Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Hang on to the new teacher

Monday, September 7th, 2009

 

The drop-out rate amongst new teachers is rather high, and at Kolding Realskole and at The Cosmo we would like to hang on to our new teachers, because when a teacher drops out at the wrong moment it is always a drawback and a bother for both the students and the other teachers. stressed teacher 460x276 300x180 Hang on to the new teacher

 

 

It is far from always easy to be a new teacher at a new school, with new colleagues and new students, new habits and new routines. There are so many new things, different routines and habits that a new teacher has to be aware of, know and take care of during their first period at a new school, which has a life of its own and its own way of functioning. It is both interesting and challenging to start at a new school.

 

According to Kai Frederiksen from FSL – the teachers’ union – “It is important that everybody at the school – old, experienced teachers, management, students and their parents- makes an active effort to make it a success for the new teacher and make sure that he or she would like to start at the school for a long time.  

 

tired teacher 300x225 Hang on to the new teacher

 

 

Starting at a new school is a hard job, so at Kolding Realskole and at The Cosmo we try to take good care of our new colleagues, and we ask you – parents and students – to do the same.

 

 

Simon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

tired teacher2 Hang on to the new teacher

Cosmo parents-teachers’ meeting

Friday, September 4th, 2009

                                                             Dear parents,

 

We would like to invite you to a parents–teachers meeting at 19.00 in class room 26 September 8 2009 at the school.

 

 

We have enclosed an agenda with some issues that we think we need to talk about:

 

·         Presentation of the teachers

o   Subjects

o   Curricula

o   Benchmark tests and exams

·         The blog

o   Info for parents

o   Photos

·         Homework

·         School parties

·         Trainee services

·         Cosmo net

o   Social network, where the parents can meet other foreigners with children at the same school or other schools.

o   Head speaker at the opening is going to be the newly appointed Ameamerican ambassador Cosmo parents teachers’ meetingrican ambassador, Laurie Fulton.

 

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

Simon Mosekjær

 

 

cosmo Cosmo parents teachers’ meeting

Souaad moves, if The Cosmo closes

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

 NB. This article is a direct translation from a Danish article and it is by no means an expression of the school’s or the school board’s position

High priority: Souaad Rochdi and her family moved from Morocco to Denmark, because her husband got a job in Esbjerg. They chose to live in Kolding so that the children could attend the international school – The Cosmo.

In the corridor, where the international Primary and Lower Secondary of The Cosmo are situated and occupy two classrooms at Kolding Realskole the air is thick with such stories in both English and Danish.

The corridors on Kolding Realskole hum with voices of students who are eager to talk about the events of the summer holiday with their friends, before the teachers arrive.

This school year the school starts with 16 students aged 5-16. Souaad Rochdi is one of the parents, who has chosen to place her children at the international school.

 

More homework

 

 

Souaad Rochdi has two children in the age of 12 and 14 years at The Cosmo. It is the fifth school that they attend, as Souaad’s German husband travels a lot in his job. And there is no doubt in their minds that the children should attend an international school in Denmark. Yesterday they started at their second year at The Cosmo.

 

The children have mostly gone to a German school the places, where we have lived. But we have heard from friends in Denmark that the German schools here in the country have too low academic standards, so that the students almost never have any homework for example. Therefore we chose the international school.

Focus on each student

 

 

Souaad is happy for the fact that the Cosmo is so small, because it means more focus on each individual student.

  

As a parent I am happy that the teachers are more in touch with the students’ academic skills. And I am also very satisfied with the level of the teaching, she adds.

 

Worry that the school might close

 

 

The small number of students, makes she worry whether the school will exist long enough for her children to graduate and finished their Lower Secondary education.

 

Just the other day I spoke to my husband about what we would do it the school has to close. He said that we would find a solution. But if it really closes, we would listen to the children’s wishes. If their wish is to go to an international school, we would move to make that wish come through, she says.

First Certificate in English from Cambridge ESOL

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

 

14 students from the outgoing 9th G – the first outgoing international class from Kolding Realskole – have just received information from the Cambridge University that they have all passed their First Certificate in English.

 

All 14 have passed with either A or B, which converted to the Danish grade scale equals 12 and 10. The teachers of the class congratulate them with the excellent result.

 

The exam in First Certificate consists of five individual tests:

Reading: 1 hour
You will need to be able to understand information in fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.

Writing: 1 hour 20 minutes
You will have to show you can produce two different pieces of writing such as a short story, a letter, an article, a report, a review or an essay.

Use of English: 45 minutes
Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you control your grammar and vocabulary.

Listening: 40 minutes
You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including news programmes, speeches, stories and anecdotes and public announcements.

Speaking: 14 minutes
You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in a group of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidates and by yourself.

Cambridge ESOL are exams in English for speakers of other languages, which means for students, who are not native speakers.

 

Read more about FCE: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/general-english/fce.html

Next School Year 2009-2010

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

The Cosmo – International School of Southern Denmark is closed from the 3rd of July to the 17th of August.

Should you wish to sign up your child for next year, my mobile phone – +45 20 52 05 49 – is open every weekday between 10.00 and 12.00 Am.

Best regards,

Simon Mosekjær

Head of Department

Press Information

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

The Cosmo – Kolding Realskole offers new Cambridge International Primary Programme.

The Cosmo – Kolding Realskole has been awarded membership of the Cambridge International Primary Programme by University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).Notes to EditorsUniversity of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is the world’s largest provider of international qualifications for 14-19 year olds. CIE offers a broad range of qualifications, created for an international audience. CIE’s qualifications include Cambridge IGCSE and International A/AS Level. CIE qualifications are taken in 150 countries and recognised by universities, educational providers and employers across the world.For further information contact:Mr. Simon MosekjaerMembership of Cambridge International Primary Programme, approved for local school.

The Cosmo – Kolding Realskole will be able to use the Cambridge International Primary Programme, which helps teachers develop Mathematics, English and Science skills and knowledge in children aged five to eleven. The Cambridge International Primary Programme provides guidance for curriculum development and classroom teaching and learning, and it allows teachers to assess children’s learning as they progress.

Ann Puntis, Chief Executive of University of Cambridge International Examinations, said: “We are delighted that The Cosmo – Kolding Realskole has taken this step to provide young students with the best possible education.

“By implementing the Cambridge International Primary Programme, The Cosmo – Kolding Realskole is using an international curriculum that will be of great benefit to their students.”

Mr. Simon Mosekjaer, Head of Department, said: “The Cosmo – Kolding Realskole is proud to be associated with Cambridge. The Cambridge International Primary Programme allows us to extend our service to the local community.”

To learn more about the Cambridge International Primary Programme and CIE, visit 

www.cie.org.uk

 

About CIE

CIE is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group, a not-for-profit organisation and part of the University of Cambridge. CIE has a strong pedigree in development and research – it was the first exam board to develop the International GCSE 20 years ago. We constantly review our provision and introduce new subject areas and qualifications. CIE offers unrivalled support to its network of registered Centres.

 

Head of Department

The Cosmo – The International School of Southern Denmark

A department of Kolding Realskole

Vesterbrogade 6

6000 Kolding

Denmark

Tel: 00 45 75 52 05 00

Fax: 00 45 75 53 85 26

Email: info@thecosmo.dk

or

Geraldine Seymour

International Communications Manager

University of Cambridge International Examinations 1 Hills Road

Cambridge

CB1 2EU

United Kingdom

Fax:+44 1223 553558

Tel: +44 1223 553323

The World around Us

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

At The Cosmo we constantly strive to broaden the students’ horizons. One of the ways, in which we do that, is to work together with schools around the world.

 

c aseflogo The World around UsWe are currently in contact with two schools, one in France and one in Zambia, with whom we hope to begin a project about global warming and sustainable development of new types of energy (wind, wave, solar energy and other types of non-polluting energies).

 

Moreover, the school is going to be a member of AEC-Net (Asia-Europe Classroom Net), which promotes collaborative cross-cultural learning and exchanges, and we hope to be able to make an exchange for the students to one of the member schools.

 

The aims of the AEC-Net are to foster collaboration across the member countries; to encourage the advancement of education through the use of info-communication technology; to develop innovative and interactive platforms offering online inter-cultural learning opportunities and to develop a network of schools in Asia and Europe.logo11 The World around Us

The climate and innovation camp Bright Green Youth

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

 

We are honored and encouraged to see that interested schools and organizations from different parts of the world are willing to send students to participate as delegates in the climate and innovation camp Bright Green Youth and would very much like to invite students aged 14-18 years and from your organization. Relevant information about the camp is given below for your easy reference and we recommend that you also read the attachments:

 

Date:                          8th-11th of August 2009

Venue:                       Alsion, Alsion 2, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark

Theme:                      Climate and innovation

Language:                 The official language of the camp will be English

Accommodation:      Participants will be accommodated two and two (boy/boy or girl/girl) with Danish families in

                                  Sønderborg while companions will be accommodated in hotel or private homes.

Website:                    www.brightgreenyouth.org

 

We expect about 300-350 overseas delegates and about 150-200 of local ones, a totally of 500 young participants. We extend a warm welcome to you to participate in this event and to present the bright green ideas of your youngsters.

 

Please note that delegates have to pay for their own travel expenses to and from India, but the stay in Denmark during the camp is all free and taken care of from our side.

 

We look forward to hearing from you and hopefully seeing you in August.

 

If you wish to participate, please contact me to get an application form,

 

Best regards,

 

Simon

Whitsun & Constitution day, June 1 and 5

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Monday June 1 is Whitsun and the school is closed all day. Friday June 5 is Constitution day, where we celebrate the Danish Constitution signed by King Frederic the 7th June 5, 1849. The school closes at 12:00.