Our IB2 students have now completed their exams — a huge milestone! All that remains is the wait for results, which will be released on July 6th. Until then, we’re all practicing the fine art of patience (some more successfully than others!).

In my graduation speech, I reminded everyone that upper secondary education is about much more than just academic achievement. While grades matter, they don’t tell the whole story. I have often dreamed of being able to give out “love grades” — because so many of our students shine in ways that no exam can measure.

I think of the students who brought the stage to life with theatre, dance, and song. I remember the incredible costumes — from Halloween to Smurf outfits on PE day. I think of those who planted seeds in the garden beds, those who were always ready to lend a hand at school events, the ones who did the dishes without being asked, and those who played football endlessly, building friendships across programmes.

To send them off into the world, I borrowed a few words from Kim Larsen — often called Denmark’s national bard. His lyrics touch on many aspects of life, and I mentioned two of his songs. One of them is about smukke unge mennesker — beautiful young people.

Kim Larsen sings:

And now, the next generations are ready to take the stage — with everything that comes with it: The challenges, the triumphs, and the unforgettable moments in between. Meanwhile, we are in the middle of a major IB self-evaluation process. If any of you have good ideas, constructive suggestions for improvements, or just thoughts you wouldd like to share — please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to hear from you. And finally, an exciting new chapter begins after the summer break: we’re launching the Danish HF programme — taught in English!

All the best,

Sustainable school. Research Question: What science aspects of a Sustainable School do you see in your field of natural science?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the submission of the pre-CAS reflections, you have officially reached the end of your pre-IB year — and what a journey it’s been. Congratulations on completing a demanding and transformative first chapter of your youth education. You have put in a tremendous amount of effort, and we're proud of your perseverence.

 

It might be tempting to mentally close the book on the past year now that everything is submitted and graded. But I hope you’ll take a moment to look back and truly absorb what this year has taught you — both inside and outside the classroom.

 

Over the past several weeks alone, you’ve tackled a History Research Project, prepared for and sat multiple End-of-year tests, and taken initiative to design and carry out your own pre-CAS projects. It’s been intense — and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the year, you’ve been establishing a life in a new country, adapting to a new school environment, forging friendships, and in many cases adjusting to learning in a new language. The pressure has grown steadily and so have you. This is the time to ask yourself some important questions:

• How did I cope when expectations rose?
• Was I consistent in meeting deadlines and managing my time?
• Did I stay motivated even in the subjects I found difficult?
• How did I balance my schooling with my other commitments — sports, jobs, friends?
• What skills or habits do I want to carry into next year?

The pre-IB year is more than just a lead-up — it’s your training ground. It’s where you’ve been developing the mindset, strategies, and stamina you’ll need for the IB Diploma Program. Think of it as equipping yourself with the tools for a demanding expedition. The real climb begins next year, and the preparation you’ve done now will make all the difference.

 

As you move forward, know that we are proud of the foundation you’ve laid. You’ve done the groundwork for the challenges ahead. But for now, it’s time to rest, reflect, and recharge.

 

As we look ahead to the next chapter, we also want to take a moment to recognise those students who won’t be continuing with us — whether due to relocations, personal decisions, or new educational paths. We are grateful for the time you spent here, and we hope that the experiences and skills you've gained during your pre-IB year will support you wherever your journey takes you next.

 

Wishing you a restful and well-earned break.

 

Warm regards, 

Maria Friis Lindinger

Pre-IB Coordinator

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=996503312650327&set=a.557096979924298

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. 

As the end of this school year gets closer, I can’t help but look back to everything I’ve experienced throughout these past months. It has been an exciting and challenging journey since I wasn’t just adapting to a new education but also to a completely new country with a different culture and language. At the beginning, it required a lot of effort, but as the time went by, it became easier for me to adapt to the new things that surrounded me.

 

Progress was not always linear, because with time also came a more demanding academic workload. For example, the GS Oral Exam or writing the History Research Project were tasks that I hadn’t done before and required a lot of work. But still with dedication, discipline and responsibility I was able to successfully overcome these challenges, while also leaving some time to enjoy my rest when needed. I will always be grateful for this opportunity of studying in AGT, not only because of the intellectual enrichment it provides me, but because of all the people that you get to meet. With activities the school promotes, like the Sports Day or the Intro Trip, we get to form nice connections with our classmates and become like a small family, where everyone is always there for each other when it’s needed.

 

For now, I’m focused on preparing well for the end of the year exams and hoping to successfully conclude this pre-IB stage. After that, I’m very excited to see how the next year of IB will be and all the new experiences it will bring me.

 

 

 

Many years ago (18 to be exact), I moved from Copenhagen to Aarhus, and I was so fortunate as to get a job at what was then called Langkaer and today is AGT.

 

Its diversity and commitment, both in the student body and the staff.

 

Danish B: It excites me that we can work with literally ANYTHING related to Danish language and culture. Since I started teaching Danish B, I’ve covered topics spanning from “Kød = Død” (Meat is Murder) over “Kunst eller hærværk?” (Art or Vandalism?) to “Kunstig Intelligens” (Artificial Intelligence) – and everything in between. Extended Essay Coordinator: It truly excites me to see the personal and academic development the EE promotes in the students. They learn so much about themselves, both academically and personally. 

 

Is it too obvious to say Communicator, now that I’m a language teacher? In any case, communication is my turf, and in my view, it’s an essential skill to possess and to teach, especially in this day and age. I should probably improve on being a risk-taker. I’m a big fan of structure, and I like it when things go according to plan, but sometimes magic moments wait down a path you didn’t plan on taking.

 

My favourite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavour, Caramel Chew Chew: I’m both salty and sweet and have a little bit of bite.

What is cool about your subject? It’s fairly easy to make language learning fun and engaging. Language is everywhere and can be triggered in so many contexts, so why minimize the teaching to classic classroom activities?

 

What do your students think that your subject is/is about vs. what is really is/is about? Sometimes they think that just showing up to class will make them fluent in Danish. They don’t necessarily connect language learning with hard work and effort. It’s, perhaps, more natural to assume that you need perseverance and stamina to learn maths and natural sciences, but it’s exactly the same in language acquisition: You need to be strategic and work hard to improve. At the same time, it doesn’t hurt to have fun doing it, though.

 

What knowledge/skills will your students obtain? An ability to express themselves in Danish both orally and in writing along with a substantial knowledge of the ‘crazy’ Danish culture.

 

In what ways can they use your subject later on in life? Hopefully they’ll be able to use their Danish language skills and knowledge of Danish culture in their future studies and lives here in Denmark.

 

Student quote? A HUGE sigh of exasperation from the students when I cry out: “Vi ELSKER grammatik!” and then introduce a task with verb inversion.

For my Pre-CAS project, I spent three days volunteering at Himmelbjerggården, a nature retreat in Denmark focused on sustainability and ecological living. My goal was to support a place with a genuine need by offering my time, energy, and help with tasks like weeding, planting crops, and contributing to the everyday running of the retreat.

The work was physically tough, involving long hours in the sun and tiring of the body but it taught me the importance of perseverance and staying committed even in exhaustion. I enjoyed being active, working with my hands, and spending time outdoors in such a peaceful place. At the end of the workday, the other volunteers introduced me to the beautiful sights of the land circling the retreat.

Being in a completely different environment by myself forced me to quickly adapt to how things were run at the retreat. One of the biggest challenges presented was putting myself in an unfamiliar setting as I was in a new space surrounded by people much older than me. However, I made the effort to speak with them and ended up forming valuable connections. I also learned practical gardening skills and gained insight into sustainable living.

My time at Himmelbjerggården helped me grow in confidence, responsibility, and independence. It proved to be a memorable and fun experience that I would like to continue, both in further projects and beyond school.

 

 

We asked two members of our IB Alumni the following question: 

 

Kim Han Nguyen, Class of 2022: I’m Kim Han, a former IB-student and currently a law student who’s committed to justice and fairness. Although I graduated some time ago, the IB mindset never left my side. It became a part of my life. Its values not only shaped my academic journey, but also how I view the world. Being PRINCIPLED guided me towards law school. It taught me that responsibility goes beyond our own actions. It includes the role we play in each other’s lives and the shared responsibilities we hold as people of a global community. CARING is another attribute I’ve carried with me. Law isn’t just about who’s right or wrong. While honesty and accountability are crucial, so are acting with empathy and respecting differences. The IB learner profile didn’t only prepare me academically. It also shaped the way I think, act and approach the world with integrity and compassion.

 

Sietske Mulder, Class of 2020: My favorite Learner Profile attributes are being INQUIRING and OPENMINDED and I’ll briefly tell you why. I learn something every day. And instead of thinking “I didn’t know that yet… Why didn’t I know that yet?”, I’ve started thinking: “Now I know!”. I learn about political issues, mathematical symbols, societal structures and other factual topics, but also how to be more patient, what it takes to be a good listener or what it means to be a good person. We learn these things from the people around us, and more specifically, by being curious, inquiring and openminded. I think one of the most important aspects about growing up (and all through adulthood, as well) is to understand and accept that other people might be better at something, know more about something or have a better way of doing something than you do. And most importantly, that it’s not a bad thing. It’s not a competition. If we keep an open mind and stay curious, we can learn from each other. So, I urge you to take a moment every once in a while, look at the people around you, and ask yourself: How could I do things differently? How do other people do things? What can I learn from them and vice versa? And above all, engage in an open dialogue about these things, so we can keep on learning from each other ­- I think Malene calls it ‘Lifelong learning’ :)

We've started receiving small greetings from our former students, which can be seen on our social media. The next newsletter will focus on alumni, providing joy and inspiration.

Here you can find some of the greetings: