Exciting Highlights from December & January
February 2, 2025

As we step into 2025, Aspire International School (AIS) reflects on a successful start to the academic year. From outstanding student achievements to exciting extracurricular activities, our school community continues to thrive. Here’s a look at some of the latest updates, accomplishments, and upcoming events shaping our learning journey.

A Warm Welcome to the New Year

Although January is already behind us, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our AIS families. Your ongoing support and collaboration are invaluable in fostering an environment where students can flourish. We look forward to a year filled with learning, growth, and success!

Your Feedback Matters: Parent & Student Surveys

At AIS, we continuously strive for improvement, and we value the input of both parents and students. Thank you to all the parents who took the time to complete the end-of-term survey—your insights can help us refine our approach and enhance the educational experience.

Students also had their say through a learner survey, ensuring that their voices were heard and their experiences considered. We believe that happy, motivated students achieve their full potential, and their feedback is essential in shaping a positive learning environment.

If you haven’t completed the parent survey yet, there’s still time! You can share your thoughts here: Survey Link.

Your Feedback Matters: Parent & Student Surveys

Academic Excellence: Raising Standards in 2025

The secondary school has kicked off the year with a strong academic focus. The term started with A-level module exams, quickly followed by the release of GCSE and A-level results from the October and November sittings. We are incredibly proud of our student's achievements, with several notable successes:

  • Mayra Boevska made an extraordinary leap in Economics, improving her grade from a 3 to a 9, showcasing perseverance and dedication.
  • Sofia Powers-Ruiz impressed everyone by sitting her English exam two years early, earning a grade of 7.
  • Julia Berglund accomplished a rare feat by achieving full marks in her English exam—an outstanding achievement!

Additionally, Key Stage 3 students have been undergoing assessments in English, Maths, and Science, with reports for Years 7, 8, and 9 set to be released next week. Looking ahead, our focus now turns to Year 11 students, who are preparing for their final exams in May.

Year 11 students, who are preparing for their final exams in May with Ian Bailey

At Aspire International School we are committed to their success through:

✔️ Life Skills lessons that emphasise SMART goal setting and effective revision planning.

✔️ A staff-student mentoring program, offering individualised support.

✔️ Older students mentoring younger pupils, fostering academic growth and leadership.

Our mission in 2025 is clear: raising standards and ensuring every student reaches their full potential.

AIS & Almancil School: A Sporting Partnership - Sports are an essential part of student development, and we’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Almancil School. This collaboration will open doors for exciting inter-school sporting events, community engagement, and skill-building opportunities.

To kick things off, our students recently enjoyed an afternoon of badminton and indoor rock climbing at the Almancil Pavilion. We look forward to many more friendly matches and athletic experiences in the months ahead!

Community engagement, and skill-building opportunities

Exploring the Past: Primary School’s Ancient Civilisations Project at AIS, we go beyond the curriculum to create engaging, interactive projects that unite classes and bring learning to life. This term, our primary students are diving into history by exploring ancient civilisations, including:

  • The Egyptians
  • The Stone Age
  • The Greeks
  • The Romans
  • The Vikings

Each class will collaborate to create a book based on their research and discoveries. At the end of the term, students will receive a real printed copy of their book, celebrating their hard work and creativity. This cross-curricular project integrates Geography, History, Music, English, Portuguese, and Art, helping students connect their knowledge across subjects.

To celebrate their achievements, primary parents will be invited to an author-signing event, where students can showcase their published work. We can't wait to see what they create!

A Special Guest in Year 3. Our Year 3 students were fortunate to welcome Dr. Erich Fisher, a senior research scientist at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behaviour. Specialising in African prehistoric archaeology and human evolution, Dr. Fisher led an insightful discussion on the Stone Age, sparking curiosity and excitement among students.

Excitingly, Dr. Fisher is launching a kid-friendly podcast exploring maritime adaptations in human history. Stay tuned for updates and check out the trailer here: Before Us Podcast. Innovative & Interactive Learning: “Wow” LessonsAt AIS, we recognize that every child learns differently. While some thrive with traditional methods, others benefit from hands-on, interactive lessons that make learning exciting and memorable.

Dr. Erich Fisher, a senior research scientist at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Archaeology

Our teachers work hard to design engaging lessons that encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and real-world application of knowledge. These “wow” lessons help students stay motivated, curious, and eager to learn. We’re incredibly proud of our dedicated teachers for their creativity and effort in making education enjoyable for every student.

Due to Popular Demand: Our Second Fair is Coming!

Following the overwhelming success of our first multicultural fair, we are excited to announce our second fair on March 21st! This event will feature new initiatives, fresh activities, and even more opportunities for fun and community engagement. Mark your calendars, and stay tuned for more details—we can't wait to share what’s in store! Exciting Upcoming Events Secondary School:

  • University Fair – Learn about higher education opportunities.
  • Global Maths Challenge – A test of problem-solving and logic skills.
  • Inter house Science Competition – A friendly academic challenge.

Primary School:

  • Spelling Bee Competition – A test of vocabulary and spelling skills.
  • Visit to ASCA – Lar de Almancil – A meaningful community outreach experience.
  • Market Visits – Learning through real-world interactions.
  • Ski Trip to Italy – An adventure of learning and fun on the slopes!

At Aspire International School, we encourage our students to be kind, work hard, and reach higher. We look forward to another term of incredible achievements, learning experiences, and exciting events. Stay connected with us for more updates, and thank you for being part of our vibrant AIS community!

Author - Daniela André

Latest Similar Events