There are opportunities in looking at a child's day as a whole.

Engidalsskóli, situated at Breiðvang, is nestled in the lava fields of Hafnarfjörður, surrounded by diverse nature. The school, which is a primary school, has around 190 pupils in years 1 to 6, as well as the after-school club Álfakot. The school regained its independence this autumn after being part of Víðistaðaskóli for 10 years. The headteacher, Margrét Halldórsdóttir, is from Bolungarvík and previously worked as the director of the school and leisure services department for the municipality of Ísafjörður. She emphasises joy, responsibility and respect in the school's work, and also sees great opportunities in integration.

The local newspaper Hafnfirðingur met Margrét.

„I had no real connection to Hafnarfjörður before I took the job, other than that I swam for the Hafnarfjörður Swimming Club many years ago when I lived in Reykjavík. The family then moved down here in the summer, and the reason I applied for the position was that I'm captivated by the town's character; in many ways, it's reminiscent of Ísafjörður,“ says Margrét, adding that the size of Engidalsskóli, with 190 pupils and around 40 staff, also appealed in that it would be easy to get a good overview and connect with the pupils.. I'm starting at a strange time because of the coronavirus, and of course, I would have liked to have been able to have the school more open to parents, so I could have had the chance to get to know them better. The school's parents„ association was, however, set up on Teams, and I'm looking forward to the day when we can invite them in here.“

^{The school's values in its entrance hall. Photo/OBÞ}

Working specifically with communication and friendship

Engidalsskóli is a Green Flag school and an environmental team, composed of pupils and staff, sets the guidelines for environmental matters. The school's environment is unique and Margrét says it is a privilege to have such an outdoor area; it is much used for free play during break times and at the after-school club, Álfakot, but also in teaching, and so both formal and informal learning takes place there. The guiding principles of the school's work are responsibility, respect and friendship. „Each person is responsible for themselves, their learning, their own well-being and their behaviour towards others. We also have a responsibility to our fellow students, showing friendship and respect in our interactions. This autumn, we have been working specifically on communication and friendship, because it is the foundation of everything, whether it involves someone who is very close to us or not.“ says Margrét.

When it comes to the school's work, Margrét says that in the situation this autumn, the school staff have shown great initiative to keep the school's activities lively and enjoyable. „It's not always exciting to sit in the same classroom all school day and even do your after-school activities there too. Art and craft subjects have been brought into classrooms, and there was a great deal of outdoor activity well into the autumn. We have also been focusing on students“ well-being and relationships. Although the guiding principles are clear, it is always necessary to remind people and practise communication skills, because everyone has the right to feel good at school."

Well-being, art creation and expression

In addition to the school's management team, teachers and school and leisure staff, there are also learning advisors, a psychologist, occupational therapists and a nurse. Margrét says she believes it makes sense to make greater use of information technology in a varied school programme. She is also interested in integrating the after-school activities more closely into the school day than is currently the case. „There are opportunities in looking at the child's day as a whole, because everything that happens during a child's day is learning, and the opportunities lie in greater integration.“ In this context, she mentions art and expression. „Joy must be in charge. The teacher shouldn't be putting on a show, but they just need to be aware of the joy. No learning takes place if enjoyment isn't present, and we need to get to a point where everyone can be content and happy. Well-being, joy and good relationships are the foundation that needs to be built upon, and only then can we start to think about grades in specific subjects.“ says Margrét at last.