Akureyri Junior College
Encyclopedia
Akureyri Junior College is an Iceland
ic gymnasium
(secondary school). It is one of the oldest educational institutions in Iceland.
It is located in Akureyri
, "the Capital of the North", and traces its origin back to the school in Möðruvellir in the valley of Hörgárdalur, which was founded in 1880. Some want to go further back to the ancient school in Hólar
in Hjaltadalur valley, founded in the beginning of Jón Ögmundsson's
episcopacy in 1130.
Today the Junior College is attended by about 700 pupils every year, and on the national day of Iceland, 17 June, approximately 120 students graduate yearly. The Junior College's headmaster is Jón Már Héðinsson. Tryggvi Gíslason (born 11 June 1938) was headmaster of Akureyri Junior College from 1973-2003. Tryggvi graduated with a mag. art. degree and taught Icelandic at the University of Bergen in Norway.
The College is based on tradition. A few of these are:
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
(secondary school). It is one of the oldest educational institutions in Iceland.
It is located in Akureyri
Akureyri
Akureyri is a town in northern Iceland. It is Iceland's second largest urban area and fourth largest municipality ....
, "the Capital of the North", and traces its origin back to the school in Möðruvellir in the valley of Hörgárdalur, which was founded in 1880. Some want to go further back to the ancient school in Hólar
Hólar
Hólar is a small community located in the Skagafjörður district and situated in northern Iceland.-Location:Hólar is located in the Hjaltadalur valley, some from the national capital at Reykjavík. Hólar has a population of around 100...
in Hjaltadalur valley, founded in the beginning of Jón Ögmundsson's
Jón Ögmundsson
Jón Ögmundsson , also known as John of Holar and Jon Helgi Ogmundarson, was an Icelandic bishop and local Icelandic saint. In 1106 he founded the episcopal see at Hólar in the north of Iceland and served as bishop there until his death.A religious purist, Jón made it his mission to uproot all...
episcopacy in 1130.
Today the Junior College is attended by about 700 pupils every year, and on the national day of Iceland, 17 June, approximately 120 students graduate yearly. The Junior College's headmaster is Jón Már Héðinsson. Tryggvi Gíslason (born 11 June 1938) was headmaster of Akureyri Junior College from 1973-2003. Tryggvi graduated with a mag. art. degree and taught Icelandic at the University of Bergen in Norway.
The College is based on tradition. A few of these are:
- Singing: A few times each semester, students gather outside the headmaster's office to sing for him. If they sing well enough, he grants the students permission to skip the next class and gather in the auditorium to sing. (singing in the auditorium)
- No alcohol: All gatherings in the name of the school are alcohol free. Almost all students respect this and consider it something that distinguishes their school from others in Iceland.
- Different school year: As in other schools in Iceland this one has two terms, an autumn term and a spring term; but this school has its autumn exams after Christmas, while most other schools have the exams before Christmas.
Notable faculty members
- Björgvin GuðmundssonBjörgvin GuðmundssonBjörgvin Guðmundsson was an Icelandic composer. He was born at Rjúpnafell, Vopnafjörður, Iceland, where he grew up. In Vopnafjörður he showed inclination for music, and in his twenties Björgvin moved with his family to the Icelandic colonies in Canada, where he stayed until 1926...
, composer - Tryggvi Gíslason, headmaster from 1973 to 2003
- Páll SkúlasonPáll SkúlasonPáll Skúlason was born 4 June 1945 in Akureyri, Iceland. He is a professor of philosophy and former Rector of the University of Iceland.-Books:...
, philosopher - Tómas Ingi Olrich, later member of Alþingi, Minister of Education, and ambassador to FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...