December Principal’s Newsletter

December NewsDear Futuraskolan International School Community.

We’re almost there. The end of this strange and challenging year is in sight! We’ve spent a lot of time over the last several months reflecting on what we’re grateful for (all of you!) and how to find the good that exists all around us. We have all built up a monumental amount of resilience and dug deep within ourselves to create as much normalcy as possible.

Additionally this month, we bid a sad good-bye to our Student and Learning Support coordinator, Elsemiek van Kuijk, who will be returning to the Netherlands. We welcome our new School Counsellor, Vicky Chaita. Grade 5A will also bid a sad good-bye to Ms Mary Ann Carvalho, who will stay with us, but navigate to a different role, as we welcome the return of Mrs Florentine Jenster.

As we look towards the next year (and a whole new decade!) we encourage you to explore the good each and every day.

On behalf of the entire Futuraskolan International School Staff, we wish you a happy festive season and happy winter break.

Updated School

Definitions

IPC Learning - IPC Coordinator Katie Rulapaugh

Grade 1 has been busy in The Magic Toymaker’s workshop. Innovation and creativity rule in this classroom!

Grade 2 is finishing their Young Entrepreneur's unit. During this time they have learned about local businesses, types of currency, and designed their own candles.

Grade 3 went back in time to the Prehistoric Age for their unit Scavengers and Settlers. Here they are categorizing fossils. Categorization is an important skill needed in order to build understanding.

Fritids News

Keep up-to-date with Fritids activities and plans by following our Instagram or our Fritids blog!

Fritids Instagram - international_fritids

Fritids Blog - futurafritids.blogspot.se

IMYC Learning - IMYC Coordinator Maria KoutsoupakiThis month we celebrated Nobel Day! Our students researched Nobel laureates from different cultural backgrounds and prepared videos and presentations on their lives and work!

On Tuesday, December 15, we had our unit 2 Exit Point! Students reflected on their learning and prepared projects on the themes Celebration, Tradition, and Identity.

Grade 9 Learning and NewsGrade 9 Curriculum Coordinator: Steve Zeff

Important High School Dates

16 Dec: 8:30 Online High School Q&A MeetingPlease join us (prior to 0830) at: meet.google.com/qjd-hbaf-dka

13 Jan: 8:30 IEGS Principal Presentation to Students time TBA - Online High School Parent Meeting

14 Jan - 15 Feb: 1st round of high school applications

15 Apr - 17 May: 2nd (and final) round of applications

Archived High School Information presentationslideshow and video presentation of slideshow

Discovery ProjectThe 9th graders will be given time in school on Thur 10 Dec and Wed 16 Dec to work on developing 4-7 goals for their projects (Success Criteria) and to establish written contact with their Supervisors. They will continue to document their learning process with entries in their Process Journal. Projects will be presented to the school community in early June.

Global Citizenship

Through our Global Citizenship Program, we offer our students, staff, and community the opportunity to engage in local and global projects. Our Global Citizenship Coordinator is Steve Zeff.

This year we are working to engage more with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 3 Good Health and Well-Being and Goal 10 Reduced Inequalities.

Please learn more about the SDGs here - https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Our activities include working with global themes throughout our school, supporting a global citizenship student leaders club, collaboration with Futuraskolan International Pre-School Brunbärsvägen, with reading and student partner activities, and fundraising for our sister school in the Philippines through various events held throughout the year.

Spotlight on… Music!

This month has been full of rehearsals in our classrooms for our Lucia and christmas songs. This year all songs will be recorded and we cannot wait to show you!

In Primary School, we have been busy preparing for a month full of celebrations and song!

Spotlight on… Music!In Middle School, our term is culminating with assessments, grades, and a chance to celebrate with some song as we head into 2021!

In a year like no other, we are unable to hold an end of term concert in the regular way, so we have been thinking of other ways to celebrate the end of the autumn term. We have been learning an 80’s holiday classic and created a video to accompany it. 2020 has been a challenge for all of us, so let’s hope through 2021, things start to look brighter!

Tuition Timeline and Updates

Tuition Information for Academic Year 2021/2022 - Please find here

February 28 - March 15: Tuition letters and fees for Academic Year 2021/2022

March 31 - April 15: Tuition for current students who will return in Academic Year 2021/2022 due to secure place

Important School Dates - GeneralFirst Day of Spring Term: 11/01 Week 9: Sports Break Holiday (Fritids Open for those registered)Week 2: MAP Testing April 1: Teacher Work Day (Fritids Closed) First Day of Spring: 11/01/2021 (Full Day) April 2, 5-9: Easter Break January 21/22: PS SPT Meetings (Digital) (Fritids Open for those registered 6/4 - 9/4)21/01 - dismissal at 11:00. No lunch served, Fritids Open.22/01 - No regular classes, Fritids open.) April 12 - 16: IPC/IMYC Accreditation January 28/29: MS SPT Meetings (Digital) 28/01 - dismissal at 11:00. No lunch served. 29/01 - No regular classes.

Please see communication from your child’s mentor teacher for additions and more specific information.

COVID19 School Updates

Thank you, School Community, for respecting our limits of parents and adults in our school building. We appreciate that you support us in this challenging and important decision, one that works to keep our staff and students safe.

With recent changes to Middle School during Week 51 and their move to distance learning for the remainder of 2020, as informed by Swedish Authorities, we will keep you updated via Admentum on any updates that occur during the Winter Holiday (please note all staff will be on holiday during this time and there will be delays in responding).

COVID19 School UpdatesThank you, School Community, for respecting our limits of parents in our school building. We appreciate that you support us in this challenging and important decision, one that works to keep our staff and students safe.

Please see updated regulations from FHM regarding asymptomatic children with positively tested family members - here. Please note that schools are unable to ask about positive diagnosis within a students family and are subject to the discretionary sharing of each students parents on whether they would like to inform us. All information is confidential as guided by our Swedish privacy laws.

Please see our evolving COVID19 Regulations here. We ask that if your children are ill, that you please keep them home, please follow the guidance of our Health and Sickness Policy.