Proud to See Our Student’s Research Published

Our Secondary Art Exhibition debuted in the third week of June, successfully showcasing our students' creativity, dedication, and distinct viewpoints. 

In tandem with the display, Art teacher Sónia Moreira emphasizes the critical part creativity plays in daily student development:

Bringing concepts to life through varied artistic techniques demands one non-negotiable quality: audacity

To all my 7th to 10th-grade art students—and any creative drop-ins who join us for guidance—I want you to know something: every single day, you outdo yourselves, often without even realizing it. They consistently exceed expectations when developing their course projects, frequently rising to the challenge of collaborating with unfamiliar peers or independently managing a project from start to finish. Presenting their pieces at the year-end art show allows students to step back, reflect deeply, and finally see the true impact of the art they’ve brought to life.

It is that time of year when their art takes center stage for the whole school and community. The exhibition becomes a space for shared joy and connection: classmates and friends uplift one another, while families gather to discuss, observe, and deeply reflect on the art.

In the end, it is beautiful to see the lessons shared over the weeks, months, and the whole school year finally blossom into true understanding. This is something deeply precious that we should celebrate.

Our school provides a supportive, community-driven environment where students discover their artistic voices in the art studios. Here, they are guided through the entire creative process: researching, sketching, planning, and executing their final masterpieces. In the artistic process, resilience is forged by welcoming mistakes and transforming them into foundational stepping-stones.

Ultimately, it is crucial to continually examine the core definition of art education. We must consider how to deliver instruction free from prejudice, honor cultural diversity, and nurture the unique potential of every student.

My core mission is to honor each student's unique individuality, actively listen to their perspectives, mentor their growth, and cultivate an environment where artistic knowledge and personal expression can flourish – to bring the world to life through Art.

We recently dropped by Building B to speak with three astute high school students about their experiences at school, asked them about the subjects they enjoy the most, and what makes studying here a one-of-a-kind educational experience. From left to right: Daria, Mark, and Stanislav.

Education Beyond the Classroom

Daria, who has been at the school for three years, shared that one of the topics she has enjoyed most this year is entrepreneurship. Through this subject, she has been able to investigate and research potential business avenues and opportunities, examine innovative marketing techniques and improve her dialogue and communication skills in English, which she believes are valuable assets that will help her in the future. She also explained that language support played an important role in helping her grow more confident in her learning journey.

For Daria, studying in a multicultural environment enriches the educational experience. She believes that learning alongside students from different nationalities allows everyone to gain not only academic knowledge but also a deeper understanding of different cultures. School festivals and other initiatives, such as Chinese New Year celebrations, help bring students together and solidify relationships. For her, belonging means feeling supported, heard, and respected within the school community.

Discovering Interests Through Practice

Mark has also been part of the school community for three years. One of the things he enjoys most is the school environment itself, especially the facilities such as the theatre and basketball court. While geography is his favourite subject, he also enjoys physical education and science because they allow him to challenge himself in different ways.

Science lessons are a highlight for Mark, because of their practical nature. He enjoys taking part in experiments that help students understand how things work in real life, from observing scientific processes to exploring questions like “why smoke rises”. These hands-on experiences make learning more engaging and memorable.

Creative Minds at ULIS

Stanislav, who joined the school in Grade 4, spoke about how much he enjoys art classes. Currently, students are working on trio artwork projects, where they create pieces inspired by one another. Ian chose guitar as his theme, combining his passion for music with visual creativity.

Although he studies music outside school with his private tutor, Ian has also enjoyed music lessons at school, particularly a recent ukulele class. Looking back on his time here, he feels the school has grown significantly, particularly in terms of facilities. The sports facilities, including the large football field, are among his favourite spaces on campus.

Talking with these students in Building B offered a meaningful glimpse into the everyday experiences that define life at the school. Whether through entrepreneurship, science experiments, or artistic expression, each student described an environment that encourages curiosity, personal growth, and collaboration. Most importantly, their stories reflect a strong sense of belonging, a community where students feel supported as they learn, explore, and grow together.

A similar perspective was shared by Serafima, who is in the same year as Adriano and also spoke about the importance of research skills and exploring different subjects.

What advice would you give to middle school students, and how would you describe the learning experience in the programme?

Serafima, for middle school students, one important piece of advice would be to develop strong research and planning skills. One of the biggest changes is learning how to manage a larger number of projects and subjects, so being able to organise your work and keep track of research is very helpful.

The school is also very supportive in what we do. We are provided with good research resources and encouraged to explore different areas within each subject. For example, in history we might study topics such as prehistory and use a range of sources, including news articles and academic tools like Google Scholar, to deepen our understanding.

Learning at ULIS is not only academic. There are many creative and practical projects, from music activities like rap battles to themed days such as dressing up as the 1960s. There are also opportunities to take part in activities outside the classroom and broaden our perspectives, which makes learning more varied and enjoyable.