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September 2026
September 2026
From the start of classes and the beginning of fall athletics to a boat dance on Lake Lugano and dorm hut hikes across Ticino, we take a photo-driven look at the past month at TASIS.
This Month at TASIS
University Day
TASIS welcomed admissions experts from University of St Andrews, Claremont McKenna College, and University College Utrecht to campus on September 1 to offer individual essay-review sessions and a range of workshops for 12th-grade students and their parents. The event was spearheaded by the TASIS College Counseling team, which is always looking for ways to connect High School students with admissions representatives from around the world. See more photos.
The Alumni Perspective
University Day concluded with an alumni panel in which a pair of recent TASIS graduates discussed their process of applying to universities and answered questions from the current TASIS seniors. See more photos.
Dorm Pride
To build community, foster a sense of belonging, encourage teamwork, and instill dorm pride among the nearly 300 boarding students living on campus, Dean of Residential Life John Gordon and his team of dedicated dorm parents organized the inaugural Dorm Olympics on September 2. Each dormitory created a unique team flag and cheered on housemates as they competed in a series of friendly competitions. See more photos.
Classes Commence
The 2026–2027 academic year officially began on September 3 with students and teachers returning to campus for the first day of classes. See more photos.
Boat Dance Bound
High School students dressed up and enjoyed a wonderful boat dance on Lake Lugano on the evening of September 4. See more photos.
Returning After 40 Years
The TASIS Class of 1986 was ecstatic to return to campus on September 4 for an evening of recollection and reconnection. Learn more.
Getting Moving
Grade 4 students enjoyed Physical Education class outdoors on September 8.
Campus Expansion
With four state-of-the-art classrooms and 27 double rooms for male boarding students, Donald D. MacDermid Hall, which just opened in August, has already become a hub of activity for High School students.
Deep Dive
High School students in Phil Altman’s IB History I course used notes from their heavily annotated reading homework for a rich discussion on the Crimean War on September 8. See more photos.
Hands Up
Students in Mari O’Connell’s Advanced Middle School Academic English course began class on September 11 by defining literary terms. See more photos.
Observe, Analyze, Interpret
On September 14, High School students in Brett Foster’s Biological and Physical Sciences class tested the effect of different wing shapes on paper helicopters. See more photos.
Working Together
A pair of High School students took advantage of one of the many outdoor tables around the M. Crist Fleming Piazza to study on the morning of September 14.
Bright Brushstrokes
Grade 8 students used watercolors to paint vibrant landscapes in their art class on September 14. See more photos.
Establishing a Legacy
Grade 12 students gathered in the Palmer Cultural Center for a special assembly on September 16. The seniors considered the upcoming year and shared how they wanted the Class of 2027 to be remembered. See more photos.
Dialing In
On September 17, High School students in Liz Rodostianos’s Chemistry class practiced measuring volume, weight, temperature, and length precisely—an important skill needed for the many laboratory experiments planned for the rest of the semester. See more photos.
Epic Discussions
Grade 9 students in Dr. Chris Love’s Honors Introduction to Literature class broke into small groups to discuss Homer’s The Odyssey on September 17. See more photos.
Knowledgeable Writers
Laura Hand’s fourth-grade class began studying natural disasters during literacy class on September 18. In the weeks that followed, the young writers became experts on their natural disaster of choice and prepared informative essays to share with their classmates and parents. See more photos.
Drawing Inspiration
On September 18, seniors in Meg Pendleton’s IB Visual Arts 2 class took a field trip to Lugano’s Museum of Cultures in search of inspiration. The Grade 12 students took in the exhibition of Japanese artist Miwa Komatsu and left with some ideas for their own art portfolios. See more photos.
Experiencing Switzerland
On September 19, boarding students and dorm parents from each High School dormitory traveled to beautiful destinations throughout Ticino to spend the night in alpine huts. See more photos.
Becoming Family
Each dormitory grew closer as a group through shared outdoor adventures that included hiking to waterfalls, mountain passes, and viewpoints; swimming in alpine lakes; mountain biking; and much more. See more photos.
Symbols of Peace
In recognition of the International Day of Peace on September 21, TASIS students wore white as a symbol of peace and unity and discussed the importance of living together peacefully as a global community in classrooms, assemblies, and advisor meetings.
Working Together
A trio of Middle School students gathered around the stone table outside of the M. Crist Fleming Library to work on homework on September 21.
Home Opener
The Varsity Girls Soccer and Volleyball teams hosted American School of Milan for the first home competitions of the fall athletics season on September 22. The Varsity Girls Soccer team battled well but fell to the Panthers 2–0. See more photos.
Terrific Tigers
In the Palestra, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team won the second and third set against American School of Milan to come away victorious in their home opener. Learn more.
Worldwide Service
On September 25, the faculty leaders of Opsahl Global Service Program (GSP) trips to the Balkans, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Moldova, Nepal, Thailand, Zambia, and two locations in India made themselves available to answer questions at the annual GSP Fair for all grade 11 and new grade 12 students. The leaders shared their experiences with the eager attendees, who will soon be divided into groups that will meet regularly throughout the year to prepare for their service trips. See more photos.
Running for a Cause
Six members of the TASIS faculty participated in the StraLugano Run4Charity 3k on September 27 in support of TASIS Service Learning partner, Cometa—a nonprofit association in Como that supports children in challenging circumstances.
Serving Close to Home
Seven 12th-grade students and two faculty chaperones spent the weekend of September 25–27 on a service trip to nearby Val Malvaglia. The group partnered with Alpine Foundation for Life Sciences to help clear a meadow and build a stone wall, build fires and cook their own food, and learn about alpine ecology and the importance of land stewardship.
Taking Campus to New Heights
New climbing and bouldering walls are now open to TASIS students in the Palestrina thanks to a generous donor and a dozen TASIS faculty members who completed a three-day safety training course on September 26–28 in order to become certified climbing instructors.
The instructors will lead climbing units in physical education classes and will offer new after-school activities for Elementary, Middle, and High School students. See more photos.