February 2025

General Information for all

• Welcome back after "Sportlov" on Feb 17th. The next break is April 14-21. 

• Class Council is happening during mentor time, Tuesday, Feb 18, for all classes.  The week after is Program Council for only those elected representative, and the week after that is another Class council. 

• Student class council representatives: there is a form I want for you to complete by the end of the day February 18th, after the class council, so that I can prepare the agenda for Program Council.  The form is here.

• If Chalmers had bachelor's degree programmes in English, would you apply?  Chalmers is investigating this exact thing! You can help them do their feasibility study by doing this quick 2 min survey: https://forms.office.com/e/VC99UNyVVC    Chalmers programs are focused on technology, architecture, engineering, that kind of stuff! 

• Reminder to check IB Program Calendar for reference to mentor time or other special things.

• COOL STUFF to know that's been happening in our program.

  • Lecture about Animal Research and Ethics happened on January 28th for Psychology students, and any other students who were able to attend. It was a perfect tie in to Theory of Knowledge as well!

  • Economics students have been out on a field trip in Gothenburg to visit the Saluhall, they are learning about how the free market works in responding to consumer demands.

  • Chalmers published a small article from a learning experience they had with our students, Sofia and Dio.  See the links below if interested.

  • Hvitfeldtska IB European Youth Parliament Team update:  After making it through the regional sessions, our dedidicated EYP students are now heading to the National Session, with hopes of securing a spot at the International Session!  While we're sad that Gitansh and Kaan from DP1 couldn't join this time, Anshika and Shayaan have stepped up to fill their places. We wish the best of luck to Mohammed, Manasi, Anshika, and Shayaan from DP1 as they represent Hvitfeldtska in Uppsala from March 6th-8th.

  • Charity Concert.  A charity concert was organized by Hannah M in IB22.  Many IB students performed and even some Hvitfeldtska music students took part and helped make sure we had amazing sound.  They gained enough money to help 94 people with a single meal each.  You can still donate even if you didn't attend the concert:  Swish what you prefer to +46 72 948 59 44. The money goes to Red Cross who then makes sure it gets to Gaza or Ukraine. 

"When we first came together to organize this concert, we had one goal in mind-to use music as a force for change, to extend our hands to those whose voices have been drowned out by the echoes of conflict......Must transcends borders; it carries pain, resilience, and the promise of better days. And tonight, as we listen, as we give, we become part of something greater-something that reminds us that even in the darkest of times, humanity prevails."

Pictures below. Video can be seen here where the music students direct an a cappella piece and here where Hannah and Soujanyaa have a duet.

Swedish Solcellslabbet gav eleverna en ”wow-upplevelse”

English Solcellslabbet gav eleverna en ”wow-upplevelse”

• Attendance and Mentorship.  This is a reminder that it is the school who has to determine if an absence is approved or unapproved.  First it must be announced through Vklass by the student (if 18) or the guardian. Then, the student or parent sends a Vklass message to the mentor explaining why the student is absent.  

• PHOTOS AND HAPPENINGS  at the end of the newsletter, you'll see some photos. 

  • Charity Concert which was February 6.  If you didn't get to attend but you would still like to donate to the Red Cross, you can Swish Hannah M. in IB22. (see above for her number).  The proceeds are going to be directed to Ukraine and Gaza. 

Year 1 Specific Info

• SUBJECT REQUEST UPDATE  The scheduler analyzed the first set of data we got from your intial requests. He found only 3 clashes we couldn't solve in the schedule. If you are thinking that you will make changes to your initial subject request, it will be helpful to know the following is not possible. 

-English Literature and Economics and Design Tech.    All three cannot happen. Two of those should be ok.

-French B and Spanish B.   Basically it's not possible to take two modern languages (any two of French, Spanish, German)

-Chemistry and Visual Arts and Swedish Language & Literature.  All three cannot happen.  Two of those should be ok.

If you are going to make changes to the original request, I also want to remind you that it also will have to go through the "schedule test" to see if it's possible. 

You may be thinking: When are we going to do the final request then?  I will post a new form within the next 2 weeks time and it will have a due date by end of Feb/start of March.  

Therefore, if you still have questions, please use this time to explore them as fully as possible: you can talk to the career counselor, the DP coordinator, IB22 students, or the DP subject teachers to get a fuller picture!

• Career counselor meeting is coming up again March 11 and March 25th.  It is a half group meeting each time.

• Development Talks are on March 18.  More info will come from the mentors to students.

Year 2 Specific Info

• EE Interest form is due soon. Do you know how/when/where to do it? If not, ask James Du Priest.

• Subject Talks are on March 18. This is set up directly between subject teachers and students on an as-needed basis. 

• EE Half Day on March 25th. 

• CAS INTERVIEWS happening starting April 7. Your mentor will inform you how this work and when you are booked for yours.

Year 3 Specific Info

• UNIV APPLICATIONS FOR ABROAD?  Remember to complete this form because each student's needs are unique. This helps us coordinate your needs.

• SWEDEN UNIV APPLICATION DEADLINE is April 15

• MOCK EXAMs  are happening from Feb 24-28. 

• FINAL CAS INTERVIEWS starting up later in March.

• DP COORDINATOR will meet you for mentor time March 25. 

• STUDY WEEK prior to exams is April 22-25 (April 21 is technically a holiday).

• IB EXAMS:  April 28 to May 21.  All exam information is shared from the DP Coordinator to students during scheduled timeslots. If you have missed a session, be sure to talk to the Coordinator about what you might have missed!