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Season's greetings and end of year message

19/12/2019

Photo source: http://www.theotokos.gr

Dear friends and colleagues,

With the end of the academic year just around the corner, I would like to thank you all for your collaboration, your meaningful efforts and your educational achievements in the area of Greek language teaching throughout the year.

The end of year sees us celebrating a number of successes within the Greek language learning and teaching community. Congratulations to the students, teachers and principals of the Saturday School of Community Languages (St George Girls HS Centre) and the NSW School of Languages on their 2019 HSC First in Modern Greek Courses achievement. Congratulations to the teams involved in the creation and workshopping of the Stage 6 Extension support materials for the 2020-2024 course prescriptions for Modern Greek. Congratulations to the 66 successful candidates of the Certificate of Attainment in Greek 2019 Exams on their high scores. Congratulations to the 8 learners of Greek from the Community Languages Schools Program who won a Highly Commended or a Commended Award at the 2019 NSW Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Student Achievement – Community Languages Schools. Congratulations to all 14 participating schools in this year’s 9th Greek Student Film Festival. Congratulations to all schools on the many school events organised throughout the year. Congratulations to the Greek teaching team of Clemton Park PS on their beautiful Greek-themed performances during the school’s 90th birthday this year. Congratulations to Greek language teachers on their extra-curricular initiatives that substantially contribute to enhancing the Greek language teaching and learning experience in NSW schools. Above all, congratulations to all teachers and students on their day-to-day commitment to teaching and learning respectively, on their diligent efforts required for teaching and learning an additional language.

On a personal note, I would like to express my thanks for their collegiality during this academic year to Nina Conomos, Community Languages Schools Program Coordinator, and my colleagues at the Learning and Teaching Directorate (NSW Department of Education), Elisabeth Robertson, Konnie Zagrimanis, Stephen Nogher, Maxine Acosta-Ostrzycki and Evia Kyriacou.

I wish you all happy and safe summer holidays.
Enjoy a well-deserved vacation!

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2020!

Warm Regards,
Maria

Dr Maria Harissi
Greek Language Adviser
Learning and Teaching Directorate

Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, Athens, Greece
Greek Education Office of Australia and N.Zealand, Melbourne, Australia

End of year Greek Orthodox Community school concert

19/12/2019

Photos source:
Yannis Dramitinos – @kosmosnewspaper facebook page and GOC

The end of year school concert of the Saturday Morning Greek School of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW took place on Friday, 13 December at the GOC club. Together with students from the GOC Afternoon Schools (i.e. Beverly Hills Nth PS, Connells Point PS, Panania PS, Summer Hill PS, Danebank Anglican), the Saturday School students presented a unique and unforgettable performance titled “Οδός Ονείρων”. The evening included songs primarily by one of Greece’s greatest composers, Manos Hatzidakis, a theatrical performance based on an original script written by the GOC Schools Coordinator, Mrs Katerina Paspala and a number of student performances of poems and dance led by the GOC dance instructor, Mrs Paroula Therban. The students showcased not only their knowledge of Greek but also their individual talents in acting, reciting, solo singing and dancing.

Congratulations to the students on their impressive performances, to their families on their persistent efforts to embrace the learning of Greek during these young people’s busy school lives and to the GOC Schools Coordinator and the schools’ Greek language and music teachers on their educational achievements this year!

We are looking for even greater educational accomplishments for 2020!

You can seek enrolment details at
education@goc.com.au
or on
+61 2 97406022

Certificate of Attainment in Greek 2020 – dates

5/12/2019

Photo source: http://www.greek-language.gr/

The Centre for the Greek Language, Thessaloniki, Greece and the Examination Centre of Sydney (under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney) are announcing the examination dates for the Certificated of Attainment in Greek 2020 as follows:

18 May 2020 – Level C2
19 May 2020 – Level A1, A2, B1
20 May 2020 – Level B2, C1

The examinations offer certified assessment of language skills at the following levels according to the Common European Framework (CEFR):

A1 – Elementary Knowledge and A1 for children 8-12
A2 – Basic Knowledge
B1 – Average Knowledge
B2 – Good Knowledge
C1 – Very Good Knowledge
C2 – Excellent Knowledge

Registration dates: 1 February to 22 March 2020 (fees apply)

Online registration

For more information, please see attached file and/or contact the Examination Centre of Sydney at hellenicedu.sydney@gmail.com

certificate-info_2020.pdf
File Size:	120 kb
File Type:	pdf

Photos – 2019 Presentation Ceremony – Certificates of Attainment in Greek

5/12/2019

Photos source: Yannis Dramitinos and
@kosmosnewspaper facebook page

The 2019 Presentation Ceremony of the Certificates of Attainment in Greek (Centre for the Greek Language and Ministry of Education, Greece) took place on Thursday 21 November at Footbridge Lecture Theatre, University of Sydney. The Ceremony was held under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney and the Examination Centre of Sydney
(hellenicedu.sydney@gmail.com).

The examinations took place in May this year with 78 candidates participating in one of the levels of adequacy certification of attainment in Greek. 66 candidates were successful and most attended the Presentation Ceremony among distinguished and esteemed guests, family and friends who honoured them on the day.

The special occasion was media covered by photographer and journalist Yannis Dramitinos and
O Kosmos / Greek – Australian Newspaper.

NSW School of Languages – information

28/11/2019

NSW School of Languages is a public school specialising in the teaching and learning of languages through distance education. The school provides a broad range of language choices for students across NSW, including Modern Greek. In particular, it gives students the opportunity to study Greek from their home school during Years 9 to 12.

The lessons are based on interactive online courses and include regular phone lessons and some face-to- face classes.

For more information, please visit the NSW School of Languages website here, and see attached files below.

Photo source: NSW School of Languages

moderngreek_brochure.pdf
File Size:	1677 kb
File Type:	pdf

nswschooloflanguagesinformation.docx
File Size:	387 kb
File Type:	docx

Event – NSW School of Languages Open Day

28/11/2019

Photo source: NSW School of Languages website

Photos source: NSW School of Languages website

NSW School of Languages invites you to attend an Open Day on Saturday 30 November 2019.

This fun event will include:

- live music and dance performances
- face painting and circus skills host
- photo booth
- cooking demonstrations
- art, craft and music workshops hosted by teachers
- ping pong and other games
- mini language lessons for all of the school's 12 languages
- food stalls from around the world
- World Trivia with prizes!

Food stalls include:

- Brazilian pastels by Pastel da Mari
- gelato by Duccio Gelato
- Greek street food by Loxandra
- Korean street food
- French Crêperie
- German and Russian bakery cafe.

Free entry.

For more information visit NSW School of Languages website.

46th Anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising – educational resources

14/11/2019

Photo source: http://anoixtosxoleio.weebly.com

As the 46th Anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising (14-17 November 1973) will be commemorated in Greece this coming Sunday 17 November, Greek language teachers may engage students in conversation about the November 1973 university student demonstration against the military dictatorship imposed in Greece on 21 April 1967.

Year 5 and 6 students can benefit from the illustrated material here, which provides a photographic rendering of the events during 14-17 November 1973.

Younger students can listen to the eBook “Τα αδέσποτα” by Greek author, Sophia Zarabouka.

Additional educational resources for all years can be found here.

School incursion possibility – Greek author, music composer and verse writer Dimitris Baslam

14/11/2019

The Thessaloniki Association of NSW (PO Box 119, Narwee, 2209 NSW, info@thessalonikisydney.org.au) is inviting to Sydney the Greek author, music composer and verse writer, Dimitris Baslam, and is seeking interest from (primary) schools teaching Greek in a possible school incursion, which will include a roughly 60 minute performance by the author based on his acclaimed book titled “The Giggle Thief”/“The Tickle Thief” (“Ο Γαργαληστής”, 2005).

Interested schools may express their interest as soon as possible by emailing the president of the Thessaloniki Association of NSW, Rita Bratanis, at
president@thessalonikisydney.org.au
or by phone on
0405725773.

Please find attached the letter of interest by the Thessaloniki Association of NSW as well as Dimitris Baslam’s biographical note.

Photos source: @gargalistis facebook page

letter_of_interest_incursion.pdf
File Size:	362 kb
File Type:	pdf

dimitris_baslam_bio_.pdf
File Size:	1321 kb
File Type:	pdf

Student competition – "Ποντιακός Ελληνισμός: μνήμες και όνειρα, παρελθόν, παρόν και μέλλον"

7/11/2019

Photo source: attached file

Please find attached relevant information regarding the 4th Panhellenic Student Competition titled

"Ποντιακός Ελληνισμός: μνήμες και όνειρα, παρελθόν, παρόν και μέλλον".

The competition is organised under the auspices of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO and has the approval of the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs as well as the Cyprus Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth. The competition is open to public and independent schools in Greece as well as schools of the Greek Diaspora.

The competition is now open and closes on
31 March 2020.

Interested schools should express their interest by email to the following email address:
pontosedu@gmail.com

Deadline for expression of interest submission:
20 December 2019.

_ΠΟΝΤΟΣ_ΠΡΩΤΟΒΑΘΜΙΑ_ΣΕΡΡΩΝ_χυ.doc
File Size:	452 kb
File Type:	doc

Awards ceremony – 9th Greek Student Film Festival

31/10/2019

Photos source: O Kosmos – Greek Australian newspaper (https://kosmosnewspaper.com.au/)

Τhe Awards Ceremony for the best student films of the 9th Greek Student Film Festival took place on Sunday 20 October, at Palace Cinemas.

Congratulations to all participating students and educators!

Special congratulations to the following 2 award winners:

1st prize for the Primary School category:
School: Independent entry
Participating students: Emmanuela H, Maria H, Georgina Z

1st prize for the Secondary School category:
School: Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, Clemton Park Public Saturday School – Greek Like in Greece
Participating students: Eva F, Evangelina M, Greg A, Athanasios K, Katia K, Stephania G, Nectaria A
Teacher: Vicky Papadopoulou

The initiative of the Greek Film Festival to include a Greek Student Film Festival is a valuable contribution that continues to offer learners of Greek the opportunity to use the Greek language in creative and innovative ways. Let's hope that this tradition inspires learners, educators and parents alike in the years to come.