Newsletter for Print - Aarhus Academy for Global Education

Students from KG1 and KG2 help the mayor decorate the Christmas tree at
City Hall
AAGE Newsletter
Issue 1, December 2011
THE SCHOOL OF A THOUSAND HEARTS
A word from AAGE head Leeanne Wootten-­‐Neumann
It is with great pleasure that we
present to you the first issue of the
AAGE newsletter.
This will be a monthly publication
featuring the latest news, events and
updates from the school, along with
useful information for parents.
The first issue focuses on Aarhus
Academy for Global Education's
opening and its first weeks of
operation. This has been a very
exciting time for us as we saw many
months of hard work finally come to
fruition.
We would also like to thank the
many sponsors of the Aarhus Academy
for Global Education, without whom
none of this would be possible. They
have provided much needed financial
support as well as resources and
equipment for the school.
More information about the
school's opening can be found on the
AAGE website and on the school's
Facebook page.
I want to take this opportunity to
thank everyone for their hard work and
dedication in making the opening of the
Aarhus Academy for Global Education
a resounding success.
We want to build on this fantastic
start and I look forward to clear and
open communication, within our
newsletter, between staff and parents.
In this issue:
> Mayor of Aarhus welcomes
visitors to Academy open day
> Attracting attention in the Danish press
> School plays host to two international
club visits
> Youngsters from KG1 and KG2 help
decorate the Christmas tree at City Hall
MYP Parent
Meeting
Our next parent meeting will take place on December 6th 2011 from 5 pm to 6.30 pm.
This meeting will be about the MYP in grade school.
Sign-up by writing an e-mail to the Head of Administration, Cecilie Fink ([email protected]), providing the name of each participant.
About AAGE
The Aarhus Academy for Global Education is a product of demands on education to meet the needs
of international employees coming to the greater Aarhus region.
AAGE will be a fully-certified primary years programme (PYP) and middle years programme (MYP)
school and will be accredited by the Council of International Schools. A choice for an IB education
means an easy transition from country to country and the best academic future preparation and
acceptance.
Attracting attention Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard and Karina Boldsen at AAGE’s opening.
in the Danish Press
Opening day at the Academy
attracted a large amount of
interest from the Danish press
who turned out in force to report
on the day’s events. Journalists
and photographers from radio,
TV and newspapers joined the
specially invited audience to hear
speeches from the Mayor of
Aarhus Jacob Bundsgaard, as
well as AAGE Chair of the Board
Karina Boldsen, Bodil Due from
Aarhus University and
headmistress Leeanne WoottenNeumann.
The school’s inauguration was
later featured in a news and web
story in Aarhus Stiftstidende
(www.stiften.dk), which covers
the entire Jutland region, and was
featured on local news channel
TV2 Østjylland. Parents were also
interviewed by Danish Radio
programme P4 and the Mayor’s
speech was posted on YouTube.
Mayor of Aarhus welcomes visitors to Academy open day
November 1 was an auspicious day for the Academy as it opened its doors for
the first time to parents and dignitaries alike. Up to 200 people attended the official
inauguration led by the Mayor of Aarhus, Jacob Bundsgaard.
“It is an historic day for the city of Aarhus,” he said, welcoming the audience.
“Historic because for the first time Aarhus can offer a complete international line of
education from pre-school to PhD. Today, international employees can send their
youngest children to kindergarten and pre-school in these beautiful surroundings.”
More stories on the school’s
opening can be found on the
website of Aarhus University
(www.au.dk), International
Community
(www.internationalcommunity.dk)
and that of Aarhus Kommune
(www.aarhus.dk, all of which are
in English.
Huge investment
"Only a life lived for others is worth living." -­‐ Albert Einstein State-of-the-art classrooms
As AAGE seeks to be an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, we'd like to share quotes that embody 1 of the 10 attributes of an IB Learner. December's attribute is CARING.
The school, which will next summer open its doors to six to 16-year-old
children, is a huge investment he said, as he thanked sponsors and Board members
for their contribution. “We wish for international employees and students to feel at
home in Aarhus and this launch contributes to the international atmosphere we
strive for.”
Also welcoming visitors was Karina Boldsen, AAGE Chair of the Board and
Director of Talent Attraction at Vestas. “We are so ready,” she smiled. “I have
learned a lot from being involved in the project and it has been an inspiring
process.”
She said AAGE students will be able to learn in a highly innovative and
exceptional environment. Young students will indeed be aided by a significant boost
from sponsors including Dansk Industri (Confederation of Danish Industries) which
has enabled the school to purchase iPads, computers and smart boards and tables.
Following the official ribbon-cutting, the crowd made a tour of the surroundings
taking in state-of-the-art classrooms boasting the latest technology. They also
enjoyed an informal brunch where parents could meet staff and other families.
Geniya Crewe has two boys attending AAGE, James, aged three and five-yearold Willy. The family recently moved to Denmark from Uganda, but have also spent
a lot of time in the UK.
“Denmark is great for kids and the school looks so nice,” she said. “I’m very
impressed that they use iPads to study with. We are only staying in Denmark for a
few months, so it was very convenient for us that even for a short period, our children could attend international school.”
There are currently nine children enrolled at the school with nine more
expected to join in January 2012.
calendar
november
december
january
1
6
3
Grand Opening of the
Aarhus Academy for Global
Education
MYP parent meeting at 17:00
School reopens
24-25
12
10
AAGE students help the
Mayor decorate the City Hall
Christmas Tree;
Hosting an Aarhus
International Rotary Club
meeting;
PYP Parent Meeting;
Visit from the Aarhus
University
Visit from International
Community from 10-12
Networking meeting for the
consuls in the Aarhus Region
28
16
18-23
Visit from Vestas employees
Children's report cards go
home; Winter celebration
party. Half day as school
breaks up for Christmas
holiday;
Sponsorship Training with
AAGE’s Director of
Development
Head of School attends the
Search Associates Recruiting
Fair - London - IB and Admin
Fair
13
Grace Chiu, Director of
Development, visits the Royal
Danish Consulate General in
New York
TBA
Parent meetings
School hosts two international club visits
Aarhus Academy last month welcomed two of the city’s international clubs who
underwent a tour of the school and met up with headmistress Leeanne WoottenNeumann.
First to take part in the series of open days was Aarhus University’s
International Club (UIC) who visited the school on November 22. Members of the
club took a tour of the facilities and met with staff. They were given an informal talk
about the establishment of Jutland’s first international kindergarten and were told
that, while AAGE is primarily intended for international families, it is also relevant
for Danish families who wish to prepare their children for life abroad.
In an email to the UIC, organisers said the opening of AAGE had been a much
anticipated event. “With more teaching in English and modern, innovative
approaches to education with an international focus, Aarhus Academy is an
extraordinary opportunity for both international families living in Denmark and
Danish families who wish to prepare their children for life in the global society.”
And on November 28, the school again played host to a group of Vestas
employees and their spouses who wanted to hear more about the first International
Kindergarten in Aarhus and its After-School Program. The group toured the brand
new facilities and enjoyed some light refreshments.
Tuition fees
KG: 3,500 DKK per month.
Primary: 4,200 DKK per month.
Middle School: 4,800 DKK per month.
The second child is 50 % off and
the third child is 75 % off.
Decorating the Christmas tree at City Hall
Youngsters from KG1 and KG2
helped to spread a little festive cheer in
Aarhus this year when they were
specially invited by the Mayor to help
decorate the Christmas tree at City
Hall.
The large fir was decorated with
candles and the children’s own
Christmas decorations which they have
made in recent weeks.
Assisting the children was the Mayor of
Aarhus, Jacob Bundsgaard, who
recently opened the school.
The Christmas tree stands in the
middle of Main Hall at the town’s City
Hall (Rådhuset) and will help get
employees and guests in the Christmas
spirit.
Our Sponsors
Campfire & Co. DynamicWeb
Oversætterhuset
Salling
Hostnordic
Ernst & Young
Danske Bank
Lyngagerhus
Neglestudiet
COWI
Abel & Skovgård Larsen
Handyman Aarhus
Kompetencekanalen
Nybolig
Virksomhedsskolen
ARoS
Consortium for Global Talent
Nordea
Bushøjvænget 133
8270 Højbjerg Denmark
Telephone number: (+45) 86726060 and (+45) 20302078
Find more information online:
> www.aarhusacademy.dk
> www.facebook.com/schoolofa1000hearts