From Tuesday 14^th to Thursday 16^th June, Year 6 were taken on a residential trip to Milias Camps Village in central Greece. They spent a wonderfully enjoyable two nights in the countryside and took part in a range of fun-filled activities organised by Mr George and his team of instructors. After arriving there and taking a welcome dip in the pool, there was time for an early evening hike to a colossal cave high on a mountainside where it is said, in the olden days, whole villages would take shelter from invaders on the plains below. Wednesday was busy with a pleasant walk along the river in Pavliani, where art and adventure come together to create a unique countryside experience. Later, there was swimming, cycling, archery and climbing which carried on the following day too. The children’s only complaint was that it was too soon to leave when Thursday afternoon rolled around, and they had to pack their bags ready for their return to Athens. What an amazing experience the children had to finish off their junior school years!

On Wednesday 2^nd of November our school hosted the over 16 girls’ football and over 16 boys’ volleyball tournament.

Four schools took part in the girls football tournament; St.Lawrence, ACS, Campion and St.Catherines. The tournament was a round robin format where our girls faced Campion in their first game of the day. Our girls dominated the game beating Campion 4-0. In our second game we would face St.Catherines. Our girls took the lead winning 1-0 however, our team would concede later in the game and drew 1-1 after fighting hard. In the final match of the day our girls faced ACS. The girls scored an early goal winning the game 1-0. With two wins and a draw our girls finished the tournament in 1^st place lifting the trophy on home soil while shouting Lawrence in the centre of our newly built football pitch.

Five schools and six teams took part in the boys volleyball tournament; St.Lawrence over 16, St.Lawrence under 16, ACS, Byron, Campion and ISA. In the first game of the day our over 16 team faced Byron and won 2-1. Our next match for our over 16 team was a must win against ACS to advance to the final. Unfortunately, ACS would win the tiebreaker after a thrilling match. In the first game of the day for our under 16 volleyball team we faced a strong ISA team and lost 2-0.  In our last game of the day our under 16 team faced Campion. In the tiebreaker we were 1 point away from winning the game against Campion. However, that point did not come, and we lost 2-1 but the display of our young team shows how bright the future is for our school.

Congratulations to all team members for participating in the first tournament hosted by our school since covid. Thank you to the coaches Mr Styliatis and Ms Dikaioulia for doing a wonderful job with our teams.

Lastly, a shout out to this year’s sponsor of all our school’s football teams Lobo Del Mar yachting and the Kallimasia family who are ex-pupils of ours. Markello Kallimasia was a member of all our school teams and a super athlete but was best known for his footballing ability and love for the sport. Thank you, Markello, for being ‘Happy to do my part’ which in turn brought happiness to the faces of the girls dawning their brand-new football kit.

Between 6^th and 10^th June, Year 6 groups were taken on a trip to Milias Camps in Central Greece for an exciting few days of fun activities and group events. The teachers and pupils were treated to a range of things to do that included swimming, hiking up a hillside to an ancient castle ruin, walking an artistic river trail at Pavliani, learning archery, mountain biking and technical wall climbing too. The cabins were buzzing with the voices of excited children and the canteen meals were wolfed down by the children who worked up an appetite with all their non-stop activities and exercise! Take a look at the photos which show just how much they experienced at camp.

We are proud to unfold our adventurous, creative and magical journey which brought us to this impressive Koropi Campus where we celebrate our 40 years of operation

NORTHERN JOURNEY: The School did not pop up in 1980, the year of our foundation, looking as we do today. We started in Paleo Psychico, Filothei, Halandri,
occupying five different buildings that were necessary to house our constantly increasing pupil body, as our growth rate was phenomenal. To accommodate a number of non Athens resident pupils, we also ran a boarding house at Hotel Frini in Kifissia.

September 1984 finds the School in Gargitos in a purpose–built school building. We have left Paleo Psychiko and Halandri, but we still keep Filothei.

SOUTHERN JOURNEY: In September 1981, the School opened a branch in Hellinikon, naming it “L1” i.e. Lawrence One. The success was instant and in the years that followed new buildings were added, one after the other, in the area to accommodate the pupil body -three of which were built by us. Again the need to accommodate a number of boarders was covered by running a small villa in the area as a boarding house.

As time went on, the Board of Governors realized the   need to bring together the North and the South and
so the three component schools, Filothei, Gargitos, Hellinikon, merged in Hellinikon in September 1987.

A new beginning was made in Hellinikon. An impressive success story both in numbers and particularly in academic achievements follows bringing the buildings to the staggering number of eleven, “L11” i.e. Lawrence Eleven.

In the summer of 2004 the time had come to move again.

So “Farewell Hellinikon”, “Good Morning Koropi” and the gate of our impressive Koropi Campus opens in September 2004.

To sum up this building/geographical journey, we have worked out of 17 buildings, two boarding houses, in six suburbs before reaching our present beautiful home – the Koropi Campus.

Summer SCHOOL: The St. Lawrence College Summer School has been taking place as follows:

-Alexander Beach Hotel, Arachovitika, Peloponnese, 

  Summer 1982

- Tolo Camping, Nafplio, Peloponnese, Summer 1983-1989

- Hellinikon Campus, Summer 1994-2004

- Koropi Campus, Summer 2005 – Present  

Our School has come such a long way and it is in the hands of people, teachers and administrative staff, who will continue to nurture it as the safe educational oasis that it is.

Boys years 7 & 8 basketball tournament, all international schools participate, at Campion. Games start at 9.30

The St. Lawrence College campus is ideally located at the south eastern suburbs of Athens, 15 minutes by car from the airport and Glyfada, 30 minutes from Kifissia. The well-designed and well-equipped school setting consists of a wooden, earthquake resistant construction all at ground-floor level, situated in a 20-acre peaceful country environment.

...situated in a 20-acre peaceful country environment.

The school is constantly undergoing considerable expansion and refurbishment through considerable investment to cater for our growing school roll. The school currently features a modern suite of science laboratories, state of the art computer labs, a junior school library, a purpose built study room in the senior school, a 400-seat open-air amphitheatre, an Exhibition Centre, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, an Olympic-size heated swimming pool, an all-purpose air conditioned indoor gymnasium and a full size 11-a-side football pitch. Plans are underway for construction of significant additions to the school in the foreseeable future and should enhance our wealth of resources even more.

The school’s extensive facilities serve to complement the high academic standing of St. Lawrence College and provide the foundation for its many educational and extra-curricular activities.

On Friday the 11^th of November our girls under 16 football team and boys under 16 volleyball team took part in their annual interschool tournament.

The girl’s tournament took place in Campion with four schools taking part in a round robin format. In the first game of the day, our girls faced St. Catherine's were in a close game they won 2-1. In their second game of the day our team faced host school Campion and again won 2-1. In the final game of the day our girls dominated the game and easily won 4-0 against ACS. The girls won the tournament with 3 out of 3 victories bringing the trophy back and placing it in our brand-new trophy cabinet in the indoor gym.

The boys’ volleyball tournament was a round robin format and took place in ISA school. Our boys lost their first game against Campion after a close game 2 sets to 1, and then faced host team ISA where they lost 2-0. In their final game of the day our team beat ACS 2-0. These results were just enough to earn the boy’s 3^rd place and receive bronze medals.

Congratulations to all members of both the girls under 16 football and boys under 16 volleyball teams for outstanding performances at these interschool tournaments!

A big thank you to our coaches Mr Styliatis and Ms Dikaioulia for their excellent work with their respective teams.

1. Outstanding facilities in a beautiful campus

Situated in a 20-acre campus, the school boasts some of the most up-to-date and complete facilities among education providers in Greece. Sports facilities are unrivalled and include a water-polo dimensioned heated swimming pool with an adjacent mini-pool for very young children, a full-sized all-weather football pitch with seating for 300 spectators, a fully equipped indoor gymnasium with seating for 200 spectators and outdoor tennis and basketball courts.

In addition, the school makes constant use of an amphitheatre, piano rooms, outstanding science laboratories, junior and senior school libraries, fully equipped I.T. suites and the most modern teaching tools in classrooms. All of this is contained within our glorious campus – an entirely single storey purpose-built complex which is airy, uncrowded, surrounded by beautiful hills and by in the fresh air of the southern Athenian suburbs, thus creating a peaceful, calm environment for learning.

2. A truly British education

Our school truly delivers those characteristics of an educational system that is internationally recognised as being effective and progressive – the British educational system, governed by the English National Curriculum. Furthermore, it is the intention of St. Lawrence College to promote among our pupils a value system that is underpinned by the values that make up the core of a modern British education – values of caring, tolerance, fair-play, showing enthusiasm, the practice of a moral code of decency and the intent to strive for excellence while being aware of the needs of others. These values are coupled with progress in learning through self-belief and self-confidence and, ultimately, academic qualifications that are globally recognised. This is what a pupil at St. Lawrence College can aspire to.

3. A broad curriculum that builds great learners

Pupils experience a broad curriculum -built around the UK government’s National Curriculum for England- whatever their age and whichever Key Stage they are in. They also take Greek classes from Year 1, as well as a third language, chosen from a wide range of options, at Year 4. Pupils enjoy great flexibility in IGCSE choices and their A-Level subjects, but also receive considerable guidance and orientation as they make their selection. Parents are also provided with constant advice and information as to what the curriculum choices mean for their child and are encouraged to discuss options choices with their child.

4. A multicultural community

As a British school in Greece we take pride in that our pupils are drawn from a very diverse background: we wouldn’t want that to be any other way. At the last count, there were more than fifty nationality backgrounds among our pupils –a true celebration of cultures. This provides a wonderful opportunity to promote tolerance and understanding, an awareness and appreciation of differences between our experiences. This diversity is also present among our teaching staff and functions as a key element in our drive towards the values of mutual respect and care.

5. A fully inclusive, non-selective pupil body

St. Lawrence College is non-selective. This means there is no entrance examination that must be passed for a child to be admitted. We believe that every child has the right to an opportunity to learn. We work hard to instil a growth mindset among pupils and staff and we celebrate effort and determination to learn, first and foremost. Children with learning and behaviour challenges progress well at St. Lawrence College, thanks to the attention provided by our learning support and SEN programmes for both Junior and Senior school students [links to their respective pages] and by the happy learning environment that permeates the school as a whole. Simply put, every child matters.

6. A happy and safe environment – top quality pastoral care

Great care is taken to ensure that our pupils are able to grow and develop as thoughtful citizens, aware of each other and of the community they live in, and that they feel happy, safe and enthusiastic about their learning. This is the result of first-rate pastoral care, which, at St. Lawrence College, is achieved through a system of care provision modelled on the British system and undertaken by experienced, trained and caring staff. See Pastoral Care for more information.

7. Smooth integration of pupils seeking to improve their English

Every year we are joined by pupils seeking to improve their English before fully integrating into the regular British school programme. St. Lawrence College has carefully designed EAL (English as an Additional Language) programmes to help pupils quickly raise their English skills. It is a system that works – irrespective of the age of the child. We are proud of our ability to assimilate pupils into our very diverse pupil body, where everyone learns and everyone is welcome.

8. Enrichment opportunities - activities beyond the classroom

Learning can take place at any time and should be fun. That is why at St. Lawrence College there is a wide range of activities and clubs that pupils can be a part of. There are so many opportunities to develop a new skill, have fun and make new friends. These range from sports activities such as swimming, football, basketball, tennis and many others, to challenges such as the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, to music, drama, debating, forensics and public speaking, the Model United Nations, environmental and charity work and plenty more.

9. Excellence in early years

Fostering the pleasure of imaginative play and a love and enjoyment of learning, our Early Years setting and dedicated practitioners provide the most wonderful start to your child’s learning journey at St. Lawrence College. Our warm and caring environment and its provision of stimulating play-based activities inspires our pupils to be curious, ask questions and develop an awe and wonder of the world.

10. The largest provider of A-Levels in Greece

A-Levels are the true and traditional post-16 educational qualification in the UK, with over 95% of UK schools offering education after GCSEs using it. Most importantly, A-Levels help pupils develop the essential study skills that must be in place if their progression to higher education is to be successful. No other institution in Greece teaches or enters more pupils for A-Level examinations than St. Lawrence College.

Here at St. Lawrence College, that the most common grade at A-Level, year after year, is an A grade, demonstrates the quality of delivery of this vitally important, pre-university stage of British education. Along with our expert and individually-tailored pastoral support and counselling, St. Lawrence College pupils are well-served and on track to access UK higher education or indeed any higher education institution in the world.

11. Top Academic Results Year After Year

Formal assessment through public examinations first occurs in Year 11 with IGCSEs, then continues in Year 12 with AS-Levels and is completed in Year 13 with A-Levels. St. Lawrence College has maintained very impressive standards in all of these examination standards, year after year. We are a non-selective school, and as such we are proud that the proportion of pupils who achieve at least five IGCSEs of at least grade C is consistently close to 90% (the UK average being 55%) – and at all levels of examination, IGCSE, AS-Level and A-Level, the most common grade achieved by far is the top grade of A/A*.

12. The perfect springboard to UK and global higher education

Pupils from our school access the very best universities all over the world. Most (around 80%) select to enter UK universities while others choose to go to the US, Canada, Europe or elsewhere for their higher education. Wherever they choose to study, St. Lawrence College provides the perfect combination of teaching excellence and informative one-to-one support before during and after the application process. It gives us great pleasure to see a young adult leave school and embark upon their chosen field of study, that’s why we strive to ensure that our pupils have access to a team of professionals in possession of deep experience, who also really care about them. 

13. Enthusiastic and highly qualified teaching staff

More than eighty teachers and more than 150 staff across the entire school are here to deliver the highest quality educational care within a safe and pleasant environment. Children are given the very best of opportunities to learn, thanks to the dedication and experience of teachers and educational practitioners who receive continual training in educational theory and who always seek out opportunities to improve their work. At St. Lawrence College we firmly believe that learning does not end with childhood –and we practise what we preach!

14. Continual Improvement

We stand for and expect continual improvement, from pupils but also from ourselves. We are proud of what we have achieved but we never want to stop moving forward. After all, when we promote and encourage self-reflection in our pupils, how could we not do the same as a school? This results in our teaching staff enjoying regular training delivered by expert educationalists, from the UK and beyond, undertaking on-line and off-site courses and working together to support and build upon their performance and effectiveness in their teaching. The school also continually reviews its curriculum and facilities in order to provide the very best and most modern and relevant educational experience possible.

Last weekend, our International Award Silver team successfully completed a rigorous three-day hike in the Taygetus mountain. Setting off from Athens early on Friday morning, they began their first hike at noon upon arriving at the Magganiari Spring, their starting point. Spirits were high as the team embarked on their journey, despite the challenging uphill trek that lay ahead. By early evening, they reached their campsite near the Taygetus refuge, where they promptly set up their tents and prepared a hearty meal.
On the second day, they faced the longest hike of the weekend. Navigating the rugged terrain like real explorers, they put into practice the extensive skills they have honed over the past two years in the IA program. As the sun set, they enjoyed a well-deserved hot meal at the campsite, sharing stories of the day's adventures and the breathtaking views they had encountered.
On the final day, Monday, they embarked on an early morning hike. Determined to make the most of their last day in the mountains, they set off with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Impressively, they managed to beat the clock and complete the hike earlier than expected, a testament to their growing proficiency and endurance.
Congratulations to the entire team on their outstanding achievement! Well done to all of them!
 

Our annual Year 6 Milias Camps residential trips were hugely enjoyable experiences for our Year 6 leavers this June. The teachers and children set off to the foot of Mount Parnassos for a three-day adventure in the fresh mountain air. They settled into comfy cabins and were taken on excursions including exhilarating river trekking and hiking. The children particularly loved pool time and many learned archery and practised new climbing skills under the watchful eye of experienced coaches Georgie and Carolina. They cycled around the locality with Ion and Manolis and those less confident on two wheels were even given cycling lessons – core memories of camp! 

Congratulations to our International Award Bronze team who completed one more expedition last weekend! This time the Bronze team went to Mt Helicon for two days of hiking and one night of camping under the stars. Over the two days, the IA pupils completed two hikes in the mountain practising basic orientation and navigation skills. On Saturday night they cooked and camped in the mountain while enjoying the company of their friends, and on Sunday they headed back home after their morning hike. Well done to all of them!

The half term holiday saw a group of sixth-formers travel to Krakow in Poland. The highlight of the trip was, of course, the visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau where over 1 million people were murdered during the Holocaust. Despite the awful weather conditions it was an interesting and moving day during which the group spent 3 hours at Auschwitz, the site of the prison camp, before traveling to take in the unique atmosphere of Birkenau with its iconic railway, guard tower and wooden barracks.

As well as visiting the camp there was an interesting trip to the Wielszka salt mine, as well as many hours investigating the beautiful city of Krakow and its museums. Another highlight was the visit to the Jewish quarter and Jewish museum where Mrs. Monika Goldwasser told the fascinating story of how she survived the liquidation of the ghetto when her parents smuggled her into a local convent from where she was adopted.

Eight pupils of our school will take part in the 5th Campion School – Model United Nations which is to be held on Saturday 7th October and Sunday 8th October 2017 at Campion School.

In this innovative simulation of the United Nations, delegates will have the opportunity to discuss matters of international importance, enhance their understanding of UN-committee procedures and simultaneously prepare themselves for MUN conferences designed for students at the secondary level of their education.

On Tuesday December 13th, The St Lawrence College over 16 boys' football team competed in a football competition at Campion School.

A total of four international schools participated and our impressive display saw us beat Campion 1-0, draw against St. Catherine's School and beat Byron College 4-1, achieving 1^st place overall. A massive well done to our boys for continuing to make us extremely proud!

29th November saw our school take part in a boys under 16 volleyball tournament, hosted by the International School of Athens. A total of 6 schools participated in an exhausting display of skill and determination. St Lawrence College managed a terrific win, beating Campion School to take the trophy

Meanwhile our girls under 16 football team played were playing at Campion School against 3 other schools and managed a respectable 3rd place.

Well done to both teams