Dear parents, guardians, and students,
In this week's newsletter, please find our latest updates and important information, including:
Open day for new families
Primary art exhibition
Christmas events
Bio Market Christmas Edition
Registration period for after-school activities
General strike
Parents' satisfaction survey
Head lice checks
Lost and found items must be collected
Christmas holidays
Goods Collection
Christmas Campaign: Solidarity Box
Christmas Raffle
Christmas Gifts and Hampers Collection
Our Kitchen News
Dear Aprendizes community,
On Wednesday our Grade 7 and 8 students filled recess with thoughtfulness as they shared their Global Perspectives dilemmas. One student explored whether filming a crime should be allowed if you risk being sued for recording someone without permission. Others raised equally engaging questions. Watching them made me feel both proud and grateful. As the Danish Philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard reminds us, it is in the tension between options that we come to understand ourselves and our values.
As a principal, I want to share with you some of the dilemmas I am confronted with on a daily basis.
One ongoing dilemma is how much information to share when students receive consequences. We want fairness for those who were hurt, learning for the wider community and protection of dignity for the child who made a mistake. Balancing justice and compassion is never simple, but it matters deeply to us.
Another dilemma surfaced this morning during our Parents Coffee: phones. Where does the school’s responsibility end and where does the family’s begin? Behaviours inside and outside school overlap, and navigating shared expectations is something we must approach together with care.
There is also the dilemma of time. We want schedules that honour academic excellence, wellbeing and engagement – where the head, the heart and the hands are all active. But time is limited, and creating the right balance for our students is an ongoing challenge.
Speaking about time, another very real daily dilemma is the balance between responding to parent emails and meeting requests (our cold-hands work) and being fully present with the children (our warm-hands work). We kindly ask you to consider this when deciding whether something requires an immediate response or can wait a little.
Connected to this is the dilemma of being an open, welcoming school while also respecting the learning spaces where students and teachers need calm, uninterrupted focus. Openness thrives best when paired with healthy boundaries.
And finally, there is the dilemma of receiving feedback – which we truly appreciate – while ensuring that how we communicate remains caring and respectful for students, parents and staff.
Today you will receive our yearly Parent Satisfaction Survey. Your insights help us grow and will undoubtedly bring new dilemmas – meaningful ones that help us improve.
As we move into the Christmas season, we feel once again the tension between hurry and stillness, celebration and reflection. And perhaps this is exactly what Søren Kierkegaard meant: that it is through navigating life’s dilemmas, not avoiding them, that we grow wiser.
We will continue this dialogue about dilemmas together – because we believe that through dialogue we are shaping the best possible school for our students.
Wishing you a warm and reflective week.
Rikke
04–06 DEC | MUN St. Julians | Various | Nova SBE | Model United Nations
05 DEC | Descobridores | 09:00–11:30 | Carris Museum | Christmas Tram Ride
09 DEC | Open Day | Library | 09:00–10:30
09 DEC | Transition Meeting – Grade 4 to 5 | 16:00–17:00
12 DEC | Christmas Concert | Primary | Refectory | 11:00–12:30
12 DEC | Christmas Concert | Middle & Secondary | Refectory | 14:00–16:00
12 DEC | BioMarket Christmas Edition | 16:15–18:00
15 DEC | Drama and Music Presentations | Primary | See the timetable below
17 DEC | Christmas Party (staff dance and choir) | Middle & Secondary | Refectory | 14:10–15:00
18 DEC | Christmas Celebration Brunch + Parents’ Play + Song | Preschool & Primary | Refectory | 09:15–11:45
19 DEC | End of 1st Term | 12:00
20 DEC to 05 JAN | Christmas Holidays
06 JAN | Start of 2nd Term
07 JAN | Meet the Alumni (Assembly Grade 11 and 12) | Library | 12:20–14:00
07 JAN | Parents Meeting – Grade 1 | Library | 08:45–09:45
08 JAN | Transition Meeting – Grade 6 to 7 | Library | 15:00–16:00
08 JAN | Transition Meeting – Grade 8 to 9 | Library | 16:00–17:00
09 JAN | Parents Coffee | Refectory | 08:45–09:30
12 JAN | Parents Meeting – Grade 2 | Library | 08:45–09:45
12 JAN to 21 JAN | MOCKS – Secondary – Grades 10, 11 & 12 | Village 2
13 JAN | PTSO (Parents, Teachers, Student Organization) Meeting | Library | 16:00–17:30
14 JAN | IGCSE Fair – 8th Grade | 10:30–12:30
15 JAN | Transition Meeting – Pre-school to Primary | Library | 16:00–17:00
15 JAN | Parents Meeting – Grade 3 | Library | 08:45–09:45
20 JAN | Parents Meeting – Grade 4 | Library | 08:45–09:45
OPEN DAY FOR NEW FAMILIES
We are delighted to invite prospective families to our Open Day on December 09, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM.
Families will meet our Principal and Head of Pedagogics, join a personalised tour of Preschool, Primary, Middle, or Secondary, and explore our vision and curriculum.
Registration is required. Please encourage interested families to register early.
Here’s what we have planned in our festive calendar — join us to celebrate music, creativity, and community spirit across all school levels!
PRESCHOOL
18 DEC – Christmas Brunch + Parents’ Play + Staff Dance + Christmas Music
09:15–11:45
– Children bring something to share
– Students write a short play for parents to perform
– All children join together to sing a Christmas song
PRIMARY
12 DEC – Christmas Concert
Refectory , 11:00–12:30
15 DEC to 19 DEC – Primary Art Exhibition from classes 1b, 2b, 3b and 4b - Entrance
15 DEC – Arts, Music and Drama Showcase – Library
11:00–11:45 – Grade 1 (1A + 1C)
11:45–12:30 – Grade 2 (2A + 2C)
14:00–14:45 – Grade 3 (3A + 3C)
14:45–15:30 – Grade 4 (4A + 4C)
18 DEC – Christmas Brunch + Parents’ Play + Staff Dance + Christmas Music
Preschool & Primary: 09:15–11:45
– Children bring something to share
– Students write a short play for parents to perform
– All children join together to sing a Christmas song
MIDDLE
12 DEC – Christmas Concert
Refectory, 14:00–15:50
17 DEC – Middle & Secondary Christmas Party
– Shared lunch (students bring something to share)
– Staff dance + choir | 14:10–15:00
SECONDARY
12 DEC – Christmas Concert
Refectory, 14:00–15:50
17 DEC – Middle & Secondary Christmas Party
– Shared lunch (students bring something to share)
FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
12 DEC – BioMarket – Christmas Edition
16:15–18:00
FOR ALL
BIO MARKET CHRISTMAS EDITION
Join us for the Bio Market – Christmas Edition on Friday, 12th December, from 4:15 PM to 6:00 PM, at The Tent!
Discover a fantastic selection of organic and sustainable products while supporting our local vendors. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a festive afternoon, explore eco-friendly goods, and continue contributing to our community’s green initiatives.
Please remember to bring any uniforms you wish to donate for the upcoming Bio Market uniform swap to the school office by 11/12.
Please note that the Biomarket is weather-dependent. If it rains on the scheduled day, the market will be cancelled. Thank you for your understanding.
REGISTRATION PERIOD FOR AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
The registration and cancellation window for second-term activities will be open from 1 to 7 December. Families must use the official form (https://forms.office.com/e/qnkRSv3VNG) to submit any changes. After 8 December, no further updates will be accepted until 27 March.
If no cancellation is submitted, previous registrations will automatically remain active.
MODA ASSESSMENTS 2025
The Individual Reports for the ModA Assessments, grades 4 and 6 (2025) will be made available to families soon. These national assessments, developed by IAVE, I.P. (the national agency responsible for external educational assessment in Portugal, operating under the Ministry of Education), help schools monitor students’ learning in Portuguese, Mathematics and, depending on the year group, English or History and Geography of Portugal.
They provide a diagnostic overview of key literacy skills and serve solely as diagnostic tools, not as part of students’ formal grading. At Aprendizes, we use these results to refine teaching practices and support student learning, while continuing to value the many dimensions of learning that ModA does not measure.
NO PHONE SCHOOL
Dear parents and guardians, this is a reminder that we are a no phone school. For this reason, we kindly ask you to avoid answering or checking your phones while on school grounds. In addition to setting a positive example for our children, this helps promote focus, mindful interactions, and a calmer school environment. Thank you for your cooperation.
GENERAL STRIKE
On December 11th there will be a general strike. We encourage parents, whenever possible, to organize carpooling, due to transport disruptions.
PARENTS' SATISFACTION SURVEY
Please take a moment to complete our satisfaction survey. It takes about five minutes, and your feedback is essential to help us improve the educational experience at Aprendizes. We kindly ask you to submit your response by December 14, 2025. Thank you for your support!
ATTENTION PARENTS: HEAD LICE CHECKS
We kindly ask parents to check their children for head lice at home and, if needed, carry out regular treatment. We also suggest using the Christmas holidays as an opportunity to repeat the treatment, ensuring children return to school lice-free. Your vigilance helps keep all students healthy and prevents further spread.
LOST AND FOUND ITEMS MUST BE COLLECTED
We kindly ask parents to check the Lost and Found area, which is currently full of students’ forgotten items. Any items not collected by December 19 will be donated to a local charity. Your cooperation is important to keep the area organized and ensure belongings are returned to their owners.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Just a reminder: on 19 December classes finish at 12 PM. The Christmas holidays run from 20 December to 5 January. Classes start again on January 6th, Tuesday.
preschool & primary
PYJAMAS FOR A CAUSE: TOGETHER FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
On November 20th, our school celebrated the National Day of the Pyjama and UNICEF’s World Children’s Rights Day, highlighting the importance of children’s rights. As such, pre-school and primary students participated in a fundraising project, crafting small house-shaped piggybanks and collecting pennies throughout the week.
The funds raised will support children without families in Portugal. This initiative allowed students to contribute meaningfully, demonstrating that even small efforts can make a tangible difference in improving the lives of vulnerable children.
MIDDLE
SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT: LEARNING TO CARE FOR THE PLANET
Our middle school students deepened their understanding of sustainability in an engaging waste management workshop led by Frederico Soares. Through infographics, hands-on activities, and real-world examples, they learned how small actions—reducing, reusing, and recycling—impact the environment.
The session encouraged curiosity and critical thinking, showing the evolution of recycling and empowering students to make greener choices at school and home. This initiative highlighted the importance of environmental responsibility in everyday life.
SECONDARY
SOLVING MYSTERIES WITH CHEMISTRY
Our Grade 11 Chemistry students conducted a titration experiment to determine the amount of iron in an unknown compound. Using a solution of iron ions and bright purple manganate, they added the liquid drop by drop until a faint pink indicated the reaction was complete.
By measuring the exact amount needed, students calculated the compound’s composition. This hands-on activity taught them an essential analytical skill used in chemistry for testing water, medicines, and product safety.
COMBINE: FOOD WASTE REDUCTION WORKSHOP
On 27 November, the school hosted a food waste reduction workshop as part of the European COMBINE project. The session was led by the project researchers, Professors Iva Pires and Sónia Nobre, with contributions from our Chef Joana Xardoné and our nutritionist Sara Félix.
Through practical demonstrations and simple leftover-based recipes, families explored strategies to make better use of food and reduce waste in their daily routines. The session reflected the spirit of our community, marked by sharing, engagement and learning. Our sincere thanks to all who joined us.
COLLECTION OF GOODS
The Pre-school class “Descobridores”, while exploring and learning about children’s rights, came up with a very special and caring idea: to create a collection box to support children in need aged 3 to 8
This box, located at the entrance of the preschool, can hold various essential items such as clothing, socks, shoes, hats, and books. Every contribution, no matter how small it may seem, makes a big difference in a child’s life.
The Discoverers’ initiative reminds us that we can all help ensure children grow up with dignity, comfort, and access to what they need. Together, we can make the world a warmer and more welcoming place for them.
The collected items will be donated to an institution in Cascais.
CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX APPEAL: CARE TO SHARE
Aprendizes School is joining the annual holiday campaign Care to Share, running from 2 to 17 December. Families are invited to prepare a shoebox or gift bag filled with new toys, art materials or small surprises for a child.
By choosing an age and gender, each donation becomes a personal gesture of kindness. Contributions can be left at the school entrance.
CHRISTMAS CHARITY RAFFLE
We’re excited to share that our Christmas Charity Raffle – “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” is now live!
By purchasing a raffle ticket, you’ll be supporting the São Francisco de Assis Foundation, while also getting entries for daily prizes from the Advent Calendar and for the final grand prize, which will be drawn at the Christmas BioMarket on December 12th.
🎟 1 ticket = 2€
🎟🎟🎟 3 tickets = 5€
👉 You can buy your tickets from any 9th-grade student or directly from teachers João Ferreira and Rahma Amjad.
Your participation helps make a meaningful difference — and you might win something great along the way! Let’s support this wonderful cause together.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND FOOD COLLECTION
The school is participating in the “Christmas Stars” initiative and the “Friends at Hand” project, both organized by the Parish of Cascais, supporting children and families in need. We invite the community to donate gifts, clothes, toys, school supplies, or food items. Donations can be dropped off at school until December 10.
