Podcast

This week we talked to the newest member of the Student Development and Health Team, Mr Mikael Björnfot.

Mr Björnfot is the new Special Needs teacher at Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet.

Mr Björnfot talks about the work he’s doing at the school and how you can reach him if you’re having learning difficulties.

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Jakob has recently launched his own business

IEGS: So where are you now after graduation from IEGS?
Jakob: After graduation I only had a shot break and then life begun for me outside IEGS.

I spent the summer getting ready to leave for Paris and attended a really intense month-long language course developing my French.

Then I practiced all that I’d learned by working at a vinyard in Bourgogne, France. It was back-breaking work but I had to communicate in French so I learned a lot.

I came back to Stockholm in the middle of October and worked as a substitute math/science teacher for 7-9th graders. Then in late November I left to pursue a life-long dream of working and skiing for a whole season in the Alps.

So I worked as a chef in a French restaurant in Verbier, Switzerland. There I stayed and made masses of friends and managed some great ski-runs until the end of the season, which is in the middle of April. Then I returned to work both as a substitute teacher and “chef fore hire” through a job agency in Stockholm. I’ve basically worked and managed a couple of trips abroad since I came back.

IEGS: What is the one thing that you miss the most about IEGS?
Jakob: The House spirit! Two years ago it was great fun to be the first students experiencing the House system.

We designed the logos, ordered the ties, competed in a whole variety of inter house competitions like debates, the song competition, a football tournament. The whole thing created a great atmosphere amongst the students in the school.

I know that I haven’t left that family as I am still a member of my House, Pavlov, but I still miss the unity of the IEGS students competing over which House is the best.

IEGS: A little bird told us you’ve started a company? What is that all about?
Jakob: Yes, the company is called Calculate It and I started it together with my brother, Ossian. The idea has been growing in my head for the past two years.

We sell calculators to students at a price which is lower that the market price. The idea is very simple: we sell calculators that have been used for a couple of hours and are in mint condition. Because they’ve been used for a couple of hours or so they can’t be sold as “new”.

But you wouldn’t be able to tell if it was used or not if you held one in your hand.

The idea is to help students get hold of a great calculator, but at a much lower price than they would otherwise pay.

IEGS: Sounds good! So if any IEGS student is interested in finding out more what should they do?
Jakob: Email me at info@calculateit.se or visit our website: www.calculateit.se

IEGS: Did your time at IEGS inspire you to go into business?
Jakob: Absolutely! I added both extra Mathematics (E) and the two Business courses,(A & B) to my course programme and they really made me feel confident about starting my own company.

I believe that the kind of education I got at IEGS has made me ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

IEGS: So you’re going to study business at Uppsala. Do you feel you’re prepared for university?

Jakob: Yes! Life is a set of challenges and I try to meet each one with a positive attitude. This way of thinking makes problems look smaller and less dangerous. This attitude together with a thorough education from IEGS makes me smile when I think about the new challenges that I will encounter in Uppsala this autumn.

BONUS QUESTION: What’s your best memory from IEGS.

I really remember how it felt starting my term as Student Council President by giving a speech to all the new students on their first day in school. Standing there and looking at all the new faces filled with hope and excitement I remembered exactly how I had felt two years earlier; at the same time I was happy because they were starting a fantastic three year long journey towards an adult world, accompanied by inspirational teachers and international classmates – just like I had once begun my own journey.

Podcast

This week we talked to Mr Jonathan Howell at Internationella Engelska Skolan’s head office about Like it Day.

Like it Day – August 26 – is your chance to Like Internationella Engelska Skolan on Facebook AND win a MacBook Air.

Once you’ve had a listen, visit Facebook and find out all about the competition and Like the company behind Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet.

Club Fair

It was also Club Fair today at Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet today. Students had the chance to join a club and get involved in some of the activities outside the classroom!

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Podcast

The first podcast of the new academic year includes an interview with educational consultant Mr Andy Robbie.

Mr Robbie visited IEGS earlier this week to talk to staff about mentoring and fostering a positive learning community.

To get in touch with Andy, as he says in the show, just email: andy@sapphiremc.co.uk

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This week IEGS talked to Fanny Karlberg, one of the students in the school who has done so much to promote dancing in the community. She recently choreographic Russell’s winning entry in the Inter House Dance Competition. Fanny’s also been one of the faces of the school this year in our marketing.

IEGS News: You recently choreographed the winning entry in this year’s House Dance Competition. What did involve? And how was it?

Fanny Karlberg: Yes, we had so much fun and everyone that participated was so involved. We started to practice just before the break, and we also came into the school during the break. Everyone learned something new during the process, and in many ways we became a family. After the competition was over we were all like “what do we do now?”.

The day of the dance competition were we were all nervous. During the performance everyone did a really good job, although I actually think we were better in our final rehersals. I guess nerves have a lot to do with it.

When the judges deliberated the comments about all the houses I started to cry because I was and I still am so proud of everyone that was involved in Russell house. And I also want to mention that without Saga Moss’s help this great performance would never happened.

IEGS News: You’ve got quite a lot of experience dancing, I understand. Can you tell us something about your dance background?

Fanny Karlberg: I started dance seriously in 2007, so that is five years ago. During these years I have been doing a lot of different things. I was involved in a dance group called Stylez. We were preforming at different events all around Sweden, some examples are when Ericsson Globe 20th anniversary and in front of the Idol-queue, and also at “The Last Bounce” show. But in 2010 Stylez split up.

Then I started to dance with Rawnak Badee, my sister Alexandra Karlberg and Malin Burén: we are called Funky Fresh. So now we are doing some events and we are also background dancers to celebrities, including Sibel. I have also been to the hip hop world championship in Poland, and also been competing here in Sweden for two years.

IEGS News: What do you think of the opportunities to dance at Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet?

Fanny Karlberg: In the school we have this really great dance studio, and there are many people that are interested in dancing and I also feel that the teachers enjoy it too.

I also think that after the dance competition both the students and teachers recognized that dancing is not just about moving your body: it so much more than that. It’s a way to express feelings. It’s hard to describe how important it is as a form of expression. There aren’t enough words to explain it.

IEGS News: How could we get more people dancing at Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet?

My sister Alexandra Karlberg, Rawnak Badee and I were meant to have dance classes every Wednesday, but we have so much to do with school work that it’s been hard to do that this year. But the plan is to try and fix that for next year because there’s a lot of interest in dance. I also think the competition has done a lot to make it more popular.

IEGS News: You’ve also been in a lot of promotional pictures for the school this year both in the papers and on posters. What’s that felt like? Any funny stories?

It feels really funny that the school chose the picture of me and Andrew Sumba as one of the key marketing pictures for the year. I think it really shows what the school is about. It is not just studying hard; we also have fun and that picture captures that. When we doing the shoot I just jumped on Andrew’s back and it became such a great photo. It has a lot of energy.

Some funny stories… Oh, I have one. Ut was the same day when an advert promoting Open House appeared in Metro. When I got on the train I sat in front of a man, and he was reading Metro, and then I saw that he were looking at the page were the picture of me and Andrew Sumba were. Then he looked up and looked down in the paper and then looked at me agin with this look of shock. I just started because it was such a weird and funny thing to happen.

Milkias Tesfamariam, a third year Text & Communications student, reports on an upcoming show!

Third year students at Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet Södermalm have started an initiative to help fund their graduation by organizing a show. It is intended to be a show filled with performances and laughs to please both teachers and students alike. Inspiration for the show came from seeing the graduation invoices droping into the mailbox, However the students want to draw attention to the fact that the ultimate aim of arranging the show is to leave the school not only with a bang, but to make one of their last memories at the gymnasium a blast.

Somit Fessehazion

Why are you doing this?
For me it’s a great opportunity to have some fun with my schoolmates, and since were graduating soon I want to make sure I cherish every moment. Also I was apart of a show last year, “The S2C Show”, which was so much fun to be apart of and appreciated by many, and given that there are students from then organizing now, gives me comfort that we know what were doing and can only achieve greater results this time around.

If it is all about having fun, how come you’re charging?
Well coincidentally the group that begun talking about this all happened to be on the same ”flak” (commonly used word to describe a type of graduation ride), and since the prices are ridiculously high, we came up with the idea of having a show were we would charge a small fee that would eventually help us tremendously.

What can the audience expect from you guys?
They can expect an amazing show with tons of fun segments, creative performances, and not to mention the talent! Basically what can be expected is a fabulous show, bringing everyone together.

Will there be any opportunities for students to audition if they would like to be apart of the show?
Students are more than welcome to come and speak with us if they are interested but were definitely focusing on dedicating a majority of the show to students in 3rd year.

How about people outside of the school?
Actually yes: there will be people apart of the show from outside of the school, but unfortunately I can’t give you any more details of who it is, but I will tell you that its going to be a very interesting and entertaining mix of people on stage.

So when is this circus coming to town?
Our preliminary date for the show right now is March 24; however, there still needs to be some agreements made and confirmation from the principal, Dr. Benediktz. However, a promotional campaign with even more information can be expected in the near future.

Finally, I am very interested if we will be seeing you on stage?
If I am going to be in the show? Yes I will be in the show. I cant tell you what I am going to do though, I guess you will just have to come and see.

Make sure you stay updated on the school’s Facebook page as further information about the show will be announced here. Or if you’re too anxious to wait or have a question, feel free to send an email to Somit Fessehazion

It’s World Aids Day on December 1. IEGS News talked to 3rd year student Ikra Ferdaus about how significant it is to mark this event at Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet

IEGS: You want students at the school to wear red on Wednesday December 1 to commemorate World Aids Day. Why is it important students take part?

Don't ever forget!

IEGS: Do you think schools do enough to raise awareness about the risks of HIV / Aids.

Ikra Ferdaus: I don’t. Ofcourse, we are taught this and that about sex and protection, but from what I’ve seen we have not discussed Hiv/Aids that much. We are taught that we should use protection to prevent the risk of getting any STD. We listen to everyone saying how bad and “discusting” it is, and that is where we learn to think in a particular way about people with a STD. But why do we not talk about how it is to live with Hiv/Aids? We could learn so much from them and their situation. Our way of thinking is usually because we are afraid and because of our lack of knowledge about Hiv/Aids.

IEGS: Can student action get the message out to other people in society?

Ikra Ferdaus: I believe it can, atleast a little. As of now the event has over 700 people attending from different countries such as USA and Malaysia and, ofcourse, Sweden.
But people don’t know about World Aids Day, the PR for this important day have been nearly absent. I would suggest students and teachers at school to encourage family, friends at practise and friends at other schools to wear red the 1st of December. You taught us that most people believe in a personal recommendation so that is a great way to go. I have met random people at my internship who knew about the event but had not attended it yet, and when I talked to them they thought that it was a cool thing to do and they went home and attended it! On Monday (tomorrow) I will talk to my Cheerleading team about this encourage the whole team to wear red on practise.

IEGS: What would your dream scenario be in terms of the action on Wednesday? How would you love to see the Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet community respond to World Aids Day?

Ikra Ferdaus:I would love to see an ocean of people wearing red in the corridors. I want it to really show, not just one here and one there but everywhere! And I would love the teachers to wear red too, that would be so inspiring. It gives me a feeling of that we’re in this together. I would love red lips, nails, hair accessories or a red dress, a top or a red skirt for girls and red shirts or pants (I know you have them guys!!!) on guys. Anything works, really. You could send in your World Aids Day Pictures to the event!!

IEGS: What will you be wearing?

Ikra Ferdaus:Haha, I’ve been thinking about it…Since I’m turning 18 the same day I still want to look a bit nice. So I will be wearing a girly red dress Oh, and by the way here is the link to the Facebook Event!