VG - in English Virum Gymnasium

Transcription

1 VG - in English Virum Gymnasium Fuglsangvej 66, DK-2830 Virum, Denmark Phone: (+45) Fax: (+45) Web: vg@virum-gym.dk 1 VG - Profile

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3 Virum Gymnasium Denmark...a school for students aged Founded VG - Profile

4 VG - in English MANAGEMENT Mette Kynemund: Head Master Mads Pedersen: Deputy Head Master Hans Erik Duckert: Business Manager Erik Møller Jensen: In-house Manager Pia Gars Jensen: Information Manager Andreas Holmsted Olesen: Manager In order to ensure that our pupils play an active part in the running of the school, pupils are represented on the school board and naturally also on the school s pupil representative committee; each class has one member in the representative committee; this is to ensure that pupils play an active part in some of the decisions made by the school. VG - Profile

5 Welcome to Virum Gymnasium THE SCHOOL Virum Gymnasium (VG) is situated in Virum, a small suburb north of Denmark s capital Copenhagen. The school was founded in 1957 and is one of the biggest gymnasiums in the area north of Copenhagen. On VG we are more than 1000 students in 32 classes and a staff of more than 100 people of which roughly 100 are teachers. We offer a three-year education, and the students begin when they are approximately 16 and finish when they are approximately 19 years of age. However, the special Team Danmark education branch for elite sports practitioners comprises four years. To read more about study branches and possibilities at VG, see pages THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT The school management or Strategic Management includes the Head Master, a deputy head master and four managers. Furthermore, the school has 4 study advisors and 4 reading supervisors. On a structural level, Virum Gymnasium is managed by the School Board and the Head Master who are accountable for the running of the school to the Ministry of Education. Virum Gymnasium also has an Educational Board consisting of all the teachers as well as the Head Master. The Board works as counsellors for the Head Master. It holds four scheduled meetings a year and more if needed. Mette Kynemund: Head Master 5 VG - Profile

6 THE LOCAL SURROUNDINGS Virum Gymnasium is situated in peaceful and scenic surroundings in the middle of the pleasant suburb of Virum. The municipality of Lyngby-Taarbæk is characterized by its unique combination of attractive natural surroundings with forests and lakes and a close proximity to the capital of Copenhagen. Thus, Kongevejen (literally The King s Road, the old main thoroughfare between Copenhagen and the northern part of Sjælland) is only 5 minutes walk away and will get you to the capital in 15 minutes by car or 40 minutes by bus. The green surroundings offer excellent possibilities for excursions and sports activities, and the famous Frilandsmuseet (The Open Air Museum) is 10 minutes away from the school grounds. In the spring of 2011, a new wing was opened just north of the existing school-buildings. It includes eight new class rooms and a brand new sports hall. To read more about the town of Virum and the local surroundings, see page 14. MISSION On VG we strive to continuously develop: 1) A broad education for our students with an equal focus on approaching the world from the point of view of the humanities, the social studies and the sciences 2) An international focus in both theory and practice 3) Contact and communication with the surrounding society 4) Academic qualifications as well as academic progress and immersion 5) IT-based teaching in a virtual learning environment 6) The class as a social and academic community combined with corporation between classes, subjects, and teachers 7) Social qualifications in a dynamic and creative learning environment 8) A continuous debate on didactics and educational theory and practice, a sharing of knowledge and supplementary education for teachers VG - Profile

7 VISION AND VALUES It is our goal that Virum Gymnasium must be a good place to be and a good place to learn. We strive to create a school rooted in our local community where the academic, the creative, and the social aspects of education work together to create a learning environment in which both students and teachers are committed to working together to provide opportunities for in-depht academic studies and continuous academic and educational development. Our goal is to educate students with academic knowledge and qualifications, who are eager to continue learning and who are well-prepared for the active development of the democratic society in a global perspective. STRATEGY A high academic level: We give priority to high-quality teaching where an emphasis is put on providing our students with both a traditional all-round education and the specific preparation for further academic studies. Interdisciplinary aspects and aspects particular to the individual subjects share an equal focus. Furthermore, a priority is given to the wishes and aspirations of each individual student. We ensure a high standard of academic and educational development by emphasizing educational debate, the sharing of knowledge, and supplementary education for teachers. A safe and inspiring learning environment: We give special consideration to the task of presenting an open and accommodating environment to our students with respect for diversity and for the individual student. With the school s many traditions as our starting point, we strive to create a good environment for student activities and social interaction. 7 VG - Profile

8 The School Structure SPECIALI- ZED STUDY PRO- GRAMME 2½ year 3g 2g 1g MANDATORY SUBJECTS: Danish A History A English B 2. Foreign Language (continued B/beginners A) Math C Social Studies C Psysics C Biology C Chemistry C or Natural Geography C (Either Physics, Biology, Chemistry/Natural Geography must be chosen on a B-level) Artistic Subject C Physical Education (PE) C Religion C Classical Studies C SUBJECTS IN THE SPECIALIZED STUDY PROGRAMME: Usually 3 subjects Specialized Study Project (in the third year, 3.g) Elec 1-3 e stud Usua BASIC PRO- GRAMME ½ year 1g MANDATORY SUBJECTS: Danish English 2. Foreign Language Physics Biology Math Social Studies An Artistic Subject Physical Education (PE) Basic Gener Langu VG - Profile

9 D Electives: 1-3 electives depending on the student s study programme. Usually in the third year (3.g). General Study Preparation E) Basic Natural Science General Introduction to Languages Special Subjects: General Study Preparation Here the students work with topics and material across the individual subjects within the humanities, the sciences, and the social studies. The goal is to give the students knowledge and abilities for use in their future studies in the gymnasium and in the course of their higher education in general. General Introduction to Languages Here the students learn about the structure and function of different languages. Hereby, they become more astute observers and users of language and they learn how to transfer their linguistic knowledge from one language to another. Basic Natural Science During this course the students are exposed to the particular way of thinking of the natural sciences. Everyday topics are used to give the students an insight into the interaction between physics, biology, chemistry and natural geography. 9 VG - Profile

10 The Specialized Study Programmes The Specialized Study Programmes offered on VG Math A Physics A/B Chemistry A/B Bio-technology A Math A Physics B Biology A Chemistry B Math B Biology A Physical Education (PE) B Math B Math A Social Studies B Social Studies A Math B A shared subject English A Social Studies B Math B English A German (continued) A Social Studies B, Phychology C or another shared subject English A French (continued) A Social Studies B, Phychology C or another shared subject English A Spanish A Social Studies B, Phychology C or another shared subject Latin A English A English A Spanish A French (cont.) B/A or German (cont) B/A Music A English A A shared subject Music A Math B A shared subject VG - Profile

11 Possible Electives A-level B-level C-level Biology Visual Arts Astronomy Bio-technology Biology Visual Arts English Drama Computer Science French beginners French continued Design French continued Physics Drama Physics Physical Education (PE) Business Economics Chemistry Chemistry Philosophy Latin Math Chemistry Math Media Studies Chinese Studies Music Music Innovation Social Studies Natural Geography Latin Spanish beginners Psychology Media Studies German beginners Religion Music German continued Social Studies Natural Geography German continued Psychology Retorik 11 VG - Profile

12 EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Virum Gymnasium offers a number of extra-curricular activities where the pupils are mixed across classes, for instance our homework café, the school choir, and different voluntary sports activities such as handball and football. Art classes and voluntary work on the school newspaper are other examples of the activities we offer our students outside of their regular schedules. Each year we host a Spring Concert as a supplement to the 5 annual Music Cafés where students perform individually or in groups. Furthermore, pupils and teachers work together each year on the production of the grand VG Musical, usually staged in November. STUDY TRIPS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS During the three years that our students are here on Virum Gymnasium, they have the opportunity to attend three study trips, one for each year: The 1st-year Field Trip (The class travels to a location in Denmark or Sweden) The 2nd-year Study Trip (usually to a capital or another larger city in Europe) The 3rd-year AT-trip (in connection with their project in the subject of general study preparation, students travel to such diverse locations as Damascus, Belfast, Istanbul or Beijing. The students are mixed between classes.) Virum Gymnasium puts great importance on international relations. Last year, pupils and teachers took part in a school exchange with a high school in the Spanish city of Barcelona. Furthermore, in connection with this autumn s At-trip to Beijing a program is under way to establish permanent contacts with schools in China. The school receives a number of exchange students each year; these students usually stay with us for the whole of the school year. VG - Profile

13 PROJECTS, DEVELOPMENT, AND IT For four years now, Virum Gymnasium has been a Science Gymnasium. Thus, VG is now one of the roughly 40 gymnasiums taking part in the national project Danish Science Gymnasiums. The gymnasiums have been selected because of their ability to make a special effort to develop the teaching of the natural sciences. The program funds new exciting equipment and programs for the participating schools (which is then used for daily teaching at the schools). Furthermore, VG has itself created the MoodleJiTT project. Moodle is a so-called Learning Management System to handle virtual and interactive teaching. Here the teacher can upload work sheets, learning tasks and quizzes for the students. The learning platform Moodle is already used in several subjects on VG. The school puts a large emphasis on the use of digital communication, teaching, information, and administration. The VG has a digital portal where students can check on for instance home work, activities, grades, and their weekly schedule. For the daily teaching, the school has approx. 170 laptops and 50 stationary computers. All class rooms have electronic projectors and wireless internet access is avaiable in the entire school area. The school has also recently invested in a large number of Active-Boards for the class rooms. 13 VG - Profile

14 LOCAL HISTORY Frilandsmuseet, or The Open Air Museum, is spread out across 86 acres of land and includes more than 50 farms, mills and houses from the period Most of these historic houses appear just like they did in the 19th century, at the time when the world-famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen wrote his fairy tales. The museum is one of the largest and oldest of its kind in the world. To learn more about this fascinating museum, A little further up the road Sorgenfri Slot, or Sorgenfri Castle is situated. The castle was built by the architect François Dieussart in for the count Carl Ahlefeldt. Since 1730 the picturesque castle and its surrounding park has been in the possession of the Danish Royal Family. To read more about Sorgenfri Castle, Close by, one also finds the historic town of Brede on the small, idyllic river Mølleåen, a protected area and one of the most beautiful natural environments in Denmark. To read more about Brede and Mølleåen, Furthermore, opportunities for canoeing and kayaking are ample not only on the small river of Mølleåen but also on the many lakes in the proximity of Virum, including Lake Lyngby, Lake Bagsværd and Lake Furesøen. FURTHER INFORMATION Link to the Danish Ministry of Education in English: Gymnasium.aspx VG - Profile

15 Editor : Pia Gars Jensen (Editor responsible under the press law) and Gunnar Bay (design). Translation: Søren Tiemroth 15 VG - Profile

16 The location of Virum Gymnasium... Virum Gymnasium Fuglsangvej 66, DK-2830 Virum, Denmark Phone: (+45) Fax: (+45) Web: VG - Profile