On Wednesday 20th November 2019, Year 5 pupils who follow the Ancient Greek History course visited the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The pupils toured the Prehistoric Collections including an educational programme on the main characteristics of these civilisations. They focused on architecture, weaponry, pottery, sculpture, wall-paintings, jewellery and burial customs. 

A week later, on Wednesday 27th November, some Year 6 pupils were taken to the Historical Museum of Athens where the Old Parliament is located. The children sat in the old auditorium there and learned about the Greek flag, traditional costumes, Greek heroes of bygone times and the story of the Revolution. They were interested in the Playmobil exhibition there too, which taught them about the past through interactive games.

Where better to learn about the vibrant history of Greece but here in the heart of the capital?

November 14^th saw our school take part in the under-16 girls volleyball tournament at ISA school. Six international schools took part. Our team managed to get 1^st place after  winning all games played, and in spite of the fact we had the youngest roster(4 Yr. 7 girls included).

On the same day our boys under 16 football team competed at St. Catherine’s school against 5 international schools and took 2^nd place losing only in the final against St. Catherine’s school.

Well done to all involved!

On Friday 15th November 2019, our youngest pupils in FS1 visited the Cultural Park in Keratea for a little olive farming fun in the sun. The traditional stone press for olives provided an interesting living history experience for them as they learned about where our food comes from and what it takes to make a little oil. 

On the evening of Monday 23rd September, the Chinese Embassy in Psychiko, Athens, held a wonderful celebration for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. A very interesting opportunity was presented to St. Lawrence College by the Embassy when it cordially invited our school to participate.

The St. Lawrence College choir was present and sang both the Greek and Chinese National Anthems, displaying unity and cooperation of these two close nations nurturing their growing relationship. Ms Romeos conducted the choir and Ms Papalamprou accompanied on the piano for this harmonious display of multicultural diversity.
 

On Wednesday 27th November 2019, some of our year 6 pupils attended a fascinating pottery workshop in the northern suburbs where they got to experience the use of a potter's wheel and feel the texture of real, wet clay as it oozed between their fingers. Their studies of everyday life in Ancient Greece had led them to appreciate that pottery was not just art, but a way of life for the Ancient Greeks. However, as it is so unfamiliar to our modern hands which are more used to holding a smartphone than a raw material like malleable clay, it was all very exciting! History in real life is very engaging!

Ms Mavrikou from Doctors of the World visited our school on Tuesday 26th November to thank our pupils for their generous donation of 1,500€, raised before the summer. She explained how the money will be used to help those in need at their clinics. St. Lawrence College Junior School pupils made a promise to continue their support of this organisation. 

On Friday 22nd November, 2019, Years 4, 5 and 6 headed back to school for an evening of fun at the annual autumn disco party. And what a lot of fun they had! The children danced, shimmied on down under the limbo pole, vied to be chosen to wear a 'Hat' in the dance off, and shared pizzas and drinks too. All round, they had a super time with their friends. Who needs to be a grown up, eh?

Ms Despina Panagiotopoulou and her team of staff in the canteen have been helping the pupils of St. Lawrence College to do their bit for the planet with the launch of a full range of more environmentally friendly containers, cutlery, napkins, cups and biodegradable straws. A member of the senior school Environmental Club, when asked about her opinion on these changes that have been made in the canteen, commented, ‘With climate change posing a threat to life itself nowadays, it is important to see that our school is taking steps to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Reducing the plastic use in the canteen is showing pupils of all ages that even small actions can have a great impact!’

We are all very proud of the efforts that are being made at our school to reduce our ecological footprints and to consider the future of the planet.

On the 15th of November,Year 1 pupils visited the Toy Museum in Faliro as part of their topic on Old Books and Toys. The children were fascinated as they had never seen so many different kinds of old playthings.They were introduced to the first 'toys' from thousands years ago, learning how they changed through the ages. The children's tour was led by a guide and a doll with a mop. When asked what they thought, the children all agreed, "It was brilliant!"

On Wednesday 20th November 2019, Year 5 English History students had a fun-filled, fascinating day out at the Archaeological Museum in Athens where they enriched their knowledge of Ancient Egypt. They had the chance to see various Egyptian tools and treasures, but the highlight was definitely an authentic sarcophagus, complete with a real mummy inside!

In commemoration of the Greek national holiday on 28th October, St Lawrence College junior school put on a terrific performance with acting, singing and dancing. The pupils of year 6 re-enacted scenes set in Epirus at the beginning of the Greek-Italian war when soldiers went off to fight in the mountains of Pindos. There were newspaper boys who shared the news, villagers preparing clothes and blankets for the war effort and the glorious return of victorious soldiers. What a marvellous performance that our talented Ms Tsirigoti, Ms Giannakou and the Greek department put on. 

The ‘On-The-Spot’ Painting and Drawing Competition took place last weekend at Campion School and it was a lovely event that saw a number of international schools from the Attica area take part. Contestant’s ages ranged from 5-16 years.
The following five pupils from St. Lawrence College took part:

Alexandra Mavromichalis (Year 7)
Dorothea Svistunova ( Year 8)
Chen Yunhan (Emily) (Year 9 )
Yang Xueying (Rose) (Year 9) 
Elene Lomtatidze (Year 10)

It was an exciting  morning for our pupils, there was a lot of energy and artistic passion shown. They had worked very hard to prepare their ideas on the theme of ‘Nature’ in the weeks prior to the competition. We wish them the best of luck for the judging, but most importantly congratulate them all for taking the time to participate in this worthy event. A special thanks to Ms. Poulimenakos and Ms. Delikoura for accompanying and supporting the pupils. Congratulations too to Dorothea and Emily who came runner up in their age group!

Sunday 10th November was Remembrance Sunday, the day when British and Commonwealth countries remember servicemen and women who lost their lives during active service. This year’s Remembrance Sunday had special meaning as it was the 100th anniversary since the first Remembrance Sunday, held in 1919, one year after the end of the First World War.

Pupils of St. Lawrence College were asked by the British Embassy in Greece defence section to sing and read at the Remembrance Day ceremony held at the War Graves Commission cemetery in Falero. Year 12 pupil Jake Paternoster read a letter that a British soldier sent to his mother from the trenches of northern France in 1915. Eleni Kalendi, also Year 12, read the poem “To Germany”, written by Charles Sorley in 1915, which talks of longing for peace between the countries after the war. Both pupils’ readings were beautifully delivered and the attention of ambassadors from many countries, many military dignitaries and other members of the public was held as everyone reflected on the poignant words read by Jake and Eleni.

Later in the service wreaths were laid by a large number of ambassadors and representatives of countries, of army units and schools. Headmaster Mr Phil Holden laid a wreath on behalf of St. Lawrence College. While the wreaths were laid, a group of ten senior school pupils sang “Mansions of the Lord”, having been prepared for the occasion over a number of weeks by music teacher Ms Diana Romeos and accompanied on the acoustic guitar by guitar teacher Mr George Theofanidis.

After the event our pupils were thanked and congratulated by the British Ambassador Kate Smith and by the British Defence Attaché Tim Ferns. Everyone who attended the event was moved by the occasion and undoubtedly it was an honour for our school to be asked to play a central role in the proceedings.
 

We are only 2 months in and already our school has participated in several sports tournaments. 

On 24^th October it was the turn of the over 16 boys volleyball and girls football teams at ACS, with 6 international schools participating. We came a respectable 4^th in volleyball and 3^rd in girls football.

On 5^th November, we took 1^st place in girls over 16 volleyball tournament, which took place at ISA school, with 6 international schools participating.

November 6^th saw us hosting the under 16 boys volleyball tournament, with 6 school participating. Our boys narrowly missed out on the win coming 2^nd place overall.

On the same day ( November 6^th) our girls under 16 football team, although the youngest team of all with 5 year 7 pupils in the roster, came an impressive second.

Congratulations to all involved!

Last week in Durham University, England, two of our former St. Lawrence College Head Pupils, Bella Kontogianni (2018-2019) and Rosie Vorri (2016-2017) showed that they are still close friends working towards their goals and enjoying the new challenges of university life at Durham. They are pictured together here at the Durham IV, a prestigious debate competition which draws on finely tuned debating skills. Both of these students represented Greece, while at St. Lawrence College, in the WSDC (World Schools Debating Championship)and we wish them continued success in all their future endeavours.