IMPORTANT NOTICE - CHANGE OF DATE
The Professional Development Day will take place on Friday, February 17, instead of Friday, February 10! Therefore, February 10 will be a regular school day, and there will be NO SCHOOL on February 17.
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Happy New Year Pinewood Community!
School has reopened and we are so happy to be back to the exciting and meaningful work of teaching and learning with your children!
As we commence 2023, I draw on the motivational messages that our Principals shared with faculty and staff to inspire you in the new year!
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New year - a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours." Alex Morritt
Ms. Mills reminds us that success & happiness in school and life is ours to create. Thus, teaching our students to be resilient, build agency, and practice reflective thinking in everything they do are priorities in our school community.
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As a classroom community, our capacity to
generate excitement is deeply affected by our interest in one another, in hearing one another's voices, in recognizing one another's presence
... To begin, the teacher must genuinely value everyone's presence." - bell hooks
Dr. Rofaelas reminds us of the incredible importance of relationships in the learning process. Indeed, our school-wide focus on building authentic relationships to support student learning holds a prominent place in our priorities as a school community.
With these messages, and on behalf of the entire Pinewood faculty and staff, I wish you a year of success, happiness, and relationships that endure both with the school and in your own lives.
Sincerely,
Roxanne Giampapa
Head of School
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Student Council and CAS Initiative |
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Our Secondary Student Council and IBDP CAS students worked alongside the non-profit organization “WE OFFER FROM THE HEART”, collecting and delivering breakfast products for 160 families. The Secondary Student Council also donated funds that were raised by initiatives organized by the following students:
- Valentina-Olga Stefanou (Grade 11) demonstrated exemplary traits as she designed and sold her homemade jewelry
- Freideriki Sfetsou and Christina Rallis (Grade 12) baked and sold 300 cookies.
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Children's Hearts Initiative
We are happy to announce that due to your kind contributions, our Elementary and Secondary student councils managed to sell all the holiday cards that the after-school art students created for the festive season. During the holidays, Ms. Kapanidou, our secondary school art teacher, met the incredible team of “Paidikes kardies” (children’s hearts) charity and delivered our school’s donation. New paths of collaboration were carved, and a goal was set to support this children’s charity even better next year. |
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Elementary 'Joy Project' Initiative |
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Our Elementary students decided to support the 'Initiative For The Child', an organization that raises abused/neglected children in a family atmosphere. Thanks to your contributions, each of the 44 children received a personal gift on New Year's Eve. There was a lot of excitement and joy among the children while opening their gifts. |
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EY & Elementary Winter Show
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Our winter show was full of warmth, humor, and Christmas songs. Early Years and Elementary students performed on stage and brought a sparkle to our festive celebrations. Special thanks to our music teachers, Ms. Gundega Smite and Ms. Eva Ieropoulou. |
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Our elementary students had the opportunity to visit the Greek theater! Our Pre-K 1 to Grade 2 students watched the festive theatrical show: “Kalikantzaros” at the Athinaion theater. The kids were impressed with the story and the dancing performed by the actors.
Students from Grades 3-6 watched the theatrical: “The labors of Hercules” in theater Amalia. The show was presented in a very humorous way and got everybody’s attention! It was the perfect way to introduce Greek mythology to our students as a part of our curriculum.
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Holiday Breakfast
On the last day before the Winter Break, our Secondary student council organized a breakfast for our Secondary students and teachers. Everyone enjoyed this opportunity to socialize in a festive atmosphere. The spare food was donated to Εθελοντική Διακονία Αστέγων (a homeless shelter).
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Our door decoration contest was a tough call! So many creative doors turned our hallways into a wonderful, festive learning environment! Congratulations to Grades 7A & 7B and Grades 12C & 12D for their beautiful creations.
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Festive Dinner at the Boarding Residence
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Before the winter break, the boarding department organized a wonderful dinner to which all boarding students and advisors were invited. Pinewood currently has 19 students residing at the Anatolia Boarding Residence. Warm wishes from the boarding department director, Ms. Alexia Dara, were followed by a gift exchange, dancing, and signing. |
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Pinewood's Behavioral Expectations |
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Our elementary students had the opportunity to practice Pinewood's Behavioral Expectations during the first days back from the holidays. They worked very well together in small groups and shared their ideas and understanding of the expectations. All the students amazed us with their answers and insights, and we are very proud of their progress! #pinewoodproud |
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Innovator Competition - Last round |
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We congratulate our G10 Students Marios Katzigkas and Alexandros Mentesidis, who participated in the last round of the Innovator Competition. They came up with the business idea of Sleek, a smart trash that aims to remove all the hassle and annoyance of dealing with trash. They gave a compelling pitch and garnered very positive feedback on their preparation and confident style. They were shortlisted for the top 5, and they received an Honorable Mention and a prize of 250$ to invest in their business idea.
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They were the first team residing outside the U.S. to receive such a distinction, and we are very proud. Special thanks to Mr. Dimitrios Kourtesis and Mr. Nikolaos Tsoniotis of Ideas Forward, who continue to support Student Entrepreneurship generously offering their time and expertise, committed to our shared understanding that authentic learning happens in connected communities.
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Please note that the last tuition installment is due on January 15. In case you want to pay by credit card, contact the accounting department for a secure payment link. Make sure to mention the name(s) and Grade(s) of your child(ren).
Please note that only one of these Pinewood bank accounts can be used for making payments. Pinewood will not be held responsible or accountable if you make a payment into any account other than the official Pinewood bank account.
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Student Actor needed
Our Elementary Drama Club is seeking a replacement actor for a lead character in our play
'Charlie and the chocolate factory'. If your student is in Grades 3 to 6, and you are interested in acting, please email Ms. Zoi. Rehearsals take place every Thursday after school in room 208 on our Elementary campus at Anatolia.
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Congratulations to the follwowing students for their college acceptances: |
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KATERINA PAPANIKOLAOU
Bard College with a $55,000 Scholarship
Union College with a $55,000 Scholarship
Fordham University with a $57,000 Scholarship
THEODOROS AKRITIDIS
Rhodes College with a $52,000 Scholarship
EMILIJA STOYANOVIC
Breda University
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Parents as Partners: Bringing Out the Best
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January 17, February 28, March 21, April 4, 2023
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ELEMENTARY
Jan 16: Dentist visit for EY2 - G3
Jan 20: Pita cutting
Jan 27: Holocaust Remembrance Day Event at Secondary
Jan 24-31: Elementary trip to MOMus
Feb 17: Professional Development Day
(no school)
Feb 27: Clean Monday (no school)
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SECONDARY
Jan 17: IB1 Museum of Photography
Jan 20: Pita cutting
Jan 19: G9 visits the Jewish Museum
Jan 27: Holocaust Remembrance Day Event at Secondary
Feb 17: Professional Development Day (no school)
Feb 20-24: Entrepreneurship Week
Feb 22: Career Day
Feb 23: Personal Project
Feb 27: Clean Monday (no school)
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