The Greek Festival of Sydney and the University of Sydney Modern Greek Department held this year’s Dionysios Solomos Awards Ceremony on Sunday 23 February 2020, at the Eastern Avenue Auditorium, University of Sydney. Awards were presented to the top 10 NSW Higher School Certificate students in Modern and Classical Greek as well as to other high achieving students in Greek from NSW schools. In the presence of family, friends and distinguished guests, the achievements of all these students as well as their families’ supporting role were recognised, while special praise was given to the Greek language teachers’ significant efforts in the language classroom.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

The Greek Student Film Festival returns for a 9th year, presenting a selection of imaginative films from primary and secondary students studying the Greek language.

The films will be screened at the Delphi Bank 26th Greek Film Festival, where a cash prize will be awarded in the Primary and Secondary categories.

When: Sunday  20 October 2019, 12:30pm
Where: Palace Norton St
Free entry

For more information, please visit the Delphi Bank 26th Greek Film Festival website here.

The Education Department of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW is organising the annual student Public Speaking Event and encourages teachers and learners of Greek to support the initiative.

When: Sunday 8 September 2019 at 3:30pm
Where: Greek Community Club, 206-210 Lakemba St, Lakemba

For more information, please contact the Education Department of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW on 9740 6022 or education@goc.com.au 

Greek singer and musician, Dimitiris Basis, was visiting Sydney this year for a series of musical performances during the 2019 Greek Festival of Sydney.  Basis’ discography includes musical pieces that belong to the Greek music genre known as “Laïkó Tragoudi”, folk or urban folk music, a genre that followed Rebetiko music and which has taken many forms over the years.

Basis’ finale performance for the 2019 Greek Festival of Sydney at City Recital Hall in late May, “Mikis Theodorakis – Romiosini and Beyond”, was a tribute to the poetry of internationally acknowledged Greek poet, Yiannis Ritsos, as well as to the music of Mikis Theodorakis, one of Greece’s most important songwriters and composers. Romiosini in Yiannis Ritsos’ poetry refers to an idea of heroic Greekness as this was manifested in the Greek people’s struggles during the Greek War of Independence – 1821 and much later during the Second World War.

Following his final performance, the singer visited the Greek Orthodox Community Saturday School at Clemton Park Public School, where students asked questions about his interest in music, his career and his experience singing in front of a Sydney audience. Basis kindly answered all of students’ questions sharing his journey as a migrant in Germany early in his life. At the end of Basis’ visit to the school, the students were asked to sing along some of his songs!

The photos that follow capture the festive atmosphere at the school in late May!
 
Photos source: O Kosmos – Greek Australian newspaper  (https://kosmosnewspaper.com.au/)