On Wednesday 2nd November our Year 6 pupils who follow the Greek History course of study enjoyed a trip to the well-known ship, the Giorgios Averof armoured cruiser which is on permanent display in Palaio Faliro, Athens.They participated in an educational programme on the Balkan Wars and World Wars I & II. In addition, they experienced what everyday life on a battleship was like through observing original source material of objects and artefacts from those times.
 
The Greek teachers who accompanied the children were warmly congratulated on their pupils’ excellent behaviour and their academic knowledge. Bravo Year 6!

This is the History Department’s blog aimed for use for pupils from year 7 through to year 11. It contains useful articles, downloadable material and links for all pupils.

Learning beyond the classroom is a vital part of every child’s education, and educational visits, excursions, and trips to places of interest form an integral element of this experience.

We are committed to enriching the relevance of pupils’ learning by arranging off-site visits, where appropriate, as an extension of the curriculum. These opportunities broaden children’s horizons, deepen their understanding, and bring learning to life in meaningful and memorable ways.

All pupils in the Early Years and Junior School have the opportunity to attend several school trips throughout the academic year, and we take full advantage of all that is available in the surrounding Attica region. Popular destinations include the Athens Digital Planetarium, the Attica Zoological Park, the Archaeological Museum, and many other sites of cultural, historical, and scientific interest.

we take full advantage of all that is available in the surrounding Attica region

In addition, the PE Department organises a range of inter-school athletic tournaments for pupils in Key Stage 2. These visits to other schools provide opportunities for friendly competition, with the emphasis placed on participation and enjoyment in new and stimulating surroundings. St. Lawrence College is also proud to act as a host for such events, welcoming pupils from other schools to share in these valuable experiences.

Children in Year 4 have been learning about where our food comes from in Geography this term. They have thought about how different ingredients are exported and around the world to fulfill our needs.

On Monday, 13th June, 2016, Year 4 pupils visited the Karamolengos bread factory in Koropi. They learned about the different ingredients needed to make bread and where these ingredients come from.  Later on, they enjoyed a guided tour of the bread factory where they looked closely at the different stages of bread-making. Did you know that 6000 loaves of bread are made in one hour in this factory which never turns its ovens off at all? Can you guess how many loaves of bread are made in 24 hours?

After the visit to the bread factory, the children enjoyed a lovely afternoon at Varkiza Park by the sea, where they had a picnic lunch before heading back to school and enjoying a cool and delicious ice-cream. What a treat of a day that was for the last week before summer!

On Monday 22nd May 2017, Year 3 were given a lesson in Living History as they learned about life in the second world war from a lady who lived through that difficult time. Mrs Mary Fais came along to teach the children all about her personal experiences of living as a teenager through the conflict that tore this country and so many others to pieces. 

Their subject of study in History this term is 'Children in World War Two', so hearing first-hand from a ninety-one year old lady who experienced the daily challenges of that era when she was a teenage girl was a bonus for them. She shared her story - of how she and her family helped to shelter a Jewish family from the invading forces, and how she went on later to marry the son of the family she'd helped. Soft-spoken and quiet, she nevertheless held the children spellbound with her words. 

Hardship, hunger, cold and cruelty are thankfully not a part of our children's lives these days. Let's hope they understand and appreciate the safety and comfort they live in today. Thank you so much to Mrs Fais for her time 

During the weekend of 16th – 18th March 2018, eight pupils took part in an MUN Conference held at Pierce College, representing our school as Delegates of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Venezuela in Committees as diverse as the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural, the Disarmament and International Security, the Legal, and the Political and Decolonization Committees, the World Health Organization and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. This time one of our pupils served as the Deputy President of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

By taking part in a Model United Nations event our pupils are exposed to the world’s most delicate and pressing contemporary issues and get an insight into the problems that the international community faces today. They also learn about the solutions to those problems that are proposed, discussed and implemented by the UN through diplomacy and international cooperation. They themselves propose solutions during the discussion and debating of the resolutions they write and present.

This was the last of our participations for this year but our pupils, who are completely dedicated to MUN, are looking forward to the already scheduled Conferences of the next academic year.
 

Well done to this year’s International Award Silver participants for successfully completing their adventurous journey in Mt Menalon! Over three days, the students navigated mountain trails using only a map and compass, working in teams and making decisions independently. Along the way, they stopped at two monasteries nestled in the landscape—one of which, Prodromou Monastery, is built into the side of a rock, offering breathtaking views over the valley below.

On the second night, after completing the longest and most challenging hike of the expedition and having the chance to end the hike with a swim in Lousios river, the group gathered by the banks of the river to light a campfire. There, they roasted marshmallows and enjoyed a well-deserved meal under the stars—a memorable moment of rest and connection in the heart of nature.

Each evening, pupils set up camp at their destination, carrying all their gear and supplies throughout the expedition. The team covered over 30 kilometres on foot and demonstrated outstanding resilience, teamwork, and determination. A huge congratulations to our Year 11 IA team for this incredible achievement!

The main aim of the Forensics Club is to train pupils in the skills of public speaking and in investigating the spoken and written word in many of its forms. Practices take place during lunchtime on weekdays as well as on Saturdays in the run up to competitions. The club is open to all pupils of the senior school. The team, which represents St. Lawrence College at the annual Panhellenic Forensics Association Tournament, is chosen through try-outs.

The Panhellenic Forensics Tournament is a four-day tournament, where 18-22 schools with over 400 participants regularly take part. Participants compete in a number of events:

• Oral Interpretation of Literature (comic or dramatic)
• Duet Acting (comic or dramatic)
• Impromptu Speaking
• Original Oratory
• Group Discussion
• Debate                

St. Lawrence College has been participating, with great success, in the Panhellenic Forensics Association Tournament for the last 15 years, with a large number of pupils reaching the finals and achieving firsts in all the events. We have also consistently ranked in the top three schools in Greece and have won the Debate Cup several times. Overall, Forensics is one of the most vibrant and stimulating clubs in the school, with a reputation for ongoing excellence.

There are other competitions, tournaments and events that happen during the year both between schools and within our school. Many of these are specifically aimed at younger members of the Forensics and debate club. Above all, this active, vibrant community of performers and debaters develops key skills through an exciting and stimulating experience. Come along and find out!

In these unprecedented times our school's Services Society managed to complete two projects during the first part of the Autumn term. All of us together, pupils, parents and teachers, continued our support for the Soup Kitchen in Anavyssos, a philanthropic organisation with whom we, as a school, have longstanding strong links, by providing them with much needed food items for their everyday operations. 

We have been supporting the unaccompanied refugee young teenage boys of FAROS for a few years now. Currently there are 22 young boys who have very little to occupy them in their spare time. The Services Society, assembled 22 back-pack bags for them, packed with items as varied as notebooks, pens, pencils and other school supplies, drawing items, small puzzles, cereal bars, toothpaste and toothbrushes, Dettol soaps and disinfectant gels. We also donated to the organisation that takes care of them books that both the English and the Greek Departments kindly offered. It is certainly with great pleasure that we gave these bags to the 22 boys, who have experienced tremendous struggles in their lives so far, something constructive to do in their free time.

Many thanks are offered to all of those involved in these projects from precious young volunteer helpers of the Services Society from the Junior School through to the oldest Year 13 pupils who have never refused to contribute and help.

Some pupils in Years 7-9 enjoyed a wonderful evening in central Athens on Friday. First, they visited ‘Van Gogh Alive – The Experience’ at Megaro Mousikis. This is no ordinary art exhibition; our pupils found themselves interacting with art in ways they never imagined. From start to finish they were surrounded by a powerful and vibrant symphony of light, colour and sound that brought Van Gogh’s masterpieces to life as they walked right into the paintings. The exhibition provided an unforgettable multi-sensory experience!

From Megaro Mousikis the pupils headed to the National Observatory of Athens, on the Hill of the Nymphs overlooking the Parthenon and the lights of the city. Inside the beautiful Sinas building pupils learnt how this site has been used for astronomical observations since the 5^th century BC. Pupils had the opportunity to examine the first optical telescopes of Greece, including the original telescope used by Juilius Schmidt to draw the most accurate map of the moon during that period as well as the meridian refracting telescope, which was used up until 1964 to measure the transit times of stars across the local Athens meridian to calculate the official time of Greece. However, the highlight of the observatory tour for the pupils was when they got to use the 5m Doridis telescope to observe a star 25 light years away.

We would like to congratulate our Year 11 International Award Silver participants on successfully completing their last and qualifying Silver expedition on the beautiful island of Tinos last weekend.

The expedition began on Friday 12th June, with the team setting off from the port of Tinos. Demonstrating excellent work and determination, they completed their first hike ahead of schedule and had time to enjoy an exhilarating swim at the beach of Kionia. That evening, despite strong winds, the students successfully pitched their tents and put their outdoor cooking skills into practice. On the second day, Saturday 13th June, the team embarked on a slightly longer hike before reaching a more sheltered campsite, where they enjoyed a well-earned and hearty evening meal. The final day of the expedition, Sunday 14th June, began early in the morning, with participants taking on their longest and most demanding hike of the expedition. Showing resilience, perseverance, and outstanding teamwork, they successfully navigated the mountainous terrain of Tinos and completed their journey back at the port.

Throughout the expedition, the pupils faced challenging weather conditions, particularly during the first night when strong winds tested their adaptability and problem-solving skills. They also demonstrated impressive navigation abilities, confidently applying the skills they have developed and refined over the past two years.

This expedition was a true testament to their commitment, independence, and determination. We are incredibly proud of all their achievements. Once again congratulations to all participants on this outstanding accomplishment!

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the website of St. Lawrence College, the British school in Greece. I am confident that the information and the imagery in these pages will give you a powerful indication of the warmth and happiness and above all the learning that takes place across the entire community of this wonderful school.

St. Lawrence College offers a British education to children ages 3-18, in a modern purpose-built campus set in more than 20 acres of glorious countryside in southern Athens. The school’s stunning location provides the ideal setting for unpressurised learning. It is served by an excellent communications network that provides easy access to pupils based across the entire Athens-Piraeus conurbation. In this peaceful rural setting, complete with first-class resources and facilities, children can develop their study skills and achieve lasting and meaningful learning.

They become citizens of the world, fully equipped to recognise and respect diversity...

The education our pupils receive is based upon the English National Curriculum and British educational values throughout, from pre-school through junior school (Key Stage 1 & 2) and senior school (Key Stages 3-5), with IGCSEs being taken at the end of Year 11 and AS & A-Levels in Years 12 and 13. UK universities are the most popular destination for higher education for our school leavers, with enrolment in colleges and universities across the EU, the USA and elsewhere in the world also popular

Under the guidance of an outstanding body of teachers, our pupils succeed in reaching far more than their academic potential alone. They become citizens of the world, fully equipped to recognise and respect diversity, either in their immediate society or within the global environment; to appreciate and utilise the opportunities provided for them, and to understand the value of being an active and considerate member of their community. They forge bonds of friendship within an inclusive environment of pupils from more than fifty nationality backgrounds.

A website can only go so far. The best way to fully appreciate the atmosphere of happy and safe development that children live and breathe at our school is to experience it for yourself. Therefore, should you wish to visit St. Lawrence College and observe first-hand the quality of learning that happens in our stunning educational environment, it would be our pleasure to welcome you at our premises and show you face-to-face just what makes St. Lawrence College special.

Phil Holden
Headmaster

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.

It is with immense sadness that we inform our school community of the sudden passing of our ex-pupil Despina Karvouni, aged 24.

Despina, who graduated from St. Lawrence College in 2014, contributed enormously to our school community while also sustaining an extraordinary standard of dedication and consistency towards her own learning. Her record of achievement is unsurpassed. In addition to being a leading debater for our school, Despina was the captain of our debate team, an active member for our school’s Model United Nations delegation and a fine performer in our Forensics group. Despina approached all such activities with wholehearted commitment and an infectious enthusiasm, and was always keen to support other, younger pupils she was participating alongside.

Her achievements in debate, for school and country, were outstanding. While in Year 9 Despina was a finalist at the 2010 International Competition for Young Debaters and her team finished among the top 15 teams in the world. In the 2014 Panhellenic debate tournament, with over thirty schools represented and hundreds of young men and women taking part, she was ranked the number one best speaker at the entire event. Despina represented Greece as a member of the Greek national debate team in the World Schools Debating Championship in 2013, and then again in 2014, this time as captain of the Greek team.

Academically, Despina was brilliant and a role model for all pupils. Her stunning results of ten IGCSEs (9A*1A), five AS-Levels (AAAAA) and four A-Levels (A*AAA) were the consequence of her unwavering dedication to study, as much as her raw intelligence. It was richly deserved that she should be the winner of the History Prize, the Mathematics Prize, and the Headmaster’s Prize for Academic Excellence at her graduating Annual Award Ceremony in June 2014. Above all, Despina was a modest, polite, caring young woman with a wonderful smile, a love for her school community and a desire to support others. She was a natural choice for school prefect and she was an excellent Head Girl in her final school year.

After leaving our school Despina studied Law at Durham University in the UK, where she was awarded a first class degree. After further training and a specialism in Corporate Law, Despina had recently qualified as a solicitor, ready to practise in the UK legal system.

Despina’s sudden passing has brought terrible and profound shock and grief to all who knew her. At this time we remember her wonderful contribution to so many aspects of our school life and the example she set. We think of her many friends from her class of 2014, still a very connected and close-knit group. And, most of all, we give our thoughts, support and deep condolences to Despina’s family and closest friends who are suffering overwhelming grief and bewildering loss at this very difficult time.

Following an impressive selection process with many excellent applicants from SLC Year 6 this September, we now have new House Captains for Attica, Epirus and Macedonia Houses.

Our newly appointed House Captains delivered their introductory speeches during a whole-school assembly, showcasing their confidence, enthusiasm and leadership potential. The standard was exceptionally high; the House Captains spoke with maturity and passion, demonstrating that they are ready to take on their important roles within the school community. 

We look forward to seeing the positive impact these young leaders will make throughout the year!