Week Without Walls: Learning Through Adventure
Last month, we finally celebrated our much-anticipated Week Without Walls (May 18th–22nd) a unique initiative designed to step away from the traditional classroom and immerse our students in nature, life-skills experiences, and unforgettable adventures.
All students in Grades 6–10 set off on two-night residential trips, with Grades 6–8 heading to MyCamp and Grades 9–10 traveling to Campo Aventura. Throughout the week, students tackled thrilling challenges like ziplining, high ropes courses, and kayaking.
To close out the week in style, we transformed the school into a festival playground, complete with giant inflatables, an escape room, singing games, sports challenges, and face painting. Students even left a permanent mark on the week by coming together to paint a mural on our interior patio walls.
The event brought together more than 300 students and staff for two incredible days of camaraderie. Mixed-year groups faced off in four dynamic arenas inspired by our school pillars, fostering new friendships and a deep, authentic sense of unity and belonging across campus.
An event of this scale requires immense dedication, and we owe a massive thank you to Lucy Hems, whose hard work over the past two months brought this vision to life. We are equally grateful to the incredible teachers and staff who supported the programme every step of the way.
Even though the final two days brought an intense heatwave, our students' energy and enthusiasm never wavered.
Summary of our last events
LAST TWO WEEKS RECAP
AUTOMATA FAIR
Our 7th Grade students transformed the library into an exciting Automata Fair, highlighting their inventiveness and technical proficiency through dynamic, kinetic creations built from wood, 3D elements, paper, and upcycled plastics. From dancing insects and swaying fish to soaring birds, every creation was meticulously crafted and animated using mechanical, hand-operated movements.
OPEN DAY
On May 20th, we hosted our last in-person Open Day and gave new families a fantastic introduction to the ULIS experience! We opened with an overview of our core vision and values, followed by a campus tour guided by our Admissions team and an exceptional sixth-grade student ambassador. Our interns were instrumental behind the scenes, managing event logistics to ensure seamless execution.
PRIMARY PRODUCTION
On May 20th, the Grade 4 and 5 students put their hard work on stage, presenting the primary school musical, Video Game Adventure, to parents. Each class developed a script around a different level of the video game, and students created an engaging and entertaining performance based on the theme of their scene. After spending the past few months writing the script, developing costumes and sets, and rehearsing their scenes, the students did an outstanding job on the day, performing with energy and enthusiasm.
PETER CHERMAYEFF VISIT
Primary students recently received a very special visit from renowned architect Peter Chermayeff, best known worldwide for designing the iconic Lisbon Oceanarium. Despite his advanced age, he enthusiastically took the time to answer students’ many questions. The students were eager to learn about the building’s design and the thoughtful process behind creating spaces where marine animals can thrive and survive.
UNITED LISBON FESTIVAL
After the outdoor experience and as part of Week Without Walls, we celebrated the United Lisbon Festival. Despite the very hot weather, we stayed hydrated and headed to the playground, where students enjoyed inflatables, took part in team-building games and sports activities. The day also included face painting, an escape room inside the building, and singing activities.
MURAL PAINTING
During the winter, the interior patio looked quiet and forgotten, but our students gave it a whole new life. Guided guided by our Art teacher, Sónia Moreira, they brought the space to life through a mural project. Each wall of the four-sided garden was painted by different Houses, reflecting both their House values and the shared values of the ULIS community.
STEAM FAIR
The STEAM Fair was hosted in the Sports Hall, one highlight of the event was the paper airplane competition, where students tested both design and technique to see whose plane could travel the greatest distance. Visitors also had the chance to experience students’ impressive wind tunnel project alongside many other creations developed through STEAM learning
TABLE TENNIS VICTORY
Victor from Grade 10 recently achieved an incredible result by winning the Desporto Escolar Table Tennis Competition held at Escola Eça de Queiroz. Congratulations on this fantastic accomplishment! We are incredibly proud of Victor and all of our table tennis players at ULIS, who continue to demonstrate dedication, perseverance, and a passion for excellence.
PARENT BOOK CLUB
This month, the book selected for the parent book club was The Women by Kristin Hannah, a powerful novel that follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse serving in the Vietnam War. The book highlights the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of women whose contributions to wartime history were often overlooked. The next parent book club meeting is scheduled for June 18, and the book selected is Piñen by Daniela Catrileo.
MUSIC PERFORMANCES
The Music Academy’s second-semester Music Performance series was a resounding success, showcasing a diverse array of talents across various disciplines, including bands, piano, vocal performances, and violoncello. We extend our sincere gratitude to our music instructor, Andrea, whose exceptional organization and dedication made this full week of performances possible. It is incredibly rewarding to witness the continuous growth and artistic evolution of our students.
Teachers Perspectives
By Jefferson Pereira
How Do We Know What We Know? Our Annual TOK Exhibition
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) asks students to explore a simple but very big question: How do we know what we know? This year’s TOK Exhibition, held on May 13th under the theme Knowledge and the Knower, turned that inquiry into something more tangible through student-selected objects.
Students worked across the five Areas of Knowledge - Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, History, and the Arts - using personal objects as starting points for analysis. Each object was chosen because it carried a specific connection to how the student understands, uses, or questions knowledge. What mattered was not the object itself, but the questions it allowed students to ask.
Some students explored how language can carry cultural assumptions, such as how dictionary entries in different languages may reflect gender expectations or social norms. Others analysed paintings and artworks as examples of how personal emotions and mental states shape perception and representation of reality.
Each exhibition became an exercise in reflection and interpretation. Students explored how evidence is constructed, how perspective influences understanding, and how personal experience can shape what we accept as truth.
What stood out most throughout the process was the level of ownership students demonstrated. They were not simply repeating philosophical concepts or definitions from class, but engaging with ideas through their own experiences and learning to defend their thinking in meaningful dialogue with visitors.
Moments like these are a reminder of why TOK matters. The exhibition is more than an IB requirement or an assessment task. It is an opportunity for students to make their thinking visible, to connect knowledge with lived experiences, and to recognise themselves not just as learners, but as knowers.
What happens when learning steps outside the classroom and into the real world?
Over the last few days, our students immersed themselves in different professional environments to get a true taste of working life. Through the incredible support of our partners, they explored a massive variety of industries. At Edenred, they went behind the scenes of a global company to learn about everything from finance and marketing to leadership and product development. Meanwhile, at EduHub, students saw firsthand how big ideas become reality, even visiting active construction sites to see project development from the ground up.
Creativity was also in full swing! Some of our students dove into the arts, collaborating on an exciting stop-motion film project, while we were thrilled to welcome two of our own students as interns right here in the ULIS Marketing Department, helping prepare merchandising and bringing our Open Day to life.
The best part? Hearing this feedback from one of our host mentors:
"We gained much more than future potential employees. They asked so many smart and interesting questions that everyone who met them was left with food for thought."
Happy and excited to share that the stop-motion film Little Red Riding Hood, created with the collaboration of our students, is finally ready!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Support Kêlê Foundation
Donations can be made until 5th June
Stop Motion
Festival
Organised by 6th grade students. All students are invited!
12 June 13:30
Arraial das
Familias
Open to ULIS families and staff.
13 June
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
JUNE
2 June (Morning) – Primary Sports Day (G3–G5)
3 June | 10:30 AM – Primary Concert
4–5 June – School Closed (Public Holiday)
10 June – Public Holiday
11 June – Lisbon Maths Challenge (G7)
11 June | 8:30 AM – Parent Workshop: Identity & Self-Esteem (Secondary)
16 June | 2:00 PM – Primary Talent Show
17 June | 3:30 PM – Secondary Final Year Art Exhibition
17 June | 4:00 PM – Online Webinar
18 June | 8:30 AM – Parent Book Club
18–22 June – Portuguese & English Book Fair
19 June – KG Graduation (8:30 AM) & G5 Graduation (9:30 AM)
23 June – G4 & G5 Disco
25 June | 3:30 PM – G8 Graduation
26 June – Last Day of School (Half Day)
Summer Programme
29 June – 24 July – Summer Camp
Join our Online Webinar on 17th June at 16:00, a one-hour session designed for families interested in learning more about our school across all year groups. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover what makes our community unique and gain valuable insights into life at United Lisbon International School.
The session will begin with opening remarks and a short presentation from our Head of School, who will share the mission, vision, and educational philosophy that guide our community. Following this, our Admissions Team will provide an overview of the school, explain the admissions process, and outline the next steps for families considering joining our school.
Throughout the webinar, families will also have the chance to engage directly with our team through a live Q&A session, where you can ask questions and receive personalised answers.
Advice from our guidance counsellor before starting university
Starting university is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with major changes and new responsibilities. To help students prepare for this important transition, our guidance counselor, Tannis Waugh, shared some valuable advice on navigating university life with confidence and balance.
One of the biggest differences between high school and university is the level of independence students suddenly gain. Unlike school, where teachers often provide reminders and closely monitor progress, university requires students to take ownership of their schedules and responsibilities. Developing a steady routine from the beginning can make a huge difference. Simple habits such as using a weekly planner, checking course platforms regularly, and breaking larger assignments into smaller, manageable tasks can help students stay organized and reduce stress.
Equally important is learning to make use of the support systems available. Universities provide a wide range of resources, including libraries, tutoring centres, and professors’ office hours. Asking for help when feeling overwhelmed or unsure is not a sign of weakness, it is a normal and important part of the learning process.
The social transition can also feel significant. University life often offers greater freedom, which can be exciting but also overwhelming at first. Finding a sense of community through student clubs, study groups, residence activities, or simply building friendships can make the experience much more enjoyable and help students feel connected.
Maintaining personal well-being is just as essential as academic success. Healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and exercising regularly can have a powerful impact on stress management and overall performance. And when challenges become difficult to manage alone, campus counselling services are there to provide support.
Ultimately, the transition to university is about finding balance, between time, responsibilities, social life, and personal well-being. With good organization, a willingness to seek support, and an openness to new experiences and connections, students can approach this next chapter with confidence and excitement.
Be sure to keep an eye out for our next newsletter on 15 June
