On Wednesday 5^th April, Year 3 had a sunny day out of school at the Cultural Park in Keratea. As part of their learning for History, the pupils visited the park and learned all about the past. They thoroughly enjoyed the warm weather and fascinating features of the park. The smiles show how much they enjoyed themselves.

On the 29th of March our Year 8 pupils visited the Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Centre in a daily trip organised by the Greek department and the Head of Year 8.

First, the pupils watched the play “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens, a popular moral story for children and adults alike. This story ends on a note of hope, arguing that truth, purity, and innocence can be preserved even in an environment of poverty and social inequality. 

Then, the pupils enjoyed their lunch under the blue sky, a well-deserved day out for our Year 8 pupils!

During the weekend Friday 5^th, Saturday 6^th and Sunday 7^th eleven of our pupils took part in yet another Model United Nations in the American College of Greece representing three countries, DPRK, Slovakia and Equatorial Guinea, as Delegates in various Committees, as diverse as the Disarmament and International Security Committee, the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, the Legal Committee and the Security Council. This time two of our pupils held the position of Chair of two Committees, the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The theme of this Conference was “Digital Citizenship”, an extremely interesting and thought provoking area of discussion. Some of the topics that were debated in the Committees during the three days of intense work were related to the theme of the Conference, like assessing the security and privacy of digital footprints, use of artificial intelligence in medicine, artificial intelligence and robots embedded in the workforce, but others were as diverse as combating political propaganda, impact of military materials on the environment, rejuvenating the economies of former conflict zones, the question of the diminution of the birth index, balancing the roles of public and private sectors in economic growth, the issue of DNA cloning, combating the international obesity and diabetes epidemics, the return and restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin, or the journalistic responsibility and the fight against the spread of false information online.

Taking part in an MUN Conference has become very popular among our pupils, older and younger ones, as young as Year 7, who very bravely sacrificed a whole weekend, debating over long hours on topics that are really challenging for them. As for the old ones, they are used by now to be Chairs of various Committees and to help the younger members of the MUN Club of our school feeling excited as well as informed and prepared. We are all looking forward to our next participation in October, in an MUN Conference which will see one of our pupils as the President of the General Assembly! Well done to all!

On Friday 21st March, our Year 8 pupils embarked on an unforgettable educational trip to Marathon, organised by the Greek department. This excursion provided a unique opportunity to explore an important part of Greece's historical and cultural heritage.

The trip began with a visit to the Marathon Dam and Lake, where students learned about the historical significance of the dam in supplying water to Athens. The pupils then enjoyed a scenic hike to the Byzantine chapel of Agia Paraskevi and the historic Kalentzi stone theatre, where they gained insight into the area’s cultural past.

In addition to these fascinating visits, students took part in engaging team-building activities in nature, helping to develop both their collaboration and leadership skills. They also visited the Marathon Run Museum, which houses an extensive collection dedicated to the history of the Olympic Marathon.

The day concluded with a guided tour of the Marathon Tomb, the burial site of the 192 Athenian soldiers who fought in the legendary Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. This significant historical site offered our pupils a deeper understanding of Ancient Greek history and the importance of this battle.

The trip was both educational and inspiring, leaving our pupils with lasting memories and a greater appreciation for the rich history of Greece.

On Wednesday 20th November, the Greek Department organised an educational trip to Lavrio for our Year 10 pupils. The day started with a visit to the Technological & Cultural Museum of Lavrio, where pupils enjoyed a guided tour of the museum and mining galleries. They had the opportunity to interview former miners from the metallurgical factory and took part in practical workshops, gaining experience and information about ancient mining techniques and the importance of mining in the development of Attica in the old times.

The workshop at the museum added a practical and scientific dimension to their knowledge, deepening their understanding of historical mining practices. Then followed a visit to the ancient theatre of Thoriko, the oldest theatre in Greece, which provided the pupils with a unique insight into the architectural evolution of ancient Greek Theatres.

To complete the day, pupils and teachers went to a local restaurant where they all enjoyed their lunch. It was a day filled with valuable experiences, combining new knowledge and cultural insights!

On Monday 4th December, our Year 10 pupils participated in an educational trip to Lavrio, organized by the Greek Department and the Assistant Head of Key stage 4.
The day started with a visit to the Technological & Cultural Museum of Lavrio, where pupils enjoyed a guided tour of the museum and mining galleries. They had the opportunity to interview former miners from the metallurgical factory and took part in practical workshops, gaining experience and information about ancient mining techniques and the importance of mining in the development of Attica in the old times.
 
The workshop at the museum added a practical and scientific dimension to their knowledge, deepening their understanding of historical mining practices. Then followed a visit to the ancient theatre of Thoriko, the oldest theatre in Greece, which provided the pupils with a unique insight into the architectural evolution of ancient Greek Theatres.
 
To culminate the day, pupils spent some time exploring Lavrio town and enjoying local food.
It was a day filled with valuable experiences, combining new knowledge and cultural insights.

During the long weekend of Friday 14^th to Sunday 16^th December 2018, sixteen pupils of our school from Year 7 up to Year 13 took part in the 13th Costeas-Geitonas School Model United Nations (CGSMUN). Our pupils represented Germany and United Arab Emirates in various committees, such as the Disarmament and International Security Committee, the Economic and Financial Committee, the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Human Rights Council (HRC), the Environmental Commission (EC), the Special Conference on “Global Health Inequalities” (SPECON) and the International Court of Justice.

The pupils debated and proposed resolutions to international matters as diverse as Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean (especially in the Middle East and Northern Africa), Reform of the IMF and the World Bank, Preservation of endangered languages and dialects, Ensuring access to water and sanitation for all, Challenges to successful implementation of HIV and AIDS-related health policies, Promotion of vaccination to interrupt community-wide outbreaks, Youth mental health in the digital era, Ensuring access to education in refugee camps, Towards a green transportation infrastructure,  The impact of climate change, desertification and land degradation on global health or the Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

On this occasion, not only did two of our pupils act as Committee chairs, the Disarmament and International Security and the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committees respectively, but a Year 12 pupil was a Judge in the International Court of Justice and was voted the best Judge. Our participant in Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), representing Germany, was also voted the best delegate of the Committee. Both awards are given to participants for their hard work and preparation as well as their excellent presentation and contribution during the three days of the Conference. This year Ms Evangelia Tzironi, a lawyer and asylum expert, who works in the UN Refugee Agency in Athens, visited our school and addressed the members of the M.U.N. Club who had the opportunity to engage in interesting discussions with her as part of their preparation for the Conference. Her help was greatly appreciated and we are all looking forward to her visiting us again to provide our pupils with more insight into the work of the United Nations. And as always all old members of the M.U.N. Club as well as any interested new pupils are welcome to join our next participation in April 2019.

On Wednesday 27 November, the Greek Department in collaboration with the Year 11 Pastoral team organised an educational trip for our Year 11 pupils to Elefsina, which was the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2023.

The pupils visited the archaeological site and museum in Elefsina as part of a multi-curricular excursion. This included the sanctuary of Elefsina, which was one of the most important religious centres of the ancient world. The goddess Demeter, goddess of the renewal of nature and the growth of grains, was worshipped there from the Mycenaean Era to the end of the 4th century A.D. 

English-speaking guides told our pupils about Ancient Greek civilisation and practices and informed them about the history of this renowned site, as well as the sacred ceremonies – the secret Elefsinian mysteries that took place there at that time. 

To culminate the day, the pupils visited the centre of Elefsina and enjoyed some free time with their peers. Ιt was an enjoyable trip that combined new knowledge with a well-deserved opportunity for bonding and discovery.

During the weekend, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th of October sixteen pupils participated in the Campion School MUN, representing our school, and making us very proud for their dedication and impeccable behaviour. This time we had two pupils serving as Chairs of Committees, Konstantinos Zafeirakis in the GA3 Committee (Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee) and Penny Farmakidi in the WHO Committee (World Health Organisation) but also many pupils of Year 7 who very bravely took part in what was a very long weekend for them, a real achievement for pupils so young!

And they are all excited and ready for the upcoming participations in the Costeas-Geitonas School CGSMUN and the St Catherine’s SCMUN! No doubt these will be as successful and rewarding experiences as the first one of this academic year was. Well done to all participants!

On Thursday 25^th January, the Greek Department organised an outing to Katerina Vasilakou Theatre in the centre of Athens for our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils. The pupils watched the play “A child counts the stars” by Menelaos Loudemis, one of the greatest Greek writers and poets. The play presented the desire and the efforts of a poor child to be educated, and revealed timely messages such as acceptance of diversity, freedom of opinion, children's right to equal opportunity in education, etc. All our pupils enjoyed this play having enriched both their cultural and linguistic experience.

On Wednesday 7^th December, Year 1 classes took a very pleasant trip to the Cultural Park in Keratea, Attiki. There, the children had the opportunity to play some traditional games from the recent past and from ancient times too. Their learning coincided perfectly with the children's latest topic of study: Toys, Games & Books of the Past. After an enjoyable morning, the children returned full of ideas and learning.

On the 29^{th of} November the Greek Department organised an educational trip to the Acropolis for our Year 7 pupils.

During their visit pupils had the opportunity to see the significant buildings, the age-old statues, the ionic columns, and old temples that draw millions of visitors every year. Experienced guides provided our pupils with all the necessary information about the history and the myths of ancient Athens to help them understand and appreciate their whole experience on the Acropolis hill.

The pupils enjoyed a day out of school with their classmates and had the opportunity to see and learn about the cultural treasures of ancient Greece.

On 24th March, Year 9 embarked on an exciting educational trip to expand their understanding of Science and History beyond the syllabi. We started at the Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Centre, where pupils had a private viewing of the course which delves into the heart of Ancient Athenian democracy, which has been painstakingly recreated by carefully reconstructing written and physical sources to produce an accurate depiction of the ancient city of Athens, with lots of interesting details added for the benefit of pupils – for instance, the solid gold head of the statue of Athina, the patron of the Ancient City, was so large that it could be seen from the sea.

During the weekend Friday 16^th, Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th December 2022 twenty of our pupils took part in another Model United Nations conference at Costeas-Geitonas School. Our pupils represented two countries, France and Brazil, as Delegates in various Committees as diverse as the Disarmament and International Security Committee, the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, the Legal Committee, the Human Rights Committee and the Security Council. This time one of our pupils, Constantinos Zafeirakis, held the position of Co-Chair of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee.

The theme of this Conference was “Rebuilding Trust”, an extremely interesting and thought-provoking area of discussion. As the organisers point out in the CGSMUN Administrative Handbook, modern democracy and diplomacy depend on trust as it is vital to global stability and security. The United Nations itself runs on trust and partnership. Democracy’s key element is the communication between the political and civil societies, and when trust is lacking, democratic processes such as decision-making are severely impaired. In simple terms, in a democratic world, trust is a fundamental value and yet today we highly disregard it on a civil, domestic and international level. It is therefore more essential than ever that confidence between governments and people be improved as it is a prerequisite if confidence in relations between countries is to be restored. A lot of the topics that were debated in the Committees during the three days of intense work were therefore related to the theme of the Conference. Participating in this MUN event has given our pupils a better insight into today’s world challenges as they are preparing themselves to become international citizens, by providing them not only with valuable information but also with unique skills that they can use in their academic and professional lives.

We also need to congratulate Taylor Delight Goodall who, as the Delegate of Brazil, was named the Best Delegate Award of the UNICEF Committee.

Taking part in an MUN Conference has become very popular among both older and younger pupils, even as young as from Year 7. The pupils bravely sacrificed a whole weekend, debating over long hours on topics that are really challenging for them. Our older pupils are by now used to being Chairs of various Committees and help the younger members of the MUN Club of our school feel excited as well as informed and prepared. We are all looking forward to our next participation in February, at an MUN Conference which will see again one of our pupils, Kimberly Wang, as the Co-Chair of the WHO, the World Health Organisation Committee. Well done to all!

On Wednesday 7^th December, Year 1 visited the Cultural Park in Keratea as part of their topic on old toys and books. The children had the opportunity to play some ancient style games outdoors, which they thoroughly enjoyed as they learned about playtimes of the past such as spinning tops, clay marbles, paper balls and wooden puzzles. The Tug of War game and the sack race were particularly great fun!