Getting Started at Rygaards

## **GETTING STARTED AT RYGAARDS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL**

Welcome. Rygaards is a very friendly school
and the International Parents Committee (IPC) are here to welcome you and to
help ease you into your new school life.

New students join Rygaards International
School throughout the year. However, the main intakes are in August and January.

### **Corona/Covid-19**

We have added a new page in the Wiki with links to the official Covid-19 government help and advice.

The IPC is committed to supporting the families at Rygaards but the pandemic inevitably has required us to respond in a flexible way to changing circumstances, scaling back and sometimes cancelling many of our usual events. When and while circumstance allow it, we very much look forward to seeing you at one of the IPC Welcome Events. We strongly encourage you to join ClassList so that you can receive all the latest notifications.

### **Welcome Events**

The IPC arranges welcome events (e.g. Welcome picnic, Newcomers coffee morning) to introduce the new families to the school
in August and January. Should you join mid-term the School Administrator will
put you in touch with your Class Parent Representative who will be able to help
you settle in.

The School Principals hold welcome meetings
are the start of each academic year.

Class teachers will host a welcome meeting
within the first few weeks of the autumn term where they will give you an
overview of the year ahead. The new Class Parent Representatives for the year
will be assigned during this meeting.

All events are listed on Classlist.

### **Class Parent Representative**

There are 2-3 parent class reps in each year
group. The main role of the Class Reps is to provide 2-way communication
between teachers and parents, to welcome new parents, foster a sense of
community within the class by arranging social events (coffee mornings,
evenings out, weekend family activities) and to represent the class at
two-monthly IPC meetings.

### **Buddy Systems**

The school operates a Buddy System. Each child who starts Rygaards after the official August beginning of term, will be assigned a buddy in their class. The buddy is responsible for welcoming
the newcomer and showing them around during their first week or so.

### **School & Holiday Schedule**

**https://www.rygaards.com/welcome-to-rygaards-international-school/holiday-schedule**

### **School Communications**

If you need to contact the school /member of staff urgently please
call the Main School Office number: +45 39 62 10 53.

If there is an unexpected school closure or emergency the school
will post notices on the Parentintra and the IPC app Classlist.

Please make sure the school has up to date contact information for
you in case they need to contact you in an emergency. You can update your
contact details via ParentIntra.

#### **ParentIntra**

Parentintra is the school’s primary and
official avenue of communication. It provides and email facility for the school
to contact parents, for staff to contact each other and for parents to contact
the school staff. The teaching staff and the school management welcome you to
contact them directly via Parentintra. It is also a way for parents to contact
other parents. The school publishes lots of information on ParentIntra and it
is where any announcements are made. Teachers send out class messages, weekly
plans and homework, and the school management sends out information, reminders
and monthly newsletters. So do make sure you check it regularly. All parents
have access to ParentIntra once they have their CPR number. As soon as you have your CPR number go to the school
office and request your log-in details. You can then log in via the ParentIntra
website or download the ParentIntra app.

#### **Classlist App**

Parents or Rygaards International School communicate using a secure digital platform called Classlist. This is the main way the IPC communicates
information to parents. It also helps parents to connect with each other.

Classlist acts as a ‘virtual school gate’, where you can make friends, ask for advice and recommendations, as well as arrange play-dates, school lift shares, fundraising activities and social events including private birthday parties. Parents can also use the listings button to buy and sell personal items, such as
second-hand musical instruments or to find a babysitter. And all of these services are available on one easy-to-use, modern platform.

Classlist’s key function is to provide a directory of class parents accessible on all
electronic devices, including mobiles. Parents can decide how much detail they want to share with other parents and Classlist is data protection registered which ensures we are GDPR compliant.

You will also find lots of useful info on there about general life at school and in Copenhagen.

## **FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND CAMPUS**

### **School map**

###

Please note that Rygaards School is an open campus (Corona restrictions in place currently and to be reviewed in the new term). This means that the gates are always open and students and the public have free access in and out of the grounds at all times. However, the GSB
building is secured during class times with a lock so that only those assigned a key fob/code can access the building.

### Parking RulesParking Area Map

The parking area at the front of the Main
Building (Bernstorffsvej) is for school staff ONLY. There is plenty of street
parking nearby. Please see the parking map for information on where to park and
the ‘kiss and ride’ areas.

### **Bikes**

There are plenty of bike racks inside every
entrance to the school. There is also an indoor bike storage area below the
main building which is locked overnight. Bikes are left at owner’s risk. Please
lock your bike and put your bike helmet into your class locker.

## **THE SCHOOL DAY**

Your child’s teacher will provide you with the
class timetable at the start of term and they will also send out the weekly
plan with any changes to the coming week on Parent’s Intra.

  08.50
  09.00
  09.45
  10.05
  11.30
  12.20
  13.50
  14.00
  14.45
 Ends

**Secondary School Timetable**

The Secondary School timetable varies
depending on year group, subjects and scheduling, general hours are from 08.00
– 16.00hrs.

### **Drop off/pick up**

Please note only Years 1 and Reception are
handed over to a parent/carer at the end of class at the end of each day. Older
years are let out of class and are expected to meet their parent/carer in the
playground or make their own way to SFO / home. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to
it!

### **Lunch & snack**

There is no canteen/cafeteria at the school.
Therefore, all children are required to bring a packed lunch and mid-morning
snack each day. Snack is eaten at first break and lunch is eaten in their class
room. The school encourages a healthy lunch box and no waste policy. Your class
teacher will inform you if there are any allergies in the class of which you
should be aware.

### **Hot lunches**

Every Tuesday and Friday an outside catering
company provides Hot Lunches for the children who subscribe to the service. On
Tuesdays, a local company Impronta deliver delicious empanadas. You can sign
your child up to and pay for this service on https://impronta.dk/school-lunch.

On Fridays, another local company Armando’s deliver Pizza/Pasta/Chicken&Rice
.

You can sign up for Friday lunches on the IPC Classlist app.

### **Sports kit/useful items**

Students in Year 2
and above are required to have the School Sports Kit. This can be purchased via
the link on the IPC Classlist app.

All children are required to have both indoor
and outdoor trainers for PE. Primary school children are required to have
indoor shoes/slippers for wearing in the classroom. It is also advised that
students have suitable outdoor clothing for break times and for getting to and
from school (eg. waterproof trousers, snowsuit, rubber boots, sunhats etc).

### **SFO**

SFO is Rygaards School’s before-and-after
school care for students from Year 1- Year 4. The SFO is very popular and
usually over-subscribed. Apply as soon as possible and if it is full put names
down on the waiting list. Currently there are only 30 places in the before
school club and 90 places in the after school club.

More information can be found on the school’s
website: https://www.rygaards.com/welcome-to-rygaards-international-school/sfo

From Year 4 on the after school care is at a
different location. Your local kommune will provide you with information on
your local SFO.

## **ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE**

For children who start school and do not speak
English or speak only a little bit of English, the transition can be quite
difficult. However, every child is able to pick up the English language, each
at his or her own unique speed. It helps if you practise a couple of basic
words and sentences before your child starts school, for example: “yes/no”,
“thank you”, “my name is…” or “I need to go to the toilet”. In the beginning,
your child will be observing a lot in class and will be very tired after a day
at school. Our advice is not to plan too many afterschool activities in the
first months.

There is no special “English as a second
language program” at Rygaards school, but the teachers will, of course, adapt the
learning material (for example give the children shortened reading texts with
many pictures can help them learn) or provide extra English lessons outside of
the classroom.

What else can you do for your child to learn
English more quickly? Your child should read as widely as possible. This means
reading for pleasure. It doesn’t have to be a novel; it could be a magazine,
graphic novel or blog website. Watching English movies is also great for
improving listening skills.  Then take
every opportunity to practise English. In addition, playing, socialising and
doing activities with English-speaking friends will help them develop their
communication skills quickly.