Futuraskolan Master Chef 2024: A Culinary Experience to Remember!
Futuraskolan is proud to present the highlights of our annual MasterChef competition, where our talented 6th-grade finalists showcased their culinary skills at the home offices of Martin & Servera.
This year’s competition was truly remarkable, with five pairs of students from five of our seven Futuraskolan schools: Gåshaga, Hertig Karl, Bergtorp, Stockholm Bilingual, and Rådan, battling it out in the kitchen.
Our young chefs displayed extraordinary creativity and passion, presenting dishes that were both visually appealing and utterly delicious. The judge, Futuraskolan’s Head Chef, Oskar Hagdahl, was impressed by the finalists’ ability to combine flavors, textures, and techniques in such innovative ways.
After a nail-biting competition, Gåshaga’s own Diana & Dexter took the prize and were titled Master Chefs of Futuraskolan 2024. The spirit of collaboration, learning, and fun that filled the air will be remembered by all of our fantastic finalists who participated.
Congratulations to all our finalists for their outstanding performances. We are immensely proud of your culinary talents and the way you represented your schools.
#FuturaskolanMasterChef #CulinaryStars #FutureFoodies
See our students in action below!
Futuraskolan International Music Festival 2024!
On March 11th, we held our 7th Annual Futuraskolan International Music Festival!
Our Futuraskolan International Schools – Futuraskolan Gåshaga, Hertig Karl, Rådan, Kottla, Stockholm Bilingual, International & Bergtorp all joined together in our traditional Music Festival held at Tibble Theatre each spring term.
Our CEO, Tom Callahan, greeted everyone before the show and the theater was filled with enthusiastic family and friends excited about the marvelous entertainment.
We are so proud of all of our students who performed with their fabulous singing, dancing, and fantastic instrumental efforts – such impressive talent!
A huge THANK YOU to all involved, our students, our music teachers, and our supportive guardians for all of the work you put into this event!
For a short 7 minute version of the show watch here:
Watch the full one hour show here:
The GCP in Greece!This year Futuraskolan International’s Global Citizen Project (GCP) traveled to Greece participating in the Erasmus EU program in collaboration with the Themistocles School in Athens, Greece.
At the same time, Futuraskolan students volunteered for two Greek NGO’s @elix.greece and @hamogelo.
We would like to thank our parent community for their generous donations for the two NGO’s and our amazing students for volunteering 🇬🇷 It was an incredible experience and one our learners (and staff) won’t forget.
Here is a short film showing our 7 days in Greece, such a wonderful time! Thank you to Ms. Kat Bignold from Gåshaga Elementary School, who made sure to film and take photos so that we can share your wonderful experience.
Open House @ Gåshaga Preschool March 16th, 10:00-12:00
On February 22nd, Futuraskolan’s grade 9 students from Rådan and Kottla showcased their amazing innovative and sustainable entrepreneurial ideas at Futuraskolan’s annual Entrepreneurship Fair. Truly exceptional ideas with many innovations helping their fellow citizens of all ages while also making sure the carbon footprint is minimized to non-existent. Can’t wait to see these entrepreneurs innovations IRL in the future 💫🫶🌏♻️♥️✨⚡️🙌
#futuraskolan #international #entrepreneurs #students #innovations #ideas #betterworld #grade9
@futuraskolankottla @futuraskolan_radan
Lidingö Stads näringsliv also came to show our students their support! Have a read below in Swedish followed by an English translation (by Facebook)
Welcome to Futuraskolanstore!
Hello Futuraskolan Community -Students and Guardians, finally our webstore is up and running! Get your Futuraskolan gear now!
➰Since November, Grade 9 learners from Futuraskolan Kottla and Rådan have been working with our Entrepreneurship program and it is now reaching its conclusion.
➰Join us on February 22nd for our Futuraskolan Entrepreneurship Fair , where 36 teams of grade 9 students från Kottla and Rådan will present their innovative ideas and projects.
➰You will find it both informative and engaging, looking forward to seeing you there! LSK Hallen at Läroverksvägen 60 Lidingö 13:30-15:00 February 22nd – Be there or be square!
💫@futuraskolankottla
💫@futuraskolan_radan
#futuraskolan #international #kottla #rådan #entrepreneurprogram #entrepreneurs #grade9 #progressivenessenergyrespect #beststeppingstone #worldcitizens #tomorrowsleaders
What are the signs of a truly exceptional pre-school?
Is it children reaching their educational milestones, state-of-the-art facilities, or something more elusive? Some might argue that it’s the sense of trust fostered within a school community. They’ll tell you that when not only children but also teachers and parents are magnetically drawn to a place, often for decades, something remarkable is at play.
To put this idea to the test, The Local sat down with parents and teachers from Futuraskolan’sinternational pre-schools at Gåshaga and Brunbärsvägen to explore what sets Futuraskolan apart and why families keep returning.
Have a read about why guardians and staff choose Futuraskolan again and again!
To explain Futuraskolan’s preschool offering, Ivett Tamayo, the principal of the Brunbärsvägen preschool stated: “Gåshaga was our first Futuraskolan Preschool and Brunbärsvägen was our first International Futuraskolan Preschool.”
“Now Futuraskolan AB operates 6 pre-schools in Stockholm and the Greater Stockholm region, all with an International profile.”
“To be internationally minded we must know ourselves and our own values and have curiosity, knowledge and respect for cultures and beliefs different to our own. We pride ourselves on our International profile.”
The parent
Patrik Söderkvist, who first connected with the Futuraskolan network when his stepson attended Futuraskolan International School from first to ninth grade, later found that when it came time for another of his children to begin school, there was no other option.
He fondly recalls, “Not only would they learn Swedish and English, but they’d also pick up a bits of Chinese and Spanish from the teachers, and another would teach them sign language. I believe that the more children are exposed to different languages throughout the day, the quicker they’ll pick them up.”
“Combined with the fact that it was close, there was no competition!”
A few years down the line, with his daughter now at the Gåshaga pre-school, there’s much more that he admires about the Futuraskolan approach.
“Whenever I drop my daughter off, they’re always engaged in some captivating activity with their teachers. What I truly appreciate is that they greet her ahead of me – she goes first, she’s the top priority.”
“My brother brought his kids to Futuraskolan after trying out another pre-school, and he said that in the other one, he felt like the kids were merely in storage. It’s a world of difference at Gåshaga.”
“I also love that we receive a daily picture, allowing us to follow their activities, from working with colors and textures to exploring numbers and understanding more about the world.”
“I know I don’t need to worry either. The pre-school is incredibly communicative and transparent, and in the unlikely event that anything were to happen, I’d know immediately.”
The teachers
However, fantastic schools and pre-schools wouldn’t exist without content teachers. When speaking with Amelia Pujols Burgos and Kim Swanson from Futuraskolan’s Brunbärsvägen location, it’s clear why they’ve chosen to stay with the pre-school.
Kim, originally from the United States, has been there from the very beginning.
“When Brunbärsvägen opened, a colleague was appointed as the principal, and she asked three other teachers to join her. This was in 2007, and I was eager to be a part of it.”
“Starting a new pre-school is challenging, but it was also a lot of fun, and it has grown significantly.”
“At the outset, it felt very British or American, but over time, it evolved. We incorporated the Swedish curriculum, which can be quite distinct. There’s a strong emphasis on play and gradual development.”
“While some parents initially had concerns, in the end, they all agree that it’s for the better. We have a curriculum that reflects a truly international mindset combined with a Swedish approach to education.”
Amelia came later, seeking a teaching environment that would resonate with her background and experiences.
She explains, “I was a preschool teacher in the Dominican Republic, and when we moved here for my husband’s work, I applied for jobs. Futuraskolan felt open, friendly, and international – it was where I felt most at home.”
“One thing I truly appreciate is how we involve parents in our day-to-day teaching. Just last week, one mother came and read a book in Ukrainian. By the end of the lesson, the children had learned the words for ‘cat’ and ‘dog.’ Parents feel like they can explore new ways of communication without fear.”
When asked about the frequent outdoor activities at Brunbärsvägen and Gåshaga pre-schools, both teachers express their enthusiasm, although Amelia found it to be a bit of a learning curve.
“When I started, it was the coldest winter in twenty years. I didn’t know much about winter clothes; I come from the Caribbean! I had to hide behind a tree to cry!”
“However, both the kids and parents notice the benefits of being outdoors and using it as their classroom.”
Kim adds, “There’s a wealth of research about how it’s good for children’s health, and it also challenges their motor skills as they climb hills and navigate the snow.”
Reflecting on why they love teaching with Futuraskolan, both respond without hesitation.
“It simply doesn’t feel like work. I love coming here every day. I love how open we are to new cultures and new ways of doing things. Regardless of the language we speak or our background, we all understand that we’re the same.”
Kim values the challenges and excitement the job brings: “Before I came to Futuraskolan, I had been in Sweden for a long time. I wondered whether I should try something else, move elsewhere, but every day brings new experiences and different projects.”
“The international perspective also exposes you to different viewpoints and ways of communication, and that’s something you might easily miss out on elsewhere.”
Kim has a message for parents who want to learn more.
“Parents are always welcome to make an appointment and have a tour – they can witness how we work and interact with the children. We’re very open about helping parents understand how Futuraskolan operates.”
To get a picture of a day in the life of Futuraskolan preschools, follow them on Facebook @futuraskolan or Instagram @futuraskolan_media
Would you like to experience a Futuraskolan pre-school near you? Get in contact and book an appointment today
