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

The Services Society of our school has being really active this Christmas. With the help and support of parents, the members of St Lawrence College Services Society helped, as they have done for several years now, the Soup Kitchen in Anavyssos - Saronida, and two new charities and shelter providers, FAROS in the centre of Athens who take care of unaccompanied refugee children, and ECHO100PLUS in Leros who take care of refugees arriving at the island, on a daily basis almost, having survived the terrible crossing of the Aegean Sea.

The most important project that the members of Services Society underwent was the launch of the SHOEBOX Campaign. For that they packed a box for a girl or a boy of various age groups with things like toothpaste and toothbrushes, hair combs, soap, shampoo and deodorant, colouring books and colouring pencils, small toys and puzzles, items of clothing such as T-shirts, gloves, hats or warm socks and always a small book for them to read. We managed to produce 160 boxes full of these items! 30 of these boxes were given to the soup kitchen in Anavyssos - Saronida together with a lot of food items that the pupils themselves bought in a visit to a local supermarket using some of the money collected at the Autumn Festival through various games played that evening on our school’s playground. The other 130 boxes were given to FAROS children who were reportedly very excited and happy to receive them. We, in Services Society, sincerely hope to make the SHOEBOX Campaign an annual event for our school, an event that will grow bigger and bigger every year.

We also helped ECHO100PLUS with their request of gathering coats, shoes and clothes needed desperately for refugee men arriving in the far away island of Leros. These items were either kindly donated by parents or bought using some of the Autumn Festival gathered money.

The act of giving matters! To those who receive, since it reduces their feelings of isolation and loneliness, and reminds them that they are not ignored or forgotten but they are valued members of our society. To those who give, since it brings people together and works towards giving a human face to the broad issue of poverty which should be eradicated completely from this world. And our pupils gave with all their heart, not only goods that can be bought with money but by sacrificing numerous lunchtimes and free periods to produce presents for other children who they have never even met. Our pupils make us proud and yes, they make us think that we all work towards a better world.

St. Lawrence College is proud to deliver The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

The Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award, bringing together practical experiences and useful skills to equip young people for life. Since it was founded, in 1956, by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh (husband to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom), over eight million young people have participated in the Award in over 140 countries and territories. Schools, colleges, universities, employers, social clubs, youth organisations such as the Scouts, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, young offenders’ institutions, religious organisations, sports clubs and more all run the Award.

...the world’s leading youth achievement award...

St. Lawrence College has a long history of offering the International Award to young people aged 15 to 18 and the numbers of pupils involved has grown steadily over the years, making it one of our most popular activities.

What is involved?

The Award is voluntary, non-competitive, enjoyable and balanced, and requires effort over time. There are two levels of the Award at our school: Bronze and Silver.

The Bronze Award

The Bronze award is open to Year 10 pupils and its club meets once a week after school, from 3.30 to 4.30 pm. For the Bronze award, children are expected to undertake four adventurous expeditions –to Mt. Parnitha, Mt. Hymettos, Mt. Helikonas (with overnight camping) and Kea Island (with overnight camping).

The Silver Award

The Silver Award is open to pupils from Year 11 and above, who meet occasionally during school lunchtimes and more frequently prior to expeditions. For the Silver Award, children are expected to undertake two treks –to Mt. Menalo and Mt. Parnassos (3 days and 2 nights each).

Young people design their own Award programme, set their own goals and record their own progress. They must complete voluntary work, commit to physical recreation, learn a new skill and go on an expedition. During the expedition, they are only competing against themselves by challenging their own beliefs about what they can achieve.

More information on The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award can be found at www.intaward.org.

On Friday 24th April, our Under 14 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams concluded their season by taking part in the interschool tournament hosted by Campion School. Our young athletes performed brilliantly throughout the day, showing great teamwork, energy, and determination. It was a fantastic event filled with fast-paced games and plenty of basketball spirit.

 Well done to all involved for representing our school with pride and enthusiasm, and congratulations to our coaches, Ms Tzavella and Mr Karamatsios, for their guidance, encouragement, and commitment throughout the season.

On Tuesday 17th March, our Under-16 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams competed in their respective tournaments.

Our boys’ team travelled to ACS, where they unfortunately did not progress past the group stage after losses to Byron School and ISA.

Our girls’ team, on the other hand, played at home and delivered an outstanding performance. They went undefeated through the group stage, securing wins against ACS and Byron School. In a very close final against Campion, they triumphed 30-26, earning a well‑deserved 1st place.

Congratulations to all the pupils who took part, and a special thank you to our basketball coaches, Mr. Karamatsios and Ms. Tzavella, for their continued dedication and support.

In what is becoming a yearly tradition, we were very pleased to welcome five Scottish universities to our campus yesterday to talk to our Year 12 pupils. Representatives from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Strathclyde and Heriot – Watt talked about the benefits of studying in Scotland in general as well as giving lots of really interesting information about each specific university. They were then on hand to answer individual questions, giving the pupils who attended lots of food for thought about their options moving forward.

With university application season well underway and both Year 12 and 13 pupils looking to the future, we have been fortunate to have some visitors to our campus who were able to give our older pupils some food for thought.

First to call in, was the European University Consortium consisting of 4 institutions, all of which deliver degree courses in English. Of the four, Bocconi University, Milan and EHL (Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne) are probably the most well-known, but it was also fascinating to find out about Constructor University, based in Bremen, and the Brussels School of Governance. As well as giving a brief presentation, the representatives held a mini fair afterwards to answer any questions - of which there were many!

Two weeks later, we were honoured to be visited by the Irish Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador to Greece who came to talk about studying and living in Ireland. As well as giving really interesting details about life in the emerald isle and the wonderful opportunities studying there provides, the ambassador also talked about her own career path and how she ended up doing the job she now does, which our pupils found very interesting and gave them much to consider.

Next up, we will be hosting a representative from our most popular UK university destination, UCL, as well as looking at options a little closer to home after the half-term break.

In early June, 18 pupils from Years 9 and 10 set off on an exciting trip to the South of France – and, of course, to practise their French!

After a long journey, the children arrived at the campsite and enjoyed its facilities – swimming pool, slides, football pitches, and table tennis. They settled into their bungalows and spent the evening bonding over chats and card games.

The next day was full of sunshine and activity. They cycled through the scenic landscapes of Port-Camargue and Le Grau-du-Roi, spotting wild flamingos along the way. In the medieval town of Aigues-Mortes, they sampled local dishes like mussels and gardiane de taureau, explored the town, and visited the pink salt marshes by train. On the way back, they stopped for dinner and tried French tacos.

On the third day, the children cycled to the Espiguette Lighthouse and climbed its 111 steps. A guide explained the region’s geography and sand dunes, and the pupils impressed with their curiosity. Lunch by the beach followed – with crêpes for dessert, of course!

Their final evening was filled with games, songs, and laughter. On the last day, they packed up, played a final round of football and mini basketball, and did some last-minute shopping before heading home.

Everyone returned to Athens with sun-kissed cheeks, great memories, and plenty of stories to share.

We are incredibly proud to congratulate both of our International Award Bronze groups for successfully completing their final adventurous journey on the island of Kea during the weekends of 3rd- 4th May and 24th- 25th May.
Over the course of these two weekends, each group undertook a challenging two-day expedition, carrying all their own equipment and preparing their meals independently using portable cookers. This journey tested not only their physical endurance but also their resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
On the first day, after completing a demanding hike through Kea’s beautiful yet rugged terrain, the students were rewarded with a refreshing swim—an enjoyable and well-deserved break that lifted spirits and celebrated their hard work. As evening fell, the groups gathered to cook hearty meals, followed by the timeless camp tradition of roasting marshmallows under the stars, sharing stories and laughter around the warmth of their cookers.
Throughout the expedition, all pupils demonstrated exceptional teamwork, determination, and maturity. They applied skills they’ve developed over the past year—not just in mountain navigation and map reading, but also in leadership, collaboration, and self-reliance. From managing group dynamics to cooking safely in outdoor conditions, each participant showed remarkable growth and adaptability.
This final journey was a culmination of months of preparation, learning, and effort, and each student should be incredibly proud of their achievements. They 've not only conquered mountains but also grown as individuals and as team members.
Well done to each and every one of them!

On Thursday, 27th March, our U14 boys and girls basketball teams competed in their respective tournaments. The boys went undefeated in the pool stages and reached the final, securing second place after a hard-fought match against ACS.

The girls, also undefeated throughout the tournament, finished in second place after a draw with Campion School, losing out on goal average.

Congratulations to all our players and coaches for their excellent performance and teamwork!
 

On March 12th, our Under-16 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams achieved great success in their respective tournaments.

The girls travelled to Campion School, where they faced four different teams. They won all four games by an impressive average margin of 17 points! The girls were thrilled to bring home gold medals just in time to cheer on the boys, who were up against St. Catherine’s in the final.

The boys’ final was full of dramatic moments. With just 30 seconds left on the clock, they were trailing 27-30. They quickly tied the game with a clutch 3-pointer. Then, with 18 seconds remaining and the game tied at 30-30, the boys regained possession. In a stunning turn of events, they scored the winning basket just as the buzzer sounded the end of the game, securing a dramatic comeback victory. The players celebrated alongside the girls, who cheered them on from the stands.

A huge congratulations to both teams for their outstanding performances, and a big thank you to our coaches, Ms. Tzavella and Mr. Karamatsios, for their hard work with the teams.

On Tuesday, 18 February, our talented Under 16 Girls’ basketball team competed in the Over 16 tournament hosted by ACS School. Despite being the youngest team in the competition, they demonstrated outstanding skill, teamwork, and determination.
With impressive victories against St. Catherine's and Campion, our team advanced to the final. In a hard-fought match against the strong ACS host team, our players gave their all but narrowly missed out on the championship title.
Congratulations to our young and promising athletes for their incredible performance and bright future ahead!
 

From Thursday 5th until Sunday 8th December, our boys' and girls' Over-16 football teams participated in a 4-day tournament hosted by Anatolia School in Thessaloniki. For three consecutive years, we have proudly had at least one team reach the final.

This year, while our boys’ team didn’t make it past the group stage having lost to PIERCE, in their second game they displayed great effort with a 3-1 victory over AFS School. On the other hand, our girls’ team demonstrated outstanding resilience and determination, battling through extreme weather conditions to secure a spot in the final. With two wins (against Campion and PIERCE) and a draw (against St. Catherine's). In the final they faced the host school, Anatolia and despite coming up short after a hard-fought match, our girls were proud to finish in 2nd place—a fantastic achievement!

Special recognition goes to our exceptional centre-back, Stella Nouvaki, who was awarded MVP of the tournament. Additionally, we extend heartfelt congratulations to both teams for their exemplary behaviour, dedication, and incredible efforts throughout the trip.

A big thank you to our boys' coach and devoted teacher, Mr. Strzemiecki, as well as the girls' coach, Mr. Styliatis, for their unwavering support and guidance over the past three years. Their commitment has been instrumental in fostering the teams' growth and success.

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!