APCS
Since 1986…
The APCS – Portuguese Association for Gifted Children, was founded in Porto in 1986, in order to recognize and respect the childrens’ rights to a quality education.
The establishment of the Association was due to the Engineer Luís Filipe Cerqueira Gomes Nazareth that was assisted by a small group of enthusiasts. In its early stages of activity, the Association was especially dyamic: promoting a Training Course under the responsibility of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTD) and two International Congresses in Porto in 1986 and 1987, in which were lecturers and cientists from foreign countries with studies in this field; starting, in the city of Porto, an Enrichment Program aimed at children; promoting training activities for parents; becoming a member of the World Council; assuming the Presidency of Eurotalent; publishing the first book edited in Portugal that provides support for parents and teachers; raising awareness, through the media and other forms. In 1995, APCS signed a protocol of cooperation with Escola Superior de Educação de Paula Frassinetti (ESEPF), where its head office is now located.
Nowadays
Through its Technical Center coordinated by Professor Doctor Helena Serra Fernandes and extending its action to several parts of the country in partnership with multiple collaborators, APCS provides training to professors from primary school so they can identify children in classrooms with high abilities. All approaches are promoted so that the Project Invest in Ability (Projeto Investir na Capacidade – PIC) can bring enrichment to such children, through differentiated educational practices. This initiative has been positively evaluated by all those who take part in it. The children’s happiness is noticeable and the growth is healthy.
In the last years, the APCS has been reinforcing those same activities with the dual purpose of creating spaces of creative freedom, occupation and socializing for the full development of these children, and to contribute to society, particularly the school, with the goal to cultivate the respect for difference and value the interests and the abilities that each child will demonstrate.
Future
Mission
The mission of APCS is to meet the gifted children’s needs and to respond to the requests for support from their families and schools in order to provide to the youth a quality education and personal and social well-being.
Goals
- Assess and support gifted children;
- Promote enrichment programs with children;
- Support and train families and education professionals;
- Raise awareness in society and those responsible for the educational system;
- Influence and support the creation of legislation;
- Promote sharing knowledge by organizing scientific meetings and congresses.
Corporate Bodies
Board of the General Meeting
Helena Serra Fernandes
President
Luís Bianchi de Aguiar
1st Secretary
Luís Nazareth
2nd Secretary
Board
Ana Serra Fernandes
President
Marcela Rios Pinho
Vice President
Daniela Soares
Treasurer
Diana Monteiro
Secretary
Helena Gouveia
Member
Alternates: Sandra Moreira, Paula Silva, Fátima Almeida, Gil Carvalho, Geraldo Quintas
Fiscal Counsil
José Gouveia
President
Fernando Pires Sousa
Member
Albino Barbosa
Member
Alternates: Margarida Trigo, Andreia Almeida, Catarina Vaz
Our Identity
Become a member
Anyone who wants to join the initiative can become an effective member.
To become a member of APCS you must complete this document, make payment and then send proof of payment and the completed document to geral@apcs.co.pt
Applications for membership will be presented at the (annual) General Assembly following the submission of the above documentation.
- contributing to the social assets of the Association, through the payment of a registration fee and a monthly membership fee;
- participating in the actions developed by APCS, with a view to achieve its objectives and to improve the functioning of the Association.
