From 20 to 25 September 2026, students travelled to Lisbon on their CAS trip. A varied programme gave them opportunities to gain new experiences, overcome personal challenges and grow closer as a group.<\/p>\n
But what exactly is a CAS trip? CAS stands for Creativity, Activity, Service and is part of the IB Diploma Programme. A trip like this allows students to try new things outside the classroom, take responsibility and reflect on their experiences.<\/p>\n
In Lisbon, this idea came to life: surfing challenged the students physically, while the beach clean-up afterwards gave them a chance to help protect the coastline. Painting Portuguese tiles and baking past\u00e9is de nata offered creative ways to explore the country\u2019s culture. A trip to Sintra added insights into Portugal\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
A particularly memorable experience was meeting older women from Lisbon who taught the students embroidery. Personal connections formed across language barriers and generations. Afterwards, Virginie wrote: \u201cI had never realised that simply spending a little time together could brighten someone\u2019s entire day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The time spent together as a group was equally valuable. Shared experiences, conversations away from everyday school life and mutual support strengthened friendships. Sharing close quarters was part of the experience too: being considerate, finding compromises and laughing together brought the students closer. As Fay put it: \u201cAt the same time, it was lovely to realise that we were there for each other and supported one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their confidence in their own abilities also grew. Liana reflected: \u201cThis trip showed me that I can be independent, even in an unfamiliar country.\u201d A workshop on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals also sparked ideas for promoting gender equality that some of the female students hope to pursue at their school following the trip.<\/p>\n