The first day of school is a mixture of excitement and worry, especially for new students. The first day of school can be a daunting experience even for those that have moved more than once. This year a total of 106 new students joined SIS, 86 in grades 6-10 and 20 new students joined the DP. The primary school is alive with the large amount of new students that have arrived. This year due to the large amount of students in Primary School an extra grade 2 class was added.

Speaking to several new students, we found out that some of the best things about SIS were the people, eating in the restaurant, the cozy atmosphere, as well as the location. However the long lessons in the DP were something that the new 11th graders had to get used to.

Maria Q., 7th grader, moved from Brazil to Stockholm this year. Although she finds math at times very confusing she found that everyone was welcoming on her first day at school. Nelleke D., having moved from Hamburg, found her first day of school a bit overwhelming, but everyone was welcoming and friendly. However, the lack of facilities was a bit of a shock.

Rob L., coming from Japan, found it easy to adapt to the SIS environment due to the warm welcome he received. Out of all the schools he has been to, Rob found SIS, “is one of the most welcoming schools, out of all the schools that I have been too.” His first day of school was very enjoyable. It helped that before school started he had already met some people. Rob feels welcomed and at home in Stockholm.

Alex G., found that at SIS there is a true international spirit. In comparison to his previous school he said, “teachers are better, students are very ambitious and have common goals.” He feels very positive about this year and feels that the people he is surrounded by allow him to achieve academic goals and become a better person. However, the facilities are a bit lacking in his opinion. Some examples included that the lounge area in Annexe C is too small. Both Nelleke and Alex found that the food in the restaurant was fantastic, but the long lines were a bit of an issue at times. Overall everyone was very positive about their first day of school; everybody feels welcomed and at home. Given what students think of the facilities,and the much needed extra space it is a good thing that SIS will be moving in the next couple of years. Look for our article about the move – coming up soon.