The team's first participation in the AASB Knowledge Bowl marks a new chapter of achievements for our Middle School students
In early October, School of the Nations made its mark on the academic stage as its first-ever Middle School Knowledge Bowl team competed in the 2024 AASB Knowledge Bowl, hosted by the American School of Belo Horizonte. Held from October 3 to 5, the event brought together students from international and American schools across Brazil, all part of the Association of American Schools in Brazil (AASB).
Representing Nations, six outstanding Grade 8 students—Izabela Pagot, Caroline Fernandes, Joaquim Toledo, Joana Lima, Andréa Choi, and Lily Jaguar—joined forces to tackle a series of rigorous questions in this intellectually stimulating competition. This marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time our school participated in the event, and the team showed remarkable effort, securing two rounds of wins.
The Knowledge Bowl is an academic challenge where students collaborate to answer questions across a wide range of subjects, from history and geography to arts, music, and even pop culture. It’s a platform where students not only demonstrate their knowledge but also practice critical thinking and teamwork under pressure.
A month after her return, one of the team leaders, Caroline Fernandes, shared her thoughts on how the experience transformed her academic journey:
"The experience was fun and interesting because, despite being in a competitive environment, there was also a lot of friendship and cooperation. It was a healthy competition that motivated us to give our best. Logical thinking was essential, and I ended up learning about topics I never imagined. Without the Knowledge Bowl, I wouldn’t have developed these skills. I learned a lot about quick thinking, staying calm, and having good sportsmanship in competitions. I definitely learned the importance of keeping calm and trusting my team."
Reflecting on this landmark experience, Mr. David Nystrom, Middle School Social Studies teacher and chaperone of the Knowledge Bowl team, expressed his pride in the students' dedication and resilience:
“Our Knowledge Bowl team made a huge commitment to dedicate their time, energy, and effort to represent the school, to learn new and challenging things, and to put themselves in a position where they would be faced with a lot of pressure. These experiences and the lessons they learned will benefit them in the classroom and beyond. Knowledge Bowl is unlike any academic competition that I know of; students are given the challenge to learn as much as they can about as many subjects as they can. Our students learned to work together, support each other, empathize when we lost, and celebrate when we won. Representing Nations on this national stage, they demonstrated that Brasília’s students are more than capable of competing alongside their peers from schools across Brazil.”
The courage and initiative displayed by these pioneering students have undoubtedly opened doors for their peers, inspiring more students to take on new challenges. School of the Nations is proud to be part of this journey, celebrating both the team's efforts and the opportunities that lie ahead.
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