May 25, 2012 A Visit to Radmandsgade Skole & Parts of Copenhagen

Radmandsgade Skole is very similar to the schools we visited in Odense: overloaded with immigrant children (more than 40 languages from over 20 countries), low socioeconomic status families (up to 80% are on social assistance) and a dynamite principal to help the students and families find their place in Denmark.

Lise Egholm was named, earlier this year, the leader of the year in Denmark.  Not the education leader of the year, not the female leader of the year, but the overall leader of the year.  This is no surprise when you meet her: she has boundless energy, sees right through any baloney, and has a very clear vision of what is good for her students.

When Lise was in New Orleans a number of years ago, she was taken by all the little parades that would pop up. She thought it would be a fun thing to try in her school.  Now the Radmandsgade Skole parade is a yearly event and the inner city neighborhood takes pride in it.

After listening to Lise describe some of the challenges at her school and then following the parade, we walked through parts of Copenhagen, took a boat tour of the Nyhavn Harbor area, visited the Danish Resistance museum (World War II), and hiked down to see the Little Mermaid Statue.  Then the students took off shopping, exploring, and having fun.

Lise is the lady in the middle with the bright red hair.

Moriah and one of the teachers discussing kids.

Waiting for the parade and looking for trouble.

The back of Radmandsgade Skole and part of its playground area.

A couple of double-wides waiting to watch the parade.

Eagerly lining up.

Lise giving some last minute instructions in Danish, which is the second or third language for most of her students.

Lots of neighbors were looking out windows watching the parade.

They're off.  Lise and her vice-principal at the left. 

The drummers had a few cool cadences.

Some teachers seemed to have color-coded their students.

Marching right through the construction zones.  You can see the police escort up in front of the parade.

The gentle guiding hand of a good teacher.

A Blue Trombone

Bikes for sale at a local store along the parade route.

Musicians

After about a mile march, everyone stopped tp have water and apples.

I'm not sure what was going on, but these guys were starting to get excited about something.

Resting after the first half of the parade.

A teacher and Lise at the resting point.

Eager to get marching again.

Ready for more marching.

Lise's vice-principal making sure the parade leaders know the return route.

Spectator with a great view.

Heading Back

More spectators with a great view.

At the end of the parade everyone got a balloon.

Lise organizing the troops.

More marchers and more balloons,

Marchers and spectators.

Odd elephants in a fountain statue in a square in the center of town.

The walking streets are kind of crowded.

There are many picturesque steeples in Copenhagen.

Nyhavn

Nyhavn from the tour boat (that's Kairsten's braided hair in the left foreground).

Copenhagen Opera House

Danish Royal Yacht

The Little Mermaid from out in the harbor.

Between the fountain and the church dome is the palace.

A rowing team was practicing in front of us on the tour.

Another Steeple

More People

Street scene along the harbor tour.

Some folks on the right sunbathing.

Statues and Steeples

Returning to Nyhavn

One of the palace guards.

Entrance to the Danish resistance museum.

A large, powerful sculpture on the way to the Little Mermaid

Moriah and Kristin making wishes and throwing coins into the fountain.

A windmill farm in the sea beyond land on the other side of the harbor.

The little Mermaid statue from the beach side.  This is low tide - usually water is at least half way up the second layer of rocks. 

Paige was doing her Little Mermaid pose, but I just missed it.

A private marina full of sailboats with a cruise ship in the background.

St, Alban's Anglcan Church in Churchill Park (named after Winston Churchill). 

No Caption

 

Another view of the statue.

A river running through Churchill Park.

A statue of a Valkyrie.