I am sitting in the Helmia Arena parking lot waiting while Kirk meets with Johan P. The arena sits right next to the Fryxellskaskolan where Mitch is at his first day of school. Duncan is at his second day of school in Stöpafors. The schools here are incredible. Mitch’s school is 2 years old and is designed to be a healthy school. There is no plastic used in its construction to ensure good air quality. It is made of mostly wood and concrete. Some floors have a rubber surface. The window blinds go up and down automatically to control the temperature and amount of light in the rooms. The school has no gym, but is next to the arena mentioned earlier, a recreation complex containing a gym and an indoor soccer field and, outside, a fabulous track and field facility. Top notch facilities for this small community. When we drove in, we noticed small groups of four kids on their bicycles leaving the school grounds on their bicycles on some sort of assignment. No adult supervision along, just 4 kids on some sort of a mission. Pretty neat.
One interesting thing about the schools is the amount of space designed for each class. For example, Duncan’s class of 20 kids (all the grade 5 and 6 kids) in a school out in the country has a room a little larger than the average Canadian classroom, plus a cloak room and another small room with computers, books and a couple of round tables in the middle. There is a cushioned seating area at the back with room for 8 to sit comfortably. There are 4 such rooms in this school: one for the preschoolers/kindergarten kids, a grade1/2 room and a grade 2/3 room. There also was a space for special needs students where two students were working when we went through. This school, containing maybe 80 students, also has a kitchen where lunch is made for all the kids. The kids help with this too. In the gym, which is about the same size as the one in Duncan’s school back home, the walls have wood boards on the walls with 1” spaces between – this must help to absorb some sound. The ceiling was very high. The kids are required to shower after PE and there is a Sauna in the change room. In the school yard is an area with 2 hockey nets that will obviously be a rink in the winter. Duncan’s teacher, Bibbi, had time to meet us and show us around Wednesday afternoon since all the kids are bussed to Sunne Wed. afternoons for skills training such as needlework, woodwork etc.
Mitch’s class also has its own area in the school. There are 2 classrooms: one larger and one smaller. There is also an alcove with their large lockers - maybe 30 of them - with plenty of space. There where also a number of other small rooms of various sizes, a teachers work room that puts anything I’ve seen in Canada to shame, and a couple of washrooms. This was all in its own little wing of the school on the second floor with a similar area underneath. We also saw the art room, the biology room and the chemistry room in this middle school – all fully equipped. There never seemed to be great throngs of kids clogging the halls – no sardine cans for Swedish kids! There was also a noticeably different tone to the school – much more positive and laid back. The students seem more cooperative and involved, less insular.
Sunday (söndag den 17 september 2006)
Woke this morning when Jan called to say he had just shot a buck and did the boys want to come and see it and help him clean it? In the rushing around we realized we had 2 moose out under our apple trees having their breakfast. What excitement! Get the camera! Shhhh! We took some pictures and then the men rushed off to check out the action next door. I may go over too as I am restless here after all the excitement. I must say I am ambivalent about the whole hunting thing.
Wednesday 20 september
Boys to school – Mitch by bus, Dunc by bike. H and K hang out, work on svenska, vacuum, walk to Holly and Jan’s. Hol is not home from Canada yet. Get home and pick black currants. K rides to meet Dunc's late bus from Sunne – D is sewing a moose in Slöjd (crafts). K drives into Sunne to coach hockey B team with Mitch – still unclear how it all works. Hol calls at 5 pm They are home at last - H and D go to see. Hol has brought things – herbs, maple syrup. Peach jam Canada pins, etc. K and D drop in on way home – quick visit then home to dinner. Weird hotdogs – too soft and mushy. Hol and Erik come for a visit later – some translation of school handouts for us – more later.
No comments:
Post a Comment