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Colombia, Bogota
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The school is a mixed-gender IB World School offering the IB Continuum with Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. The IB programs cultivate inquiry-based and interdisciplinary learning designed to develop students as global citizens and leaders. Leadership, responsibility, and empathy are core values emphasized to prepare students for future leadership roles. The curriculum integrates IB's inquiry, action, and service across subjects to deepen understanding and academic growth.
The arts program includes Visual Arts, Music, Dance, and Theater. Art education emphasizes empathy, self-knowledge, critical thinking, expression, and the role of art in personal development. The curriculum highlights that the arts foster discipline, creativity, and social awareness, enabling students to become reflective and responsible individuals. The school stages annual musical productions, with examples ranging from Wonderland (2014) to Moana (2025).
Multilingual learning is embedded throughout the curriculum, with Spanish as the mother tongue, English as a second language, and French as an acquisition language. Spanish, English, and French language programs develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills across contexts. The program promotes open-mindedness and respectful engagement with diverse cultures in a globalizing world.
Spark It Up! offers playful, formative experiences across three main areas: Mentes Tech, Estilo de Vida, and Bienestar. Mentes Tech includes robotics, Lego, and STEAM activities to build technical creativity. Estilo de Vida covers fashion design, sculpture, band, and scenography to develop creativity and collaboration. Bienestar provides classes in ballet, urban dance, taekwondo, and gymnastics to support physical well-being and cultural engagement.
The school runs a Model United Nations program to promote Education for Sustainable Development and global citizenship. It also implements the Proyecto Ambiental Escolar (PRAE), organized around five focus areas—Company/Environment, Culture/Environment, Territory/Environment, Health/Environment, and STEAM/Environment—to foster environmental responsibility. These initiatives engage students in research, debate, and community projects addressing real-world challenges.
Student leadership is encouraged through a Student Council and the Casas Portales house system, with two student captains per house. Student leaders represent peers, advocate for school improvements, and promote teamwork and institutional values. The school offers leadership opportunities through Model United Nations participation, student-driven initiatives, and ongoing community projects.
Movement and wellbeing are central to the school's approach to education. Physical education offers a wide range of sports, including football, basketball, and volleyball, with regular practice and inter-school competitions. Mental health and emotional wellbeing are prioritized, with counseling support, emotional regulation programs, and targeted guidance to help students develop resilience. Career guidance begins in 8th grade, including university fairs, campus visits, and admissions planning to chart each student's postsecondary path.
Gimnasio Los Portales is a mixed‑gender, Bogotá-based International Baccalaureate World School serving ages 2 to 18. The school teaches in a multilingual setting with Spanish as the mother tongue, English as a second language, and French as an acquisition language, and offers the IB Continuum: Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. Founded in 1987, it emphasizes values-based education and integrity, with a mission to form people of character who think critically and lead with practical skills for present challenges and future opportunities. The on‑site Wonder Place Preschool serves ages 2 to 4; facilities include a cafeteria, nursing, transport, and a library, plus spaces for wellbeing, arts, and sports. Experiential learning focuses on STEAM, Multilingüismo, Go International, and the Ignite Program, alongside a broad range of extracurriculars and clubs that foster global citizenship and personal development. A range of leadership, service, arts, and sports activities support students' growth.
