Globeducate Academic Olympics 2024: Nobel Students Triumph in Vigo

From November 19th to 22nd, Nobel British International School Lagoa proudly represented Portugal at the Globeducate Academic Olympics in Vigo, Spain. This unforgettable event, co-hosted by O Castro and Coruña British International Schools, brought together students from across the various countries for a week of academic, cultural, and personal growth experiences. 

Day 1: Departure and Discoveries in Valença do Minho 

The journey began early on November 18th as eight Nobel students - four from Year 9 International Section (Sofya Salova, Alexandra Alter, Jackson Bright, Aarav Garg) and four from 8º Ano National Section (Maria Filipa Nunes, Sancha Carreira, Tiago Santos, Miguel Hurtado) - along with Middle School Coordinator and International teacher, Marlene Robalo, boarded a seven-hour train to Valença in the north of Portugal. 

Upon arrival, the group checked into a local hotel before exploring the historic Fortaleza de Valença, marvelling at its panoramic views of Portugal and Spain and quaint shops. The fortress, steeped in military history and spanning as far back as the Medieval period, set the tone for a week of cultural enrichment and discovery of the famous “Camiño de Santiago”, the theme and backdrop of this year’s Globeducate Academic Olympics. 

 

Day 2: Opening Ceremony at O Castro British International School in Mos, Vigo 

The following day, the Nobel contingent travelled to O Castro British International School for the Opening Ceremony. Highlighting the cultural significance of the Camino de Santiago, the ceremony began with a vibrant procession of all the competing Olympians accompanied by traditional Galician bagpipes and drums. The excitement and anticipation of Nobel students were matched by the enthusiastic cheers of the host school community who were out in full force cheering them on. 

Following various speeches, the Opening Ceremony ended, and host families warmly welcomed some of our students, creating a home-away-from-home experience.

 

Day 3: Challenges and Teamwork 

The competition began with a day packed with robotics, science, and engineering challenges: 

• Robotics Tasks: Students programmed Beebots to navigate Camino de Santiago routes, tackled Minecraft coding missions, and built Lego Bots to rescue injured pilgrims.
• Science Tasks: Teams created rainbows with acid and alkali mixtures in the Chemistry challenge, symbolising inclusivity, and used dichotomous keys to identify Galician wildlife in the Biology challenge. 
• Engineering Tasks: Building eco-friendly bridges and towers with compostable materials tested students’ creativity and structural design skills. 

The students demonstrated exceptional teamwork, innovative problem-solving, and resilience throughout the day. 

 

Day 4: Mathematical Adventures and Cultural Exploration 

Starting with mathematics challenges at the Mar de Vigo Auditorium, the day transitioned to a thrilling boat ride across the Ria de Vigo in stormy weather. The final challenge, The Great Vigo Treasure Hunt, combined history, culture, and brain-teasing puzzles as students explored the city’s landmarks in a two-hour, gruelling challenge. 

 

Day 5: Closing Ceremony and Celebrations 

The Academic Olympics concluded at Teatro Afundación in the heart of Vigo, where the winners were announced. Nobel celebrated the triumph of students who achieved remarkable success in their respective teams: 

• Gold Medal: Sofya Salova (Year 9) 
• Silver Medal: Tiago Santos (8º Ano) 
• Bronze Medal: Jackson Bright (Year 9) 

Following the ceremony, the group returned to Valença for a final day of cultural activities, including a walk over the iron bridge linking Valença to Tui, where students were able to put one foot in each country, a guided tour of the fortress, and a celebratory dinner which saw students cementing bonds formed throughout the trip. 

 

Day 6: Fond Farewells and Reflections on the Journey Home 

The journey back to the Algarve on November 23rd was filled with shared memories, laughter, friendly Kahoot games and promises to stay in touch. Students bonded across sections, creating a WhatsApp group to continue their friendships. 

 

Student Reflections 

The week left an indelible mark on every participant. From the challenges faced to the connections made, Nobel students returned home with exciting stories that they have been sharing with their families and friends, new skills, and memories they will cherish. 

The students shared their thoughts on the experience, reflecting on the academic challenges, cultural immersion, and friendships they formed. Here are some of their highlights:

Alexandra Alter: "The academic Olympics were fun; they were better than I expected, but it was unfortunate that I was unwell during this trip. The lights in Spain were beyond gorgeous and are a must-see. I met lots of interesting and cool people. We even went to a medieval fortress in Valença do Minho, in the north of Portugal, which has amazing views of Portugal and Spain. My advice to students in Year 8 would be to try no matter what so that they achieve their best in school because, in this way, they could be chosen to go to Italy next year, and that’s cool.”

Jackson Bright: “The Academic Olympics were one of the best experiences of my life. I met a ton of new people from all over the world and got to experience the beautiful city of Vigo. I learned how to work in a team of new people and traverse a new, unfamiliar city. My favourite part of this trip was seeing the city shine under the million Christmas lights and all the unique places in Vigo.”

Aarav Garg: "The Academic Olympics 2024 was an exciting and educational experience for me. I went with the expectation of learning new cultures and places. The Academics covered all of these expectations, and it gave me a platform to enrich my relationships, and use my language and social skills among a variety of competitive activities. As I took part in this wonderful experience, I learned that teamwork is very fun, especially for me. My team were able to communicate and understand each other very well. I also learned that it is very easy to make new friends. The highlights of my trip were seeing the fortress in Valença do Minho and going on a wonderful walk with my host family to see the city lights in Vigo. I also enjoyed the opening and closing ceremony, the boat ride and doing all the challenges.  Best of all, I enjoyed spending time with my friends. Meeting students from the other schools was a fun and pleasant experience as they were friendly, and we all communicated well. The host family I stayed with were amazing, friendly, accommodating and enjoyable. The key moment I remember with them was the first time we met, our first dinner together, and the lovely walk we went on to admire Vigo's beautiful Christmas decorations. My advice for the current Year 8 students who are likely to go next year is that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so enjoy the opportunity and practice your social skills, as they will come in very handy."

Sofya Salova: “The academic Olympics were way more fun than I had ever expected. In fact, I didn’t expect to be quite so relaxed during the week despite the many challenges we were faced with. One thing I learned about myself is that I can communicate well with peers and have fun wherever I go, no matter what I do. For me, the highlight of the trip was the curious problems and the interesting people I had the chance to meet. I enjoyed engaging with new students, all of whom had something to share with me, and it was awesome to see what we had in common. I also loved the city of Vigo itself and Spain; it is a beautiful place, and I definitely want to visit it again! My advice to the current Year 7 and Year 8 students is to try very hard at school and get good grades. Not only will you be rewarded for all your effort, but you may also find yourself being picked in Year 9 to represent Nobel (Lagoa) at the Globeducate Academic Olympics. Overall, this trip was way more awesome than I could have ever imagined, and I can’t wait to tell all my friends and family about it!”

Miguel Hurtado: "The Academic Olympics were more than I expected; everything was very well prepared and organised. I realised that I work better in a team, and it was only by working together that we managed to succeed in the challenges. The most memorable moment was staying with the host family. They were always very kind and welcoming, which I found really interesting. I improved my language skills and met many people with different cultures and traditions. Yes, I also made friends during this experience. I visited museums and statues that were quite beautiful. I hope everyone keeps learning more and more because that’s how we define our own ‘Camino.’ I think I’ve said everything I wanted, but I’d like to emphasise how warmly I was welcomed." 

Tiago Santos: "The Academic Olympics were an unforgettable and enriching experience, both intellectually and in how I interact with people from other countries. The Academic Olympics definitely exceeded all my expectations, from the organisation to the creativity of the challenges. What stood out the most for me on this trip was how kind and welcoming my host family was. Meeting and communicating with students from other countries was incredibly enriching for me. I also improved my English, Spanish, French, and other languages even more. Although I love the Algarve, having the chance to visit Valença beforehand was really important for learning about the history and culture of northern Portugal. All I can say is that if you get the opportunity, don’t hesitate to accept it. You’ll improve academically in every way and make lots of friends. It was an academic experience I’ll never forget!" 

Sancha Carreira: "The Academic Olympics were an incredible experience that I’ll never forget. I made friends with people from other countries, tested my knowledge, and created amazing memories. I arrived at O Castro British International School in Mos, Vigo, not knowing what to expect, and I left feeling very happy. The event was very well organised, and the staff were so kind. I had great moments with my team; we had a lot of fun and are still in touch. On top of that, I got to practice my English and other skills. I also saw the Christmas lights in Vigo and visited the Fortaleza de Valença do Minho with the Nobel group, and we had such a great time together. Although I didn’t make it to the podium, I loved the experience and the memories I created with my team. I can only say good things about this opportunity, and to the students who get the chance next year: take it because it was amazing! Thank you to the schools and staff for organising this incredible event." 

Maria Filipa Nunes: "The Academic Olympics were an experience I will never forget. I loved every moment, from meeting people from other countries to competing and improving my knowledge. I also really enjoyed completing the various challenges we were given, which made us think and reflect a lot, and most importantly, pushed us to work as a team. Each challenge was very well planned by the staff. Not only was I able to apply my knowledge, but I also improved it. I made great friends and had wonderful moments with my team that I’ll never forget. Although my team didn’t make it to the podium, we always gave our best in every challenge. Even though I didn’t stay with a host family, the hotel I stayed in was excellent, allowing me to see the Christmas lights in Vigo several times while walking around and creating even more unforgettable memories. I also had the chance to visit the Fortaleza de Valença do Minho with the entire Nobel group, and over the days we spent together, we grew closer and created amazing memories.  I am grateful for everything that was provided to me to have this unforgettable experience!"   

A Celebration of Excellence
The Globeducate Academic Olympics 2024 was more than a competition; it was a celebration of global collaboration, cultural exchange, and personal growth. Congratulations to all Nobel students for their outstanding achievements and for representing Nobel Lagoa with pride and enthusiasm! 

We look forward to next year’s event in Italy, where new memories and milestones await the current Year 8s.

Written by Marlene Robalo