Greek Department Newsletter 2013-14

GREEK DEPARTMENT
1
Greek
Department
NEWSLETTER
June 2014
ACADEMIC YEAR 2013-2014
Introduction
by Chara Giorkatzi, Editor
We proudly present the first issue of the
Greek Department’s Newsletter, with
the aim of informing students, parents
and colleagues of the many events that
have taken place in the Department over
this academic year.
Educational field trips, teaching and
learning, assemblies, special projects
and programmes, seminars and award
ceremonies are just some of the
elements which we have brought
together to create a picture of the Greek
Department.
As a Department we always strive to
communicate not only the Greek
language but also the Greek culture to
our students, aiming to inspire in them
an appreciation of cultural heritage.
Socrates said “wisdom begins in
wonder”. We hope that by sharing with
you our academic year’s wondrous
journey, you will see the wisdom it
brought us.
Adopt a Ship Programme
by Anastasia Mitsi
On 6 May, Columbia Ship Management
Company hosted a ceremony for the
CYMEPA programme “Adopt a Ship”.
Teachers from many schools participated in
the programme. Miss Natasa and Ms
Katerina represented our school and they
had the opportunity to exchange ideas about
the programme for the new school year.
Teachers received certificates, as well as
puzzles which depicted a picture of their
adopted ship, as a gift for their support of
the programme.
GREEK DEPARTMENT |
2
28 October
Assembly
by Katerina Christophidou
Greek history, culture, customs
and civilisation are significant
elements when teaching the
Greek language to students,
especially in the Secondary
School. Particular attention is
paid
to
the
national
celebrations, and assemblies are
organised in order to remember
the struggles and the heroes
who offered their lives for the
freedom of their country.
Recently, a Year 10 and Year 11
assembly took place at our
school to commemorate the
events of 28 October 1940.
The assembly was organised
by the Greek teachers of the
Secondary School, Mrs Irene
Loizides, Ms Hara Giorkatzi
and
Ms
Katerina
Christophidou. One of our
students, Antreas Philippou,
played a couple of songs
related to 28 October on his
bouzouki, to an enthusiastic
reception by his fellow
students and staff.
Litter Less Campaign
by Petriana Fysentzou
On 29 September our school
participated for the second consecutive
year in the European programme called
the “Litter Less Campaign”. The Litter
Less Campaign aims to reduce litter and
affect long-term behaviour change
amongst youth. It is organised by the
Foundation
for
Environmental
Education's Eco-Schools with the
support of the Wrigley Company
Foundation.
Primary students participating
in the Litter Less Campaign.
Members of the Greek Department,
namely Petriana Fysentzou and Katerina
Christophidou,
attended
the
presentation of the “Litter Less
Campaign” at Apsiou village’s Primary
School. During this presentation, the
organisers described the steps that our
school should follow in order to
complete
this
environmental
programme.
All participants then attended a forest
cleaning campaign and the event was
concluded by a delicious lunch in
Mathikoloni village.
A team of students was formed to help
our school to successfully complete all
the steps of the “Litter Less Campaign”.
http://www.yre-litterless.org/the-litterless-campaign/
GREEK DEPARTMENT |
3
Thanasis Karapanayiotis
collecting his award.
Greek Language Certification
Examinations
by
Irene Loizides
Congratulations to our students in Years 5 - 9
who succeeded in their Greek Language
Certification Examinations, which took place
last May. The examinations are administered
and accredited by the Greek Ministry of
Education and the Centre of Greek Language
in Thessaloniki. The Greek Language
Certificate of Achievement is a formal
qualification that well-recognised within
Europe.
Pearson Edexcel
High Achiever Awards
by Chara Giorkatzi
On 17 December 2013 Thanasis Karapanayiotis in 11A was awarded – as
a result of his determination and hard work – with the Pearson Edexcel
High Achiever Award for attaining the highest mark in Cyprus in GCSE
Greek.
We hope to see many more of our students claiming such awards in the
future!
Greek Christmas Carols
by Anastasia Mitsi
Many sick children spend their
Christmas holidays in the paediatric
ward of the Public Hospital of Limassol.
As Miss Natasa is teaching the virtue of
sharing and giving, she took her Year 1
Greek Speakers group to visit the
paediatric ward on 17 December 2013.
The children staying in the hospital had
the chance to join in the Christmas spirit
by listening to Greek Christmas carols
sung by the children of the Heritage. In
addition, our students donated toys and
books to the children on the ward.
GREEK DEPARTMENT |
The Year 5 Greek Advanced group studied
Ancient Greek Culture this academic year.
Once familiar with the meaning of the word
‘culture’, they investigated Ancient Greek
culture. On 28 November they presented an
assembly including a historical journey
through the richness of Ancient Greek culture:
the architecture, arts, language and religions
of the Minoans and Mycenaeans were
presented through drama, music and other
visual and audio means. Children also
introduced elements of the Classic Culture of
Ancient Greece: the philosophy of Socrates,
the drama of Sophocles, the rhetoric of
Demosthenes, the science of Pythagoras and
the medicine of Hippocrates.
4
Primary School’s
Assemblies
by Elena Stylianides
Notice the image of the young woman that’s within a text column on
the preceding page. The background has been removed from that
The children
of Year
1 arearound
learning
as a
image to allow
text to wrap
directly
theGreek
subject.
second language through mime, pictures,
songs, music and drama. On 29 November the
Office 2010 introduced several new and improved picture formatting
Year 1 Greek Intermediate group presented an
tools in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Among those is the Remove
assembly describing stories from their school
Background tool that you can use to remove backgrounds from your
book. The children narrated the stories
own images, similar to the sample image on the preceding page.
following the pictures and using mime; they
also sang songs and performed a role-play. The
To do this in Word, first insert your image into the document (on the
traditional
‘Karagiozis’
character
was
Insert tab, click Picture), and then select it. Then, on the Picture Tools
represented in the assembly through
Format tab, in the Adjust group, click Remove Background.
silhouettes, songs and voice impersonation.
The Remove Background feature automatically displays what it believes
to be the central subject of the image. However, it’s easy to adjust this if
the immediate result is not what you need.
A trip to the Bread
Museum
On the Background Removal tab, click Mark Areas to Keep or Mark
Areas to Remove and then drag your mouse pointer in a line across the
portion of the image you want to add or remove. When you are finished
making adjustments, click Keep Changes.
by Anastasia Mitsi
Notice the image of the young woman that’s within a text column on
the
page.2013
The background
has been removed from that
On preceding
24 October
the
image to allow text to wrap directly around the subject.
children who participate
in the weekly Comenius
Office 2010 introduced several new and improved picture formatting
Club in Word,
were PowerPoint,
given the
The those
founder
of the
tools
and Excel. Among
is the Remove
opportunity
to
a trip
museum,
Mrs
Dorita
Background tool go
thaton
you
can use to remove
backgrounds
from your
during
their
clubto the
time.
own
images,
similar
sample image on
the preceding
page.
Voskaridou,
began
the tour
They were accompanied
by showing the children
by do this
Miss
Konstantina
To
in Word,
first insert your image some
into thedrawings
document (on
of the
bread.
Insert
tab, click
Picture),
and then select it.
Then,
on the
Picture aTools
Filippoy,
Miss
Petriana
They
then
watched
DVD
Format
tab, in the
AdjustMiss
group, click Remove
Fysentzou
and
whichBackground.
explained
the
Natasa Mitsi. The children
importance of bread and
The
Remove
Background
feature automatically displays what it believes
visited
the
Decorated
how it is a very significant
to be the central subject of the image. However, it’s easy to adjust this if
Bread
Museum
in
the immediate result is not what you need.symbol in Greek-Cypriot
Limassol. On their arrival
culture. Bread is holy to
they were given some
the Areas
church,
is a
On the Background Removal tab, click Mark
to Keepand
or Mark
time to
and enjoy
their
blessing
Areas
to sit
Remove
and then
drag your mouse
pointerfor
in amarriage.
line across It
theis
lunch ofbefore
theyou tour
also used
foryou
good
luck at
portion
the image
want to add or remove.
When
are finished
started.adjustments, click Keep Changes.Christmas
making
and Easter
times.
The most fun part of
the trip was when the
children were given
the chance to make
decorated
bread
themselves.
Each
child kept their own
bread as a souvenir,
to remind them of
their enjoyable day.
GREEK DEPARTMENT |
5
Comenius
by Konstantina Filippoy
On 28 May our school hosted 20
teachers from Romania, Italy, Spain,
Portugal, England and Turkey, with
whom our school has participated in
a Comenius Project. Throughout the
past two years we have had the
chance to visit their countries and
schools, and now was their turn to
come and visit us. We welcomed
them into our Early Years and
Primary Schools with songs in their
languages performed by Year 2,
Greek dances performed by the
Reception children, and even a role
play from Year 1 students. The
visitors also had the chance to tour
the school, visit the classrooms and
interact with our students. After
school they experienced some of our
culture by visiting museums and
Omodos, where they enjoyed seeing
Cypriot handicrafts, and of course
dishes from the Cypriot meze! The
Comenius Project and the visit to
Cyprus culminated in a final closing
ceremony on Saturday 31 May that
marked the end of this two year
project. It was a magnificent event
that included different acts, such
presentations from the Comenius
club children and Greek dances by
the Greek Folklore Association.
Everyone joined in the dancing,
including parents, teachers, children
and partners, bringing the week to a
fitting and memorable end.
Primary Students building stories
by Christina Diplos
Story building is a great opportunity for
students to develop their writing skills in a
fun way. My Year 5 Intermediate group was
presented with a story about a dog who was
never satisfied with what he had. The
students read the given text in class, and
were then asked to discuss the moral of the
story. Then, in pairs, they selected the
important parts of the story to create a
summary, which they made into beautiful
storyboards.
Greek Lessons For Adults
by Katerina Christophidou
The Greek Department is very proud to
bring to your attention that this year we
have greatly expanded the range of
educational opportunities available for
adults by offering Modern Greek classes
at all levels. There are currently three
beginners’ classes and one intermediate
class in progress. The courses are taking
place at times that are most convenient
to parents and guardians who are
bringing their children to school or
collecting them at the end of the day:
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. and also on
Wednesdays at 12:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Ms
Katerina Christophidou is the Adult
Education Greek Courses Coordinator
and she teaches two of the Beginners’
classes and one Intermediate class. The
remaining Beginners’ class is taught by
Elisavet Demosthenous. If you wish to
learn or improve your Greek, you are
very welcome indeed to join any of these
classes.
GREEK DEPARTMENT |
Trip to Greece
by Year 8 Students
From 12 - 17 April 2014 the Greek
Department organised a trip to
Greece, in which we visited the
exquisite cities of Athens and Sparta.
For the first two days of the trip, we
stayed in a very pleasant hotel in
Sparta. In this marvellous town, we
visited many historical sites including
the theatre of Epidaurus, and some
natural features such as the Caves of
Diros. We also visited the town of
Nafplio, which was a wonderful
experience.
After, we visited the city of Athens.
Athens is one of the oldest cities in
the world, and it has been
continuously inhabited at least 3000
years. In Athens we visited the
Acropolis Museum and we went on a
cruise, where we visited three
different islands. We also enjoyed a
tour around the city on a train, where
a lot of information was given to us.
In summary, this trip was a great
success and we owe a big thanks to
our lovely teachers of the Greek
Department for offering us this
amazing opportunity to visit such a
beautiful country.
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