LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Holiday Concert 

The Holiday Concert is Pan American School's end-of-year concert, in which students have the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and knowledge developed throughout the year.  The American music curriculum offered at the school promotes technical learning and musical performance in a variety of styles, especially pop, rock, jazz, resulting in performances with an amazing technical level.  

At the Pan American School, students take lessons in piano, string instruments, drums, voice, as well as courses in music technology, where they learn the concepts of digital production using modern software. During the Holiday Concert, all these learning experiences are put into practice and the students' musical ability becomes visible through excellent performances.

 

School Musical

The School Musical offers students an opportunity to cultivate and showcase their artistic skills. As a learning beyond the classroom experience, the musical not only serves as a platform for students to express themselves creatively but also provides a hands-on, immersive environment for the development of a wide range of talents. From acting and singing to dancing and stage design, students engage in a collaborative effort that nurtures teamwork, self-expression, and confidence. Beyond the spotlight, the musical becomes a canvas for personal growth, allowing students to explore their artistic potential and contribute to a vibrant, supportive community. Through this enriching experience, students not only refine their artistic abilities but also build lasting memories and a sense of accomplishment that extends far beyond the stage.

Here is a list of some of the productions: 

• 2014 - Willy Wonka
• 2015 - Variety Show
• 2016 - Cinderella
• 2017 - The Wiz
• 2018 - Grease
• 2019 - Beauty & the Beast
• 2024 - High School Musical

Student Council - STUCO

Robotics Club - Husky Bots

The Husky Bots mission is to stimulate curiosity and STEM learning in the Pan American and wider Porto Alegre community, through  competitions and student-led events.

Their vision is to instill the passion for technology, science, and business in students across all ages - a project by students, for students.

National Honor Society 

The National Honor Society (NHS) elevates a school’s commitment to the values of scholarship, service, leadership, and character - NHS’s four pillars. NHS members work collaboratively on service projects throughout the school year aimed to help both the school and outer community. Once inducted, members participate in a wide variety of local and regional opportunities to expand their leadership and are called to serve as role models in valuing the mindsets and actions related to the pillars. The purposes of NHS are to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.

National Junior Honor Society

The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) elevates a school's commitment to the values of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.  PAS NJHS members work cooperatively to develop service projects that would benefit our community.

Model United Nations - MUN

Model United Nations (MUN) is an academic simulation of the United Nations. The main purpose of the MUN club is to develop and improve its students' speaking and diplomatic skills. Additionally, it educates them about current world events and topics that are being discussed on the United Nations agenda. Most MUN meetings are either used to prepare for a simulation, participate in a simulation or conference (sometimes even outside the state), or celebrate the successes of the club’s achievements. These simulations involve three main steps that require the student to use several ATL skills. First, students explore their research skills to better understand the situation of the country they represent, as well as writing it in a position paper. Second, they prepare a speech to defend the country’s position. Finally, the student is required to defend their country's position, using critical thinking skills to craft arguments on the spot in conversation with others’ positions.

Math Club

Sustainability Club

The Sustainability Club aims to engage its members primarily within  Pan American School, but also connects with projects beyond the school walls.  The goals of the club are: 

• Promote and lead initiatives that result in more sustainable systems & community within PAS (recycling programs, sustainable uniforms, campus garden & composting program)
• Educate PAS’s community on environmental issues (campus garden & composting, elementary lab investigations, trash separation at school events)
• Projects for the 23-24 school year include continuing the paper and e-waste recycling program, supporting a campus garden and composting program, leading lab investigations with elementary students, managing the sustainable uniform orders, and separating trash at school events.
   

Yearbook Club

Arts Club

 Music Club

MYP Personal Projects 

MYP students in their final year explore an area of personal interest over an extended period. It provides them the opportunity to consolidate their learning and develop important skills they’ll need in both further education and life beyond the classroom. It also helps them develop the confidence to become principled, lifelong learners.

POA MUN

In 2018, a student decided to explore the idea of creating a city-level event over the debate simulation from Model of United Nations. This student collaborated with experts from this area to develop and carry out the event. After that, she also reflected on the strengths and areas of improvement of the event. This Personal Project was responsible for creating the largest MUN-like school event in our state since then. In 2023, the fourth edition of POAMUN had over 70 participants from 10 schools from around the country.
 

TRADINGG 

In 2022, a student decided to explore all the steps to have their start-up as an online drop-shipping company. This Grade 10 student, explored all the components of a business plan and successfully implemented their online company following all Brazilian rules, norms, and legislations for such an activity. In the end, he reflected on the start-up costs and ROI of his company. 

AP Capstone Projects

In AP Capstone, students are encouraged to explore a topic or problem that interests them and design, plan, and conduct a year-long research project centered around it. The classes represent the culmination of skills that students learn in their academic journey, which include effectively analyzing sources, formulating coherent arguments backed up by evidence, and examining issues from differing points of view. Smaller research projects in AP Seminar (G11) will prepare students for the large-scale research project they undertake in AP Research (G12).

Short Story Book Project

Grade 8's final project in the Portuguese Language class is to produce a book of short stories. This project has been happening at our school since 2017, with innovations every year. As well as a final project, the grade 8 short storybook is an interdisciplinary project between Portuguese, Arts, Music, and Spanish. After studying the short story genre and reading well-known Brazilian short story writers, the students are challenged to write their own short stories in Portuguese classes. In Spanish classes, the young short story writers write the "About the authors" section, practicing their Spanish writing skills. In Art classes, the front and back covers are created, and each student draws an illustration to accompany their short story. In Music, the short stories are transformed into an audiobook, narrated by the students, which includes sound design and sound effects. The result of this hard annual work is presented to the school community at a book signing, where we honor and celebrate all the dedication of our students and teachers. This closing project for the middle school develops several essential skills, such as time management, creativity, mastery of the Portuguese language, and teamwork.

G11 Caderno Cultural 

Caderno Cultural is an annual publication run by Grade 11 from the interface between Portuguese & Brazilian Social Studies, in which our students explore themes related to economics, politics, science, technology, sports, culture, and the media. From a viewpoint based on media education, they explore multiple perspectives on the interconnection between Brazil and the world. The project is an opportunity to understand the multiple layers of our identity as Brazilians, Latin Americans, and global citizens in an increasingly interconnected society.

By analyzing and producing media content, Grade 11 students become informed citizens, able to navigate critically in a world saturated with information. Caderno Cultural, more than a publication of the Pan American School's Brazilian Studies Program (PREB), is a platform for citizenship and cultural expression, in which students act as journalists, leading the entire editorial process and developing autonomy and critical thinking.

Caderno Cultural seeks to be accessible and relevant to the diverse community of Pan American School. We invite you, as a reader, to reflect on the role of the media in shaping our opinion and identity. Enjoy the reading!

The opinions expressed in the material reflect the individual points of view of students in their production, and do not represent opinions expressed by Pan American School or its collaborators.

 Click on the image below to read the full publication.