At the Murmellius

reporting sick

If a student is ill, parents (or the student themselves if over 18) must report this to the school by telephone (072-5272072) no later than half an hour before the first lesson. This must be done every day of illness. In the event of prolonged or frequent absences, the mentor or attendance coordinator will contact the student to discuss what is needed.

If a student falls ill during the school day, he or she reports to the attendance coordinator. Home will be contacted, unless the student is 18 years of age or older.

Request leave

Short-term leave (for example, for a visit to the dentist or doctor) must be requested in advance via an absence note or email to the absence coordinator. This leave is only granted outside of exam weeks.

Absence note

Exceptional leave, study choice activities, open days, excursions, and fieldwork days each have their own application procedure. These applications must be submitted in a timely manner and, upon approval, are processed by the absence coordinator.

Form to request leave for study choice activities

Form to request leave outside school holidays

To be late

A student who is late reports to the reception and receives a late slip. Repeated lateness will result in measures such as a meeting with the mentor and mandatory work at school for one or more hours. In cases of persistent lateness, compulsory education authorities will also be involved.

Unauthorized absence

Absence without a valid reason is considered unauthorized absence. The teacher records this in Magister. The attendance coordinator discusses the absence with the student. Without a valid and verifiable explanation, a sanction will follow, such as mandatory work after school hours. In the event of persistent absence, compulsory education authorities may be involved, ultimately leading to a referral to Halt.

Removed from class

If a student is removed from class, he or she reports to the attendance coordinator and fills out a form. The situation is discussed with the teacher and, if necessary, with the mentor and deputy head. In the event of a recurrence, parents are informed.

Students aged 18 and older

Students aged 18 and older sign a contract at the beginning of the school year in which they commit to adhering to the same attendance rules as minor students.

Finally

The attendance policy is intended to support students in maintaining regular school attendance and to identify problems early. Together with parents, mentors, and students, we work towards a safe, engaged, and educational school environment.

The administration at Murmellius consists of three employees. They handle student administration, financial administration, and support the school management.

You can contact us here for questions regarding payments and changing an address or telephone number, among other things. You can reach us by emailing: secretariaat@murmellius.nl

Are you having trouble logging into Magister? Then click on 'forgot password', and you will receive instructions to create a new password at your private email address.

Need help registering for parent-teacher evening in Magister

Forgot Magister password

Murmellius is unique, among other things, because the canteen is not outsourced to third parties but is run entirely by parents. The canteen is open every school day from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM. At 12:30 PM, two volunteers arrive to set everything up for the students. We are usually finished around 1:45 PM, and everything is back in the cupboards and refrigerator. The canteen is run by enthusiastic parents and grandparents from all over North Holland, sometimes assisted by a student from the 4th or 5th grade. It does not require much of your time, about 1.5 hours at a time, and you can indicate yourself how often and on which days you are available. The canteen team does this alongside their part-time or full-time jobs. The assortment is diverse, tasty, and healthy. In addition to the inevitable sweets, there is also a wide selection of fresh sandwiches and toasted sandwiches. The pricing is competitive, as the idea behind it is to offer students a place where they can buy things without having to leave the school grounds. It is not our intention to make a profit! Once a year, a canteen meeting is convened to get to know each other, but also to discuss the state of affairs. Besides being useful, this is also enjoyable. We try to conclude the school year with a fun outing. The benefits of our unique canteen system:

• Choose the day that suits you best;

• Involvement with your high school student;

• It is flexible: swapping with each other is always possible.

If you are interested in volunteering as a canteen parent or would like further information, please contact Jaap Groen, Chairman, at kantine@murmellius.nl . Alternatively, use the attached form. We do this together for the benefit of your child as well. Stay involved with your secondary school student; extra people are always needed, so don't hesitate!

Our caretakers play an important role in the day-to-day running of the school. They ensure that the school building and grounds remain clean, safe, and well-maintained. In addition, they are ready to assist students and staff with practical matters, such as finding classrooms, resolving minor technical issues, and enforcing school rules. They also supervise during breaks and ensure a pleasant and orderly learning environment. In short, the caretakers are indispensable for a well-functioning school!

The concierges or front desk staff are the first point of contact for telephone calls.

In the first year, excursions are organized to Artis, Museum Kranenburgh, and Archeon, among others. In addition, an overarching project is organized annually during project week.

A portion of the students also participate in the annual exchange with the Collège Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in Pouzauges.

Pouzauges

Since 2007, the Murmellius Gymnasium has organized an exchange with the Collège Saint Exupéry in Pouzauges (Vendée, France).

We are giving 48 first-year students the opportunity to join this trip. We aim for a balanced distribution across the classes and an approximately equal distribution of boys and girls. In the event of oversubscription, a lottery will be held.

Class 2 goes on an excursion titled "Modern Art versus Classical Art" to various museums and theaters in Amsterdam. During project week, Class 2 works on a project linked to multiple subjects; the theme varies each year. The students from Class 2 also complete a one-day internship.

Class 3 is going on a work week to Limburg. There, students will visit various museums (Xanten, Natural History Museum, Bonnefanten Museum, Roman Catacombs in Valkenburg) and participate in diverse subject-related outdoor activities, such as a gully walk, a visit to the military cemetery in Margraten, and a coal mine in Blegny, Belgium.

In addition, Year 3 is dedicated to choosing a profile.

In Year 4, there is an exchange with Tata (Hungary) (every two years). Only a portion of the students participate in this exchange. There are also language trips to London, Berlin, and Paris.

In the upper grades, (subject-specific) excursions are sometimes organized that align with an elective course not taken by all students. Some excursions are not held every year. For this reason, these excursions are not included in the overview above.

Tata:

As a sister city, the Municipality of Alkmaar maintains special ties with Tata in Hungary, among others. As one of the ways to expand these contacts, a school exchange program was established between the Murmellius Gymnasium and the Eötvös József Gimnázium in Tata. Since 1992, we have organized an exchange of students and teachers, in which our students host students from Tata one year, and our students travel to Tata the following year. In short, the objective of the exchange is to enhance our students' international citizenship, but it naturally encompasses much more. When you are immersed in a Hungarian family and left to your own devices, you develop skills that will be useful throughout your life. But above all, it is of course simply great fun to discover what it is like to go to school in another country and become part of another family's life.

How does an exchange work?

The Hungarian students are paired with Dutch students based on shared interests. The Hungarian student becomes part of the Dutch student's family life. During the week the Hungarians are here (the orientation week), we organize various educational excursions and trips. Every day, a full class will accompany the group and take on part of the organization. In this way, all Year 3 students become involved in the exchange project. Classes continue as much as possible during that week, and it is certainly intended that the Hungarian students get a good impression of how things work at our school.

INTERNSHIP

The world is bigger than just the Murmellius. It is often difficult to get a clear picture of societal issues and what it means to work. An internship can help you with this. During the Hemelrijkdagen, time is made available for an internship day. Leave days may be granted for this, in consultation with the Vice-Principal. This means you may do volunteer work at a social organization, such as a nursing home, church, homeless shelter, or the police. It is also possible to explore the business side and do your internship at a company or office. You can submit an application to Mr. Kelderman.

Class 5 is going on a trip to Rome in October. That is the icing on the gymnasium cake. In addition, an excursion to The Hague (including the House of Representatives) is being organized as part of Social Studies.

In the upper grades, subject-specific excursions are sometimes organized that tie in with an elective course not taken by all students. Some excursions are not held every year.

In Year 6, an exam excursion for Classical Languages is organized. Additionally, a sports excursion is conducted several times as part of the PE lessons.

In the upper grades, it is common for subject-specific excursions to be organized that tie in with an elective course not taken by all students.

THE FINAL YEAR (Class 6)

Your farewell to Murmellius will not go unnoticed. There is a graduation prank, a gala is being held, and a yearbook is being created by the students. Things need to be organized for these events. You can join one of the many committees. You can sign up with Mrs. Visser.

The Dean's Office at Murmellius Gymnasium helps students make choices and discover and develop their talents. We do this by organizing activities and holding conversations. Everyone with a question in this area is warmly welcome: both students and their parents/guardians. On these pages, we provide information on exactly what we do and offer background information that you can use yourself.

Moments of choice

At school, there are two major moments of choice: the choice of profile in the third and fourth years (which we consider as one block) and the choice of study in the final year. These choices do not appear out of thin air. After all, you make good choices by gaining experience, experimenting, and acquiring (self-)knowledge. This is something you can be engaged in throughout your entire school career. Therefore, we try to pay attention to these topics through lessons and mentorship in every year, so that it is easier to choose when the big moments arrive.

LOB

This guidance is called LOB: career orientation and guidance. Every secondary school is required to pay attention to this, but may do so in its own way. The Murmellius Gymnasium considers it an important part of your time at school. We want to send you out into the wide world not only with a diploma, but also with a backpack full of self-confidence, so that you can successfully continue your path after Murmellius. That is also the reason why there are so many extra activities at the school, such as the editorial team of Interpres, participation in IMUNA, and the Castalia enrichment project for the lower years.

Mentors

Murmellius has chosen to make mentors the first point of contact for students. This applies to discussions about your grades, personal problems, and study skills, as well as questions about your choices and everything related to them. If a mentor cannot resolve the issue, they can refer you to the dean. In principle, the dean works more behind the scenes, but if you wish, you can also go directly to him or her yourself and ask your question.

Contact

You can drop by room 109 or send an email to decaan@murmellius.nl . You can speak with the Dean about anything related to choices or personal development: your profile, your choice of study, studying abroad, a gap year, starting your own business, if you want to gain more insight into your talents, or if you need to write a job application letter. The Dean of Murmellius is Mr. Leo Molenaar. He can be reached in the manner mentioned above and is usually present on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (otherwise there will be a note on the door).

Request time off for study choice

If you wish to participate in study choice activities and these fall during class time, you can request time off by filling out the form on the website, having your parents sign it (if you are under 18), and submitting it to your guidance counselor. Please note: you must do this at least one week before the relevant date! You can find the form here. on this page.

At Murmellius Gymnasium, we use multiple digital school systems. The student tracking system we use is Magister. Both students and parent(s)/guardian(s) can download and view the app. It displays information such as attendance, grades, and the timetable. The timetable is stored in Zermelo; while it is synchronized with Magister, Zermelo is our primary scheduling system. Additionally, we use WISCollect for collecting various school fees.

Inclusivity

At Murmellius Gymnasium, we have a GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance). This is not only a safe space for everyone, but especially for LGBTQIA+ students and anyone with questions. At the GSA, there is room to talk about a wide range of topics, including gender and sexuality. We also organize events such as Purple Friday (the second Friday of December). The GSA meets every Monday in room 206 from 15:10. For more questions, you can visit our Instagram: @gsamurmellius or contact us via our email address:

The mentor plays a central role in guiding the students and is the first point of contact for students and parents. Our mentorship program is based on the belief that every student deserves attention from a mentor, regardless of grades or behavior. Naturally, a mentor is there to help a student with problems, but their most important role is to ask the right questions through regular contact with their students. In years two, three, and four, there is a weekly mentor lesson, and in the first year, there are two mentor lessons per week. These lessons focus on positive group dynamics, teaching study skills, and various matters important for our students' development. The mentor also helps students plan their work for test weeks. In the fifth year, the mentorship is more focused on individual conversations, and in the sixth year, students choose their own mentor.

At our school, the timetable planners play a crucial role in the daily organization. They ensure that all lessons, tests, and other school activities are scheduled as efficiently as possible. In doing so, they take into account the availability of teachers, classrooms, and the various subject combinations of the students.

In addition to drawing up the class schedule, schedulers also resolve unforeseen schedule changes, for example due to illness or special activities. They work closely with teachers, mentors, and school management to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Thanks to the careful planning and flexibility of our timetablers, education at our school can continue optimally, every single day!

You can find them in room 102.

The management of our school is committed daily to ensuring the quality of education and a pleasant learning environment. They provide direction to the school and ensure that everything runs smoothly, both organizationally and pedagogically.

The school leadership consists of the rector and the two vice-rectors, who are jointly responsible for educational policy, teacher support, and school development. They monitor educational quality, ensure a safe and inspiring learning environment, and pay attention to the individual growth of students and staff.

In addition, they maintain close contact with parent(s)/guardian(s), students, and the school board to promote the vision and values of our school. Thanks to their dedication and leadership, our gymnasium remains a stimulating environment where students and teachers can develop to their full potential.

Voor het begeleiden en ondersteunen van de leerlingen zijn er diverse gespecialiseerde medewerkers betrokken bij het Murmellius Gymnasium:

• Mentor: het vaste aanspreekpunt voor de leerling, de mentor volgt de studievorderingen bij alle vakken, overlegt zo nodig met de docenten, bewaakt de sfeer in de klas staat open voor persoonlijke problemen van de leerling.

• Ondersteuningscoördinator: coördineert de ondersteuning en begeleidt leerlingen. De ondersteuningscoördinator houdt bij welke ondersteuning voor wie nodig is. De ondersteuningscoördinator is de spin in het web; brengt externe partijen binnen de school en onderhoudt de communicatie. Indien de begeleiding in de klas niet toereikend is, kan ondersteuning geboden worden individuele leerlingen of groepjes leerlingen gedurende een bepaalde periode.

• Conrector: conrectoren zijn beslissingsbevoegd. Zij verlenen zelf geen ondersteuning, maar zijn verantwoordelijk voor de professionalisering van hun team. Waar de mentor de spil is in leerlingenzorg is de afdelingsleider spil in docentenzorg.

• Trajectgroepbegeleider/leerlingbegeleider: begeleidt de leerlingen in de Trajectgroep. Dit zijn leerlingen met een specifieke en langdurige ondersteuningsbehoefte.

• Counselor: de counselor biedt leerlingen die niet lekker in hun vel zitten of zich geblokkeerd voelen en zelf niet verder kunnen hulp bij het zelf zoeken naar een oplossing voor hun problemen of bij het beter leren omgaan met problemen.

• Anti-pestcoördinator: is de persoon die de gegevens betreffende gepeste leerlingen monitort. Hij/zij is een herkenbaar aanspreekpunt voor leerlingen en ouder(s)/verzorger(s) bij pesterijen op school, helpt bij het zoeken naar oplossingen en houdt de vinger aan de pols totdat het pesten echt is gestopt.

• Aandachtsfunctionaris Huiselijk Geweld en Kindermishandeling: is de persoon waarbij leerlingen, ouder(s)/verzorger(s) en collega’s terecht kunnen met vragen over of vermoedens van Huiselijk Geweld en Kindermishandeling. De aandachtsfunctionaris zorgt ervoor dat collega’s op de hoogte blijven van de Meldcode en weten op welke signalen ze moeten letten.

• Vertrouwenspersonen: personen waarmee leerlingen, ouder(s)/verzorger(s)/verzorgers en docenten vertrouwelijk zaken kunnen bespreken die gaan over (on)veiligheid thuis of op school.

• Verzuimcoördinator: houdt het verzuim bij in Magister conform het protocol verzuim, beoordeelt de rechtmatigheid van verzuim en onderneemt actie, vaak in samenspraak met afdelingsleiders en ondersteuningscoördinator.

Externe instanties die actief zijn binnen de school:

• GGD

• Jeugd- en Gezinscoach

• Schoolarts- en schoolverpleegkundige

• Consulent vanuit Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Kennemerland

Counselors, vertrouwenspersonen en ondersteuningscoördinator 

Leerlingen die kampen met sociaal-emotionele problemen die een langduriger of meer specifieke aanpak vereisen kunnen zich wenden tot onze counselors: Marina Kuipers en Danielle Pronk (counselor@murmellius.nl). Het is mogelijk dat een leerling door zijn mentor naar de counselor doorverwezen wordt. Voor leerlingen in de onderbouw die kampen met faalangst is er een faalangstreductietraining. 

Voor alle zaken die een leerling in volledige vertrouwelijkheid wil bespreken zijn er de vertrouwenspersonen. 

Dit zijn:

• Bob Hopman: hop@murmellius.nl
• Robin van Kempen: kmp@murmellius.nl
• Maike Smelt: sme@murmellius.nl

Ook ouders kunnen zich tot hen wenden op het moment dat ze een signaal van zorg willen afgeven. Alle vormen van ondersteuning worden gecoördineerd door Laura Zijlma, onze ondersteuningscoördinator. Zij is ook coördinator taalproblemen, ze verzorgt de remedial teaching en zij is verantwoordelijk voor het dyslexiebeleid. Voor leerlingen met een officiële dyslexieverklaring zijn er bepaalde vormen van ondersteuning mogelijk. Die vindt u in het ondersteuningsprofiel op onze website. In dit ondersteuningsprofiel wordt eveneens beschreven wat wij wel en niet kunnen met betrekking tot de ondersteuning van leerlingen in het kader van het passend onderwijs. 

Voor leerlingen die een gediagnosticeerde gedrags- of aandachtstoornis hebben is er de trajectgroep. Uw kind wordt in deze groep begeleid door Laura Zijlma in het aanleren van de juiste handvatten en vaardigheden om succesvol in het reguliere onderwijs te kunnen functioneren. Deze trajectgroep brengt geen extra kosten met zich mee maar wordt bekostigd vanuit ons samenwerkingsverband Noord-Kennemerland. Voor meer informatie over het samenwerkingsverband kunt u de website bezoeken: www.swvnk.nl. 

Begaafdheid 

Onze school beschikt over een ECHA-coach, Laura Zijlma, die gespecialiseerd is in het ondersteunen van hoogbegaafde leerlingen. Zij is niet zozeer verantwoordelijk voor directe ondersteuning maar veeleer voor het maken van een goed plan van aanpak voor uw kind. Vermoedt u dat uw kind ondersteuning nodig heeft in het omgaan met zijn of haar begaafdheid, neemt u dan contact op met Laura Zijlma. Voor meer informatie over de ECHA-coaches kunt u de website van de Universiteit Nijmegen bezoeken: https://cbo-nijmegen.nl/echa-opleiding. 

Hulp bij het schoolwerk 

Voor leerlingen in de onderbouw bestaat de mogelijkheid een training in studievaardigheden voor bepaalde vakkenclusters te volgen. Het draait in de trainingen om begeleiding in aanpak van het huiswerk: het zogenoemde ‘leren leren’. De lessen worden volgens een nader te bepalen rooster tijdens de achtste uren van de dag aangeboden. De trainingen worden gegeven door vakdocenten, soms ondersteund door bovenbouwleerlingen. De coördinatie van de lessen is in handen van Jeannette Zuidema. U kunt haar bereiken via het e-mailadres: tsv@murmellius.nl.

The Talent Class
Murmellius has been offering the Talent Class since 2020. The target group consists of Group 8 students assessed as being at pre-university level who have a language or other learning deficit. Students from various primary schools in Alkmaar come to our school on Wednesday afternoons from 2:30 to 4:30 to attend extra lessons. The goal of these lessons is to improve their language skills and, incidentally, broaden their general knowledge. The lessons focus on reading comprehension, creative writing, current events, and debating. The Talent Class students work towards a national debate day, where they compete against talent teams from across the country. The 2024 Talent Class came first in this tournament!

The students receive more than just educational support. There are ten parental involvement training sessions that help parents/guardians support their children throughout their school careers. An external trainer speaks with parents/guardians about the Dutch education system and addresses questions regarding their children's development and upbringing. Parents/guardians get to know each other personally, fostering safe and warm relationships. The program also includes cultural offerings. Students attend the Alkmaar Student Debate at the town hall, take a walking tour led by the Alkmaar Historical Society, go to a theatre performance at De Vest, and visit the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar.

During the lessons, the teachers see the Group 8 students progress in various areas; reading skills stand out. But the effect of the talent class is primarily that the students feel at ease in the building and in the classroom. The students build a special bond, with the teachers and with each other!

At our school, teachers naturally play a central role in the education and development of our students. They not only share their subject knowledge but also guide and motivate students to get the best out of themselves. From mathematics to art, from physics to classical languages – our teachers ensure inspiring and challenging lessons.

Unique to our gymnasium are the classical languages teachers, who take students into the world of Latin and Greek. They teach not only the language, but also the culture, philosophy, and history of antiquity, which contributes to a broad academic education.

In addition to teaching, our teachers support students with their personal growth and study skills, so that they are well prepared for their future. With their dedication and commitment, they make education at our school unique and inspiring!