Madalena’s main public school marks three decades with cultural performances, exhibitions, student activities, and tributes to the generations who have shaped its history.
The Cardeal Costa Nunes School in Madalena, on the Azorean island of Pico, celebrates its 30th anniversary today, November 10, with a program bringing together students, teachers, staff, and members of the educational community. Under the theme 30 Years Building the Future, the celebrations commemorate the institution’s inauguration on November 10, 1996, and its contribution to education and community development over the past three decades.
The school serves as the headquarters of the Escola Básica e Secundária da Madalena, the public educational organization responsible for schools throughout the municipality, from preschool through secondary education. Its anniversary provides an opportunity to recognize the institution’s history while celebrating the achievements and aspirations of its students.
The commemorations began at 8:30 a.m. with a flag-raising ceremony at the school’s entrance, followed by an educational treasure hunt connecting the school grounds with Pico’s Vineyard Culture Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The activity highlighted the relationship between education, local identity, and the island’s distinctive cultural heritage.
Throughout the morning, students participated in a diverse program of exhibitions, competitions, and creative activities. The school library hosted 30 Years of Learning, an exhibition exploring the institution’s educational journey, while a CanSat exhibition introduced students to projects involving miniature satellite technology.
Other activities included mathematical games, a Kahoot quiz testing students’ knowledge of their school, a collaborative Tree of Learning, and an initiative entitled 30 Years, 30 Fruit Trees, organized at the school’s educational farm. A digital mural and an art exhibition titled Living Architecture provided additional opportunities for students to reflect on their school’s history and express their creativity.
Music also formed part of the festivities, with a karaoke program featuring popular songs from the 1990s through the 2020s, connecting the different generations that have passed through the institution.
Cultural performances took place in the school gymnasium at 10:50 a.m., followed at noon by the traditional singing of Happy Birthday and the sharing of an anniversary cake. Other schools belonging to the Madalena educational network also organized commemorative activities during the morning, ensuring that the celebration extended throughout the municipality.
The principal anniversary ceremony is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the school gymnasium, bringing together teaching and non-teaching staff and invited guests. The program includes student singing and dance performances, the presentation of academic excellence awards, tributes, and official addresses, followed by a reception.
The celebrations will continue on Thursday, November 12, with girls’ and boys’ futsal tournaments beginning at 8:30 a.m. and a painting competition inspired by the anniversary theme at 9:00 a.m. Regular classes will take place that day.
On Saturday, November 14, the graduating class of 2026 will organize an anniversary dinner at 8:00 p.m. at the Salão da Irmandade de Santo António do Monte, extending the festivities beyond the school grounds.
The 30th anniversary also offers an occasion to reflect on the importance of public education in Pico’s smaller island communities. Since its inauguration, Cardeal Costa Nunes School has provided successive generations of young people with educational opportunities while contributing to the social and cultural life of Madalena.
Its commemorative program reflects that broader mission, bringing together academic achievement, environmental awareness, scientific curiosity, artistic expression, and community participation.
Three decades after opening its doors, the school celebrates not only the history of an educational institution but also the students, educators, families, and staff whose collective efforts have shaped its identity.
As the anniversary theme suggests, 30 Years Building the Future is both a recognition of the past and an affirmation of the school’s continuing commitment to preparing new generations for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Source: ADMA — Azores Diaspora Media Alliance, November 10, 2026, from Rádio MTop.