Dear parents, guardians, and students,

In this week's newsletter, please find our latest updates and important information, including:

A Message from the Principal
Upcoming Events
- Humanities week
- Student-Led Conferences
- Carnival celebrations
- Parents’ workshop: Behaviour, Emotions & Education
- Parents’ workshop: Roots & Wings: belonging beyond borders
- Parents’ coffee morning
- Wait Until Later movement launch
Practical Information
- Re-enrolment deadline
- Openapply: new admissions platform
- Free school clubs
Best Practices
Act Together
- Donation drive
- No Phone School awareness campaign
- News from the kitchen

Secure your place!
The re-enrolment period is open until 16 February.

re-enrolment

Role Models Wanted (Chill Pills Optional)

Dear parents and guardians,

Let me start with a small confession. As a principal, I am quite often shocked by the behaviour I witness or hear about in and around school life. Not from our students (they are still learning), but from us adults - the fully grown, supposedly emotionally regulated role models.

I am referring to situations during pick-up and drop-off where communication can sometimes become less respectful than we would like. I am also referring to the tone occasionally used in WhatsApp groups, as well as to frequent weekend messaging to staff when matters feel urgent. In some instances, this has also extended to communication that may be perceived as pressuring or threatening towards the school.

This is concerning.

For a teacher to receive a nasty email on a Saturday evening can easily ruin their entire weekend. And while most of these situations eventually land on my desk (which has resulted in me developing a rather impressive layer of Teflon), it does not mean that they do not matter. They do. Deeply.

Sometimes I honestly wish someone would invent a magic chill pill. One that we could take when emotions are running high. Because while we, as a school, work every day to teach children how to regulate their emotions, we as adults around them should have learned this skill by now. And if we have not, then we need to actively work on it. Pause. Breathe. Step away from the keyboard. Find strategies to calm ourselves when emotions rush in.

This was exactly the core message of Melania Von Muhlen during the workshop Behaviour, Emotions and Education. As parents, we need to work on ourselves to be able to support our children. The same goes for all educators.
Why? Because when you are close to the school - as a parent or as a staff member - it is not only your own child who is watching you. We have nearly 600 children observing how you behave. They notice if you say good morning with a smile. If you are kind and respectful. If you follow drop-off rules. If you arrive on time. If you use your phone responsibly in a school striving to be phone-free. If your messages and emails are written with respect.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, we have to be the change we want to see.
And if, while reading this, you find yourself thinking of someone who might benefit from this message but may not read this email, please feel free to pass it on - kindly and respectfully, of course. Sometimes we all need a gentle reminder from our community.
So, if you recognise yourself in the shouting, less polite gestures, or the disrespectful emails, or if you are just curious to know more about this topic, please see this as an invitation, not a judgement. Join the next workshop with Melania Von Muhlen on February 24th from 16:15–17:30 in the Library.

Additionally, we invite you to the workshop with our psychologist Luísa Heitor: Roots & Wings: Belonging Beyond Borders on March 3rd, 8:45–10:00 in the Library. Practical, age-inclusive ways parents can nurture connection, resilience, and emotional safety at home and in school life.

Let’s model the behaviour we hope to see in our children.

Warm regards,
The Principal

HUMANITIES WEEK

Humanities Week will take place from 9 to 13 February. This event highlights subjects such as history, sociology, psychology, helping students understand societies, cultures and global challenges.

It encourages critical thinking, creativity and reflection, supporting students in developing knowledge and skills that help them better understand the world around them.

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES

Middle and Secondary Student-Led Conferences will take place in person at school, to parents and teacher, on Wednesday, 11 February 2026.

These 15-minute meetings give students the opportunity to lead the conversation, share their learning journey since the 3-Way Conferences, and reflect on their next steps in Academic learning, Engagement, and Personal Development.Please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in.

Booking details and all key information will be shared by email.

CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS

Carnival celebrations will take place this year on Friday the 13th. The day will begin with a Pre-School and Primary Parade at school, from 9:30 to 10:30. Parents are warmly invited to join us and celebrate this joyful moment together.

In the afternoon, Middle School students will enjoy their Carnival celebration in the canteen, from 14:20 to 15:50. This part of the celebration is for students only.

Further details and practical information will be sent by email.

BEHAVIOUR, EMOTIONS & EDUCATION
by Melanie Von Muhlen

February 24th from 16:15–17:30, this is a second opportunity for parents to learn more about children’s behaviour and development.

This free workshop explores how behaviour is shaped by the body, nervous system, and early experiences, helping parents understand emotions, behavioural patterns, and how their responses influence children.

It will also share practical ways to set boundaries and support strong emotions. The workshop will be led in English.

ROOTS & WINGS: BELONGING BEYOND BORDERS

Roots & Wings: Belonging Beyond Borders is a workshop on supporting children’s sense of belonging in an international community, led by Luísa Heitor, our School Psychologist | Aprendizes.

The session will explore why belonging is essential for emotional well-being, how it evolves from early years to adolescence, and practical ways parents can foster connection, resilience and emotional safety at home and in school life. The workshop will be held in English. March 3, at 8:45 at the Library.

PARENTS’ COFFEE MORNING

On Friday, 6 March 2026, Aprendizes will host a Parents’ Coffee Morning from 8:45 to 9:30.

This informal session gives parents and staff the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and talk about students’ development, while keeping up to date with school life and upcoming activities.

WAIT UNTIL LATER MOVEMENT LAUNCH

Join us for a practical, hopeful session led by Dr Silja Litvin from www.healthydigitalchildhoodalliance.com who will be introducing the Wait Until Later movement and how schools and parent communities are successfully delaying smartphone access.

We will explore setting healthy boundaries, using technology intentionally, and protecting children’s innate talents from the attention economy and persuasive design. Learn what is working elsewhere, and how our parent community can easily implement this together, supporting one another along the way. March 12, 2026 16:30 to 18:00 at the Library.

RE-ENROLMENT DEADLINE

Secure your spot for the next school year! Complete the process by filling out this form by February 16th. Please note that after the 16th, we will no longer be able to guarantee a place for your child for the next academic year, as we currently have an extensive waiting list of interested new families. All details and instructions have also been sent by email, on January 15th.

Thinking of enrolling another child?

If you’re considering enrolling another child at our school, please contact our Admissions team. We’re happy to assist you and guide you through every step of the process.

OPENAPPLY – NEW ADMISSIONS PLATFORM

Starting in early March, the school will begin using the OpenApply platform as the single system for admissions.

Parents will be invited to access the platform and will receive an email with the necessary instructions in good time.

OpenApply will centralize and simplify administrative processes.

FREE SCHOOL CLUBS

Discover, learn and get involved!

We offer a variety of free clubs that support learning and students’ interests, including academic and creative activities. Clubs take place outside lesson time and students may choose those they wish to join.
You can check the schedules here.

PRESCHOOL

RAIN CAN’T STOP THE FUN!

Our preschoolers put on their boots and coats and ran outside to splash, jump, and explore the puddles across the playground.

Watching them, it’s clear that playtime doesn’t need to stop just because the weather isn’t sunny. Each puddle became an adventure, each splash a moment of discovery.

primary

EXPLORING SPACES, SOLVING PROBLEMS

Class 4A has been busy carrying out measurements and calculations to determine the lengths, widths, and consequently the areas and perimeters of the school’s classrooms and corridors!

Recent storms had affected our classroom, and we were called upon to help replace some materials such as windows, carpets, and we even considered changing the flooring!

It was a dynamic and fun activity that sparked the students’ curiosity, and everyone eagerly got involved, putting their hands to work.

MIDDLE

TURNING TALES INTO MELODIES

Our 5th-grade students recently took part in an exciting project on traditional tales. Working in groups, they read and summarized a story, discovering its key themes and messages.

But the creativity didn’t stop there! Inspired by the tale, the students wrote the lyrics of a song based on the story. Using a music creation platform, they then added melodies, bringing their stories to life in a completely new way.

SECONDARY

CHARITY RAFFLE RAISED €1,542 FOR LOCAL FOUNDATION

Grade 9 Business students at Aprendizes organized a Christmas Charity Raffle, successfully raising 1,542 euros for the São Francisco de Assis Foundation.

Through planning, promotion, and teamwork, students applied entrepreneurial skills while supporting animal welfare. To conclude the project, the group visited the foundation to personally deliver the funds and learn about its work caring for animals in need.

WINTER ADVENTURES IN SIERRA NEVADA

A group of students from grades 8 to 12 had a great winter trip to Sierra Nevada.

Although the weather conditions were not the most favourable, this group proved to be strong and resilient, even when things did not happen as expected. Nevertheless, they created very positive and meaningful experiences.

Their spirit and perseverance never wavered as they explored the city, visited a local arcade, enjoyed movie nights, and made the most of snow play, sledding, and skiing and snowboarding under supervision.

ERASMUS+ IN CZECHIA

Our Grade 8 students recently embarked on an unforgettable Erasmus+ journey to Czechia, marking the second step in a two-part project that began last term when Aprendizes welcomed students from our partner school, Scioskola, in Hradec Králové, Czechia.

Together, both groups are co-creating a school policy proposal for the use of Artificial Intelligence—an ambitious project that encourages critical thinking, responsibility, and international collaboration.

DONATION DRIVE

Last week, the Leiria region was severely affected by extreme weather caused by Storm Kristin, which led to widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and essential services. Many families continue to face significant losses and urgent needs, and several solidarity initiatives have been launched to support those affected.

Our school is organising a donation drive to support these families in need. This initiative is being led by students from 5A and 6A as part of their Global Perspectives class. The school community is invited to donate essential goods until the morning of 6 February.

All donations will be delivered to Caritas of Leiria, which will distribute them to families who need support. Every contribution makes a difference.

NO PHONE SCHOOL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

In order to continue the work already developed through the No Phone School initiative and to mark Safer Internet Day, which will take place on 10 February, we have launched an awareness campaign that will be visible throughout the school.

This campaign was developed by parent Bruno Bergher, to whom we extend our sincere thanks for his valuable contribution and support.

NEWS FROM THE KITCHEN

INTERNATIONAL DAYS IN THE KITCHEN

GET TO KNOW OUR MENU

Day 10 - México
Day 26 - Ukrania