13 Nov First aid, talks and new challenges
Another week has shown just how brilliant and versatile our pupils are here at Ranum!
Whether it’s about qualifying for a climbing talent squad, walking 10 km through the Rebild Hills with the whole arts class, standing in front of 500 classmates to give a presentation, or giving it their all during first-aid training on the driving licence course, our pupils demonstrate courage, commitment and a willingness to throw themselves into new challenges.
Happy reading!
Two pupils from Ranum are aiming for a place on the climbing talent squad
This year’s climbing team on the ‘Hike and Climb’ specialism course has been absolutely phenomenal! Pupils who had never tried their hand at climbing before have thrown themselves into it with great enthusiasm, whilst we’ve also had the pleasure of having several experienced climbers on the team.
Following their specialist subject trip to Morocco, Malte and Andreas were proud to announce that they had applied to join a climbing talent squad in Copenhagen, which aims to develop the climbers of the future for the national team.
For Malte, who has been bouldering for six years, the ambitions are high: “My aim is to be able to make a living from climbing. Whether that means becoming one of the world’s best at major competitions or working as an instructor, only time will tell.” Andreas also has clear dreams for the future: “My aim is to make it into the national team one day, but I don’t know yet whether climbing will be my career.”
As early as next week, the boys will find out whether they’ve been accepted onto the talent squad. Whatever the outcome, we’re incredibly proud that they dare to dream big and go after their goals.
Wildlife Namibia in Rebild Bakker
All the cultural studies groups are in full swing with their preparations for the trips in January. This week, the Namibia Wildlife group went on an outing to Rebild Bakker, where they enjoyed the autumn air on a long walk through the undulating countryside.
When the pupils arrive in Namibia in January, however, the surroundings will be somewhat different. There, they can expect temperatures of around 30 degrees and long hikes of up to 20 km carrying daypacks. Although we cannot simulate the high temperatures here at home at this time of year, it is always good to get a few kilometres under your belt and get used to being out and about for many hours.
Day of the Dead – a celebration of life, memories and community
At Monday’s assembly, five brave Mexican pupils stood up in front of the whole school and gave a presentation on their beloved festival, Día de los Muertos.
The day is also known as the Day of the Dead, and although the name may sound a little macabre, it is actually a beautiful and colourful tradition filled with flowers, good food and a sense of community. Families gather to remember their loved ones and celebrate the people who still hold a special place in their hearts. It is therefore by no means a day of mourning, but rather a festive celebration of life and those memories.
It’s just brilliant that our pupils have the confidence to stand up in front of the whole school and share their own culture and traditions. It makes us all a bit wiser about the world and about each other!
A talk by former Member of the Danish Parliament Naser Khader
On Thursday, we had the pleasure of welcoming a special guest: former Member of Parliament Naser Khader.
Today, however, his life has taken a different turn. He has trained as a priest in the Danish National Church and has thus chosen to leave the Islamic faith into which he was born.
In his presentation, he spoke about growing up in the Middle East, where, as the eldest of five siblings, he had witnessed how developments in the region had affected both families and society. Drawing on his own experiences, he described a trend whereby, in his view, Islam in some countries has shifted from being a religious faith to becoming increasingly politicised and used as a tool to govern society.
As a child, Naser Khader attended a Koranic school himself, but after moving to Denmark and growing older, he began to question the values and beliefs he had grown up with. After a long political career, he therefore chose to seek a deeper, spiritual meaning to life – a quest that led him to Christianity and the Danish National Church.
It was a fascinating and thought-provoking talk about faith, identity and the courage to break away from the life one was born into, in order to find one’s own path in life.
Thank you for visiting!
A full day of first aid
Once again this year, we have a large group of pupils who have chosen to spend their year at the boarding school also getting their driving licence. It’s really great to see how they’re throwing themselves into the challenge of extra study, theory tests and first-aid courses alongside their boarding school life. One of the advantages of getting your driving licence at Ranum is that the driving instructor comes to the school, and that we offer first-aid courses ourselves. This makes it a bit easier to fit getting your driving licence into a busy boarding school routine.
Some of the pupils have actually been on the first-aid course this week. A whole day of lessons on how the body works, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, how to use a defibrillator and everything else that’s part of a first-aid course.
It takes many hours to stay focused, but the pupils have risen to the challenge. And, most importantly, they leave here with vital knowledge and skills that could make a crucial difference should an accident ever occur.
Headmaster's column
Dear reader,
We are on course to break the record in the “both ends of life” target group – this summer we welcomed 548 pupils, and this weekend we’ll be welcoming just over 750 grandparents. Grandparents’ Weekend is a relatively new event, which was initiated by some pupils and staff three years ago.
The first year, it was on St Martin’s Eve, and we served roast duck, red cabbage and three sorts of potatoes, including the brown ones. The gravy passed the ‘best’ test. But it was also a massive undertaking, so this year we’re inviting everyone for lunch followed by cake and coffee, with the twist that the grandparents will be bringing their own cakes. It was a huge success last year, and we’re looking forward once again to tasting all sorts of cakes baked with love – and in such quantities that they’ll be a feast for the teenagers’ eyes too.
This year, we have also organised a range of activities that pupils can take their grandparents to after the school tour and the assembly. For the first time, I won’t be attending Grandparents’ Day, as I’ve become a grandad for the second time and have to attend a christening. I’m sure all grandparents will understand perfectly well.
This week, the pupils in the project class have set up various stalls and discussed with the headteacher what it means to run a business selling cakes, toast and so on – and to make money from their friends. They argue that it’s also about community, and whilst they meet with a bit of resistance, it does give you food for thought, because that wasn’t the case just a few years ago.
We are looking forward to the TEBO Days for our Year 10 pupils. Thematic Career-Oriented Bridging is a Ranum initiative, and we hope that pupils in the seven different industry sectors will get a taste of what they might like to train for in their adult lives.
It’s also the weekend when we put up our Christmas decorations, and you can read more about that and see lots of photos next week.
Have a great weekend
Yours sincerely
Olav Storm
Principal
It happens:
Calendar
- Christmas Fun Weekend 14 November 26
- Grandparents’ Day 15 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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