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
- Exceptional Authorisation for Children to Remain on School Premises
- INSET Day: Action Research Presentations & Workshops
Upcoming Events
- The Final Bio Market of the Year
- Honouring Our Roots: The Stories That Shape Our Children
- Universal Children’s Day | Pyjama Day
- ReLIEable Museum
- PTSO (Parents, Teachers and Student Organization) Meeting
- Parents’ Coffee Morning
- Secondary Art & Design Exhibition
- The LASA Tournament
- Save The Date - Aprendizes Got Talent
- Save The Date - End of Year Arraial
Section Stories
Act Together
- News from the Kitchen

Dear students, parents and staff

As the weather gets warmer and the layers get fewer, one annual school tradition returns with great force:
The Great Dress Code Debate of June.

Every year, questions emerge:

“Are slippers technically shoes?”
“How short can shorts be?”

“I have a beautiful belly - can I not just show it?”

The truth is that dress codes are deeply subjective and culturally determined. What feels perfectly normal and appropriate for one person may feel completely inappropriate to another. Schools around the world approach this very differently, and even within our own community there are many perspectives.

At Aprendizes, we are generally quite liberal. We want young people to express themselves, to feel comfortable, and to develop their own identity. Clothing can be creative, personal, cultural, practical, rebellious, artistic - sometimes all at once before breakfast.

At the same time, part of education is also learning that the way we present ourselves communicates something to others - whether we intend it to or not. Different environments come with different expectations, and understanding this is an important life skill. The way we dress can influence how others perceive us, fairly or unfairly, and navigating that reality is part of growing up.

So, while trying to find the delicate balance between freedom of expression, mutual respect, and basic community boundaries, I would like to offer three simple guidelines that generally work quite well:

As a member of our community, please remember that you are coming to school. This means:

You are NOT going to the beach.
You are NOT going to bed.
You are NOT going to the discotheque.

So this is a friendly reminder to everyone: even though June is approaching… you are STILL GOING to school.

Thank you all for helping us keep Aprendizes a respectful, comfortable, expressive, and occasionally fully-clothed learning environment.

For a beautiful summer with lots of beach, long sleeps and parties!

(; 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 special thank you to Ana Rocha for producing yet another edition of Africa Week. Once again, it was truly memorable. (From TfD)

Thank you to Vicky Shearn for coming back with full energy and setting up a project-based IT room. (From TfD)

Thank you to Stephen Hakim for running great GP projects with Grade 9 and for sharing them with the TFD. (From TfD)

Thank you to all the teachers who regularly “water the flowers of our children” by sharing emails with parents about the great things their children do in class. You know who you are, and as a parent, it means so much to receive those emails. (From TfD)

A special thank you to Joana Esperança. for always being fast in taking action and finding great solutions for Preschool, such as organising a Hockey Field. (From TfD)

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

EXCEPTIONAL AUTHORISATION FOR CHILDREN TO REMAIN ON SCHOOL PREMISES

Due to the General Strike at 03 of June, which will affect essential services, the school exceptionally authorises children of staff, aged 3 or over, to remain on its premises 03 and 05 of june.

INSET DAY: ACTION RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS

We are excited to invite you to this year’s Action Research Presentations & Workshops on our upcoming INSET Day on June 5th. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to explore inspiring inquiry projects led by colleagues across Aprendizes and gain insight into practical methods, reflections, challenges, and learning developed throughout the year.

No matter your role at Aprendizes, there will be something valuable for you. These workshops are a chance to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and strengthen our shared culture of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous growth.

Please find two links below:

The programme for the day, including descriptions of all research projects, workshops, and presentations https://sites.google.com/view/pd-day-june-5?usp=sharing

The workshop sign-up sheet (first come, first served) Action Research INSET Day - Sign-Up/ Dia de Formação INSET Investigação-Ação - Inscrição – Fill out form

Please note that the programme will begin sharply at 8:30. If you would like to enjoy coffee and a snack beforehand, please make sure to arrive a little earlier.

We encourage you to sign up as soon as possible - spots in the workshops will fill quickly!

18 JUL | Vacations

THE FINAL BIO MARKET OF THE YEAR

Our final Bio Market of the year will take place tomorrow, 29 May, from 16:15 to 18:00, at The Tent. Visitors can explore organic and sustainable products while supporting local vendors.

UNIVERSAL CHILDREN’S DAY

On 1st June, we will celebrate Universal Children’s Day in a very special way! We invite everyone to come to school wearing their pyjamas and support Operação Nariz Vermelho by purchasing a red nose (€2) and/or a bottle of water (€5). Together, we will spread joy, kindness, and lots of smiles!

HONOURING OUR ROOTS: THE STORIES THAT SHAPE OUR CHILDREN

On Monday, June 1st, from 8:45 to 10:00, parents are invited to join a reflective workshop led by psychologist Luisa Heitor.

The session explores how family stories, ancestry, values, and emotional legacies shape children’s identity, sense of belonging, and development, encouraging families to reflect on what is passed on beyond genetics and how to nurture stronger, more conscious roots.

RELIEABLE MUSEUM

The exhibition "Museu da Mentira / ReLIEable Museum" is the result of an interdisciplinary project developed by students in grades 5, 6, and 7 in the subjects of Portuguese (1st and 2nd language) and Art & Design, focused on the theme of disinformation. The exhibition opens on 1st June at 4.15 pm in the corridor leading to the Library and is open to the whole school community.

PTSO MEETING

The next PTSO (Parents, Teachers and Students Organization) meeting will take place on June 2nd, 2026, at 4:00 PM in the Library. This session will be an opportunity to reflect, review progress, and establish continuous improvement strategies through to the end of the school year.

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. 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!

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 11am and Middle & Secondary at 2.30pm. 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 at the BioMarket, or 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! Join us on 26 June from 6:00 pm to celebrate another school year with food, laughter, music and our usual festive spirit.

preschool

BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER FOR A SPECIAL CELEBRATION

We celebrated the International Day of Families with a special breakfast organised by parents at Aprendizes. Families came together to share a joyful morning, strengthening connections within our school community and creating meaningful memories.

PRIMARY

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN ACTION AT PRAIA DA RAINHA

As part of the Environmental Awareness Workshop led by co-teacher Leonardo Montinho, 2B students participated in a beach clean-up at Praia da Rainha. The activity promoted environmental responsibility, teamwork, and awareness.

MIDDLE

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES FUELS STUDENT CREATIVITY & ACTION

7th grade students organised a Global Perspectives Market to fund their projects addressing real-world issues. They developed solutions, implemented action plans, and presented their results at the Global Perspectives Summit, sharing their impact.

SECONDARY

BUILDING LITERARY BRIDGES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COIMBRA

A group of 9th and 11th-grade students in Portuguese First Language presented research on African literatures at the University of Coimbra’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The session fostered academic dialogue with university students, strengthening links between secondary education and higher academic study.

NEWS FROM THE KITCHEN

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INTERNATIONAL KITCHEN DAYS

17 Jun - Israel

25 Jun - Germany