On Friday 26th October, at 11:30 am in the Cultural Hall, the Junior School’s Year 5 & Year 6 pupils will commemorate the 28th October 1940 anniversary of OXI Day by singing traditional songs and presenting skits.

On Thursday 3rd May 2018, year 6 went on a trip to the Digital Museum/ Ακαδαμία Πλάτωνος in Athens. As part of the History curriculum this year, both the Greek language History class and the English language History class have studied the great thinkers of the past and learned about the culture of Ancient Athens, its philosophers and its famous people. 

The children enjoyed visiting this small, modern museum with its computer screens and video rooms as well as walking to the adjacent ruins of Plato’s gymnasium and academy. Exploring this city’s history on our doorstep is a treat not to be missed!

During this summer term, the Early Years classes have been keeping busy with learning in and out of school. On Monday 23rd April, the FS1 and FS2 classes went to the zoo where they saw lots of different animals and even got the chance to pet some of them. Everyone's favourite was the amazing dolphin show as they loved watching the dolphins jump and splash the water with their flippers.

Then on 10th May the children took a trip to ever-exciting fire station to reinforce their learning in the topic of ‘People Who Help Us’. They learnt about the special helmets and clothes the fire fighters wear to protect them from fire, and they were even allowed to take turns spraying water with the hose.

What fun they're having in Early Years! 

Every summer, for one month, St. Lawrence runs a highly successful, action-packed, fun-filled summer programme suited to children aged from three to fourteen. Yet again this year, SLC is the place to be as we are busy preparing a productive and enjoyable course of activities for your children in June and July.

As always, we wait with excited anticipation to welcome back old faces and meet new ones too. It is satisfying to renew old friendships and initiate new ones in such a positive, stimulating environment! We guarantee a special experience for our pupils, as we offer optimum learning and superb sports facilities on our spacious campus.

Here at St Lawrence College, there is everything on offer - from exceptional tuition in English language to sport, dance, chess, recycled art, 3D paper architecture art, robotics, yoga, field games, mini golf, roller skating, crafts and many more activities. This year we are also happy to introduce to our programme a Greek Philosophy, Drama and Dance class for ages 7+. Greek language is also offered to children aged 5-7.

Registration is now open and we look forward to seeing your child/children on 25th June at 9:00 a.m. for the start of an exciting summer.
Please contact the Registrar, Mrs. Emily Naoum, for further details, either by email or by phone at +30210 8917000

On Friday 23rd and Saturday the 24th February our school took part in the Athens Round of the World Scholar’s Cup 2018. This took place at Costeas-Geitonas School in Pallini. There were thirty three participants forming eleven teams from years 7 to 11. There were eight teams in the Junior Division and three teams in the Senior Division.

Every World Scholar's Cup features four exciting events:

• Scholar’s Bowl,
• Collaborative Writing,
• Scholar’s Challenge 
• Team Debate.

These are mostly team efforts and include multiple choice questions and interactive competitions. This year the main theme was “An Entangled World” and was approached through seven different subject areas: Science, History, Literature, Social Sciences, Art and Music and a Special Area which was Human Relationships. St Lawrence College came first in the Debate Rounds in both Junior and Senior Divisions, we achieved second place overall in the Junior Division, while so many of our participants excelled. Everyone had a wonderful and exciting two days!

Many thanks to all the teachers who coached at lunchtime, to Ms Scafidas, Ms Sapountzaki, Ms Lazaris and Ms Galloway for accompanying the pupils and also to Ms. Scafidas and Ms. Armouti for co-ordinating the whole event.

On Friday 16th February 2018, the Junior School celebrated the carnival season with a larger than usual dose of fun and excitement. From the morning assembly hosted by none other than Elvis, the laughs continued non stop! Each year the costumes are outstanding, and this year was no exception. Teachers and children alike went to great effort to create a positive atmosphere of fantasy and fun. By the time the bell rang for the end of the day, many costumes were looking worse for wear but boy-oh-boy had they been a great success!

On Monday 12^th February, sixteen Year 7 pupils visited the library of Saronida and the soup kitchen in Anavyssos as part of the school’s Services Society work for helping people in need. Our pupils made use of money that had been collected from bake sales, non-uniform days and other pre-Christmas functions and visited a local supermarket where they purchased goods needed by the charity in Anavyssos for the meals prepared there every day. All pupils were very happy to participate in such a worthy activity and they proved to be extremely careful in spending the money wisely, so that they could buy the most with it!

When visiting the library, they were shown books that pupils from our school have donated in previous years and, later on, in the soup kitchen it was like visiting old friends! People there were expecting us with great pleasure and were full of praise for the pupils, their parents and our school for teaching compassion and dedication through charity work. Our pupils not only delivered the food items but placed everything on the shelves, visited the kitchen, the storage rooms for food and clothes and enjoyed talking to the volunteers.

As expected, pupil behaviour was of the highest quality. They really enjoyed this different experience which gave them an insight into the point of delivery of the charity work. The pupils now understand how the results of our charity drives really get delivered and make a difference. What is more, our school’s well-established bond with the Saronida and Anavyssos charities was strengthened further, with younger pupils taking over in the Services Society work conducted by St. Lawrence College.

Christmas is the time of giving and sharing! What better time could there be to show our care for people less fortunate than us than this time of the year! Once again the spirit of Christmas shone in our school and the pupils and teachers of the Services Society are very happy to thank all of their classmates and all of the parents who helped with the collection of basic toiletries, clothes and school supplies for the Saronicos Young Volunteers Group. Our school has a long tradition of assisting the Soup Kitchen in Anavyssos which is part of this group, especially at Christmas time, and our donations and contributions are always appreciated. The young girls and boys of Anavyssos showed their appreciation by a nice message of gratitude and by offering to us a special “box of gratitude” made by them inside which our pupils can collect little notes of things they are grateful for and this information can later be exchanged between them. What a lovely idea to remember from time to time that there is always something to be grateful for! And what better way of finishing the year but by the giving of practical things for everyday needs and, above all, giving of love and showing of care. Well done and a big thank you to parents, pupils and teachers!

Mr Holden took time out from his busy schedule as Headmaster yesterday to do a bit of impromptu juggling tuition. Pupils from all year groups, and even some teachers, got involved in the juggling lessons which took place at lunch time. After a bit of fumbling and a few spillages, people were starting to get the hang of it, but perhaps not quite reaching the party-trick levels of the Headmaster. 

An excellent, fun way to close a very enjoyable first term. We look forward to seeing the fruits of the session in next year’s Christmas talent show

During the weekend of the 8^{th -} 10^th December, seven pupils from our school took part in the 12^th Costeas-Geitonas Model United Nations (MUN) which this year had as its main theme ‘The Rise of Populism’. Our pupils acted as delegates of Turkey and the Republic of Korea in the Human Rights Committee, the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, the Environmental Committee, the Disarmament Committee, the Economic and Social Council and the Special Conference on the Rise of Populism.

They discussed and debated topics as diverse as addressing the risks of cyber-terrorism, enhancing humanitarian assistance in times of conflict, ensuring access to healthcare for migrant populations, analysing the rise of populism as a threat to human rights or finding measures to counter hate speech.

MUN participation is very popular in our school and although this year only seven pupils took part, they were the most dedicated pupils to MUN ever attending, with one of them taking part on crutches and very bravely climbing up the many steps of Costeas-Geitonas school! As always our pupils made a noticeable presence in their Committees, with one of them being voted the best delegate of the Special Conference. The dedication of all our participants is remarkable since, as they describe it, they enjoy meeting other young people and learning a lot about world affairs through serious discussions on contemporary problems; and this became even more apparent in the way they have already started to prepare themselves for their next conference. Well done to all!

Counselling psychologist Marialena Kalyva Dragazi will be talking to parents, and taking questions, on the subject of “Internet and Gaming Addiction”. The presentation will be in English and will take place in senior school. Parents who are attending should make their way to the senior school reception area from where they will be directed to the room hosting the presentation. 
The problem of children suffering addictions to the internet and online gaming is a concern for many parents, I know, and so I ask you to contact either telephone or email the senior school (seniorschool@slc.gr) or junior school (juniorschool@slc.gr) to let us know if you plan to attend this presentation. 
Ms Kalyva Dragazi has worked with the staff of St. Lawrence College in the past and, being aware of how knowledgeable she is, and what an effective communicator she is, I am very pleased that she has agreed to return to our school to speak to parents on this important theme. In addition to making this presentation, Ms Kalyva Dragazi will be in school for two full days working in several year group sessions with pupils from Years 9-13 on the theme of self-esteem and the worrying problem of self-harming among teenagers.  

The presentation will take place at 9:00 am on Monday 11th December
 

We will be holding the first of this year’s careers mornings for KS4 & 5 (Years 10 – 13) on Monday morning 8: 50am – 10:10 am. The visiting speakers are our ex-pupil Kareen Naiman (nee Kareen Pong) a charity worker, Mr Andreas Persidis who founded a biotech company and  Mr Stavros Halkias who runs a games company. 

On Wednesday 15th November 2017, Year 5 pupils who follow Ancient Greek History this year visited the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. They toured the Prehistoric Collections  of the Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean eras. They followed an educational programme on the main characteristics of these civilisations in Greece focusing on architecture, weaponry, pottery, sculpture, wall-paintings, jewellery and burial customs. The visit was concluded with a view of artefacts from the Geometric and Archaic periods. 

The children appreciated the opportunity to take their learning out of the classroom where they could see first hand, real artefacts from the past. A worthwhile visit indeed!

On Friday 2nd March, the pupils in Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6) will have a day of invention and fun in the indoor gymnasium at the Junior School Science Fair. The children submitting an investigation will present their projects to a panel and be judged on their scientific thinking, analysis and conclusions. The winning entries from each year group will receive a prize!

Dear Parents,
I am delighted to invite you to a very valuable presentation for the parents of our pupils happening later this month at our school. A leading figure in British education, Mr Andy Buck, will be speaking on strategies that can be used by parents to support their child in his or her education. This really is an opportunity not to be missed and is equally applicable for parents of pupils from any year group across the junior and senior school.

Andy Buck’s influence on education and schools in the UK has been immense over the last twenty-five years. After headships of two schools in the UK, Andy was designated as a National Leader of Education, so outstanding were the improvements in his schools. In 2009 he was appointed as a Director of the National College of School Leadership in the UK, which is the premier training provider for UK Headteachers.

In addition, Andy was appointed as the Managing Director of one of the UK’s largest academy chain of schools, United Learning, and was responsible for setting up the UK government’s Teaching Schools programme – where new teachers are trained, assessed and gain full teaching qualifications while employed in schools.

Somehow, Andy has also found time to set up two educational organisations which support school leaders, ‘Leadership Matters’ and ‘#honk’ and has written five influential books on education and leadership. True to his roots as a Geography teacher, Andy is currently the Honorary Vice President of the UK Geographical Association and is Education Advisor to the Duke of Edinburgh/International Award.

Clearly Andy is a very busy man and so I am thrilled that he is able to visit St. Lawrence College for two days and work with senior leaders of the school, middle leaders, pupils and parents.

Andy will speak to and answer questions from parents in the Cultural Hall at 09.00am, Friday 29th September. The session will last approximately 90 minutes and as I anticipate this will be a very popular event, I ask parents to contact the junior or senior school by phone (210 8917000) or email (juniorschool@slc.gr or seniorschool@slc.gr) to tell us you will be attending and to help us plan the event.

I strongly urge you to come as firstly Andy’s advice to you will be very valuable as you support your child in their learning, and secondly because you will find the experience highly rewarding and entertaining – Andy is a fascinating and engaging speaker and will really challenge how you think about education and learning! I look forward to seeing you at this exciting event.

Sincerely,
Phil Holden
Headmaster