Keeping up with the principal

During remote teaching, the students of Mattliden have been very distant not only from the school, but from the staff as well. Many of our students have felt that they are not quite certain of what our principal is doing all day in her office. To overcome this gap in or knowledge, the staff of the bulletin had the idea to include a segment of what the principal is up to each month. 

The question of the self-studies plan for next year is quite a controversial one, and when asked about it, Saana made it clear that the decision is not yet final, it may not yet happen. It is, however, a work in progress and could be a great opportunity for the National side as the curriculum allows for more independent studies. This is because self-studies are seen as being an excellent way to learn to be more independent and prepare for the real world. Saana also points out that we already have a small number of self-studies in the form of homework, so the change would not be drastic. However, she also emphasizes that if the independent studies become a permanent part of our courses, that this should not be an excuse to save money and decrease the budget of the school.

Another interesting topic that ties in closely with the self-studies is student involvement in decision-making. Saana admits that it is very hard to get student input on more "boring" topics, whereas when it comes to getting new furniture the students are more vocal about their opinions. As the school grows, it is very hard to get a good representation of the entire school's opinions, which only further complicates the issue. Most students are very busy and often tend to forget or simply not fill in questionnaires in the first place. 

Other than that, Saana thinks that the biggest change in the fall will be getting used to contact teaching and being back at school. 

Lastly, we ask Saana about her summer plans. Unfortunately, she does not know when she will be able to get vaccinated, but hopefully as soon as possible. During the break her and her family are going to Kemijärvi, Lapland, to get a break from the hectic city life.