Dear Team,
In this week's newsletter, please find our latest updates and important information, including:
Coffee Morning with Parents
Book Launch: Navegando o Luto Infantil
Family Picnic and Try Out Day
University Information Sessions
Join Us at the Languages Bio Market
PTSO Meeting (Parents, Teachers and Students Organization)
World Car Free Day
News from the Kitchen
WELCOME BACK - AND WELCOME TO OUR NEW FAMILIES
It makes me genuinely happy to have all our students back at Aprendizes. The school is alive again - full of familiar faces, smiles, conversations and energy. It is also wonderful to see many parents at our Parents Meetings. Thank you for being there and for engaging with us.
I am especially proud to see how our older students are welcoming our new students. They are making space, starting conversations and helping others feel at home. And I am equally happy to see our new students arriving with curiosity and openness, ready to take on this new adventure and connect with others.
The same is true of our staff. It makes me proud to see new colleagues being welcomed into our community. A smile, an invitation or a simple "come and join us" can make a big difference.
And I would like to call on all our parents to do the same.
Please reach out and welcome our new families into your parent communities. Invite them for a coffee or playdate, organise a class picnic or simply start a conversation. We all need to feel that we belong.
There are already opportunities to connect: Parents Coffee tomorrow, Friday, from 8:45-10:00 in the Refectory, and our Family Picnic and Introduction to Extracurricular Activities on Saturday, September 19, from 10:00-14:00.
These weeks we are also electing student and parent representatives for each class. Once elected, we will share the names. On September 29, from 16:00-17:30, they will meet with school leadership to explore together what we can do to make Aprendizes even better.
A new beginning
The start of a school year is also a good moment to reflect on our habits: getting enough sleep, eating well, arriving on time, being prepared for learning, bringing the right materials and respecting our phone-free learning environment.
It is also a moment to think about how we get to school. As a school that educates for change, can we walk, cycle, use public transport or carpool? With more cars around school, we all have a part to play. What small change can you make?
Thank you all for being back with us - for the hugs, smiles and kind words. It is wonderful to have you here.
Sunny regards,
Rikke
About this space
This space is for colleagues, by colleagues — it’s not from the management, it’s from the team, for the team. It’s about valuing what we are together, recognizing the effort, care, and presence. If you’d like to thank a colleague, this is the place. It will be published in the next newsletter.
Shout out
A big thank you to Coach Dimitri Athanasopoulos, Rodrigo Cardoso, Kike Garrido, Marcelo Rocha, Verônica Barbieri and the kitchen team for planning such a lovely teambuilding and happy hour. (From TfD)
We're very grateful to Ricardo Limão and the maintenance team for keeping our school beautiful with all the work and construction upgrades. (From TfD)
A big thank you to Eunice Maia, our HoS and HoD, and the entire team for welcoming our new staff so warmly. (From TfD)
Many thanks to all who participated in the library textbook distribution. Your patience and flexibility helped us during these dark times. A special appreciation goes to the colleagues who were held hostage: Elizabeth Nash, Victor Felippe, Diogo Santos, Rodrigo Cardoso, Patrick O'Siochrú, Daniela Noivo, Helen Bacchus, João Covita, João Ferreira, Zeineb Mathlouthi. (From Frederico Soares)
UPDATES
WELCOME TO THE TEAM!
We are very happy to welcome our new colleagues to Aprendizes and start this new school year together. We receive you with great excitement, joy and anticipation for everything we will build and share as a team.
A very warm welcome to:
Lorena Hungria — Communication Assistant
Patrick O'Siochru — Middle School History Teacher
Carolina Castelo-Branco — Primary Teacher
Peter Morrell — Primary Drama and Music Teacher
Margarida Dias — Primary Co-teacher
José Arnaldo — Primary Co-teacher
Marina Haroutounian — Primary/Middle Art Teacher
Izabela Santos — Secondary Maths Teacher
Dario Vaccaro — Secondary Physics Teacher
Diana Vitis — Secondary Humanities Teacher
To the whole Aprendizes team: let’s make sure our new colleagues feel welcomed, supported and at home from day one. Say hello, lend a hand, share what you know and help them discover what makes our community so special.
We are delighted to have you with us. Welcome to Aprendizes!
RECRUIT
WE’RE LOOKING FOR A NEW:
IT, ICT & Computer Science Teacher for Middle and Secondary
If you know someone who might be interested, please let us know.
Personal Data Update
We kindly ask you to complete the personal data update form through the link below.
Data update form
This form is used to update your information in the 2026/27 staff records. The data is processed by the administrative/finance department for personnel management, preparation of declarations, and compliance with legal obligations.
Completion is mandatory and must be done by 15/09, as this information affects payroll processing.
Please also find attached the "health form", which is also mandatory to complete.
Health form
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
PARKING INFORMATION
We remind everyone that staff may use the parking area on a rotating basis.
You can check the schedule here, and it is always posted in the staff room.
Please note: Staff can only park in the right and middle lanes, while the left lane is always reserved for parents.
Primary
15 SEP | Year 2 Parents' Meeting | Library & Classroom | 16:00–18:00
17 SEP | Year 1 Parents' Meeting | Library & Classroom | 16:00–18:00
18 SEP | House Sports – Girls Football / Boys Basketball | 13:20–13:55
23 SEP | Primary Student Council | TBC
2 OCT | Primary Student Council | Library | 08:45–09:45
9 OCT | House Sports – Cross Country | 13:20–13:55
Middle
11 SEP | House Sports – Girls Football / Boys Basketball (Class assembly with HT) | 13:30–14:10
16 SEP | Assembly | Student Council Campaigning | Village 1 | 14:10–15:00
25–26 SEP | Duke of Edinburgh Hike – Bronze & Silver
30 SEP | Student Council Election | Village 1 | 14:10–15:00
8–10 OCT | Duke of Edinburgh – Final Journey – Bronze & Silver
15 OCT | Performance Arts Showcase | Years 7 & 8
16 OCT | House Sports – Cross Country (House assembly Middle) | 13:30–14:10
16 OCT | PAMUN – Park Internacional School
Secondary
16 SEP | Student Council | Village 2 | 12:20–13:10
21 SEP | University Information Session for Secondary Students and Parents | Library | 16:00–17:00
25–26 SEP | Duke of Edinburgh Hike – Bronze & Silver
28 SEP | Cambridge Retake Exams Begin
30 SEP | Student Council Election | Amphitheatre | 12:20–13:10
2 OCT | House Sports – Cross Country | 13:30–14:10
8–10 OCT | Duke of Edinburgh – Final Journey – Bronze & Silver
16 OCT | PAMUN – Park Internacional School
Whole Community
11 SEP | Parents Coffee | Cafeteria | 08:45–09:45
15 SEP | Book Launch – Navegando o Luto Infantil by Júlia Jalbut | Library | 18:00–19:00
19 SEP | Whole Community Picnic & Extracurricular Activities Try-Out Day | 10:00–14:00
25 SEP | Languages BioMarket Day | Tent | 16:15–18:00
29 SEP | PTSO Meeting (Parents, Teachers and Students Organization) | Library | 16:00–17:00
1 OCT | Start Extracurricular Activities | 16:00–18:00
2 OCT | Parents Coffee | Cafeteria | 08:45–09:45
6 OCT | PO (Parents Organisation) Meeting | Meeting Room | 16:00–17:00
13 OCT | Book Club "Debaixo de Água" de Tara Menon | 18:30-20:00
Staff
25 SEP | House Sports – Any Sport | 13:30–14:10
7 OCT | House Meeting + Happy Hour | Library | 17:00–19:00
9–10 OCT | Action Research Program | Library
13 OCT | Nordic Education: Learning from Erasmus | Library | 17:30–19:00
23 OCT | House Sports – Any Sport | 13:30–14:10
COFFEE MORNING WITH PARENTS
Tomorrow, 11 September, our school will host another Breakfast with Parents, from 08:45 to 09:45.
This moment promotes dialogue between families and the school, encouraging the sharing of ideas and the follow-up of upcoming school activities and events.
Community
BOOK LAUNCH: NAVEGANDO O LUTO INFANTIL
On September 15th, from 18:00 to 19:00, in the Library, we will welcome author Júlia Jalbut for the launch of Navegando o luto infantil. This special session for families and educators will explore, with sensitivity and evidence-based guidance, how adults can support children and teenagers through loss and help them navigate grief with greater confidence, understanding and care.
FAMILY PICNIC AND TRY OUT DAY
On 19 September, from 10:00 to 14:00, we will be holding our Family Picnic and Try Out Day. The day programme will be sent by email, so please keep an eye on your inbox.
Each family is welcome to bring something to eat and drink, as well as a picnic blanket. Pizza and Ice Cream will also be available to purchase.
We will also take this opportunity to present Joana Xardoné, our Chef, our food policy and invite parents to sample some of the dishes from our menu.
Please do not bring external dogs to the school.
Secondary
UNIVERSITY INFORMATION SESSIONS
We invite Secondary students and parents to join our University Information Sessions. On 21 September at 16:00 in the library, there will be an in-person session.
BIO MARKET LANGUAGES EDITION
Friday, 25 September, from 16:15 to 18:00, in the tent
We are opening the school year by celebrating what makes this school so particular: the many languages that cross paths in our corridors every day. The first Bio Market of 2026/27 is the Languages Edition, held on the eve of the European Day of Languages.
Registrations
Registrations open today and close on Tuesday, 15 September, at 6pm. To register, please fill out the form: [REGISTRATION FORM LINK]
Please note that submitting the form does not guarantee a spot. The official confirmation will be sent by email on Thursday, 17 September, and only with that confirmation will your space be secured. As space is limited, selection will be based on the order in which registrations are received and on the diversity and creativity of the proposed products.
Participation fee
4 euros per vendor, or 2 euros for students. The fee is fully reinvested in Bio Market operations and must be paid in advance at the school office. Without prior payment, participation is not possible.
For visitors
You do not need a stall to take part. Come and walk through the tent, taste, talk and discover how many languages fit into one afternoon.
Community
PTSO MEETING
The next PTSO (Parents, Teachers and Students Organization) meeting will take place on 29 September, 2026, at 16:00 in the Library. This meeting is only for the members already elected for this academic year.. This is a great opportunity to collaborate and strengthen our school community.
We are incredibly proud of the Class of 2026
Our alumni are now continuing their studies in fields ranging from Economics, Management, Law and Psychology to Design, Game Technology, Food Science and Music Production. Others have chosen to take a gap year and explore the world.
Their destinations include CUNEF (Spain), ISPA (Portugal), the University of the West of England (United Kingdom), the University of Exeter (United Kingdom), Utrecht University (the Netherlands), Scuola Politecnica di Design (Italy), Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science (Portugal), ETIC Lisboa (Portugal), Loyola Marymount University (United States) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (United States).
Several students from the Class of 2025, having completed a gap year, are also now preparing to begin their studies at Vilnius University (Lithuania), Artevelde University of Applied Sciences (Belgium), University College Cork (Ireland), the University of Vermont (United States), the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (Portugal), Instituto Superior Técnico (Portugal) and Forward College (Portugal).
A Week of New Beginnings and Reunions
The school is alive again! After weeks of preparation, it was wonderful to see the corridors filled with movement, familiar faces and good energy once more.
We welcomed our new students and families, with our Secondary students taking on the role of hosts. We also celebrated a special breakfast with our Finalists, filled with music, memories and plenty of smiles.
A Gesture that reaches further
We welcomed Paulla Bastos from Grupo Mulheres do Brasil–Lisboa to deliver another donation supporting their work with vulnerable communities, children, women affected by domestic violence and animals in vulnerable situations.
World Car Free Day
On 22 September we mark World Car Free Day, and we want to celebrate it as a community! We're inviting all staff, parents and students to rethink how they get to school that day — whether by bike, scooter, on foot, carpooling or public transport.
Small gestures like this make a difference: they help reduce traffic, take care of the environment, and bring a bit more movement and good energy into our routine. Join us and help make this a lighter, greener day!
NEWS FROM THE KITCHEN
INTERNATIONAL DAYS IN THE KITCHEN:
24 SEP | Brazil
15 OCT | Mexico
