Last Saturday the TASIS Portugal gym hosted our fourth and final TPA major event of the year: the International Fair.

Just two weeks after our oh-so-chic Gala at Penha Longa, our parent community saved its most multi-colored event for last, supported by more than 100 families and student volunteers (thanks!)

In no other event was the participation and scope of our TASIS community so much in evidence. 35 of our 65 countries were represented, with different nationalities showcasing their cuisine, games and handicrafts - their tables artfully laid out with an array of treats.

We danced to Irish jigs and Brazilian forró, and watched the children's flag parade, all in an oasis of international harmony that could serve as an example for the times. We raised record funds for the TPA and reinforced the sense of exceptionalism that permeates our community.

A special thanks to our dynamically detail-oriented organizers Alex Barker and Saija MacArtney, the TPA Major Events duo, who worked tirelessly to bring about our most successful International Fair ever.

Aso a shout out to TPA co-presidents Amandha Bartschokoff and Oswaldo Corrêa de Costa who were managing the token booth and the clean-up chaos at the end!

As mentioned in Mr Chicquen's recent 'From the Headmaster' newsletter, TASIS is the most international school in Portugal - with students holding passports from 65 nationalities, the most popular being the US, UK, Portugal, Brazil, France, Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, Germany and Ireland.

This diversity was core to the beliefs of Mrs Fleming, founder of the original TASIS school in Switzerland, whose dream was to bring together young people from all parts of the world as one big family, no matter a person's color, race, or creed. No doubt she would have been delighted with this year's International Fair!