CIS FOOTPRINTS COPENHAGEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
PTA UPDATE This year we are concentrating on sharing. Sharing information, sharing skills, and sharing our time p4
MY PASSION FOR GYMNASTICS
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES
Although I am half-Dutch and half-English, my home is where my family is, and I feel I represent both these countries when competing p7
I missed having the variety of backgrounds, nationalities, opinions and cultures that you get in international schools p12
MARCH 2015 - EDITION N.7
Cover illustration by Lisa Stapper, grade 7
Editor in Chief: Suzanne O Reilly
Managing Editor: Chris Hambley
Hellerupvej 26 2900 Hellerup, Denmark
Graphic Designer: Virginia de Colombani
E: http://www.cis-edu.dk/
P: +45 39 46 33 00
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITORS
Dear Readers, Welcome to 2015, to a year where goals are met, relationships nurtured and dreams come true. We start a new year with some inspirational stories of students and staff helping others. Giving of talent and time to those near and far speaks to the character of our community. We hope you will be inspired in the pages that follow. We also welcome on board our two student editors from Grade 7, Maibritt Henkel and Anjali Mulcock. As a sort of apprenticeship, they have been working with Chris, meeting regularly to discuss their specific editing choices and other matters of style. In fact, Maibritt and Anjali have been involved in some way with each piece in this issue (including this preamble). We are delighted to have them on the Footprints team.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.� Henry Ford
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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LEARNING TO BUILD COMMUNITY Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. HIGH SCHOOL TASTER DAY The visiting students and parents learned a lot about CIS as both a school and a community.
TWIN-TASTIC International families come in all numbers, and they are all welcome at Copenhagen International School.
PTA UPDATE This year we are concentrating on sharing. Sharing information, sharing skills, and sharing our time.
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FOOTPRINTS SPOTLIGHT One of the main reasons he became a teacher was to create an environment of belonging for all students. PYP STUDENT COUNCIL Do you know who plans the primary school discos? Or the movie night? Student Council of course!
MY PASSION FOR GYMNASTICS Although I am half-Dutch and half-English, my home is where my family is, and I feel I represent both these countries when competing. SUPER SKATER Though figure skating is done on ice, there is more to it than simply putting on your skates and getting on the rink.
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REPRESENTING DENMARK AND CIS IN CHINA We were connected by a common passion and interest in China and the Chinese language. RUNNING BLIND IN COPENHAGEN Two bodies, one pair of seeing eyes, one pair of competitors running.
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LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES
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LEARNING TO BUILD COMMUNITY
I missed having the variety of backgrounds, nationalities, opinions and cultures that you get in international schools.
Most people’s identities are quite integrated; people belong to a place, a culture, an ideology, a language.
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BECOMING AN AUTHOR When you feel, deep down inside, that there is something you are meant to be, then you just have to keep trying. NECIS THROUGH THE EYES OF A PARENT The stronger players applauded the effort of the weaker players, and the weaker players cheered on the success of the stronger ones. TEAM PERU SALSA EVENING The organizing of the Salsa Evening involved getting in touch with a lot of different people.
A JOURNEY THROUGH CIS Thanks to my time in Denmark and at CIS I have made wonderful friends from all parts of the world.
LEARNING TO BUILD COMMUNITY Walter Plotkin School Director
problems are resolvable in the hands of tomorrow’s enlightened citizens and leaders. Our every action supposes that children who sit and stand before us today will blaze future paths as yet unimagined with tools and ideas forged in the present. I suspect that every generation, and ours is no exception, feels that its challenges are somehow unique to those that have come before. As we consider our world today and scan a horizon clouded by conflicts—sectarian, political and religious divisions—we naturally wonder how we got here and, more importantly, how we will get to someplace better. It has to be in part through education, writ large. We have no choice but to find new ways to solve old problems. We have to assume that there are correct ways to live in the world, ways that value “a stimulating environment of cultural diversity and mutual respect” (CIS Mission Statement). “Education is teaching our children to desire the right things,” Plato argued. Who am I to argue with Plato? Of course we need to value the right things. Perhaps it’s naïve but I don’t think that determining what those things are will be the challenge. Of course there will always be outliers or dissenters, but I suspect that people all over the world share general values. Our problem is one of implementation. We need to figure out and agree upon the right way to do those things. That, and basic mathematics, should keep schools in business for some time to come. Compared to this, constructing a new building should be a piece of cake.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
Copenhagen International School will have a new purposebuilt campus ready for occupancy during the 2016-17 school year. The plans have been many years in the making and the construction phase is scheduled to take approximately two years to complete. With countless hours spent considering every element of the building and its surroundings, this new facility will surely be a model for others to follow and an icon in the development of the city. That was the easy (relatively) part. Learning how to use this facility to its potential, one dedicated to the present and a better future, will be the real challenge. “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” So spoke Malcolm X, a civil rights leader in the United States who was tragically murdered fifty years ago. Like so many before and after him, he believed that Mahatma Gandhi was correct in his estimation that “The future depends on what you do today.” Schools are in the future business, meaning that those of us who have dedicated our professional lives to teaching do so with the belief that what we do today will positively shape lives tomorrow. We must be convinced or at least act as if today’s 1
HIGH SCHOOL TASTER DAY Thomas Nielsen Director of Communications and Advancement
On a cold and snowy Tuesday in January, thirty-four students and their parents— sixty-five people in total—visited CIS for the annual High School Orientation Morning and Taster Day. These thirty-four students represented eighteen different schools in Greater Copenhagen. In the morning, the visiting students and parents learned a lot about CIS as both a school and a community from presentations made by teachers, students and administrators. During the day, the students sat in on a variety of classes together with our current students in grades 9 – 12 and at lunch they talked to CIS staff members and students about our after-school activities and sports program.
The Taster Day was announced via a Facebook ad campaign, highlighting the unique qualities of CIS as the premier international school in Copenhagen
“What I liked most was the chance to meet other students and to sample different subjects.” “The day was very informative.” “The atmosphere was truly inspiring, and the dedication of both teachers and students was amazing.” “A friendly and warm atmosphere.” 2
TWIN-TASTIC Christiane Conradt-Eberlin Admissions Director
International families come in all numbers, and they are all welcome at Copenhagen International School, whether they come with one child or five children. I am always impressed with the ability of parents to cope with all the difficulties of moving: logistics, integration, and giving individual attention to their children. Yet they still come in smiling and organized to my office, ready to face another country and another school. And then we have the parents of twins (or even triplets). Twins have long fascinated the world, making their way into myth and religion. We have Castor and Pollux, the brothers from Greek mythology and basis for the constellation Gemini, as well as the epic tales of the Hero Twins in the sacred ancient Mayan book known as “Popol Vuh.”
“I am always impressed with the ability of parents to cope with all the difficulties of moving: logistics, integration, and giving individual attention to their children. Yet they still come in smiling and organized to my office, ready to face another country and another school.”
Here in Denmark the birth of the Royal twins in 2011 made many headlines around the world, though there have been twins in the royal families for generations. The first recorded royal twin birth was in 1430 when James of Scotland and Joan Beaufort had twins. Since 1987 researchers have collected data to create a twin database representing seventy-six developing countries. This is the most comprehensive study yet on twins for the developing world and includes data on approximately 2.5 million births by nearly 1.4 million women.
3.0%
These figures show that 1.36% births on average have been twin births. This is comparable with average rates seen in the United States, Australia and many European countries of 0,9% - 1,6% twin births. The highest twinning rates are seen in Central Africa, with more than 1,8% twin births. In comparison, twinning is very low in Asia and Latin America, with a rate often less th an 0,8% (excluding the Caribbean Islands, with populations of African descent).
2.6% 2.5%
2.0%
1.8%
1.5% 1.3% 1.0%
So how does Copenhagen International School’s twin population compare? Well, we exceed the world average and are proud to announce a twin population of 2.6%. All CIS grade levels, except for Grades 9 and 10 have between one to four sets of twins. In addition, Grade 8 and Grade 5 each have a set of triplets. Overall, here at CIS, we are currently hosting two sets of triplets and twenty-two sets of twins. How is that for statistics? Twin-tastic!
1.4%
0.8%
0.5% CIS
0.0% Asia Latin America
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USA Europe Australia
Haiti
Central Africa
CIS
PTA UPDATE Liz Woodhour Chair of the PTA Committee
Another year begins and with it a renewed emphasis on working together to make a difference for our community and our school. This year we are concentrating on sharing. Sharing information, sharing skills, and sharing our time. The PTA’s marketing officer, Yvonne Brown, and webmaster, Ivan Genjov, have been sharing information through our new PTA website launched in December. They are continuing to work on making the site useful, intuitive and easy to navigate. Many hours were spent on this endeavor and we all thank them for their efforts. Team Peru leaders, Lorraine Wykes, Charlotte Zeeberg and Fred Chiappini, reached out to our events coordinator, Andrea Worobel, and Jo Burt, our Newcomer’s Chairperson, to help them plan a salsa evening to raise funds and awareness for their charity. Both Andrea and Jo are primary school parents, so going to the senior school to meet the students during their regular meetings was a different experience for them. For those who haven’t been to the senior school and seen how independent the students are, it’s remarkable.
“This year we are concentrating on sharing. Sharing information, sharing skills, and sharing our time.”
The evening had lots of dancing, salsa lessons, mojitos and the added bonus of raising money for Mama Cocha’s orphanage in Peru. The students worked hard, listened to what the mentors offered as advice and, overall, the evening was a great success. Coming up in April is the Nordic Network Conference. The event is being coordinated by Paul Mitchell, who has asked for parents to help students organise many of the aspects of the events. Several parents have offered their time, many new to volunteering with the senior students but happy to give it a try. Although planning is just starting to get under way, the students are enthusiastic, the parent mentors have the skills that students need to learn, and I think it will be a very rewarding experience for all. Up after the conference is the Spring Fair, which brings a new collaboration as Susanne O’Reilly, a member of the administration, has offered to chair the event for the PTA, really bringing to the forefront that this is a Parent-Teacher Association, and we are really excited to see how this sharing of responsibility, skills and time brings a new and different feel to our community event.
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FOOTPRINTS SPOTLIGHT Ron Rosenow Primary EAL Teacher
Ron Rosenow works hard in order to help CIS students realise the importance of our differences, nationalities, languages, traditions and much more. He also believes in the importance of sharing our experiences with each other, so in the last few years he has worked to bring all of us together by making and displaying a photo gallery of primary school students who demonstrate the variety of different cultures represented here at CIS. This display can be found in the stairwell of the main building on the Hellerup Campus. The students in the photo gallery have experienced a different life and different traditions from the person standing next to them. Each pair of students holds hands or plays side by side. The message is that even though we come from different cultures, we can be friends, work together and learn from each other here at school. One of his more recent activities this year to help create an environment of belonging for students was the CIS Cultural Newsletter. The latest newsletter had a focus on China, celebrating many things from Chinese holidays to cooking authentic food to playing traditional games, and the CIS Chinese mother tongue class. A big part of the newsletter is the interviews with the students, staff and parents from China. Even though all people interviewed were from China, they all had unique stories to tell of their experiences leaving their home country to come and live in Denmark. Past issues of the CIS Cultural Newsletter highlighted Holland and India.
“one of the main reasons he became a teacher was to create an environment of belonging for all students”
As of late, Ron Rosenow has been very mindful of integrating students’ home languages in his lessons. If the students have to learn about some new vocabulary, then he provides opportunities in class for students to find that same vocabulary in their home language. If he is having students write a short paragraph about what energy is, then he has students write two paragraphs: one in English and one in their home language. Accessing their home language through these types of engagements will help students better understand the topic and also affirm that they can use their home language and culture as a valuable resource in learning another language.
Primary EAL teacher, Ron Rosenow, originally from Minnesota, USA, has traveled to many places throughout the world. Living abroad has afforded him the opportunity to experience firsthand what it is like to speak a minority language in a society. As a result of these experiences in other countries, he is drawn to teach and work with students of various linguistic and cultural backgrounds. In a school that has students from all over the world, Ron believes it is essential to make sure students’ cultures and languages are valued equally. Additionally, one of the main reasons he became a teacher was to create an environment of belonging for all students, especially EAL students who might be in their first year going to a school where the target language is different from their home language. 5
PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL By Liv Burmeister and Sophia Volkova Grade 4
The PYP Student Council is an active club at CIS. The students from Grades 2-5 are invited to join during lunch time meetings. Membership is voluntary and flexible and each meeting tends to have anywhere from twelve to thirty students in attendance. The club meets once in each six-day cycle and is sponsored by two teachers. The meetings are run on a working lunch principle where the students and teachers eat together while planning events and discussing issues.
You may wonder, why do people join STUCO? Some reasons second and third graders came up with were: “to help organize special events,” “to help the school,” and “STUCO gives a feeling of leadership.” We’ve already had one disco and a movie night—with popcorn and juice—featuring the film Epic. One of our smaller events was the Tree of Thanks at Thanksgiving and at both Halloween and Christmas we surprised all the classes with a small treat.
Sofia, a STUCO member, says, “I really enjoyed planning, helping the set-up and dancing in the discos! I loved it!” Liv, also a member of STUCO, agrees. When the students were asked what was good about the disco, they replied, “I especially liked the pizza and the sweets!” STUCO representatives really enjoy planning for, well, everything!
Future events are: two more discos before the school year ends, and a gaming afternoon. We hope we will see you at some (or all) of our upcoming events.
Do you know who plans the primary school discos? Or the movie night, for instance? Student Council (STUCO) of course!
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MY PASSION FOR GYMNASTICS Tristan Little Grade 5
My name is Tristan Little and I joined my first gymnastics class with my best friend when we were five. I trained in a club in the Netherlands until I moved to Denmark with my family in 2012. For the first year in Copenhagen I wanted to try other sports, which included Parkour, a type of athleticism that involves going from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible. I also tried Breakdancing; while I enjoyed it, my passion for gymnastics was stronger. Today, I am a member of Gefion Gymnastic Club and my trainer is Markus Frandsen, the Danish National Champion. I have competed against regional clubs all over Denmark and won a gold and silver medal this year. Although I am half-Dutch and half-English, my home is where my family is, and I feel I represent both these countries when competing. My dream is to become like Markus and reach that level of fitness and rank. I train seven hours a week, three days for one-and-a-half hours and Saturday for two-and-a-half hours. I really enjoy the training and am best at special exercises, which are mainly floor exercises with lots of stretching. I also train on the bars, but this leaves my hand with many blisters. For this exercise one needs to have the perfect amount of control, and if you get that right everything else follows.
“Although I am half-Dutch and half-English, my home is where my family is, and I feel I represent both these countries when competing.”
In PE class I like to show my classmates my moves in the hope that they will be inspired to take up gymnastics. My body is very flexible, a bit more than others, perhaps, but that shouldn’t stop people from trying this sport. Gymnastics, for me, is getting the best of your body every time. 7
SUPER SKATER Interview with Mia Machholm, Grade 7 By Jordan Walters, Grade 5
Thirteen year-old Mia Machholm has been perfecting her wonderful talent of figure skating since the age of three. Her mother, who used to be a gymnast, influenced her, but her star and major influence is Mao Asada, an Olympic figure skater.
“Though figure skating is done on ice, there is more to it than simply putting on your skates and getting on the rink.”
Since her introduction to the sport, Mia has made a deep commitment. She does around seventeen hours of before- and after-school practice a week. Only Tuesdays are free. Consequently, Mia has little time left to finish her schoolwork. Another problem is that she lives in Norrebro, eight kilometres from her skating school in Gladsaxe; however, Mia’s parents have been very supportive, taking her to Gladsaxe everyday and making her the required clothes for her sport.
as doing push-ups, sit-ups and stretching. The goal of these essential warm-ups is to improve strength and flexibility, and to help skaters become more nimble and safe on the ice. While some consider skating a dangerous sport, Mia has not suffered any major injuries such as broken bones. Mia does not consider herself a super-competitive skater even though she has been involved in countless competitions since she started her sport. One is the Danish championship in which Mia has come second and third in the last few years. Mia does not usually travel internationally for her competitions; however, she did once travel to Austria and came thirteenth place out of twenty-five opponents.
So how does Mia’s training work with her school schedule? Mia’s practices differ depending on the time available in her busy days. She chooses to do some of them before school when she is more likely to get a one-on-one lesson with her skate teacher. Other times, she chooses to skate after school with her group.
Out of the approximately two hundred semi-professional skaters in Denmark, one is at our school. She is hard-working and determined. As time goes on, Mia’s goal is to improve her ratings and become better and better, hoping that one day she will have a chance to compete in world competitions.
Though figure skating is done on ice, there is more to it than simply putting on your skates and getting on the rink. Skating requires a significant amount of daily off-ice training such 8
REPRESENTING DENMARK AND CIS IN CHINA Interview with Holm Lamp, Grade 10 By Jordan Walter, Grade 5
The 7th Chinese Bridge Competition for Secondary Students
“It was fun to meet the wide variety of people who are international like those at CIS, but different in that we were connected by a common passion and interest in China and the Chinese language.”
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WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO CIS?
for an important test and review an extensive set of topics to hold a dialogue about.
This is my second year at CIS. I came here for the excellent academic standards, the international community, and the International Baccalaureate, which I had heard was an excellent program for a creative and driven student. Previously I was a student in both Denmark and California.
I made friends from all over the world, and had a lot of fun every day and every night, having many great conversations. I won a scholarship to a Chinese university of my choice at the competition, and look forward to returning to deepen my understanding of Chinese culture, language and history. This trip was amazing, the best experience in my life. And even though I came back to Denmark several weeks ago, I haven’t completely returned home yet.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE CHINESE BRIDGE PROFICIENCY COMPETITION? I volunteer teaching Chinese at a Chinese weekend school funded by the Confucius Institute, the Chinese Education Ministry’s program to teach Chinese to non-natives globally. I was told about it by one of the volunteer teachers there. I won the Danish Nationals hosted by Copenhagen Business School in Copenhagen and then travelled to China to participate in the following rounds. After winning the preliminaries, I reached out for help with preparing for the competition, and received several generous offers from members of the Chinese community in Denmark, and the CBS-based CI.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE COMPETITION? In general, I found that while it is very tough to keep up a language not offered in most Danish schools nor at CIS, it is very rewarding and well worth the effort. It was fun to meet the wide variety of people who are international like those at CIS, but different in that we were connected by a common passion and interest in China and the Chinese language. Also, it was amazing to experience the enormity and power of Chinese culture.
DO YOU THINK THE CHINESE LANGUAGE WILL BE THE MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN THE FUTURE?
HOW WAS THE COMPETITION? I was honoured to represent Denmark and CIS in China, where I competed against three hundred other finalists from around the world. The competition was really tough, and I had to prepare two speeches and three songs, one of which we sang at the final competition viewed live on Chinese prime-time national TV by something like half-a-billion people. I had to make a short movie beforehand, and during the weeks in China we had to prepare
China currently has the second largest economy, is the most populous country in the world, and Chinese is gaining popularity as the language of business in Asia. Chinese is the most spoken language in the world, and also the most spoken language by native speakers. I definitely think that it will be a more and more important language in the future.
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RUNNING BLIND IN COPENHAGEN Lærke Andreasen IB2
than for yourself. The connection you get with these amazing people through complete and mutual trust makes it impossible not to smile every time. The first question I get when I tell people about this favorite activity of mine is: “how is that possible?” I usually run with Nicklas Panton, who is completely blind, and here is how we do it: We have an elastic band between our hands. This means I can guide him while keeping the freedom to move without constantly bumping into each other. I have to pay attention to our surroundings at all times while keeping Nicklas’ pace and rhythm. It is important that he sets the pace and that we move our hands simultaneously. He dictates our movements and I just follow, but I have to follow while guiding. Though it sounds complicated, it is surprisingly easy to adapt to. There’s something magical about moving in perfect synchronization and focusing completely on someone else instead of being stuck in your own head and body. If you are tired, but your partner speeds up? Tough luck. You follow. Though I am the guide, the only thing I decide is whether to overtake the people in front of us now, or in two steps. In working with the blind runners, I expected to gain a new perspective, to begin to understand a new way of “seeing” the world and acquire an understanding of the limitations people with impaired vision face. I expected to learn about what different skills they must develop. In reality, though, this experience has been just like getting to know any other person, but with one difference: I have to be closer and more aware than usual. Now I am convinced that running is best performed as a team sport.
“Two bodies, one pair of seeing eyes, one pair of competitors running.” Logic tells us this shouldn’t be possible; however, in the case of Frederiksberg Handicap-Idræt’s (FHI) blind running team, being unable to see where you place your feet is merely a challenge meant to be overcome.
I have to admit I also really enjoy sharing the message that though you are blind you are just as capable of doing what others can do. I believe that this project is extremely useful in learning to question limitations. We tend to take it for granted that we can see, and assume that because blind people can’t they therefore can’t run competitively. FHI spreads the awareness that, with the right resources, visually impaired doesn’t mean unable. It means challenges, yes. And FHI’s runners are beyond admirable for accomplishing things that we assume impossible.
Having represented both CIS at NECIS and St. Johns at ISSTs, I have always been an individual runner, finding success as EastDanish champion on the 400m hurdles and by completing both a half-marathon and marathon. I would never have thought anyone lacking sight could run competitive races, and I admit I also never gave much thought to the challenges facing people with impaired vision. Through being a running guide for the blind, however, I have learned to run for other people; to match their pace and attempt to become part of their body. There’s an indescribable feeling of unity as you start to exist and run for another person rather 11
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES Mieke Faeste Grade 11
“I missed having the variety of backgrounds, nationalities, opinions and cultures that you get in international schools.”
children have suffered from abuse and neglect, and Kiya offers them the education, love and support they need and deserve.
When I moved back to Denmark from Finland, I decided to attend a Danish school. I was only there for about four months, as I felt it was harder for me to learn in the Danish system (and in Danish) compared to the PYP and MYP curricula. I also felt that there was a big difference in terms of my classmates, and I missed having the variety of backgrounds, nationalities, opinions and cultures that you get in international schools.
I loved the trip and time we had there, and I often think back on my experience as it had a huge impact on me—and the others, I’m sure. I have never been a part of anything like it before. Being with the children at the two centres in Peru, and having the chance to contribute positively to their lives, was an amazing experience.
I have been at CIS for five years and I am now in 11th grade. The IB definitely takes up a lot of my time, but I feel that by going through both the PYP and MYP programmes, I am more prepared for the diploma and beyond.
The trip has definitely changed my view on the world, and by seeing everything we do in Peru first hand, I am now able to see the world from a different perspective.
In April 2014, I went to Peru with Team Peru, after having been a part of the club for a number of years. Team Peru is an extra-curricular programme at CIS that works in partnership with UK-based Kiya Survivors, a charity that supports over one hundred special needs children in different areas of Peru. These 12
LEARNING TO BUILD COMMUNITY Nora el Zokm Class of 1997
HOW IS IT TO BE A DANISH CITIZEN WITH AN EGYPTIAN BACKGROUND AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLING?
YOU GRADUATED IN 1997, SO WHERE DID YOU GO FROM THERE? I stayed in Denmark for two years after graduation with no idea what I wanted to do next. I ended up going to New York in 1999 for what I thought would be one year but ended up being fifteen years. I completed my undergraduate and graduate educations there, worked in the private sector for twelve years, and then really found my calling as a conflict resolution professional about five years ago.
Actually, I now consider myself an Egyptian, Dane, New Yorker (in that order). It’s quite lovely! I think having multiple ethnic identities is really a remarkable privilege. It has informed the way I understand myself and how I make sense of the world. You know, from what I can tell, most people’s identities are quite integrated; people belong to a place, a culture, an ideology, a language. We tend to stay closely attached to that identity. Having an international education, speaking multiple languages, having lived in multiple places, it all loosens that attachment. It doesn’t always feel comfortable; sometimes it feels like never quite belonging anywhere, but it also means I am free to choose my place in the world. It’s really quite a gift.
I worked for a number of local and international organizations doing conflict resolution work: a community mediation center in New York where I mediated family disputes; Mediators Beyond Borders, where I facilitated a learning initiative for women peace builders from the Middle East and North Africa region; the International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution, where I was a research assistant on a project about peace and conflict motivations in Palestine/Israel; and Project Harmony Israel, where I serve as the Assistant Director for a bilingual, dual-narrative, English immersion summer camp for Arab and Jewish Israelis.
WHAT WAS YOUR BEST MEMORY OF CIS? Oh so many wonderful memories! The class trip to Spain where we got caught sneaking out of our rooms past curfew and had 13
“Most people’s identities are quite integrated; people belong to a place, a culture, an ideology, a language. Having an international education, speaking multiple languages, having lived in multiple places, it all loosens that attachment.”
to call our parents to confess. That lunchtime in sixth grade spent looking up the colloquial terms for various genitalia in the dictionary. Throwing up all over myself on the train on my way to an IB exam. Wonderful memories indeed.
WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU THE MOST IN LIFE? My two brothers are my greatest inspiration. My family went through a series of personal difficulties throughout my high school years and, while I left, I’ve watched my brothers stay and find their way through it. Their bond is really strong and it holds our family together. Mostly it’s incredible to watch their evolution from the bratty boys I reluctantly babysat to the capable men who now house me, transport me and take care of me when I’m home.
school ended up not mattering at all. Actually, MOST things that mattered to me in high school ended up not mattering at all. What I learned in high school and in higher education was how to do well in high school and in higher education. Academia doesn’t recognize you for your grit, your perseverance, your impulse control, your self-awareness. It doesn’t teach you anything about how to manage differences, how to be a great friend, how to choose and love your partner…
ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR OUR CURRENT GRADUATES?
So if I were advising high school Nora, I would have told her to put more energy into character building than accomplishment building. I would have assured her that the parts of her she would end up most proud of would not be reflected on any report card or on her resume.
I’m not sure I feel qualified to hand out words of wisdom but I will say this: so much that really mattered when I was in high 14
BECOMING AN AUTHOR Eva O’Reilly 1993 CIS Graduate
Chocolates in the Ocean is available on iBooks and Kindle
BIO: Eva O’Reilly attended CIS from 1989 - 1993 and was awarded the ECIS Award for International Understanding. She speaks English, Danish, French, German and Spanish and has a BA (Hons), MA and Ph.D. from the University of Wales. Eva currently lives in Vejle with her son, Matthew, who came up with the title for Chocolates in the Ocean and, naturally, also goes to an international school.
Two days before New Year’s Eve I did something terrifying. I published my novel. Then I did something even more terrifying. I told people that I’d done it.
finally all came together—as two books rather than one. I’m currently writing the other one. I’d love to say it’ll be ready later this year but as I’ve learned now the process of writing, re-writing, editing, getting someone else to edit, re-writing with their changes, is a labour of love at the best of times and one of screaming frustration at the worst. Almost—but not quite— worse than writing my Ph.D. thesis.
I was still at Copenhagen International Junior School (CIJS) when I wrote my first novel and sent it off to a publisher. It’s amazing how courageous you can be at thirteen when you’re full of dreams and whole-heartedly just believe that things will work out the way you want them to. But of course they said no. Which they should have done. Other publishers and agents said no to various other things in the years that followed. Most of them didn’t even bother to reply. But when you really feel, deep down inside, that there is something you are meant to be, then you just have to keep trying. And each time you try, you learn something.
If you want to be a writer there are two things that you must do for yourself. Preferably every day. 1. You must read, 2. You must write. Write every day. If you hate it the next day, delete it and write something else. Read everything you can from classics to contemporaries. If you wake up in the morning and just want to write, then you are meant to be a writer. Telling people you know that you’ve written something and they can read it is much more terrifying than the idea of strangers reading your work. Believe me. But people who know you will surprise you by being more supportive, more encouraging and more on your side than you would have thought possible. Then you’ll learn there is nothing to be scared of. Except not writing.
Chocolates in the Ocean was the first novel I was determined not to give up on. The idea first came to me nearly five years ago in Billund airport while waiting for a very delayed flight to Paris (I still swear it was only delayed because the pilots wouldn’t fly until the day’s Euro 2010 match was over). So I bought myself a notebook and a pencil and found a table in a quiet corner. Even so, I struggled with the idea for over two years before it 15
NECIS THROUGH THE EYES OF A PARENT Robert Reynolds Athletic Director
“Watching my son being cheered on made me realize how much children gain from experiencing NECIS”
Being a part of the NECIS Athletics Program since I began working at CIS in 1998, I have always been impressed when parents take the time from work or other responsibilities to support the teams at the NECIS tournaments. Parent support is essential in the development and implementation of any cocurricular program. Recently, we had two major tournaments, in consecutive weekends, and impressively two parents attended both. The following, written by CIS parent Peter Baker who attended both the NECIS Soccer and Cross Country events, describes the life skills that CIS students who participate in NECIS tournaments gain.
While I know that there are other central points that could be made about the NECIS Athletics program, my key reflection is that the normal rules of children’s relationships do not seem to apply, and this develops the children in ways that their normal schooling never could. This was especially seen at the Cross Country Meet in Antwerp. For example:
Older kids and younger kids mixed much more freely than they ever would in the playground. My son was the only 5th grader at the cross country race, but he mixed freely with the 7th and 8th graders throughout the trip. The stronger players applauded the effort of the weaker players, and the weaker players cheered on the success of the stronger ones. The topics of the conversations were different at the tournament with more discussion about stretching and training and tactics, and not much about X Box and iPad. The children also seem to grow the “responsibility gene” that is sometimes seems to be missing from their normal life as they managed the logistics of airport checking, bag packing, and meal scheduling that would normally be overseen by their parents. We know that CIS is a much smaller school compared to the other NECIS members, and this means that it is tough for us to be competitive in some of the team events. We may never have the scale of the other schools, but I really perceive that our smaller size means that our teams retain a spirit of inclusiveness, encouragement and perseverance that makes the events very special for our students.
“It was the final lap of the cold, wet and muddy cross country race through the Belgian countryside. My son is holding on grimly with about 300 meters to go, hoping for a podium finish. However, he seems to be slowing down. Suddenly, one of the older CIS kids in the supporters section sees my son and immediately starts screaming “come on Jackson, you are doing great, keep going!” It helps a bit, but the older boy realises that my son needs some more encouragement, so he breaks off the preparation for his own race in order to run alongside Jackson for a few more hundred meters, screaming encouragement all the way. I see the effect that this has on my son, and he speeds up through the last section of the course and the finish line arrives at just the right moment. Watching my son Jackson being cheered on by Gianmarco made me realize how much children gain from experiencing NECIS. Over the two weekends’ events in The Hague and now Antwerp, I saw the children at their best. I was proud of my own child and proud of the school.
So if any parents are considering whether to allow their children to try out for the NECIS events, I can certainly say that it is an experience that the children will never forget, and that it will help them to develop in ways that are different to any other setting. I hope that our school continues to encourage participation in NECIS, and I hope we continue to raise the standards through good coaching and the chance for teams to participate at a range of events in Denmark and beyond.” 16
TEAM PERU SALSA EVENING
Team Peru would like to thank all the guests that took part in our Salsa Evening, and, of course, everyone for their continuous support. A special thanks goes to the PTA, the CIS custodians and our phenomenal dancing instructors for making this event possible. We have raised a total of approximately twenty-three thousand kroner! Thanks to the amazing turnout, Mama Cocha has been secured for the next two months. You have all inspired us to repeat the success next year—we hope to see an even
Team Peru Salsa Evening took place Friday the twenty-third of January. Our invited guests, who included teachers and parents, were given the opportunity to dance the night away with the guidance of Mr. Ricardo Passo and Mr. Reinaldo Gonzalez. After having been taught a few basic steps, all guests had been infected with the contagious rhythm, leaving empty the tables that were set up with snacks and beverages to join the buzzing dance floor. Parents and teachers even asked students that were helping out at the event to join in after they were spotted dancing in the corridors. The final turnout for this year’s Salsa Evening was almost ninety people!
bigger turnout in 2016!
“The organizing of the Salsa Evening involved getting in touch with a lot of different people. There were many emails and meetings. I don’t think any of us had expected that that much time and effort would go into the planning of a single event; however, all of us were extremely happy with the turnout. It is clear that all the hard work paid off.” – Lila Boschet (Team Peru Member)
FACTS ABOUT TEAM PERU: The inspiration for the Salsa Evening came from the most recent travelling team’s personal experience in Peru. During one of the nights in Urubamba, our students were offered a salsa lesson, which they all gladly accepted. The team was brought to an open courtyard with nothing but an elevated platform. After being greeted by a very lively instructor who taught them a series of basic salsa steps, they were encouraged to dance freely, and were given the opportunity to meet with some of the locals whilst rotating dance partners. Despite not everyone possessing the innate South American rhythm, everyone had a fantastic time.
Mama Cocha was built in 2008 with Team Peru’s funding, and is currently functioning as a permanent home to nine children. In order to keep the center running, Team Peru needs to raise a total of ten thousand kroner every month. This fundraising is primarily done through the organizing of birthday parties and events like the Salsa Evening, the Fun Run and the Senior School Masquerade. Team Peru encourages everyone at CIS to become involved, from PYP to DP students, and organizes biannual trips to Peru to allow students to experience the impact of their support.
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A JOURNEY THROUGH CIS Paola Gambino Marotta CIS 1999-2013
a certificate from the British Council. Learning English was important to me as it was now Achille´s first language and I felt it essential that I be able to communicate with his teachers. One year later, I still miss Denmark but am building a good life in Italy where I live near the Italian Riviera. I did find it hard to adapt to being back in Italy and at times felt like a foreigner in my own country. I also miss the international community which to me was a place where I could grow, as well as learn from and absorb other cultures; a community that, I feel, made me a better person.
Fifteen years ago, Paola Gambino Marotta walked through the doors of CIS with the same smile as she had in November 2014. It was lovely talking to Paola again and hearing all about the adjustments of leaving a country she called “home” to return to her native country, Italy. Paola reminisces: I arrived in Denmark in December, 1999, with my husband, who was stationed here for (supposedly) three years, and our little boy, Achille, who was four-and-a-half at the time. I looked around at different schools but found CIS best fitted our needs. Achille enrolled in Pre-K and had a wonderful teacher, Katie Bromley. Katie not only had to deal with teaching Achille how to speak English but also was very patient with me as my English was very limited at the time. She gave Achille a wonderful start to education and we have managed to stay in touch, even today. I feel fortunate that we had so much support over the years for Achille from the teachers and staff at CIS, seeing him through his teenage years without trouble.
Thanks to my time in Denmark and at CIS I have made wonderful friends from all parts of the world. I am in Denmark this weekend for a CIS reunion and to catch up on the happenings of Team Peru, which was a big part of our family life, including a trip to Peru for Achille where he saw another side of life. We still support the program through the amazing staff and children who are now in charge of it, and follow updates via Facebook. Denmark is definitely a home from home.
Coming back to my own adventure—as this is how I saw my life—I volunteered at the school helping out where needed. I was surprised that there was a volunteer program at CIS, because in Italy parents are not involved with the schools at all. When I gained more confidence with the English language, I then became part of the PTA in an official role. Over the years I helped organize some of the many events that are still happening today: Holiday Fair, Spring Fair, Cultures Day, and Staff Appreciation Day. Through my son’s involvement since primary school in the charity program, I have also been happy to volunteer for Team Peru, a project that we highly valued as part of his education. Also, Piero, my husband, was more than pleased to contribute to CIS as a board member for three years. Having had my own IT Company in Italy and realizing in the meantime that our commitment to Denmark looked like it was a more long-term one, I later felt the need to be challenged in other directions; therefore, I went back to books and studies to become a teacher of Italian language for adults. This choice served me well as I was employed later with the Italian Cultural Institute teaching Italian to Danes—a job I have loved, and that has enriched my life in so many ways.
Paola was the first to receive the CIS Community Award. Recipients of this award demonstrate exemplary character and community leadership, and serve as role models for those who wish to make a positive difference at CIS. We look forward to following Achille in the future as he studies anthropology at The London School of Economics.
I did, however, find Danish challenging; but not being a quitter, I managed to grasp the language. I also studied English, receiving 18
MESSAGE FROM THE CIS BOARD While we can look back at a successful year, a new one of exciting projects and opportunities lies ahead. Who does what on the board?
CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR: BRIT VAN OOIJEN AND ANDY REYNOLDS The board chair is responsible for the smooth running of the monthly board meetings, facilitating effective and efficient collaboration between the Board and the Director. Furthermore, she is responsible for selecting the appropriate board committees and ensuring that all actions are in accordance with the school’s vision, mission and best interest. The vice chair supports and, if need be, replaces the chair.
COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE: OLGA INSUA, KEESJAN DE VRIES AND SYLVIA SCHARF The communication committee works closely with the school’s administration to support the development of a strong marketing and communication plan, in order to brand the school’s vision and mission. Furthermore, they aim to strengthen the channels of communication with all stakeholders regarding a smooth transition to the new building.
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FINANCE COMMITTEE: LARS KROGSGÅRD AND ANDY REYNOLDS This committee provides advice and guidance for the long-range financial plan as well as for the annual operational budget, the monthly financial reports and the audit process, all in close collaboration with the school’s CFO, Birgitte Høj.
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE: CÉCILE DELLA TORRE, HEIKO HENKEL AND NIENKE VERMEER-LITTLE The governance committee implements, evaluates and improves the school’s policies and procedures, and supports the school’s leadership. In addition, this committee ensures the succession planning of the board by securing a continuous supply of dedicated parent volunteers.
NEW SCHOOL COMMITTEE: BRIAN SIDLE, KAT DUMEZ AND JASON EVANS Last, but not least, the new school committee works in close collaboration with the ECIS board, which manages the execution of the new building project. In October, we enjoyed a presentation given by ECIS at their office in Nordhavn, just across from the new building site. The progress of this fascinating project looks highly promising.
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CIS
SPRING
FAIR
Saturday, 9th May 2015
11:00 - 15:00
JOIN US AT
CIS Hellerup Campus
Book Sale Grill Food Court Tombola Bouncy Castles Water Booth Chinese Rafe Fire Engine Charities