Guidance and support
We make sure you feel comfortable at school
At Futuris, it is very important to us that you feel comfortable at school and perform well. That is why you receive guidance in class from your mentor and, of course, from all the other teachers and staff at school. Sometimes you need some extra help. Then our strong support team is ready to help you. On this page you can read more about the different forms of guidance you can expect at Futuris.
Mentorship
Your first point of contact
Each class has its own mentor. He or she is your first point of contact at school and maintains good contact with you and your parent(s)/carer(s). The mentor keeps an eye on your study results, personal development and social-emotional well-being. Your mentor also thinks with you about what you want to do after secondary school. If your parents/carers have any questions or concerns, they can always contact the mentor.
Additional support
Sometimes you need a bit more guidance
Sometimes you need more guidance than the basic guidance you get from your mentor and teachers. At Futuris, we call this support. We have in-house colleagues who specialise in certain forms of support, such as a dyslexia coach, a anxiety coach and a remedial teacher. Whether you receive extra support, we always decide in consultation with you and your parents. Extra support is provided by the pupil support team (LEON) and can be offered in smaller groups or individually.
Team LEON
Our support team
- Pupil support coordinator
Ms E.L.M. Handofsky(e.handofsky@futuris.nl)
She manages the team and is the point of contact for external agencies.
- Dyslexia coach
The dyslexia coach advises pupils and teachers on language support and helps pupils with reading strategies and vocabulary expansion. The dyslexia coach also provides extra support for language and maths in junior grades.
- The student coaches
Mr. J. Verhaak(j.verhaak@futuris.nl)
Ms. J. M. Pinas(j.pinas@futuris.nl)
Ms. V. Novak(v.novak@futuris.nl)
They guide pupils in their functioning at school and offer personal support.
- Counsellor appropriate education/oreducator
Ms R. Arends(r.arends@futuris.nl)
She supports pupils with intensive guidance needs, both individually and in the classroom. She also coaches teachers to meet pupils’ specific educational needs.
- School social worker
Ms M. Schrameijer(m.schrameijer@futuris.nl)
She offers help to pupils and parents with problems surrounding the home situation, leisure activities or other personal circumstances.
- Confidential Advisor
Ms I. Schmidt(i.schmidt@futuris.nl)
Students can contact her with confidential matters, such as sexual harassment or other transgressive behaviour.
Youth offerings municipality of Amstelveen
A lot of help is available
Several youth workers from the municipality of Amstelveen are attached to our school. They organise activities for the pupils and are the link between school and Youth Work Amstelveen.
We also work closely with the GGD youth doctor and compulsory education officers. Want to know more about the support options at Futuris? Then take a look at the school guide.
There is also a lot of free support available outside school for young people in Amstelveen and their parent(s) and carer(s). This includes help with parenting, health, relationships, finances, sports or language development. The municipality’s website provides an overview of all the help available in our municipality.
Youth court
Taking responsibility and finding a solution
Futuris has had its own youth court since 2018, in which specially trained pupils administer justice themselves if, for example, school rules have been broken or there has been an argument. The main starting point for hearing a case is that the pupil concerned wants to take responsibility for what he or she has done.
The aim is always to find a good outcome together: what is needed to move forward together again? It is therefore about a solution, not (only) punishment. Every year, a new group of students is trained on a voluntary basis and officially sworn in at the Amsterdam court.
The project is an initiative of the Netherlands Youth Courts Foundation and is organised in cooperation with the schools involved, the court, the prosecution and the police.
Frequently asked questions
If you do not understand a lesson well or need help, you can always contact your teacher or mentor. Futuris also offers additional support through student coaches, remedial teachers and homework help.
Futuris ensures a safe learning environment by actively addressing bullying behaviour and appointing a confidential advisor to whom pupils can turn. There is a bullying protocol and the mentoring team plays an important role in identifying and resolving conflicts.
In the lower years, pupils are offered both theoretical and practical subjects. In year 1, you will be taught Dutch, English, mathematics/math, human & social sciences, biology, art education, technology, music, care, physical education, mentoring lessons, profile hours and counselling hours. In year 2, physics/chemistry, German (for mavo students) and services & products (for basic/framework students) are added.
Futuris prepares you for further education by teaching you both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The profile classes help you gain practical experience early on, while the mavo/havo classes are specifically aimed at moving on to havo. In addition, we offer guidance in the choice of subsequent courses.
At Futuris, we not only prepare you for an exam, but also make sure you get the skills you will need in the future. Whatever you are going to do. We call these skills the 21st century skills and they are important for your personal and professional growth. You can think about:
- Communication: communicating effectively with others.
- Collaboration: learning to work in teams.
- Dealing with ICT: working with computers and other technologies.
- Creativity: developing your own ideas and coming up with solutions.
- Critical thinking: analysing and assessing information.
- Problem solving: finding practical and smart solutions to challenges.
- Social & cultural skills: interact well with others, regardless of their background.
- Control over own actions: working independently and taking responsibility for your own learning.
Futuris offers vmbo-basis, vmbo-kader, vmbo-theoretical (mavo) and mavo/havo. You can read more on the page about learning pathways. We also have International Transition Classes (ISK) for non-native newcomers who do not yet speak sufficient Dutch to enter regular education.
At Futuris, we have five profile classes: sports, technology, expression, cooking and mavo/havo. When you enter our school in the first year, you can choose one of the five profile classes. You follow these classes throughout your bridging period, which lasts two years. In the profile classes, you take weekly classes that match your interests and talents.