Introduction The Erasmus, in Almelo
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The Erasmus is a comprehensive school in Almelo, in the East of the Netherlands, close to the German border. The school was founded in 1874, but has carried the name Erasmus only since 1949. It is an open school, so pupils of all (if any) religious backgrounds can be found there. It has roundabout 1500 pupils, and there are three establishments. One of them is at the A-level (Gymnasium and VWO), and O-level (HAVO). If you are not sure yet if you can do O-level, you can choose HT-level, which is a step-up to O-level. The other establishment is at VMBO-level, which aims to train pupils in more practical skills they will need for their working lives, later. |
A very important credo of the school is tolerance and respect for each other. In the way it is led, and in the attitudes of teachers and staff, you will find this back. Erasmus, the 15th century Rotterdam philosopher and thinker the school was named after, taught this too: every individual differs from another, and each has his or her own special qualities, which should be cherished and respected. This is why there is a lot of emphasis on individual guidance.
The Erasmus is nevertheless a conventional school with all its predictable characteristics. Naturally, there is a normal school life with all its chores and subjects. So, if you stepped into the school on an ordinary day, you would see pupils toting round heavy rucksacks with schoolbooks, hanging together in small groups, or sitting together talking. The classrooms will be crowded with pupils receiving their lessons, just like in any other school. It offers the regular range of subjects that most schools in Europe do, among which there are three foreign languages, namely English, German and French. Classes start at 8:20 and stop at roundabout 3:10, depending on the time schedule of a class.
Within the Dutch schoolsystem it is these days(around 2010) possible to choose a school with a certain profile. This can be art, sports, language or citizenship. Until now it wasn’t possible to choose a school with a science profile. Technasium wants to make this a new choice for children. Het Erasmus has chosen for the art/culture profile and the science profile.
However, apart from this, there is also time for hobbies and fun. Each Friday afternoon, when classes are over, pupils are invited and encouraged to play music, drama, or to show their artistic skills. They do this together with a teacher, who can help them, guide them, or at times is like a pupil him- or herself.
The Erasmus already maintains international contacts with schools. We are in the Comenius project. At the moment(2011) we are accomplishing the two year project Feeling good at my school.
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The Comenius program is a program established by the European Union aimed at bringing students and teachers in different European countries together. The target group is young people aged 14–19 as well as teachers with extensive experience in their teaching subject. It is named after the educationist Comenius. Funding is given one-year projects aimed at bringing European students, from different countries, together and to help European students have a better understanding of their own country as well as the other countries involved in the project. Students aged between 14 and 19 are welcome to join the project |
Beside that, there is the exchange project with Aurich and with a Comprehensive school in Sweden. Swedish pupils came to Almelo to participate in activities.. They stayed at pupils' homes, and mingled with Dutch pupils. Pupils from the Erasmus went to Aurich and Sweden in return. Exchanging ideas among schools is considered very valuable, after all, you can learn a lot from how people in other schools work. This is why the Erasmus is very delighted to join in the European School partners Platform.
Correspondence-address: OSG Erasmus
Postbus 341 7600 AH Almelo
tel: 0546 – 48 08 00
email: info@osg-erasmus.nl
College van Bestuur
Dhr. H. Schoenmaker
VMBO – establishment
Sluiskade NZ 126a
7603 XZ Almelo
tel: 0546 - 48 08 58
email: info126@osg-erasmus.nl
Director: mw. D. Kuiper
VWO/HAVO - establishment
Sluiskade NZ 68
7602 HT Almelo
tel: 0546 - 48 08 10
email: info68@osg-erasmus.nl
Director: dhr. M.H.M. ten Vergert
praktijkonderwijs PRO -establishment
Horstlaan 1
7602 AM Almelo
tel: 0546 – 49 24 00
email: pro@osg-erasmus.nl
Director: mw. D. Kuiper
International Comenius Project “Feeling good at my school”.
In het kader van het project Feeling good at my school werd onze school afgelopen maart (2011) bezocht door 36 leerlingen van onze partnerscholen uit Polen, Litouwen, Zweden, Duitsland, Engeland en Tsjechië. Samen met onze leerlingen nemen ze deel aan allerlei activiteiten waarbij het gaat om hun fysieke en mentale vitaliteit zoals Dancing, Cooking, Music,Acrobatics, Drama, Filming en een bezoek aan één van de gezondste provincies van Nederland.
Kijk voor meer informatie op: www.eu-schools.net
Feeling Good at my School booklet.pdf waarin een verslag met foto's over de week in maart |
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Go to the link 'Direct foto's zien' at the right upper corner and have a look at the pictures taken during The Feeling Good Project 2011.