Projects and Activities

The provision of school meals is the responsibility of municipalities regarding preschool education and the 1st cycle of basic education in public schools.

As part of the “Expansion and Development Program for Preschool Education” and the “Generalization of School Meals for the 1st Cycle of Basic Education” programs, the Municipality has been implementing, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, the provision of school meals at these levels of education, ensuring balanced meals that meet the nutritional needs of children. The meal service is provided in all schools, with management ensured by the Municipality in collaboration with school groups, in partnership with Parish Councils and other social entities.

The Municipality annually launches a public tender for the majority of school cafeterias, which includes the provision of hot meals, with the service being provided by the aforementioned entities. This management also includes daily monitoring of the service and verifying the compliance with contracts, culminating annually in the preparation of a final report. It is also worth highlighting the annual training sessions on hygiene and food safety for cafeteria staff, with support from specialized educational institutions in the area.

The School Fruit Program (SFP) is an initiative of the European Union (EU) aimed at promoting healthy habits and a balanced diet among children, with the goal of changing their eating habits to reduce childhood obesity in Europe (around 22 million children are overweight in the EU, with 5 million of them being obese), as part of the EU strategy on nutrition, physical activity, and health.

The inclusion of fruits and vegetables in the diet can play a crucial role in combating obesity. The consumption of fruits and vegetables reduces the “energy density” of the diet and also plays an important protective role against heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of 400 grams of fruits and vegetables per person. Most Europeans do not consume sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables, with this deficiency being particularly evident among younger people.

Promoting healthy eating habits in schools is a key factor in achieving sustainable results in the long term in the fight against obesity.

The municipality joined the program starting from the 2009/2010 school year and has continued its implementation ever since, recognizing its value, and expanding it to include preschool education. The program includes the distribution of one fruit or vegetable twice a week to all children attending the 1st cycle of basic education, as well as the implementation of monitoring measures. These measures, coordinated annually with school groups, are an integral part of the program and aim to promote educational initiatives and awareness campaigns, ensuring the program’s effectiveness and reinforcing the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables.

The monitoring measure for this school year, to take place in the second school term, is the creation of an Ebook with fruit and vegetable recipes.

National and Community Legislation

• Order No. 10214/2015, of September 14
  It determines the assistance regarding the free distribution of fruits and vegetables to students of the 1st cycle of public schools for the 2014/2015 school year.
• Decree-Law No. 113/2018, of April 30. Establishes the school regime provided for in Regulamento (UE) n.º 1308/2013, of the European Parliament and the Council, of December 17, as amended by Regulamento (UE) 2016/791, of the European Parliament and the Council, of May 11, establishing the national complementary rules for the aid in the distribution of fruit, vegetables, bananas, milk, and dairy products in schools, including the accompanying educational measures and certain related costs, in application of the respective national strategy for the period from August 1, 2017, to July 31, 2023.
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Reg. (CE) n.º 288/2009, da Comissão, of April 7
Establishes the implementation rules within the framework of the fruit distribution scheme in schools.

Amended by:

Reg. (UE) n.º 34/2011, of the Commission, of January 18

Reg. (UE) n.º 1208/2011, of the Commission, of November 22

Reg. de Execução (UE) n.º 30/2013, of the Commission, of January 17
Amendment regarding the community aid for the distribution of fruits and vegetables, processed fruits and vegetables, bananas, and related products to children in educational establishments.

Reg. de Execução (UE) n.º 221/2014, of the Commission, of March 7
Amendment regarding the determination of the indicative allocation of aids.

Reg. Delegado (UE) n.º 500/2014, of the Commission, of March 11
Amendment regarding the granting of aids for accompanying measures within the framework of a fruit and vegetable distribution scheme in schools.

Reg. (UE) n.º 1308/2013, of the European Parliament and the Council, of December 17

Establishes a common organization of agricultural markets and repeals Council Regulations (EEC) No. 922/72, (EEC) No. 234/79, (EC) No. 103797/2001, and (EC) No. 1234/2007.

1st Cycle Distribution Schedule

Preschool Distribution Schedule

The Municipality has decided to continue the Escola+Verde project, as it considers it important to keep addressing environmental issues in order to mitigate any existing gaps. Activities will start in the first term and will continue until the end of April. In the third term, an evaluation will take place, and the “Escola + Verde” award will be given to schools that achieve positive results.

The “Escola+Verde” project covers all Basic Education schools and Kindergartens in the municipality, making a valuable contribution to improving environmental management within the school space, as well as to changing attitudes towards the environment at home and in the wider community, in the pursuit of more sustainable solutions.

Each school/teacher has complete freedom to plan and carry out the activities they deem important, considering the core themes: waste, water, energy, healthy eating, transport, noise, outdoor spaces, and biodiversity, aiming to raise awareness within the school community and improve the environmental quality of the spaces in which the school is situated. The diversity and originality of the activities developed over the years within the project are the key to the success of “Escola+Verde.” As such, it is crucial for the teachers responsible to take photographs of the work/activities carried out in order to provide proof of their implementation and to enrich the school’s application for the “Escola+Verde” award.

The project coordinators from the municipality and the representative of each school group are responsible for confirming and evaluating all the work developed throughout each school year, aimed at protecting the environment and reducing the costs associated with school operations. The evaluation criteria, defined in the project’s regulations, have been adapted and modified over the years, taking into account the natural evolution of the project and the implementation conditions.

OBJECTIVES

• Develop daily attitudes of respect for the environment and sustainability, based on the content worked on in the classroom.
• Implement more sustainable practices in schools.
• Encourage actions that address environmental concerns related to energy, water, waste, and biodiversity.
• Raise critical awareness of the serious environmental issues related to waste produced in the school and the community.
• Raise awareness among students about the importance of the 4Rs for the conservation and preservation of the environment.
• Encourage and promote collective work and cooperation between students and teachers, between the school and the community, to transform, preserve, and recover the ecosystem.
• Produce horticultural products through the creation of organic gardens.
• Encourage actions, recognize, and reward the work developed by the school in improving its environmental performance, management of the school space, and raising awareness within the community.

The blog, created to share best practices carried out under the project, will continue this school year as a way to encourage the sharing of ideas, suggestions, and projects. A Facebook page has also been created, linked to the Municipality’s official page.

The Assisted Teaching Platform used over the past years was originally created out of the need to implement more efficient management of processes related to the education sector, as well as to provide curricular content to the school community in the 1st cycle of basic education, with a more pedagogical approach.

This tool has been improved annually with contributions from the School Groups and other partner entities, and is now an important resource. Its value is reflected in the daily management of school social action, which includes meals and school transportation, as well as in requests for intervention in educational establishments, introducing greater speed in communication and addressing needs. Currently, the platform is responsible for managing the entire billing system for meals and school passes, with the essential contribution and collaboration of those responsible in the process.

The resource optimization this tool allows is evident, as is the effectiveness it has brought in responding to various educational needs.

Given the increasingly proactive role of municipalities in the educational process of their communities, the Education Service has been promoting training actions, in partnership with various entities, in key areas for the development of quality activities, tailored to the needs of children and their families.