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
Nordic Network Music Festival 2023
First Nordic Network Music Festival held on October 20th in Tibble Teater Täby, Sweden
The very First Nordic Network Music Festival held on October 20th. Six schools participated, our very own Futuraskolan International Kottla, Futuraskolan International Bergtorp, together with British International School of Stavanger, British International School of Stockholm, Viktor Rydbergs Gymnasium and Stockholm International School.
The students together with their music teachers have planned and practised this whole term at their respective schools and on October 20th they finally got together for an all day practice ending this fantastic musical collaboration with a much appreciated concert .
Thank you all students and teachers for putting on a wonderful show!
Nordic Network is an organization that’s been active for 26 years and was initiated by some of the nordic International schools to get to know each other, network, collaborate and support one another and ones common professional development through teachers conferences, school leader conferences and other events.
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this collaboration and music event possible!
We hope this is the first of many Nordic Network Music Festivals. Enjoy!
Futuraskolan Stockholm Bilingual’s most recent grade 9 graduates and teacher Ms. Sheetal Jalan, have been showcased in CETIS September Issue of their renowned magazine – “Teknikundervisning i Skolan”. CETIS- National Resource Centre for Technology Education in Schools, is one of the most prestigious institutes in Sweden that guides the teaching in the subject of technology. The magazine features school technology teachings and projects ranging from F-klass all the way up to Gymnasium in Sweden.
The article presents the Grade 9 Technology Fair which was held in the Spring Term 2023. The fair celebrates the application of engineering principles through grade 9 students’ captivating projects showing their technological explorations.
During the spring term, the students actively worked with innovations pursuing the principles of aerodynamics and motion, fluid dynamics, and mechanical systems as well as sustainable practices in everyday life. Through the Tech Fair, the visitors got their chance to see our learners’ many extraordinary ideas and innovations.
This is a great article showcasing our teacher Ms. Sheetal Jalan and our super-talented students at Bilingual Stockholm, well done we are so proud of all of you!
Click on the below articles for a clearer read also, feel free to read the entire CETIS journal through this link, you can find our featured article on pages 22 and 23.
Welcome Back to School on August 21st!
We love summer but we have missed our students and staff 🫶 Welcome back everyone❣️
School starts this Monday, August 21st! See you at your Futuraskolan school!
#futuraskolan #international #progressivenessenergyrespect #beststeppingstone #futureworldcitizens #backtoschool #welcome
