Pulling together in Skarðshlíð

Creative and diverse collaboration between a nursery, a primary school and a music school in a new housing estate.

This autumn, two years will have passed since the first phase. Skarðshlíð School was handed over to the City of Hafnarfjörður and teaching could begin at the primary school. In August last year, opened Skarðshlíðar Nursery School A branch will be added to the same building this winter. Hafnarfjörður Music School and a magnificent sports hall. There is already a good track record of the collaboration at nursery and primary school level, and there is great anticipation for the opportunities that come with enhancing music education in the region. 

The town newspaper Hafnfirðingur Met with Ingibjörg Magnúsdóttir, headteacher of the primary school, Berglind Kristjánsdóttir, headteacher of the nursery school, and Eiríkur Stephensen, headteacher of the music school, who, among other things, agree that the school's unique environment in Skarðshlíð has a significant impact on the school's work.

^{From joint school activities in Skarðshlíð. Photo/submitted} 

„The collaboration between the primary and nursery schools over the past year has been very good. We have, among other things, organised various get-togethers for pupils from the two oldest nursery school year groups and those in the first year of primary school, including the Life Run, a Christmas play and singing sessions. For example, it was great fun to have Eiríkur and Stefán Ómar Jakobsson in our hall last year to sing and play with us.“ says Ingibjörg and Berglind adds: „They were so excited, just like Justin Bieber was coming. Eirikur: „Then we just turned up, two middle-aged men who were rather reminiscent of Gylfi Ægisson and Árni Johnsen.“ They burst out laughing and it's clear that the atmosphere is light-hearted among the trio, with a great desire to do something creative together this winter. They are going to meet up more often and flesh it out.

^{Stefán Ómar and Eiríkur have a good singing session at school. Photo/submitted}

Teenagers get to know the work of nursery teachers in an elective course.

Ingibjörg mentions in this context that last year an elective course was offered in the junior secondary school, where students could try their hand at tasks in the day-to-day work of a nursery school teacher. There were two terms of the course over the winter. „It went very well. Four students came twice a week for an hour for indoor or outdoor activities with the nursery school children. Beautiful connections were formed; the younger children were less wary of the teenagers, who in turn felt a sense of responsibility and pride.“ Berglind points out that, by the nature of the role, the young people do not deal with behavioural issues or change nappies and the like, but primarily interact with the children in play and work, and then receive feedback. „It's good to have a flow between these facilities, and we, the staff at both levels, have been very united. Of course, it makes it easier for 6-year-olds to start their school career after they have already become familiar with the area, the building, and even the staff of the primary school.“ says Ingibjörg.

^{Ingibjörg, Berglind and Eiríkur in one of TH's teaching rooms in Skarðshlíð. Photo/OBÞ}

Satisfaction among staff and parents of children

Berglind says a lot has been achieved in the collaboration over the past year, despite the advent of COVID-19. „There is a shared vision among the management here on how to integrate our human resources to build a strong school community that is and will be in constant development, for the benefit of our pupils. There is so much that can be done, and the energy and will of the staff here are absolutely amazing. Many staff members are happy to be able to influence the school's work, and the library here holds a very important place. When I have explained the structure here to parents, including the transition between school stages, I have also found that they feel it is a positive thing.“ Ingibjörg agrees with this and adds: „We've also been very fortunate that people who have applied for jobs here have done so because they're impressed by the ethos here and how the school community works. When we then advertise that there is a preschool at the school here, people will certainly seize that opportunity. We have over 90 children here in our after-school club and when they muNow Also, with access to a music school, I have no doubt about its popularity.“

^{An ever-younger age group is enrolling in music education. Photo from Schools of Music Day. (OBÞ)}

More music teachers will need to be hired.

Eirik comes back into the conversation and says he has just bought some beautiful preschool musical instruments, such as a wooden flute, drums and shakers. „I insisted that we buy high-quality, durable instruments that will probably still be in use when the three of us are in Hrafnista. We want to fill these spaces with students and we're very much looking forward to starting the collaboration. We had a little look around the school last year, just to get a feel for it, and now we're formally joining up.“ 

^{Various musical instruments have already arrived in the teaching space. Photo/OBÞ}

^{This lovely grand piano and other musical instruments. Photo/OBÞ}

He says that the music teachers who have tried the facilities speak very highly of them and find the environment enchanting. „I think that in a few years“ time, people will be fighting to teach here, and especially to be able to teach during school hours. I'm certain I'll need to hire more teachers in the coming years. There are many studies that demonstrate the benefits of music, not just for the individuals themselves but as a good foundation for other types of learning besides music. It is said that the younger the students are, the better, as ever younger children are starting music lessons. We hired a music therapist this winter, Inga Björk Ingadóttir, who is providing both teaching and consultancy. Several of our students have various diagnoses and may therefore need a slightly different approach."

^{Typical preschool toys. Photo/OBÞ}

Problems solved in the classroom

It is packed at the music school on Strandgata, and Eiríkur says the main period of work is in the afternoon, but with the facilities in Skarðshlíð it will be possible for students who live in Völlunum to attend their lessons there. He falls silent for three seconds and then says he has an idea, which he directs to Ingibjorg. „I could offer an elective course for you this winter for teenagers, instead of taking them out of lessons as was planned. I come from such an environment up north in Eyjafjörður. There, a mixed school is all on one site, and that makes all collaboration easier and the problems were solved in the staffroom. 30-50% of students are also in music lessons. In time, there could well be a minimum of 20% students here, or approximately 100 students.“ Ingibjörg welcomed Eiríkur's idea, which will be discussed in more detail and reflects the creative school work and collaboration that takes place in Skarðshlíð.

^{A Year 6 class on a outdoor lesson last Thursday. Photo/OBÞ}

The environment is being used to the full.

Ingibjörg, Berglind and Eiríkur agree that Vellir is a rapidly growing and vibrant community, and Eiríkur says that if he had children of primary school age, he would choose to live in Vellir. It is unique that such extensive community facilities have already been established in a neighbourhood that is only just being developed. „The builders who built the school, for example, called the nursery's outdoor play area “the Rolls-Royce' because of the exceptionally beautiful and unspoilt nature of the surrounding area. We have also noticed that children are less likely to ask for toys in such an environment. Furthermore, we make full use of the school building's surroundings to enhance the diversity, flexibility and development of our school activities.“ says Berglind.  

An interview was published in Hafnfirðinginn on 9 September 2020.