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
- Workshop | Screens: It’s Complicated
- Coffee Morning with Parents
- 3-Way Conferences
- Bio Market | São Martinho Edition
Practical Information
- Reminder: Trunk or Treat is Tomorrow!
- Trick-or-Read: Books for the Half-Term Break
- Head Lice Prevention - Take Advantage of the Break!
- Lost & Found Donations - Check Before the Break!
- Car Park and Kiss & Go Zone Rules
Best Practices
- Outdoor Painting
- Mascot Project: Learning, Caring and Sharing
- Real Scientists in Grade 5
- Visit to Casa Fernando Pessoa
Act Together
- Combine Project: Final Results Presented at Aprendizes
- Campaign for Xavier: an Invitation to our Community
-  Getting to School Sustainably
- News from the Kitchen

The Art of Saying NO

On boundaries, brave parenting and little Halloween monsters

Halloween is approaching, and I suspect many of our children are already planning their costumes, practising their spooky looks and preparing their best arguments for why they really, really need just one more piece of candy. Meanwhile, parents are preparing for the annual negotiation: how much sugar is too much sugar, and who will be awake at midnight?

Jokes aside, parenting often involves another kind of trick-or-treat: knowing when to say YES and when to say NO. Our children are usually very clear about what they want. More sweets, a phone, more screen time, another online game or a later bedtime. They can be wonderfully persuasive when they have a goal in mind! But while our children know what they want, we have the responsibility to consider what they need.

At Aprendizes, we sometimes refer to the four parenting styles: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and neglectful. The authoritative style offers an important balance: clear boundaries and high expectations combined with warmth, respect and responsiveness. It is neither about controlling every decision nor allowing children to decide everything for themselves. It is about giving them voice and choice while providing the sturdy leadership they need.

Being a loving parent does not mean always saying YES. Sometimes, love means having the courage to say NO.

I see many parents struggling to set boundaries, and I also see how this can become a challenge for our students. When children are not used to hearing NO, accepting limits, dealing with disappointment and taking responsibility can become difficult. This is not about blaming parents. Raising children is hard work, and we all get it wrong sometimes. But clear, consistent boundaries are a gift we give our children.

This is particularly relevant when we think about screen time and online gaming. It can be tempting to avoid the arguments and give in, especially when everyone is tired. That is why I am looking forward to the parent workshop Bruno Bergher will be holding, "Screens: It's Complicated". It will be a valuable opportunity to reflect together on how we can guide our children towards a healthy relationship with technology, balancing their growing independence with the boundaries they still need from us.

Our children also need to experience friction. They need to discover that not everything comes easily, that disappointment is part of life and that they cannot always get what they want. Our role is not to remove every obstacle from their path, but to walk alongside them as they learn to navigate it. When your child is upset because you have said NO, you can acknowledge their feelings without changing your decision. Listen, show empathy and offer choices within the limits you set. Resist the temptation to solve every problem for them. Sometimes, children need us to sit beside them, trust them and let them work through the difficulty themselves.

So, as we head into the autumn half-term break, let us remember that kindness is not the absence of boundaries, and leadership is not the absence of love. Our children need both. I wish all our families a wonderful autumn holiday! Enjoy the slower mornings, time together, outdoor adventures and, of course, a little Halloween fun. And if you find yourself negotiating over the last piece of candy, remember: even the most persuasive little monsters need a grown-up who can hold the line!

Sunny regards,

Rikke

Pre-School

Primary

Middle

Secondary

Whole Community

COMMUNITY

WORKSHOP | SCREENS: IT’S COMPLICATED

A practical talk and open conversation – from parents, for parents. Open to the whole community: feel free to bring family and friends.

Worried about screens, but tired of being told you’re getting it wrong? So are we. The Digital Well-being and Safety Committee invites parents to a workshop with honest facts and practical, real-life ideas you can put into action. Research shows that habits can change quickly once a plan is in place, so come along and let’s talk about it together.

Tuesday 3 November | 8:45–9:45 | Library
Wednesday 4 November | 16:30–17:30 | Library

Community

COFFEE MORNING WITH PARENTS

On Friday 6 November, from 08:45 to 10:00, we will host another Parents’ Coffee Morning with our Principal and Head Teachers in the school refectory. Parents from all sections are very welcome to join us.

It’s a chance to strengthen the dialogue between families and the school, share ideas and stay up to date with upcoming activities and events. We look forward to seeing you there!

3-WAY CONFERENCES

SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, 11 November

Our 3-Way Conference Day is coming! This is a moment for our students to take charge of their learning. Each student will share their own reflection on how they are doing, both academically and beyond the classroom, and set the goals they want to achieve in the coming months.

It is a time to reflect together, with parents and head teachers by their side, because learning is a shared journey.

Please note there will be no lessons (for Primary, Middle and Secondary) on this day, and parents will have the opportunity to request childcare if needed. Parents will receive more information by email.

BIO MARKET | SÃO MARTINHO EDITION

Friday, 13 November | 16:15–18:00 | The Tent

The second Bio Market of 2026/27 takes its theme from São Martinho, with pumpkins and chestnuts on the tables. As in every edition, parents, students and staff run stalls alongside producers from outside the school, while students manage their own, choosing what to sell and setting their own prices. Expect organic and local produce, handmade and second-hand goods, food prepared by our students, music and plenty of people to catch up with.

Registrations

To book a stall, please fill in the form by Tuesday, 3 November, at 18:00.
Submitting the form does not guarantee a place. Confirmations will be sent by email on Thursday, 5 November, and your stall is only secured once you receive one. As space is limited, stalls will be allocated based on the order of registration and on the diversity and creativity of the products proposed.

Participation fee

€4 per vendor, or €2 for students. The fee is fully reinvested in running the Bio Market and must be paid in advance at the school office by Tuesday, 10 November. Stalls cannot be held without prior payment.

For visitors

You don’t need a stall to join in. Come along, wander through the tent, taste, chat and take something home.

Questions

Write to biomarket@aprendizes.pt

REMINDER: TRUNK OR TREAT IS TOMORROW!

Get your costumes ready, because tomorrow, Friday 23 October, we’ll be celebrating Halloween with our much-loved Trunk or Treat! Families taking part, don’t forget to bring your decorated car trunks.

Car Organisation

To keep everything running smoothly, please remember that cars will enter by section:

  
      Time
      Activity
      Section
    
      9:10
      Car entry
      Pre-School
    
      9:40–10:25
      Trunk or Treat
      Pre-School
    
      10:30
      Car entry
      Primary
    
      11:00–11:45
      Trunk or Treat
      Primary
    
      11:50
      Car entry
      Middle School
    
      12:20–13:05
      Trunk or Treat
      Middle School

Middle School

The fun continues in the afternoon with a Halloween party in the Refectory!

Secondary School – Spirit Week

Our Secondary students will close Spirit Week tomorrow with Class Costumes. We can’t wait to see what each class has prepared!

See you tomorrow for a morning of spooky fun!

TRICK-OR-READ: BOOKS FOR THE HALF-TERM BREAK

The Aprendizes library invites the whole community to celebrate Halloween with a good book! For this half-term break, we have put together a bilingual reading list in Portuguese and English, full of stories guaranteed to send shivers down your spine and spark your imagination.

The selection is organised by age, from 9 years old through to adult readers, and brings together classics such as Dracula, 1984 and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes with newer titles like The Monsters of Rookhaven. There is something for every taste: mystery, adventure, fantasy and a few frights along the way.

Make the most of the holidays to discover a new book, on your own or with the family. Happy reading!

HEAD LICE PREVENTION - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BREAK!

As we head into the break, we encourage all parents to take a moment to check their children’s hair and, if needed, carry out a preventive treatment. Regular checks with a fine comb or the use of suitable home treatments help keep everyone protected. Thank you for your cooperation and care!

LOST & FOUND DONATIONS - CHECK BEFORE THE BREAK!

Please note that all Lost & Found items will be donated during the school break.
We encourage everyone to check the designated area before the holidays begin to recover any missing belongings.

Thank you for helping us give these items a new home!

CAR PARK AND KISS & GO ZONE RULES

Below are the rules for using the Car Park and the Kiss & Go zone for student drop-off and pick-up.

The rules set out, for each school stage, where students should be dropped off and collected, as well as the general rules for the Kiss & Go zone.

We kindly ask you to read the information and help ensure it is followed, by clarifying things for families whenever you are asked or whenever a situation arises day to day.

Drop-off

Students may be dropped off in the Kiss & Go zone or in the main car park, depending on their school section:

Pre-School, Primary and grade 5 and 6: parents may use the Kiss & Go area or park in the main car park before accompanying their children through the school’s main entrance.
Middle (grade 7 and 8) and Secondary: students must be dropped off in the main car park and enter through the side gate.

PICK-UP

Students are collected from different points, depending on their school stage:

Pre-School: students are collected at the Pre-School gate. Parents of these students must use the main car park or the public parking areas outside the school; the Kiss & Go zone cannot be used.
Primary and Middle (grade 5 and 6): students are collected at the school’s main entrance. Parents of these students may use the Kiss & Go area.
Middle (grade 7 and 8) and Secondary: students leave through the side gate and are collected in the main car park.

Kiss and Go Zone – General Rules

In the Kiss & Go zone, both at drop-off and collection:

Do not park.
Do not get out of the car.
Follow the flow to the traffic to the end of the queue.

If parents need to walk their child into the school, go to the school office or deal with any other matter, they should use the main car park (central lane) or the public parking areas outside the school.

Safety

Please do not park on the pavements: it puts pedestrians at risk, blocks access and increases the risk of accidents.

Thank you all for helping us keep arrivals and departures organised and safe. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

Thank you for your cooperation.

OUTDOOR PAINTING

Students in the Salteadores Room made the most of the warm start to autumn by painting outdoors. They created a collective painting while listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. They tried out different tools and ways of painting: rollers, brushes, fly swatters, toothbrushes, bottle brushes and sponges. A moment of discovery, full of colour and music.

MASCOT PROJECT: LEARNING, CARING AND SHARING

Grade 1C has a new friend: Floppy! Through the Mascot Project, we aim to help children develop responsibility, independence and empathy, while bringing the class closer together.

Every Friday, Floppy goes home with a different pupil for the weekend and joins in the family’s adventures. By looking after her, children learn to take on responsibility. By recording these moments through drawings, photos and short stories, they build creativity, language and communication skills. And by sharing them with their classmates, they learn to listen to and respect others.

A project that brings school and families together, because learning is also about caring, sharing and growing together!

REAL SCIENTISTS IN GRADE 5

This week, Grade 5 students stepped into the role of biologists in a heart and lung dissection lab. Working in small groups, they examined real specimens to see how the circulatory and respiratory systems work. Before starting, they put on lab coats and gloves and followed real safety procedures.
For many, this was their first time experiencing an authentic laboratory setting: gowned up, following protocol, and seeing science happen in their own hands rather than in a textbook.

VISIT TO CASA FERNANDO PESSOA

Grade 10A and 10B students of Portuguese First Language visited Casa Fernando Pessoa. They learnt about the poet’s life, work and heteronyms. They also took part in the “Máquina do Devaneio” (Daydream Machine) workshop, where they explored connections between the period and Pessoa’s writing. The visit was accompanied by teachers Ana Rocha, Bárbara Dória and Victor Felippe.

COMBINE PROJECT: FINAL RESULTS PRESENTED AT APRENDIZES

On 19 October, we hosted the presentation of the final results of COMBINE, an EU-funded project exploring ways to reduce food waste in Portugal, France, Finland and Italy. Aprendizes was the project’s partner school in Portugal.

For more than a year, researchers Iva Pires and Sónia Nobre (NOVA FCSH) worked with our canteen and some of our families. The results show that participating families cut their household food waste by 33%, and students’ readiness to waste less rose from 58% to 78%. Aprendizes also started with the lowest level of food waste of the three participating schools, and the session highlighted our next steps: working on portion sizes and the canteen menu.

Thank you to all the families and staff who made this project possible!

CAMPAIGN FOR XAVIER: AN INVITATION TO OUR COMMUNITY

Xavier is 4 years old and the brother of one of our students. He lives with a neurological condition that significantly affects his development, and his family has launched a campaign to give him access to an intensive neurorehabilitation programme in the United States.

The family has shared Xavier’s story with us and asked the Aprendizes community to help it reach more people. More than a request for financial support, it is an invitation to get to know Xavier. Every share helps give the campaign more visibility.

To find out more, visit the official website, instagram, the GoFundMe campaign.

Thank you to everyone who joins this journey!

GETTING TO SCHOOL SUSTAINABLY

Leaving the car at home is a simple way to look after the planet, and there are more and more ways to get to our school.

By bus: the MobiCascais M45 school bus line passes by our school. This circular route connects Malveira da Serra, Torre and Cidadela and runs on weekdays. You can check the route and timetable here: M45 Timetable 2026. Young people up to the age of 23 (inclusive) travel for free with the Navegante pass.

By bike: families who would like to explore cycling to school can contact Susanne Haefeli-Hestvik at haefelihestvik@gmail.com.

Every journey counts!

NEWS FROM THE KITCHEN

INTERNATIONAL DAYS IN THE KITCHEN:
27 NOV | United States of America

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