escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

 No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "What do you mean?", hoje refletimos sobre um termo novo - conhece? Texto da autoria de Zelma Noronha, 9ºJ.

Thalassophile

ourboathouse.com

A thalassophile is a person who loves the sea or ocean, often possessing a deep magnetic attraction to it.

Derived from Greek— thalassa (sea) and philos (loving)—it describes someone who finds peace, solace, and immense joy in coastal, sandy, or water environments.

As a sea deity, Thalassa was considered to be the actual personification of the sea’s water, specifically the water of the Mediterranean. 

And how exactly do you know if you're a thalassophile?

There are a few key characteristics that these sea lovers have, such as needing to live near or visit the coast regularly, feeling immense calm by the water, being able to stare at the ocean for hours, or even dreaming of oceanside vacations.

How about you? Are you a thalassophile?

Zelma Noronha, 9J

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Fun Corner/Chill out Time", hoje publicamos uma crítica cinematográfica, da autoria de Gonçalo Pinto, 9ºI.

Film Review: "Cobra Kai"

Cobra Kai is a martial arts comedy-drama series created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg. Originally released on YouTube Red in 2018 before moving to Netflix, the series serves as a direct sequel to the original "Karate Kid" films from the 1980s.

The story takes place 34 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament and follows a down-on-his-luck Johnny Lawrence, who seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. This decision reignites his old rivalry with the now-successful Daniel LaRusso, who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi. The narrative focuses on a new generation of students, such as Miguel Diaz, Robby Keene, and Samantha LaRusso, who find themselves caught in the middle of their senseis' past conflicts. Cobra Kai is considered an important and popular series because of how it balances nostalgia with modern storytelling, moving away from a simple hero versus villain dynamic to show that there are two sides to every story. It explores complex themes such as redemption, growth, the power of mentorship, and the struggle to find balance.

I admire this series because it shows how the lessons of the past continue to shape the present, exploring loyalty and the passage of time in a way that makes it a powerful and emotional journey for fans of all ages.

final rate: 10/10

Gonçalo Pinto 9I

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Did you know? Now you know", falamos hoje de um alimento não perecível. Texto da autoria de Dinis Teixeira, 9ºD.

Did you know? Now you know! - The Food That Never Spoils

Did you know?

honey and honey comb

Honey is one of the very few foods that never spoils. Archaeologists have discovered jars of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are more than 3,000 years old, and they were still safe to eat. This incredible longevity happens because honey has a very low water content and is naturally acidic, creating an environment where bacteria and microorganisms cannot survive. In addition, bees add an enzyme that produces small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, which helps preserve it even more. When stored in a sealed container, honey can last indefinitely without losing its safety, though it may crystallize over time, which doesn’t mean it has gone bad.

Now you know!

Dinis Teixeira 9D

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Speak up your Mind", hoje publicamos uma sugestão para nos abstrairmos dos nossos problemas, da autoria de Beatriz Silva, 9ºB.

Creative Hobby to fight problems

istockphoto.com

Everyone has a bad day sometimes and we don’t feel at our best everyday. But have you ever thought about a solution for your bad days?

Finding an hobby to fight your problems and bad days instead of smoking, drinking or vaping is a great solution! It helps not only your well being but also other people’s well being. Having an hobby is discovering your capabilities and finding a way to express your fellings, doing what you love!

There are a lot of different things you can explore and do! Dancing, drawing, painting, listening to music, writing poems, playing boardgames and cooking are some examples of amazing hobbies you can try! And of course trying new sports like football, basketball, volleyball and tennis can be something you can consider as a hobby, too!

Your hobby shows your personality! Hope you shine doing what you love!

Beatriz Santos Silva no.2 9B

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Did you know? Now you know", falamos hoje do poder da cor no nosso comportamento e estado de espírito. Texto da autoria de Henrique Marinho, 9ºG.

Freepik

Did you know? Now you know!

Did you know that the color blue is one of the most powerful tools in natural chromotherapy for calming the human nervous system? In nature, blue is represented by the vastness of the sky and the depth of the ocean, which are associated with a sense of infinity and peace. When your eyes perceive blue light, it signals the brain to release calming hormones and can even physically slow your pulse and lower your body temperature. This is why being near bodies of water or looking at a clear sky often feels like a reset button for your stress levels, as the specific frequency of blue helps to suppress the production of adrenaline.

​Now you know that blue is more than just a tranquil color. It is a biological sedative provided by the natural world. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or struggling with communication, seeking out natural blue environments can help clear your mind and improve your ability to express yourself. By consciously using the sky and water as a form of "color medicine," you can actively manage your anxiety and bring a sense of stability to your day-to-day life.

Henrique Freitas Marinho no.6 9G

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Did you know? Now you know", hoje publicamos curiosidades sobre a forma como o nosso cérebro interpreta a dor, da autoria de Matilde Monteiro, 9ºG. 

Did you know that your brain never actually “feels” pain?

Alamy

Even though the brain processes pain signals from the rest of your body, the brain tissue itself has no pain receptors. That’s why, during certain brain surgeries, patients can be awake and responsive while doctors operate; the brain can detect pressure but not pain.

Pain you experience from headaches doesn’t come from the brain itself. Instead, it comes from surrounding structures like blood vessels, nerves, and muscles in the head and neck. Your brain is essentially the control center that interprets pain everywhere else, but it can’t feel it directly.

What really explains this phenomenon is that brain tissue doesn’t have nociceptors ,the specialized receptors that detect pain. These receptors exist in the skin, muscles, and many other tissues throughout the body, but they are absent in the brain itself. That’s why, even though the brain is the organ that interprets pain, it cannot feel pain directly.

Now you know!

Matilde Monteiro, 9G

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Did you know? Now you know", publicamos hoje um curiosidade histórica sobre os piratas, da autoria de Vitor Gonçalves, 9ºF. 

Did you know? Now you know! - Historical Fact: Flying Gang (a pirate Republic)

During the 18th century, more specifically in the year 1706, the English privateers were tired of the English government treating them like garbage, so they turned to a life of crime, turning into pirates as an act of saying "well, if you're not going to pay me then I'll just do everything illegaly, then.". At some point, the pirates decided to take an unhabited island, Nassau, in the Bahamas, where there was little governmental and colonial control, in which they formed a "Republic of Pirates" , where they would lived until 1718.

They had their own elections, rules and even shared loot with each other that they plundered off of Spanish commercial ships.  (Of course they didnt just plunder Spanish ships they would also plunder ships from other countries. They didnt discriminate ...)

This is also where the infamous pirate Edward Teach came from, later known as the menacing and dreadful Blackbeard! Guess pirates were still bad... but they would only kill or enslave people if they didn't surrender their ship.

As a response to all the piracy, Britain hired Woodes Rogers, who offered Royal pardons to pirates who surrendered themselves to him and those who didn't accept this proposal were normally hunted or executed by him.

Within a few years, the pirate "Republic" was effectively destroyed, ending the wrath of the pirate republic, or Flying Gang.

Vitor Gonçalves, 9F

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Did you know? Now you know", publicamos hoje um feito histórico levado a cabo por uma mulher sexagenária, texto da autoria de Joana Santos, 9ºH.

Did you know? Now you know! - Diana Nyad's historic feat

Did you know there was a woman that once swam from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage?

Diana Nyad was born in 1949, in New York. She was a swimmer with a big dream, which was swimming from Cuba to Florida. To achieve this feat, more than courage, Diana nedeed someone who would support her and 64 years old.

In her youth, she decided that she wanted to achieve this challenge and tried 4 times to swim from Cuba to Florida, non stop. None of the attempts were successful so she preferred to stop trying.

In 2013, at 64 years old, the idea of trying to reach her goal again sparked on her. Noone believed that she could achieve such a feat, because she was already too old and wasn't physically ready. But her friend Bonnie Stoll always believed in her. Together, they decided to ask for help to a specialized team to control the weather, trace the route, to feed and to moisturize Nyad while she was swimming. She had to use a lot of equipment to protect herself from the dangers of the ocean, but she refuse to use the shark cage, and that's the reason why this dangerous decision became an historic feat, never reached before.

She left Cuba on August 31st, 2013 and arrived in Florida on September 2nd, 2013, reaching her goal and making history.

This story showed me that it's never too late to achieve our biggest dreams. With determination, motivation and persistence, nothing is impossible, until you do it.

Joana Santos, 9H

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Speak up your mind", publicamos hoje uma reflexão sobre o impacto da tecnologia na saúde mental dos jovens, da autoria de Catarina Alves, 9ºB. 

Esta reflexão assume relevância numa altura em que vários países europeus discutem um limite de idade para aceder às redes sociais (após o exemplo da Austrália, em dezembro de 2025).

The impact of digital technology on young people's mental health

Today, digital technology is very important in young people's lives. Young people use smartphones, social media and digital platforms every day. These tools change the way they communicate, learn and see the world. These tools bring many opportunities, but there are also worries about mental health.

Recent studies show that many young people spend several hours a day looking at screens, often more than just school work. This can cause more anxiety, stress, problems with concentration. When young people use electronic devices before sleeping, it affects their sleep quality. The blue light from screens stops melatonin production, which is important for good sleep.

Another important problem is comparing themselves to others on social media. Young people see perfect photos and videos, and this makes many of them feel bad about themselves. They develop low self-esteem. There is also FOMO - Fear of Missing Out. This means young people are afraid of missing important experiences, so they need to check their phones all the time.

However, digital technology also has positive things. It gives easy access to information and educational resources. Young people can find online support communities and use social media for activism and social participation. Also, learning technological skills is very important for their future in school and work.

Because of these problems, many countries have created initiatives to help young people use technology better. Some schools limit mobile phone use and create technology-free spaces. These measures show positive results in students' health and school performance. In Portugal, there are also programmes that teach young people to use technology in a healthy way.

So, the main challenge today is finding a balance between digital life and real life. Technology is not bad - it is a powerful tool, but people need to use it responsibly. Young people should set limits, value face-to-face meetings with friends, and spend time doing funny activities without screens. These are important steps for good mental health and happiness.

Catarina Alves no.4 9B

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "What do you mean?", publicamos uma reflexão sobre o amor, texto da autoria de Mariana Pinto, 9ºG.

steemit

What does love really mean?

What do you mean "people don't believe in love"?

Love is often misunderstood because we expect it to be loud, dramatic, and certain. We expect answers that are clear and feelings that never hesitate. Yet, love rarely works that way. It speaks in pauses, in confusion, in moments where words fail.

To love is to risk not being fully understood, even by the person who feels the closest. It is accepting that two people can look at the same moment and feel it differently. Love is not always knowing what to say; sometimes it is staying even when you don’t. It is choosing patience over pride, listening over assuming, and honesty over comfort.

Many believe love is about possession or certainty, but real love is softer and braver than that. It allows space for growth and mistakes. It does not demand perfection; it asks for presence. Love is found in the effort to understand, not in the illusion of complete clarity.

Love grows in these moments of vulnerability, where confusion turns into conversation.

In the end, love is not a perfect word with a clear meaning. It is an ongoing dialogue. And maybe the beauty of love lies exactly there — in the fact that we keep asking, keep listening, and keep trying to understand, even when the answers are never final.

Mariana Pinto no.13 9G

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Did you know? Now you know", publicamos hoje curiosidades sobre golfinhos, texto da autoria de Laura Santos, 9ºH.

Did you know? Now you know! - Dolphins and their names

bottlenose dolphins - Getty Image

To start with, dolphins are aquatic mammals and there are a lot of dolphin types, they are all very sociable and playful. 

Dolphins, as many other animals, have been studied by humans for many years, specially bottlenose dolphins, and because of that, it was discovered that dolphins call each other by "name"! 

Bottlenose dolphins live in a very social environment; therefore, they need a very efficient system to keep in touch, in case a dolphin gets lost from another one or even when they pass by each other. 

So, what are those names? 

Well, what they use as names is a signature whistle which is an unique vocal pattern, but what makes this truly interesting is how they use these names. 

Dolphins don't just say their own name, they address each other. If a dolphin gets separated from another dolphin that they were friends with, they will mimic the signature whistle of the missing friend until the other dolphin whistles back.

And they can remember signature whistles of another dolphin even after being away from each other for more than 20 years!

Laura Santos 9ºH

escola sede: "Take a Minute, Take Five"

No âmbito do projeto "Take a Minute, Take Five", subcategoria "Did you know? Now you know", publicamos hoje um ser imortal, texto da autoria de David Alves, 9ºB.

https://nationalgeographic.grid.id/tag/turritopsis-dohrnii#

Did you know? Now you know!

- The Immortal Jellyfish

Did you know there’s a jellyfish that can actually live forever?

I know, it sounds impossible, but actually, it's true!

This animal is called “Turritopsis dohrnii”, but most people just call it “immortal jellyfish”, which is much easier. When it gets old or injured, it does something really cool: it turns itself back into a young jellyfish. It’s almost like having a life “restart” button.

This trick is known as transdifferentiation, and scientists think it’s one of the most incredible abilities in the world! Instead of dying, this jellyfish simply becomes young again and starts everything from the beginning. It can repeat this process over and over again, which means it never dies from aging!

Some scientists believe that this tiny creature could help us understand how aging works. Maybe, even helping humans live longer one day. Who knows?

So yes, somewhere in the ocean, there’s a little sea creature that refuses to die! At least from aging…

David Alves 9ºB