Dear parents, guardians, and students,
In this week's newsletter, please find our latest updates and important information, including:
Parents’ Coffee Morning
Secondary Art & Design Exhibition
The LASA Tournament
Open Day for New Families
Aprendizes Got Talent
End of Year Arraial
Yearbook Pre-order
News from the Kitchen
Thinking, Creating and Taking Action
One of the things I love most about working in education is seeing how our students surprise us when we give them meaningful challenges. Time and again, they show us that they are capable of much more than simply absorbing knowledge. They question, create and act!
This was beautifully illustrated by our Grade 5, 6 and 7 students through the ReLIEable Museum. In a world shaped by misinformation, fake news and constantly shifting narratives, students invited us to pause and ask an important question: How do we know what is true? Through art, writing and critical inquiry, they explored disinformation and challenged visitors to reflect on truth, perception and the stories we choose to believe. The creativity, depth of thinking and courage on display were remarkable.
At the same time, our preschoolers showed us that understanding the world is only part of the equation. Changing it matters too. After exploring inclusion, our preschool students noticed that people using wheelchairs could face difficulties when cars parked along the pedestrian path outside our school. Rather than simply talking about the problem, they took action. They created and hung up wooden signs to remind drivers not to park there and help keep the pathway accessible to everyone. It was a small action with a powerful message: when we see something that is not right, we can do something about it.
The same spirit of curiosity was present during Africa Week. Students explored stories, cultures and perspectives from the PALOP countries, broadening their understanding of a continent that is far too often reduced to a single narrative. The more stories we encounter, the more nuanced our understanding of the world becomes. So our students went to the University of Coimbra to share their understanding of African Literature with university students.
These experiences remind me that education is not simply about what our students know. It is about helping them think critically, create boldly, understand different perspectives and believe that their actions matter.
And this week, our students did exactly that. I am very proud of them and our engaged teachers, staff and parents supporting them!
I would also like to invite our entire community to the opening of the Secondary Art Exhibition, which will take place on June 15 at 16:00. Come and celebrate the creativity, talent and artistic expression of our students through this special showcase of their work.
I also look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming Graduation Ceremonies, which begin tomorrow. Together, let us celebrate the growth, achievements and important milestones of our students as they complete another chapter of their learning journey.
Rikke
12 JUN | Parents Coffee Morning | Cafeteria | 08:45-09:45
12 JUN | Grade 4 Parents | Graduation Party + Sleepover | Library | 18:00
13 JUN | Grade 12 Parents | Graduation Party | Off Campus | 18:00
15 JUN | School Community | Secondary Art Exhibition Opening | 16:00-17:00
15 to 29 JUN | School Community | Art Exhibitions
16 JUN | For Grade 3 to Grade 6 | LASA Tournament Volleyball | 10:00-14:30
16 JUN | Salteadores | Field trip to Aldeia da Praia | 08:45-15:45
16 JUN | New parents | New Parents (26/27) Meeting | 17:00-18:00
17 JUN | For Grade 7 to Grade 10 | LASA Tournament Volleyball | 10:00-14:30
19 JUN | Open Day for New Families | Library | 09:00-10:30
19 JUN | Grade 8 Parents | Romeo and Juliet Theater | Tent | 10:30-11:30
19 JUN | Preschool Finalists | School Sleepover | 19:00
22 JUN | Primary Parents | Drama, Music and Art Presentation | Library | Four sessions: Grade 1 – 11:00-11:45; Grade 2 – 11:45-12:30; Grade 3 - 14:00-14:45; Grade 4 – 14:45-15:30
23 JUN | Grade 7 and + 1 group of Grade 8 | Field Trip to Museu da Presidência e Castelo de São Jorge | 08:45-17:00
24 a 25 JUN | School community | Bliss Concerts | Library | 16:00-18:30
24 JUN | Preschool Parents | Preschool Presentations | Amphitheatre | 09:30-12:00
24 JUN | Middle and Secondary Parents | iTeach
25 JUN | Grade 8 | Graduation Lunch | Tent | 13:10–14:10
25 JUN | End Extracurricular Activities
26 JUN | Primary Parents | Aprendizes Got Talent + House Event | 11:00-12:30
26 JUN | Middle & Secondary Parents | Aprendizes Got Talent + House Event | 14:30-17:00
26 JUN | School community | End of Year Arraial | 18:00
29 JUN | Grade 5 to Grade 9 (For students not attending School Camp) | APMUN (Aprendizes Model United Nations) | V1
29 JUN to 01 JUL | School Camp (For registered students)
01 to 17 JUL | Summer School Activities | 09:00-16:00 (The school opening hours will be from 08:30 to 17:00)
17 JUL | End of Summer School | 12:00
18 JUL | Vacations
PARENTS’ COFFEE MORNING
Tomorrow, 12 June 2026, Aprendizes will host a Parents’ Coffee Morning from 8:45 to 9:45. This informal session gives parents and staff the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss students’ development, while keeping up to date with school life and upcoming activities.
SECONDARY ART & DESIGN AND DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION
We are proud to announce our Secondary Art & Design and Design & Technology Exhibition, running from 15th to 29th June, with an opening ceremony at 16:00 on 15th June. All parents are invited. Celebrating the creative and technical achievements of our Grade 9 to 12 students, the exhibition features a diverse range of artwork and Design & Technology projects across IGCSE, AS, and A Level, reflecting the skill, dedication, and growth of our students.
LASA TOURNAMENT – VOLLEYBALL
The LASA Tournament – Volleyball takes place on 16–17 June! Parents from Primary, Middle and Secondary are warmly invited to come and support our teams. Join us to cheer, encourage and celebrate the sporting spirit together!
16 June – Grades 3 to 6 (Boys and Girls) – 10:00-14:30
17 June – Grades 7 to 10 (Boys and Girls) – 10:00-14:30
OPEN DAY FOR NEW FAMILIES
We are delighted to invite new families to our Open Day on June 19th, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. Come and meet our Principal and Pedagogic Coordinator, visit the section of your choice and discover our educational vision in action.
Registration is required. If you know families who might be interested, encourage them to contact the school — a few spots are still available in some classes!
APRENDIZES' GOT TALENT SHOW: HOUSE EVENT
We are excited to announce the Aprendizes' Got Talent Show: House Event, taking place on 26th June, with Primary starting at 11:00 and Middle & Secondary at 14:30. This celebration of student talent goes beyond the stage, with all ticket, food, and drink sales going directly to four charities supported by our Houses: Helpo, CASA Cascais, Cozinha com Alma, and Cascais Refood.
Tickets can be purchased from our Grade 9 Business students outside the main building on various days at collection time. Come together as a community, support our students, and make a real difference.
END OF YEAR ARRAIAL
The smell of grilled sardines, traditional music and great company are back! All parents should join us on 26 June from 6:00 pm to celebrate another school year with food, laughter, music and our usual festive spirit.
OUR 2025/26 YEARBOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
A true time capsule filled with memories, laughter, and the moments that defined our year. Secure your copy for 15€ - Pre-order here - and take home a lasting piece of our story. The yearbooks will be physically available at the school from next Tuesday onwards.
preschool
BUILDING A MORE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY
In the Investigadores class, a question about how wheelchair users travel by plane led to learning about accessibility and inclusion. After meeting Igor, a person who uses a wheelchair and hearing his story, students created awareness signs and distributed leaflets promoting responsible parking and accessible pavements.
PRIMARY
COOKING UP THE RECIPE FOR SERVICE LEARNING
During their Service Learning Workshop, 3B students prepared a cinnamon cake for the primary school snack. While helping their younger peers, they also applied mathematics skills by measuring ingredients and exploring concepts of mass and weight in a practical context.
MIDDLE
RELIEABLE MUSEUM: QUESTIONING TRUTH THROUGH STUDENT VOICES
The ReLIEable Museum, created by 5th–7th grade students in Portuguese and Art & Design, explores disinformation through words, visuals and critical thinking. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on truth, perception and the narratives we choose to believe. The exhibition remains open until 25 June, and all members of our community are warmly invited to visit and experience this thought-provoking showcase.
MIDDLE
GRADE 7 CREATIVITY EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
This year, Grade 7 students participated in the Amigos e Amigas do Brasil competition, organised by the Brazilian Embassy in Portugal. Among entries from schools nationwide, our students Lina Simpson and Mazie Larson achieved 3rd place with A Viagem do Ritmo, exploring samba and fado. The achievement reflects the enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication shown by the entire Grade 7 cohort this year.
The results were also featured in the newspaper Público — you can read the article here!
SECONDARY
SCIENCE IN MOTION: TRACKING THE HEART'S RESPONSE TO EXERCISE
Grade 9 students investigated how exercise affects heart rate through a cross-curricular Biology and PE project. By measuring pulse rates during activities, analysing data, and explaining results using biological concepts, they developed scientific inquiry skills through meaningful, real-world learning experiences.
A WEEK CELEBRATING AFRICA
Africa Week at Aprendizes celebrated African cultures through literature, cinema, music and art. Students participated in talks, workshops, film screenings, storytelling and collaborative projects, fostering intercultural dialogue, critical thinking and a deeper appreciation of Africa's diverse voices and traditions.
ACTION RESEARCH AT APRENDIZES
Once again this year, our teachers developed a wide range of inspiring Action Research projects, which were shared with colleagues throughout last Friday’s Inset Day. Aprendizes continues to be a living laboratory of continuous improvement, experimentation, and knowledge-sharing, always centred on our students and on how we can become even better educators.
This year’s projects included:
• ReLIEable: Fake News!
• Metacognition
• Transition from Pre-School
• Singapore Maths – Does it Improve Maths Problem Solving?
• Student-Centred Field Trips
• The House System
• Fun with Exams?!
NEWS FROM THE KITCHEN
INTERNATIONAL KITCHEN DAYS
17 Jun - Israel
25 Jun - Germany
