23 Oct Art exhibition opening, gymnastics and loud music
The first week back after our travels and the autumn half-term has been absolutely brilliant in every way!
The conclusion of several subjects and projects has included, amongst other things, a concert by the music group and the opening of the project class’s art exhibition. In addition, the gymnastics team has been given new apparatus to practise on, whilst the basketball team has been on a training camp in Ikast.
Happy reading!
Autumnal atmosphere in Copenhagen
The autumn half-term in week 42 offered an exciting trip to Copenhagen for our Full Host students. Here, they set out to explore the capital’s many attractions – from Tivoli’s cosy autumn atmosphere, stunning decorations and fun rides to a football match at Parken, a leisurely stroll through Nyhavn and a royal visit to Amalienborg.
Of course, there was also plenty of time to relax, go shopping and enjoy each other’s company – all of which helped to create fond memories and a sense of togetherness amongst the students.
A visit from C:ntact
This week, our Danish classes in both Year 9 and Year 10 were visited by C:ntact, a Danish theatre organisation that uses personal stories to create performances about people’s lives and experiences.
Freja, Isaac, Ali and Elias from C:ntact spoke with brutal honesty about their upbringings. Among other things, they touched on topics such as grooming, the pressure to live up to expectations, crime and self-determination. At the same time, they fostered an open dialogue with the pupils and allowed space for questions and reflections. Afterwards, the pupils took part in workshops where they were challenged on their perspectives on life and given the opportunity to reflect on the topics that had been raised.
Thank you to C:ntact for visiting Ranum Efterskole College and engaging our pupils in an important and open dialogue.
New apparatus and vaulting on the timetable
Our gym has been upgraded with new equipment, so that pupils can develop their skills even further. Among other things, we have invested in a new mini-trampoline, a foam mat, a flik-flak station, a mat holder and extra vaulting boxes.
Last year, we ran gymnastics as an evening activity, and it quickly became clear that there was a great deal of interest – regardless of ability or experience. Some pupils were even so keen to get stuck into the jumps that the warm-up sometimes took a back seat. That’s why we’ve now introduced trampoline gymnastics as a dedicated activity, where there’s plenty of time for warm-ups, technique and developing the pupils’ skills – whether they want to refine their jumps or learn gymnastics from scratch.
We are not strictly speaking a gymnastics club, nor do we aspire to be one. However, we do want to give pupils the opportunity to pursue the interests and communities that also play a significant part in their leisure time outside school. Club activities play an important role for many of our pupils – before, during and after their time at efterskole – and that is why we want to make room for gymnastics and the enjoyment it brings. At the same time, a efterskoleO programme is about exploring oneself, trying new things and discovering new interests. That’s why it’s great to be able to offer a trampoline gymnastics class where there’s room for everyone – both those with experience and those who’d like to give gymnastics a go for the very first time.
Basketball camp at Ikast-Brande Upper Secondary School
The Ranum basketball team visited Ikast-Brande Gymnasium for an exciting basketball camp organised by Sportstar College Ikast-Brande. The school boasts excellent facilities and skilled coaches, who give young people the opportunity to develop their basketball talent to a high standard, whilst combining the sport with their secondary education.
For our pupils, the camp was not only an opportunity to find new inspiration, learn new techniques and test their skills against other teams – but also to gain an insight into the possibilities of combining basketball with upper secondary school following a efterskoleop programme.
The day featured a wide variety of exercises, technical training and matches against, amongst others, BGI Akademiet and Vedersø Efterskole, who were also taking part in the camp.
The project class hosted a private viewing
For several weeks, the project class has been working on photography, storytelling and tourism in the run-up to their specialised subject trips in week 41. This week, their work culminated in an exhibition opening, where the pupils presented their photographs and the stories behind them.
The task was for each pupil to take five photographs from their specialist subject trip, each of which would illustrate the importance of tourism in a different way. The first photograph was to show the most negative aspect of tourism, whilst the fifth was to highlight the best thing about tourism. Throughout the process, the pupils were to think carefully about lighting, perspective and subject matter, so that each photograph conveyed a message and had a clear purpose.
For the exhibition opening, the pupils had invited the school’s management and teachers, who explored the photographs and had the opportunity to ask critical questions about the pupils’ choices, narratives and perspectives. It was an exciting conclusion to a project in which photography was used to explore tourism from various angles and to tell stories through images.
The Beatles, Green Day and many more were given a new lease of life in true Ranum style!
On Thursday evening, the music group took to the stage for a fantastic concert, showcasing everything they’ve learnt since the start of the school year. They’d already performed several of the pieces on their music trip to Liverpool, and now we had the pleasure of seeing them here at home.
The hall was buzzing, with everyone clapping, cheering and singing along. It’s simply brilliant to see these young people coming into their own, developing their talents and perhaps even discovering completely new, hidden sides to themselves. A huge thank you to the music team for a wonderful evening filled with great music!
The Halloween atmosphere is spreading through Ranum
Halloween is just round the corner, and preparations are already well under way! This week, several contact groups have got stuck into carving pumpkins, and with not quite enough knives to go round, they really had to get creative.
Although carving pumpkins is not an old Danish tradition, it has nevertheless become a fun activity that gives pupils the chance to be creative together – and for many of our international pupils, it is a completely new experience.
Next week, things will get even more eerie when the former vocational school in Næsby is brought back to life and transformed into a genuine haunted house. We can safely promise that the Halloween spirit is really going to take hold!
Headmaster's column
The autumn half-term did us all a world of good, and the pupils returned on Sunday full of fresh energy and delighted to be back. This week we’ve been busy wrapping up the profile subject trips and the first term, and on Monday we’ll be starting the new cultural subjects and preparing for the cultural subject trips in January.
We can certainly feel that November is drawing near, and that the pupils are now more settled into life at efterskole. The new evening clubs offer a range of indoor activities, and every evening there are opportunities for creative, musical and sporting pursuits. The clubs help to boost well-being, and it is a great pleasure to see that many pupils are also taking the initiative themselves to organise clubs and activities for their classmates in their free time.
This evening, Friday, around 50 volunteer parents and the Parents’ Council at Ranum Efterskoles Venner are organising the first pupils’ party for just over 500 pupils. The theme is Halloween, and the pupils are buzzing with excitement and anticipation as they make their preparations. The school supports the party initiatives organised by the parents’ and pupils’ councils and sees them as a valuable educational opportunity to foster a positive and safe party culture. Furthermore, the pupil parties are very inclusive, and they help take the pressure off many parents whose child wants to organise a private party, as they can point to the large communal parties where everyone has the opportunity to take part. We wish the pupils and parents a really great party.
On Saturday, we’re celebrating the 20th, 15th, 10th and 5th anniversary of our graduating classes. We’re looking forward to seeing our former pupils, sharing memories of the efterskole community and hearing how ”our young people” have got on in the world.
Yours sincerely
Olav Storm
Principal
It happens:
Calendar
- Alumni Day for former pupils 24 October 26
- Performance weekend 31 October 26
- Lecture by Naser Khader, 12 November 26
- Christmas Fun Weekend 14 November 26
- TEBO 17 November 1926
- ‘Life of a Busker’ concert, 18 November 26
- Performance, week 24 November 26
- Family Day 28 November 26
- Healthy Living Weekend 5 December 26
- Christmas Ball 17 December 26
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