ALL Welcome Information 

Welcome!  

Hvitfeldtska's IB path is a special community and by now I'm sure you're familiar with our mission. We warmly welcome you to our learning community and look forward to guiding all students to reach their full potential. Right now you are in the "internal" IB website, feel free to explore the sections.

As the IB Principal, I've collected all Welcome information in one place here by linking to things you need to know. See "NEW student information" below if this pertains to you.

I'd also like to encourage all parents to attend our IB Parent Meeting at startup. Date to be announced here soon. 

I have so very much more to say, but do not want to overwhelm you with too much information at the startup.  So you'll hear more from me in due time.  

In the meantime, I hope you find everything you have questions about in this message and/or website and look forward to seeing you soon.

Parent Meeting

September 1st at 17.30 in the North Aula.  More details to come but pencil this in.

Year 1 specific Welcome Message: 

STUDENTS START August 18, 2025 at 0830 in the South Building, South Auditorium (aula). Follow signs to find the South Aula once you enter the South Building.

On Aug 18th, after students get their computer, they should be able to log into Vklass and see their schedule. 

Day 2 is August 19 from 1030-1500.

Day 3 os regular lessons for the most part and you should see the schedule in Vklass or Vklass>Länkar/Links>Skola24

About your schedule

You cannot see your schedule until you are issued a computer login. You cannot receive a login until you are at the school. You will get a computer and login on your first day!  Once you get logged in, you go to Vklass, and you can see your schedule there.  

Parents:  We use Vklass for schedule and absence reporting and News/message updates.  It's Vklass.se and it's only accessible in Sweden (I think this is being rectified) and you login with Mobile Bank ID.  If you do not have Mobile Bank ID, we can arrange an account anyway. See more info in the digital platform section, specifically look for the Vklass section here: https://sites.google.com/educ.goteborg.se/internal-ib-at-hvitfeldtska/learning-communication-platforms    

About Swedish (as a subject) in PreDP. 

Note you may not see Swedish on your schedule from the start, even if you are eligible to be taking it.  There will be some placement interviews at the start of the school year first, before we make a determination.

The options are: 

• Swedish level 1:  Can take if you have a grade in Swedish as a subject from Grade 9.  

•  Swedish as an additional language level 1:  Can take if you have a passing grade from Swedish as an additional language subject from Grade 9.  

• No Swedish as a subject:  Without a grade in Swedish from Grade 9,  you will not be placed in any Swedish subject in year 1.

More info:

• Students comning from MYP from ISGR have technically not completed Grade 9 and therefore will not have a Swedish grade.  If they have been enrolled in Swedish Language and Literature and received a passing grade, they may be eligible to continue Swedish as a subject.  We use a written test (during placement testing) and an oral interview to determine placement at the start of school. 

To be eligible to take  (Swedish as an additional language 1 high school level), a student must:

• Must have completed the equivalent of Grade 9 in the Swedish system. And, have passed SVE or SVA in compulsory school, grade 9, with at least an E.

Modern Language as a subject: Information pertaining to French, German, Spanish at Stage 3. 

The lessons are combined with the Swedish National Programs and are therefore taught either in Swedish or the target language.  If, from your application, it appears that you are at the beginner Swedish level, then you are not eligible to take the course/lessons. Feel free to book time to discuss the Modern Language option further if it is needed. 

So you know: Modern languages do not start in the first weeks of school so for those who will have it, you won't see it at first.

Year 2 specific Welcome Message: 

NEW to Hvitfeldtska students Start.  Update: School start Tues Aug 19, 0815 with mentor time for "new to Hvitfeldtska" students only.  Meet outside South building where the teachers will come out and show you where to go.  

ALL (DP1) STUDENTS START August 19th.   If you are new or returning from PreDP or have certain subjects it varies. Read details below:

Entire start schedule, DP 1:

0815 New to Hvitfeldtska meet outside South building. Bring the forms you were sent to fill out.  Your mentors will instruct you further from there.

0915 Vis Art or Design students returning from PreDP.  Swap your Chromebook and charger for a PC and PC charger.  Go to South IT office directly.

0950-1150 All DP 1 students whether new or returning: CAS workshop in one of our auditoriums. Stay tuned for which.

1150-1230 Lunch.  Returning students from PreDP: you can stay for lunch or leave for the day.

1230-1300 New to Hvitfeldtska students: Get a tour from our IB student ambassadors.  Meet in the North building parking lot/courtyard. 

1300 Meet your mentor again in the same room you were in during the morning (S506, S507).  

DP 1 Schedule Wednesday Aug 20:

0900-1600 Collaborate Science Project.  Meet in the South Aula at 0900.

Thursday is regularly lessons and an Assembly in the afternoon with the Principal and DP Coordinator.

About your schedule

You cannot see your schedule until you are issued a computer login. You cannot receive a login until you are at the school. You will get a computer and login on your first day if you are brand new to us!  Once you get logged in, you go to Vklass, and you can see your schedule there.    From when you are registered, it takes 48 hours to get a login. 

Parents:  We use Vklass for schedule and absence reporting and News/message updates.  It's Vklass.se and it's only accessible in Sweden (I think this is being rectified) and you login with Mobile Bank ID.  If you do not have Mobile Bank ID, we can arrange an account anyway. See more info in the digital platform section, specifically look for the Vklass section here: https://sites.google.com/educ.goteborg.se/internal-ib-at-hvitfeldtska/learning-communication-platforms    

Everyone: remember to check your study plan in Vklass and make sure it's how we have agreed.  We do our best to ensure everything is up to date and accurate, but we are also all humans.  Let's help each other out! If you have a question about something, ask us!  We are here to help you have the smoothest startup in the Diploma Program as is possible. 

Checklist for the study plan when you can access it*: 

*Brand new students: you have to wait until the first day to see it.

• 3 HL (4 is acceptable if you are hesitant about your choices!) 

• 3 SL

• TOK

• At least two languages and one has the word "literature" in the title.  

• Are you taking a subject that you're not really eligible for according to our guidelines and it's somehow gotten past our notice?  Double check because it is your right and  responsibility to be aware of our policies and guidelines.  

• Assigned a mentor/advisor? 

Year 3 specific Welcome Message:

August 20th at 0815:  mandatory attendance, come prepared to work on your EE!

We will start with an assembly in S aula. and then move into some classrooms in the pavillion for you to simply sit, research, write, revise, etc. 

Prior to Aug 20, your Bio and Physics teacher shall have informed you if there are lab days you must attend.

This will be a very exciting year for you and I have some special things for you to know which can be found here. I should also like to tip you off to our University Resources page which you may find useful. The very last section is a link to a form that you can submit to us if/when you know you will apply outside of Sweden.  Completing the form helps us coordinate our efforts to best help you. 

OBS Update: We may need help with the tour to PreDP and new DP 1 students.  Contact Krista if you are interested. Tour is Aug 19 from 1230-1300.  

New Student Forms   

Click here for forms and info letters.  (last year's forms but they are still valid this year)

We will send hard copies to new students in the mail for you to complete and bring with on the first day of school. Sometimes we don't have your most up to date address, so we are also sending via email. If you can, print at home or work, fill in the forms and bring them to your mentor on the first day you come to school. 

In this folder, a form you need to fill in is preceded with "Form".  Other information is preceded with "Info".  The only mandatory forms are:

• Form for school nurse if you are coming into Grade 10 or new to Grade 11

• Form for emergency contact

• The other two forms (special education needs and special diet) are only needed if you have information to share.

Travel Card information   

Thinking about how to travel to and from school? It matters if you live in Gothenburg or not.

If you live in Gothenburg: A travel card should be sent home to the address for which you are registered. If you don't get one, you can go to the Expedition (in the North building, 1st floor) to get help. You can travel on the first day of school without the card, there is a grade period if you are a student.

If you live in: Ale, Alingsås, Härryda, Kungsbacka, Kungälv, Lerum, Lilla Edet, Mölndal, Partille, Stenungsund, Tjörn and Öckerö

You need to contact your municipality if:

⎯ You have not received a school card

⎯ Your card is defective/lost

⎯ You are new to school and do not have a school card

Go to your school administrator to get a school start card (after September 15 temporary school card.)

Then contact your municipality.  The Expedition office can even help you find contact info to your municipality.

More info: Skolkort, resor i gymnasieskolan - Göteborgs Stad (goteborg.se)   or see our Expedition in North building for more info. 

Digital Platforms & Communication

https://sites.google.com/educ.goteborg.se/internal-ib-at-hvitfeldtska/learning-communication-platforms    

This section details what we use and for what purpose, and how to get access. 

Please note: The IB Program calendar information is under that link and that gives alot of info about startup and the term dates, holidays, etc.

Student Card/Door and Lunch Access 

As a new student at Hvitfeldtska, you will receive a student card. This student card must then be kept as a valuable document as it gives you access to the school, and you can eat lunch in the school restaurant.

Your first Student card is free of charge. If you lose your student card you need to replace it. A new student card cost 50 SEK and is paid for in the school café during regular opening hours. Bring your receipt to the janitor’s office, in the North building, and you will get a new student card.

The photograph schedule for the card will be seen in your schedule (as through Vklass). This all happens in the startup weeks.

Locker

You will be assigned a locker in the North building due to renovations that will happen in the South building. It is your mentor who will be giving you the locker assignment. Thereafter it is the "vaktmästaren" or building caretakers who can help you with any further questions.

A locker that is in use by the wrong student will be opened by the school. Any personal belongings can be recovered if you can describe them to the caretakers.

NOTE:

Lock your locker! Use a padlock and key and bring it with you on the first day. Code locks are too easy to unlock. Your locker needs to always be locked. Unlocked lockers will be locked by the janitor.

Policies and Important Information   

accessed via our external site: https://sites.google.com/educ.goteborg.se/ib-hvitfeldtska/policies-and-important-information 

The IB is a special form of education and it is governed by our internal school policies, which are quality checked by the IB organisation through its system of authorisation and consequent evaluation visits.  It is everyone's responsibility to become familiar with the policies we have, their general contents, and how to reference them when needed. 

Further, the Pre-Diploma year is technically not part of the IB Diploma Program, which is only the final two years. This means it is governed by Swedish School Law, yet also enhanced by our policies in the IB, especially when it comes to subject eligibility, selection, and final placement in preparation for entering the Diploma Program as a Full Diploma Candidate or Course Candidate.

Not all IB Diploma Program Schools have the same policies! But all policies must be in alignment with IB Standards and Practices. For this reason, it is important to famliarize yourself with the particular nuances of Hvitfeldtska's IB school policies. 

This is how we process your personal data

On the education administration's website you can read about how we process your personal data. 

Photographing

When it comes to taking photos for access cards, no consent is required. Nor in the case of other processing of personal data that is necessary for us to be able to conduct teaching and assign grades.

During the year, there may be photography for marketing material, for example images for the website, social media or printed material. On these occasions, there will be consent forms and information about what we will use the images for and how they will be processed.

-Signed Krista M Baker, May 28, 2025