A Child's Heart

A child's heart is full of love
Bearing all the burden

Holding on to every promise
Even the uncertain..

A child's tears happy or sad
Are real from within

The cries come from their soul
Brought on by confusion..

A child thinks of only good
No matter what has happened

They love their mom and dad
But their souls will never mend..

Hold a child oh so close
Don't ever let them go

A gift from the all mighty
Like the first fallen snow..

Unconditional love
Is all that they say and more

To take advantage of that
Is to tear at God's core..

A child's heart is full of love
Not to bear the burden

But to love life to the fullest
Ever so certain..

~~ Author Unknown ~~

I have chosen this lovely poem to celebrate the International Children' s Day.

Euro 2008 is about to begin

The Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has named his 23-man squad for the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Full squad for Euro 2008:

Goalkeepers: Ricardo (Real Betis), Quim (Benfica), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon).
Defenders: Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bosingwa (Porto), Bruno Alves (Porto), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista), Miguel (Valencia), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Pepe (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Petit (Benfica), Deco (Barcelona), Raúl Meireles (Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), João Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon).
Forwards: Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Simão Sabrosa (Atlético Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Nani (Manchester United), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Helder Postiga (Panathinaikos).
The Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to continue his club heroics on the international stage next month after making the squad and he is joined by the Old Trafford team-mate Nani. The Chelsea new boy José Bosingwa joins Blues the duo Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira in the final squad. The only surprise absentee is the Internazionale midfielder Maniche who played a key role in the Portugal side that reach the final of Euro 2004 and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup. The Valencia defender Marco Caneira also misses out with the Boavista's Jorge Ribeiro getting the nod. The Reserve goalkeeper Rui Patricio is the only uncapped player in the squad.
Portuguese players are set to complete their preparations with a friendly against Georgia on next Saturday, 31st May, ahead of Group A fixtures against Turkey, Czech Republic and Switzerland and Scolari is confident in his squad selection.



Let' s watch the matches and applaud our players.

( adapted from "Sky Sports")

Best Moments of the Portuguese Selection: World Cup 2006

Changing the lives of Orphans around the World

Downhill Cheese Rolling Race

The Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake is an annual event held in the month of May at Cooper's Hill near Gloucester in England. It is traditionally by and for the people of Brockworth - the local village, but now people from over the world take part. The event takes its name from the hill it occurs on. From the top of the hill a round of Double Gloucester cheese is rolled, and competitors race down the hill after it. The first person over the finish line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese, what is very difficult to achieve. Accurate information is hard to come by, but the tradition is at least 200 years old. Suggestions have been made that the event may either date back to Roman times or have been a pagan healing ritual, but there is no evidence for this. Due to the steepness and uneven surface of the hill there are usually a number of injuries, ranging from sprained ankles to broken bones and concussion.

This year the event took place yesterday, 26th May. If you are curious about it and you want to know the race results , click here.

International Children's Day

The International Children's Day (ICD) is celebrated in numerous countries, usually (but not always) on 1st June each year.The United Nations General Assembly recommended in 1954 that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children and of activity promoting the welfare of the world's children.The date of 20 November marks the day in which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989 and is often the day chosen by countries as their own designated day to observe Universal Children's Day. State governments are responsible for passing legislation providing a day and name appropriate for their compliance with the United Nations.

Poverty is a major cause of children becoming separated from the safety and protection of their families. Separated children are often statistically 'invisible' because they are absent from data collected from households, schools, clinics and workplaces. They are living on the streets, in institutions or in forced labour. Over 50 million babies a year are never officially registered at birth.
Every child should have access to Health, Education, Equality, Protection and Love. If you want to help one of the suffering children in the World, contact the Unicef or Red Cross.

adapted from Wikipedia

Sofia Rodrigues - 9th C

Márcia Oliveira - 9th C

Luís Figo Foundation

The Luís Figo Foundation is, a non-profit institution, based on the personality of Luís Figo, a Portuguese citizen moved by an ideal — perfection — and a passion — sports. The foundation seeks to provide children and teens — especially those who are underprivileged — with conditions and opportunities for fully realizing their potential as people and citizens through sports. The foundation also seeks to improve the standard of living of underprivileged children and teens.

The Luís Figo Foundation develops its own social intervention programmes and projects, with the support of its founding patrons, Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo, BPN — Banco Português de Negócios, Coca-Cola and Galp Energia. With the help of third parties the foundation develops and implements its projects, while working with other public and/or private bodies to address pressing social needs.
On 24 January 2008 Luís Figo became a "Stop TB Ambassador". The Stop TB Partnership
which is hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, is a network of more than 600 organizations, countries, patient groups, donors from the public and private sectors, and nongovernmental and governmental organizations working together to eliminate TB. The project's aim is to entertain children and young adults while educating them about TB.
"Tuberculosis is one of the unfairest fouls in the game of life," Figo said on the occasion of the announcement. "I am grateful to the Stop TB Partnership for giving me the opportunity to help protect the world's people against this terrible illness."
And the World is grateful to him to support such noble causes.

If you want to score a goal with Luís Figo click here

Wonders of the World

Various lists of the Wonders of the World have been compiled over the ages to catalogue the most spectacular man-made constructions and natural things in the world.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is the first known list of the remarkable man-made creations of classical antiquity, and was based on guide-books popular among Hellenic sight-seers and only includes works located around the Mediterranean rim. The number seven was chosen because the Greeks believed it to be magical.
Many similar lists have been made, including lists for the Medieval World and the Modern World

(From Wikipedia )

The New Seven Wonders of the World

Technology...like it or not it is here to stay...

Great Victory of Manchester United

What the Papers say:

THE TIMES:

Fifty years after the Munich air disaster in which eight of the club's players died, Manchester United were last night crowned champions of Europe for the third time... The clock at the Luzhniki Stadium showed 1.34am before the best of England could be separated.

THE INDEPENDENT: Extraordinary, unbelievable, unforgettable. Decided by the Russian roulette of penalties, Manchester United won the European Cup in last night in Moscow but not before John Terry missed the penalty that would have delivered the prize to Chelsea.

DAILY MIRROR: Edwin van der Sar was mobbed by his jubilant team-mates after saving Nicolas Anelka's penalty as Manchester United won the Champions League in a dramatic shoot-out... The men with history on their shoulders passed the ultimate test of courage last night to crown themselves kings of Europe.

31st May - World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31. The member states of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. It draws global attention to the tobacco epidemic and to the preventable death and disease it causes. It aims to reduce the 3.5 million yearly deaths from tobacco related health problems. From 1988 the WHO has presented one or more World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) Awards to organizations or individuals who have made exceptional contributions to reducing tobacco consumption.

Wikipedia

International Museum Day _ 18th May

The International Museum Day has been celebrated all over the world since 1977. Each year, a theme is decided on by the Advisory Committee.The event provides the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and alert them to the challenges that museums face if they are to be - as in the ICOM definition of museums - "an institution in the service of society and of its development".

It has been recommended that this celebration be held each year on 18 May (Given that each country has its own specific traditions and conditions, we recommend that members organise their events around 18 May), in the spirit of the motto: «Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, co-operation and peace among peoples »

The International Council of Museums

International Day of Families- 15th May

The family plays a very important role, regarding the emotional support to resolve internal and external conflicts of their members and consequently of society.
To celebrate this date some students have expressed their feelings.

_ My family is very important to me. My parents help me whenever I need.
We need a family as the heart needs a beat.

( Vanessa 9th F)

_ I like my family so much! They always support me.

( Ana Lima 9th F )

_ My family is a piece of me.

( Ana Silva 9th F )

_ I love my family!They are a shelter to me.

( Carlos Filipe 9th F)

_ A dedicated school, an example to follow, a family like mine, is special and wonderful.

( Daniela 9th F )

_ My family is important to me because without it I did not exist. I feel the will to overcome my difficulties as they are always present to protect me. I love my family!

( Maria José 9th F )

_ I like going out with my family. My grandfather is amazing because he always has a new story to tell me. I love my family!

( Fábio 9th B )

Friendship

As the lyric of the Queen's song says, "Friends will be friends".
Friends can help us in difficult moments.
When we are sad, in love, disappointed, "lost"...
True friends are the ones who are always around when we need, in good or in bad moments.
We have our virtual friends, as well, but we recognize the importance of talking face to face with our friends, in a real-world friendship.

Filipa Ferreira; Joana Ferreira; Marcelo; Tiago _ 9th B ( 2008/ 2009 )

Friends will be friends,

When you're through with life and all hope is lost.

Hold out your hand cos right till the end

Friends will be friends.

( Queen )

Europe Day

On the 9th of May 1950, Robert Schuman presented his proposal on the creation of an organised Europe, indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations.

This proposal, known as the "Schuman declaration", is considered to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.
Today, the 9th of May has become a European symbol (Europe Day) which, along with the flag, the anthem, the motto and the single currency (the euro), identifies the political entity of the European Union. Europe Day is the occasion for activities and festivities that bring Europe closer to its citizens and peoples of the Union closer to one another.

http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/9-may/index_en.htm

Voluntary Work

Would you like to become a Volunteer?

In a recent American survey, teenagers gave three reasons for doing voluntary work. Most importantly, helping people who were in need, made them feel good. Secondly, they liked working for causes that they supported. The last reason, however, was more surprising. Most volunteers said their work made them better students and that challenging voluntary work helped them think clearly about future career possibilities. In fact, voluntary work teaches teenagers how to deal with people and problems and how to be pragmatic. They also enlarge their skills and it is good for their curriculum vitaes. Teenagers who do voluntary work are more attractive to employers.

(adapted ) "Bright Lights"-9th form

15th May - International Day of Families

International Day of Families was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 20 September 1993. This annual observance reflects the importance the international community gives to families as basic units of society as well as its concern regarding their situation around the world.The International Day of Families, celebrated on 15th May, provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families as well as to promote appropriate action.

www.FamTecRep(adapted)

Earth Day Poem

EARTH DAY

Earth Day, Apr. 22, a day to celebrate the environment. The first Earth Day was organized in 1970 to promote the ideas of ecology, encourage respect for life on earth, and highlight growing concern over pollution of the soil, air, and water. Earth Day is now observed in 140 nations with outdoor performances, exhibits, street fairs, and television programs that focus on environmental issues.

EARTH POEM

I am the Earth
And the Earth is me.
Each blade of grass,
Each honey tree,
Each bit of mud,
And stick and stone
Is blood and muscle,
Skin and bone.
And just as I
Need every bit
Of me to make
My body fit,
So Earth needs
Grass and stone and tree
And things that grow here
Naturally.
That's why we
Celebrate this day.
That's why across
The world we say:
As long as life,
As dear, as free,
I am the Earth
And the Earth is me.

by Jane Yole