Friday, May 29, 2009
What are they doing in there?!
It has now been a week since we received information from BvW about ISH in Skolstaden, and we have still not heard any reactions from "our" representatives in the ISH Parent Work Group. Are they happy with the plans? Have they reached their goals? What are they going to do now? Or rather - WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW?
Monday, May 25, 2009
You don’t fool me, and my children deserve better, so I’m off.
In order to make valuable comments on the "proposal" (rather a descision or ...) more visible we lift them up for all to see. Here goes:
That’s it then!
How could any sensible parent resist moving their child out of their current structured, more formal, and dare I say, stricter learning and teaching environment into the liberal, kids rule Swedish Education nightmare known as Skolstaden? As for the absolutely nonsensical language used throughout the proposal… Synergy effects… Manifest clear home areas where students, teachers and leaders work in close pedagogic collaboration. If it was not so serious it would be laughable.
Just one tiny detail, but if we lose Grades10, 11 and 12, why move off Maria Park at all? Notice the scribbled afterthoughts about where 10, 11 and 12 go? As I’ve said all along, this move is only about Skolstaden needing the Diploma Programme to be part of its own very poor academic Gymnasium. All the decent schools in Helsingborg became private, and they are the ones our grade 9 children choose if they don’t stay on at ISH to do the Diploma.
So my response to Björn (not that he has asked for our views in case that passed you by).
You don’t fool me, and my children deserve better, so I’m off.
That’s it then!
How could any sensible parent resist moving their child out of their current structured, more formal, and dare I say, stricter learning and teaching environment into the liberal, kids rule Swedish Education nightmare known as Skolstaden? As for the absolutely nonsensical language used throughout the proposal… Synergy effects… Manifest clear home areas where students, teachers and leaders work in close pedagogic collaboration. If it was not so serious it would be laughable.
Just one tiny detail, but if we lose Grades10, 11 and 12, why move off Maria Park at all? Notice the scribbled afterthoughts about where 10, 11 and 12 go? As I’ve said all along, this move is only about Skolstaden needing the Diploma Programme to be part of its own very poor academic Gymnasium. All the decent schools in Helsingborg became private, and they are the ones our grade 9 children choose if they don’t stay on at ISH to do the Diploma.
So my response to Björn (not that he has asked for our views in case that passed you by).
You don’t fool me, and my children deserve better, so I’m off.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Information to parents from Björn von Wachenfeldt
Helsingborg May 22nd 2009
Information to parents
Relocation of the International School of Helsingborg to Skolstaden in 2010.
Proposition
The proposed relocation of ISH to Skolstaden, supported by the Skol- och Fritidsförvaltningen management team is hereby presented.
The ISH leader team, in December 2008, produced a description of the current ISH facilities, intended to serve as a basis for the relocation project group, consisting of representatives from Skolstaden, SFF, Kärnfastigheter/ real-estate company, White Architects, and Landscape- Syd AB.
Fundamental Skolstaden ISH objectives include to:
• Strengthen and clarify Skolstaden as the school uniting the advantages of the small school within a bigger campus, to secure high quality and thus successfully meet the competition from private schools.
• Ensure security for the children as well as meet the high demands of the accredited IBO concept, implying rigorous criteria and extensive quality follow-up, the new locations will be adjusted and redecorated accordingly.
• Manifest clear home areas where students, teachers and leaders work in close pedagogic collaboration.
• Bring about a speedy implementation of laptops and wireless systems to meet modern pedagogic financed through synergy effects through the Skolstaden concept.
• Meet the demands of a high quality international school requested by politicians, international companies, students and parents in Helsingborg.
• Ensure the possibility of growth within ISH.
• Further improve the marketing of the school.
The relocation proposition includes the following:
Fritids, PYP and MYP 1-4
Fritids, PYP and MYP 1-4 will be relocated to the school building currently called Petri, situated next to the elementary school Slottsvångsskolan, where ISH once started in 1995. The Petri building is located within a secluded area apart from the rest of Skolstaden.
The rooms are spacious and the area in total is bigger than the present facilities at Maria Park, and include the following (See pictures: Programhandling_Petri_indoors 090515) showing the main interior facilities. Some changes can be made according to results of further discussions and wishes within the ISH organization:
• Lower ground floor/Picture 00:
The Preschool, Fritids and lower PYP. The PE hall is not included in the picture, but accessible through an indoor corridor.
• Ground floor/Picture 01:
Main entrance and PYP. Welfare team, staff rooms, library, lunch room etc.
• First floor/Picture 02:
MYP 1-4. Student lockers, Arts and Music departments, science labs, computer lab etc.
Outdoor activities: The school yard will be divided into different play areas to suit the different year groups, a wall/fence will be erected around the premises to secure the area, and the architect has presented drawings including leveling of the ground to achieve a welcoming play area with a slide, swings etc, a barbeque area, a net-covered football pitch with artificial grass surface on the roof of the PE hall etc. Meeting spots for the older children will be located between the main building and the PE hall.
Across Bergaliden, a street where the traffic is limited to 30km/h, is Slottshagen Park and Kärnan, with possibilities for further outdoor class activities. (See picture: Garden pdf: The text is in Swedish on this pdf drawing)
A docking area for parents with younger children will be created outside the main entrance on Östra Vallgatan. Additionally there will be access to more parking spaces a few minutes away.
Adjustments and timeframe: Necessary changes to the interior and exterior environment at ISH Petri building will be started during the summer of 2009 and partly also include the School year 2009/2010. Major adjustments will thereafter be carried out during the summer of the move, 2010.
Adjustments imply forming the outdoor areas to suit the needs of the younger children, and include highly focused attention to safety aspects. Interior redecorations include a multifunction area holding the school lunch room, a café and a recess area.
MYP 5 and the Diploma Programme
MYP 5 and the Diploma Programme will be located some 350 meters away from the Petri building within the Skolstaden area in a detached part of the Nicolai building ( See picture: MYP5&DP. pdf).
The lab facilities will be located in the Science center in the K-house. The science center wing of the building is connected to the ISH domain through a corridor housing the lunch room, school café, and the library.
A career center hosting the career officers will be located opposite the library on the ground floor and be up and running from August 2009. In addition, the lunch room and the café will become integrated and be open to students all school day to serve as a recess area.
The K-house, already today equipped with outstanding lab facilities, will, in August 2010, become a highly specialized Science house for all sciences, and be called the Lab house/Labbhuset.
Adjustments and timeframe
The new Skolstaden campus park area is well under way, and gives the school site a car free area. The park will among other things offer recreational areas, bicycle paths, and an outdoor theatre. It will be completed before the ISH move.
ISH Skolstaden
The above described interior as well as exterior proposition is aimed at securing a high quality platform for continued development within the International School of Helsingborg, Skolstaden.
Detailed planning will now continue together with representatives for the parties concerned and safety representatives to ensure the best possible result. Consequence and risk analyses will be carried out. Information to trade unions according to MBL § 19 will be held 26 May 2009.
Below you will find the plans that was attatched to the email from BvW. To enlarge - just click on them.
Information to parents
Relocation of the International School of Helsingborg to Skolstaden in 2010.
Proposition
The proposed relocation of ISH to Skolstaden, supported by the Skol- och Fritidsförvaltningen management team is hereby presented.
The ISH leader team, in December 2008, produced a description of the current ISH facilities, intended to serve as a basis for the relocation project group, consisting of representatives from Skolstaden, SFF, Kärnfastigheter/ real-estate company, White Architects, and Landscape- Syd AB.
Fundamental Skolstaden ISH objectives include to:
• Strengthen and clarify Skolstaden as the school uniting the advantages of the small school within a bigger campus, to secure high quality and thus successfully meet the competition from private schools.
• Ensure security for the children as well as meet the high demands of the accredited IBO concept, implying rigorous criteria and extensive quality follow-up, the new locations will be adjusted and redecorated accordingly.
• Manifest clear home areas where students, teachers and leaders work in close pedagogic collaboration.
• Bring about a speedy implementation of laptops and wireless systems to meet modern pedagogic financed through synergy effects through the Skolstaden concept.
• Meet the demands of a high quality international school requested by politicians, international companies, students and parents in Helsingborg.
• Ensure the possibility of growth within ISH.
• Further improve the marketing of the school.
The relocation proposition includes the following:
Fritids, PYP and MYP 1-4
Fritids, PYP and MYP 1-4 will be relocated to the school building currently called Petri, situated next to the elementary school Slottsvångsskolan, where ISH once started in 1995. The Petri building is located within a secluded area apart from the rest of Skolstaden.
The rooms are spacious and the area in total is bigger than the present facilities at Maria Park, and include the following (See pictures: Programhandling_Petri_indoors 090515) showing the main interior facilities. Some changes can be made according to results of further discussions and wishes within the ISH organization:
• Lower ground floor/Picture 00:
The Preschool, Fritids and lower PYP. The PE hall is not included in the picture, but accessible through an indoor corridor.
• Ground floor/Picture 01:
Main entrance and PYP. Welfare team, staff rooms, library, lunch room etc.
• First floor/Picture 02:
MYP 1-4. Student lockers, Arts and Music departments, science labs, computer lab etc.
Outdoor activities: The school yard will be divided into different play areas to suit the different year groups, a wall/fence will be erected around the premises to secure the area, and the architect has presented drawings including leveling of the ground to achieve a welcoming play area with a slide, swings etc, a barbeque area, a net-covered football pitch with artificial grass surface on the roof of the PE hall etc. Meeting spots for the older children will be located between the main building and the PE hall.
Across Bergaliden, a street where the traffic is limited to 30km/h, is Slottshagen Park and Kärnan, with possibilities for further outdoor class activities. (See picture: Garden pdf: The text is in Swedish on this pdf drawing)
A docking area for parents with younger children will be created outside the main entrance on Östra Vallgatan. Additionally there will be access to more parking spaces a few minutes away.
Adjustments and timeframe: Necessary changes to the interior and exterior environment at ISH Petri building will be started during the summer of 2009 and partly also include the School year 2009/2010. Major adjustments will thereafter be carried out during the summer of the move, 2010.
Adjustments imply forming the outdoor areas to suit the needs of the younger children, and include highly focused attention to safety aspects. Interior redecorations include a multifunction area holding the school lunch room, a café and a recess area.
MYP 5 and the Diploma Programme
MYP 5 and the Diploma Programme will be located some 350 meters away from the Petri building within the Skolstaden area in a detached part of the Nicolai building ( See picture: MYP5&DP. pdf).
The lab facilities will be located in the Science center in the K-house. The science center wing of the building is connected to the ISH domain through a corridor housing the lunch room, school café, and the library.
A career center hosting the career officers will be located opposite the library on the ground floor and be up and running from August 2009. In addition, the lunch room and the café will become integrated and be open to students all school day to serve as a recess area.
The K-house, already today equipped with outstanding lab facilities, will, in August 2010, become a highly specialized Science house for all sciences, and be called the Lab house/Labbhuset.
Adjustments and timeframe
The new Skolstaden campus park area is well under way, and gives the school site a car free area. The park will among other things offer recreational areas, bicycle paths, and an outdoor theatre. It will be completed before the ISH move.
ISH Skolstaden
The above described interior as well as exterior proposition is aimed at securing a high quality platform for continued development within the International School of Helsingborg, Skolstaden.
Detailed planning will now continue together with representatives for the parties concerned and safety representatives to ensure the best possible result. Consequence and risk analyses will be carried out. Information to trade unions according to MBL § 19 will be held 26 May 2009.
Below you will find the plans that was attatched to the email from BvW. To enlarge - just click on them.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
What has the ISH Parent Group been doing?
In response to the question about what the Parent Group has been doing, maybe we should be asking what should they have been doing?
Extract from class reps meeting March 2008
Merger / Move
A letter was sent after the February class rep meeting requesting a meeting with the relevant school officials, and a work group was organized to work exclusively on the merger/move issue.
Erik Nilsson then presented on behalf of the Work Group.
The objectives for the meeting with the politicians were:
• To establish contact with politicians and school board officials on behalf of ISH parents
• To voice parent concerns
• To seek support for keeping ISH together and increasing the school’s recognition
• To get involved with the merger / move process
So far the Work Group has achieved:
• “back to square 1” – The move of the entire school will happen by 2010, but we now have
• Contact with officials
• Recognition of ISH needs and qualities
Filborna students, parents and teachers have been lobbying for their interests since October, so now ISH has a voice as well.
The status of the merge as of now:
• ISH will move by 2010 at the latest
• The new location is “somewhere” in Skolstaden
• The project is to be directed by the head of Skolstaden and Anders Nilsson
• A Reference Group will be formed of representatives for local international businesses, parents and teachers to assist with finding the best location in Skolstaden
Erik listed the following as goals that the Work Group has not yet achieved:
• No rationale yet given for the move and location
• Active involvement in the process
• A fixed time line for the process
The Work Group is concerned that the Reference Group will be formed too late to have much influence since it will not be initiated until school authorities invite representatives to serve, and that its role will be passive in nature, offering only opinions and proposals to the directors of the project.
Decisions made
The Parents Work Group will
a. Continue acting on behalf of all ISH parents.
b. Continue efforts to establish a platform for active involvement of parents in any future changes.
c. Frequently communicate with parents
PYP parent
Extract from class reps meeting March 2008
Merger / Move
A letter was sent after the February class rep meeting requesting a meeting with the relevant school officials, and a work group was organized to work exclusively on the merger/move issue.
Erik Nilsson then presented on behalf of the Work Group.
The objectives for the meeting with the politicians were:
• To establish contact with politicians and school board officials on behalf of ISH parents
• To voice parent concerns
• To seek support for keeping ISH together and increasing the school’s recognition
• To get involved with the merger / move process
So far the Work Group has achieved:
• “back to square 1” – The move of the entire school will happen by 2010, but we now have
• Contact with officials
• Recognition of ISH needs and qualities
Filborna students, parents and teachers have been lobbying for their interests since October, so now ISH has a voice as well.
The status of the merge as of now:
• ISH will move by 2010 at the latest
• The new location is “somewhere” in Skolstaden
• The project is to be directed by the head of Skolstaden and Anders Nilsson
• A Reference Group will be formed of representatives for local international businesses, parents and teachers to assist with finding the best location in Skolstaden
Erik listed the following as goals that the Work Group has not yet achieved:
• No rationale yet given for the move and location
• Active involvement in the process
• A fixed time line for the process
The Work Group is concerned that the Reference Group will be formed too late to have much influence since it will not be initiated until school authorities invite representatives to serve, and that its role will be passive in nature, offering only opinions and proposals to the directors of the project.
Decisions made
The Parents Work Group will
a. Continue acting on behalf of all ISH parents.
b. Continue efforts to establish a platform for active involvement of parents in any future changes.
c. Frequently communicate with parents
PYP parent
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
SHOUT NOW – SAYS "PYP PARENT"
To prevent that valuable opinions remain hidden in the comments section, we will "lift them" into full view. Here is the first from "PYP Parent":
Sadly, this is how the Skolstaden will get the IB programme. By fooling parents. NO ONE will stay at Maria Park! Everyone moves 2010, NO ONE stays on Maria Park. I have heard that Grade 11 (starting their final year AUGUST 2009) will be moved to Skolstaden IN AUGUST 2009, and that no consultation has taken place with parents. Their views are not even asked for, let alone having any information.
From what I know, PYP and MYP will be in Petri, 10-12 (IB Diploma) at Nicolai = Skolstaden IB Diploma, not ISH.
1 week since the Parents' Work Group were given a presentation of the proposals, 5 days since the teachers were told, and 12 weeks since the school told us anything.
4 WEEKS TODAY THE SCHOOL SHUTS FOR THE SUMMER.
IF YOU CARE; SHOUT NOW! TOMORROW IS TOO LATE.... ASK GRADE 11 WHAT THEY WERE PROMISED LAST YEAR AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO THEM NOW.
PYP Parent
Sadly, this is how the Skolstaden will get the IB programme. By fooling parents. NO ONE will stay at Maria Park! Everyone moves 2010, NO ONE stays on Maria Park. I have heard that Grade 11 (starting their final year AUGUST 2009) will be moved to Skolstaden IN AUGUST 2009, and that no consultation has taken place with parents. Their views are not even asked for, let alone having any information.
From what I know, PYP and MYP will be in Petri, 10-12 (IB Diploma) at Nicolai = Skolstaden IB Diploma, not ISH.
1 week since the Parents' Work Group were given a presentation of the proposals, 5 days since the teachers were told, and 12 weeks since the school told us anything.
4 WEEKS TODAY THE SCHOOL SHUTS FOR THE SUMMER.
IF YOU CARE; SHOUT NOW! TOMORROW IS TOO LATE.... ASK GRADE 11 WHAT THEY WERE PROMISED LAST YEAR AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO THEM NOW.
PYP Parent
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
THE IB 12 FIRST TO GO!?
To make the 17 IB students from Fiborna to feel less lonely in Skolstaden, a proposition has been made to move IB12 from Maria Park to Nicolai already this autumn. Good idea or bad idea?
If you want to keep ISH together - certainly a bad idea or as they say in Sweden "If you give them your finger they will take the whole hand."
If you want to keep ISH together - certainly a bad idea or as they say in Sweden "If you give them your finger they will take the whole hand."
THE RELOCATION OF ISH TO ”SKOLSTADEN”
The school authorities of Helsingborg has now disclosed their plans for the relocation and division of ISH. More detailed information is promised directly to all parents during the upcoming week but the main outline of the plans are as follows:
- PYP and MYP will be located at the present Petri Gymnasium, in an self-contained environment whith it´s own library, dining hall, PA fascilities etc.
- DP will be located in a separate part of Nicolai Gymnasium, sharing fascilities such as library, dining hall, lab rooms and PA with the rest of ”Skolstaden”.
- ISH will be led by a management team consisting of the present management team for ”Skolstaden”, and the present position as Principal will be distributed and combined with the position as coordinator; i.e. there will be a ”Principal/coordinator” for PYP, MYP and DP respectively.
- The relocation shall be finalized before the start of autumn term in 2010. Parts of ISH might be relocated earlier.
Although the described plans meets some of the more practial concerns, such as security issues and quality of fascilities, the main issue remain unsolved, i. e. the importance of an undivided, integrated international school under one coherent leadership and with a clear and tangible profile, securing the needs of employees of international corporations including serving as a hub for their families.
According to the school authorities the above outlined plans have been conveyed to the teatchers and staff at ISH, their labour union representatitives, representatives of the international corporations and to the IB governing body; the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva. They have also promised to send out more detailed information directly to concerned families within the coming week.
It is our aim to contact these different groups as soon as possible in order to get their views on the plans for relocation, as a guideline for what steps to be taken next. For the same reason we need input from all the concerned families, regarding your view on the issue of ”one integrated ISH” vs ”a divided ISH”.
As a first step towards this, we ask you to answer the question: ”Is an undivided, integrated international school worth fighting for?” with a simple ”Yes” or ”No”!
Please send your answer immediatly to saveish@gmail.com stating your name and the name of your children that are attending ISH and in which classes. Your answer will be instrumental for the future of ISH.
- PYP and MYP will be located at the present Petri Gymnasium, in an self-contained environment whith it´s own library, dining hall, PA fascilities etc.
- DP will be located in a separate part of Nicolai Gymnasium, sharing fascilities such as library, dining hall, lab rooms and PA with the rest of ”Skolstaden”.
- ISH will be led by a management team consisting of the present management team for ”Skolstaden”, and the present position as Principal will be distributed and combined with the position as coordinator; i.e. there will be a ”Principal/coordinator” for PYP, MYP and DP respectively.
- The relocation shall be finalized before the start of autumn term in 2010. Parts of ISH might be relocated earlier.
Although the described plans meets some of the more practial concerns, such as security issues and quality of fascilities, the main issue remain unsolved, i. e. the importance of an undivided, integrated international school under one coherent leadership and with a clear and tangible profile, securing the needs of employees of international corporations including serving as a hub for their families.
According to the school authorities the above outlined plans have been conveyed to the teatchers and staff at ISH, their labour union representatitives, representatives of the international corporations and to the IB governing body; the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva. They have also promised to send out more detailed information directly to concerned families within the coming week.
It is our aim to contact these different groups as soon as possible in order to get their views on the plans for relocation, as a guideline for what steps to be taken next. For the same reason we need input from all the concerned families, regarding your view on the issue of ”one integrated ISH” vs ”a divided ISH”.
As a first step towards this, we ask you to answer the question: ”Is an undivided, integrated international school worth fighting for?” with a simple ”Yes” or ”No”!
Please send your answer immediatly to saveish@gmail.com stating your name and the name of your children that are attending ISH and in which classes. Your answer will be instrumental for the future of ISH.
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