14 Aug An eventful first week at Ranum Efterskole College
The first week at Ranum has gone exactly as it should. The week has been full of excitement and nerves, fun activities, new friendships and lots of new experiences. At the same time, we’ve seen a group of enthusiastic young people doing their best to be fully engaged, approaching one another with curiosity and getting involved in this new community. In this newsletter, you can read more about the week’s activities and the festive highlights of this year’s big welcome party.
Happy reading!
Welcome to Ranum!
A new school year began on Sunday, and the school was soon buzzing with life as the pupils moved into their rooms and met their new flatmates for the first time for the coming year. Families came from near and far – in fact, from all corners of the world – and we were absolutely delighted to see so many gathered at Ranum. Speeches were given on the lawn for both students and families. If you weren’t able to attend, or simply want to relive the whole experience, you can watch the speeches again right below.
We’re looking forward to a new school year with you.
Tour of Ranum
To help the pupils quickly become familiar with and feel safe in the area around efterskolen, they were taken on the Tour de Ranum and the Tour de Rønbjerg on Monday and Tuesday. Here, they took part in a treasure hunt featuring various activities around the town, which also gave them the chance to get to know their new local area better.
In the midst of all the activities, we also found time to take photographs of all 550 pupils for our intranet, SkolePlan. The photos make it a little easier for both pupils and, in particular, teachers to get to know all the new faces during their first few weeks at school. Below, you can also see all the pupils from the different houses. From the left, you can see Kærhuset, Lien, Præstegaarden and Seminariehuset, and on the far right, Ranumhus.
Tour of Rønbjerg
A few kilometres from Ranum lies Rønbjerg, which we make frequent use of for many of the school’s daily activities. Here, amongst other things, we have access to the holiday centre’s large swimming pool, where pupils can practise swimming and diving, and there are also opportunities for bowling, volleyball, mini-golf, wakeboarding and a wide range of other activities.
The school’s sailing boats are moored at Rønbjerg Harbour, and it was also here that all pupils were required to complete a swimming test in the harbour during the first week. For many of our international pupils, this was their first encounter with the dark, cold Scandinavian waters – several come from warmer climes. Nevertheless, they bravely plunged into the water, and the vast majority passed the test. Well done!
The swimming test is an important part of the start of the school year, as we take part in a wide range of water sports activities at Ranum. At the same time, it gives us a good insight into which pupils we need to pay extra attention to when we go on future trips and take part in activities involving water.
The annual “togetherness” photo
In keeping with tradition, we should of course have taken the big one as well Togetherness- a photo in front of the diversity rainbow. And how lovely it is to see the whole of Year 26/27 together in one photo!
A run around Vilsted Lake
On Wednesday, 550 brilliant pupils set off on a 4.6 km run along Vilsted Lake. They’re not just running for fun; the pupils are already well into their training for our big charity run at Ranum Efterskole College on 12 September.
Friends, family, acquaintances and anyone else who’d like to can join in as we run 4.6 km around beautiful Vilsted Lake. The charity run is about much more than just the kilometres under our belts. The pupils are running to raise money for our partner schools around the world, which they will each be visiting in January. In this way, the run also forms part of the preparations for the many exciting trips that lie ahead.
So come and join in. Run along with them, cheer them on from the sidelines, or give the pupils an extra big pat on the back as they run past.
Mark 12 September in your diary.
More information about the charity run will follow later, but do save the date now. We’re looking forward to a fantastic day filled with a sense of community, the joy of running and positive energy.
A party in all the colours of the rainbow
All the colours of the rainbow were represented when we held this year’s Colour Party – a welcome party to mark the successful completion of the first week at Ranum. The evening featured group photos, good food and festive entertainment with speeches and music. Later, the party moved outside, where the school grounds were filled with slush ice, a disco and various rides. A festive end to the first week and a wonderful way to celebrate our new community.
Headmaster's column
A swarm of fluttering, slightly nervous butterflies took flight over Ranum as the expectant eyes of 550 young people met on the red carpet at Sunday’s welcome assembly. The 23rd intake at Ranum Efterskole College is set to be fantastic. They have such an incredible amount of energy, and at the same time, they seem to be good at bringing each other into the new communities. For a few, the first week has also brought signs of serious homesickness, but they’re holding on to their dreams. That’s only natural, as it’s a huge change to move away from home, meet so many new adults and students, and do without your mobile phone. That’s why we’ve focused on creating a safe environment and plenty of opportunities to get to know one another.
We’ve organised lots of group activities to bring the young people closer together, both in the houses, the family groups and the contact groups. The Tour de Rønbjerg, which included a swimming challenge in strong winds and chilly water, was a brilliant team-building exercise, during which a great many of them pushed themselves beyond their limits and helped one another through. It is precisely in situations like these that the sense of community really begins to take shape. And now we’re well on our way. The pupils have tried out their specialised subjects, have been divided into academic levels for the academic subjects, and have learnt how mealtimes, cleaning and the assemblies work. The first of many practical routines are thus falling into place, and daily life at Ranum is slowly beginning to find its rhythm.
But of course we haven’t forgotten that the early days should be fun too. Tonight, Friday, we’re holding a Colour Party, where the pupils will be wearing their family group’s colours and decorating the main hall for a festive dinner. Later, we’ll create a giant rainbow on the lawn and finish up in the school playground with a DJ, slushies, mocktails, popcorn and more. Over the weekend, the programme continues with Specialism Day on Saturday and the House Cup on Sunday. And then there are just four days to go until the first two weeks are over, and the pupils can enjoy a well-deserved break over the long weekend.
Yours sincerely
Olav Storm
Principal
It happens:
Calendar
- Specialist Subject Day 15 August 26
- House Cup 16 August 26
- At the form tutor’s home 27 August 26
- Water Sports Weekend 29 August 26
- Outdoor Weekend 5 September 2026
- Concert by Niels Lan Doky 7 September 26
- Family Day 12 September 26
- EMI WIDE Concert 22 September 26
- Efterskolernes, 27 September 26
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