September 2023

Dear current and upcoming students, parents and other stakeholders

IB Life: PE Day, Assemblies
News from IB & Pre-IB Coordinators
New pre-IB students settling in
History class visiting The Aarhus Occupation Museum
IB2 Study Trip to Lisbon
Get to know your teachers: Kim Sønderborg
Subject Spotlight: TOK

News from the IB Coordinator

In this newsletter, different students write about their school life, from a new Pre-IB student's encounter with new school traditions to an experienced IB2 student reporting from the IB2's study trip to Lisbon. There are many extra school activities besides the school subjects; by looking at pictures or reading small articles, you can get an insight into our IB students' diverse activities.

Globalnyt hosted a camp for high school students for the first time the past week. On 14-15/9 in Copenhagen, 27 students from Global High Schools gathered in a camp about global journalism, and it is the first of its kind collaboration between Globalnyt and Global High Schools. We had four committed Pre-IB and IB students from Aarhus Gymnasium, Tilst, participating. You can read more here (in Danish): https://globalnyt.dk/globalnyt-afholder-for-foerste-gang-camp-for-gymnasieelever

Every year, at the beginning of a new school year, when we have welcomed many new students, I find it essential to emphasize that we are very much aware that it is not easy and plain sailing being young today. Therefore, to support our students, we have three IB student counselors doing a huge work 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 explore that something is moving in the wrong direction. We also offer mentoring schemes and special needs support. 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).

In August, we have been certified as a Green School. The Danish Outdoor Council has awarded us with the Green Flag for our work with the Green School program in the school year 2022-2023. Among other things, we have worked with the themes of waste, nature, food, our school garden, and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. With this, we have developed an ambitious green vision to substantiate and integrate knowledge of climate change and competence development in the school's teaching - and to make our students and staff responsible and active citizens in the green transition - not just at school but in general.

The Danish Outdoor Council stresses that: Among other things, you have planted a flower meadow behind your department in Tilst for the benefit of biodiversity, increased the possibilities for waste sorting, increased the opportunities for sustainable food choices in the canteen, and created a general focus on recycling materials. We started our annual PE day this year, proudly raising the Green Flag.

Best wishes,

Malene Sørensen

IB Coordinator

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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, we once again have three pre-IB classes and have the high number of students in our IB community – and 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 different social events. 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 at the end of October/early November, and the first term grades coming out in mid-November.

The student counsellor, Stine, has begun her intro talks with each one of the pre-IB students. 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 Stine, should they have anything on their mind that may stand in the way of their performance in the pre-IB.

Looking forward to what looks like a great year ahead 😉

Best wishes,

Maria Friis Lindinger

Pre-IB Coordinator

Source: https://imgflip.com/i/7qg5go

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

New Pre-IB students settling in

First Day of School - Maja Brøgger Christensen

The first day of school was Tuesday the 8th of August. We all met in the canteen together with the students from the other educations. It was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. The head of school welcomed everybody, before we were separated and the pre-IB’s went to a small auditorium together. It was nice meeting all the new people, but also good just being us – that way it was a more comfortable beginning.

Information was given and the pre-IB coordinator greeted us. Afterwards the three classes, 1.i, 1.j and 1.k, were announced. We met out teachers and went to our separate classrooms with them and out tutors.

The rest of the day was spent with different games and get-to-know-each-other-activities, and then it was pretty much over!

I think it was good day, focusing mostly on the social and practical part of our new school!

Intro Trip to Sletten - Tymon Jan Zygadlo

The IB Intro Trip was a very pleasant surprise for the new students, being set so early in the school year, and it had everyone anticipating its start.

Upon arriving on the first day, the trip began with a canoe ride to Slåensø. There, we played some old Danish games, a few rounds of handball, and then enjoyed some time in the clear waters of the lake. Afterwards we paddled back to the campsite, where together we pitched our tents and had some dinner. With plenty of time and energy to spare, most people headed for the shore to enjoy the lake while the sun was still out, and the others stayed to set up the campfires. For the rest of the night, everybody sat down at the fire to share some stories, sing, engage in deep conversation and most importantly - enjoy some roasted marshmallows.

The very next morning, right after packing up the tents, our first big task of the day was the Adventure Race. After splitting up into groups, we went off on our way to complete all the activities laid out around the campsite. These required everyone to work together, and ranged all the way from simpler tasks like memory games and woodcutting, up to more challenging ones such as target practice with a slingshot or navigating a giant pair of skis. inbetween these activities, we also got the opportunity to try our hand at archery and tree climbing.

Once the race was over, we all set off on a trek to Himmelbjerget; Denmark's 4th highest natural point. It took us on a winding path through the woods and up the steep hill, and though it was exhausting, we managed to reach the top. We enjoyed the view along with some ice cream, which made it all worth it in the end. Afterwards, we headed down the hill and back to Sletten, where we had a final word from the organizers and went back home.

All in all, it was great fun and a very unique experience to kick off the school year. It was a great mix of adventure and teamwork, and it's helped to create and strengthen the bonds between the IB students.

IB Get-together - Oybek Zahriddinovich

The Get-together started on quite the messy note, and it was somewhat confusing regarding what we were supposed to do and all that (Granted, I was never really aware of the news, being a new student and all). Thankfully, the IB-2’s managed to get things under control and we were sorted into groups, before being deported to our activities. The first activity that we did was the Musical chairs minigame. I do admit that I came into this activity with quite low expectations, but was mildly blown away at how well I managed to survive against others.The second activity was a reaction-based one, from which I could remember surviving for quite a bit longer than most of the other contestants, but it was nerve-racking nonetheless. However, it was always amusing to see the balls unintentionally hitting the heads of the people who were out. From my perspective, we ended the Get-together on a good note. I managed to befriend a new circle of IB-1’s and a great performance occurred, to which I applaud the organizing IB-2 AND Joakim as well (Because who can forget Joakim?).

History class visiting The Aarhus Occupation Museum

Avi Damkjær, IB2

Going to The Occupation Museum here in Aarhus is an honestly breathtaking experience. From the introduction sequence of interrogation rooms that wholly immerse you in 1940s occupied Denmark to the documents, pictures, guns, and clothing of Wehrmacht forces and Danish civilians alike, you are reminded that this was a total war that affected all facets of Danish life. The museum also shows how Danish life changed the world war, even if it was in small ways.

“The Danish resistance did not end the war one second quicker, however, it restored the honour of Denmark that had been lost when we were invaded.” Quote from the person who showed me around.

The Occupation Museum does not stop at the war and invites you to learn about the local people of war and what happened to them. The museum bids its visitors to answer whether these people truly were heroes or villains? And displays many more ethical questions of the war. Along with the aforementioned is an interactive map depicting the many bombings and assassinations of the war. This interactive map creates a whole new understanding of the horror of living in ‘the land of milk(butter) and honey’

IB2 Study Trip to Lisbon

Vanessa Womack, IB2

All of us in IB2 can agree that this trip to Lisbon was full of chaos, excitement, sleep deprivation, and maybe a little too much TOK, but we can also all agree it was extremely exciting. Being able to freely explore a new culture, especially with classmates with such diverse backgrounds, was enlightening and definitely entertaining.

Each day had its own specific focus that allowed us to explore all parts of Lisbon's culture. On Monday, the class was divided into smaller CAS groups, and we were all allowed to go our separate ways, exploring our own creativity as well as the city.
On Tuesday, we visited the IB school in Portugal and got to spend hours exploring the campus as well as getting to know the students attending there. Taking care of little kids for three hours was certainly exhausting, but it was all worth it when they rushed up to us to say their final goodbyes, giving hugs and telling jokes. Meeting the IB2s in Portugal was informative and a learning experience as we had to practice our communication skills as we explored the TOK essay questions with the Portuguese students.

On Wednesday, we went to Belem to explore the historical attractions and moments from Portugal's history. We were able to go visit the Maritime Museum, which was filled with country developments, artifacts, historical facts, and even replicas of what life in Portugal would have been like back then.
On Thursday, we traveled to the beaches in Cascais, where each of us got to decide whether we wanted to go surfing, paddle boarding, or go to Europe's second-largest aquarium. The day's focus was all about physical activity, exploration, and enjoyment (especially of the sun before returning back to cold, cloudy Denmark).

In the end, the trip was stressful and tiring at times (and I'm honestly surprised we all made it back in one piece, to which we owe Paul, Danny, and Maria for that), but I know all of us on the trip can say it was one of the greatest experiences of our lives. We were able to bond with our classmates in a way we hadn't before and share jokes with our teachers, along with learning a whole new culture.

Get to Know your Teachers - Kim Sønderborg

How did you come to teach at AGT? After finishing university I moved to Nanning in China to teach English at a Chinese university. After one year I moved to Beijing, where I started teaching History and English in the IB. I really liked it. I then moved to Germany, where I taught History and TOK. In 2011 I read that Denmark had started opening up for the IB in some selected high schools, so I started applying. I drove 900km to go to my job interview here!

What strikes you as being interesting about AGT? That we have students and teachers from so many different backgrounds and countries. The lessons are always interesting because everyone has different inputs and opinions. It is great that we have different academic courses as well – STX, HL, IB, EUX. It really makes for a diverse student and teacher population which I don’t think that other schools have. And every body, students and teachers, are really nice here.

What about your subject(s) excites you? I love teaching History because it is about making interpretations of our common past and heritage. History is constantly re-interpreted, and I get to hear new opinions and ideas every year. It is always interesting. TOK is challenging to teach, and many find it difficult to learn, but I find that it gives the students (and myself) a lot – especially the ability to discuss topics where you really feel that you are challenging the limits of your understanding and imagination. It is all about having the courage to ask questions – and keep asking.

Which of the learner profile attributes is your favorite and which could you yourself improve on? I would probably say inquirer because I constantly find myself looking up random things in books or on the Internet: How long can a submarine stay in the ocean without getting supplies? How do you attach a sidemirror to your car? If chili is from Latin America, when did it come to China? It is so easy to get answers today! I would also consider myself openminded – I like to learn about different cultures and subcultures, art movements, music, etc. I should probably work on my risk-taking, one tends to get comfortable with age, but in my experience, whenever I have taken a risk, it has always paid off!

What culinary dish says something about you? This probably sound strange, but I have a special affinity for potatoes. They can be boiled, baked, steamed, fried, roasted, toasted, pickled, mashed, made into soup, eaten cold, and have saved the lives of poor and desperate people ever since they were brought to Europe 500 years ago.

Subject Spotlight

What is cool about your subject? Theory of knowledge is in my opinion a very important subject. Thinking, knowing and questioning is what sets us apart from the animal kingdom and defines us as human beings. It is challenging, because it does not have a set curriculum, and it does not have set answers. It constantly reaches the limits of how we think and pushes them a little further. This is why it can feel very confusing and daunting. We are working in the unexplored territory of our own mind.

What do your students think that your subject is/is about vs. what is really is/is about? In TOK we constantly hear the students saying that they do not know what TOK is about. They are used to having to find the solutions to a question and write a conclusion. TOK is not about a fixed solution. It is about having the courage to ask questions to which there is no set answer.

In what ways can they use your subject later on in life? I believe that many students will benefit from having had a subject as abstract as TOK when they continue their studies and have to find original ideas for research and writing. Being comfortable with a question which one does not fully understand, and which the world might not fully understand yet, and still dare to continue on, is a valuable part of one’s character. To boldly go where no man has gone before..!