💡 At school events teachers often approach parents themselves - it's a chance to get acquainted, not a formal conversation.
💡 Turma is the class (the group of pupils), and sala is the classroom.
💡 In many schools the teacher has an hour for parents (horário de atendimento) - you book it in advance.
💡 A calm Obrigado por me dizer - "thank you for telling me" - shows you're willing to cooperate.
💡 Bullying is called bullying (they say it in English); schools are required to respond, so speak plainly and ask for a meeting.
💡 For foreign pupils schools have the Português Língua Não Materna (PLNM) programme - extra Portuguese lessons.
💡 Homework is trabalhos de casa, often shortened to TPC.
💡 At school you're called the encarregado de educação - the pupil's official contact person; that's also how all letters are signed.
💡 Textbooks in state schools are free - they're issued with electronic vouchers at the start of the year.
💡 At meetings people usually just say: "I'm so-and-so's mum/dad" - Sou a mãe do… / Sou o pai da…
💡 The school usually sends the timetable and rules by email or through a platform - ask to be added.
💡 Contributions to the parents' association (associação de pais) are voluntary; asking about the amount and purpose is normal.
💡 In primary school marks are given in words (Suficiente, Bom, Muito Bom), then from 1 to 5, and in the upper years from 0 to 20.
💡 Asking them to speak more slowly in front of everyone is fine; other parents will often gladly explain again afterwards.
💡 Class parents often have a WhatsApp group - ask to be added: all the up-to-date information is there.
💡 School enrolment is usually done online on the Portal das Matrículas; the office helps if something doesn't work.
💡 For enrolment they often ask for the child's documents, vaccination record, NIF and health service number; bring school records from Ukraine too.
💡 Absences are explained in writing in the diary (caderneta) or on the school platform - within the deadline the school sets.
💡 School transport is organised by the town council (Câmara Municipal); you ask about it at the school or at the Câmara.
💡 ATL (Atividades de Tempos Livres) is after-school care; it's often paid and needs a separate enrolment.
💡 State-school pupils have school insurance (seguro escolar); for it the school files an accident report.
💡 The school phones the pupil's contact person, so keep your number at school up to date.
💡 For a separate menu due to an allergy the school usually asks for a medical certificate.
💡 Lunches are often bought in advance (senhas) at a kiosk or in the school's app; for families on lower incomes meals may be subsidised.
💡 The menu in Portuguese is ementa; at school it's usually put up a week in advance.
💡 Portuguese school food can be unfamiliar (soup every day, lots of fish) - children need time to get used to it.
💡 A school trip is a visita de estudo; without a signed permission slip the child won't be taken.
💡 Farnel is packed food for the journey; for trips they ask you to pack a lunch, water and a cap.
💡 Parents often pay part of the cost of trips; if the sum is a problem, you can quietly ask the class teacher about help.
💡 At the end-of-year party (festa de fim de ano) the children often perform - parents are asked for a costume or a simple item in the class colour.