A.S.A. NEWSLETTER OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2024 | |
VOL.2/ ISSUE.1/JANUARY 2025 | |
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Dear Parents and guardians,
Time indeed has wings. We have already reached the completion of our First semester of Academic Year 2024-25. It has been a highly rewarding year as our Executive Director Mr Marcos Agostinho has been on an expansion spree. We got into collaborations with Arizona State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Columbia University, and Knowledge First Academy. We attended NACEP (National Alliance of Concurrent Enrolment Partnerships) held in Orlando, Florida. All these efforts are dedicated towards our Early College High School vision. It empowers our High School (HS) students to enroll for university courses and thus graduate with an associate degree, dual enrolment pathway. The sky is the limit for HS students at American Schools of Angola.
We also take this opportunity to express our gratitude for the generous participation by you all towards our Spirit of Giving: Annual Food Donation drive. We could gift smiles to over 600 families.
We wish to you all a prosperous and rewarding new year with extraordinary opportunities to learn, grow and contribute.
Happy New Year
Dr. Babita Parashar
Academic Director
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⭐HAPPY PARENT'S TESTIMONY⭐ | | |
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Enrolling my son at The American School of Angola was our best decision. In just a few months, I've seen incredible growth in my son Gustavo's confidence, creativity, and ability to communicate effectively. The teachers have been outstanding in their support, taking the time to understand his needs and tailoring their approach to help him thrive academically and socially. I couldn't be more grateful for the American School's positive impact on his journey so far.
Claudia Sales
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Mr. Jayrald Jose Steve Middle School Coordinator and Science Lead at American Schools of Angola is a professional par excellence. Dedicated, passionate and innovative are just few of his attributes.
Mr Steve, American Schools of Angola highly appreciates your presence and contributions.
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NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | |
The Executive Director of the American Schools of Angola, Marcos Agostinho, accompanied by the Minister of Territorial Administration of Angola, Dionísio Fonseca, and Mayor of Luanda Milca Caquesse paid a visit to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) with the aim of strengthening cooperation ties and exploring collaboration opportunities in education and technology. During the visit, the Executive Director was received by NJIT administrative representatives, who shared insights on the institution's academic programs and technological innovations. | |
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Marcos Agostinho was honored by the prestigious Black Indie Filmmakers Association (BIFA), in partnership with the Harambee Art Gallery, for his crucial role in promoting and strengthening cultural initiatives that connect artists on a global level.
The recognition took place at the latest edition of the renowned BIFA Awards, held from 3 to 6 October in the city of Houston, United States of America, celebrating their brilliant work in the artistic communities of Luanda and Houston.
The event, which included film screenings, lectures, and high-level exhibitions, highlighted their commitment to artistic development, both in Angola and internationally, consolidating Angola's name as a global reference in the arts.
ASA and Resiliart Angola congratulate their Executive Director on this great and prestigious achievement!
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On this World Mental Health Day, we reaffirm our commitment to the emotional well-being of ourselves, our friends, family, and the community at large.
ASA Ambassadors are dedicated to spreading light and nurturing an environment of care, kindness, and compassion so that everyone can reach their full potential. American Schools of Angola walks the extra mile to nurture the well-being of its team.
A fun-filled and reflective session on mindfulness was organized for teachers, administrative, and support team members.
“It’s okay not to be okay” has been the theme of the day.
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PINK OCTOBER - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS | |
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We acknowledge Pink October as a way to raise awareness about breast cancer, with the primary goal of promoting prevention, early diagnosis, and access to appropriate treatment.
We held the Breast Cancer Awareness Drive, an initiative focused on raising awareness about breast cancer. The event featured medical experts who provided valuable information on prevention, treatment, early diagnosis, and healthcare.
This special activity reflects our commitment to educating and promoting the well-being of our school community, emphasizing the importance of prevention.
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On United Nations Day, our students took part in an inspiring lecture with Dr. Ryszard Fung from the United Nations. She discussed the UN’s role in promoting peace, human rights, and sustainable development. The event provided students with a valuable educational experience about global challenges and the impact of the United Nations on the world. | |
TEACHERS' PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | |
The Professional Development session with our academic staff was a creative and interactive activity designed to promote well-being in a relaxed environment while also developing skills. In our ongoing pursuit of excellence and innovation, we conducted this activity to foster professional growth within our team. This event was not just a chance for learning; it provided a space for reflection, idea exchange, and strengthening the connections among team members. | |
Halloween was an unforgettable spooktacular event! Students and teachers came together for a day of creativity, thrills, and fun. The event featured costume contests, trick-or-treating, face painting, and games. Each grade brought unique themes to life, showcasing the students’ talent and teamwork. The community joined to make it a memorable experience, highlighting the spirit of togetherness and joy. | |
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We celebrate Angola’s Independence Day to honor the courage, resilience, and determination of those who fought for our nation’s freedom.
We aspire for unity, peace, and development to remain the core pillars of our country, guiding us toward a future of prosperity and dignity for all Angolans.
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Angola Independence Day
My tribute to Angola 😊
Angola gained its independence in 1975 after centuries of Portuguese colonization.
Despite the long years that have linked Portugal (the metropolis) to Angola (the colony), today the Portuguese school curriculum still devotes little time to mentioning this admirable country.
However, Angola has a special position in Africa. No other country on the continent suffered war during so many years before a firm post-colonial order was settled. A war has always consequences, it is not easy to recover from it. Nevertheless, those heartbreaking times led to a strong and generous people!
Marta Bickel
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BLUE NOVEMBER - AWARENESS DRIVE | |
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The Blue November Campaign raises awareness of the importance of early prevention and diagnosis of prostate cancer. By encouraging conversations around men’s health, we aim to challenge taboos and provide essential information on prostate cancer and prevention strategies. We believe that proactive health measures are vital.
we hosted an enlightening talk on prostate cancer, emphasizing the importance of awareness and early diagnosis as part of our Blue November activities. This global campaign seeks to raise awareness among men about the importance of prioritizing their health and scheduling regular check-ups.
Dr. Antonio Sales and Dr. Remigio Mundo, esteemed medical experts, led the discussion, addressing key topics such as risk factors, symptoms, and preventive measures. They highlighted the impact of a healthy lifestyle—balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and consistent medical follow-ups—while also underscoring the vital role families play in encouraging men's health.
This initiative aims to break down stigmas and reinforce the power of information as a life-saving tool.
At our institution, we proudly declare this Blue November:
✨ Prevention is the best medicine. ✨
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Blue November was an event we had at school.
Overall, it’s meant to bring awareness to men’s health especially prostate cancer which is a serious topic, and I can see why they wanted to highlight it.
The event had some fun parts like games and activities to get everyone engaged and that was nice. Some of the topics they talked about were a little uncomfortable to me such as when they went into detail about the risks and symptoms of prostate cancer.
I realize that it’s an important subject but hearing about it in such a direct way made me feel kind of awkward, but I still think that the event had a good purpose!
They reminded us how important it is for men to go to the doctor and to take care of their health and even though most people (including me sorry) laughed and joked around I could tell some people were really listening and thinking about it.
It is worth it having events like this at school!
We all learn more about serious issues!
Shael Lemos
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SPORTS DAY & THANKSGIVING | |
Sports are more than just movement; they embody integration, resilience, and teamwork. Our Sports Day was a tremendous success! 🎉 Throughout the day, students, teachers, staff, and families engaged in various sporting activities that tested not only their physical abilities but also their hearts and minds. 🏃♂️⚽🏀 With exciting games, enthusiastic cheers, and a strong display of sportsmanship, we reinforced the values that unite us: respect, collaboration, and diversity. Thank you to everyone who participated in this incredible event! 💪✨ We will continue to promote well-being, health, and friendship within our school community. We look forward to seeing you at the next Sports Day! | |
CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS SESSION | |
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Today, we conducted an awareness session on cybersecurity aimed at educating students about the challenges and risks of the digital world. The event was led by Manuel Santos Jr., IT Project Manager, @cyber0angola who presented relevant and thought-provoking topics to the audience.
The session encouraged active participation from the students, who asked questions and shared their experiences regarding internet use. Some highlights included discussions about the impact of social media on privacy and the dangers of sharing personal information without taking precautions.
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🎥✨ A Special Day Beyond the Classroom ✨🎥
Today, our students embarked on an exciting journey of learning and fun outside the classroom! 🌟 We took our elementary schoolers to the cinema and playground, offering an unforgettable experience that nurtured their educational, social, and emotional growth.
Rainy weather couldn’t dampen their spirits as they watched Moana 2, sharing laughs, applause, and joy. This movie day was more than just entertainment—it was a chance to build friendships, foster teamwork, and create cherished memories beyond the school walls.
Moments like these remind us of the importance of holistic education, where every smile and cheer adds to their journey of growth. ❤️
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On our campus, we organized an Art Fair to raise funds for essential goods to be donated to underprivileged families in the Futungo Urban District and on Mussulo Island.
From December 14th to 21st, at Shopping Fortaleza and Shopping Talatona, come paint with your heart and donate with passion!
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of many families!
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🎄This Christmas, we brought joy and solidarity to hundreds of students at Complexo Escolar No. 9037 in Futungo de Belas. We distributed over 200 food baskets, helping ensure a dignified holiday meal for many families.
In addition, we planted trees with the Administrator of the Futungo Urban District, Rosa Coelho, as a symbol of renewal and hope. Together, we also collaborated on the creation of a community garden, promoting environmental education and healthy eating habits.
Christmas goes beyond gifts: it’s about sharing transformative moments and building a better future for everyone. Together, we made this Christmas an unforgettable celebration, showing that the true magic lies in every act of solidarity.
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End-of-Term Celebration: A Time to Reflect, Unite, and Celebrate!
The end of the term is a truly special time in the school calendar, offering moments of reflection, celebration, and joy. It’s a time when students, teachers, and families come together to acknowledge a term filled with learning, achievements, and shared experiences.
This year, our celebration was filled with excitement and togetherness, featuring moments of social interaction, delicious shared meals, a captivating cinema session, and artistic performances that showcased incredible talents through dancing, singing, and more!
At the American Schools of Angola, we cherish every moment of growth and creativity. Congratulations on a successful term, and here’s to even greater achievements ahead!
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Cultural Tour of Angola
A land of echoes, deep and vast,
Where centuries of stories cast,
In colors bright and shadows old,
A culture rich, a history bold.
Through fields of art and ancient stone,
Where hands long gone have carved and shown
The rhythms, roots, and lives they led,
In hues of earth, in lines of red.
From rock to canvas, clay to song,
Angola’s spirit beats so strong;
Each piece, a thread of woven grace,
A mirror of heritage’s trace.
To walk this path is to explore,
The heart of Angola, and much more—
A chance to see, to feel, to know
The soul of a land, alive and whole.
Ana Sirgado
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Angola, a big and beautiful country,
Angola, a country rich in history.
Angola is a beautiful country like the people who live there.
A country where you can find unique plants, animals, and people, along with a warm and welcoming climate.
What I like about Angola is the hot climate, the beaches, the way of the Angolans, the language, and the games.
Angola became independent on November 11, 1975, also called "Independence Day". The day Angola achieved its own freedom, the day we honor those who sacrificed themselves for our independence.
Even with all that. Agola still has its flaws, but what I admire is the fact that Angola is trying to improve and evolve.
While the government resurfaces the roads with sand, police and firefighters work to keep people safe, communities cleaning up trash from the streets, and so much more.
I love Angola, and with that I believe we can change for the better. With that, I love Angola and wish good luck to all Angolans.
Olivia Fragoso
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United Nations
When the activity started, I was a little nervous, but I managed to pay attention. I had studied for this event, but I couldn't answer Ms. Fung's questions because I was so nervous…
When my school mates started asking questions Ms. Fung answered to one of them that she was coming from Macau and I was strangely familiar with this name but I didn’t know anything about Macau so I decided that after that presentation I would research more about it!
The proposal Ms. Fung made to us to join the United Nations when older, is interesting because perhaps I would acquire some knowledge but of course, it is not what I want. After all, I have already planned my life but perhaps I could include the United Nations as part of it, perhaps…
Interestingly, they have people from all over the world because it facilitates meetings, activities, and business.
I think it's very professional of them to try to avoid talking about the subject of the special military operation that Russia is carrying out in Ukraine. But I've been following this for months.
Ms. Fung is a good person who enjoys her work, and I think it's good to have workers enjoying their jobs at the United Nations because those are the people who will work more efficiently!
I liked the activity very much!
I was nervous at the beginning but it was fun!
Jadiel Neto
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On the 24th of October it was the United Nations Day an expert from the came to ASA.
Her name was Ms. Fung, and she was from Asia.
She talked about the United Nations, the importance of it, about several countries members and mentioned its goals. The most relevant goal of the UN is to achieve peace all around the world. I think that Peace is very important because without it we all feel insecure.
She gave some flyers to the students so that we could learn a bit more about world peace and all the amazing things this organization has accomplished around the planet.
She did a little quiz with 4 questions as a way of interacting with us pupils of ASA. It was an enjoyable moment! Many of us wanted to participate!
She also encouraged us to join the UN one day. I’ll give it some thought! It might be a great experience!
Bleer Veloso
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Halloween
When we were decorating the room I was thinking about big things, one was that I wanted to come disguised so I started thinking about coming as a mummy but that opened further my mind, and I thought of coming as Pharaoh. Then I started drawing a picture of what my costume would look like and it was going well but when I least expected it, there was just one day left until Halloween! And hey I had to give up on the idea, which made me very sad because I really wanted to come as Pharaoh.
When I arrived at school I thought that my mates would come wearing cool costumes but in fact, they were quite normal and not scary at all. There were incidents that for the good of everyone and my own mental state I want to forget. I was always a person who at parties liked to stay in the corner and this time it was no different. I slept, woke up, and watched some food videos. After that, I went for a delicious marshmallow experiment. Then, I was so tired that I slept in the living room and I lost the hunt to the treasure! My colleagues said that it was funny and that they got a lot of sweets. Too bad I missed that. However, I enjoyed all the rest, and I had lots of fun during our Halloween party. It was great!
Jadiel Neto
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Organizing Halloween was very good, we listened to music, sang together, painted, carded a lot of cardboard. It was a very difficult job, but it was worth it, and we had a lot of fun. We spent one week preparing our party!
One of the watermelons we used for the games fell and ruined everything, but we found a solution and it was also gratifying to see the children happy.
Ariane Fuema
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Thanksgiving
On November 26, we had one of the best days ever — a mix of Sports Day and Thanksgiving. Honestly, it was such a blast.
The day kicked off with Sports Day, and I was on the Blue Team with Ariane, Bleer, Kwanda, Benevenito, Miss Carla, and a few of the staff. The other teams were the White, Red, Yellow, Green and Black Teams. We played a ton of games — everything from relay races to tug-of-war. My favorite games were the race and the tying shoes game. The race was so intense, and it really got the adrenaline going. But the tying shoes game? That was hilarious! Trying to work together to tie all our shoes in a perfect line was harder than it sounds, but we were all laughing so much.
At first, people were saying our team wasn’t looking too strong. Some even joked we weren’t going to win, but we didn’t let that get us down. We just kept pushing through, trying our best and having fun with it. And in the end, we totally shocked everyone by coming in first place! We were all so proud. It felt amazing to prove the doubters wrong, but more than that, it was about how we came together as a team. Everyone gave their best effort, and it really paid off.
The other teams, like the White, Red, Yellow, and Green Teams, were all great too, but we had the most fun celebrating our victory. After all the games, we headed downstairs for some food. It was the perfect way to chill out after all that excitement.
The food was laid out, and we all dug in. We had sandwiches, snacks, fruit, and some sweets. Nothing too fancy, but it didn’t matter. We were all just hanging out, chatting, and laughing together. It wasn’t the big Thanksgiving feast you might picture, but it was exactly what we needed — good food, good company, and lots of laughs.
Looking back, the whole day was just perfect. Between the games, the laughs, and all the time spent with friends, it really made me appreciate everything. It was a great reminder of how much fun it is to spend time with the people you care about, and how simple moments can be the best ones. I’m so thankful I got to be part of it.
Clara Gaspar
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Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada, centered around gratitude, family, and community. It traditionally marks a time to give thanks for the blessings of the past year, often symbolized by a shared feast with loved ones.
The origins of Thanksgiving trace back to 1621 when Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people celebrated a successful harvest together. This event, often considered the “First Thanksgiving,” represented cooperation and shared resources. However, it is important to acknowledge the complex history and relationships between settlers and Indigenous peoples, which adds depth to the meaning of the holiday.
In modern times, Thanksgiving has evolved into a day of reflection and celebration. Families and friends gather to enjoy meals that often include turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Beyond the food, the holiday is a time for connection, charitable acts, and expressing appreciation for life’s blessings. Thanksgiving reminds us of the value of gratitude and the importance of coming together as a community.
Shael Lemos
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