Ready, Set, Study

September is almost here, there's a hint of fall in the air, and students are returning to school. Norway's Crown Prince Sverre Magnus, age 5, started school last week as well. He was accompanied on the first day by his parents, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. His grandmother, Queen Sonja, was also with the family on her grandson's big day. The prince will attend Jansløkka school in Asker, where his sister Ingrid Alexandra is also a student.

Viking magazine is celebrating the beginning of the academic year with an issue focused on education. Our cover story, called "Ready, Set, Study," provides students everything they need to know to begin exploring study abroad options. In "The Bilingual Boost," we highlight the benefits of learning a second language, featuring a Norwegian-language preschool in Edina, Minn. We also tell the story of the Norwegian teachers' resistance in WWII, based on the letters and journals of Edvard Brakstad. A teacher at Eidsvoll Landsgymnas, Brakstad was arrested by the Nazis in March of 1942, along with 1,100 other Norwegian teachers. Finally, our Q&A interview this month is with educational psychologist Tove Dahl, the long-time dean of Skogfjorden, Concordia College's Norwegian Language Village.

The staff at Viking wishes the crown prince—and all students—an excellent start to the school year!

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in Northfield, Minn., where she’s a member of Nordmarka 1-585.