This summer, for the fifth year in a row, Novabase and CAISL teamed up to provide an official summer school program to teach English and Technology to Sintra public school students entering Grade 5.
For three weeks between June 21 and July 16 2010, ninety students from the Sintra Concelho participated in a full-day summer school program, taking classes in English and Computers along with supporting activities in Drama, Art/Music and Athletics. As in previous years, the program integrated skills and knowledge across curriculum. Each day was assigned a theme which was introduced and reinforced in each subject area. For example for the ‘food and beverage’ theme, the students would learn the vocabulary in English, experiment with clay in Art, create a menu in computers, and incorporate it into sports games in athletics. Students were assessed on a week-by-week basis to track their individual progress in both English and computers.
The students were divided into three groups of 30 and attended courses at one of three locations: CAISL, Escola EB 2-3 Padre Alberto Neto, or Escola EB 2-3 Visconde Juromenha. This arrangement allows the program to further integrate into the Sintra community and sets the stage for the program’s continuation in local schools in future years.
The summer school program culminated in an elaborate Closing Ceremony held at the Academia da Força Aérea in Sintra, and with the support of the Ministry of Education and the Sintra city hall. During the ceremony the three summer school groups had a chance to present their work, and the audience was treated to a variety of performances showing off the new skills of the students. There was drama, dance, computer arranged movies and much enthusiasm! Student artwork was displayed in the lobby as well. Speakers at the ceremony included Rogério Carapuça, President of Novabase; Jason Evans, US Embassy Representative; Dr. Frederico Eça, Director of the Education Department from Sintra Câmara; and Coronel Manuel Cortês, representing the Academia da Força Aérea - each lending support to the summer school program. After the speeches, a card signed by all the students was dedicated to Rogério Carapuça as a “Thank you” for the Novabase sponsorship
The ceremony ended with food, drink and cakes, celebrating another successful year of Summer School.
- Photos of Event
