Dear Team,

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

• Special Shout-out

• Update on Staff & Recruitment

• Upcoming Events

  • Next parents’ meetings

  • Duke of Edinburgh adventurous journeys

  • Family picnic and try out day

  • House Meeting | Mirabilis Conference | Happy Hour

  • Parents’ coffee morning

  • University information sessions

  • PTSO meeting

  • Open day for new families

  • Save the date | Bio Market 2025/2026!

  • Save the date | Three Way Conferences (Student, Teachers and Parents)

• Practical Information

  • Parents' meetings | Agenda

  • Kiss and Go rules

  • No external animals allowed on school premises

  • Front Office Guidelines

  • Head lice prevention

• Section Stories

• Act Together

  • Menu

  • Star of September: Tomato

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

To the whole team for preparing such a warm and welcoming reception for our parents and students! 

To the all Head Teachers for taking the time to get to know all students and parents, especially those joining us for the first time.

To Claudia Meireles for her amazing support in helping students with their university applications.

Frederico Soares: For the first time, books were delivered on the first day — and so efficiently! Well done!

Ana Rocha: Congratulations on being invited to teach at Universidade de Coimbra! We are incredibly proud of her, and delighted that she will continue to work with us while embracing this achievement.

UPDATES
We are very proud of our team and we promote internal growth. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that:

• Alexandra Troeira is our new Speech Therapist

RECRUITMENT

At Aprendizes, we believe that each of you is the best person to identify and select your future colleagues. That’s why we are implementing an active recommendation system. If you recommend a future colleague (and they confirm that you were the one who informed them about the opening), you will receive a €250 referral bonus!

ERASMUS+ PROGRAM AT APRENDIZES

We are glad to announce the members of staff selected for the Erasmus + mobilities this school year:

Job-shadowing

• Sweden: Joana Coelho, Margarida, Andreia, Veronica G, Catarina, Mariana (alternate: Vera and Nathalia)

• Denmark: Barbara D, Sara, Diogo, Chloe, Marlete, Rikke, Joana Cunha, Eva (alternate: Mathaios)

Study visit with students

• Czechia (8th grade): prep visit Tatiana C and Joana C / study visit Tatiana C and TBD

• Iceland (9th grade): prep visit Kate and Laura M / study visit Kate and Nuno

A total of 35 teachers and staff members expressed interest in traveling abroad and learning from best practices in other countries. This strong participation shows that we are indeed a community of learners — curious, motivated, and committed to bringing new ideas to enrich our school.

Since the number of applications exceeded the available spots, the TFD decided that the Principal, the Section Head, and the Erasmus+ Programme Coordinator would review the applications from each section. Their decisions were guided by the following criteria:

• Motivation & Implementation Plan – Clear motivation and ability to apply and share new strategies.

• Contribution to Educational Change – Openness to innovation, especially around student autonomy and PBL.

• Leadership & Capacity to Share – Experience in leading groups/projects and sharing knowledge with colleagues.

• Department & Role Diversity – Ensuring balanced representation across subjects, sections, and roles.

• Length of Service – Recognition of staff with a significant record of contribution to the school.

• Equity of Opportunities – Priority for staff who have not previously received training grants or relevant international opportunities.

Looking back, we realize it would have been better to share these criteria before announcing the programme. However, as this is our first Erasmus+ initiative, we are learning as we go. We are committed to continuing to apply for these opportunities in the future, so that more colleagues can take part.

Please also keep in mind that a study visit can be included as part of your Action Research.

Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm — together, we are shaping a culture of continuous learning at Aprendizes!

15 SEP | ACTION RESEARCH PROGRAMME Q&A | Library | 1:10 PM to 1:30 PM

16 SEP | Parents’ Meeting | Pre-School | Amphitheatre | 4.30 PM

17 SEP | Last Day to Apply | ACTION RESEARCH PROGRAMME

17 SEP | Parents’ Meeting | Primary | Amphitheatre | 4.30 PM

18 SEP | Parents’ Meeting | Middle School and Secondary | Amphitheatre | 4.30 PM

18 SEP to 19 SEP | Duke of Edinburgh | The Silver Practice Journey

20 SEP | All Families | Picnic / Extra-Curricular Try Out Day | 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM

26 SEP | All students | Languages Day | All day

27 SEP to 28 SEP | Duke of Edinburgh | Bronze Final Adventurous Journey

01 OCT | House Meeting | Mirabilis Conference | Happy Hour

02 OCT | University Information Sessions | Secondary | 4:00 PM | Library

03 OCT | Parents | Parents’ Coffee | 08:45–09:45 AM

07 OCT | Parents | PTSO (Parents, Teachers, Student Organization) Meeting | 04:00–05:30 PM

07 OUT | Todos os Pais | Conferência Mirabilis | O impacto dos ecrãs na saúde e educação: ecrãs na escola | 08h30 – 10h30 | sessão em inglês | Biblioteca

09 OUT | Todos os Pais | Conferência Mirabilis | O impacto dos ecrãs na saúde e educação: ecrãs na escola | 16h30 – 18h30 | sessão em português | Biblioteca

16 OCT | Open Day for new families | 9:00 to 10:30 AM

16 OCT | Online session Information about admissions Universities in USA | 6:00 PM

17 OCT | Bio Market Halloween Edition | Tent | 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

23 OCT | Online session Information about admissions Universities in UK | 6:00 PM

13 NOV | Online session Information about admissions Universities in EU | 6:00 PM

20 NOV | Online session Information about admissions Universities in PT | 6:00 PM

12 NOV | Three Way Conferences (Students, teachers and Parents) | Primary to Secondary

11 FEB | Three Way Conferences (Students, teachers and Parents) | Middle to Secondary

29 MAR to 04 APR | Erasmus+ Preschool and Primary Trip | Sweden

21 APR | Three Way Conferences (Students, teachers and Parents) | Primary

26 APR to 02 MAY | Erasmus+ Middle and Secondary Trip | Denmark

PARENTS' MEETINGS | AGENDA

We are delighted to invite you to our Parents’ Meetings next week. The program will be the same for all sections.

16:30 – 16:45 | Welcome from the Principal & Introduction of the Coordination, Section, and Transversal Teams (Amphitheatre)
16:45 – 17:30 | Classroom Session: Head Teacher Presentation, Getting to Know Each Other & Election of Parent Class Representative (Classrooms)
17:30 – 18:00 | Informal Snack, Parent Chat & Opportunity to Meet Subject Teachers (Location: near your Section)

Election and Roles and Responsibility of Parent Class Representative

During the classroom session, each class will elect a Parent Class Representative and a Deputy (to step in if the Representative is unable to fulfill their duties). The names of the Parent Class Representative and the Deputy should be communicated to Veronica Barbieri after the meeting https://forms.office.com/e/tPbFWdbrBx. Once Veronica receives the list, she will provide guidance on how to set up the class WhatsApp groups and share the group link with the Head Teacher, who can then distribute it to new families joining the school.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Parent Class Representative:

• Welcome & Connect: Set up a class WhatsApp group (if not already) and make new families feel included.

• Build Community: Promote class, section, and school activities such as celebrations and picnics.

• Encourage Positive Communication: Support constructive dialogue between students, parents, and teachers, and help find solutions to issues.

• Participate in School Life:

• Join the Parents Organisation (PO) and its WhatsApp group.

• Establish or join relevant Committees to contribute to school initiatives and projects.

• Take part in the Parents-Teachers-Students Organisation (PTSO), meeting three times a year to provide feedback from the class and support school development.

• Section Coordination: One representative from each section coordinates class reps and meets once per term with the Principal to discuss school-wide matters.

• Welcome & Connect: Set up a class WhatsApp group (if not already) and make new families feel included.

• Build Community: Promote class, section, and school activities such as celebrations and picnics.

• Encourage Positive Communication: Support constructive dialogue between students, parents, and teachers, and help find solutions to issues.

• Participate in School Life: 

• Join the Parents Organisation (PO) and its WhatsApp group.

• Take part in the Parents-Teachers-Students Organisation (PTSO), which meets three times a year: Oct 7, Jan 13, and June 2, from 16:00–17:30. Class Reps collect input and feedback from parents to share during these meetings and help shape school decisions.

• Establish or join relevant Committees to contribute to school initiatives and projects.

• Section Coordination: One representative from each section coordinates class reps and meets once per term with the Principal to discuss school-wide matters.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH ADVENTUROUS JOURNEYS

Students will take part in the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions this month. The Silver Practice Journey runs from 18th to 19th September, following the route from the school to Pedra Amarela, giving participants vital training. Later, from 27th to 28th September, the Bronze Final Adventurous Journey will test resilience, teamwork, and navigation, celebrating achievements in outdoor learning.

FAMILY PICNIC AND TRY OUT DAY

On September 20th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, we will be hosting our Family Picnic and Try Out Day.

Each family can bring something to eat, drink, and a blanket. Our community will also have a sale of pizzas, kombucha, and ice cream.

Students can try out extracurricular activities throughout the day: Yoga for Parents from 10:30–11:00 AM, Karate from 11:00–11:30 AM, Parkour from 11:30 AM–12:00 PM, Climbing from 12:00–12:30 PM, Hip Hop from 12:45–1:15 PM, and Hip Hop for Adults from 1:15–1:45 PM. From 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, there will also be Fun Maker Space, Robotics, Music, Tennis, and Soccer.

Please note that an email with information and the registration form for this school year’s extracurricular activities was sent on September 10th (Wednesday).

TEACHERS TRAINING & HOUSE MEETING

On Wednesday, October 1, our regular House Meeting will be replaced by a special training session led by the NGO Mirabilis on the theme:

“O impacto dos ecrãs na saúde e educação: ecrãs na escola”
🕓 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
📍 Training will be held in English

All teachers and staff are invited, and you are welcome to join whenever you can. This event will be followed by the usual Happy Hour.

If you are unable to attend this session, you are encouraged to participate in one of the Parents’ Sessions offered by Mirabilis:

• Oct 7 | 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | English session

• Oct 9 | 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Portuguese session

Looking ahead, our follow-up training on Project Based Learning (PBL) will take place during the Teachers Training on November 26. Please keep your presentations – we’ll be asking everyone to share their PBL ideas and plans with colleagues.

PARENTS’ COFFEE MORNING

Join us for Parents’ Coffee Morning on October 3rd, 2025, from 8:45 to 9:30 AM! This is a wonderful opportunity for open conversation and sharing between the school and all parents.

Let’s meet in a relaxed atmosphere, exchange ideas, and strengthen the home–school connection while discussing children’s progress and future events.

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION SESSIONS

We invite Secondary students and parents to join our University Information Sessions. On October 2nd at 4:00 PM in the library, there will be an in-person session.

In addition, online application sessions — aimed at Class of 2025–26 graduates — will take place: October 16 at 6:00 PM (USA), October 23 at 6:00 PM (UK), November 13 at 6:00 PM (EU), and November 20 at 6:00 PM (PT).

Staff is also welcome.

PTSO MEETING

The next PTSO (Parents, Teachers and Students Organization) meeting will take place on October 7th, 2025, at 4:00 PM in the Library.

Parent Representatives will share a form with families beforehand, so suggestions and ideas can be submitted in advance. This is a great opportunity to collaborate and strengthen our school community.

OPEN DAY FOR NEW FAMILIES

We are delighted to invite prospective families to our Open Day on October 16, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM.

Families will meet our Principal and Head of Pedagogics, join a personalized tour of Preschool, Primary, Middle, or Secondary, and discover our vision and curriculum.

Registration is required. Please encourage interested families to register early.

SAVE THE DATE | BIO MKT 2025/2026!

Bio Mkt returns this academic year, bimonthly, for the moments we’ve missed!
Editions:

17/10 – Halloween

12/12 – Christmas

30/1 – Charity

4/3 – Regeneration

29/5 – Final.
From 4–6 PM. Want to join as a seller? Register two weeks before each event via our mailing form: biomkt@aprendizes.pt

RECEPTION GUIDELINES

The reception operates from 8:15 AM to 5:15 PM and is responsible for several key functions including receiving school mail and deliveries, answering phone calls, storing printer paper, distributing kits for field trips (such as vests and first aid backpacks), collecting laundry, handling urgent cleaning requests, and replenishing sanitary supplies. Students should not be encouraged to visit the front office unaccompanied; if a student needs to come to the Front Office, they must be escorted with a front office pass issued by the section assistant. Valuable items found on school premises must be handed in to the reception.

Personal belongings, equipment, or food brought from outside by students or parents are not to be left at the reception. The reception is not responsible for students’ photocopying or printing needs; these should be managed by the respective subject teacher or section assistant.

All events, meetings with external visitors, and early student departures must be communicated to reception. No one outside the reception team is allowed to enter or remove items without prior authorization—no exceptions.

REMINDER TO ALL STAFF: CARE FOR SCHOOL EQUIPMENT

All staff are reminded to take the utmost care with school equipment, including computers, cables, and chargers. Please ensure that all items are used responsibly and stored safely when not in use. Kindly follow the guidelines outlined in the Staff Handbook to help maintain our resources in excellent condition for everyone’s use.

PRIMARY TEACHERS TRAINING IN SINGAPORE METHOD MATH

Our Primary teachers are currently undertaking specialized training in Singapore Method Math, a highly regarded approach to teaching mathematics that emphasizes problem-solving, conceptual understanding, and mastery. This professional development will enrich classroom practices, providing students with stronger foundations in reasoning and critical thinking. By investing in teacher training, the school reinforces its commitment to high-quality learning experiences in mathematics from the earliest years.

WE CELEBRATE WITH OUR STUDENTS THEIR UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES WORLDWIDE

We are proud to celebrate our students’ remarkable achievements in securing places at prestigious universities. In Portugal: Universidade de Lisboa, ISCTE-IUL, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Universidade Europeia, and Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril. In the Netherlands: Utrecht University and Erasmus University Rotterdam. In Ireland: Trinity College Dublin, Munster Technological University, University College Cork, and Technological University Dublin. In the UK: University of the Creative Arts. In Spain: IE University and Universidad Europea. In the Czech Republic: Charles University and Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. In the USA: San Diego State University. In Brazil: CEUB.

DONATING SCHOOL MATERIAL TO CHILDREN IN NEED

Next week we will be collecting back to school materials for the Associação de Solidariedade Social do Alto da Cova da Moura. Please encourage your students to donate the following items to the box outside the front door of the school. Items should be new or in excellent condition.       

• Pencil cases

• Notebooks

• Scientific calculators

• Pencils

• Colouring Pencils

• Pens

• Erasers

• Sharpeners

• Rulers

• Rucksacks

Thank you to Lara (9B) for this initiative.

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