The calendar for the 2017/2018 school year was published today in the Official Journal. It will be in force in the Azores for public preschool, basic education and secondary school establishments as well as for private and cooperative school establishments.
 
The next school year begins on September 13, 2017 and ends June 22, 2018, being divided into three terms.
 
The first term runs from September 13 to December 15, the second from January 3 to March 23 and the third from April 9 to June 22.
 
According to the ordinance signed by the Regional Secretary for Education and Culture, school breaks are scheduled as follows: December 18 - January 2, February 12 - 14 and March 26 - April 6.
 
Vocational training schools and regular schools providing professionally qualified courses must, according to this ordinance, observe the stipulated school breaks. Given the constraints of this type of education, schools are responsible for stipulating the beginning and the end of the school year for these courses. However, "the third break should comprise, at least, the period between Monday before Easter Sunday and the following Monday."
 
The ordinance, among other things, also determines that on the first day of the school year, September 13, designated as ProSucesso Day, all school establishments "should schedule and develop activities with students, teachers, parents and other players of the educational community in order to disseminate the Integrated Plan for the Promotion of School Success by mobilising all parties involved and ensuring the commitment to the goals and initiatives of each school."
 
It also stipulates that school activities for the 9th, 11th and 12th forms end on June 6, while the activities for the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th forms end on June 15. In turn, preschool and elementary school activities end on June 22.