Akademeia High School

Continuing our Class of 2026 series, meet Aniela, who joined Akademeia in Year 10. 🎓

📚 Her A Level subjects include Fine Art, Photography, History of Art, and Polish.

🌟 Reflecting on her A Level journey, Aniela comments "It was defined by a deep engagement with the arts. Through consistent exploration across a range of visual disciplines, I developed not only strong technical skills but also a thoughtful and expressive artistic voice."

🎨 Beyond the classroom, Aniela demonstrated exceptional commitment to community engagement through a range of meaningful artistic initiatives. She co-created and led art workshops for Ukrainian children from the OSSA orphanage, supported a Year 11 PDS project on homelessness in collaboration with the Daj Herbatę Foundation, and volunteered in art therapy workshops at the Alzheimer’s Centre. She also prepared an exhibition of her work there, focused on memory and lived experience, and continues her engagement with the Centre independently, driven by personal commitment rather than recognition.

Her artwork has been exhibited at the Art Vernissage during the Long Night of Museums 2025 in Warsaw and also appears regularly on the covers of our Akademeia Post newspaper (stay tuned for our June issue). Aniela has also generously donated her artwork to the school’s annual fundraising events, supporting both graduating scholars and the Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy (WOŚP).

🏆 In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Aniela received the Community Engagement Award in Year 13 and earned annual Best Performance Awards in Fine Art, History of Art, and Photography.

💫 Aniela’s favourite school memory is the Year 13 trip to Energylandia - a memorable final outing with her classmates, filled with laughter, shared experiences, and time spent together before graduation.

🎓 She received offers from Rhode Island School of Design, California Institute of the Arts and Parsons School of Design. She has decided to attend Rhode Island School of Design where she plans to continue developing her passions for art.

Our students recently had the honour of attending China Day, an event organised by the Chinese Embassy in Poland. Nikodem, Konrad, Pola, Sonia, Irena, Yiqiao, Helena, and Kesaria, accompanied by Deputy Head Dr Borzym-Grzesik, enjoyed a fascinating afternoon filled with a variety of activities and opportunities to learn about Chinese culture, diplomacy, technology, and business.🇨🇳

The event began with a group photograph in the embassy gardens before students explored different areas of the embassy grounds. They visited an AI exhibition, took part in a calligraphy workshop, and learned about the historical role of the Chinese Embassy in Poland as a bridge between East and West.

Students also had the opportunity to sample Chinese cuisine, discover leading Chinese companies, and see some of the embassy's impressive diplomatic spaces. The scale and significance of the embassy left a strong impression on our students, highlighting a place where history, politics, and international relations come together.

One of the highlights of the afternoon came during the second half of the programme, when students met AI robot Edward Warchocki. Pola was fortunate enough to have a conversation with the robot and even join him for a dance performance.

Reflecting on the experience, Pola said: “What astounded me the most was how well this robot could dance - it’s unbelievable to see how fast AI is evolving.”

The event provided a unique insight into Chinese culture and diplomacy while also offering a glimpse into the rapidly developing world of artificial intelligence. It was a memorable and enriching experience for all involved.

Continuing our Class of 2026 series, meet Aliaksandr, who joined Akademeia in Year 9. 🎓

📚 His A Level subjects include Mathematics, Further Mathematics, and Physics.

🧠 Aliaksandr credits the A Level programme with preparing him for university-level study, particularly through advanced modules such as Further Pure Mathematics 3, which he describes as closely aligned with first-year university mathematics. Combined with independent learning opportunities, projects, and internships, he feels well prepared for the academic demands ahead.

💡 Beyond the classroom, Aliaksandr was actively involved in co-curricular initiatives, most notably the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. As part of his team, he helped design and build a medical wearable device capable of measuring ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and body temperature, supporting patient health monitoring. The project gained recognition in outlets such as Business Insider Poland and Samsung Newsroom and played an important role in his university application journey.

🏆 Aliaksandr received offers from the University of California San Diego, University of Michigan, Vanderbilt University, University of Virginia, Columbia University, and Imperial College London. He plans to attend Imperial College London to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

💬 Reflecting on his academic preparation, Aliaksandr says:
“From the beginning, I was passionate about maths and physics and knew I wanted to pursue a STEM-related career, particularly in electronics and computing. My choice of A Levels gave me the essential foundation for my future studies and goals.”

The 9th and final session of this year's Akademeia Science Masterclass Programme introduced participants to the fundamentals of mechanical design through a series of practical activities combining mechanisms, electronics, and motion control.💻

During the workshop, students explored several classic mechanical systems using both 3D-printed models and self-built prototypes, including a DIY scissor mechanism constructed from wooden sticks. Participants also assembled a large-scale 3D-printed DC motor from scratch, manually winding the coil to gain a deeper understanding of how electrical energy is converted into mechanical motion.

The session also featured programming and control challenges. Students learned how to operate servomotors connected to linear actuators and claw grippers, and worked with motor shields for Arduino and micro:bit platforms to control both servo and stepper motors.

Looking back over the year, the Science Masterclass Programme offered students a unique opportunity to go beyond the regular curriculum through intensive, hands-on STEM workshops. Across nine sessions, participants developed practical skills in engineering design, electronics, programming, and problem-solving, working on projects that combined theory with real-world application.

Thank Mr Aksamit for designing and delivering the workshops throughout the year, and Ms Volchak, our laboratory supervisor, for her essential support in preparing equipment and ensuring the smooth running of each session.

Congratulations to all students who took part in this year’s Science Masterclass Programme. Your enthusiasm, commitment, and willingness to take on new challenges made the programme a great success.

Continuing our Class of 2026 series, meet Hikaru, who joined Akademeia in Year 12.🎓

📚 Her A Level subjects include Biology, Psychology, and Mathematics.

🌟 Reflecting on her transition to A Levels, Hikaru describes it as a challenging but highly supported experience. Moving from the IB MYP programme, she benefited from extensive guidance from the admissions team and teachers, who helped her understand subject choices, university requirements, and the academic resources needed to bridge the gap between programmes. She credits this support with enabling her successful transition into A Level study.

🔬 Beyond the classroom, Hikaru completed a one-week internship at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology through the internship competition, which gave her valuable insight into neuroscience research and future career pathways. She also engaged in musical volunteering, delivering music therapy workshops at an Alzheimer’s Centre and performing concerts in senior homes.

🎹 Alongside her scientific and outreach activities, Hikaru is also a talented pianist, performing at school events including her graduation, as well as at external occasions, which she describes as a deeply rewarding part of her school experience.

🎓 Hikaru plans to study Human Neuroscience at University College London in the UK and she's been selected as a full scholarship recipient of the highly competitive Yanai Tadashi Foundation in Japan, established by the founder of UNIQLO.

💬 Reflecting on university guidance at Akademeia, Hikaru says:
“I was able to receive invaluable support in planning my super-curricular activities from an early stage, including internships and summer schools. Guidance from Dr Watras and the co-curricular team from mid-Year 12 helped me get a strong head start in my applications and future plans.”

This year as part of the International Schools Partnership Virtual Exchange Programme (VEP) our Year 10 students led by their teacher Dr Paula Romero, engaged in a live cultural exchange online session with their peers at Colegio Pedro de Valdivia Agustinas, in Santiago de Chile. 🇵🇱 🇨🇱

It was a fun experience which allowed high school students who live half of the world and many time zones away from each other, to chat, laugh, and learn together. Akademeia students shared their short presentations about Polish culture and traditions with their Chilean peers, who in turn presented short videos about their school and national dishes.

Communication was done both in English and Spanish, encouraging our students to practice their Spanish-speaking skills and make new discoveries, such as how to say avocado in Chilean Spanish.

Continuing our Class of 2026 series, meet Hania, who joined Akademeia in Year 10. 🎓

📚 Her A Level subjects include English Literature, Mathematics, Fine Art, and Polish.

🌟 Reflecting on her A Level journey, Hania highlights how studying across different disciplines helped her discover a strong interest in making unexpected connections between the arts, humanities, and social sciences. This multidisciplinary perspective has shaped her academic direction and inspired her to pursue a university path that values cross-disciplinary thinking and the integration of ideas across fields.

🧠 The A Level programme at Akademeia challenged her to think independently and critically, particularly in Fine Art, where she was encouraged to question, experiment, and reflect on her own creative process. This approach strengthened her curiosity and prepared her for university-level study, helping her develop confidence in directing her own intellectual and creative development.

🎭 Hania was actively involved in a wide range of school life beyond the classroom, including serving on the Student Council, acting as Head of Design at AKAMUN, MCing school ceremonies, designing a fashion gown for a school fundraiser, and performing as part of the school band. Her artwork was also exhibited as part of an Art Vernissage during the 2025 Long Night of Museums in Warsaw. She particularly valued the diversity of these experiences and the opportunity to explore different roles within the school community.

📖 One of Hania’s favourite class moments took place in Sociology, where students designed their own education systems inspired by theorists such as Durkheim. She especially enjoyed the collaborative and creative nature of the task, which combined critical thinking, teamwork, and theoretical application.

⛰️ Her favourite school memories are the hiking and skiing trips, which she describes as some of the most special moments of her time at Akademeia - days spent in the mountains with friends, followed by evenings of long conversations, games, and shared anticipation for the next day’s adventures.

🏆 Hania’s achievements include receiving Gold and Silver awards in UKMT Mathematics competitions, as well as being awarded Best Performance in English Literature and Best Progress in Fine Art at graduation.

🎓 Hania plans to study Liberal Arts at Durham University in the UK. She also received offers from King’s College London, University of Bristol, University of Exeter, University College London (Arts and Sciences), and the University of British Columbia (Interdisciplinary Studies).

💬 Reflecting on university guidance at Akademeia, Hania says:
“Throughout my applications to both the UK and Canada, I felt genuinely well supported. From choosing universities to refining my personal statement and final submission, I was guided at every stage and felt confident in both my decisions and my writing.”

In celebration of the recent Children’s Day, members of Akademeia’s School without Borders Club and the Volunteering Club joined forces to organise a joyful afternoon for refugee children from the Linin Refugee Centre, where Fundacja dla Wolności runs the Przystanek Świetlica programme.

The event was filled with smiles, laughter, and a variety of exciting activities, including creative slime-making workshops, outdoor games, colourful balloons, and even a cotton candy station all coordinated by our students.

It was a wonderful opportunity to bring the community together and create memorable experiences for the children while celebrating this special occasion. Thank you to our coordinators Ms Koblak and Ms Czerwonka.

Continuing our Class of 2026 series, meet Tomasz, who joined Akademeia in Year 10. 🎓

📚 His A Level subjects include Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Polish and Chemistry.

🌟 Reflecting on his A Level journey, Tomasz describes it as a framework for understanding how the world works, from everyday phenomena to complex systems. He regularly applies this thinking beyond the classroom, drawing connections between STEM principles and his wider interests in digital art, data science, and biology. He highlights how A Levels strengthened his ability to break down complex ideas into fundamental mechanisms, a skill that has since made learning new concepts faster and more intuitive.

🧠 The A Level programme at Akademeia also developed his approach to university-style study. Through rigorous and precise scientific explanations, he learned to simplify complex phenomena and recognise recurring underlying principles across topics. He credits Further Mathematics with shaping a modelling-based way of thinking, where many real-world problems can be understood and predicted through simple equations and structured reasoning.

📖 One of Tomasz’s most memorable class moments was a series of lessons on second-order differential equations taught by Dr Kowalski. Although initially challenging, the topic became highly engaging through a narrative teaching approach, ultimately becoming one of the most rewarding learning experiences of his A Level journey.

⛰️ His favourite school memory is the Sixth Form ski trip, particularly a day spent exploring new slopes, sharing a mountain lunch in a remote hut, and finishing the day skiing in golden sunlight before relaxing in a pool and sauna.

🏆 Tomasz’s achievements include receiving the Positive Impact Prize in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition (with features in Business Insider and a pitch at the National Monitoring Centre), completing a research internship at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, and being selected for the Villars Institute programme. He also published a meta-review on non-invasive biological age estimation in the Ageing and Longevity Journal, reflecting his growing interest in combining biology and data-driven research.

🎓 Tomasz plans to attend Imperial College London and aims to pursue a future at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data science, and biomedicine, developing computational tools that support scientific and medical breakthroughs.

💬 Reflecting on university guidance at Akademeia, Tomasz says:
“University guidance at Akademeia is exceptional. From early on, students are given clear direction on how to build strong applications. The advice is specific, honest, and tailored to each individual’s academic path.”

This year, Akademeia High School once again took part in the celebrations surrounding the TOP CHARITY philanthropic event organised by the Omenaa Foundation.

The “Lazy Sunday” charity picnic, held on the beautiful grounds of Foksal Palace, offered a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere. Akademeia hosted a lively stand, where members of our senior leadership team, including Headmaster Dr Watras, were joined by students proudly representing the school community.

Pola, supported by the Rafał Brzoska Foundation, enriched the day with a beautiful live flute performance, while Mikołaj captivated audiences with his mellow double bass recital, bringing an unforgettable artistic touch to the event. In addition, Dr Kałęcki fascinated the scientists of tomorrow with engaging experiments, including hands-on demonstrations showing how slime is made.

The event and the experiences surrounding it showcased Akademeia’s dedication to global engagement, social responsibility, and the powerful role of education and the arts in driving meaningful change.