This week, Queen Sonja was able to help mark a special anniversary for her. On September 6th 2022, the Queen of Norway was present at the 100-year commemoration for Slemdal school, where she herself attended class.
The queen was shown around the school grounds by headmaster Vegard Kjesbo and got to see both magic tricks and dancing at the commemoration. Her Majesty also got to meet student council representatives Ragna Thorleifsson and Magnus Myrland in one of the classrooms.
Some of the students have also delved into the school’s history. They met Queen Sonja in clothes that pupils had worn 100 years ago and were able to tell Her Majesty about how school life today is different from 100 years ago.
Every year, Slemdal school usually organizes a charity campaign. The school’s students then collect money for various good causes. This year’s fundraising campaign was held at the same time as the anniversary celebration, so Queen Sonja also heard about the school’s long-standing efforts to support vulnerable groups in the society. This year’s fundraising campaign goes to SOS villages. Both sale of lottery tickets and the sale of various home-made products secured a solid sum of money for this good cause.
The queen was also shown Danish by local pupils and a very special chocolate cake was served. On the occasion of the 100th birthday, the school served a chocolate cake that was a full 100 meters long.
While this royal event was the school’s main celebration this week, the festivities have been going on throughout the year and are not yet over. During this year’s Constitution Day in Norway, the school was able to walk first in the children’s parade in front of the royal palace and the school has also been to an anniversary party in Oslo City Hall.
In 1922, Slemdal was separated as its own school district and the school was named Slemdal School. Today, the school has around 560 pupils and 85 employees spread over the seven school levels. Queen Sonja attended the school and started there in the third grade in the autumn of 1947. She went there for four years and finished in the summer of 1951.
