MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Covid update
It is unfortunate that we have to continue to report on the evolution of the Covid-19 virus in our community. We have been advised by many parents that their children are either positive to Covid-19 or in isolation as a result of being an immediate contact. This is particularly, but perhaps not surprisingly the case, amongst Secondary students.
For this reason, today we have reluctantly decided to move to online remote learning for Years 7 – 11 from Monday 7 March for one week, with the intention to stop the transmission. A separate letter has been sent home communicating this arrangement.
We realise this change may cause some disruption to families, but this decision was made in the best interests of our staff and students’ safety.
We kindly ask all students to do a Rapid Antigen Test before their return on Monday March 14. A reminder if your child is unwell or showing any Covid symptoms please keep them at home.
Bus services will run as normal for the week.
Lent
Next week we have the commencement of Lent which is perhaps one of the most important periods in our Liturgical calendar. Lent is known as ‘Saracosti’, which comes from the word forty. This is the forty-day period until Palm Sunday and then one more week until Easter Day making a total of 49 days of fasting. The key purpose of engaging in this fasting period is to prepare our body and spirit through a physical and spiritual cleansing. In this way we are best prepared to receive the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ as an edifying process to guide our lives.
I encourage the families in our community to use this Lent period as a time of reflection, to ponder in gratitude for the blessings that we receive on a daily basis. To reflect also on the circumstances that surround us in our world; the floods, the wars in various parts of the world, and of course Covid-19. All these major events affect us all in significant ways. Let us use Lent to keep in our thoughts and prayers, people who have been severely affected, as well as those who have lost loved ones. May our sacrifices be meaningful, humble, and pleasing to our Lord.
It is also important that during Lent, students are thoughtfully nourished so that they can continue to engage in school learning.
Today, the Primary Campus participated in a carnival known as ‘Apokries’. This celebration is held annually all over Greece, in the lead up to Greek Orthodox Easter. This event takes place before the period of Lent commences, and it is a time where Greeks feast on meat, alongside street parties filled with music, dance, theatre and masquerades. It was wonderful to see our Primary Students and Staff participate with such enthusiasm. I would like to thank Mr Panagiotou for this initiative and the Primary staff for their involvement.
March 25
Greek Independence Day and the Feast of the Annunciation is marked on 25th March every year.
Due to the pandemic, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios has made the decision to cancel this year’s celebrations at Martin Place and the Opera House in the interest of everyone’s safety. The School will commemorate this celebration with a special student assembly at each of the campuses on Thursday 24th March. The school will be closed on Friday March 25th.
Uniform
We are aware that a number of uniform items are out of stock at the Uniform shop. Most items are available for parents to purchase though. We encourage parents to make contact with the uniform shop and purchase your child’s uniform so that we can maintain a high standard of grooming and presentation.
Mrs Elfa Lillis, Head of School
