22 Dec Harry Potter Day, Christmas Ball, OSO Presentations and Christmas End

Dear reader,

"It's Christmas, it's cool, it's when you have the best time. It's Christmas ball in Nisseland, the family party", sings MC Einar. And we've had a fantastically cool Christmas December at Ranum! Lots of snow, Christmas lights Christmas spirit everywhere. From Himmerland's tallest Christmas tree on top of the Seminary House to the biggest Christmas tree at the Christmas Ball in the Culture Hall last night. We've really been building community and celebrating Christmas together this week. On Tuesday evening we went to Ranum Church to sing Christmas hymns and hear the school choir, as well as the Christmas Gospel read by our wonderful pastor Tom Hagedorn. On Wednesday we celebrated Harry Potter Christmas, and finished the evening with the big Christmas Ball and a firework display over Ranum town, as thanks for a fantastic 2022.

Christmas gathering in Ranum Church

The church was filled to bursting point by all the students, who were greeted by our local pastor Tom Hagedorn, who has also been efterskole Leader for many years. He read the Christmas Gospel in English and our choir sang several Christmas hymns. We enjoy being able to fill the church with life, song and light and especially for the international students this is an experience they have not encountered before and will not forget.

Harry Potter Day

On Wednesday morning, the students gathered in the sports hall and the banquet hall. The students had to learn how to waltz for the Christmas ball and the students in the ballroom were divided with the magical distribution hat into the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. The ballroom was transformed into the most beautiful set from the Harry Potter movie and the students joined in the role play of transforming the school into Hogwarts. Throughout the day there were various imaginative and magical challenges, culminating in a Quidditch tournament.

OSO presentations

On Tuesday, the 10th grade held their presentations in the TEBO project in the form of the OSO assignment. As a novelty, the presentations were mainly made as short films and it created a lot more energy and inspiration than the traditional presentations at the blackboard.

The students have evaluated the TEBO programme and it shows that they have taken on board the idea that it is not the school they visit that is the focus, but the industry or world they will explore. This has significantly increased motivation and engagement from previous years of bridge building. There is room for adjustments in the cooperation between Ranum and the many schools involved, and we are already working on this so that TEBO can be even better for the upcoming team of students.

Christmas ball and fireworks

On Wednesday evening, we ended the Harry Potter day by getting ready for the big Christmas ball. The whole sports hall was decorated the biggest Christmas tree ever and a fantastic Christmas lights setting. The Christmas table consisted of both classic dishes and new inventions such as potato dumplings. After dinner, singing together and the headmaster's Christmas speech, there was a waltz and after ris a la mande with cherry sauce, the school's fantastic teacher band played for dancing and we ended with the chain dance around the big Christmas tree until now it's Christmas again.

At 9 pm, all students and many of the families from Ranum gathered at the sports field and had a fantastic fireworks experience, where rockets, batteries and fountains created a magical end to the first half of the school year for student team 19 and in 2022 for Ranum Efterskole College.

Today, Friday, there is the traditional Christmas cleaning after breakfast, Christmas gathering in the family groups and then it is certain and certain that we will get a visit from Santa Claus, because Ranum (the town name) means the place in the middle, so where else would he come 😉

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all from all of us at Ranum Efterskole College.