Dear parents, guardians, and students,
In this week's newsletter, please find our latest updates and important information, including:
Parents’ Coffee Morning
Student-Led Conferences
Open Day for New Families
School Camp
Biweekly e-mail for Middle and Secondary
Digital Well-Being and Safety Survey
Wait Until Later Pledge Update
News from the Library
News from the Kitchen
Dear Parents,
What a term it has been! Over the past weeks, I’ve been bursting with pride watching our students step out of their comfort zones and onto the stage - whether in classrooms, corridors, the library, or the theatre - to share their knowledge, skills, and creativity. From presentations to performances, they’ve shown us what it means to not just remember, understand, and apply, but to analyse, evaluate, and design. This is learning at its best, and it’s exactly what we strive as also the Bloom’s Learning Taxonomy also suggests.
A huge shout-out to everyone involved in our school play, As You Like It—a true milestone in our school’s history! The talent, teamwork, and dedication from our students, parents, and staff made it unforgettable. Thank you for bringing Shakespeare to life and creating magic on stage!
As we approach the break, I want to acknowledge our Grade 10, 11, and 12 students who are preparing for exams. You’ve got this! There are just two more weeks of school after the break, and we expect you all to be fully present so we can make sure you’re ready to shine. Study hard during the break, but also remember: spring is here, the weather is beautiful, so balance your time well between studying and relaxing.
Let’s take inspiration from the Wait Until Later movement—use this break for a digital detox, reconnect with each other, and soak up the beauty of nature. Explore, relax, and enjoy the little moments.
Wishing you all a wonderful, restful break. We’ve all earned it!
Warmly,
Rikke
If you know families who share our values, let them know we still have a few places available and invite them to visit us
27 MAR | Preschool | Egg Hunting | Vegetable Garden | 08:45-11:45
27 MAR | School Community | End of 2nd Term | 12:00 (Pre-school, Primary and Middle), 12:20 (Secondary)
30 MAR-10 APR | School Community | Easter Break
13 APR | School Community | Start of 3rd Term
13-17 APR | 9 Grade | Erasmus Mobility to Denmark
14 APR | Secondary | Beginning of Cambridge Language Speaking Exams | Village 2
14-17 APR | Middle and Secondary | NOVOMUN Porto
17 APR | Parents Coffee | Refectory | 8:45-9.45
20-22 APR | Secondary | Art Exams | Main Building
20-24 APR | Grade 8 and 9 | Hosting Erasmus German students
21 APR | Primary Students and Parents | Student-Led Conferences (Students, Teachers & Parents) | in-person in School
21 APR | Grade 9 | Field Trip Instituto Superior Técnico Lisboa | 08:00-16:30
22 APR | Grade 3 | Field Trip Livraria Poets and Dragons | 09:30-12:30
22 APR | Grade 12 | Lunch Graduating Class | Tent | 12:20-14:00
22 APR | DofE Award Ceremony | Library | 17:00
PARENTS’ COFFEE MORNING
On Friday, 17 April 2026, Aprendizes will host a Parents’ Coffee Morning from 8:45 to 9:45. This informal gathering offers a welcoming space for open conversation, idea sharing, and discussion about students’ progress, while strengthening communication and staying connected about upcoming school activities and events.
STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES
Primary Student-Led Conferences will take place in person at school, with parents and the teacher, on April 21st, 2026.These 30-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. Please note that there will be no primary classes that day.
Booking details and all key information will be shared by email.
OPEN DAY FOR NEW FAMILIES
We are delighted to invite new families to our Open Day on April 24th, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. Come and meet our Head of School and Academic Director, 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!
REGISTRATIONS OPEN – SCHOOL CAMP
Registrations for the School Camp are open until April 24. Enrollment must be completed via the form sent by email. The camp is for students from 1st to 8th grade and will take place at Campo Aventura de Óbidos:
1st–2nd grade: June 29–30
3rd–8th grade: June 29–July 1
Full details are available in the email sent. Limited spots available.
BIWEEKLY COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS – MIDDLE AND SECONDARY
From the third term onwards, e-mail communication with parents of Middle and Secondary will be sent on a biweekly basis.
TOGETHER FOR A WEEK FULL OF STORIES
Aprendizes celebrated Book Week with activities across all grades, including student book displays, a banned books exhibition, creative writing, theatre performances, storytelling sessions, and an author visit. The week ended with a whole-school reading rave, bringing the community together to celebrate the joy of reading.
A TOURNAMENT FULL OF SPIRIT AND DEDICATION
Our girls’ basketball and boys’ football teams from grades 3–10 shone at the LASA tournament, showing dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Special congratulations to our 3rd and 4th grade girls’ basketball team for taking first place — a fantastic achievement that shines alongside the incredible effort of all our teams!
MIDDLE
A MODERN TWIST ON "AS YOU LIKE IT"
Students from Grades 5–7 performed a modern version of As You Like It at SMUP on 20th March. The Middle School Drama Club delivered two excellent shows, showcasing creativity, teamwork, and dedication. Their hard work resulted in engaging performances that brought a fresh, lively perspective to Shakespeare’s classic.
MIDDLE
CREATIVITY ON DISPLAY: MIDDLE ART EXHIBITION
Middle School students showcased drawings, experiments, and ideas developed throughout the year, highlighting creativity, persistence, and learning through making. The exhibition opened with a choir performance and ran for one week.
SECONDARY
CELEBRATING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AT MUN
Over the weekend, our students earned top honours at the regional MUN, winning Best Speaker in the Economic and Social Council and Best Delegate in the Security Council. Their skill, dedication, and confidence showcased our school’s commitment to academic excellence and leadership.
GRADE 10 STUDENTS COMPLETE MORRISBY VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT
Grade 10 students completed the Morrisby vocational assessment, analysing aptitudes, interests, and personality traits. From 2 March, they began one-to-one feedback sessions with teacher Victor Felippe. With this guidance, students interpret results to support A Level choices and future pathways, fostering self-awareness and informed decision-making.
DIGITAL WELL-BEING AND SAFETY SURVEY
Our Digital Well-being and Safety committee is conducting a survey with Middle and Secondary students during SER classes, guided by teacher Victor Felippe, to understand their digital habits. We would also appreciate your input. Please take a moment to complete the survey. Thank you for your support!
WAIT UNTIL LATER PLEDGE UPDATE
In the past two weeks we (the Parents Digital Wellbeing Committee) launched our Wait Until Later pledge, and the response has been nothing short of amazing:
Out of the 29 classes from Preschool to 9th Grade which were eligible, 15 have already activated! More than 50% of the classes have at least 8 families committed to delaying smartphones and social media for their kids!
Those include the entirety of 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, with 2nd and 7th grade very close to full activation as well.
Those add up to ~220 students (~40%)
This is nothing short of amazing. If you haven't signed the pledge but are still considering:
Don't feel pressured, but do feel encouraged
Look through the slides from Dr Silja Litvin's presentation explaining the science behind it
If you're ready, join us by signing the pledge
For the ones who signed, here's what's next:
In the next few days, the parents of classes who signed will receive an email, as a group, informing them of the status and of who else signed. Classes can then self-organize
The email will also include a link to join the Wait Until Later WhatsApp Group that's part of the broader Healthy Digital Childhood Alliance, encompassing several schools in the Cascais area. In that group, we'll share resources, tips for screen-free activities and announce events for people interested in this.
This is only a first step, but it creates the foundation of support for us to change the standard in our school community, redefining a new normal for personal device and social media use. Expect more activities and announcements on this front soon. Let's go!
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY
As George R. R. Martin said, reading allows us to live many lives. Inspired by this idea, the library is launching a project this month, with the help of Father Allan Nascimento, to encourage reading, featuring books selected for all year groups.
Visit the library and discover our suggestions. You can also use the Reader Support Service: tell us what you enjoy reading or what you are curious to explore, and we will recommend the ideal book for you. Contact: library@aprendizes.pt.
