ISSUE 4 | JUNE 2022
Spotlights A MONTHLY CELEBRATION OF THE CIS COMMUNITY
WHAT'S INSIDE MYP Activity Week • Grade 12 Truck Ride • International Festival • and so much more...!
For any queries, please contact dani.bell@cis.dk
Contents 4
WELCOME TO SPOTLIGHTS A welcome note and introduction to this month's edition
5
FIELD TRIP SPOTLIGHT See where our students have been this month
18
CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT See what our students have been doing as part of their IB learning this month
23
EVENT SPOTLIGHT Take a look at the school activities from across the month
28
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Meet some of the faces behind the scenes at CIS
37
STUDENT LIFE SPOTLIGHT See this month's after-school activities including sports, music and more.
39
SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT See snippets of our sustainability in action.
Welcome to the final Spotlights of this school year Here we are: the final straight of this school year. After so many years of isolation and social restrictions, it's been so wonderful to finally see our community back together again this year, demonstrating everything that we stand for: diversity, inclusion, community and togetherness. This month has also been a time of reflection and farewells, as we have celebrated and said goodbye to our Class of '22. We wish all our Grade 12s the very best for the future, whatever your next adventures hold in store. This will be the final edition of Spotlights for this school year. Get comfortable and swipe through for a look at some of the last weeks on Campus before a well deserved Summer break begins. Wishing you all a wonderful and restful summer break. See you again in August! Dani Bell Head of Community Relations
OUT AND ABOUT
Field trip spotlight This month has seen a flurry of field trips, culminating in the MYP activity week. Take a look at some of the things our students have been up to off campus this month.
MYP Activity Week Each year, our MYP students embark on a range of activity trips for a week long residential. After two years of COVID restrictions, it was so wonderful to finally be able to set out students off on their respective adventures, both here in Denmark and overseas. In these next pages we'll glimpse just some of the things our students experienced during their trips.
This year, Grade 6 students spent 5 days together in Kalundborg for Activity Week. Wildlife and outdoor activities are abundant in this pristine environment on the west coast of Sjælland and promised an active and exciting trip for all. Students got to experience a range of activities during the week such as: Visiting Kalundborg historic town centre to complete some historical activities including lunch in a medieval house in the citadel Visiting Røsnæs peninsula, where students were given an opportunity to look at the wildlife and ecology of the area as well as being given a tour of the natural reserve Orienteering, nature illustrating, trust games and other sports on the surrounding sports ground Taking part in the ‘High Ropes’ outdoor education at Kragerup Go High
GRADE 6
Kalundborg, Denmark
GRADE 7
Bornholm, Denmark This year our Grade 7 students travelled together to the beautiful Danish island of Bornholm for activity week. Among other things, students engaged in guided tours of historic castles and churches, visited a medieval centre and tried their hand at activities like archery, riding bicycles through the countryside and discovering the island’s unique nature. There was also rock climbing and hiking (and lots of ice cream) on the itinerary, too!
Our Grade 8 students embarked on a trip to Munich, Nice, or Alicante, depending on the language they are studying. It was an exciting (and dare we say, challenging) week for our students, in which they experienced different aspects of daily life and culture in their chosen language, visited important historic and commercial sites, interacted with young people and practiced their language skills.
GRADE 8
Language trips to France, Spain and Germany
GRADE 9
Orø, Denmark Grade 9 students set off on a camping adventure to the Danish island of Orø for their activity week. Graced with great weather, the students were able to enjoy a week in the Great Outdoors, featuring kayaking on the pristine water, competitive pétanque and roasted marshmallows on an evening log fire. Hygge personified!
Grade 10 donned their adventure hats during their residential week, as they set off to the beautiful Møns Klint for a week of camping, cycling, sightseeing and cosy evenings by the log fire.
GRADE 10
Møns Klint, Denmark
Grade 3 visit to Bybi Encouraging our students to be champions of a just and sustainable world is woven into all aspects of learning here at CIS. You'll notice that many of our trips are somehow linked to sustainability and the natural environment, such as this recent trip that our Grade 3 students took to Bybi.
This trip was part of a mini inquiry into bees, which connects to their main Unit of Inquiry: Plants and animals depend on each other to survive in their biomes. The students had the opportunity to use their senses to understand how it is to be a bee. They found out what bees need and what makes a happy bee. This wonderful experience gave our students the opportunity to understand just how delicate our ecosystems are, and how much we need to protect all parts of our natural environment if to maintain a sustainable balance.
Kindergarten trip to Hareskoven This month, our Kindergarten students took a trip to Hareskoven, as part of the Unit of Inquiry on Sharing Our Planet. Our Kindergarten students are currently diving into the natural world, discussing, among other things, animals and our need to take responsibility for our habitat. The purpose of this trip was to show our students a local habitat, so that they could look for different plants, animals, and other features of a forest. Students also made connections and observations with sustainability, natural features, and more! It was a lovely day with lots of lively discussions, which really helped to bring the current Unit of Inquiry to life.
Grade 5 visit to the UN City After two years of waiting and a virtual online presentation, 5C were finally able to visit the UN City. Here's a look at how it was. This visit was a connection to the first Unit of Inquiry looking at the 'Rights of the Child'. The workshop that students did looked at 'Identity' and how we all have a right to a name, nationality, voice and belief. It was, in many respects, a challenging day for some students as they came face to face with the injustices that many children around the world face. They played games that were designed to be unfair, which provoked a strong reaction and helped them to understand how we must exercise our privilege to contribute to a more just world for everyone.
Grade 3 visit the DNA Detective's Geogenetic Center Did you know that some of the most pioneering work in genetics happens right here in Denmark? Some of our Grade 3 students were able to go and visit a worldleading center to hear more about how our earliest ancestors lived 35,000 years ago!
Welcoming a new 'school' at the bottom of Nyhavn Canal The canal just outside our Campus is now filled with water, but not before some of our Grade 3 students made their mark to welcome the 'new school (of fish) that will now begin making this place their home.
LEARNING
Curriculum spotlight Take a look at some of the wonderful things our students have been doing as part of their IB curriculum at CIS
Turning breeze blocks into something beautiful World renowned mural artist, Jacoba Nieport, is currently working with Grade 8 students to transform these concrete blocks into a striking mural. The final design will be a beautiful floral piece — much easier on the eye than the old concrete we had in front of the campus entrance. Exciting things to follow - watch this space!
The Suitcase Exhbition The latest installation on the slate stairs highlights the talents in Grade 8, ably led by Ms. Fiona Whitton, an artist in her own right. The students have compiled a moving exhibition called Suitcases, for which they have created meaningful collections that tell a story from their lives. Next time you are on campus, be sure to check it out!
Building soundproof panels for the school library The Grade 8 semester-long Design project is slowly coming together and almost ready to be installed in the library. Every year the Grade 8 design students have an opportunity to build something for the school that serves a valuable purpose. This year's focus was the library. Every student had to walk around and sit in the library to observe all areas of the space. Collectively they came up with a problem area as being a lack of soundproof areas in the library. Each student then got to work to research the best ways to soundproof and box-in certain areas of the library to fix this problem. Following a thorough research and concepting phase, students then pitched their ideas to their client: our school Librarian, Urania. The Grade 8s demonstrated excellent innovative thinking, creativity, teamwork and communication to get these well structured and soundproof panels done on time. The panels will soon be up in place in the library for everyone to use.
EVENTS
Event spotlight Here's a look at just some of the special events that have been taking place around campus this month
Studenterhue, truck rides, and final farewells ... did you know...? Our grade 12s have finished their exams which means one thing: Studenterhue (student hat) and truck ride season is now officially in full swing! If you are new to Danish culture, then the student hat is kind of like a mortarboard, but better! Most of the student hat traditions involve alcohol (more on that another time) but for now, let’s take a look at the act of actually getting your student hat at CIS: When a student completes their final exam, they will be met outside by anxious and excited loved ones who'll congratulate them and hand them a rose. One of the student's loved ones will then do the honour of placing the well-earned studenterhue (graduation cap) on their head. There is a long list of traditions with the Danish student cap. Here are a few: It is bad luck to try on a cap before the last exam is finished. This can be counteracted by jumping over the cap backwards 3 times. It is tradition to write the grade given in the last exam in the middle of the lining of the student's cap. Classmates and friends write memories and secrets in the lining. The student with the biggest and/or the smallest head has to give beer to the whole class.
The ultimate Danish graduate experience: The Truck Ride The most traditional way to celebrate high school graduation is hard to miss. During the last weekend in June, the streets are filled with large, decorated trucks packed with students dancing, celebrating and playing loud music as the graduates stop by each of their classmates' houses for something to eat and drink. We were so thrilled to be able to wave our Grade 12s off on their much anticipated and well-deserved truck ride this year! The atmosphere was electric, despite the sudden downpour.
Class of 2022 Graduation All good things must come to an end - a saying that rang particularly true this month as we said emotional and final farewells to our exceptional cohort of Grade 12 students at the Class of '22 graduation ceremony. We wish all of our Grade 12s the very, very best for the future. We will be watching and cheering from the sidelines as you move on from CIS to your next adventures. Held og lykke allesammen!
PEOPLE
Community spotlight Turn the page to meet some of the wonderful people from around the CIS community.
NEW: Alumni Spotlight - Meet Nick Palmer This month we are delighted to introduce our very first Alumni Spotlight, where we'll walk back through memory lane to meet some of the past faces who've helped shape our community. First up, meet Nick Palmer, who graduated from CIS in 1967, and who's had quite the adventure ever since...
I'm one of the few from the very early CIS days (1963-67) when we were situated in a youth club in Norrebro and then tenants of Søborg and Gladsaxe gymnasiums. I stayed on in Denmark for a few years, taking a Cand Mag in maths at Copenhagen Uni and then a PhD from Birkbeck College, London. I then discovered there aren't really many jobs for pure mathematicians, so I reinvented myself as a computer scientist. My parents supported me while I looked around for work and we had a holiday in Switzerland. After getting back, I had a call from a director in Ciba-Geigy, a Swiss Pharma company, asking if I could visit them for an interview. I *just* managed to stop myself saying "But I only just got back from there!" and it led to 16 years in IT, also writing three books on board games which managed to sell 100K copies.
But I was always interested in politics (in my CIS and university days I was a communist, though I drifted to social democracy in the end), and in 1997, still living in Switzerland, I was chosen as a Labour candidate for the 1997 British election. I won, and held the seat for 13 years, before losing and switching to a third career in animal welfare. I'm currently head of Compassion in World Farming UK, and have a Danish-English translation business in my spare time. I'm 72 now, but feel much as I did when I was at CIS people change less than one thinks, for better or worse! Life remains great fun, and I think being at the vibrant international atmosphere of CIS was a brilliant start. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Palmer for boring details...
Life remains great fun, and I think being at the vibrant international atmosphere of CIS was a brilliant start.
International Festival 2022 On Saturday 30th April, the CIS campus was transformed into a beautiful, vibrant, colourful display of everything our community stands for: togetherness, diversity, inclusion and joy. Thank you so much to all the parent volunteers who contributed so much time and love to make the day as special as it was. And of course thank you to the wonderful CIS PTA for coordinating such a fantastic event. In a world that often feels increasingly hostile to differences, the International Festival was the most beautiful display of what happens when we unite. Thank you to everyone who was involved!
Staff Spotlight - Meet IT Support Specialist, Reinaldo Name: Reinaldo Gonzalez Title: IT Support Specialist Years at CIS: 16 (since 2006) Nationality: Cuban (Hometown Santa Clara, Cuba) Hi Reinaldo! Can you tell us a little about yourself? Sure! I am an electronic engineer from Cuba. I have two beautiful daughters, Elizabeth who is working as a psychologist in Cuba, and Melissa, who is studying at Leiden University - Campus the Hague and was also a student here at CIS. Melissa graduated in 2019, and was one of the students who was at the school from Kindergarten to 12th grade, so many teachers might know her. I started my working career when I finished university. I was sent to the army where I worked as an engineer for 3 years. Then I applied for a job at the university where I graduated, and I
taught there for four years, before applying for my post-graduate studies. Cuba didn't offer Engineering Masters or PhDs at that time, so I ended up moving to São Paulo, Brazil to study. It was there that I met my wife, who is Peruvian, and was also doing her post-grad work.
Staff Spotlight In 2003, my wife got a job offer in Denmark
What's your favorite part about working
(she currently works at the United Nations)
at CIS?
so we moved to this beautiful country and came to Europe for the first time. This new
The opportunity to work with everybody at
opportunity in our life came with a lot of
CIS. I feel lucky I have the opportunity to
change, but we love it and it's been a very
work with everyone from teachers, staff,
good experience for us.
students, the canteen staff, to the PTA....it's that opportunity to meet and work with
Can you tell us about your role at CIS?
everyone that makes me happy. Especially because of how people respond when we
I provide support to all staff and students
give them support...even if they are
with all of the electronic equipment we
stressed, I am met with a smile, because
have here at CIS, from computers to
they know I will do my very best to solve
printers to Cleverboards to phones. I also
whatever problem they have. I also enjoy
help with the applications and software in
that students from Kindergarten to Grade
use at the school, like Google Workspace
12 know me by name. They respect and
for Education, Adobe Creative Cloud, as well
appreciate the help I can give. It's a
as others.
beautiful thing to receive this appreciation from colleagues and students for the job we do here at CIS - it really amazes me and
I feel lucky I have the opportunity to work with everyone from teachers, staff, students, the canteen staff and PTA....it's that opportunity that makes me happy.
so I am really happy about that.
Parent Spotlight This month, Kindergarten teacher and CIS parent, Rachel Beck lifts the lid on what it's like to be both a parent and a teacher at CIS. Hi Rachel! Firstly, can you tell us: where did you grow up? I am originally from the UK, having grown up in Birmingham, England How many years have you been living Danishly? 15 years Tell us a little bit about your role here at CIS? I have been working in kindergarten at CIS for 14 years. I started in 2008. The last 3 years I have been the kindergarten team coordinator. How many children do you have in the CIS and which grades are they in? I have 2 daughters at CIS. They are in 1st grade and 4th grade. They have both been here since they were in pre-kindergarten at the age of 3 years. Why did you choose to send your children here to CIS? I love the caring community, the interest based inquiry learning as well as meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of the children.
Parent Spotlight What does it mean for you to be with CIS? CIS becomes like a family to you when you don’t have your own family around! Many colleagues have become very close friends! Where’s your favorite place to go when the sun is shining? To the sandy beach at Hornbæk (north coast of Sjælland), to eat in a restaurant at Rungsted Havn (east coast of Sjælland) and to take a walk around Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød (north of Copenhagen). No problem! The Danes say "Det er ingen ko på isen"—there is no cow on the ice. What’s a phrase from your language that might seem odd to others, and what does it mean? You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar! - You'll get what you want by being nice. What are you currently reading? Atomic Habits What’s one piece of advice you’d give to anyone coming to Denmark? The Dane’s say: there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing! My advice is to ensure you invest in suitable weather clothing for all seasons! Children go outside in all weathers here!!
EXTRA CURRICULAR
Student life spotlight Here are just some of the things our students and staff have been doing on campus when the school day ends
NECIS Track and Field Antwerp May 2022 For the first time since 2019, our Track and Field team traveled on May 27-29 to their final NECIS meet in Antwerp, Belgium. It is hard to believe that this is the last sporting event this school year but all eight traveling athletes had a great time on and off the track and field.
Although the competing track and field team was small this year, our athletes managed to win nine medals in total and some students set their personal best times. We are very proud of all studentathletes who participated in the Track and Field season and who had the opportunity to participate in the culminating event at the end of their season. It was a very rewarding experience for coaches and students to feel NECIS spirit again after many interruptions during the last two years.
EXTRA CURRICULAR
Sustainable Development spotlight Our mission at CIS is to Educate Champions of a Just and Sustainable World. Here's a look at some of the ways we are doing that.
CIS is accredited Chora 2030 status! CIS is commited to an ambitious set of strategic initiatives in support of the the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The UN’s global goals permeate the entire school, and are central to all the strategic decisions that we make. For a long time now, we have also been working towards getting Chora 2030 status, which is an accreditation that is awarded to Danish educational institutions that are committed to working strategically and ambitiously in support of the UN's global goals. We are delighted to say that this month we received our Chora 2030 accreditation. Now the real work begins as we embark on a range of initiatives to support each of the 17 goals on a consistent, long-term basis.
Climate Buddy Collective We were thrilled to host the first Face The Future Summit here at CIS in May. 60 climate and mental health experts joined forces to create the first ever Climate Buddy Program. Together, we're taking steps to build a more sustainable future. The first group of young adults and representatives from various Danish organisations came together right here on Campus with the goal of becoming the first ever Climate Buddies. Over the course of an inspiring full day event including workshops, talks and 'Climate Pizza' created on-site by Gorm (yes, the real Mr Gorm from Gorm's pizza!), the Climate Buddies were able to come away with a set of pledges to turn their climate anxiety into climate action. Tomorrow’s world will present today’s youth with unprecedented environmental challenges, so it was an honour to be able to support such an important and exciting initiative to equip a new generation will the skills they’ll need to rise to those challenges.
A WARM THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ANOTHER GREAT MONTH
For any queries, please contact dani.bell@cis.dk