Another year of debating began with Joanna Sakkadas and Markella Papadopoulos winning the novice category at the St. Catherine's Debate Competition on Saturday. Ioanna Moirasgenti and Andreas Hagis also made the novice final, whilst in the senior category, Lucas Petropoulos and Emily Holden both ranked in the top 10 speakers.

A great event, well done to all involved!

On Wednesday, 27th September 2017, Year 6 went on a Geography trip to study the physical and human features of a coastal environment in detail. This field work was undertaken as a practical element of the work being done this term. The beach at Aghia Marina was their case study and the visit was enjoyed immensely by the children, as they examined the coast and all its interesting features up close. 

"It was like going to the beach, but more fun," commented one of the pupils with a grin. Learning is more fun than a trip to the beach - now that's what we like to hear!

On Friday 27th October, at 11:30 am in the Cultural Hall, the Junior School’s Year 6 pupils will commemorate the 28th October 1940 anniversary of OXI Day by presenting a performance based on Alki Zei’s book ‘Petros’ War’ («Ο μεγάλος περίπατος του Πέτρου»), about a young boy's life in occupied Athens during the Second World War.

On Friday, 22nd September, 2017, a Junior school PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) assembly started the year for all pupils with energy and enthusiasm.  Our Headmistress, Ms Good, calmed and then enthused the pupils about the topic, “Being Me in My World”. There was discussion with five-year olds and ten-year olds alike contributing their thoughts and ideas about how our school community could be a better place by helping others feel welcome in these first few weeks especially. 

“Saying one kind thing may be the most important thing you do today,” proposed Ms Good. This was the message taken on board by the whole school. To make the afternoon complete, an electrifying rendition of the Singup song “One and a Million” was sung by everyone in the hall.

 “One and a million, join us today, building tomorrow, leading the way… United we are strong.”

Friday 9th February, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm we will be having the Junior School Disco for Years 4, 5 & 6. Children will enjoy dancing and having fun with their classmates. There will be pizza and a juice box served and prizes for the winners of our dance competitions. 
 

On Friday 16th February, inspired by the Rio Carnival, Early Years and the Junior School will celebrate the festivities by having class parties, parading in costumes and dancing to music. 

Friday 24th November from 6:00pm to 8:30pm we will be having the Junior School Disco for Years 4, 5 & 6. Children will enjoy dancing and having fun with their classmates. Pizza and a juice box will be served to keep up their energy for our dance competitions! 

We all love those long hot summer days soaking up the sun and splashing in the waves, don't we? That's why the last day of term is such a special treat for our junior school graduates. They get to spend their last day before moving on to senior school at the beach with their teachers and friends.

On Thursday 15th June 2017, Year 6 happily headed for Avlaki beach in Porto Rafti for a fun-filled day playing, swimming and eating ice cream. As you can see from the smiles on their faces, they loved every minute of it. Goodbye and good luck to all of them! 

...from my friends," was the title of the assembly put on by Ms Treharne's Reception class on Friday 2nd June 2017. The story of the Rainbow Fish who wanted to play with all the other underwater creatures was told sweetly by our 5 year olds. There was a starfish, an octopus, a shark and a stingray too. The moral of the story was that 'Caring is Sharing' as the rainbow fish realised she had to give away some of her beautiful shimmering scales to the other sea creatures. The octopus told her, ‘You will no longer be the most beautiful fish in the sea, but you will discover how to be happy,' because she'd have so many friends.

The children happily sang the Beatles song ‘With a little help from friends’ and ‘Sunshine in my heart' with Ms Bakewell accompanying on the piano. Bravo to the children and many thanks also to the parents for their help with the wonderful costumes that really helped to bring the whole performance to life on stage!

Year 8 took their Geography learning outdoors this week by conducting coastal fieldwork at Psatha beach. They enjoyed the day doing field sketching, measuring the angle of the beach, sampling the beach material and examining wave types and longshore drift. It was a great opportunity for pupils to see the Geography they have learned about in the classroom in real life. After completing all the data collection, they enjoyed a three course meal at a local seaside taverna to complete their lovely day out.  

Ms Roumanas' year 4 class gave us a lovely class assembly called 'Perseverance' on Friday 26th May 2017.  The children acted out scenes from their favourite class novel and showed us examples of people who had persevered until they finally succeeded in overcoming all the obstacles in their way. 

A cute sing-a-long at the end rounded off this entertaining and educational assembly which was a lesson we must not forget: that success is down to 90% determination and only 10% talent, not the other way round. Well done 4R on a super assembly!

On Tuesday, 16th May, Year 4 visited the beautiful coastal village of Vravona, Attiki, for an excursion which combined geography and history. As part of this trip, the children went to see the extraordinary ancient ruins at the Temple of Artemis. They had a tour of the Museum and were able to see many artefacts which had been found both on site and in the surrounding area.

Later, the children walked along the mudflats towards the estuary, looking at the features of the landscape and its wildlife. It was an enjoyable and educational day!
 

On Friday 12th May 2017, Ms Archolekas' Year 1 class taught us all about the importance of reading and writing in a sweet little assembly called The King's Sectret. This poor old king couldn't read, nor could he write, and he kept his shameful secret hidden from all. He decided that whatever he couldn't do, others across the whole of his kingdom shouldn't do either. How ridiculous, you may say. Well, yes! That's exactly what all the children said when all writing was banned by this bossy old king. 

In exploring the unthinkable idea of living a life without the written word, the children soon realised just how important it is in our daily lives. When the children found out about the king's secret, they offered to help him learn to read and thus embarked on a wonderful journey of learning together. 

When faced with a challenge, we must never give up, but must persevere in taking small steps towards our goals. How true that is. Thank you 1A for a super assembly!
 

Yesterday, 24 pupils from Years 4-10 enjoyed a VIP day with the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows, at the Hellenic Air Force Base in Tanagra, Viotia. They had all earnt their places on the special day out with winning entries in a writing competition. And what a prize they enjoyed!  The visit commenced getting up close to the Hawk planes and they learnt about the workings of the planes from two of the team engineers. After seeing the pilots, pupils were given a private full display by the Red Arrows. The loops, wing-overs, fly-pasts and steep turns were incredible. St. Lawrence pupils saw just why this RAF team is considered to be one of the world's premier aerobatic display teams. Their speed, agility and precision were amazing. Pupils left feeling inspired by the great team work and leadership that they had seen!

“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.”   Muhammad Ali.

This was the message that Ms Frederick's year 4 class tried to teach us all in today's assembly for schoolmates, family and of course their friends. What a lovely demonstration of friendship they gave us - with examples of all those ways we show how we care for our friends and those people who become so special to us. Well done 4F on a super thoughtful assembly!