12 Jun The big gala of the year
The absolute highlight of the week was the gala, so naturally it is also the focus of this week’s newsletter. The evening held a very special surprise when a secret guest artist took to the stage. Read on in the newsletter to find out who set the dance floor alight.
Happy reading!
Gala party with a surprise guest
This year’s grand gala was a resounding success, featuring fantastic speeches, music, beautiful dresses, smart suits and, last but not least, absolutely delicious food.
Emma gave this year’s student speech, in which she spoke with great gratitude about the friendships she has made at efterskolen. She also reminded everyone how important it is to be present during the final weeks of the efterskole year and to soak up as much of efterskole life as possible while it lasts.
The menu consisted of three delicious courses. First, tuna mousse with prawns was served, followed by two different types of meat accompanied by a wide selection of salads, including strawberry and watermelon, as well as potatoes. For dessert, there was a large cake table with fresh fruit.
Throughout the evening, the pupils were looked after by the school staff, who had swapped their everyday clothes for black and white waiters’ and waitresses’ uniforms to make the evening extra festive.
As well as the fantastic musical performances by the students, a surprise guest had also been announced, who was due to play when the dance floor opened later in the evening. The students had no idea who it might be, even though the hosts had slipped in a couple of Wafande tracks during the evening.
When the secret was finally revealed, it was met with great excitement. Wafande took to the stage, and it quickly turned into a huge party that most people are unlikely to forget.
For those who aren’t familiar with Wafande, he is a Danish reggae-pop artist known for his uplifting songs and his ability to spread smiles and positive energy.
Horse racing at Ranum
The Ranum Derby took place on Friday and was the perfect opportunity to get some exercise after the gala dinner the night before.
At the Derby, pupils can bet their derby dollars on the horse and jockey they think will cross the finish line first. If they guess correctly, their winnings can be exchanged for items such as packets of noodles from the staff rooms – a form of currency that’s always popular at efterskolen.
Derby isn’t just about speed; it’s also very much about teamwork, as both the horses and the riders are made up of students and teachers who have to work together to make it all a success.
Would you like to be a barista?
Do you have a barista hidden inside you – or do you just love a really good cup of coffee?
Here at Ranum, we’ve launched a brand-new course where you can try your hand at life as a barista! We bring back coffee beans from all over the world on our travels, and you’ll learn the whole story behind the coffee – from plant and bean to the perfect cup in your hand.
But the course is about much more than just coffee. You’ll also play a part in creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a sense of community in the café, where students meet for a cup of coffee, a good chat or a spot of revision. Right now, the café is buzzing with life, filled with exam preparations, yearbooks and fond memories that will last a lifetime.
The bees are buzzing
Summer is here, and the bees are buzzing busily amongst the flowers at the school. If you live in Ranum, there’s actually a good chance they come from the pupils’ own beehives.
We’ve recently launched a new course called Beekeeping, where students can try their hand at looking after bees and producing honey from scratch. It’s an exciting process, made all the better by the fact that you can taste the results as you go along.
IGCSE exams completed
Our international students have now successfully completed this year’s exams, which several of them will need when applying for further education.
Huge congratulations to all the pupils on a fantastic effort.
Danish pupils still have a few oral exams left before the summer holidays can really begin.
Our chicks have hatched
Here at Ranumhus, we’ve had eggs in the incubator for several weeks now, so that we can once again have chickens at Greenfingers, following the fox’s visit earlier this year.
The chicks have finally hatched, and they’re simply irresistible.
This means that we will hopefully soon have fresh eggs for the kitchen again, and that next year’s Greenfingers students will have some new hens to look after.
Activity Day at Vestre Fjordpark
Although the weather hasn’t exactly been the warmest this summer, that didn’t stop a group of pupils from going on an activity day to Vestre Fjordpark in Aalborg.
Here, we jumped off the diving platform, practised cool tricks and had a great time in the beautiful waterside setting. A day filled with laughter, challenges and wonderful shared experiences.
Headmaster's column
Dear reader,
The prom is undoubtedly the most beautiful evening of the school year. Over 500 young people light up the school with their smiles, beautiful dresses and smart suits, and the atmosphere is truly special.
The prom is also the culmination of several months of anticipation. The boys have really pulled themselves together and invited their prom partners in creative ways. Some have done so in the school’s white limousine, others by the lake or in front of the whole school in the assembly hall to romantic music.
However, the ball invitations are far from the most important part of the evening. The whole party takes place in family groups, so everyone has someone to dance the lancier with and share the experience with – even those who aren’t particularly caught up in the hype surrounding ball partners.
For many pupils – and perhaps girls in particular – the prom isn’t just an ordinary party either. A lot of time is spent finding just the right dress, applying the perfect make-up and having their hair done. At the same time, it offers the chance to step into a little dream world for an evening. The past few weeks of practising the waltz and talking about expectations have played a major part in creating a sense of community across the school.
Aside from the prom season, many students have now sat their first oral exams, and fortunately, they’ve gone really well. We can certainly sense that some of the Year 10 pupils initially approach the exams with a degree of ease, but at the same time we notice that nerves start to set in as the exam approaches. For even the calmest students rarely go into an exam without butterflies in their stomachs and expectations of themselves.
Unfortunately, late on Thursday night, we had an unfortunate incident when a staircase collapsed beneath some students. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but several suffered minor injuries and, naturally, were quite shaken.
The staircase had been used by tradespeople for some time without any problems arising, and no one had noticed that it was unsafe. It was already due to be replaced as part of the completion of the renovation of Kærhuset, and two new staircases have now been ordered.
We are very grateful that the situation did not turn out worse, and we have since focused on supporting the pupils involved in the incident. We have apologised for the incident to both pupils and parents and have also inspected the school’s other staircases. Fortunately, no similar problems have been found elsewhere.
Next week marks the start of the final exam week of the year, which will culminate in the school year’s final big student party. The theme is “Summer”, and it’s clear that the students are looking forward to it.
Next up is the final week, when we’ll wrap up another fantastic efterskole year together. But more on that in the next newsletter.
Have a great weekend.
Yours sincerely
Olav Storm
Principal
It happens:
Calendar
Outdoor weekend 13.06.26 - 14.06.26
Pick up items/family night 21.06.26
Professional day trip 22.06.26
House Cup 23.06.26
At home with the contact teacher 24.06.26
Pizza Run 25.06.26
Dream Festival 26.06.26
Graduation 27.06.26
Summer camps for all ages
If you are between 14-17 years old, this is a unique opportunity for you to socialise, develop new skills and try a lot of fun and challenging activities. It's all about community, experiences and memories for life.
Read more about all summer camps and registration at this link: https://www.ranumefterskole.dk/sommercamps/
We're looking forward to a summer filled with community and great experiences.
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