| Years 2–6 | Pre-Primary & Year 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-off window | 8:05 – 8:30 AM | 8:05 – 8:55 AM |
| Morning Circle | 8:30 AM | 9:00 AM |
| Re-entry window | From 8:50 AM | From 9:30 AM |
Drop-off closes when Morning Circle begins. If you arrive after the drop-off window closes, please do not bring your child to the classroom. Wait outside until the re-entry window, when a staff member will bring late arrivals in calmly without disrupting the group.
Hypha does not have a daily school uniform, but every child should have at least one Hypha t-shirt. We request it for field trips and school-wide events including school photos — these are always communicated in advance.
For daily wear, children should wear a plain t-shirt, full-length trousers or long shorts, and closed shoes suitable for running and outdoor play. A sun hat and layers are needed every day.
Please do not send children in skirts or dresses, open shoes, flip-flops, crocs, or ballet flats. Avoid metal necklaces, long earrings, and loose accessories that could catch during play.
The following items stay at school: waterproof jacket and trousers, and wellington boots. Water bottles also stay at school and are returned on Fridays — please send them back on Monday.
For Pre-Primary children, wellington boots with handles are recommended as they support independence. Label everything with your child’s name.
Only adults listed as authorized pickups in Rhyza may collect your child. To add someone new, submit their details through Rhyza at least four hours in advance. If the person is not a Hypha parent, upload a copy of their photo ID at the same time.
If we cannot verify who someone is, your child will not be released to them. If a person arrives to collect your child and is not on the authorized list, staff will contact you immediately. Your child will remain at school until a parent or authorized adult arrives.
If you would like to mark your child’s birthday at school, contact the homeroom teacher the day before through Rhyza to arrange a short visit during the school day. Please avoid sweets or candy. A small treat that fits our food guidelines is welcome. Please do not bring balloons.
Early pick-up is only available during designated transition times, which vary by year group. The available slots are listed in Rhyza. These times are set to align with natural transitions in the school day and minimize disruption to the class.
Submit your request through Rhyza before the school day begins and select one of the available slots. Early pick-ups may be recorded as justified or unjustified depending on the reason.
Extracurricular activities run Monday to Thursday. Pre-Primary ECAs run from 3:15 to 3:45 PM. Primary ECAs run from 4:00 to 4:45 PM. Pick-up location and time may vary depending on the activity — surfing, for example, ends at Praia Grande, and gymnastics ends at União Mucifalense. Specific arrangements are communicated at the start of each term.
Each term brings a different set of clubs. Over the course of the year, families can expect a mix of sports, music, creative activities, STEAM, language, and open play. Some ECAs are free, others are paid. Full descriptions and prices are shared at the start of each term. Some very young children may not yet be ready for ECAs — we will let families know if this applies to their child.
Selections open at the start of each term with a fixed deadline. ECAs require a minimum number of participants to run. For paid ECAs, payment is required by the deadline to confirm your place. If an ECA does not reach its minimum, it will not run and any fees paid will be fully refunded. Families are notified of their child’s confirmed placements before the term begins.
ECAs are a full-term commitment. Once selected and confirmed, regular attendance is expected. Selections cannot be changed mid-term. If a child has three or more unjustified absences, their place may be withdrawn. If your child will be absent from an ECA, notify the school through Rhyza using the standard absence procedure.
ECAs do not run during the first or last week of each term.
Hypha provides a morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack every day. The morning snack is fresh fruit prepared in our kitchen. Lunch follows a Portuguese-style, whole-food diet with many dishes based on traditional, local ingredients. The afternoon snack is typically yogurt, bread, or fruit.
Mealtimes are also a learning moment. Children serve themselves, sit together, and clear their own plates. We gently encourage children to try everything but never force them to eat. Vegetables are always on the table.
We follow a no-sugar policy throughout the school, including during birthday celebrations. If a sugary item is found in a child’s lunchbox, we will set it aside and return it at the end of the day. Families are welcome to send a packed lunch from home. Please keep food from home free from refined sugar and nuts. If your child has specific dietary needs, ensure they are recorded in Rhyza before the school year begins.
Children do not share food at school. This protects children with allergies and keeps mealtimes calm and focused.
If you know in advance that your child will arrive late, submit a request through Rhyza and select one of the available transition slots for your child’s year group. These slots are set to align with natural transitions in the school day.
If the late arrival is unplanned, do not bring your child to the classroom after the drop-off window closes. Simply arrive at school and wait for the re-entry window.
| Years 2–6 | Pre-Primary & Year 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Re-entry window | From 8:50 AM | From 9:30 AM |
Late arrivals may be recorded as justified or unjustified depending on the reason.
Every school day begins with Morning Circle, a whole-group gathering where children greet each other and transition into the day together. It is the moment the class becomes a group. Children who arrive mid-circle disrupt that transition for everyone — not just themselves — and often find it harder to settle into the rest of the morning.
Morning Circle starts at 8:30 AM for Primary and 9:00 AM for Pre-Primary. Drop-off closes at these times. Children who arrive after the drop-off window closes wait for the re-entry window so they can enter calmly once the circle is done.
Please do not send valuable personal items to school. Hypha does not take responsibility for loss or damage to personal belongings.
Children may not bring personal electronic devices to school. See Devices and Screens for more detail.
Comfort items such as a small stuffed animal or blanket are welcome for Pre-Primary children during the adaptation period. Label them clearly.
Books brought from home should stay in your child’s bag and not be left in shared classroom spaces.
| Years 2–6 | Pre-Primary & Year 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-up window | 3:45 – 4:00 PM | 3:00 – 3:15 PM |
| With ECAs | 4:45 – 5:00 PM | 3:45 – 4:00 PM |
Pick-up location and time for ECA days may vary depending on the activity. Some ECAs take place at União Mucifalense or off-site. Specific pick-up arrangements for each ECA are communicated at the start of the term.
The gate closes during the pick-up window. Once it closes, it stays closed until the next window. If you are picking up a Pre-Primary child and also have a Primary child, you may either collect your Pre-Primary child and wait in the designated area inside the school until Primary pick-up, or leave and return for the Primary window.
Only authorized adults may collect your child. A late pick-up fee of €15 per hour applies after a ten-minute grace period.
The school calendar is published at the start of each academic year and available in Rhyza. It includes term dates, public holidays, staff planning days, and key school events.
Extracurricular activities do not run during the first or last week of each term. These weeks are reserved for staff training, planning, and report writing.
The calendar may be adjusted during the year in the event of unexpected school closures. If days are lost, we will look for opportunities to make them up. Any changes are communicated in advance through Rhyza.
📅 School calendar link coming soon
Class timetables by year group are available in Rhyza. They show the weekly schedule of subjects, specialist sessions, and extracurricular activities. Timetables are set at the start of each term and may be adjusted slightly during the year.
Before school starts, each family needs to purchase the following personal items.
Label everything with your child’s name. Please send the water bottle back on Monday. All other classroom supplies — notebooks, pencils, binders, stationery, and art materials — are provided by Hypha.
Hypha has a formal partnership with União Mucifalense (UM), a community sports and cultural club a short walk from the school. During school hours, students have access to an indoor gymnasium, outdoor football fields, a martial arts dojo, a yoga and movement room, and an indoor stage.
Travel to UM is always on foot. Children are accompanied by staff throughout the journey and while on site. All standard supervision and conduct expectations apply at UM as they do on campus.
General consent for routine UM sessions is given at enrollment. No additional consent is required. Families will be notified of any special events or activities taking place there.
If there is a legal custody agreement affecting who may collect your child or have access to them during the school day, inform us in writing at admin@hyphaportugal.com before the school year begins. We cannot act on verbal instructions regarding custody. A copy of the relevant documentation is required. If arrangements change during the year, notify us immediately in writing.
Keep your emergency contact details up to date in Rhyza at all times. If we cannot reach you when your child is unwell or injured, we will work through your emergency contacts in order. Make sure the people listed know they are on your list and are reachable during school hours.
A current list of first aid certified staff is maintained by the Head of School and posted at the front desk. All significant injuries and incidents are logged and families are notified on the same day. Any head injury, however minor, is reported to families immediately.
In the event of a medical emergency, Hypha is authorized to contact emergency services and act in your child’s best interests if you cannot be reached.
Head lice are common in school communities and carry no health risk. We conduct regular checks throughout the year. If lice or nits are found, we will contact you to arrange collection. Your child may return once treatment has been completed and a certificate of treatment has been provided.
We periodically invite a lice clinic on site. When a visit is scheduled, we announce it in advance through Rhyza. Please check your child’s hair regularly at home and notify us promptly if you find anything.
If your child is unwell, keep them home. Children with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or conjunctivitis must stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have fully resolved. If you are unsure whether your child is well enough to attend, err on the side of keeping them home.
If your child becomes unwell during the school day, we will contact you to arrange collection. Children rest comfortably with a staff member until they are collected. Please ensure your emergency contact details are always up to date in Rhyza.
For contagious illnesses such as chickenpox or scarlet fever, a doctor’s note confirming your child is cleared to return is required before they come back to school.
Hypha keeps a supply of Ben-u-ron (paracetamol) on site. We will only administer it if prior written authorization is on file and we have reached you by phone to confirm in the moment. We will always call before giving any painkiller, even with authorization on file. Dosage is calculated by weight using our standard reference chart.
Hypha is committed to supporting each child’s learning and wellbeing within the scope of its educational model and available resources. Our role is to meet each child where they are, whether they need more time, more support, or more challenge.
Families are expected to be open and transparent about any known diagnoses, observations, or concerns related to a child’s learning, behavior, or emotional wellbeing before enrollment. This information helps us plan appropriate support and assess whether Hypha is the right environment for the child. Omitting relevant information may affect a child’s ability to continue at Hypha.
If learning, behavioral, or emotional challenges become evident after a child starts, we may implement an observation period of up to one term. We will always communicate openly with families throughout this process.
We may recommend that a child be referred for psychological or educational assessment, occupational therapy, or specialist support when our staff identify a need for greater clarity. Families are responsible for the cost of external specialists. In some cases, continued enrollment may depend on compliance with this recommendation.
Continued enrollment depends on the child being able to access the program without requiring support beyond what Hypha can reasonably provide. If a child’s needs exceed our current capacity, we will work with the family in good faith to identify a suitable alternative learning environment.
Hypha works with Global Minds, an English-language specialist clinic based in Cascais. Contact details are available on request.
Keep your child’s medical information accurate and complete in Rhyza at all times. This includes allergies, chronic conditions, current medications, and any changes to their health. The school cannot be responsible for medical conditions that have not been disclosed.
We administer parent-supplied medication only when it is in its original packaging, clearly labeled with your child’s name and dosage, and written consent is on file. All medication is administered by a first aid certified staff member and logged in our incident record. Please hand medication directly to a staff member — do not send it in your child’s bag.
For chronic conditions requiring medication at school — such as asthma inhalers or EpiPens — ensure a current care plan is on file and that medication is kept at school at all times.
In the event of a medical emergency, you authorize Hypha to seek appropriate medical assistance including contacting emergency services, and to act in your child’s best interests if you cannot be reached immediately.
Every member of staff is trained in child protection and has a duty to act on any concern about a child’s safety or wellbeing. The Head of School is Hypha’s Designated Safeguarding Lead. If the concern involves the Head of School, contact the Executive Director directly.
Contact the Head of School directly at principal@hyphaportugal.com. Do not use Rhyza or WhatsApp for safeguarding concerns.
When a concern is raised, we act promptly. Depending on the nature of the concern, this may involve speaking with the child, gathering information from staff, or consulting external agencies. In some cases, Hypha is legally required to refer a concern to Portugal’s child protection authority without prior notice to the family.
Investigations may include interviews with children conducted without a parent present. This is standard child protection practice and protects the integrity of the process. Staff are trained to conduct these conversations in an age-appropriate and supportive way.
Safeguarding information is shared only with those who need it to keep the child safe. If you share a concern with us, we may be obligated to act on it even if you ask us not to.
In circumstances beyond the school’s reasonable control — extreme weather, public health events, government directives, or safety concerns — Hypha may close temporarily or adjust its operations. We will communicate as promptly as possible through Rhyza.
Tuition fees are payable for the full academic year regardless of temporary closures. Closures due to circumstances beyond the school’s control do not entitle families to refunds or credits except where required by law.
Enrollment includes mandatory Portuguese School Insurance (Seguro Escolar), which applies during supervised school activities as required by law.
The class WhatsApp group is one of the most active parts of the Hypha community. It is where parents meet each other, share practical tips, coordinate socially, and build the kind of connections that make school life easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Each group is managed by a Class Representative who helps keep things organized and acts as a bridge to the school when needed.
The group works best for parent-to-parent communication — quick questions that another parent can answer, social coordination, and community updates. For questions that need a response from the school, use Rhyza. Please do not repost photos of other children without permission, and keep business promotions out of the main group.
| Topic | Contact |
|---|---|
| Everything school-related | Rhyza |
| Parent-to-parent questions | Class WhatsApp |
| Safeguarding concerns | principal@hyphaportugal.com |
| Urgent matters during school hours | Call the school office |
All school communications — announcements, newsletters, teacher messages, reports, invoices, and event information — come through Rhyza. For urgent medical or safety concerns during school hours, you will receive a direct phone call.
Some of our best decisions have started with a parent stopping us at the gate or raising something over coffee on a Tuesday morning. If you have an idea or a perspective to share, we would love to hear it.
Reach us through Rhyza, at admin@hyphaportugal.com, or just come to coffee on Tuesday. School leadership holds open office hours each week — no appointment needed.
We do not hold group feedback sessions, as with larger groups, ideas can easily get derailed before they get the attention they deserve. Please come to us directly instead; we will make time to meet with you.
While we are happy to explain our reasoning and welcome your perspective, please note that Hypha is not a democratic school, and final decisions on how the school runs rest with leadership.
Hypha schedules two formal parent meetings per year, at the start of Terms 2 and 3, following the distribution of Term 1 and Term 2 reports. These are 12-minute online meetings with the homeroom teacher, booked through Rhyza.
These are the minimum — not the only opportunity. If you have a question, a concern, or simply want to connect about your child’s progress at any point during the year, reach out to the homeroom teacher through Rhyza and we will find a time. You do not need to wait for a scheduled window.
Rhyza is Hypha’s parent portal. Use it for everything — messages to teachers, absence requests, late drop-offs, early pick-ups, authorized pickups, medical information, timetables, reports, invoices, and more.
Log in at hyphaportugal.com/rhyza. Enter your email address and you’ll receive a login link — no password needed. If you have trouble accessing Rhyza, contact admin@hyphaportugal.com.
The name grows from the school’s own. A hypha is one of the fine, branching threads a fungus sends out; woven together they form the mycelium — nature’s quiet underground network that carries nutrients and signals between living things. Rhyza echoes rhizome, from the Greek rhiza meaning “root” — the spreading, root-like stem that links and feeds a plant in much the same way. Both are living networks that connect, carry, and nourish. A fitting name for the platform that keeps our whole community linked together.
Hypha issues end-of-term reports three times per year, at the end of each term. Reports are individualized and observation-based — not checkbox assessments. Each report includes evaluation criteria agreed at the start of the term and open written comments from the teacher based on direct observation of your child.
Reports are shared through Rhyza before the start of the following term.
We aim to respond to messages within one working day. For urgent matters during school hours, call the school office directly. Messages sent outside school hours will be responded to on the next working day.
| Topic | Contact |
|---|---|
| Everything school-related | Rhyza |
| Parent-to-parent questions | Class WhatsApp |
| Safeguarding concerns | principal@hyphaportugal.com |
| General inquiries | Rhyza or admin@hyphaportugal.com |
| Urgent matters during school hours | Call the school office |
The Board of Community Advisors (BCA) is a small group of volunteer parents who meet regularly with school leadership. Their role is to listen to the pulse of the community, gather feedback from families, and share collective insights with leadership — particularly perspectives that might not otherwise reach the school. The BCA does not make decisions and does not represent individual interests.
If you are interested in joining, contact admin@hyphaportugal.com.
Each class has a Class Representative — a volunteer parent who manages the class WhatsApp group, helps welcome new families, and acts as a bridge between parents and school. Class Reps are not spokespersons for individual parents. For personal or sensitive concerns, contact the school directly. For general class-wide questions, the Class Rep can help raise them or point you to the right contact.
Class Reps participate in termly meetings with school leadership and the BCA. If you are interested in the role, contact admin@hyphaportugal.com.
Families are expected to communicate with staff and other families respectfully — in person, by message, and on social media. Aggressive, threatening, or disrespectful conduct in any of these contexts is not acceptable and may result in a review of the family’s place in the community. This applies both on campus and outside school hours when conduct affects the school community.
Hypha is home to families from many different countries and traditions. We do not follow a standard holiday calendar and we do not organize cultural events on behalf of families. What we do is create the conditions for families to bring their own traditions into the school.
If your family observes a holiday or cultural moment you would like to share, come forward and propose it. It might be a full school event or something smaller in your child’s classroom. The level of effort is up to you. These moments are always approached as learning experiences — families bring the knowledge and the food, we bring the children and the questions.
By enrolling at Hypha, families give general consent for their child to participate in all supervised off-site activities that form part of the school program. This includes local walking excursions, outdoor learning, and educational field trips within the region. No additional consent is required for individual trips unless the activity involves something significantly outside the normal scope, in which case we will let families know in advance.
Details for each trip — destination, date, transport, and what to bring — are shared through Rhyza at least one week before.
Children must wear their Hypha t-shirt on all field trips. Staff carry a first aid kit and relevant medications. Supervision is maintained at a minimum of one adult to six children. Any incidents are reported to families on the same day.
We regularly invite parent chaperones to join field trips. It is a great opportunity to be part of your child’s school day. Details are shared with each trip announcement.
Parents are welcome to come into school and share an expertise, a story, or a cultural practice with children. This might be a profession, a craft, a language, or anything your family knows well. These visits are always a learning moment — for the children and often for us too.
Contact your child’s homeroom teacher directly through Rhyza to arrange it.
Every Tuesday after drop-off, the school hosts an informal coffee morning for parents. It is a relaxed space to connect with other families and with staff. Children must be dropped off before parents join. No registration required.
Hypha may involve additional adults in the classroom or school environment to support learning, wellbeing, and inclusion. This may include learning support professionals, specialists, trainees, or interns. All adults working with students meet Hypha’s safeguarding requirements including appropriate background checks and adherence to school policies. Families will be informed when a new adult joins the classroom in a regular capacity.
All absences must be reported through Rhyza before the school day begins. We are required to report prolonged or repeated unjustified absences to the Portuguese authorities. When attendance approaches 90%, we will contact the family to discuss.
An absence may be justified when the reason fits one of the following categories recognized under Portuguese education law:
Supporting documents should be uploaded through Rhyza. We ask families not to take holidays during term time. If an extended absence is unavoidable, contact us in advance. These are handled case by case.
Hypha uses Positive Discipline across the school. We guide behavior through connection, clear expectations, and natural consequences — not punishment, shame, or rewards.
Staff use calm, respectful language with children at all times. Conflict between children is addressed directly and used as a learning opportunity. We do not use time-outs or shame-based strategies. We do not compare children to each other.
If a child’s behavior is affecting their own learning, the learning of others, or the safety of the community, we will contact the family to discuss. We approach these conversations as partners. Our goal is always to understand what is driving the behavior and address it together.
In cases of persistent or serious behavior affecting the safety or wellbeing of the school community, Hypha reserves the right to review enrollment with advance notice.
If you have a concern about your child’s experience, a staff member’s conduct, or a school decision, start with the person most directly involved — usually the homeroom teacher. If unresolved, bring it to the Head of School at principal@hyphaportugal.com or the school office at admin@hyphaportugal.com.
All complaints are acknowledged promptly and handled with discretion. Information is shared only with those who need it to address the concern.
Hypha is a phone-free school for all children. Smart watches that receive messages or calls are also not permitted during the school day. Children do not bring personal electronic devices to school.
We believe that minimizing digital distractions supports learning, relationships, and emotional development. Where screens are used in the classroom, they support learning — they are never the center of it. In Years 5 and 6, children use shared school laptops for specific, supervised purposes. See Laptops for more detail.
If a device is brought to school it will be kept in the child’s bag switched off for the duration of the school day. Repeated instances may result in the device being held at the front desk until pickup.
We ask families to support this at home by limiting passive screen time and encouraging physical play, reading, and conversation.
If you need to reach your child urgently during the school day, call the school office directly. Staff will relay the message.
At enrollment, families indicate their image consent preferences in Rhyza. These preferences determine whether your child may appear in school photos, newsletters, social media, or other school communications.
Consent preferences are communicated to staff at the start of each year. If you need to change your preferences during the year, email admin@hyphaportugal.com and we will update staff accordingly.
Children in Years 5 and 6 use shared school laptops for specific, supervised purposes as part of their learning. This includes research through Britannica School — a curated, age-appropriate encyclopedia used by schools worldwide, free from advertising and unreliable sources. It gives children access to high-quality, vetted content across science, history, geography, and the arts, supporting the kind of independent inquiry that is central to upper primary learning at Hypha.
Laptops may also be used for specific projects where a digital tool genuinely serves the learning. There is no free use of the internet. The laptops belong to Hypha and stay at school.
Hypha invites families to re-enroll for the following academic year early in Term 2. Re-enrollment is by invitation and subject to annual review. An invitation does not guarantee a place until the enrollment agreement is signed and the enrollment fee paid.
Re-enrollment deadlines are communicated at the start of the process each year. Families who do not respond by the deadline may lose their child’s place to a family on the waiting list.
Re-enrollment is a mutual commitment. We review each child’s fit with the school’s program and community as part of this process. In rare cases the school may choose not to extend an invitation. Families will be given advance notice and the opportunity to discuss.
Hypha holds a school photo day once per year. All children are expected to wear a clean, presentable Hypha t-shirt. The date is communicated in advance through Rhyza.
Individual and class photos are taken by a professional photographer. Each child’s individual headshot is used in their end-of-term reports. The full set of photos is made available for families to purchase. Photos are not shared publicly by the school.
If your child’s image consent does not permit photography, inform the school before photo day so we can make appropriate arrangements.
Families must give written notice to withdraw their child. The following deadlines apply:
If notice is given after the relevant deadline, the full tuition for that term remains payable. Notify the school in writing at admissions@hyphaportugal.com or admin@hyphaportugal.com.
Families are welcome to take photos at school events for personal use. Please do not post images of other people’s children on social media without the explicit consent of their parents. You are welcome to tag Hypha and share positive content about the school. Please do not post content that identifies individual children by name in a public forum.
Negative or disrespectful content about the school, staff, or other families posted on social media is treated as a breach of our community conduct expectations. See Family Conduct.