the many achievements of High School performing artists each semester, Director of Performing Arts Erika Cramp announced that Francis Humphrey ’28, Maria Vittoria Spinelli ’28, Leyla Ural Baransel ’29, and Maria Mauro ’26 are this spring’s Spark Award recipients.
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. See more photos of the Spring Red Carpet Event.
Standout Students
During the final two weeks of May, Middle School faculty and administration recognized students at three assemblies for their devotion to TASIS’s “Magnificent Seven” values, for their passion and commitment to academics, and for their leadership in spring after-school activities.
The Great Outdoors
Members of the Elementary School Nature and Exploration Club explored the woods near campus on May 20. See more photos of this spring’s Elementary School After-School Activities.
This I Believe
On the afternoon of May 22, parents were invited to Jacob Rose’s 4th-grade classroom 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 and Elementary School Language and Literacy Teacher Liz Zanecchia. See more photos.
Senior Prom
The Class of 2026 enjoyed a spectacular evening celebrating their Senior Prom at stunning Castello di Morcote on May 22. See more photos.
Close-Knit Class
Students from the Class of 2026 gathered in the Palestra on the evening of May 22 for a spirited Senior Banquet at which they enjoyed an elegant dinner and reflected 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 2026
TASIS honored the 89 members of the outstanding Class of 2026 with a beautiful Commencement Ceremony in the Palestra on the morning of May 23. Learn about the class, watch the full ceremony, view a gallery of images, enjoy a highlight video, read about the Graduation Award recipients, and see which universities the graduates will be attending.
Year-End Recital
Middle and High School musicians shared their talents outside the Palmer Cultural Center on the afternoon of May 25. See more photos.
Farewell But Not Goodbye
Middle School students gathered in the Palmer Cultural Center for a farewell assembly on May 28 that included opening remarks by Calista Quadroni ’30 and Headmaster Christopher Nikoloff, performances by the Middle School Choir and sixth-grade drama class, speeches by Tristan Jaworski ’30 and Cora Schlesinger ’30, and closing remarks by Sienna Large ’30. See more photos.
Twelfth Night
High School students in Bill Dalton and Amy Vander Heiden’s AP Language and Composition classes (and a few special faculty guests) delivered a wonderful performance of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in the Palmer Cultural Center on the evening of May 28. Watch the play.
End of Beginning
Rilla Zheng ’27 created the beautiful video above to provide members of the Class of 2026 an opportunity to discuss their personal growth and the impact of their time at TASIS. The seniors describe TASIS as a place that fundamentally changed them for the better and talk about how their time on campus helped them gain confidence, learn how to face their fears, and discover new talents and interests. The video closes with a lovely rendition of Djo’s “End of Beginning” by Maria Julia Tomas Cardoso ’26.