What is dance after all?

 

The majority of people use the word “dance” in their vocabulary very often, but the truth is that they don’t actually know the real meaning of it! Indeed, a lot of people makes fun of it, because they haven’t searched or cared about what emotion this brings to other people.

For example, look at this man in the picture! The kind of dance he does is called: “Hip hop”. As, you can see, he seems very happy and he is smiling, because he can express his feelings by just moving his body and by the expressions he makes with his face!

So the truth about this hobby is that it helps people not just physically but mentally too. That’s the reason why my school has dancing classes with almost all the categories of dancing such as: Ballet, Hip hop and jazz dance, acrobatic dance, Break dance, Gymnastics, Rhythmic gymnastics and finally modern dance.

DANCE IN SCHOOL

Of all these dances, I have chosen hip hop and jazz dance. Well when I was younger I preferred rhythmic gymnastics, but over the years I changed my mind, because it turned out that it was an extremely difficult sport for such an early age.

This year I am turning 16, which means I am at the tenth grade of high school. Therefore, I don’t have a lot of leisure time, because I have plenty of homework to do at home and at school teachers pressure us to study for tests. Despite all this, every Friday, after all regular lessons have finished , I go to my school ‘s dance club with 8 other classmates of mine and we practise for 2 hours. This is my favourite time of the week! The dance teacher is very friendly to all of us and her choreographs are just perfect, because she has managed to match the energy of all girls in her class with the movements that she teaches us and the music she chooses.

All in all, I believe that dancing brings joy and freedom to people, so it would be a great idea for everyone to start dancing lessons , because every adolescent or adult must have the opportunity to get away from their daily program even for just a little while. It goes without saying, that dance can improve your confidence relieve your stress and cheer you up!

By Eleftheria Christodoulou

The historical importance of speaking foreign languages

 Languages have been for centuries a great means of connection between different cultures. From ancient times, people who spoke foreign languages were held in high regard, because everyone knew that they, being in charge of negotiations among nations, could be even the reason why a war started or an alliance was born. Nowadays, in most job positions fluency in one foreign language is taken for granted, and knowledge of a second or even a third one constitutes an indisputable asset. Several times the knowledge of one foreign language is not enough. Knowing all the above, our school has decided to emphasize on foreign languages and give students the opportunity to study English, French, German and even...Chinese!

By Dimitris Stamatelos

A Research Study on Long-Term Learning

 

Do Students Retain What They Study? 

One of the primary concerns in education is whether students genuinely retain the information they study or if they memorize it for the test and forget it afterward. To explore this question, we conducted a study analyzing students' performance in two identical tests taken at different times under controlled conditions.

More specifically in this study, students initially took a test as part of their normal curriculum in various subjects. A week later, they retook the exact same test. However, they were not informed in advance about this second test. This ensured that they did not study or prepare at all. The purpose was to examine whether students had truly learned and remembered the material or if their performance was just a result of short-term memorization for the first test.

The analysis of the test scores revealed that:

• A significant number of students scored lower on the second test ( 53,5% ), indicating that much of the information had faded from their memory within a week.

• A small portion of students retained their scores ( 23,3% ), suggesting that they had a stronger grasp of the material and had genuinely learned it rather than just memorized it.

• Some students even improved their scores (23,3% ), possibly due to subconscious reinforcement of the information during the week.

The findings suggest that a large proportion of students do not retain information long-term after studying for a test. This raises important questions about common study methods and the effectiveness of memorization versus deeper learning techniques. It also highlights the need for alternative educational approaches that focus on understanding, spaced repetition, and practical application to enhance long-term memorization.

Our research indicates that while students may perform well on tests they prepare for, their actual knowledge of the material declines within a short period of time. This highlights the necessity for educators to try strategies that make students have a deeper understanding of the subject which can lead to longer retention rather than temporary memorization.

By Katerina Kalliakmani and Lydia Fakiola 

Teaching at Avgoulea Linardatou School: A Closer Look

 

Teaching is more than just delivering lessons; it’s about shaping minds, fostering curiosity, and overcoming challenges. To better understand the experiences, motivations, and perspectives of our educators, my colleague, Aggeliki Mpethani, and I, Maira Daskalopoulou conducted a survey amongsome of the teachers at Avgoulea Linardatou School. In this presentation,we’ll be sharing the key findings, revealing what our teachers love about their profession, the challenges they face, and what truly makes teaching rewarding.

Firstly, we asked the headmistresss, who is also a maths teacher, Stavey Linardatou, the following questions:

 

1)How important do you think is for students to learn mathematics and how beneficial is it for their lives?

To me,mathematics is a universal language that transcends national barriers and translates the world around us. Whatever you are, a farmer, a manager, a scientist, you need mathematics.  It seems to me that a mathematically literate society would be more coherent, effective and prone to reason and hence a better one.

2)Do you think that a healthy school environment enhances students’ academic performance? How do you ensure such an environment for our school?

It goes without saying that a healthy school environment is most important in supporting students' academic achievement. In a safe, supportive, and engaged environment, students will most probably excel academically. Concentration, motivation, and a general state of well-being, all of which have a direct bearing on academic performance can flourish in a positive atmosphere. As far as our school is concerned, we work on a daily basis on this, by doing the following: a. Offering counseling services by our two school psychologists for each student and each family. It's important to encourage open communication and make sure students know they can seek help when they need it. b. We have designed, in collaboration with clinical psychologists (external partners), regular class interventions regarding stress & time management, antibullying, sexual education and addiction to the internet or online gaming. We also include well-known programs such as HFM (building EQ skills by recognizing and rewarding empathetic actions) and Sherborne Developmental Movement for our primary school. Our goal is to foster a culture of respect and inclusivity. c. Building positive relationships amongst members of our school community is also vital. We focus on this especially for newly enrolled students through team-building activities, our mentoring program (student to teacher) as well as our student ambassador program (student to student). Once again, our main purpose here is to create a supportive web of relationships where everyone feels connected. d. Clearly, there is a growing consensus among educators and researchers that widely used learning strategies are no longer sufficient to motivate students in this everchanging world. This is because students today are exposed to a wide range of digital media and technology outside the classroom, which often provide highly immersive and interactive experiences that are just difficult to replicate within a traditional classroom setting. This gap in stimuli can lead to disengagement, boredom, and even frustration among students, who may struggle to see the relevance and applicability of what they are learning at school. To address this gap, our educators are increasingly turning to teaching methods that can leverage technology. Hence, keeping motivated our students regarding curriculum leads to a healthier school community leading to improved academic outcomes.

We asked another mathematician, Afroditi Dimaki, the following questions:

1)As a mathematician, do you think this school focuses enough on mathematics?

Yes, this school places strong emphasis on mathematics, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills effectively.

2)Do you think that this school is capable of preparing students as good as possible for the Panhellenic exams?

Yes, the school’s program greatly helps in preparing students for the Panhellenic exams! There is proper class distribution, rich material, and a two-year study plan for the complete preparation of the students.

We also asked one of our philologists, Areti Veli, the following questions:

1)As a philologist, how important do you think subjects such as literature and Ancient Greek are?

As a philologist, I prefer to consider literature and Ancient Greek (or any classical language) as absolutely vital for understanding the roots of human thought, culture, and language development. Literature is a crucial vehicle for conveying the richness of human experience, values, and historical context. By studying ancient texts, we can trace how ideas, philosophies, and narratives have evolved over millennia, shaping our modern intellectual landscape.

2) In your opinion what makes this school different from others? What is the main goal you want to achieve?

I believe that what distinguishes our school from others is not just the quality of the knowledge provided along with our great organization, but also our group of educational staff, who treat our students with a true sense of responsibility, compassion and their welcoming, warm smile. Our main goal for our students is to develop their creativity, to be heard and understood, and to be well prepared to integrate smoothly into society, becoming mentally healthy and happy individuals.

 

Finally, we asked our English teacher, Roula Trigoni, the following questions:

 

1.  1.How important do you think it is for students to learn English and what impact will this have on their lives?

Learning English is highly important for students as it can have a profound impact on their personal, academic and professional lives. Proficiency in English enables students to connect with people from different parts of the world. It also allows them to access a wealth of knowledge including academic research, online courses and educational materials. Most importantly, mastery of English enhances employability especially in industries like technology, business, science and tourism. Overall, learning English is an essential skill that provides students with opportunities for growth, cultural exchange and success in an interconnected world.

2.  2.  Do you think this school focuses enough on learning the English language? Do you have prior experience teaching in other schools? Can you compare them?

Our school places a strong emphasis on teaching the English language, offering a curriculum that prioritizes all reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. The schedule is extended to five hours a week and for all certificate candidates to seven hours a week. The success of our students in acquiring all sorts of certificates available in the market constitutes the strongest evidence of the impeccable way in which English is taught in our school. I do have precious experience teaching in frontistiria and private IEK and I can assure you that both from a teacher’s and a student’s perspective, our school is much better and it ensures that all gain proficiency and confidence in English!

By Maria Daskalopoulou and Aggeliki Mpethani.

Fashion trends in high school

 

By Magdalini Drakouli and Rania Tsimpouri

A survey on laplets in schools

 

In Avgoulea Linadartou students are experiencing a new reality in learning which utilizes both technology and learning! Students are given laplets, a digital notebook which has all the subjects in it! The device makes the bag of the students lighter and also trains them to use technology as an asset that will be vital for their future! 

Now let’s see what’s the opinion of the students about the laplets! We carried out  a survey asking the opinion of our fellow classmates about laplets. The survey gathered opinions from students across the three first grades of high school, regarding the use of laplets both at school and at home. The 1st grade students claimed that laplets are incredibly useful, especially because they reduce the weight of their school bags. Instead of carrying multiple textbooks and notebooks, they can now store all their material in one device, making organization much easier. 

On the other hand, the 2nd grade students, who have been using laplets for a full year, mentioned that while the devices offer convenience, they tend to be fragile and easily damaged with regular use. This durability issue was a concern for them, as they found the laplets to be less reliable over time. 

The 3rd grade students, the most experienced in using laplets, stated that when used properly, these devices can be highly beneficial for education. They emphasized that careful handling and utilizing the laplets specifically for academic purposes could significantly enhance the learning experience, making them an effective tool for students when used properly. 

Let’s take a look at what the students asked said exactly when asked about the benefits of laptops compared to conventional books and notebooks. 

Marios Tourlos( 1st grade student ) , when asked about the benefits of laplets over conventional notebooks said: laplets exceed notebooks in every aspect I can possibly think of! With laplets we can communicate with our teachers when we have a question about our homework from the comfort of our houses! The main benefit is that we can take them home, we can do our homework there, read our classnotes and research various topics for our tasks! 

Philippos Managoudis (2nd grade student ) said: Laplets in general, are better than notebooks, they help us not only by reducing the weight of our bags, but also because they manage to keep us interested in class when the teachers ask us to do tasks and research about something. On the other hand, many of us cannot resist and sometimes use them to play games or chat with each other during the lesson. Of course our teachers always catch us “ red-handed" and the fun only lasts a few minutes! 

Alexandros Eskioglou (3rd grade student ) , when asked to describe the laplets with a few words said: Laplets, are actually digital notebooks able to enhance the learning experience for students and teachers alike. We can have our schoolwork material and homework in one device!  

He was then asked to describe how useful the laplets are at home and he said: Very useful! Whenever I have a question I can just type it into google and the answer will pop instead of going to school the next day and have to ask my teacher! 

 

Now we ask you to tell us, what’s your opinion about laplets? Have you ever used one? We will be waiting for your answers at the comments!  

 

 By George Efstathiou and Marios Tsardoulias

 

 

Smoking and students

 

The Habit of Students Smoking: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

Smoking among students, both in and out of school, is a growing concern worldwide. Despite being aware of the harmful effects, many students still engage in this habit. Understanding the reasons behind student smoking, its consequences, and potential solutions is crucial in addressing this issue effectively.

One of the primary reasons students smoke is peer pressure. Many teenagers want to fit in with their friends who smoke, fearing rejection if they refuse. Additionally, stress and anxiety from academic pressure and personal problems can drive students to smoking as a form of relief. Some students also perceive smoking as a symbol of maturity and independence, influenced by media portrayals and advertisements.

The consequences of smoking are severe. Health issues such as lung diseases, heart problems, and weakened immune systems can develop over time. Furthermore, smoking affects concentration and academic performance. Students who smoke frequently are also at risk of developing addiction, leading to long-term dependence on nicotine.

To combat this problem, schools and parents must take proactive measures. Schools should implement strict no-smoking policies, conduct awareness campaigns, and provide counseling services. Parents must communicate openly with their children about the dangers of smoking and encourage healthy coping mechanisms for stress. Society as a whole must work together to discourage smoking among students and promote healthier lifestyles.

By addressing the root causes and raising awareness, student smoking can be significantly reduced, ensuring a healthier future for young individuals.

The following comic addresses the aforementioned issues through the narration of a high school students' story.

By  Michaela Fakinou, Eleni Voggli, Aggeliki Sterpi, Penelope Charalampous, Melina Rekka

https://youtu.be/jYdaQJzcAcw?si=q6svRLxCvwAdkoO5

                                         

                                       

                              So, you'd better think twice before lighting your first cigarette!!!

Our school's facilities 💒

    

     Avgoulea-Linardatou is our school and is located in Peristeri,Athens. Our school boasts dozens of classrooms in the main building, a new building with 5 more classrooms, a canteen and two big yards.More specifically, the students are full of choices when it comes to what to do in PE class and during the breaks. Our school also has a basketball and a volleyball court. It also boasts a big  football field and many table tennis tables. In addition there is a basement that consists of an indoor pool, a chemistry lab and two computer labs that aim to bring the students closer to technology. The basement has a theatre too, which seats over 300 people and is used for all sorts of events, lectures or performances. The attached photos can depict just a small part of our wonderful school!!

The Chemistry Lab

The Pool

By Dimitris Stamatelos

New school,new me

 

By Sylvia Rodi

Is Our Educational System Meeting Its Full Potential?

The educational system is the backbone of student development, but is it functioning as effectively as it could? Several teachers in our school have recently shared their perspectives on this question, offering insightful critiques and suggestions for improvement. Their opinions highlight the need for a more adaptable, inclusive, and balanced approach to education that better addresses the needs of students and educators alike.

PRIORITIZING UNDERSTANDING OVER MEMORIZATION

One of the primary critiques from our professors is the emphasis on memorization in the current system. While memorizing facts and formulas has its place, it often fails to cultivate deeper understanding or critical thinking skills. Teachers pointed out that tools such as hands-on learning and various tools of modern technology, such as laptops and smart boards can transform even the most difficult units of a subject into accessible and engaging lessons for students. By focusing on a more practical approach to teaching, educators can help students develop a stronger grasp of concepts. Memorization alone may help students pass tests, but it does not always equip them with the tools they need to tackle real-world challenges.

REDEFINING STUDENT ASSESSMENTS

Assessments are a cornerstone of education, but many teachers argue that current methods are not always fair or effective. Exams often test a student’s ability to memorize information rather than actively use it. Teachers suggested incorporating more practical evaluations, such as experiments, oral presentations, and interdisciplinary projects. Long-term projects, in particular, were emphasized as a way to encourage deeper learning. These assignments give students the chance to explore subjects in depth, develop problem-solving skills, and take a more active role in their learning process. Therefore, such projects should carry significant weight in a student’s overall grade, ensuring that they are as valued as traditional exams.

FLEXIBILITY IN TEACHING

Teachers expressed a desire for greater flexibility in tailoring lessons to the unique needs of their classrooms. While standardized curriculum provides structure, it can often limit the educators ability to address specific challenges or explore topics in greater depth. Allowing teachers the freedom to adapt their lessons can make education more effective and relevant. Additionally, the system must recognize that not all students have the same aspirations. Those planning to attend university may benefit from a more academically rigorous path, while others could focus on practical knowledge and skills that align with their career goals. Striking this balance ensures that education is inclusive and serves everyone.

BALANCING ACADEMIC DEMANDS AND WELL-BEING

Another significant concern is the demanding nature of the academic calendar. Teachers pointed out the importance of incorporating more opportunities for rest and relaxation throughout the school year. Longer vacations and breaks can help prevent burnout and give students the time they need to recharge. At the same time, students must understand their responsibilities in the learning process. A balanced system encourages students to take ownership of their education while supporting their mental well-being.

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The insights shared by our teachers highlight the need for a more adaptable, inclusive, and balanced educational system. By prioritizing understanding, rethinking assessments, allowing flexibility in teaching, and addressing the needs of students, we can create a system that better prepares young minds for the future. Education is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it must evolve to meet the unique needs of every classroom, teacher, and student. With thoughtful changes, we can build an educational system that truly meets its full potential.

By Lydia Fakiola and Katerina Kalliakmani

Technology in our school

In the year 2020, a global pandemic outbreak caused a massive lockdown, which encouraged the extensive use of online tools. Since then, our school has adopted a new way of using these tools. We introduce you to the One-to-One program, in which all students are provided with a laplet which is used for almost every aspect of learning in our school. Is this program helpful for students or does it constitute a further burden on their school life?

 

On the one hand, providing a student with an electronic device is a risky move. They can easily participate in illegal activities through these devices, even if a safety app is installed. Remember; students are quite often much more knowledgeable about technology than their teachers. It is pretty difficult for teachers to supervise their students’ online activities. It is very easy for students to trick their teachers into believing that they are actually paying attention, which brings us to our next point. Students can easily get distracted using these devices. The laptop’s user interface contains vibrant colors, which are guaranteed to cause distraction. Furthermore, students are expected to study through these devices, which results in excessive screen time that can even cause an addiction. While this way of teaching seems innovative and helpful at first glance, it contains a lot of dangers.

 

On the other hand, electronic devices can be -and are- quite helpful for students and teachers as a whole. Students are not obliged to carry a heavy bag full of books every single day. Instead, these heavy books are replaced by a laptop, which can be used to access the same books online, which prevents spinal problems that heavy bags often cause to students. Moreover, if a student is missing, there is no problem. Teachers can easily upload the notes that were written on the whiteboard during the lesson using OneNote, Microsoft’s online notebook. Using this tool, not only can students make much better and more organized notes, but teachers can also upload extra material for students to study, so that students can understand the lesson better.

 By Ioannis Pontis

A boring Monday at school

It is another boring Monday 
And I don't want to go to school
I'm forced to go again 
Because my mother makes the rule 

So I wake up, I put my clothes on
And take a quick look
If I forgot to put
In my bag any book 

The weather today is bad 
That makes me feel sad
I am jumping in the car
And the driver is my dad

"We are late" I say 
My father lost his key 
We can't open the door 
And we're late even more 

We finally reach the school 
I'm angry like a bull
The teacher shouts at me 
About something I don't agree 

It's time for Maths 
We are writing a test 
It's my favorite lesson 
So I'll try my best 

The bell rings for the last break 
To go out I cannot wait 
In no time I have lunch 
And then again back in class 

Fortunately I'm home 
My parents left me alone 
I sit and wonder what to do  
But boredom makes it hard to choose

I can't hold my eyes awake 
So off to bed, a nap to take
I hope that Tuesday treats me right 
And brings me joy with mornings light 

By Spiros Zontos