20 Aug Thank you for two brilliant induction weeks – without mobile phones!
Today we’re heading into a long weekend after two whirlwind weeks! It’s been an absolutely fantastic start to the new school year, and whilst you might imagine we write the same thing every year, this year we’re experiencing a very special efterskole spirit. Never before have we seen so many pupils singing along at the whole-school assemblies; there’s lively chatter during communal meals; and the overall participation and enthusiasm for lessons and activities is impressively high. We naturally hope this continues, as it is a pleasure to witness the energy, curiosity and joy with which the pupils approach their daily lives.
In this week’s newsletter, you can read about a new subject at Ranum and hear the pupils’ own thoughts on what it’s been like to go mobile-free for nearly two weeks.
Happy reading!
Colorparty
We kicked off the weekend in style with a spectacular colourful party! And we’re not done with the great atmosphere just yet. That’s why we’re sharing this album with all the photos from the evening, so you too can relive the atmosphere and get a little glimpse of the fantastic welcome party.
Copy the link below and relive that fantastic evening: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD2ykf
A record number of girls on the football team
This year, the girls’ football team at Ranum Efterskole College is breaking records with no fewer than 28 girls who love football. It’s fantastic to see how many girls want to take up football, get out on the pitch and be part of the community surrounding the sport.
With as many as 28 players, we’ll be able to field two teams this autumn for the upcoming tournaments – and, not least, for the big highlight: the North Jutland Championships in September. It will be exciting to follow the girls as they set out to represent Ranum and compete for good results.
The coaching team has also been expanded, and this year we are delighted to welcome Anne Sofie Siersbæk (on the left), who brings with her many years’ experience as both a football coach and a fitness coach at FC Thisted. At the same time, Anne Schmidt is continuing the excellent work she did with the girls last year and is once again helping to create a great environment for development, enjoyment of football and a sense of community.
We’re looking forward to an autumn season packed with plenty of football and great experiences on the pitch.
Yearbook presentation
We’ve been delighted to start handing out the yearbooks to last year’s pupils, and it’s a real pleasure to see you all again and hear what you’ve been getting up to.
This week we’ve been in Fredericia and Odense, and next week we’ll be continuing the distribution in …
New this year, we have HIKE AND CLIMB
We have launched a new course at Ranum, which combines many of the great skills and facilities we already offer. The course is called Hike and Climb. Here, we combine raw strength with good fitness, and on the autumn trip to Morocco, pupils will get to try out both the hiking and climbing elements in the Atlas Mountains. In both disciplines, good team spirit is crucial – both for reaching the top of the climbing wall and for completing the distance on the hike. Most of the pupils have never worn climbing shoes before, and we are delighted to see how they throw themselves into new challenges, learn new skills and help one another along the way.
Mobile phones are back
The first two weeks of the school year are almost over, so the pupils have had their mobile phones returned to them. For many, this provides a great sense of security and makes it easier to stay in touch with the outside world. Several have also mentioned that it can be difficult to find one another on efterskolen’s large campus, particularly in the evenings.
However, the mobile phone policy remains that pupils are not to use mobile phones whilst eating, during whole-school assemblies or in lessons, unless they are asked to do so.
Watch Jenny and Alessia talk about their experience in the video below.
Vilsted Lake Run – Charity Run
On Saturday 12 September, we’ll be running for a good cause at the Vilsted Sø Run – a charity run. If you haven’t already signed up for the family day, please do so now. You can also show your support by making a donation on behalf of your child. All the money raised goes directly to the overseas projects and partner schools we have around the world – including in Nepal, Malaysia and Namibia.
The charity run is also a competition between the family groups. We’re eagerly watching to see which group raises the most money and can therefore call itself the winner of this year’s charity run.
Copy the link and sign up: https://www.ranumefterskole.dk/shop/Vilsted-S-Sponsorlb-p857823611
We’re looking forward to a lovely day of exercise with you all!
Become a weekend host family for a pupil from Ranum
The efterskole year is now well and truly underway, and we need your help. Several of our exchange students are looking for a weekend host family for the odd weekend when the school is closed.
An important part of Ranum Efterskole College’s ethos is “Ranum out into the world – and the world into Ranum”. That’s why you now have the opportunity to open your home to a boy or girl from another country and enjoy a cosy weekend together, where you can learn more about each other’s cultures. Being a weekend host family doesn’t have to be anything big or demanding. You don’t need to plan a whole weekend’s programme or organise lots of activities. The most important thing is to spend time together and let the student become part of your everyday life. For example, you could cook a typical Danish evening meal together – and perhaps you’ll be lucky enough that the student, in return, would like to cook or serve you something from their home country.
It’s a lovely opportunity for both you and the pupil, and at the same time you’ll be helping to give our international pupils an even better experience of Denmark, Danish culture and family life.
Would you like to be a weekend family – even if it’s only for one or a few weekends? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact:
Mail: clara.skibild@afs.org
Tel: 30 43 43 51 45
You can also scan the QR code on the poster if you’d like to find out more about what it means to be a weekend family.
Headmaster's column
Dear reader,
It feels as though we’ve run a marathon, because the first two weeks have been so intense, with new experiences, new faces and new surroundings. At the weekend, we held our specialist subject day on Saturday, and on Sunday there was the House Cup. The first round was won convincingly by Kærhuset and Østerled, who were rightly very proud. Over the course of this week, the pupils have settled more into their subjects and established some routines. The first few weeks have demanded a lot of energy; a few have needed a break, but all in all, we are still 550 young people and 110 adults in a large and vibrant community.
On Wednesday, the pupils got their mobile phones back. Most of them have managed the break without any problems and are perhaps a little annoyed that the phones are being brought back into the class. It will therefore be interesting to see whether this changes the class dynamic over the coming weeks.
The long weekend begins on Thursday, and we hope that all pupils have a really good – and, ideally, quiet – weekend, so that they are well-rested on Sunday, when we’ll meet again after 6 pm. Please remember that there will be no evening meal at school for those who have been at home.
We hope that everything goes well with the Ranum bus, but there’s bound to be a bit of uncertainty the first time round. We’ll do our best to help the pupils get on board.
PLEASE NOTE: To the parents of current pupils
This weekend, we would very much like the pupils in the standard 10th-year class to choose their TEBO (Thematic Business-Oriented Bridge-Building).
Don’t forget to sign up for the Family Day and the Vilsted Sø Charity Run on 12 September.
You can already share the link to our online shop with friends and family. Here, you can donate a sum towards the student’s run. All donations go directly to charity projects on the students’ cultural study trips – including to Nepal, Malaysia and Namibia.
Parents’ Council
The voluntary parents’ council is meeting on Sunday at 6.30 pm in the Semi dining hall. We could do with a few more people!
If you are a parent and would like to help foster a sense of community amongst the pupils, please write to info@ranumefterskole.dk.
Have a really lovely long weekend!
Yours sincerely
Olav Storm
Principal
It happens:
Calendar
- Water Sports Weekend 29 August 26
- Outdoor Weekend 5 September 2026
- Concert by Niels Lan Doky 7 September 26
- At the form tutor’s home 10 September 26
- Family Day at Vilsted Lake Charity Run 12 September 26
- EMI WIDE Concert 22 September 26
- Efterskolernes, 27 September 26
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