Your Herlufsholm
Sickness
Herlufsholm has its own health office, called SUS, where a nurse and a doctor are available. Students can visit this office if they feel unwell.
If a student feels unwell or gets sick, the following applies:
Day students report to the Headmaster's Office to notify that they are going home, possibly after an assessment at SUS. If a day student in the primary school cannot attend school due to illness, the school office should be notified as early as possible, either via email to rektorkontor@herlufsholm.dk or by phone at +45 55 75 35 00 during office hours.
Boarding students can visit SUS immediately after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At other times, they should report to the Headmaster's Office (during school hours) or to their housemaster (outside school hours) before visiting SUS.
If a boarding student gets sick during a weekend trip and cannot return, the housemaster should be notified by Monday evening at 9 PM.
Holidays
Each year, a schedule for holidays and travel weekends is created.
We prefer that no students travel outside the designated holiday periods. Missing school disrupts the student’s preparation, academic progress, and the sense of continuity in their studies. It can also disturb and, in some cases, harm collaboration, the rhythm of the class’s work, and the social life at school.
If special circumstances apply, parents should contact the Headmaster's Office well in advance of any planned absence.
Student committees
Students have many opportunities to influence their school. Through various committees, they can voice their opinions, work towards better solutions, and help shape Herlufsholm.
Student council
Both the primary school and the high school have their own student councils, each consisting of 2 students per class. Every year, the student councils elect an executive committee, which includes a president, vice-president, and secretary. The executive committee is also invited to meetings of the respective Pedagogical Councils and the General Council. Additionally, the high school student council president participates in board meetings as an observer.
Round Square committee
The main tasks of the Round Square Committee are to create and highlight initiatives that strengthen the school’s commitment to students’ personal development and the six IDEALS of Round Square. The committee consists of 12 members and is formed annually for one year at a time, starting in January. Committee members also participate in the High School's General Council.
Boarding committee
The Boarding Committee consists of 5-6 representatives from the Student Council and teachers. The committee is part of the Student Council and meets regularly with the kitchen to review meal plans and exchange ideas about food.
Extracurricular commitee
The Leisure Committee is the direct contact between the school and students. It is in this forum that weekend programs and extracurricular activities are developed and organized. The committee consists of one representative from each student residence and one representative from the day students. Meetings are held every two weeks.
General council
The High School's General Council consists of the executive committee of the Student Council, 2 representatives from the Round Square Committee, the high school management, and the Headmaster. The committee meets regularly to address practical matters and plan events at the school, such as parties, assemblies, etc.
The Primary School’s General Council consists of 3 student council representatives, the primary school leader, the Headmaster, and the teacher who is in contact with the Student Council.
Education
Study Plans in Primary School
For each class in primary school, a study plan is created, which can be accessed via Lectio. The purpose of the study plan is to allow students, teachers, and parents to get an overview of all subjects and their content.
Study plans in high school
For each class, an overall study plan is created to show how the teaching is planned, conducted, and evaluated. The aim of the study plan is to inform about the students' and teachers' work on developing students' academic, general, and personal competencies over the course of the 3 years of high school. The plan includes all subjects and how they interact, and it gives students an overview of their written assignments.
Grades
All students at Herlufsholm receive “vyrd” (a Herlovian term for grades – a “testimony”). In both primary school and high school, students receive grades or a statement multiple times a year. Parents can access grades via Lectio using their child's MitID. In special cases, grades may be given as a written statement or mentor letter.
Mentor program
All students in STX and Pre-IB/IB have a mentor who follows the student throughout the year. Primary school students in grades 6-9 each have 1-2 class teachers. The aim is to strengthen students’ academic and personal competencies through adult contact, focusing on study habits, planning, and follow-up.
Mentor work mainly takes place through individual conversations, group discussions, and class discussions during scheduled hours. Additionally, there is the possibility to arrange mentor meetings outside of scheduled hours if needed.
Learning Aids
Calculators
In primary school, all students need a calculator. It’s recommended to invest in a simple model without many functions, as a specific type of calculator is required in high school.
High school students should not buy a calculator until they have consulted with their subject teacher after school starts to ensure it is approved for exams.
Book Depot
The Book Depot lends books for use in class, and each student signs for each borrowed book. The school’s book inspector keeps a list of all borrowed books, and this is updated in the school’s book system when the student returns their books.
At the end of the school year or program, the book inspector issues a list of books that the student may still need to return. If books are not returned within 14 days, an invoice will be sent.
Library - DEK
DEK is the school's library, with book loans, a reading room, and IT facilities.
Opening hours can be found on the website, in Forældreintra, intranet, Hylen, Vylen, and on the student floors. Librarians can assist with finding materials for assignments throughout the year. You can always make an appointment with the librarians for an extension of loans.
Homework Assistance and extra teaching
Study café
The gymnasium's study café gives students the opportunity to receive teacher assistance with their schoolwork. The café's opening hours and staffing can be found in Lectio and will be adjusted as needed.
ReStudy
Students can benefit from using ReStudy, an online homework help service, which is especially useful for exam preparation.
Extra teaching
In special cases, the school can assist in trying to find a teacher who will provide extra teaching for a student, where the subject teacher has assessed that there are missing academic prerequisites. However, students are always initially referred to the school's study café. Additionally, extra teaching in certain subjects is offered as part of the extracurricular program.
If it's not possible to find teachers who can offer extra teaching, the school will attempt to find an older, more experienced student who can assist. Extra teaching is primarily a private arrangement, with a parent fee.
In primary school, extra teaching is offered in Danish and mathematics. The school selects students who need extra help based on screening by the primary school's test teachers. This extra teaching does not require a parent fee.
Learning difficulties
Students suspected of having dyslexia or similar specific learning difficulties will be tested as early as possible in collaboration with the school's reading advisor, test teacher, or external dyslexia consultants. Costs related to the assessment may be incurred and passed on to the parents, typically when using external consultants. All students entering grade 6 are tested in Danish and mathematics before the start of school at Herlufsholm. These tests form the basis for the level at which teaching will be organized. New students entering grade 7 are tested at the start of the school year in spelling and reading.
Students diagnosed with specific reading difficulties will be offered a meeting with the school's reading advisor to discuss the next steps. Additional tests may be required, which may incur a parent fee. The school offers several IT programs to assist with reading difficulties; see further under IT tools. For exams, special accommodations such as extra time or other aids may be granted upon request for students with reading difficulties or other specific challenges, in accordance with the current rules.
Students with reading difficulties and other special needs can arrange extra teaching in accordance with the school’s general rules. This teaching generally requires a parent fee unless the cost is eligible for subsidies or covered by public authorities.
SPS
Students with learning difficulties can be assigned study support/SPS, which consists of assistance from special support persons, SPS advisors, and possibly IT tools. A plan is created for each student based on their needs. Standardized offers are available for dyslexic students in both primary school and the gymnasium.
Danish as second language
Each year, Herlufsholm admits students who, due to schooling abroad, their parents' native language background, or other reasons, have difficulty in Danish. Thanks to a donation from brothers Henrik and Carsten Witt (class of '73 and '76), these students can participate in an intensive Danish course (the Witt program). The course takes place in the autumn semester, right after the start at Herlufsholm. The goal is for students to quickly gain the skills to manage in Danish. The Witt program primarily targets students with foreign backgrounds who are admitted to the primary school's 6th to 10th grades. However, in special situations and after the school's assessment, the donation can also be used to support Danish teaching for STX students.
Based on screenings, the school decides whether a student should be placed in the Witt program. If selected, participation is mandatory, and attendance is recorded as with normal lessons.
Participation in the Witt program is free until the autumn break. If a student still requires lessons afterward, a parent fee applies. A special situation may arise for students who the school believes would benefit from additional support in Danish instruction before the final exam (FP9/FP10). In such cases, a special program may occur after Christmas break.
IT in education
All students must have access to a laptop with a Danish keyboard to bring to lessons. However, it is up to each teacher to decide whether mobile phones or computers/tablets can be used during class. If allowed, these devices must only be used for educational activities. Please note that you may not be able to rely on power outlets in all classrooms.
Student Email
All students are provided with their own email address and access to the school’s network, intranet, and Lectio. The mailbox is on O365, with a maximum of 50GB, and is deleted when the student leaves Herlufsholm. Therefore, it's important to back up this data before leaving the school.
We expect all students to check their Herlufsholm email daily, use the online resources on the intranet, and familiarize themselves with the school's IT policy.
IT for exams
For written exams in primary school and STX, students must use their own computer and possibly a printer.
The rules for using a computer during written exams will be given to students before the exam period. However, students are responsible for ensuring the technology works. Therefore, always be prepared to continue an exam in the traditional way with paper and pencil/pen if technology fails.
Programs, etc.
Herlufsholm uses only Microsoft Office programs for teaching. When students submit assignments, they must be in a format that can be opened with Microsoft Office. If you wish to submit in a different file format, this must be agreed with the teacher in advance. All students can download and use O365 (Microsoft Office) for free as long as they are enrolled at Herlufsholm. The school uses Google Chrome as the default browser, so all students must install and use Chrome on their computers, regardless of brand. Students should ensure their laptop or Mac has the ability to connect via HDMI, as all teaching rooms are equipped with connections for either active boards or TV screens. In class or during exams, students may need to exchange data with the teacher via a USB drive on their Mac/PC. Therefore, it is important for students with machines without USB ports to have access to this via, for example, a USB converter.
IT tools
Students diagnosed with specific reading difficulties have access to Herlufsholm's suite of IT programs to assist them. The effectiveness of these programs is assessed in collaboration with the school's reading advisor, who will also help with introducing the programs. To use the AppWriter program, O365 must be installed on a PC or Mac.
Network at school
Herlufsholm's wired network can be used via student computers in the school's IT centers and classrooms. It is not allowed to play games on the school's wired network. All students must use the wireless network for their own computer, which must have the latest software version to use Herlufsholm's Wi-Fi.
When students log onto the wireless network, it requires the standard Wi-Fi username/password provided by the IT department (which may change from year to year). Then, they log in with their Herlufsholm username and password. Students can log in using a computer, tablet, or mobile phone.