Castelli International School continues to put its “learning by doing” philosophy at the center of student life, recently completing two projects that blend creativity, practical skills, and environmental awareness.
In one initiative, Middle School students were asked to choose a figurative artwork, research the artist and historical context, and explain why the piece resonated with them. They then recreated the chosen painting by physically reenacting its composition, mimicking poses, colours, and mood, before being photographed in character. The resulting images, now on display at the school, show students engaging with art history not as distant observers, but as active participants.
The project aims to strengthen visual literacy and interpretative skills, while encouraging students to understand the emotional and symbolic language behind an artwork. Teachers say the experience allows children to “step inside the painting” and connect with art in a way that is both analytical and intuitive.
Castelli International’s commitment to hands-on education also extends well beyond the arts. This month, students took part in the school’s “From Earth to Table” program, a multidisciplinary project that blends gardening, nutrition, and food science.
With the autumn harvest underway, pupils collected grapes, chestnuts, and the butternut squash they planted last spring in the school’s vegetable garden. The produce became the focus of a cooking workshop in the Life-Skills Hub, led by Food Studies teacher Ms. Ciara and cook Florencia Zulberti. Students learned basic kitchen skills such as safely handling a knife, peeling vegetables, and cutting squash into cubes.
They seasoned the pieces with Castelli’s own extra-virgin olive oil along with rosemary and sage grown on campus, before roasting them in an air fryer. Teachers described the session as lively and collaborative, with students eager to taste a recipe simple enough to recreate at home.
School staff say these projects highlight a broader educational goal: helping children understand how food grows, how healthy meals are made, and how daily choices affect both personal wellbeing and the environment.
By combining artistic expression with agricultural and culinary learning, Castelli International continues to place experiential education, and student curiosity, at the heart of its curriculum.
