Ever wondered what it was like to start at a school that wasn’t quite finished? That’s the story of Skjoldhøjskolen.
Skjoldhøjskolen stands here a cornerstone of the Tilst community near Aarhus. It has shaped young minds for decades.
Picture this: October 14 1974. School Inspector Breum cuts the ribbon. It marks the grand opening of Skjoldhøjskolen. But only one building was ready. The school was meant to open earlier. Construction delays pushed the opening back.
Lone a former student recalls her experience. She was supposed to start third grade in 1974. But Skjoldhøjskolen wasn’t ready. She attended Tovshøjskolen for a couple of months. Then Skjoldhøjskolen was finally finished.
Lone remembers her first day at Tovshøjskolen. She wore an orange suit. It felt strange entering a school where everyone knew each other. When Skjoldhøjskolen opened her mother attended the inauguration. She remembers many plants and greenery.
Skjoldhøjskolen expanded gradually. As buildings were completed students and teachers moved in. The school once had four tracks in some grades. Student numbers reached over 850. Today Skjoldhøjskolen has three tracks in almost all grades.
The school’s location is unique. It is surrounded by protected areas. This limits new construction in the school district. New students primarily come from families moving into existing homes.
Skjoldhøjskolen isn’t just about classrooms and lessons. It’s about memories and experiences. Lone fondly remembers school parties. There was a disco and students performed as cover bands. She participated in ABBA and Grease performances. She hated homework and German lessons.
She recalls her Danish teacher. He commanded respect. He was also kind. He allowed them to play rounders. Her favorite subject was math. She was good at it.
Lone also remembers being bullied at Tovshøjskolen. A girl named Dorte wouldn’t let her play jump rope. But it stopped when they moved to Skjoldhøjskolen. She admits she may have excluded others. Cliques were common. But she also defended those who were bullied.
Lone often found herself outside the classroom. She talked a lot and chewed gum. They weren’t allowed to chew gum back then. She was also the class clown. The teachers didn’t appreciate it. She often landed in the principal’s office. She threw snowballs. She had to write lines about it. After-school detention was also common. She used the time to do homework.
Students brought packed lunches. Later they could buy lunch. In the older grades she went to the canteen. In elementary school they went to Skjoldhøjkollegiet for candy. They also played jump rope and elastics. Later they visited each other’s classrooms. They stood in the bicycle sheds and smoked.
The school was organized differently then. Each building housed a class from each grade. Now each building houses one grade level.
Today Lone is still in touch with former classmates. The school used to host reunions. Many would like that to happen again. She reflects on the many years spent with her classmates.
Today Skjoldhøjskolen continues to evolve. It adapts to the needs of its students. It remains a vital part of the community. It is a place where memories are made. It is a place where futures begin.