September 2022

Dear current and upcoming students, parents and other stakeholders

IB life: Pre-IB Intro Trip
News from IB & Pre-IB Coordinators
The IB team school year 2022-2023
Pre-IB Intro trip
1 Student 1 vote: news from the student council
IB2 Study Trip
Get to know your teachers: Danny Goodwin
Subject spotlight: CAS

Summertime

News from the IB Coordinator

We have made an excellent start to the school year. I had the pleasure of participating in the intro trip with our three new pre-IB classes in some of Denmark's most outstanding areas of natural beauty. I experienced a lively and brave group of young people climbing "The Sky Mountain" (Himmelbjerget) under a smiling sun. They were playing the guitar and singing along around the bonfire - sleeping in tents (next year, we must specify what we mean by groundsheets!) - and canoeing in the headwind of the second day.

We have also welcomed a large new IB1 cohort. As a consequence, and without our knowledge, we held the last IB Dinner in its original form in August this school year. The IB department has grown so much that we have realized that we must rethink the event. Yet we had a lovely day, and we have a diverse student body in almost all kinds of respects. It is life-giving to join such a vibrant school environment.

We are very much aware that it is not always easy and plain sailing being young today. Therefore, to support our students, they meet in homerooms with a homeroom teacher, and ca. 12 other students from their cohort every second week. In addition, we have three IB student counselors doing tremendous work in establishing good relationships with the students. Knowing that they are not magicians or mind readers, we invite students and parents to reach out to them instead of waiting for us to discover that something is moving in the wrong direction. We also offer mentoring schemes and special needs support.

We have learned that some students are afraid to tell us about what they are dealing with. Some of them are, among other reasons, afraid of admitting their struggles and challenges because they are afraid that we will expel them from our school. Let me stress: We do not unenroll students based on particular needs or disorders, dyslexia, etc. We will always do our best to support you - and the sooner we know, the better we can help. (You can find the student counselors' contact info in this newsletter).

While our teachers took a seminar on Friday, September 23, the pre-IB students had a sports day, IB2 a writing day - and IB1 students had a high-quality experience with real people from "the real world." Again, I would like to thank two of our IB parents who inspired our students: John Howells, Aarhus University, about patents and ownership of ideas, and Adrian Bucica, former Head of Strategy Offshore wind - Siemens Gamesa, who urged our students to take part in solving the climate crisis by becoming climate leaders, engage, put pressure, lead by example, and take responsibility for own education and careers.

We also had a visit from Grundfos by Jacob Arnbjerg, stating that sustainability is very much a topic at the forefront of modern businesses. He asked our students: What exactly does this mean in a corporate context, and how can you actively work with sustainability and circular economy to address the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit?

A little bit of this and a little bit of that. And remember: When we stand close together, we can accomplish much more, whether it is regarding academic challenges, well-being, climate, etc.

Kind regards,

Malene Sørensen

Student Counselors: Pre-IB: Kristine, IB1: Nicoline, IB2: Stine

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News from the Pre-IB Coordinator

We have had a great start to the new school year, and the pre-IB students have been incredibly welcoming and open to all the new experiences that they have had together be it the intro trip to Sletten, the IB Dinner, or the recent PE Day. This year has been a little different in that we have welcomed a third pre-IB class into our IB community – but we are glad to have each and every one of them. We have had a few new students join the pre-IB several times since the start of the school year and may continue to grow as the school year progresses.

Now, the students are over their initial butterflies and are enjoying a sense of normalcy with homework, assignments, new friends, and parties. They have settled into a new routine and are adapting to a new school with new rules and practices, and I look forward to seeing how they manage here in the fall when they are faced with their first evaluations in the form of the General Science test, the General Linguistics test, both in November, and the first term grades coming out in December.

The students have also had intro talks with the student counsellor, Kristine. Here they discussed how they have settled in and how they are finding the pre-IB in relation to academics, workload but also socially. The students are always welcome to contact Kristine, should they have anything on their mind that may stand in the way of their performance in the pre-IB. Remember the pre-IB Parents Evening will be held on October 10th. You should have received an invitation via email, otherwise ask your child. I look forward to seeing you and your child there.

Best wishes,

Maria Friis Lindinger

Pre-IB Coordinator

Source: https://parade.com/1056225/marynliles/back-to-school-quotes/

The Pre-IB Intro trip

When I stared the first day, I was so exited to start a new chapter in my life. I must say the first day was a bit awkward to say the least but, thanks to our tutors, we got to know each other in different and fun ways. I was really amazed by how nice and friendly everyone was already the first day of school.

Throughout the next few weeks, we got to know each other better but nothing brought us as close as the intro trip to Sletten. The trip to Sletten is an amazing experience where everybody gets to know each other. For two days we did a bunch of different activities that helped us socialize with people we otherwise wouldn’t have. During the morning of the first day, we were split into teams and did different games and activities like climbing a tree, constructing a bridge out of branches or shooting with a bow and arrow. In the afternoon we regrouped and started walking towards Himmelbjerget. The walk was very tiring, but at the same time it was fun to just be able to walk through nature while talking to your friends. During the evening we made a campfire and roasted marshmallows while singing along to a guitar.

The second day we woke up quite early and had to pack our tents before we left to go kayaking to Slåensø. The trip was very nice and calm. When we got to our destination we got separated into classes and did some activities. We played some old Danish games, did a kind of scavenger hunt and went to se “the kings chair”. And before we went back we went swimming in the lake. The way back was not so easy as the way there. The wind was very strong and it was going in the opposite directions, so it took a while for everyone to get back. Even though the trip might have had it’s difficulties, I think everyone enjoyed being with their friends and classmates outside of school.

Sasha Jimenez Bertelsen, 1i.

1 Student 1 Vote - News from the student council

This fall, we are completely revolutionizing the structure of the student council! Since the corona pandemic, the student democracy at AGT has been suffering, to say the least.

By Sophie Berg Gertsen, IB2

There has been a lack of participation and engagement overall, and to combat this problem the student board sat down and came up with a plan. Inspired by other gymnasiums in Denmark, and in part the ancient Greeks, we have decided to introduce direct democracy at the school. What this means in practice is that instead of electing representatives from each class every student now represents themselves.

All meetings will be open to the entire school, but not mandatory. The topics of the meetings and the issues we will be voting on will be announced in advance so students can get an overview and show up to the meetings discussing what they want to have a say in. We hope that this will remove the fear of responsibility that comes with signing up for student council and thereby engage everyone at school.

There will still be a student board at school, who is responsible for arranging meetings, communicating with the administration, and managing our app ‘Elevforslag’ where students can post their ideas on how to improve the school. The board will no longer have a head, but simply members, each with their own responsibility. Elections for the board will be held every spring and fall replacing half of the board each time to ensure that there are experienced people to help the newcomers. All of these changes, along with a new structure for committees and project groups, will be implemented through a new code of conduct that will be passed by the old student council this fall.

This means that there no longer will be a student council but an open student democracy. We will have to rename this ‘student democracy’ to something more catchy so in the spirit of democracy, a name competition will be arranged with prices for the five best ideas. We all hope that this new structure will engage every student at AGT and strengthen our school.

IB at AGT appetizer

If you know of any young people getting ready to choose a youth education, or of families relocating to Aarhus, please do share our video. You can also find our new IB brochure a little further up in the newsletter.

IB Life

IB2 Study trip

By Maliha Brar, IB2

It was an early Sunday morning when the IB2 students started their journey for the highly anticipated 6-day-long study trip to Lisbon. With TOK and CAS at the core of this trip, we wanted to focus on exploring the culture of Lisbon through history, food, art, monuments, and sports. On Monday, upon reaching the Lisbon city center, we split into groups to do CAS as we walked towards the São Jorge Castle. Students prepared various CAS creativity products, including photographs, drawings, and short videos of themes such as colors and architecture. Soon, tropical storm Danielle hit the area, causing us to cancel the visit to the castle. We did not let the heavy rainfall affect us; instead, we adventurously continued to explore the city center.

On Tuesday, the class went on a TOK visit to Belém, a district of Lisbon. We visited the Maritime Museum, where we focused on the perspectives and interpretations of history. Afterward, we split into groups to visit significant landmarks in Belém to analyze through TOK concepts such as explanation, culture, and perspective. The groups visited places including Vasco Da Gama Garden, Belém Tower, and the Rose Compass- along with trying the famous custard tarts at Pastéis de Belém.

The visit to Oeiras International School (OIS) on Wednesday was perhaps the most significant event during the trip. This visit has been the first step in building an alliance with OIS. We were assigned to prepare engaging activities for students ranging from ages 6 to 17. In groups, we had carefully planned activities such as fun games for the younger year groups, and the Biology HL students had prepared experiments for the older students. I remember the shared feeling of nervousness and excitement in many IB2 students due to the responsibilities we held. The visit ended successfully with an insightful discussion about the TOK essay questions with IB2 students from OIS.

On the last day in Lisbon, most of us took a scenic train ride to Cascais, and some went to the aquarium. In Cascais, there were opportunities to do CAS activity projects such as taking surf lessons, swimming in the sea, and walking around the town. The relaxing day was wrapped up with the IB2s having dinner together.
The next morning, we left Portugal with pleasant memories and refreshed minds. I am grateful to have explored the historic landmarks, souvenir shops, and local restaurants of Lisbon with my classmates and friends. Overall, this trip has been an unforgettable experience full of great memories for the IB2 students.

IB Life: Sports day AGT 2022

Get to Know your Teachers

Danny Goodwin

How did you come to teach at AGT?

It was in 2007 and I had just graduated from university and was looking for a job. An old friend of mine worked at Langkær (which was the name of the school back then) and told me that they needed a substitute teacher for a few classes. So, I called the principal, we had a brief talk, and soon after I had my first job – and I never left! By the end of that school year I was teaching full time, which means that I’ve never actually had a proper job interview.

What strikes you as being interesting about AGT?

It’s never boring! We have always had a very diverse group of students from a lot of different backgrounds, which makes life at the school very dynamic, and you get to learn a lot about yourself and respect other people’s opinions and behaviour. Also, I’ve been lucky to be involved in things like school musicals, school magazine, party committee throughout the years, and it’s great to be part of that energy and vibe. I guesss that one of the main perks of working with teenagers is that I stay in tune with whatever’s going on in music, social media, celebrities and so on. It keeps me from becoming an old fart. I hope…

What about your subject(s) excites you?

I love how the students grow from doing CAS. In the beginning, most of them don’t know what to do – or why they should do it. But, at the end of the two years, it’s so impressive to look at all the things they’ve actually been part of, and how they’ve challenged themselves and worked on their ability to collaborate, take on responsibility, and come up with innovative ideas and solutions.

Which of the learner profile attributes is your favourite and which could you yourself improve on?

It has to be open-minded. Too often, we tend to see the world through our own cultural lens and set ways. Being part of the IB Diploma Programme certainly helps everyone to reflect upon and challenge our world view. I could probably be more of a risk-taker, but the older you get, the more set in your ways you become. Just wait.

What culinary dish says something about you?

Cheese. I love any kind of cheese. Don’t know what says about me? That I’m cheesy? Ba-dum-tss!

Subject Spotlight: CAS

I always say that CAS is the main thing that sets the IB apart from other educations. The students are engaged in so many different projects and experiences, that they would probably never have pursued otherwise. Hopefully, CAS also feels like a breath of fresh air from all the reading and writing in their “real” subjects.

What do your students think that your subject is/is about vs. what is really is/is about?

There’s always talk about CAS hours and CAS points in the beginning, but CAS is more like a personal journey. Everyone chooses their own path. Some students can’t stop doing CAS related things and others don’t really know what to do and how to get started - and that’s fine.

What knowledge/skills will your students obtain?

We have specific learning outcomes in CAS, and they cover things such as: personal growth, planning skills, perseverance, collaborative skills, global awareness, ethical choices, and many other things.

In what ways can they use your subject later on in life? Since CAS is in the core of the IB curriculum, it has a strong holistic approach and is based on an idea of “learning for life”, so it’s probably the most important part of their education – if you ask the CAS coordinator 😉

Student quote: “Can I get CAS for that?” – is probably the most common quote from desperate students looking to boost their CAS portfolio.

Danny Goodwin - CAS Coordinator

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