School News
Bake Sale, 17th May 2013
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One Shirt at a Time
Thank you to everyone who has donated clothes and toys for the Obra do Frei Gil children´s home in Ramalde. They were very much appreciated. Also, thank you to people who donated baby clothes for the São João Maternity Unit. The families helped by this organisation are very much in need of this support.
Spelling Challenge
Congratulations to all pupils who took part in the sponsored "Spelling Challenge" to raise money for the charities we will be supporting in Mozambique when the Form 11 CAS team visit them. We also thank all of you who have given books and stationery for the team to take to Mozambique. These will certainly brighten up the day for the children there.
ISI Inspection Report
Dear Parents,
I am delighted to send you the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), Inspection Report on The Oporto British School. After successfully undergoing this inspection, the OBS is the first British/ international school in Portugal to receive official recognition/ status by ISI, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) and the UK Department for Education. I hope you will agree that this is a great achievement for the OBS, and is a fitting tribute to the application and dedication of our pupils, staff, parents, governors and the wider OBS community. The OBS will now be a ‘beacon’ of quality educational excellence in Portugal for the British, Portuguese and international communities. The main findings highlight our considerable strengths such as: ‘the pupils are well educated in line with the school’s aims. They make good and sometimes excellent progress in their learning because of their extremely positive attitudes to study, good teaching, some of which is inspiring, and a challenging curriculum……The school is an inclusive, caring community, in which pupils develop excellent levels of spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness. Excellent pastoral care ensures pupils feel safe and well supported and gain strongly in self-esteem. The excellence of the senior leadership team and the high quality of governance and most management are vital factors in enabling the pupils to succeed and develop, in line with school aims’. Such commendations are a tribute to our teaching and support staff and of course, our tremendous pupils. This would not be possible to achieve without continued parental support and sacrifice. I am in no way complacent and am committed to achieving excellence for all. This is why along with my colleagues on the Board, Senior Leadership Team, teaching and support staff, we are already working to improve on the three recommendations for further improvements such as extending ‘current outstanding practice in teaching and learning, so that all pupils are consistently challenged’. In addition, we are committed to further ‘the use of ICT resources as an integral feature of teaching and of the pupils’ learning’ and finally, to ‘develop a wider range of extra-curricular activities throughout the school. Once again, may I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the application and dedication of our pupils, staff, parents, governors and the wider OBS community.
Yours faithfully.
Michael William Clack, BA PGCE (Cantab) FRSA FCollT
Head Master
michael.clack@obs.edu.pt
..........................
Estimados Pais,
É com muito prazer que envio o relatório de inspeção do OBS, emitido pela ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate). O OBS é a primeira escola britânica/ internacional em Portugal a completar com sucesso esta inspeção e a ser oficialmente reconhecida pelo ISI, pelo Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children´s Services and Skills) e pelo Departamento de Educação do Reino Unido. Com certeza concordarão comigo: este é um feito admirável para o OBS e é um tributo à dedicação e aplicação dos nossos alunos, professores, pais, governantes, e da comunidade do OBS. O OBS será de agora em diante, um “farol” de excelência na qualidade educacional em Portugal para as comunidades Britânica, Portuguesa e internacional.
As conclusões deste relatório destacam os nossos principais pontos fortes: os alunos são bem educados, em concordância com os objectivos da Escola. Eles atingem um bom e, às vezes, excelente progresso na sua aprendizagem que resulta de atitudes extremamente positivas do estudo, dos bons professores, alguns dos quais são inspiradores, e do desafiador curriculum. A escola é uma comunidade inclusiva e carinhosa, em que os alunos desenvolvem uma consciência a nível espiritual, moral, social e cultural. O excelente acompanhamento e cuidado pastoral assegura que os alunos se sintam seguros e bem apoiados desenvolvendo a auto-estima. A excelência da equipa e a alta qualidade da governação e da maior parte dos seus líderes são factores vitais que permitem que os alunos tenham sucesso e se desenvolvam de acordo com os objectivos da escola.
Tais elogios são um tributo ao nosso ensino, aos nossos professores e diverso pessoal não docente e, é claro, aos nossos tremendos alunos, e não seria possível receber estes elogios sem o apoio e sacrifício contínuo dos nossos pais.
Não sou de maneira nenhuma complacente e comprometo-me a atingir excelência para todos. Portanto, juntamente com os meus colegas do Conselho de Administração, da SLT (a equipa Senior de Liderança), os professores e administrativos, estamos a progredir para melhorar as 3 áreas recomendadas, ou seja, aumentar a atual prática exemplar do ensino e aprendizagem para que os alunos sejam consistentemente desafiados. Além disso, compromotemo-nos a melhorar o uso dos recursos do TIC atualmente disponíveis como parte integrante do nosso ensino e da aprendizagem que proporcionamos aos alunos. Finalmente, queremos oferecer um maior nível de atividades extra-curriculares dentro da escola.
Mais uma vez, quero prestar tributo à dedicação e esforço dos nossos alunos, staff, pais, governantes, e a toda a comunidade do OBS.
Atentamente,
Michael William Clack, BA PGCE (Cantab) FRSA FCollT
Head Master
michael.clack@obs.edu.pt
Romeo and Juliet, 7th and 8th May 2013 (7pm)
Tickets available from the Front Office.
Bilhetes disponíveis na Portaria do Colégio.
Bake Sale on Tuesday 30th April
As part of the fundraising we are doing for the forthcoming CAS trip to Mozambique, there will be another Bake Sale on Tuesday 30th April during morning break and at lunchtime. If your son/daughter would like to buy a cake or biscuit, please allow them to bring one or two Euros to school to do so. Thank you very much from the Mozambique CAS team.
Could we also remind students to learn spellings of the words for the Sponsored Spelling Challenge and to collect sponsors. The sponsor money will be collected by teachers after the spelling test.
Open Day, 19th April 2013 (10am - 3pm)
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Advertising in local area
Our School Open Day has been advertised in the Porto/Foz area over the last few weeks. Some of this publicity can be seen below. Other metro stations with our Open Day publicity include: Casa da Música, Senhora da Hora, Hospital São João and the Airport.
Billboard at the Anémona roundabout in Matosinhos
Trindade Metro Station Praia do Molhe in Foz
Bake Sale on Monday 15th April
As part of the fundraising we are doing for the forthcoming CAS trip to Mozambique, there will be a Bake Sale on Monday 15th April during morning break and at lunchtime. If your son/daughter would like to buy a cake or biscuit, please allow them to bring one or two Euros to school to do so. Thank you very much from the Mozambique CAS team.
Collapsed Day, 11th April 2013
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Público, 27/03/2013
Click here Our Head Master, Mr. Michael William Clack was interviewed by two journalists earlier in the month.
March 2013 Newsletter
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Público, 27/03/2013
Click here Our Head Master, Mr. Michael William Clack was interviewed by two journalists earlier in the month.
Primary Inter-House Cross-Country 2013
Dry weather greeted us for the running of the eighth annual Primary Inter-house Cross Country at Parque da Cidade. The pupils, who had all been preparing for the event during P.E. lessons, were all very excited. The course is both an individual challenge and a team effort. Whilst many pupils sought personal glory each runner that completed the race was awarded points for their house.
Click here to read the full report and see some photos.
England Tour - Greetings from sunny and cold Lytham, England.
England Tour - Day 1
After a two hour delay this morning due to a cancelled flight, we finally landed in Manchester at 12.15pm and boarded the coach to our first destination, Arnold King Edward School.
We enjoyed lunch on the beach and then made our way to the school where both our A and B teams played football. The girls’ A team enjoyed a 4-1 win over AKS; goal scorers Mariana Sá who scored 3 goals and Maria Santos Carneiro who scored the fourth. All other teams narrowly lost their matches; goal-scorers include Eduardo Conde for the boys’ B team and guest player Phoebe from AKS for the girls’ B team.
Eduardo Conde was voted the best all round player for the B team and Filipe Chiou the most “stand out” player for the A team. Maria do Carmo Frada demonstrated excellent sportsmanship for the girls’ A team and Tiffany Dizdar as the best all round player for the girls’ B team.
Our hosts offered dinner and, in the spirit of the tour, captains and coaches of both schools made brief speeches of thanks.
Warmly tucked up in bed, after a very long day, our players now rest in preparation for another long day tomorrow.
England Tour - Day 2
After a good night’s sleep, we braved the cold for a Tree Top walk. It took a lot of courage, teamwork and determination and most of our children made it successfully around the course. Rodrigo Otero Bozzano was voted the most encouraging colleague.
We made our way to the beautiful Windermere School where we were greeted by teachers and pupils.
Girls and boys A and B teams played football and basketball. The scores were as follows:
Girls’ A team football lost 1-0. Players of the match: Mariana Sá and Maria Inês Ferreira.
Girls’ B team football drew 0-0. Players of the match: Minie Bruschy and Beatriz Landau.
Girls’ A team basketball lost 6-4. Players of the match: Maria do Carmo Frada and Marta Ramos.
Girls’ B team basketball lost 10-4. Players of the match: Anna Mutter and Maria Santos Carneiro.
Boys’ A team football won 2-1. Goal scorer: Henrique Oliveira (2).
Boys’ B team football lost 2-1. Goal scorer: Tomás Lascasas
Boys’ A team basketball won 22-2. Players of the match: Lourenço Almeida and Francisco Correia.
Boys’ B team basketball lost 8-0. Players of the match Bernardo Carrington and Gonçalo Guerreiro.
We were warmly welcomed for dinner at the School where two representatives, Filipe Chiou and Maria do Carmo Frada delivered speeches of thanks.
We made our way to the lodge where we will be spending two nights.
Yours sincerely,
Teachers on tour.
Head Boy and Head Girl for 2013-2014
Congratulations to Miguel Macedo and Sofia Campos Correia who have been elected Head Boy and Head Girl for 2013-2014.
Calendar Dates 2013/2014
Click here.
Safer Internet Day 2013
More information on Safer internet Day click here.
"Carnaval and the Theatre", Friday, 08th February
More information from the Head of Prep/ Primary Section here.
Road Safety
May we politely remind you of the potential problem of traffic congestions, illegal parking in front of the school and driving in a manner that may result in a serious injury. May we please ask our community to respect each other at pick up and drop off times at the Oporto British School. We simply do not want to be in a position where one of our pupils, parents or staff will be injured or involved in a fatal accident occurring in front of the school. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
December Newsletter
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The Head Master's Christmas Card
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Christmas Tree Lighting, Friday 14th December at 3.45pm
Click here for more information.
OBS is supporting the charity Bagas D'Ouro, Friday 14th December at 3.45pm
As it was mentioned in the November newsletter, OBS is supporting the charity Bagos D´Ouro which helps disadvantaged children in the Douro region and their families. Mrs Cristina Santos Carneiro who is a volunteer for the charity will be selling the beautiful charity´s cookery book outside the Teage Hall before and after the “Ligthing the Christmas Tree” and the “Rocky” Festivities between 3.45pm and 4.45pm . The cost of the book is 9.50€. Please support this charity as it will make a difference to a child's life. Thank you.
Grandparents Day, Friday 7th December
Grandparents are kindly invited to come and celebrate Christmas on Friday 7th December from 10.15 to 11am. Pupils from Prep, Reception and Form 1 will recite Christmas songs and rhymes.
International Volunteer Day, Wednesday 5th December
To celebrate the International Volunteer Day, we have organised a variety of trips for the Secondary pupils. These trips are to take place on Wednesday 5th December. Form 6 will be visiting Casa do Caminho in Senhora da Hora. Form 7 will visit Vinculum Animal in Águas Santas, Maia. Form 8 will go to the Lar de Idosos das Irmãzinhas do Pobres in Boavista. Form 9 are visiting the Associação Lavrense de Apoio ao Diminuído Mental in Lavra. Forms 10 and 12 will visit the Associação Portuguesa de Pais e Amigos do Cidadão Deficiente Mental in Aldoar. Finally Form 11 will visit Aldeia de crianças SOS in Gulpilhares.
Stand Up to Bullying Week
Last week was Stand Up to Bullying week when pupils participated in activities and lessons investigating ways to combat bullying, creating a safer school environment. To mark the end of the week, we had a Stand Up against Bullying finale.
OBS Say No to Bullying photo here.
OBS Against Bullying photo here
Pupils must be collected from the Church by 5.30pm please.
Este é o espaço de consulta dos jornais online realizados no âmbito do Media Lab. Foi-nos proposto um desafio à altura de um editor chefe: conceber a Primeira Página do jornal da turma. Com a ajuda dos jornalistas do JN, começa então um projeto editorial onde se noticiou o que se passa à nossa volta. As duas turmas de 7º ano aceitaram este desafio, no passado dia 15 de outubro. Visitem o site http://www.medialab.jn.pt/ojornaleteu.asp
Find out more about the greatest gift you can give your child.
Click here for more information.
Click here for more information.
Auditions on Thursday 11th November.
Suggested reading for Form 7
Please find below a link to list, compiled by Richard Davis, of suggested books eleven year old children should read. Form 7 students are expected to read for a minimum of fifteen minutes per day for pleasure; hopefully your child will find books they would like to read on this list, most of which are available in the school library.
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/books/children-reading-lists-parents-teachers/50-books-children.shtml
Please find attached Curriculum Maps that outline the topics that your son/daughter will be studying this year in each of their subjects. They will provide you with greater information regarding the teaching and learning of your child.
Arrangements for PE and Games lessons and Extra-curricular sports for the year.
New Primary Website
Click here for Primary Website.
Letter from the Head Master
At the end of next week (30.09.2012-04.10.2012) I shall be attending the Annual Conference of the HMC in... Click Here
Updated Administrative Structure, including areas of responsibility, email addresses and direct contact numbers. The intention is for a more responsive, efficient and effective structure to meet the needs of the School and the community.
Congratulations to our Form 12 Leavers
Congratulations to our Form 12 Leavers who have been offered places to read the following courses at university....Click Here
As the start of the academic year is rapidly approaching, we feel a timely reminder of some key information regarding the Primary Section is required. Please read this letter carefully, as it contains useful and essential information.
As the start of the academic year is rapidly approaching, we feel a timely reminder of some key information regarding the Secondary Section is required. Please read this letter carefully, as it contains useful and essential information.
PTA Information
Thursday, 05th July, Speech Day light dinner/supper, from 8 pm onwards, with raffles, tombola, and a bouncy castle for the younger pupils. If you would like to volunteer on the serving stations please let us know. Thank you for supporting this event and for circulating this information to every family at school.
What's on the menu?
Raffle Prizes
Book Fair (direct from the UK)
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Peregrinação a Santiago de Compostela...
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News from the Head Master: Congratulations...
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Head Boy and Head Girl for 2012-2013.
Congratulations to Rishi Lakhani and Rita Vaz Sousa who have been elected Head Boy and Head Girl for 2012-2013... Click Here
Message from the Head Master
I am delighted to announce the following staff appointments for September, 2012...Click Here
BMAT/UKCAT
We are pleased to announce that the preparation workshops for BMAT/UKCAT tests begin Thursday, 17th May with an introduction to the registration process for BMAT and UKCAT... Click Here
O.B.S. World Book Day
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Head Master's Welcome Evening
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Congratulations to Sofia Dimitri Pinheiro
Sofia Dimitri Pinheiro, was awarded the PT “1st prize for... Click Here
Community Links
A new community links section has been added under the OBS Community tab....Click Here
The Oporto British School is delighted to open its doors to your family and friends on Thursday, 26th and Friday, 27th April, between 9.30am and 3.30pm.
You will be able to have a guided tour around the school, observe teachers and pupils engaged in the creative world of learning and see many exciting events that your children enjoy/would enjoy on a daily basis.
Susana Bravo - “The Ballerina, the flight, and the colour at tea time”
Art Exhibition – Galeria Artes, Solar Sto. António
Get Clicking (2012 Photo Challenge)
The 2012 Photo challenge exhibition will be held on Friday, 4th May. All entries must be in by the 27th April.
O.B.S. World Book Day
Click Here for World Book Day PDF
Group T Education
The Senior Section look forward to hosting a group of four trainee teachers from Group T Education College, Leuven, Belgium, from Monday, 06th to Friday, 10th February. This is a new initiative whereby European students will be observing and reflecting on Teaching and Learning and sharing their findings with the Senior Leadership Team. This pilot project will focus on Forms 6 and 7; scheduled lessons will not be altered and the trainee teachers will interview Forms 6 and 7 students for one period on Friday afternoon. At all times the visiting trainee teachers will be supervised by Senior Section staff.
Weekly Senior Section Art Club
Starting Tuesday, 31st January, 1:35pm-2:05 there will be a weekly Senior Section Art Club, Art Room (maximum 20 pupils).
Congratulations to the students in Mr. Cox's Set 1 Mathematics
Mr. Cox's Form 10, Set 1 Mathematics group sat their IGCSE Extended Mathematics examination in November, 2011 (6 months early), and have recently received their results: 100% achieved A*-A, of which 78% achieved the maximum grade A*.
This is excellent news for all concerned and an example for our younger students to emulate in the future.
Climb Mount Everest Fundraiser: Saturday 10th December, 11am
At 11am tomorrow, the Form 11 Nepal Group will be attempting to climb the height of Mount Everest (8850m) using the Climbing Wall in the Sports Hall. Please come and support the event by either cheering on the participants or having a go yourself to help them climb their target!
We ask for a small entrance fee of €2. All money raised will be going towards their volunteer project in helping the orphans of Chitwan. Click on the icon for more information.
OBS Live: The Creative and Media Website
http://obslive.weebly.com/index.html
'All for Nepal' CAS Project 2012, by Miguel Campos (Form 11)
On Saturday 22nd October, Form 11 students took part in the first activity of what will hopefully be a very successful fundraising campaign. We organised a car wash with Ms Mitchell and Mr Stedman and everyone was keen and motivated, including Mrs Rodriges Santos and Ms Dawid who were both amazingly helpful. Parents contributed by bringing cars that left the campus shining and even teachers brought their cars (or caravans) for us to wash. Primary children that were at the school rehearsing for the Drama production were quick to embrace the volunteering spirit, grabbing sponges and helping us with the car washing. Overall, it was a fantastic day where we managed to raise €350 and officially begin our challenge to raise the money for a great cause and for what will surely be a memorable trip.
PTA Breakfast, Monday 24th October 2011
Parents are warmly invited to have breakfast with the OBS Parent Teacher Association on Monday, 24th October, 2011, in the Teage Hall, from 9:00am to 10:00am. This is a new initiative and a good opportunity to get to know our PTA Committee Members for this academic year. The PTA will present the work they carry out for the School, as well as their future plans and proposals.
Harvest Festival Service on Tuesday, 25th October
Parents, Grand Parents and Friends of the School are cordially invited to attend our Harvest Festival Service on Tuesday, 25th October, at 4.30pm. The celebration will take place at the Igreja Stella Maris in Foz.
All children are to be collected from Igreja Stella Maris after the service (no later than 5.15pm). Please would you ensure that you sign your child out with their Form Teacher so we know they have gone home safely.
On Monday, 17 th October Mr Nick Lee will be delivering a seminar on the IB and entry into UK universities.
Primary Inter-house Sports Competition, Monday 10th October 2011
The event will involve all children from Reception to Form 5 and will run from 11.15am to 12.35pm. Children should bring their P.E. Kit to school on the day together with a bottle of water to refill and a hat in case the weather remains hot. Children may wear a plain house coloured t-shirt if they wish. Parents are more than welcome to come and support their children.
In the event of wet weather the morning will be postponed.
During the course of the year 18 determined students from year 9 and 11 have been taking part in training for their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Em Portugal, o dia das crianças é festejado no dia 1 de junho...
The OBS PTA are delighted to announce our first Summer Fayre and Sardinhada, in association with the Tanzania Project. On Thursday 23rd June, we will be hosting an exciting, new, family event which aims to combine a typical British summer time entertainment with the Porto tradition of the São João Festival.
On Saturday 26th March, the School was invited to participate in the English Speaking Union's Public-Speaking Competition...
A spontaneous email was followed by a flurry of ideas, which developed into an ever-growing international exchange...
This year’s Talent Show was fantastic! We saw a great variety of performances, all to a very high standard.
OBS Uniform Shop, 11 May 2011
Please purchase new uniform for the Autumn term 2011 before the end of the Summer term.
In order to save parents from a long wait when we open on Wednesday, 07th September we ask you all to buy the uniform now. The construction of the Senior Block means that the uniform shop is currently working out of very tight quarters. Because of this we foresee that the sale of uniforms in September prior to the first day of school will be extremely busy and slow.
Remember you can always exchange in September if your child grows more than you expected!
Opening times:
Tuesday 8:30-9:30
Wednesday 3:00-4:30
World Book Day is an international celebration of books and reading
Results from the fantastic PTA Photography Challenge and Exhibition
Pictures from the Senior School Production
Coming up soon: "10 things I hate about you"
Reception, Wednesday 30th March - 6pm, Labirinto
Congratulations to the students in Mr. Robson’s Set 1 Mathematics
Mr. Robson’s Form 10, Set 1 Mathematics group sat their IGCSE Extended Mathematics examination in November (6 months early), and have recently received their results. 100% achieved A*-B, of which 56% achieved the maximum grade A*, and 89% secure grades A*-A.
This is excellent news for all concerned and an example for our younger students to emulate in the future.
Michael William Clack
Head of Senior School
"Further to the generous donation made by Oporto British School I attach a short report on the use of these funds, which I hope will be of interest. We would not routinely write a report for a single donation but I thought that given the effort that your students went to it would be appropriate. Many thanks to all students and staff." Christian Richmond, The HALO Trust.
National Sporting Success of OBS Students
On behalf of the Senior Section, I would like to congratulate some of our students on their recent achievements and performances. They have excelled in their individual sports reaching national and international representative levels.
Thomas Perkins
Manuel Bruschy
Green Day 2010
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