How can I contact the Blue School Coordination?
By e-mail: escolas@escolaazul.pt; info@escolaazul.pt; parceiros@escolaazul.pt. By phone: +351218291012; +351218290994; +351218291000
Is there a deadline for applications?
Blue School applications can only be submitted between June 1 and October 31. It is possible, however, to fill up the application form all year and keep it saved until June. The school project has to cover two school years. This application period does not apply to schools in Madeira, where applications are open all year long.
Which e-mail address should I use when registering on the Blue School platform?
Even though it is not mandatory, we suggest that the Coordinating Teacher does not use an individual e-mail address. Should there be changes in the coordination of the school's project, a new Coordinating Teacher could use that same e-mail to access the platform, gaining easy access to the entire e-mail history and application history of the school's Blue School project.
Can a Blue School select more than two ambassadors?
No. Each school should appoint two students (a boy and a girl) to represent the project when needed.
Is it possible to add new schools to a project that has already been validated?
If other schools from the same School Group join an approved project on an ongoing basis, the Coordinating Teacher can provide this information to the Blue School Coordination and indicate a focal point for each new school.
What happens if a Coordinating Teacher leaves a Blue School in the middle of the project?
The school board must appoint a new Coordinating Teacher and provide his contact information to the Blue School Coordination. The Blue School Coordination will then migrate the application to the new Coordinating Teacher's account.
Our application was approved in March. What is considered to be the first year of the project?
The usual understanding is that an application approved by March 15th belongs to that school year. If approved after March 15th, it belongs to the following school year. That said, there may be exceptions, depending on the nature of the application and further contacts between the Coordinating Teacher and the Blue School Coordination.
What if the school is unable to meet the plan it set out to develop during application?
Even though the plan proposed by each school is expected to be feasible and realistic, a Blue School is not obligated to fulfill the plan at 100%. Obstacles or even other opportunities may arise that lead to an adjustment of the school's work. If the school's project ends up being significantly revised, the Coordinating Teacher should provide that information to the Blue School Coordination.
What type of monitoring does the Blue School Coordination perform on Blue Schools' projects?
The main monitoring is made in the annual Blue School Regional Meetings, which bring together Coordinating Teachers to share their project's development with colleagues and the Blue School Coordination team. Participation in these meetings is very important and mandatory for Coordinating Teachers.
How can we maintain the Blue School certification after the two years of the project?
At the end of the two-year project, each Blue School is invited to submit a Continuity Application (in the “Come Aboard” menu) to maintain certification for another two years. The Continuity Application is a simplified version of the initial application and does not require the same level of detail.
When can our school participate in the activities presented by the partners’ network?
The activities presented by the partners’ network that represent a specific offer for Blue Schools are only available from the moment that the school’s application is validated. Blue Schools have a Blue School certificate that they should present to partners to prove their Blue School status.
Is it mandatory for a Blue School to resort to the Blue School partners’ network?
A Blue School must resort to at least one entity from the Blue School partners’ network. Nonetheless, a Blue School can develop partnerships or activities that are not included in the Blue School partners’ network.
Can the Coordinating Teacher choose not to get e-mail communications from Blue School?
No. E-mail is the main form of contact between the Blue School Coordination and Coordinating Teachers. While it's true that, at certain moments, these communications can be a bit overwhelming, it is part of the Coordinating Teacher's role to receive these communications and filter those that may be of interest to his school.
Does the Coordinating Teacher need to be in the Blue School WhatsApp and Facebook groups?
Participation in the Blue School WhatsApp Group and Facebook Group is entirely optional for the Coordinating Teacher. These are tools that complement the communication done via e-mail and represent a good way for teachers to share their schools' activities within the Blue School context.
I am a Coordinating Teacher and need help in the development of our project. How can I get it?
Do you want to meet with the Blue School Coordination about any matter related to your Blue School project? Need help preparing for the next year? Want to arrange a meeting between your school teachers and the Coordination? Do you wish to apply but don't know where to start? Build your Blue School project with us! You can schedule a webmeeting with the Blue School Coordination. Preferred hours: Tuesdays (10am-1pm) and Thursdays (3pm-7pm). Contact us at escolas@escolaazul.pt.
How to showcase my school's project in the Inspirational Cases page?
Contact the Blue School Coordination team via e-mail to explain your intention. You will then receive a template where you can describe the action to be added to the Inspirational Cases page (under the "Our Network" menu).
Does a Portuguese Blue School automatically become a European Blue School?
It's not an automatic process, but almost... If you want to join the European Network of Blue Schools, contact us to find out how to accelerate the registration process.