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Going worldwide!!!

2011-06-29T19:49:00.003+01:00

It seems that my unpretentious blog has gone global!!! Hip, hip, hurray!!! :))

Another Smashing Show!!!

2011-03-22T22:46:00.001Z

It was today that the Bristol School Theatre Company came to Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, in Vila do Conde! This time, two performances. "Robin Hood" and "Not Romeo and Juliet"... Great moments, a whale of a time!!! For both pupils and teachers! Thank you for having joined in in this great adventure! It was really worthwhile!

2011-02-24T14:26:00.000Z

Someone asked me to do this

I did it for you

I don’t have a lot to say

I just love you

Juliana Pena, 11ºD, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde, 2010/2011

2011-02-24T14:23:00.000Z

You are everything to me

You are the one

I don’t know what more to say

My imagination has gone

Pedro Alvim, 11ºD, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde, 2010/2011

This is my idea of the legend of St.Valentine...

2011-02-22T18:19:00.001Z

I think St. Valentine is a little and semi-naked angel with a beautiful aureole over his head.

That angel is very funny and a joker. He thinks it funny to be playing with the feelings of the persons. When he sees a guy and a girl talking, he takes in his bow and shoots a love arrow straight into these guys, and when the arrow is shot it hits these persons and they fall in love with one another for a few hours. St. Valentine never misses a target, he is the angel which most perfectly shoots. He throws an arrow at the sky and the arrows moves fast and hits the target. Many targets. All people on earth. If the world became crazy, and only St.Valentine cared about making it normal, this angel would have to fall in love and the love arrows don´t have any effect on him. He never falls in love, so it is almost impossible for St. Valentine to fall in love. He doesn´t like any angel to fall in love. He thinks and thinks about it but he can´t find a solution. The other angels always ask him for a solution but the answer is always the same: ‘ I don´t have a solution’. After days and days without a solution the angels of other planets came to Earth, to try and help find a solution. During a counsel of the angels, expecting to find a solution, nothing happens. When St.Valentine comes to the counsel he looks at an angel girl. That angel is so beautiful, he thinks. His heart almost comes out of his mouth. The impossible is happening, St. Valentine is falling in love. But that angel girl doesn´t even look at St. Valentine because she´s distracted with the thing that is happening on earth. When St. Valentine falls that angel doesn´t see him; his heart is hurt and he feels like a lost and unhappy angel. He doesn´t know what he has to do to call the angel’s attention. He almost loses his hopes, when during a meeting of the counsel of the angels that angel girl sees him and at that moment she fall in love with St. Valentine. She comes to him and says ‘I LOVE YOU’ and kisses him. With that kiss a lot of hearts of all shapes are sent to earth and every thing becomes normal again. St. Valentine promises only to help the people and not play with their hearts. And on 14^th February, the date of love between those angels, St. Valentine shoots love arrows to help the people fall in love. I think this is the real story of St. Valentine, the small and semi-naked angel.

Iago Vasques, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde, 2010-2011

2011-02-11T12:33:00.000Z

Love is..

a feeling from the mind and the heart
a boat going nowhere
romance, passion
running, running, running
smiles and heaven
an empty space below our feet
a heartbeat
the melody of the senses.

Patrícia Campos, 11ºI, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, 2010/2011

A Love letter

2011-02-11T11:06:00.000Z

When I see you my heart beats stronger, when you go away it loses its power, and I count the seconds till I see you again. Sometimes I feel I have no force to continue and meet the obstacles, but you are always there and you say "You are strong, you'll get it" and I believe and I gain the strength I had never known existed. When I'm with you I feel important and feel that I can be myself. With you by my side I find myself a different being, a being who is capable of loving someone and making someone feel loved, one being able to do and be happy. A sensitive person, sincere, strong, capable to say what they feel without fear.

When you say "I love you” all is good, the problems disappear, people disappear, everything disappears, I'm just me and you.

I love you

Joana Carvalho, 11ºD, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, 2010/2011

A love story

2011-02-11T11:02:00.001Z

If one day the sky becomes darker,

If one day the dangers are greater,
I´ll look into your eyes

And you´ll make me feel better.
If one day I´ll fail,

If one day the sea loses its blue,
You´ll always be by my side

To show me how our love is really true.

If one day my strength might fail,

If one day a love story does not start,

I know you´ll never leave me alone,
Because you'll always be in my heart.

If one day the sun and the stars do not shine,

If one day I go wrong,

I just ask you to forgive me

And help me to be strong.

If one day I cannot,

If one day your love I miss,

Help me try again,

Hold me and give me just one kiss.

If one day I´m not capable,

Show me everything we did together.

If one day there is pain,

Make me feel that our love is forever.

Pedro Lapa, 11ºD, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, 2010/2011

“Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.” H. Jackson Browne

2010-12-16T21:53:00.000Z

I totally agree with this sentence. It’s very important to find a job, but when we find it five of the seven days of the week will be more tiring, because we will work all day long in these five days. But it’s essential to get a job. Through our job, we can earn money and it’s true that money isn’t everything in our lives, but without money we can’t live. If we earn money, we will give to our family the things that are indispensable in people’s life and thus we can make our beloved ones happy. In my professional future I want to be a doctor. I want to help those in need of help and I think that being a doctor is very hard because sometimes, in this job, people die in front of our eyes, but it’s also fantastic when we save people and when they thank us with a smile.

Pedro Lapa, 11th D, school year 2010/2011, D. Afonso Sanches Secondary School, Vila do Conde

The Spirit of Christmas

2010-12-02T15:16:00.002Z

This is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. We wish for Christmas to come when the first cold days settle in and Winter creeps in... But what about the Spirit of the Season? What does Christmas really mean to you?

This Christmas Tree was made by the students on 10th D, 2009/2010

The World of Work - Unemployment

2010-11-25T19:24:00.002Z

Wishing...

2010-11-25T19:21:00.003Z

What do you wish for?

Chimamanda Adichie - The Danger of a Single Story

2010-11-12T20:28:00.002Z

Hills of Boredom

2010-10-19T23:14:00.002+01:00

We work jobs which don’t meet our spiritual needs

Such a thing that invites tedium

That makes your soul bleed

------------------------------------------------

Time runs like the wind

Through these epic hills

If boredom is something epical

Let’s call this life boredom hills

Pedro Alvim Sequeira dos Santos, Nº 22, 11thD, D. Afonso Sanches Secondary School, Vila do Conde

Back to life!

2010-10-19T23:10:00.000+01:00

Fighting Discrimination

2010-05-19T20:16:00.002+01:00

Teens also get worried!

2010-04-26T19:25:00.000+01:00

When you are a teenager your life should be bliss. Your parents pay your bills, and the only thing you really have to be responsible for is school, and possibly a part time job. So, what things do teens have to worry about? Plenty.

http://www.surfnetparents.com/things_your_teen_worries_about-3776.html

On the topic A World of Many Cultures

2010-04-01T22:58:00.002+01:00

Really worthwhile watching!!! With or without subtitles...

Music - Work from 10K

2010-03-18T15:40:00.000Z

Work Done by: Adriano Silva Nº1 10ºK

The Press - Work from 10D

2010-03-18T15:39:00.000Z

The History of the Press

Gap Year - work from 11D

2010-03-18T15:35:00.000Z

Gap year - 11D

The Impact of Mass Media - Work from 10D

2010-03-16T12:51:00.002Z

Mass Media Impact

The Television - Work from 10D

2010-03-16T12:47:00.000Z

The TV History

The Internet - Work from 10D

2010-03-16T12:45:00.000Z

The Internet History (2)

The Radio - Work from 10D

2010-03-16T12:41:00.000Z

Radio

Extraordinary ad on seat belt!

2010-03-15T21:48:00.002Z

Would you go on a Reality Show?

2010-03-15T16:46:00.000Z

Reality shows exist and they are especially dedicated to showing real-life snapshots of reality... Or is it? I wonder how many Peeping Toms around the world enjoy having a look at the other people's life... Just for the fun of it or for any other dark reason? I just wonder...
As for me, I think my own life and my very own existence would be questioned, if only by myself, if I ever thought of letting the others have a look at it... Am I wrong?

Gap Year - work from 11F

2010-03-09T13:06:00.002Z

Gap Year2

Bullying Is a Big Problem

2010-03-06T22:36:00.002Z

Every day thousands of teens wake up afraid to go to school. Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students, and it has everyone worried, not just the kids on its receiving end. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don't always see it, they may not understand how extreme bullying can get.

Bullying is when a person is picked on over and over again by an individual or group with more power, either in terms of physical strength or social standing.

Two of the main reasons people are bullied are because of appearance and social status. Bullies pick on the people they think don't fit in, maybe because of how they look, how they act (for example, kids who are shy and withdrawn), their race or religion, or because the bullies think their target may be gay or lesbian.

Some bullies attack their targets physically, which can mean anything from shoving or tripping to punching or hitting, or even sexual assault. Others use psychological control or verbal insults to put themselves in charge. For example, people in popular groups or cliques often bully people they categorize as different by excluding them or gossiping about them (psychological bullying). They may also taunt or tease their targets (verbal bullying).

Verbal bullying can also involve sending cruel instant or email messages or even posting insults about a person on a website — practices that are known as cyberbullying.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/bullying/bullies.html

Unemployment

2010-03-01T14:04:00.003Z

video killed the radio star

2010-03-01T14:00:00.002Z

We can see it

2010-02-12T21:19:00.000Z

Too many people say that we can’t see feelings, but I have a different opinion. I think that there is one feeling you can see: LOVE.

We can see love when we look at a child’s smile. When we see the look of a mother towards her child, we see love. When we see the eyes of a grandfather looking at his wife, we see love. When we see a flower in a garden, like a red rose in Spring, we see love. When we see a little boy offering his last cookie to a little girl, that’s when we see love. When we hear a friend telling another “I’m here for you! When you need me, I’ll be there!” we see love in his expression. When we climb a mountain and we look around, we see the wonderful word we have, we see love.

We see it so many times a day, in so many places, so how can people say that we can’t see love? Maybe I’m just a romantic, or not. Perhaps we are too busy going on with our lives to see the simple things. And it’s there thate we can see LOVE.

Mariana Baptista Ferreira, 10^th D, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

2010-02-12T18:03:00.001Z

My love,

When that day I entered the nightclub I thought it would be just another night, I didn´t know how lucky I’d be. I went to the bar to ask for a drink, and when I turned to look at the dance floor, I saw you were there dancing and got totally paralyzed. I felt my heart racing at 1000/rpm and almost run out of my breath.

When you saw me you stared at me and stopped dancing, we both felt that moment as if it was unique, as if only the two of us were there, alone in the world. I went closer to meet you, approached you and said hi, and you kissed me.

Do you remember?

I remember this and all that came afterwards. After this we went to bar and stayed there talking for a long time. It was late and you had to go home. I took you there, and when we arrived you asked me if I wanted to get in. We stayed together for the rest of the night.

Ever since that day you have never left my mind, I’ve kept you in my heart forever. You are life, you are the light that shines on me, you are the most beautiful flower in my garden, you are the flower I water with affection, love and which becomes more and more beautiful every single day. You are the reason why I live. I hope you remember the time we first met and I hope I will remain in your memory forever.

Kisses to you…

A good valentine´s day.

I LOVE YOU

PeiXee, student at Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

A Love Poem

2010-02-06T23:29:00.006Z

Oh, my love is like a red, red rose

That's newly sprung in June,

Oh, my love is like the melody

That's sweetly played in tune.

Robert Burns

Will you give it a try?

2010-02-05T22:35:00.001Z

A SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo.

Valentine's day

2010-02-05T22:06:00.000Z

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.

AI - Artificial Intelligence

2010-02-03T16:55:00.003Z

This is one of the most moving and interesting films I've ever seen related to the topic "Technology". Steven Spielberg at his best? Perhaps... But a great film! I always have to fight back tears!
Take a moment and share your thoughts and opinions on it with me and the rest of the world!

2009-12-21T16:14:00.000Z

A Merry Christmas everyone!

Film Review: “Godsend”

2009-12-02T16:01:00.000Z

It is never too late to see an old film. Although the film is already five years old, I had never seen this movie before, and I don’t regret that at all!

This is the typical film about a “psycho-kid” who wants to kill his mother with an axe. The only fresh issue to add to this old-fashioned portrait is the controversial subject that cloning consists of.

I rate this movie 3 out of 10. It just doesn’t seem like a Mark Bomback film. This film was incredibly inaccurate about science issues, such as “memory genes” and “a mouse that ate another mouse, gaining his memories”: this is nonsense. The plot is wondrously awful and, sometimes, verisimilar, leaving the audience with such a poor ending: the ending scene is very similar to the other ones; it didn’t seem like an ending at all!

I think that perhaps the only positive feature about this film (should we call it film, or Mexican soap-opera?) is the fact that it is absolutely breath-taking in some scenes, such as the one in which Adam sees the shower blind being ripped! The FX crew did an amazing job on that.

Overall, I think this film is rather disappointing. I don’t discard Mark Bomback’s ability to write good plots… I just think that this one simply wasn’t one of his best.

I paid nothing to see this film. If I had seen it at the cinema, I would have fairly claimed a refund. Quoting the comic-book store guy in “The Simpsons” I say: worst movie ever!

José Pedro Fonseca, 11^thD, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

What makes a Portuguese?

2009-11-30T11:03:00.008Z

A Portuguese

...sleeps, sleeps and sleeps

...likes football a lot

...is happy

...is proud of his/her nationality

...is proud of the country’s history

...is smart and courageous

...leaves everything for the last minute possible

...is proud of the country’s good “Fado” singers

...is kind to foreigners

...likes good food

...is hard-working

...stands by his/her family

...is very generous

...is friendly

...smiles quite a lot

...is always late

...speaks a lot and very loud = is a chatter box

...has many close friends

...eats and drinks a lot

...is nosy

10th D, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

“Godsend” movie review

2009-11-30T09:27:00.002Z

The movie “Godsend” is a movie that revolves around a family whose son died when he turned eight, and who they clone when given the chance by the wife’s former Biology teacher, who approached them during the funeral.

They take the chance and clone their son, who seemed normal for the first eight years of his life. When he turned eight, however, he started having nightmares with Zachary, who was the Biology teacher’s son who had also died.

They chase the teacher, who eventually unveils that he had modified their son genetically, inserting some of Zachary’s genes in him.

Their son starts losing control over his own self, acting like Zachary, and after killing one of his friends and trying to murder his own mother, he moves out with his parents in an attempt to get cured.

Nevertheless, even that doesn’t work, as by the end of the movie he gets “possessed” again.

Despite only having watched a small part of the movie towards the ending, I rather enjoyed it even with some of the first part’s details unbeknownst to me. It gives an interesting fictional view on cloning, and it has an unexpected cliffhanger ending.

André Ferreira, 11^th D, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

2009-11-30T09:23:00.001Z

A review on the film "Godsend"

There is a lot to talk about on the movie, but my focus is on the ethical issues regarding what happened in the movie…

I believe that many people find it shocking, what happened in the last third of the movie… Honestly, I don’t have the same opinion.
I think that the doctor did the right thing, because once I saw a medical documentary, more specifically about medical research and trials… And at a given point, a doctor said this: “Things such as Informed Consent, always interfere and delay research and trials, so I don’t let it stand in my way.”

If doctors think this way, who are we to jugde them? If doctors didn’t keep Informed Consent aside , today there wouldn’t be many of the drugs that help us.

Doctors should do what is necessary, in order to make new discoveries, no matter what it takes…

Luís Filipe Arcanjo, 11^th D, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

Another Short Story

2009-11-09T17:27:00.001Z

A nighthmare before Halloween

- Mommy I’m going to the Halloween party at my boyfriend’s – stated Hailey.

- Who told you that?

- I did!

- I’m the one who rules over this place and you’re not going!

- I’m already going, and I’m leaving now!

While she’s going to her boyfriend’s the sky suddenly darkens and she thinks to herself:

- Oh great! Please don’t start raining on me now! I’m going to get soaked! I should hurry up.

Suddenly, the wind blows strong and fiery. A thunderstorm begins. A lightning hits the biggest tree in the park and screams ring out…

Hailey starts to run, she feels as if she’s being watched… She runs faster and faster.

The earth shakes and lava erupts from the ground. In front of her eyes there’s a cliff and she jumps onto the other side.

In a flash of light, she is in her bed with her mother by her side asking her:

- Sweaty, where are you going to this Halloween?

- Believe me, mommy, nowhere!

Alexandra Marques, Ana Catarina ,Cláudia Carvalho, Denise Ribeiro, Francisco Mangas, Henrique Costa, 11^th F, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

A Short Story

2009-11-04T23:31:00.009Z

The sky darkened and the wind got stronger. I held Sophie’s hand and I could feel her tremble. Suddenly the crowd came towards us and we remained still as we saw a gigantic wind whirling and swallowing everything that crossed its path – The Tornado.

Sophie and I started to run, but it was already too late. I felt her hand letting go off mine and I saw her body suspended in the air.

Screams rang out!

When I woke up, I saw nothing but dead bodies and other victims that had suffered the wrath of the tornado. Amongst them was Sophie’s body. I looked around trying to find out where I was. I saw a red cross and some doctors, and I realized that I was in a hospital.

Ten years have gone by and I’m standing in front of my sister’s grave.

Every day I wake up I see myself in the mirror, every time. I still can hear her scream and I can’t do anything but blame myself.

At this point, I just can´t take this anymore. This is when it all ends. No more nightmares. No more guilt.

I have loved you and I will always.

Please forgive me, Sophie,

Jack

André, Ana Catarina, Cátia, Diana, Joana - 11th D, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

A Short Story

2009-11-04T23:09:00.004Z

The Pot of Gold

Once upon a time, in a small village called Hardwick, somewhere around the Middle Ages, on a Halloween day, there were people trying to find a pot of gold hidden inside the big mausoleum located at the top of the Adri Mountain. Every Halloween the dead owner rises from his grave and polishes the pot. Only he knows where the pot is, so whoever defeats him at the Halloween’s night gets the so valuable gold.

At the entrance, there was a Jamaican guard in the form of a statue. The statue was holding a Cuban cigar. He would only open the door if you lighted the cigar. Everyone died trying to defeat the zombie, because he developed giant claws. He’s a mutant zombie.

A drunken family, that was celebrating Halloween, destroyed the statue, which became weed. They decided to smoke the weed. The zombie became aware of their presence. They entered the mausoleum and there was the zombie with his big red eyes full of wrath* and his shinny sharp claws, ready to attack.

John Ahmad said to Joseph Vegetable: ‘’we’re going to die if we don´t kill the thing!’’ Joseph replied: ‘’How am I supposed to know how to kill if I’m completely stoned?’’. Sarah, the witch, said to her husband Peter, the demon: “I’ll cast him a voodoo spell… I just need a photo from his Facebook.’’

Gigi Brushes, their son, took his laptop (yeah, in the middle-ages, laptops already existed) and went to the Wi-Fi spot in the mausoleum. The zombies’ Facebook status was ‘’Resting in Peace’’. Sarah, the witch, then casted the spell, and the zombie turned into ashes. The sky darkened and screams rang out. God was checking his Facebook page, when he looked down and saw their horrendous act. He found it preposterously evil. He came down with all his crew (he also paged the demon’s crew to show up).

They both agreed that they had to be killed. They accomplished the act and they were very happy about it. They were so happy that they organized a party for the whole village. God and Lucifer were the jury of the wet T-shirt contest.

When dawn came, everybody went home and forgot what happened. Only one of them didn’t forget… that person was me, Al-Ahmad, better known as the immortal Arabian leprechaun.

THE END

José Pedro, João Pontes, Sara, Pedro Frutuoso, Gilberto 11^th D, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

2009-11-04T22:53:00.003Z

Why do people learn English?

Nowadays English is the second language most spoken in the world, and it is the global language, so it is very important to learn English, especially for people who work in other countries or travel a lot, for pleasure or for work.

The world has become more and more dependent on English, because now people are more active than in 1950, for instance, and because technology, like the Internet, transports, communication have led us to live in a global era.

André Presteux, 10^th D, Escola Secundária D. Afonso Sanches, Vila do Conde

2009-11-03T22:22:00.005Z

With Sting’s “Englishman in New York” we get the tale of dignified survival, a story about an alien in a place where he doesn’t know the rules, yet carries himself with grace despite the fact.

The song also refers to some differences between the British and the American people.

All in all, it's one of Sting's most iconic songs.

2009-10-20T12:57:00.001+01:00

Arachnophobia, or fear of spiders, is a common phobia.

Photograph by Dan Dexter

Almost everyone is afraid of something and most of the time these fears keep us safe. However, some fears are stronger than usual and become phobias. The word phobiacomes from a Greek word meaning "to be frightened." Arachnophobia, or fear of spiders, is one of the more common phobias. Here are some others:

Agoraphobia—the fear being in open spaces
Coulrophobia—the fear of clowns
Glossophobia—the fear of speaking in public
Nosophobia—the fear of catching a disease
Acrophobia—the fear of heights
Phasmophobia—the fear of ghosts

Some people are afraid of things that seem very unusual.

Triskaidekaphobia—the fear of the number 13
Zoophobia—the fear of animals
Amathophobia—the fear of dust
Macrophobia—the fear of long waits
Chromophobia—the fear of colors

Do you have any phobias?

Source http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Stories/MoreStories/Phobias

2009-09-19T23:59:00.002+01:00

And here I am trying to find something interesting for my students of the Professional Courses! We are going to talk about "I" and "my" family and nothing sounds better than "Ode to my family". Just follow the link, watch and listen...

2009-09-10T21:13:00.002+01:00

Dear all!

Here we are again, afresh, to start a new school year! Some I'm already familiar with; some others are in our school for the very first time. Anyhow, I'd really like to know what you've been doing lately, your thoughts, interests, holidays... Can you kill my curiosity?

The death of an icon

2009-06-27T21:11:00.003+01:00

People die and that's a fact... I think I will never recover from Freddie Mercury's death and now another icon is dead, Michael Jackson!
Some people liked him a lot and some others dispised him... But the truth is that his music will live on forever. One of my favourite songs, along with the video clip, which is really extraordinary, is "Earth Song". The lyrics are so powerful that I've been using the song in my classes for as long as I can recall.

Would you participate on a reality show? Why?

2009-04-24T22:40:00.004+01:00

Reality shows like Big Brother, Survivor, American Idol... Are they really worthwhile watching or are they only meant for Peeping Tom?

"Not Romeo and Juliet"

2009-04-24T21:45:00.005+01:00

Here we are again, this time after the smashing success of the play "Not Romeo and Juliet" by the Bristol School Theatre Company! In a change of heart the actors decided for that play, their favourite one. It took a lot of time and some really tiring and worrisome work, but we made it! Around 160 students for each session. Some plastic bags and the snickers inside them, and the show began! It meant a different English lesson, a funnier and out of the ordinary one. As once somebody put it "Life's hard and then you die!" And it seems that you do it sooner than expected if you're Romeo and Juliet... We all went through some exciting moments, both students and teachers, and the sound of laughs could be heard anywhere in the gymnasium. Some great photos were taken and some of them can be seen at the school library. Just a taste of the things that happened...

She's the One!

2009-04-05T19:44:00.009+01:00

Have you found the love of your life yet? Are you torn apart between two different boys/girls? Have you ever had your heart broken?
On 22nd April you'll find out what it is to be in love at the school gymnasium! Come and join us in a great love adventure! Perhaps you'll find the answer to your quest!

2009-03-28T23:20:00.007Z

“Quando eu morrer hei-de voltar
para viver os momentos que estive longe do mar”
Sophia de Mello Breyner

And the 2nd term has come to its end... Now, there's a time to relax, a time to do some work for "The Place Where We Live Makes Us Who We Are". There's still time to explore the Portuguese poets that so beautifully portray our country and the nature that surrounds us and that has led us to so many places, in so many adventures... Across all boundaries, across all seas and oceans... From Africa to America, from the East to the West... From Camões to Fernando Pessoa, from Mário Cesariny to Sophia de Mello Breyner... And the list goes on.
Nature can be portrayed in so many ways! There are words, for sure, but there are also films, photos, paintings, music, you name it! And then there's our History, one to be remembered at all times, one we should all be proud of. This heritage of ours certainly makes us who we are!

Welcome to 2009!

2009-01-21T15:20:00.003Z

It really has been a long time! It's not always easy to find the time to update this space... Anyhow , the 2nd term is here and now and we'll be working on the short story "The Return of the Moon Man", included in the theme "Technology" during this term and hopefully before Carnival. If you find time enough to start reading it, just do it! It's really a very nice story. Nice and easy!

The story...

2008-10-08T15:43:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time... that's how most stories begin.
We've all been told stories since early childhood: fairy tales, fables, and they're all a part of our life. They help us grow up, they prepare us for the "real world", they speak about values, they draw the line between good and bad, between right and wrong.
Won't you tell me a story?

Surprise!

2008-10-04T15:01:00.000+01:00

The beginning of a school year always means loads of work! Gettin' things ready isn't as simple as one might think and if you don't invest from the very first day, you'll be heading for trouble!
I've got two new classes this year: 10th D and 10th E. They're very different from each other especially when it comes to the number of pupils in each one. On the former, there are 25!!! teens and on the latter I only have to deal with 8! That's the number that kind of represents infinity... So, in a way, this class is a never ending one!
Anyhow, these teens seem eager to learn and to participate on their learning process every step of the way, which is absolutely great when it comes to teaching! Motivation raises interest and interest leads to a strong and powerful will to learn, to absorb new things, to engage in challenges and thus, hopefully, to overcome the obstacles that always appear on the way to knowledge.
I wish my pupils all the best for this school year, not only as far as it concerns their school life, but also when it comes to their growing up as human beings! Sometimes, the only thing you need is to smooth a few edges and, SURPRISE, you've just grown up!

Happy New Year!

2008-09-17T21:22:00.000+01:00

Hi, there, everybody! I' m back! And this must mean holidays are truly, really, over!

So, it´s really true, a new school year has just begun... For some, a fresh start: a new school, new mates, new teachers,... And, then, some say, life is what you make it! This obviously means what you do can be really decisive for your whole future as a person, a friend, a professional, whatever. What matters is that you can make a difference... What you need is only commitment and a strong will power and perhaps dreams will come true!

But who are you, my new friends? I trust my old buddies to remember this space... I only wish the new ones will also come here to tell me who they are, where they come from, what they like, what they want,... There are some many things to know about you!

Algarve!!! The only one!

2008-08-06T18:32:00.000+01:00

Don't you simply hate it when they call this beautiful Portuguese region "Allgarve"? Who the hell had this awful idea? Ok, everywhere you go, you always see a British person, but this piece of land is Algarve!!! And Portugal!

As usual, here Summer is felt in the air, in the water, in the hot sun that shines everyday, sometimes showing no mercy at all... and you feel like diving into the ocean that opens its arms towards you... to embrace you... to caress you... to envelop you... to make you feel as if you were a part of it... as you are!

Here, the smell is different.
Here, the sounds are different.
Here, the heat is... hot, what else?

And you feel free... like the seagulls you find everywhere you go...

Best Thing about Summer?

2008-07-16T21:52:00.000+01:00

One of the best things about Summer... The warmth that embraces the night, especially when you are doing something that you really enjoy!
I'm a music lover, everybody knows that, and I think life without music would be meaningless. As John Miles once put it "Music was my first love, and it will be my last (...) to live without my music, it'd be impossible to do, In this world of trouble, my music pulls me through..."
Well, yesterday I went to Casa da Música to see Milton Nascimento. I don't particularly like Brazilian music, but some singers are worth listening to. Milton Nascimento is one of those! He's that great voice and he plays with it, he manipulates it, he recreates it, you name it! Great songs... He's still good, after all these years...
Next week, Aveiro, here I go! This time, after Caetano Veloso!
It's been a while since I didn't go to any concert, but I'm tryin' hard now to recover for the lost time... You know, you win something, you lose something... And I virtually go all the way to feel this huge pleasure of being there, of just being there... To listen...

Is it almost Summer?

2008-06-04T12:51:00.000+01:00

Now that the school year is coming to its end, that the war has been fought, and we're all wasted, we would gladly welcome HOLIDAYS! But...
No holidays before August... Examinations are on the way (the final battle, or is it?), blocking the view to the sun, the sand, the ocean, to summer.... But, then again, so are the clouds (blocking the view, what else?)
I wonder where Summer has gone... Grey days, shy temperatures, where is the sun?

amy winehouse @ rock in rio lisbon

2008-05-31T14:40:00.000+01:00

Watching SIC Radical last evening I wasn't in the least surprised at the news about Amy Winehouse. She sure has a great voice, but it's a sign of total disrespect for the audience to come to a concert where she was one of the stars so totally late and so totally drunk!
Lenny Kravitz saved the evening and what could have been a disaster as far as the opening of this music festival is concerned. Some great songs to prove the world he's still got it!

just the beginning...

2008-05-28T19:31:00.000+01:00

I've always wanted to have a blog so that there would be a space where thoughts could be spoken, ideas could be shared, doubts could be cleared... Just creating the opportunity, seizing the moment to put your thoughts into words... into English words, to be more precise. A chance to practise your English as freely as possible, without the boundaries of the four walls that somehow make you feel small and smaller.
Why call it thumbelinasfriends? I like Thumbelina. Have you ever heard of her?
Join in this adventure. Who knows where we might be taken...