Welcome by Principal Thomas Thrane
Yearbook 2024-2025
NGG Yearbook 2024-25
Welcome learner and family
We love sharing the many wonderful experiences we have with our learners and students – in everyday school life, on trips both in Denmark and abroad, at celebrations, and through long-standing traditions. You can follow our daily activities on our Facebook and Instagram profiles, tailored specifically for Ællingen (our preschool), North Zealand International School, and the upper secondary school. If you’re a former NGG student, you can also join our alumni group on Facebook.
As part of our tradition, we publish a special retrospective twice a year. The yearbook is released at the end of the school year, while our traditional Christmas greeting is published just before the holiday break. Both editions showcase activities across grade levels.
Below, you’ll find articles, interviews, video greetings, and highlights from the past year.
Enjoy!
One school - one community
At NGG, traditions are more than just festive events – they are the foundation of our community. Whether it’s Fastelavn, prom (galla), the student archways, or the vibrant International Day, our traditions bring us together across year groups, departments, and cultures. Here, younger and older learners and students – Danish and international – meet in a spirit of mutual respect, joy, and recognition.
Traditions form the framework of our shared story – they create lasting memories and give us something to look forward to, something to share, and something to remember. As beautifully stated in a previous yearbook: “It’s the sum of our traditions that creates our story and our memories.” Each of our traditions – old or new – has meaning because we create them together. That’s why we also celebrate them in this yearbook, as a tribute to what unites us as a school.
Read on to explore some of our most cherished traditions from the past year:
First day of school and youngest learners
As tradition dictates, the oldest students in the upper secondary school welcome the youngest with a festive flag corridor, while ‘Bamseven/Teddy friend’ also makes an appearance – much to the delight of the new Danish learners.
Sports Day
Sports Day is a festive and active school day where the entire school competes in disciplines such as cricket, volleyball, football, and softball. The day is full of movement, laughter, and team spirit – and it strengthens the sense of community across year groups.
International Day
International Day is a cherished tradition in our international department, where learners, students and parents come together to celebrate the diversity at our school. The day featured exciting activities, tastes from around the world, and wonderful performances. Funds were also raised for this year’s charity, Mad med Hjertet.
The Christmas Bazaar
More than 3,000 guests enjoyed the traditional Christmas bazaar in the festively decorated halls and rooms of the Cirkelhuset building. Learners and students hosted creative stalls and cozy activities, with all proceeds going to our support association Friends of NGG. A warm and well-attended day – bringing joy to the entire NGG community.
Construction milestone celebration
In December, we celebrated the topping-out ceremony in style together with teachers and friends of the school. The day featured speeches from the Mayor of Hørsholm, the developer, and Principal Thomas Thrane – marking an important milestone in the school’s development. A festive occasion with great significance for NGG’s future.
Lanciers
The Lanciers is a cherished tradition at NGG, taught from 5th grade/Year 7 and carried on year after year. The dance always culminates in a festive masked ball or prom for the year group. In this photo, you can see the school’s oldest students in upper secondary – along with some happy winners of this year’s Quadrille!
Fastelavn
At NGG, we also celebrate classic local and international traditions such as Fastelavn, Lucia, and Halloween with great enthusiasm. Learners take turns hitting the barrel, sing with candles in hand, and walk through (spookily) decorated hallways in imaginative costumes. These traditions bring joy, a sense of familiarity, and a strong feeling of community across the entire school.
Easter Bingo
Easter Bingo is one of NGG’s oldest traditions, bringing together families from both the Danish and International departments across year groups. With a high-spirited Principal as host, great prizes, and lots of laughter, the evening was once again a big success. All proceeds went to our beloved Friends of NGG.
Rynkeby Run
The Rynkeby Run in April brought together learners from Danish grades 0–4 and Year 1–6 for a sunny and festive day dedicated to movement. There was running, cheering, and lots of excitement, with two enthusiastic Rynkeby riders on site to boost motivation. Together, we supported an important cause and created great memories at full speed!
Last day of school
The last day of school for the oldest students in both the lower secondary and upper secondary sections was celebrated in brilliant sunshine and with great spirits. The school’s hallways and courtyards buzzed with laughter, costumes – and generous amounts of candy (and a little water!). An unforgettable day where tradition was once again proudly upheld.
Blue hearts tradition
The Blue Heart tradition marks the beginning of the exam period with care and a sense of community. On their first day of exams, Danish students in 3rd year of upper secondary and 2nd year of HF are met with handmade hearts and encouraging messages from the youngest learners in grade 0. 'You’ve got this' and 'You’re a star' are just some of the kind words shared in this heartfelt gesture – bringing smiles and strengthening the bond between the school’s youngest and oldest students.
Graduation traditions
At NGG, every graduating student is celebrated with flags, cheers, and personal words as they walk through a flag corridor formed by the school’s youngest learners. The graduation ceremony features speeches, musical performances, and communal singing – culminating in dancing and singing around the iconic stone. Finally, the iconic hats are thrown into the air in a moment filled with pride and joy.
Explore this year's highlights across NGG – click on the images
Preschool Ællingen
Preschool Early Years
SFO Svanereden
Danish department Indskoling (Grades 0-3.)
Danish department Mellemtrin (Grades 4-6.)
Danish department Udskoling (Grades 7-9.)
International department Primary (Years 1-6)
International department Secondary (Years 7-10)
Danish and international department Gymnasiet
Small treasures - big memories. A farewell to Cirkelhuset
As this school year comes to an end, we’ve slowly begun to prepare. Not just for a change of address, but to say goodbye to the place that has been NGG’s home for more than 40 years.
We’re carefully going through the building – room by room, drawer by drawer. What should come with us? What belongs to this particular time and place? Along the way, we’ve discovered small treasures: student projects, photos, certificates, and memorabilia from decades of school life.
Memories that tell our shared story – memories we cherish and will carry with us.
Cirkelhuset has a soul of its own. Its winding hallways, hidden gardens, and quirky corners have shaped a unique sense of community and a daily rhythm full of atmosphere and stories.
Several students and parents have asked about some of NGG’s more iconic elements, and we can already assure you: of course, both the large NGG stone, the two mounted swans and the bust of Jan Thrane will have a place at the new school. They belong – and they’re coming with us.
The move in December will mark a big transition, and we’ll be busy preparing our new surroundings. But we look forward to taking the next step together – in new settings, with the same strong sense of community.
Cirkelhuset 1973
Magasin in Cirkelhuset, 1973
Magasin in Cirkelhuset, 1973
Magasin in Cirkelhuset, 1973
Magasin in Cirkelhuset, 1973
Cirkelhuset, 1973
"Every child is an artist" (Pablo Picasso)
Creativity is the beating heart of NGG. Across all year groups, learners and students create a wealth of artwork every year, using their senses, imagination – and above all, their hearts. Here, ideas are transformed into colours, shapes, and stories – driven by curiosity, dedication, and pride.
But creativity extends far beyond the art room. In both subjects and cross-disciplinary projects, learners and students work with an exploratory and creative approach, making learning come alive and feel meaningful. The school’s hallways are adorned with their creations, sparking conversations and smiles across ages and backgrounds.
The creative spirit is also alive in NGG’s after-school programme, Svanereden, where art provides space for calm reflection and emotional expression. Here, children strengthen their visual voice, empathy, and self-awareness – and find room to truly be themselves through creative work.
Anna Malesa is one of the creative driving forces in Svanereden and clearly sees the impact artistic expression has on the children:
"The most wonderful thing I experience when we make art here in Svanereden is the children’s limitless imagination! Their excitement shines through, and their pride is unmistakable when they show off their work."
Every Friday, Svanereden shares a new DIY project on the school’s Instagram profile. Everyone is welcome to follow along and pick up tips and tricks for creative weekend projects.
Below, you'll find a small selection of this year’s beautiful creations:
Art opening in Svanereden
Squares with Concentric
Fastelavns barrel
Project "What we've learned – A celebration" by grade 0 and Grade 6
Easter lamb with cress in class 2.A
Art opening in Svanereden - Leaf art
Pablo Picasso
Exploring the world - milepost 2 af Year 4
“Worlds best teacher”
Yes, that’s how the headlines described our very own Peter Tunna, who serves as both Academic Coordinator and teacher here at the school. In October, he was named IMYC World Teacher of the Year at a major international conference in Malaysia – becoming the first-ever winner working in Denmark!
Since then, Peter has received widespread international recognition. He has been invited to speak about education with the British Ambassador to Denmark and members of the UK Parliament in London, where he shared his thoughts on learning, student well-being, and the value of an international teaching environment.
But for Peter, it’s the support from learners, students and colleagues that matters most:
"Having them with me on this journey means everything to me."
A heartfelt congratulations to Peter – a true inspiration to colleagues, students, and the international education community!
