Welcome to Dili International School (DIS), an independently owned and managed school which offers your child an accredited, international standard education. Since 2002, DIS has welcomed hundreds of families from all around the world and created a dynamic learning environment that truly ’embraces diversity’.
of applicants
offered university placements
years classroom
teaching average
different nationalities
students average
class size
Child-family centred
Holistic development
Equity and inclusion
Community connectedness
Play and imagination
PRESCHOOL
Inquiry-based learning
Holistic development
Multilingual education
Global awareness
Social-emotional skills
PRIMARY
Inquiry-Driven Learning
Global-Minded Growth
Multilingual Foundation
Cultural Understanding
Whole-Child Development
SECONDARY
Future-Ready Scholars
VCE Academic Excellence
Balanced Student Life
Global Pathways
Independent Thinkers
VCE
Grade 5/6 students are learning about chemical change as part of their Unit of Inquiry. In the science laboratory with our senior chemistry teacher, Mr Peter; students investigated how carbon dioxide changes water by blowing bubbles into water mixed with universal indicator. These hands-on learning experiences are one of the many ways we work together as one school at DIS, with students benefiting from the expertise of teachers across different year levels and subject areas.
Our Grade 3/4 students have launched their Farm to Plate unit with a hands-on planting session alongside Fernando from DaTerra Baucau Agroecological Farm stay. Students planted mulberry, rosella, cat’s whisker, papaya, tree spinach, tomato, moringa, citronella, curry leaf, butterfly pea and passion fruit. This Transdisciplinary Unit covers Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Health within the Australian Curriculum, with a focus on biological sciences, sustainability, food production and healthy choices. Students will now take responsibility for maintaining the garden, with produce harvested and used in the school canteen, completing the journey from farm to plate.
We’ve already reached Week 7 of the school year! Apologies for the quiet start on our Facebook page — the team has been busy focusing on what matters most: high-quality teaching and learning at DIS. So, here’s a quick catch-up on just some of the wonderful things that have been happening around the school alongside our academic programs: • Our Early Years students beginning the “Emmy and Friends” Protective Behaviours program • Our Inclusion Team and new Learning Assistants supporting individualised learning in classrooms • Students making great use of our well-equipped science laboratory • The Perceptual Motor Program building coordination and confidence in our younger learners • A farm excursion as part of the Farm to Plate Unit of Inquiry • Students representing DIS in the National Cricket Competition • And of course, everyone’s favourite visitor — Sunny the therapy dog 🐶 It’s been a busy and exciting start to the year, and we’re looking forward to sharing more of the learning happening across the school in the weeks ahead!
Dili International School extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Pat Walsh. Pat’s deep commitment to Timor-Leste and its people was reflected in a life of advocacy and service. His writing captures who he was and what he stood for, ensuring that his story will continue to inform and inspire young people for generations to come.
Dili International School (DIS) celebrates the achievements of the Grade 12 Class of 2025 in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Dili International School (DIS) proudly celebrates the achievements of the Grade 12 Class of 2025 in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), with this year’s graduates delivering some of the strongest results in the school’s 12 years of the programme. Their academic performance reflects the dedication, resilience and maturity of the cohort, as well as the school’s firm commitment to providing internationally recognised, world-class education in Timor-Leste. Key Highlights – Class of 2025 Our highest ATAR was achieved by Lisa Icyeza, whose result of 91.50 is both the highest achieved by a DIS graduate and places her in the top 9% of students completing the VCE. Neydra Lelotar achieved raw scores above 40 in both English and Indonesian Second Language, placing her within the top 8% of VCE students in those subjects. The School’s median ATAR for 2025 is 74.20, the second highest in the 12 years of VCE at DIS. 35% of Grade 12 students achieved an ATAR placing them in the top 20% of the 67,000 students completing the VCE in 2025. 82% of DIS graduates placed within the top 50% of all VCE students. School Principal Mr. Tim Blackman praised the cohort, stating: “This group has shown exceptional dedication and maturity. Their results reflect not only their individual efforts but the strength of our teaching team, and the support of families. We are extremely proud of every one of our graduates for all that they have achieved both academically and beyond.” The success of the Class of 2025 contributes to the school’s growing alumni network, now totalling 180 graduates who have pursued university study and career pathways across Australia, Asia, Europe and beyond. The VCE is a globally-recognised Australian qualification that opens doors to universities and career pathways worldwide. Dili International School has offered the VCE since 2013 through its long-standing partnership with Haileybury College, one of Australia’s leading educational institutions. This collaboration connects DIS students and teachers to a wide network of expert educators and ensures a rigorous, high-quality senior secondary programme.
Our annual art exhibition was a wonderful celebration of the importance of arts in Education. Ms Sharon, Ms Alison, and Mr Celes certainly showed us just how busy and creative our art room is! A huge thank you and well done to all our students for the imagination, skill and enthusiasm they poured into their work this year. With more than 500 incredible pieces on display, and considering that for nearly 15 weeks the whole school paused to bring The Lion King to life, the level of creativity on show was truly remarkable. We are so proud of every young artist who contributed to this vibrant celebration of the arts at DIS.
Today we celebrated our Fini Moris end-of-year gathering, a joyful afternoon recognising the growth and confidence our little learners have shown this year. Thank you to our families, teachers, and staff for your support and work this year. Fini Moris is the community preschool program at DIS, delivering the Timor-Leste National Preschool Curriculum through our IB PYP play-based learning approach. It is one of our long-term ways of giving back to the community and supporting children in their early years.
Our partnership with Youth Off The Streets is just one of the ways we fulfill our mission of creating community-minded students who value diversity and service to others. We are so proud of our students for taking on a leading role in teaching children from YOTS every week and showing kindness, care, and friendship.
DIS Honours the 2025 VCE Graduates as It Enters Its 23rd Year of Educational Leadership in Timor-Leste. Dili International School (DIS) has proudly celebrated its 2025 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE, Australia) graduation ceremony at Hotel Timor, recognising the achievements of this year’s cohort of seventeen students representing six nationalities. Their success adds to the growing group of DIS graduates who, for more than a decade, have pursued university study and global career pathways through the internationally recognised VCE program. This year’s ceremony came at a meaningful moment in Timor-Leste’s history, following the nation’s full accession to ASEAN. As Timor-Leste strengthens its place within the regional community, DIS’s 23-year role as the country’s leading English-language international school remains vital. Since 2002, the school has supported Timorese and expatriate students to develop the academic skills, international mindedness, and English proficiency needed to participate confidently in regional and global settings. Across these 23 years, DIS has remained at the forefront of educational innovation, blending global standards with local context and supporting young people to pursue their aspirations in higher education institutions world-wide. This year’s ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Her Excellency Dra. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education; Her Excellency Ms Caitlin Wilson, Ambassador of Australia to Timor-Leste; and Mr Gary Van Den Elsen, Haileybury College Director of International Operations and representative of DIS’s long-standing Australian partner school. Their presence highlighted the strong educational ties between Timor-Leste and Australia, as well as the ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for young people in the region. The ceremony also honoured the dedication of DIS teachers, staff, and families, whose guidance and support have been essential in each student’s educational journey. As the Class of 2025 embarks on the next stage of their lives, Dili International School reaffirms its commitment to excellence, international standards, and the enrichment of education in Timor-Leste. Our special thanks to the teams of Hotel Timor, SNV Lighting & Sound Rental, Things and Stories, and Alli Studios for helping make our event a memorable graduation. You can also read our full article at www.guideposttimor.com.
Almost making it before the rains began, our Grade 7 students camped in Aileu (Dili Vanili) and enjoyed a range of outdoor activities to celebrate almost finishing their first year of high school. One of our traditions is for grade 7 to write a letter to their future self. With the rains outside, the students stayed dry in their tents and wrote these letters which will be given back to them when they graduate! Thank you to the team at Dili Vanili, Mr Carlos, Mr Leo, Mr Melchior, and Ms Betelia for organising a wonderfully adventurous and enjoyable camp!
DIS & DCP Cricket! On Sunday, DIS students and teachers faced DCP in a friendly cricket match at the Fatuhada fields. With our hybrid rules, everyone bowled, each pair batted for 4 overs, and both innings finished with a super over where team's could nominate any player to bat and bowl. Before the sun hit full strength, DIS won the toss and chose to field. Our bowling was tight and our fielding impressive on the precarious outfield, with DCP finishing on 184 from 25 overs. After a slow start with the bat, DIS picked up the pace through the middle overs. A couple of late wickets made things tense, and heading into the super over we needed 12 runs. Player of the Match Yahya (35 runs and 3 wickets) and Marley gave it a crack, including a towering six but we fell just 4 runs short. A great match played in terrific spirit. Congratulations to grade 12 students Santi, Benji and Roman, who played their last game for DIS!
Building Confidence Through Our Early Years Swimming Program! Our Early Years swimming program is underway, giving our youngest learners daily lessons in confidence-building, water safety, and swimming development. From Preschool through to Grade 2, students are learning to feel safe, capable, and excited in the water. School Principal Mr Tim, who has been helping at the lessons says “We are creating lifelong learners, and we believe that extends into the water as well. With the right activities and support, children build remarkable confidence in a very short time.” A huge thank you to our parent and family volunteers, our teachers and PE staff, and the Australian Embassy and Defence team for the use of the CGR pool beside our school.
Grade 6 IB PYP Exhibition 2025 Yesterday our Grade 6 students absolutely impressed us with their IB PYP Exhibition. From AI in education to marine sustainability, online safety and beyond, the breadth of inquiry was remarkable. Each student demonstrated real maturity and genuine passion in the way they explored their chosen issue, took action, and communicated their learning. As an IB World School, Dili International School delivers the Primary Years Programme with a strong emphasis on inquiry and authentic learning. The Grade 6 Exhibition is the culminating project of the PYP, requiring students to investigate a real-world issue, draw on multiple disciplines, collaborate with mentors, and take meaningful action. It marks the transition from primary to high school and showcases the skills they will continue to use and refine throughout their secondary years. Congratulations to all students, and thank you to our Grade 6 Teacher Mr Dan, mentors, and families who supported them throughout this journey.
These seventeen outstanding young people will celebrate their grade 12 graduation this Friday, bringing our total number of VCE graduates to 180 across twelve years of the program at DIS. With their external examinations now almost complete, we look forward to the release of their final results in early December. The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE, Australia) is an internationally recognised senior secondary qualification that opens pathways to universities around the world. We are incredibly proud of everything this cohort has achieved.
At DIS we know that great learning happens when explicit instruction and inquiry-based learning work hand in hand. Our MacqLit program is a perfect example of this. MacqLit is a small-group reading intervention that delivers targeted, structured teaching in phonics and comprehension for students who need a little extra support. For many of our EAL learners and others who benefit from clear, step-by-step teaching, MacqLit provides the foundation and confidence they need to fully engage in the rich inquiry experiences that follow. The results have been swift and impressive, with students showing real growth in both reading accuracy and fluency. A huge well done to our students and teachers for their commitment to building strong, confident readers!
2025 DIS Athletics Carnival Sometimes the photos tell the story best! Well done to all our students for their energy and sportsmanship, and thank you to our amazing teachers and staff for their support throughout the day.
Joining the historic celebration of Timor-Leste’s admission to ASEAN were two DIS students, Cally and Havana, who proudly represented the nation through dance and song. Their performances highlighted the talent and cultural spirit of Timorese youth on this remarkable occasion. As an English-speaking international school serving Timor-Leste for 23 years, we are proud to share in this national milestone and the country’s growing presence on the regional stage.
From all of us at Dili International School, we wish students across Timor-Leste the best of luck and focus as they began their Grade 12 and Grade 9 National Exams today, and continue over the examination period. (Photo from our grade 12 camp earlier this year to St Francis of Assisi, Fatuberliu)
On the 50th anniversary of the Balibo Five, we honour their legacy and support the families’ call for truth, transparency, and reconciliation. We believe this anniversary deserves to be marked not only with remembrance, but with action that honours the sacrifices made and the important of truth and justice.
Our Grade 10 students are showcasing their final Personal Interest Projects (PIPs) this week. One of our students, Hegelinha, has created a powerful video presentation about her project, which focuses on improving sanitation facilities for a local community. We are proud of all our students for their creativity, compassion and commitment to making a difference. The Personal Interest Project (PIP) is a product and 3,500-word report that Grade 10 students complete to respond to a community need. Each topic is developed by the student and supported by a coordinator, mentor and supervisor. The PIP encourages students to engage with the community while developing strong research and academic skills. Final reports are cross-marked by Haileybury College, Melbourne, which issues the official certification.
Art Auction! Would you like to be the proud owner of an original piece of artwork used for our production of The Lion King? We are auctioning the original a4 size paintings by Ms Alison Dowell which were projected on the LED screens during the performances. You can view the 15 paintings at the Dili International School Campus between the 10th - 20th of October or online below. For details and to make a bid please go to www.distimor.org/auction Proceeds from the paintings sale will support the Dili International School Community Preschool Programme, Fini Moris including the end of year gifts of learning resources provided to each student.
We are incredibly proud of our grade 7 student, Maia Purdon, who this evening performed an original song she wrote, titled “Lost”, at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Dili International Marathon. After her phenomenal performance as Simba in The Lion King, Maia continues to shine as a singer and songwriter. This year’s marathon theme, “Run for Palestine,” highlights compassion and global solidarity, values that Maia beautifully captured through her songwriting. Combining global citizenship with artistic creativity is one of the many things that make DIS special. Maia wrote “Lost” during our songwriting co-curricular, and we are thrilled to see her talent shared with such a wide audience. Congratulations Maia, and thank you to Mr Jason for his wonderful accompaniment and leading our songwriting co-curricular. Footage: SMNews.
The final Dili International Film Festival screening to be held at DIS is this Saturday afternoon! Based on the much loved Australian children’s book of the same title, Magic Beach, is a beautiful film for the whole family that celebrates childhood imagination. Activities for children start at 1:30, with the film screening at 2:30pm.
It has been a fabulous term at our Surf Life Saving course, with students taking their pool swimming skills into the ocean. Each Saturday they have built confidence and strength in the waves while also learning how to stay safe and avoid danger at the beach. Students are gaining an important new skill set that goes beyond the pool.
Last week our Grade 3 and 4 students brought learning to life through their PYP Business Fair! With creativity and teamwork, students designed their own small businesses—complete with products, services, and marketing strategies. They showcased their ideas to fellow students, staff, and families, practicing real-world skills like communication, financial literacy, and problem-solving. It was inspiring to see our young entrepreneurs take initiative, work collaboratively, and share their passion and energy with the school community. A big thank you to our students, teachers, and families for supporting such a successful and fun event!
Grade 12 enjoyed their final DIS school camp with a trip to the Manufahi District. It was a wonderful time of reflection and connection as grade 12 now enter their final few months at school and prepare for their exams. Thank you to both St Bakhita School (Same) and St Francis of Assisi School (Fatuberliu) for having us. A special shout out too for the wonderful hospitality we received at ‘Hotel Uma Liu-Rai”
Our Transition students recently had a wonderful excursion to the the Special Civil Protection Unit to learn about the important role they play in protecting the community.Thank you to The Guide Post for featuring this article, written b the UEPC, about this great learning experience. Students from Dili International School recently took part in an educational visit to the Special Civil Protection Unit / Unidade Especial de Proteção Civil (UEPC) to learn about the unit’s vital roles and responsibilities. The visit, held at the UEPC site in Comoro, Dili, was led by Luis de Araujo, Head of the Search and Rescue Department. He introduced the students to the services provided by the special unit, including demonstrations of rescue equipment, fire-fighting techniques, and other emergency response procedures. Helen Hall, a teacher at Dili International School and organiser of the visit, said the goal was to give students a practical, hands-on experience. “We want students to understand how this special unit supports and saves people in the community, especially here in Dili. Watching videos isn’t enough – by observing and handling the equipment themselves, they can learn more effectively. It also helps build a closer connection between Dili International School and the Special Civil Protection Unit,” she explained. Hall also expressed her gratitude to the Autoridade Proteção Civil Timor-Leste (APC) for facilitating the visit and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to future collaboration with the UEPC to provide meaningful learning opportunities for students. The session sparked lively curiosity, with students asking many questions about both the equipment and the UEPC’s work. The team also staged a practical demonstration, showing how to extinguish fires and evacuate victims from hazardous areas. This was the fourth consecutive year that Dili International School has organised such an activity with the UEPC. The event was directly supervised by UEPC Director Fernando da Costa and supported by other team members. www.guideposttimor.com
Our grade 11 cohort recently spent one week in Darwin. Their very full itinerary included visiting Charles Darwin University, exploring Litchfield national park, seeing great culture at the Darwin festival, and going to an international cricket match! Thank you to our wonderful accompanying teachers and all the students for a great international trip.
We concluded a fantastic week of Book Week activities with our annual costume parade today! Both teachers and students dressed up as characters from literature, with plenty of fun and creative costumes on show. Thank you to everyone who took part in our activities this week — more photos will be shared soon! At DIS, we take pride in fostering a culture of reading for both learning and enjoyment among all our students. This video features our students from Preschool to Grade 12.
We are incredibly proud of DIS Alumni, Vitoria Eduardo Belo Soares. Vitoria completed her Bachelor's degree of accounting at Monash University. Due to her impressive grades, in the top 2-5 percentile, Vitoria was added to the 2024 Monash University Business School Dean's Commendation List. Vitoria is continuing in post graduate studies this year. Congratulations Vitoria on this remarkable achievement!
After months of rehearsals and dedication, our cast is proud of what they’ve brought to life. They may be a bit biased, but we think you’ll agree it’s something truly special. 🎟️ Tickets are selling fast: • Wednesday 18 June – Limited availability • Friday 20 June – SOLD OUT • Saturday 21 June – SOLD OUT • Sunday 22 June – Good availability • Tuesday 24 June – Good availability • Wednesday 25 June – Limited availability Don’t miss your chance to experience The Lion King! Visit www.distimor.org/lionking for all the details including how to get your tickets.
We’ve had the absolute pleasure of welcoming pre-service teachers from Naroman Esperança over the past four weeks at Dili International School! As part of their practicum placement, these future educators joined our preschool and early years classrooms, working alongside our teaching team and gaining valuable experience. It’s been a joy having them with us, and we wish them every success in their studies and future careers in Early Years Education. Manorin sira forte, Nasaun forte!
This week, our primary school students in the coding co-curricular worked on creating a simple two-player soccer game using Scratch. It was great to see them focused on coding the controls and logic system, and learning how to bring their ideas to life through programming. Small steps like these help build important skills in problem-solving and design. Best of all, they got to play the game they created at the end of the exercise! The coding class is taught by one of our IT Managers, Mr. Nick, who joined the DIS team this year with over 25 years of experience in the IT sector across Australia.
Meet Our Teachers! To learn more about our full staff, visit www.distimor.org. Ms Sharon - Visual Arts & Design Teacher We are thrilled to have Ms Sharon as our Visual Arts & Design Teacher. Sharon brings 30 years of teaching experience from across Australia and most recently Singapore. Ms Sharon has taught students from Years 2 to 12 across multiple curriculums including fifteen years as an IB MYP/PYP educator. Sharon’s art room is a place to inspire students to explore their talents and find a passion for arts. Sharon’s passion for creativity is matched by her love for the environment-she even led a successful campaign to protect a pristine wetland near her home in Berowra Waters, a beautiful area rich in Aboriginal culture and wildlife. Everyone will get to see much of the wonderful work Ms Sharon and her students have created for our upcoming school musical.
We had a great Science Week with lots of fun activities for all students, learning about the wonders of the scientific world all around us!
Today we celebrated the Restoration of Independence with a whole school assembly filled with dance, song, and poetry. Our special thanks to Maun Oto for his performances of his powerful protest songs. Likewise we are so proud of our staff who showed off their dancing talents! DIS is proud to walk alongside the development journey of an Independent Ra’i Doben Timor Loro’sae! 🇹🇱
Pure happiness! Our Grade 1 and 2 students visited the “Lenuk Timor” Turtle Sanctuary as part of their current Unit of Inquiry, How the World Works: Life Cycles. Their current central idea is that “all living things go through a cycle of change”. At DIS, Units of Inquiry are the foundation of our International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. Globally recognised, concept driven and designed to spark curiosity and deep thinking, our students experience the real thing through authentic, purposeful learning that connects the classroom to the world around them.
We value connection and friendship across all ages at DIS! It is wonderful to see our senior students are stepping up to build a stronger school community. They’ve begun coordinating lunchtime games and activities for our primary school students, helping to foster friendships and positive role modelling across grade levels. We look forward to seeing what creative weekly activities our seniors continue to organise.
We have welcomed Sunny, a therapy dog, and his wonderful trainer/handler Ms Denja to the DIS team! Sunny is a golden retriever who joins the early years classrooms as a gentle friend for students. This helps support emotional regulation, build responsibility, and enhance classroom engagement in a warm and joyful way. Today, our Grade 1 and 2 students put their measurement skills to the test by measuring Sunny. It was fun to see that math is all around-and sometimes, it’s wagging its tail right in front of us!
