Traditions throughout the school year
There are several event days during the school year where the schoolwork is broken up and dedicated to a specific theme. Examples of such days are:
Dance marathon. A big part of the 10th grade fundraising is a dance marathon. Then the students stay at school for 24 hours and dance. Parents actively participate in the marathon, e.g. by taking turns assisting and looking after students during the marathon, operating a cafe and helping to serve food that the townspeople are given the opportunity to buy to support the 10th grade students.
Lucia festival. Students in the 6th grade practice songs, both in Icelandic and in other Nordic languages. They go around town for a day, accompanied by an accordion player and wearing appropriate costumes, and visit companies and institutions where they sing songs for employees and guests alike.
Theme. Traditional school work is broken up and students work on theme-related projects in age-mixed groups.
Peace walk. At the beginning of Advent, all students and staff of Árskóli walk in a procession up the Church Path. They form a chain of people and pass a light from one to another with a greeting of peace. Finally, a light is lit on the cross on top of the hill. The walk ends at the school grounds of Árskóli, where the participants enjoy hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies.
Classroom Christmas. On the last day of school before Christmas break, each class has a classroom Christmas, which is a festive get-together in the classroom where students sit by candlelight, read a Christmas story and sometimes the Christmas gospel. There are various things done for fun, parcel exchange, games etc. In addition, students gather in the gymnasium where they dance around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols.
Þorrablót. All students and staff have a get-together in the gymnasium. Students in the 8th grade give speeches in tribute to men and women, and then the whole school has a singalong before going to the homeroom where “þorra” food, which the students have brought from home, is feasted upon.
Sports day. All students of the school are participants and each class has special characteristics in clothing to distinguish them from others. Students and staff gather in the Sports Hall and have a good time playing sports and games.
Summer get-together. Every year, the school's youngest students in Árskóli invite senior citizens to a Summer get-together with coffee and refreshments. Students present entertainment in the dining hall during the coffee and then guests are invited to observe the students' work in class.
School papers. Two school magazines are published to raise funds for school trips: Skolatrall in the 7th grade and Glóðafeykir in the 10th grade. The publication is supervised by the teachers in those classes, together with the student writing committees.
End of class for 10th grade. On the morning of the last day of school the 10th graders come to school at 7:00, together with their parents, to the staff facility/dining room. Each family brings something to the breakfast buffet and the 10th grade teachers and school administrators have breakfast with the students and parents. At 8 o'clock when other employees arrive for work, the 10th graders welcome them with flowers and songs. After that, the staff is invited to breakfast. The 10th grade students then say goodbye to their younger fellow students by providing "teaching" for one lesson and offering face painting to younger students.
Job presentation. 10th graders go to a 2-3 day job presentation outside of school the in the spring, during which time no classes are taught in the 10th grade. Career presentation is the final project of 10th graders in study and vocational education.
The Happy Procession. On the last day of school, students and staff wear fancy costumes and march around the town to lively music. The first stop is by the hospital, where the school anthem is sung for staff and residents, and students play games. The walk ends at the school grounds of Árskóli, where the school offers grilled sausages in bread with all the trimmings.
Annual theatrical performances and class parties. Supervising teachers manage the social activities of their class. They organize a class get-together once or twice a year along with some parent representatives for the class. Supervising teachers also plan and direct the annual stage play for each class:
1st – 4th grade: Each class has its own stage play held in Bifröst, the local theater. Students invite their family to the show which is free of charge.
5th – 7th grade: All students in 5th-7th grade take part in a communal staging of plays. There is an admission fee and the proceeds go to the 7th grade travel fund for the spring trip.
8th – 9th grade. All students in 8th - 9th grade take part in a communal staging of plays.Proceeds go to the 10th grade travel fund and the 10th graders work on make-up, sets, ticket sales and as technicians.
10th grade: The 10th grade puts on a big play under the direction of the drama teacher. In recent years it has mostly been full-length children's plays. All students participate in one way or another. Supervising teachers help with preparation, as well as other staff. Proceeds go to the 10th grade travel fund.
School trips. All classes go on trips during school hours, most often in the spring. The school trips vary in length and nature depending on the age of the students:
1st grade: Visit to a farm.
2nd grade: Visit to the museum of Glaumbær and the forestry in Varmahlíð.
3rd grade: A trip to Hólar, an historic place in Skagafjörður.
4th grade: Day trip to Blönduós and the surrounding area.
5th grade: Day trip to Hríseyyar, with a stop at Dalvík and sometimes Ólafsfjörður.
6th grade: Day trip to Akureyri.
7th grade: One week school camp at Reykir in Hrútafjörður in autumn. A three-day trip through the southern part of Iceland in the spring.
8th grade: Day trip in the spring.
9th grade: School trip/theater trip, 1 day.
10th grade: School trip, 5 days. Traditionally, 10th graders go on school trips to Denmark and Sweden. In January of each year, a decision is made in consultation with parents/guardians and students, about whether that trip will be taken, where i.a. the status of fundraising and the like is taken into account.