The end of year brings many emotions for the entire IEGS community. Excitement that summer is upon us comes directly into conflict with the stressful emotions of deadlines, finals, and – ahhhhh – the g word: grades!

The Student Health and Development Team thought it wise to offer a healthy alternative to cope with the challenge. A chance to experience peace and tranquility in the beautiful Swedish forests. Well…there was some peace in between all the splashing, laughing, roasting of marshmallows, tents falling down, and sharing of stories around the camp fire.

We did a camping trip last year to the same location at approximately the same time of year with the same good fortune of fine Swedish weather. This year we had a good mix of both Social and Natural Science students from all year groups.

Mr. Roberts (safety and security officer), Mr. Maier (school counselor), and Mr. Jones (math and physics teacher) met 17 students Friday morning at Handen Station (not too early…10am) and checked to make sure no one was in high heels.

Once everyone had checked their equipment, we said goodbye to civilization and began our 13k hike along the beautiful Sörmlandsleden trail with our camping destination being the Paradisets naturreservat.

The only scary incidents during the trip was the bizarre happenings to Mr. Jones tent during the night – no doubt payback for his math / physics tests?!!?? And then there was a daring rescue by Mr. Jones when Mr. Maier’s 4 year old son Aiden slipped into the lake when trying to catch his 100th tadpole.

Otherwise it was a safe, fun, and re-energizing trip that helped those who journeyed finish the year on a positive note.

We look forward to our return to Paradiset next year in June!

Mr Maier talking leadership

Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet is set to introduce a new initiative that aims to promote equality and fairness in the school. IEGS News talked to school counselor Mr Andrew Maier about STAND.

IEGS: What’s the STAND Program all about?

Mr Maier: IEGS is required by both Swedish law and its own ethical code to ensure the school environment is safe and secure and promotes equality and fairness among all school community members. To ensure that we honor this we are required to produce a Fair and Equal Treatment Plan for IEGS. This was done last year through a collaborative process between members of the school community (staff and students included).

The STAND program is a tangible way to bring the Fair and Equal Treatment Plan to life. Rather than just having a document, we want to have a program that encompasses involvement from everyone in the school community.

STAND symbolizes Students Taking Action for No Discrimination. The STAND program will involve education to all school community members on what fair and equal treatment is considered by law and what constitutes bullying, discrimination, and unfair treatment. Both teachers and students will learn how valuable their different roles are in maintaining the positive / warm environment IEGS has.

The program will be guided by the STAND committee which is made up of teachers/staff, students, and parents. I will be facilitating the program and committee meetings. The committee will be responsible for ensuring the school is doing what it can to follow the Fair and Equal treatment plan and continuously evaluate feedback from school community on the environment and communicate ideas for improvement or needed action to the school administration. There will be a locked box in every House hall where students can drop in a note giving feedback or sharing concerns regarding the school environment. Together with the STAND committee I will address this feedback.

In each House hall there will also be a large board sponsored by the STAND committee called “STANDING OVATION BOARD”. Each committee member will have the opportunity to nominate one person from within the school community (can be a teacher or student or parent) who they observed either first or second hand doing something to help the school environment be warm, friendly, and a nice place to be. The nominated person will get their picture and short explanation of why they are being nominated put up on the board for all to see. This will help the Committee to focus on recognition of positive behavior and reinforce others to recognize these actions as worthy of acknowledgement.

IEGS: Why do we need STAND?

Mr Maier: We need STAND to help us focus our attention and efforts on positive behavior and interaction in the school. We don’t just want more rules, regulations, or policy. We want a living and breathing program that highlights the great diversity and strengths of our school.

STAND is needed as the school gets larger and it becomes easier for students judgment and choices to hide in these larger numbers. We want to really showcase the great choices and behavior with our STANDING OVATION boards and be on the lookout for concerning behavior (bullying, discrimination, etc.)

IEGS: How do you see STAND making a real difference to daily life at Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet?

Mr Maier: I see the STAND program as another great opportunity for students to get involved in important issues that are part of their everyday life. Discrimination, racism, bullying, and other unfair treatment are sadly part of life. We can’t ignore it but don’t find it so useful to only focus on NOT doing it. If we create an atmosphere where the focus is on choosing alternative behaviors and attitudes directly opposite to discrimination and bullying we have a school that people feel comfortable and safe in. When students feel safe and know they can STAND up for what they believe and be themselves they begin to focus on what they want to accomplish and achieve great things.

Students also feel empowered when they are involved in such a program. They learn some valuable lessons in helping others and standing up for human rights. When problems happen the school is prepared to pro-actively address the problems in an honest and open way and ensure all students (even students using bullying behaviors) are helped.

IEGS: STAND comes from the US. How has the program worked over there?
Mr Maier: STAND is an idea with roots in the states but a very different focus. Most programs are preventative and reactive in nature. STAND will focus on acknowledging and supporting the already positive behaviors we see day to day. We will work towards supporting such an atmosphere because if this atmosphere remains strong we will rarely have incidents of bullying or discrimination.

IEGS: Do you have any personal experience of using STAND?
I have experience as a counselor in the U.S. with bullying and discrimination among students and have seen how much of an impact it can have on everyone within the school community.

Coming from the State I have learned some very hard lessons from school communities who have experienced school shootings and other serious acts of violence. These incidents have always been traced back to serious acts of bullying and isolated students who were never taken serious. When these acts of violence occurred many people who were once in the role of onlookers or passive bystanders became victims as well. It was a very important learning moment for me that when one student bullies another and no one acts. We all lose.

When I was much much younger. Lets say middle school age. I had a close friend, Ricky. He was bullied everyday by a group of kids all the way up into High School. This group who bullied him happened to have some respect and acknowledgement for me and would back off when I stepped in and stood up for him.

One day in high school they showed up at his house when it was just the two of us alone. A car full of kids ready to beat him up. I stood outside my friends house when the car pulled up. They were all revved up and ready to get him. I told them that if they want him then they will have to beat me up as well. I had forgotten about this story until I got in touch with my friend years later. He had never forgotten that day.

To me I just simply did what I thought was right at the time. Looking back I realize that sometimes a simple choice to stand by someone can mean the world to them. My friend Rick always got picked on about his height as he was on the short side. He was a great basketball player with hopes of being a professional basketball player. He never made it in the sport but when we got back in touch he said to me “your never going to believe who I work for!!” He now works for the NBA (National Basketball Association) travelling the world as an international marketing agent. I always knew he would make it into the NBA!!

IEGS News has already covered the Helping Hands project running at IEG, but Mr Maier came back today with more news about how the project is developing.

Helping Hands make a difference

As you might remember, Helping Hands is a new initiative undertaken with the support of Mr Maier that involves students helping other students.

It all came about when Victor Bernard, a 3rd year social science student, made a comment to Mr. Maier at the end of his 2nd year that stayed with Mr. Maier.

“Our own students don’t get involved enough in helping each other as they can,” Victor told him

Mr. Maier challenged Victor to do something about it and he sure did. He began a student lead group, which has the primary purpose of helping fellow students with any and all problems to work towards solutions by reaching out to other students.

How Helping Hands Will Work

All Helping Hands group members will receive training from Mr. Maier in a problem solving model to use when helping other students as well as guidelines to follow to effectively help.

Mr. Maier will then be involved in a supervisory and support role to the group to ensure the wellbeing of both Helping Hands members and all students involved.

During Induction Week for all new first years in August, Helping Hands members will be present to welcome students to school, assist in their orientation process for the first day, and a minimum of two group members will become a buddy to one 1st year class in order to maintain contact with them in their beginning transition into the school.

Helping Hands students will be available via e-mail for questions or any support they need.

“By doing this they hope to create trust from the student body and earn respect as a helpful and useful group to turn to for assistance,” Mr Maier explains.

Key Roles

Two coordinators within the Helping Hands group, one for academic help and another for social and personal problem solving help will have important roles:

The Academic Coordinator will be responsible for making contact with different departments within the school to discuss the Helping Hands group and what they are there for.

The academic coordinator will connect students who want assistance in any academic subject with an appointed Helping Hands tutor. The tutor will arrange times to meet with the student to receive help in the subject area. They will keep track of how much each Helping Hands member is contributing and communicate on a regular basis with Mr. Maier to supervise the group’s progress. The Academic Coordinator will also find available rooms to book for small groups when needed who want to book a classroom for a more verbal (loud) study session. The coordinator will take a more active role in the regular supervision meetings Mr. Maier will hold to maintain the accountability and good standards of the group

The Social / Personal Challenges Coordinator will work with the buddy system to support the group maintaining contact with their class and encouraging students to be ok with reaching out to help each other. This coordinator will be offering Helping Hands groups to all of the student body. What these groups will offer is an open door to a small group lead by two Helping Hands members, which will have a solution focused approach to any social, personal, or academic problem. It will be a fun and engaging environment where you can come, not be judged, be listened to, and receive support in solving your problem.

Mr. Maier’s office will be the place for these groups and he is very excited to get kicked out of his office for what he says “the best medicine ever!!”.

Mr. Maier also stresses that: “students helping each other is the most powerful changing force available within this school, and we have some real amazing students wanting to help”. This coordinator will post the schedule for when the groups are open during the week and anyone can choose to come to one or all of these groups to help each other to solve their own problems. The group facilitators will meet with both the coordinator and Mr. Maier to receive supervision and support.

The Launch of a New Website

The other exciting and fun initiative the group will be taking is creating a interactive website which will serve as an outlet to discuss issues and solve problems, give students great resources and information on relevant issues to their wellbeing, and a place to show case the excellent talent out students have within the school in art, music, and writing. This feature is in development at this very moment and will be operational by the beginning of the new school year.

“Any student can join Helping Hands,” says Mr Maier. “We’re looking for people to get involved.”

Image: FlickrCC

“What makes them say _________ and do _________!!”
You fill in the blanks!!!

Image courtesy FlickrCC

What: Workshop
When: December 8th. 18:00 – 18:30 before PTA meeting.
Where: Room 2.1 (downstairs past kitchen)

All parents welcome !

What will be covered?

Mr. Maier will finally shed some light on all those behaviors from your teen that leave you scratching your head. This workshop will help you a good understanding of teen anger, sadness, frustration, happiness, and many other emotions.

You will see teen behavior in a different light as well and understand why they lie, sneak, complain, and all the rest.

Understanding your teen will also help you understand yourself.

Takeaways

After this workshop you will be ready to use what you’ve learned to help you get along better with your teen.

The workshop is a good opportunity to network and socialize with other parents of IEGS. Fika included.

Upcoming Workshops

The workshops to follow (February, March, April, and May) will all be scheduled ahead of the PTA meetings. Mr. Maier will be alongside the PTA and encourages further support and involvement from parents.

The workshop is before the PTA meeting to give PTA members the chance to learn and grow as a group of already dedicated parents. All parents are welcome to both PTA and/OR Mr Maier’s workshops.

We hope to see you there.

The first of many parent workshops was a success.

Mr Maier

The advice Mr Maier gives is often hard to swallow as it goes against all of our parental instincts.

“I ask parents to go against the natural tendency to be sculptors and instead of trying to mold their children take a different approach,” explains Mr Maier. “Be a gardener, plant the seeds and tend to the aspects you have control over and allow nature to happen.”

The first workshop introduced Choice Theory which clearly states that we can only control our own behavior and can not control anyone else’s actions.

Parents and teens interaction is often made up of controlling behaviors (7 disconnecting habits – criticizing, blaming, complaining, threatening, punishing, nagging, and bribing or rewarding to control).

“At this workshop we focused on what parents can do differently to help strengthen the relationship (7 Connecting Habits – supporting, encouraging, helping, befriending, trusting, accepting, and respecting),” says Mr Maier. “We discussed what quality time is and how to begin setting up this time to strengthen the connection for the tough times when it’s needed. We also talked about a different way of communicating which focuses on your needs and wants without attempting to coerce or control.”

Want to Know More About Choice Theory?

If you are interested in finding out more about Choice Theory and the 7 connecting / disconnecting habits Mr. Maier suggests that you look at the following websites:

• http://www.realitytherapy.org.uk/
• http://wglasser.com/

You can visit the bookstores on each of these sites: Mr Maier recommends:

• For Parents and Teenagers- Dissolving the Barrier Between You and Your Teen (2003) 
No relationship, except marriage, is damaged more by external control than parent/teen relationships. This is so sad …

Both of these sites give further explanations of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy.

Mr Maier is certified in Choice Theory and Reality Therapy and uses these ideas in his everyday life and work. He believes these ideas are universal across all cultures and backgrounds and can help people gain more effective control of their lives.

Helping Hands: Sam Valles, Sara Sjösten, Mr Maier & Mr Taylor (Image: Duane)

Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet’s Student Care Team is set to launch Helping Hands in Week 41. Helping Hands is a new initiative undertaken with the School Council that involves students helping other students.

“Students often need support while attending gymnasium in academic subjects and sometimes with more personal matters,” says school councilor Mr Andrew Maier. “Helping Hands is a school initiative where students will be able to help their fellow classmates in math, natural science, languages, or what ever has got their head spinning!”

Under the guidance of Mr Maier & Mr Taylor

Initially, a group of thirty-one students will be working under the guidance of Mr Maier and Student Support Officer Mr Taylor but others are welcome to get involved.

“I want more students to take more social responsibility, and be empowered to help satisfy this need within the student body,” says Mr Maier.

Although some might fear that students aren’t qualified to provide help and support, Mr Maier disagrees.

“Students are often a better source of support and knowledge than adults,” he says. “They can relate quickly to each other. One need that all people have, especially strong in our teenage years, is the need to belong and feel supported by others.”

Dr Benedikz, principal of IEG, echoes Mr Maier’s sentiments. “ When children grow up there is a common underlining theme of adults doing for children what they aren’t ready or capable of doing themselves. At IEG we’ve seen how young people have an incredible passion for helping others in the community. The school wants to embrace that and provide an outlet for students to begin taking more adult responsibility.”

Help with Academics

'I want students to take more social responsibility, and be empowered to help satisfy this need within the student body,' says Mr Maier (Image © SVENSK SKOLFOTO)

A large part of Helping Hands will involve helping students with academic issues. For example, Mr Taylor will be co-ordinating the group to help students with their written English.

Another aspect of Helping Hands, though, will be to provide support for more personal issues.

“Sometimes students have personal problems. Our aim here,” says Mr Maier, “is to provide another source of support along with the Student Care Team. Students can share their troubles confidentially with a student from the Helping Hands Group.”

IEG’s Student Care Team is committed to ensuring that students working on the program are equipped to help.

“The group is undergoing training so they are prepared to assist students with more sensitive issues,” explains Mr Maier. “It’s important they have some training and also know when to seek help from myself and Mr Taylor.”

Mr Maier will be introducing Helping Hands to the school next week (Wk 41).

“Students are finding out from their friends and coming to me asking ‘can I help as well?’” he says. “My answer is always ‘yes, of course’. If a student is willing to give a hand for an hour a week, and we have many students doing this, we have a very helpful environment.”

Student Discussion Forum

After the initial launch, Helping Hands will be introducing further initiatives: The School Council, for example, will be launching a website with a forum to provide homework help and there will also be the possibility of asking for help or guidance with personal problems anonymously.

Sam Valles, the School Council’s Minister of Public Relations, will be leading a committee of other students in managing the website.

“This is an exciting venture for the school,” says Dr Benedikz. “I am very excited to see where this takes not just the students involved but the whole IEG community.”

Image Credits: Helping Hands Team by Duane. Mr Maier © Svensk Skolfoto