Dear students and guardians,
Time flies and now it is time for a well deserved autumn break for students and staff. In this newsletter I would like to tell you a little about what has happened at school during this term and what will happen until the winter break.
As you all know, Internationella Engelska Skolan (since the first year 1993) works strongly towards three fundamental values: 1) Command of the English language, 2) A safe and orderly school environment and 3) High academic standards. By strictly following these value words we prepare our students for a school environment where students and teachers can focus on learning. During our daily work we constantly work towards these values; to let the students speak English as much as possible, collect all mobile phones in the morning, the morning greeting by school leadership by the school entrance and extra class after school are all examples of activities to make our vision reality. Together with us at school you, the guardians, play a key role in helping the students understand and learn to live by our values. I would like to encourage you to often talk to your children about what these values mean, why they are important and how the children can work towards making them a reality. Therefore I would like to inform you about a new policy we have regarding mobile phones. See Link. I ask that you speak to your children about this policy. Times for extra class is as follows 16/17 Extra Class. We have also started a program called “Idiom of the week”, which means that a metaphor is presented during class time and students and staff will discuss what this idiom means both in English and Swedish. Feel free to discuss these with your child: Idiom of the week.
For exact dates and times this school year, see attached document Important dates for guardians and students 16/17. This document will be updated during the school year. Note that there are several teacher work days during this school year, and that the next teacher work day is Thursday the 18th of November (Junior Club will remain open) and that the last day of the fall term is Thursday December 22.
Our building here at IES Halmstad (previously known as Örjanskolan) is celebrating its 110 year anniversary this year, and to acknowledge this we will have an exhibition Thursday the 10th of November between 17:30 - 19:00 with music and snacks prepared by the students from our domestic science and music classes. Everyone is welcome this evening, especially previous students and staff that has once studied or worked in this building. Our students will also experience “ A day in school 110 years ago” on Friday the 11th of November. Here teachers will dress in time appropriate clothes and teach the way students were taught 110 years ago. Lunch this day will also be time appropriate.
During weeks 45-50 oral national tests in Swedish, mathematics and English will be held for students in year 6 and 9. See Link
During week 51 (Monday 19th of December - Wednesday 21st of December) we will have student choice here at IES Halmstad. Students have chosen activities and enrichments (rank of 1-4), they would like to participate in. Choices include various themes in athletics, music and practical studies. Which choices they have been assigned will be officially announced in a few weeks. Last years experience with choice shows that the students appreciated to get to know new friends from other classes and year groups.
From the start of fall term this August, the building next to IES Halmstad have housed students from Furulundsskolan. These student will continue to be in this building for the remainder of the school year (June 2017). So far the cooperation between the two schools have worked well and I am convinced it will continue to work well throughout the year.
We will shortly install more bicycle racks so that more bikes can be parked in front of the main building.
I also would strongly encourage all guardians to change your settings in School Soft so that your contact information can be shared with other parents at the school. See Link…. In this way the communication between parents / Heart Parents will be easier. If you have questions regarding School Soft, please contact Ms. Engberg (karoline.engberg.halmstad@engelska.se).
And finally to some reminders: School insurance does not cover any loss or damage to a student’s mobile phone or other valuable during school time. During P.E lessons I encourage you to bring shoes into the dressing rooms to prevent risk of theft. I would also encourage (to ensure safety for our students) to drop off your child in the morning without entering Gymnasiegatan.
Do not hesitate to contact me or the school reception if you have any questions or comments.
I hope for a continued good cooperation during this school year!
/ Mr. Andreasson, Principal