Extracurricular activities
All students in Mattlidens Gymnasium are represented by the Student Council.
Working for the Student Council is a merit on your CV and you will receive a certificate for this work. At the end of the autumn term the Student Council elects a chairperson and 18 members to the Board. The work of the Board is supervised by Jani Syrjälä and Anna Rustén-Bergenwall.
DP1 and DP2 students can get CAS for actively working on the Board. The Board financially supports the Abis and vanhojen tanssit, and, on a more daily basis, offers a microwave oven and a kettle for student use.
The Board tries to equip Mattlidens with what the students need and wish for. The school gym has been planned and furnished by the Student Council Board,and maintenance is also a Board responsibility.
Gaming events, parties and Mattnatten with the Talent Show are all organized by the Student Council Board.
The Students Council Board actively works for a feeling of togetherness and wellbeing in school and gives the students an opportunity to affect decisions made in school.
The student council rules for everybody
• Everyone’s right to study without disruption should be respected.
• Please behave properly among others in all school facilities and on the internet. A smile can save someone’s day!
• Be a role model for the younger students. We don’t drink alcohol or smoke on school grounds.
• Clean up after yourself by the microwave oven and the sofas and keep the rest of the school clean as well.
• Keep the gym tidy! It was partly financed and completely planned by the students themselves.
• Put your empty cans and bottles in the bottle-bank bins in the classrooms. The money will go to improving the atmosphere in the school.
Model United Nations (MUN) is a fast-paced simulation of the UN practiced in schools and universities around the world. The extracurricular activity engages students' skills in competitive speech and debate in the English language as well as their knowledge of the modern world and how current global issues are tackled by intergovernmental actors. By roleplaying as delegates representing various states of the UN, students engage in dialogue, debate vigorously, and forge compromises, a multiday process that culminates in a UN-style resolution to be voted on as representing the unified voice of each MUN session.
Mattliden Gymasium's MUN team is supported by Svenska kulturfonden and Aktia sparbank to travel to international simulations twice a school year, as well as to HELIMUN (hosted by Kulosaari Comprehensive school). Student delegates are thus expected to act also as cultural ambassadors, embodying Finnish values, promoting Finland Swedish culture, and representing their school in a competitive international environment.
Student delegates are trained each year and must apply to join the school's delegation. Training takes place over a roughly 10-week period, with meetings once a week after school. No prior knowledge of the MUN or subject knowledge is required or even expected, nor is there a minimum grade requirement to participate. However, prospective MUN delegates will be expected to attend training sessions. All students are therefore welcome to apply!
For more information, please contact the MUN supervisor (Kenneth W. Lai) by Wilma or e-mail (kenneth.lai@espoo.fi).
Kenneth Lai (teacher in English and Global politics)
Every academic year Mattliden students will participate in 4 several MEP (Model European Parliament) events in different European countries. During these sessions, delegates have an opportunity to meet and work with other young people from other Finnish high schools (we cooperate with Gymnasiet Grankulla Samskola, Helsingin suomalainen yhteiskoulu, Kulosaaren yhteiskoulu, and Kauniaisten lukio) as well as from all over the European Union. The basic concept is a simulation of the European Parliament. Students (known as ‘delegates’ are each assigned to a committee, and their job is to write a resolution on the issue which they have been assigned). These resolutions are then presented and debated in a General Assembly, where all delegates vote whether or not they should be passed. Those resolutions which pass are sent to the actual European Union for consideration.
You would be a good candidate for MEP if you are interested in the contemporary issues which concern us all, want to develop your research, writing, and speaking skills (in English), and are keen to meet new people and engage with new ideas.
Anna Martikainen (IB coordinator)