Dear Team,

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

A Message from the Principal
Special Shout-out
Update on Staff, Recruitment and reminders
Practical Information
Upcoming Events
- Parents’ Coffee Morning
- Secondary Art & Design Exhibition
- The LASA Tournament
- Open Day for New Families
- Aprendizes Got Talent
- End of Year Arraial
Section Stories
Act Together
- 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

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 congratulations to Sara Prudêncio and her Grade 7 students for the prize they recently won. A wonderful achievement that reflects their hard work, creativity and dedication.” (From TfD)

“A special thank you to Sara Prudêncio, Maria Gomes, Joana Geraldo and Barbara Dória for creating the outstanding ReLIEable Museum exhibition. It was a thought-provoking, engaging and beautifully executed showcase of student learning and talent.” (From TfD)

“Thank you to all the Preschool, Primary, Middle and Secondary teachers who joined the PLNM training last Saturday. Your commitment to continuous learning is greatly appreciated. A special thank you as well to our Kitchen Team for preparing such a delicious breakfast and helping create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.” (From TfD)

“A heartfelt thank you to Eunice Maia, Eva Silva, Joana Cunha, Sonia Martins, Laura Cercas, and all the teachers and Learning Support staff involved in the Provas ModA. Your organisation, collaboration and dedication ensured everything ran smoothly and provided the best possible experience for our students.” (From TfD)

“A huge thank you to our lab technician, Sophie Dias. Behind every well-run AS Level practical exam — Biology, Physics, and Chemistry — is Sophie working behind the scenes: checking and ordering materials, testing equipment, setting up labs, and making sure that on exam day both students and teachers have everything they need. This kind of work rarely gets the spotlight it deserves. Sophie, your dedication, professionalism and care for what you do make a real difference to this department. We are so grateful to have you.” (Rita Marques)

“Hello to kitchen team! We are the Investigadores class and we want to thank you because you help us! You make our food every day, our snack, our fruit, and you prepare a very good picnic for us when we go on trips! Whenever we need something, you help us! Thank you very much, lots of hugs and kisses.” (From Investigadores and Mónica Ricardo)

“A huge thank you to Salomé Caeiro, Maria Teixeira, Matthaios Prokos, and Liz Nash for covering for me during the Provas Moda Duties. I Love you all. And also to all the Team Provas!” (Laura Cercas)

“I would like to thank all the colleagues who supported our field trips throughout the year. We organised 262 field trips this year, and they would not have been possible without everyone's collaboration and commitment. I would also like to extend a special thank you to the Kitchen Team and the Reception Team. Their support and hard work are essential to the success of every field trip we organise.” (De Diogo Santos)

RECRUITMENT

At Aprendizes, we believe that every member of our team is the best person to identify and recommend future colleagues.

We always have open positions available on both our LinkedIn page and the “Work With Us” section of our website, so please feel free to share them with anyone you believe might be a great fit.

For the next school year (26/27) we will need:

Arts teacher for Primary and Middle School
Primary Co-Teacher

REMINDER: REGISTER THE PROJECTS YOU DEVELOPED THIS SCHOOL YEAR

As we prepare for the next steps in our Project-Based Learning (PBL) journey, we would like to ensure that all projects developed during the 2025/26 school year are recorded and celebrated.

Please complete one form per project by June 12: Aprendizes – Project-Based Learning (PBL) Registration 2025/26 – Fill out form.

If several colleagues were involved in the same project, only one submission is needed.

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

PARENTS’ COFFEE MORNING

On Friday, 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 4pm on 15th June. All Community is 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. You are all invited. 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 and families must join us on 26 June from 6:00 pm to celebrate another school year with food, laughter, music and our usual festive spirit.

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.