Stylus 12 July 2011

The voice of St. Spyridon College

| July 2011 | NUMBER 12 |

Photography by Mr Anthony Condous and Mike Flokis Photography

stylus Upcoming

Events Term 3 – 2011

Term 4 – 2011

Staff Development Day

Mon – 18th July

Students Return

Tue – 19th July

Parent Teacher Conferences Yrs 10 & 11

Wed – 20th July

Staff and students return

Mon – 10th Oct

Year 7 Vaccinations

Mon – 10th Oct

Leadership Camp Yr 12 2011

Wed – 12th – Fri 14th Oct

Parent Teacher Conferences Yr 7 – 9

Mon – 1st Aug

HSC Begins

Fasting for Dormition Begins

Mon – 1st Aug

Year 10 Final Assessment Week

HSC Trials Begin

Mon – 1st Aug

Appreciating Culture Lecture – Peter Garrett

ICAS English Competition JS Australian Mathematics Competition Jeans for Genes Day Trial HSC Ends

OHI Day

Thu – 4th Aug

OHI Day Celebrations Church Yrs 7 – 9

Sun – 30th Oct

Spring Fair Junior School Campus

Sun – 30th Oct

Years 7 - 9 Final Exams Begin

Wed – 2nd Nov

Mon – 15th Aug Fri – 12th Aug

ICAS Mathematics Competition

Tue – 16th Aug

School Certificate

Thu – 19th Aug

Parent Forum Year 7 2010

Wed – 17th Aug

Fri – 28th Oct

Greek Welfare Centre Walkathon

ASISSA Athletics Carnival Junior School Parent Forum Year 9 2012

Tue – 18th Oct

Tue – 2nd Aug Fri – 5th Aug

Dormition of the Theotokos (School Closed)

Thu – 13th Oct Mon – 17th Oct

Sun – 6th Nov Mon – 7th – Wed - 9th Nov Tue – 8th Nov

Year 4 – 6 Camp

We – 9th - Fri – 11th Nov

P & F Taverna Night

Sat – 20th Aug

Year 3 Camp

Thu – 10th – Fri 11th Nov

Snapshots Extravaganza

Thu – 25th Aug

Preparing for the Preliminaries Course Begins

Thu – 10th Nov

HSC Assessment Period Ends

Fri – 26th Aug

Year 10 Last Day and Dinner

Thu – 24th Nov

Sports Presentation Evening

Tue – 6th Sept

Orientation Day Year 7 2012

Fri – 25th Nov

Debating Competition Junior School

Thu – 8th Sept

K – 6 Awards Presentation Morning

Tue – 6th Dec

Yr 11 Preliminary Course Final Assessment Begins Mon – 12th Sept

Year 6 Graduation

Tue – 6th Dec

ISA Athletics Carnival Senior School

Speech & Prize Giving Afternoon 12.30pm

Thu – 8th Dec

Tue – 13th Sept

CIS Athletics Junior School

Wed – 14th Sept

Term ends for students

Thu – 8th Dec

Year 12 Farewell Assembly

Mon – 19th Sept

Staff Development Day

Fri – 9th Dec

K – 12 Doxology

Tue – 20th Sept

St Spyridon Vespers

Year 12 Farewell Vespers & Dinner

Tue – 20th Sept

St Spyridon Day

Mon – 12th Dec

NSW CIS Athletics

Wed – 21st Sept

HSC Results

Wed – 14th Dec

House Gala Day Senior School

Thu – 22nd Sept

ATAR

Thur – 15th Dec

Open Day Junior School

Thu – 22nd Sept

Term ends for students

Thu – 22nd Sept

Staff Development Day

Fr – 23rd Sept

n Internal Event

Sun – 11th Dec

n Public Event

The term Stylus is used to describe a myriad of different devices used in computing, science, medicine, art and technology. In ancient times, a stylus was the bone or ivory pen used to write on wax or clay tablets. Stylus is also the Greek word for pillar, denoting strength and grace.

Address From Head Of College

T

he highlight for this edition of the Stylus is the opening of the Sports & Performing Arts Centre

on the 19th May 2011. We thank His Eminence for His Blessing and Prayers for us and our students and for His example of unstinting commitment to the good of the Church and Community. We were pleased to have with us many distinguished guests, including Senator Elect Mr Thistlethwaite, former Premier of NSW Mrs Kristina Keneally, Mr Michael Daley, Member for Maroubra, Mrs Marie Anne Ficarra, Parliamentary Secretary and representing the Premier of New South Wales.

“With the completion of the Centre, we can provide our students and teachers with a home and a space in which to develop and showcase their considerable talent.�

Other events featured in this edition, are the visit to our College by Mrs Christofia, First Lady of Cyprus and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese National Schools Event hosted this year by All Saints Grammar School. We thank our sister school for the efficiency, hospitality and warmth which made this event successful and memorable for all 400 participants Australia-wide.

On a sad note, we mourn the passing of a founding member of the College Board of Governors, Professor Manuel Aroney. We will remember him for his wisdom, insight and gentlemanly conduct. We hope that his example of sustained service and contribution to the development of excellence in all things, will inspire us in the years ahead.

Excellence is featured here in academics and in sports, in our present and in our past students of whom we are very proud. We hope you will enjoy reading this Stylus, which gives some snapshots of semester school life at St Spyridon College.

Mrs E. Stefanou-Haag Head of College

STYLUS Page 1

P

rofessor Manuel James Aroney, AM, OBE, passed his deep appreciation of the complexities of establishing away peacefully on 15th February 2011 at the age

of 78, leaving behind him a legacy of excellence, passion

and building a vibrant educational institution, to impact in the most positive and productive way possible on

and achievement that has enriched

the growth and development

the Greek Australian presence and

of our wonderful College.

Australian society at large.

In 1993, St Spyridon College

Professor Aroney was born in

established an annual award

Sydney Australia, in 1932 of

for the highest HSC Aggregate

Kytherian parents, in an era of

in his honour, aptly named

hardship and struggle, following

‘The Professor Manuel Aroney

the Great Depression and World

Award’. To this day this award

War II.

is sponsored by Sydney University Greek Society and Mr

Undaunted by countless

Michael Comninos, a former

challenges, he commenced his

student of St Spyridon

illustrious academic career as a Commonwealth Scholarship

College and eventual President

winner at the University of

of S.U.G.S. On the 10th March

Sydney, where he gained the

2011, Alexander Vatiliotis will

Degrees B.Sc (1955), M.Sc

be presented with this award at

(1956) and Ph.D (1961). He went

the ‘Scholarships and Leader-

on to become internationally recognised as a “true grand-master”

31/08/32 to 15/02/2011

ship Assembly’. In 2009, Professor Manuel Aroney and his wife

in his chosen field of scientific research in atomic

Anne were very proud to attend the first day of their

bonding and molecular structure investigated by a

grandson Emmanuel’s schooling at St Spyridon College,

range of techniques of Physics.

together with parents Stephen and Sophia. Unfortunately,

His spectacular distinction as an academic of international standing, was matched only by his passion for dynamic

Manuel was too ill to be present for Anne Marie’s first day on the 1st February 2011.

community service, his demonstrated pride in his

We extend sincere condolences to his wife Anne, to

Kytherian and Greek Orthodox heritage, his support

Stephen and Sophie, Emmanuel and Anne-Marie, as

of Greek Orthodox education, his commitment to

well as to Jim and Theodore, to daughters-in-law

Multiculturalism, Human Rights and Social Justice.

Evelyn and Felicia, and to grandchildren James,

He was bestowed numerous Awards, including the

Michael, Alannah, Emeil, William and Demitra.

most prestigious Australian honours Officer of the

Professor Manuel Aroney will be much missed by all of

Order of the British Empire (OBE) 1980 and Member

us. May His memory be eternal.

of the Order of Australia (AM) 1989. The Greek

In Alexander Vatiliotis’ words,

honour, Commander of the Order of the Phoenix, was bestowed upon to him in 1998 by the President of the Hellenic Republic.

“This year the Professor Aroney Award has become a much more meaningful award due to the recent passing of Professor Manuel Aroney. While we may have lost one

For us at St Spyridon College, Professor Aroney was a

of the most awe-inspiring and genuine members of the

founding member of the Board of Governors in 1981,

St Spyridon College family, this award is one of the many

and continued to guide, lead and exemplify what is

assurances that Professor Aroney’s memory will live on.”

best in a Governing or Board member until recent months. Always a voice of reason and logic, he used STYLUS Page 2

Address by College Captain Believe that you can be whoever you want to be.

Scholarships and Student Leadership Assembly 2011 Ashli Bergmann My life at St Spyridon College began in Year 7. My main concern was whether the school community would accept me, especially considering that many people in my year group had been together since kindergarten.

Every year since I’ve been in Year 7 I’ve attended this same event. Over the years I’ve listened to various Year 12 leaders and award winners speak, and have watched them be acknowledged for their academic efforts. In Year 7, I remember asking myself how it was possible for a student to be able to speak so well in front of a large crowd, and how it was possible for one person to achieve so much.

The only answer I could come up with was that those people were ‘special’ or ‘lucky’ in some way. They were definitely born without the ability to become nervous, and with the ability to get high marks without trying. I used the phrase “naturally smart” to describe them. Looking back I realise that, honestly, this is just the only answer I was willing to accept. It gave me an excuse-a justification-as to why I might never be able to do something that I really wanted to do.

And being a school Prefect is one example of something that I’ve wanted to do from the day I started high school.

So perhaps it was natural for me to be doubtful that I would ever get here. It was probably just my own way of dealing with the prospect of disappointment the idea of “giving up before I tried” or justifying why things were not within my control. In fact, I believe that it is natural for all of us, at one time or another, to tell ourselves and those around us that we will never achieve what we want to achieve. Because in the event that it happens we don’t get such a shock.

We can say to ourselves and our friends, “I told you so”.

Nowadays I don’t really use the term “naturally smart”. It’s true that some people are born with traits or abilities that make them able to do some things better than others, or do things that others can’t do as quickly or even at all. But when it comes to intelligence I think it comes down to effort and how you define intelligence in the first place. When I looked up intelligence I found that it meant having a “capacity for learning, understanding and knowledge.” Everyone here possesses this capacity. So is it wrong to say that we are all intelligent? I don’t think so. We are all intelligent. We are just

motivated to want to know about different things.

It could be that we are more interested in some things rather than others, or that we have realised that we are better at something specific.

The reason I am saying all this is because I want each and every one of you to know that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve in life. What you need to remember-and this is something that I need to remember too-is that we need to be prepared to work hard and make sacrifices for what we want. Which means we also need to be prepared to make mistakes, and lots of them.

After all, reflecting on our mistakes is what eventually leads us to success. We realise what we can change-what we can do differently-and we improve each time.

It may take a very long time to reach success, but perseverance is the key. Too often we want instant gratification, but it is what we work the hardest for that we appreciate most.

Student Principle 5 states that “We consider our studies to be our main goal and undertake to be active participants in our own learning.” So if we know that there’s something in particular we want to do after school, for example, then it’s so important that we take advantage of the opportunity to learn; that is given to us at school. There are times when we know we aren’t making the most of our opportunities. At these times, we must remember that millions of children throughout the world will never go to school. Not only will they never learn, but they will never meet those friends that they would only otherwise have met if they did go to school. I’m sure all of us agree that the prospect of seeing our friends everyday; is one of the main reasons we drag ourselves out of bed every morning!

Having said this, it becomes clear that our learning environment must foster our learning. Each and every one of us must help create an environment where we are able to feel comfortable to learn, and in turn reach our fullest potential. But I think

STYLUS Page 3

creating the right environment is not a problem for anyone here. I see it when I walk past the classrooms and in the playground every day. I saw it when I first came to the school in Year 7. I can’t honestly describe how it felt to have various people approach me, knowing nothing about me, and make me feel as if they actually cared about me. Similarly, now, I don’t understand how some of the Year 7s and others from younger years are able to be so relaxed in approaching me.

I think it is so admirable to have a quality like that because, for me, it has always been quite difficult to initiate conversation with others. I think I’m better at approaching people than I used to be, but only because I go to this school! If I was to pinpoint the Student Principle which I believe prevails strongest within our school, I would state number three, which is: “We work together to achieve a school community whose distinguishing characteristics are those of friendship, compassion and decency.”

The open and inviting nature with which you receive those who are new to the community is something everyone here should be proud of. It is one of the reasons why I wanted to become a leader of the school. It gives me an opportunity to hopefully do something worthwhile for the community that has allowed me to be part of the close relationships that exist within it. Not only now, but when I leave also. I hope to provide ongoing support to St Spyridon College in any way that I can when I am no longer a student at the school. I am doubtful, however, that any support I give will repay what I take with me.

I would now like to emphasise the importance of appreciating what we have and making the most of it. This applies not only at school but in all aspects of our lives. As I said previously, there are millions of children in the world who will never go to school. In fact, there are around 72 million children out of education worldwide. 640 million, or 1 in 3, children are without adequate shelter, and 270 million, or 1 in 7, children; don’t have access to health services. So many children in the world don’t have basic needs, let alone all the extra luxuries we are lucky enough to have.

It’s important that we consider this before we complain about having too much homework to do or too many responsibilities. Having said this, when it feels like we can’t handle things by ourselves we need to be there to support each other. I would like to read you one of my favourite poems which focuses on this idea of support: One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking STYLUS Page 4

along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD. When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it.

LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

This poem inspires me because it highlights how vital it is that we have others to support us in our times of need. It also reminds us that even when it feels like we have no one, God is always here for us even though we may not realise it. He may be helping us in ways that are not obvious to us. It is a gift to be able to realise that someone is in need and then to be able to help them. Sometimes we need to focus more on others and our surroundings. Perhaps a little too often we focus too much on ourselves.

Each year there is a different leader up here speaking to us and making us think about what is important to them. What is most important to me are those values I learn; and try to instil in myself through the example of those around me. The values I have mentioned today are ones which I believe will benefit us insurmountably throughout our lives if we continue to practise them. Remember always to respect those around you, cherish what you have and most importantly, believe that you can be whoever you want to be.

Thank you.

Scholarship Recipient Live out the dreams you have lying around so you have time to dream up and live out new dreams.

Alexander Vatiliotis Last year at this assembly the previous recipient of the Professor Aroney award, Christopher Stasos, reminded us to step back and take a moment to properly consider the state of our world – and our unrealised and very advantageous position in it. I feel compelled to remind you of what he said again this year. Out of over 6 billion people in this world, half the world’s population live on less than $2 a day, 30,000 children die each day from poverty related, preventable diseases and over a billion people are unable to even write their own names.

It is sometimes important to remember a little boy who told rescuers to take his brother first before he was washed away by the floods in Queensland. Its sometimes important to realise that only weeks ago a youth movement, orchestrated by people not much older than ourselves, through our familiar tools of Facebook and Twitter, overthrew a repressive dictatorship in Egypt; And it’s sometimes important to remember the peaceful Libyan protesters who are being

gunned down by their own government so that their family and friends may have a chance at real freedom. The kind of freedom that we take for granted every day. It’s sometimes important to remember these things when we complain that the world is against us because we have four assignments due in the next few weeks instead of two.

What each of you are going to do in the future and where life is going to take you is both exciting and diverse. But life doesn’t start when you finish the HSC, life has been running its course in the background all along.

I urge you to live out your dreams, quickly, because we don’t know how long we have left. Live out the dreams you have lying around so you have time to dream up and live out new dreams. So one day when we meet again down the road we can have some awesome stories to talk about.

As always it’s a pleasure to address the St Spyridon community.

Thank you

STYLUS Page 5

Leading the Way Congratulations to our College Prefects 2011 We congratulate the following students who have been selected to lead the Student Body K - 12 and the whole school community in 2011.

Ashli Bergmann

- College Captain

Alex Georgiou

- Prefect

Stamati Margelis

- Vice Captain

Andrea Hadjidemetri - Prefect

Elleni Mavrolefterou - Senior Prefect

Renee Hatzistergos - Prefect

Ben Papadopoulos

Angela Kardamis

- Sports Captain

- Prefect

Deanne Constantinou - Sports Captain

Anastasia Kerameas - Prefect

Nicole Kalofonos

George Kirkis

- Sports Captain

- Prefect

Bianca Anastasas

- Prefect

Leaya Stemitsiotis

- Prefect

Elpiniki Andrew

- Prefect

Peter Zinopoulos

- Prefect

Evangelia Balayannis - Prefect

Alexander Vatiliotis HSC 2010 – recipient of the Prof. Manuel Aroney Award and Academic Scholarship

2011 House Captains Corinthian

Olympian

Nemean

Delphian

John Patis

Irene Koukounaris

Peter Kolistasis

Kosta Baratsas

Kayla Want

George Mantzavrakos

Erin Criticos and Demi Flokis

Kate Kalergis

STYLUS Page 6

SRC 2011 Year 7 7Z - Nicole Adam 7S - Aaron –Paul Kostantakis 7G - Elias Hatzon

Year 8 8R- Kalioppe Kefalas 8D- Nicholas Georgou

Year 10 10G - Alex Stellatos 10K - Daniel Daneshzand 10D - Maria Mio

Year 9 9D - Dylan Kontos 9G - Nikolas Baratsas

Year 11

Year 12

11B - Despina Carpis 11K - Kosta Baratsas

Ashli Bergmann Stamati Margelis Elleni Mavrolefterou

JUNIOR SCHOOL

George Raptis School Captain Jacqueline Burleigh School Captain Markella Roditis Vice Captain Constantinos Kollias Vice Captain Larissa Andrianakos Prefect Christina Kilias Prefect Kerryanne Syros Prefect Deyana Xenos Prefect Michael Constantopedos Prefect Peter Milios Prefect Jordan Makridopolus Prefect John Tsakiris Prefect

Congratulations to the 2011 Student Leadership Team.

The following students have been elected as the Leadership Team for the Junior School.

2011 House Captains Corinthian

Olympian

Nemean

Delphian

Christina Theofanidis

Tina Ventoura

Stavroulla Mavrolefterou

Electra Athanasatos

Mitchell Knight

George Contominas

Peter Giokas

Eric Volas STYLUS Page 7

stylus

PEER SUPPORT LEADERS – Year 10

Leonidas Andrew Michael Arfanis Penny Bounatsos Niko Fotopoulos Chrisovalantou Georgou Mathew Kambos Theodore Kipriotis Estelle Krassas Dean Michos Maria Mio 1Alexandros Moraitis Stephanie Pizanis Nicholas Stasos Constance Synesios Valanti Toras Ellen Tsoukalas

Year 12 Prefects host morning tea for young student leaders Our 2011 Prefects hosted a “Lenten” morning tea for the entire student leadership team made up of Prefects, Peer Support Leaders and Student Council Representatives.

Ashli Bergmann our College Captain welcomed everyone on behalf of the Prefect Body and Leonidas Andrew thanked the Prefects for taking time out of their busy schedules to plan and host this event.

Prefects Lunch We held our first Head of College and Principal Prefect’s Lunch in the new Sports and Performing Arts Centre. It was a great success and hopefully it will become a regular event.

STYLUS Page 8

We would like to thank Mrs Lambi for her support and expertise for all such occasions.

National Schools Constitutional Convention The National Schools Constitutional Convention was a great success and gave me the opportunity to create a deeper understanding of the issue “Should Australia become a Republic?” and gave me the opportunity to meet other young Australians from all over Australia with similar interests.

Leah Balayannis second from the right

Delegates of the Convention at Government House

Delegates meet Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC

Leah meets Former Premier Bob Carr with other delegates that were part of the audience on the ABC’s Q&A show featuring the “Monarchy Special” STYLUS STYLUS Page Page 59

STYLUS Page 6

stylus

STYLUS Page 7

stylus

Thursday 19 May 2011

Archbishop Stylianos Official Opening of the St Spyridon College ‘Sports and Performing Arts Centre’

D

istinguished guests, representatives of Local, State and Federal Governments, reverend clergy, president and members of the Parish Council, head of college, principals and staff, benefactors and donors, parents, grandparents and faithful, girls and boys of our School.

In the first instance, we give thanks to the Risen Lord under Whose providence St Spyridon College was established in 1983.

As I have said on many occasions, this school is the ‘flagship’ of our Greek Orthodox Day Schools System in Australia. It is exemplary in setting the highest educational standards, and in preserving our Hellenic Ideals and our Orthodox phronema.

Precisely here, it is timely to remember that Hellenism does not belong to Greece alone, but to the entire world. And Orthodoxy, which remains true to the teachings of the Undivided Church of the first Christian millennium, belongs to the entire Universe. These are the precepts that make our schools esties, centres, for social harmony that enrich the broader community also.

Consequently, as I foretold in 1983, St Spyridon College has indeed become a bridge which renders our students well-balanced, bilingual and bicultural citizens of this Nation.

Furthermore, because our students come from 20 different cultural backgrounds and a plethora of Christian denominations and non-Christian religions, our students are often tri-lingual and tri-cultural. They are global citizens, strengthened by the ethos of human dignity, and the values of equality and respect taught in the school’s spiritual and pastoral programmes. Our students are proud to be Australian, and Australia has every reason to be proud of them.

Certainly, no school can operate in Australia without government assistance. Our Archdiocese is indeed very grateful for the recurrent funding provided to all of our schools by the Federal and State governments, as well as capital funding for buildings works.

On this memorable day, as we bless and officially open this brilliant ‘Sports and Performing Arts Centre’, we express our deep appreciation to State and Federal leaders who gave every assistance to St Spyridon College during the past 35 years.

Names that come to mind in chronological order include: Premier Neville Wran, Prime Minister Bob Hawke, Deputy Prime Minister Lionel Bowen, Premier Barrie Unsworth, Premier Bob Carr, Prime Minister Paul Keating, Prime Minister John Howard, Premier Morris Iemma, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Premier Kristina Keneally, and

Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

I am especially delighted that the Honourable Kristina Keneally is with us here today. I remember fondly that she represented Premier Morris Iemma at the Fiftieth Anniversary of St Spyridon Parish in 2008, and presented a cheque of one million dollars for this building which was to be built at some time in the near future. She has always been respectful towards my humble self, and proved to be a Premier of exceptional intelligence, with grace and dignity at all times. In addition, thank you Ms Keneally for your kind promotion of our Estia Foundation for Children with Special Needs. I look forward to the same sensitivity from the new State government.

It is my pleasant duty also to offer the gratitude of our Church to the current Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Julia Gillard, whose government has provided almost 3 million dollars towards this very impressive facility of St Spyridon College. The Building the Education Revolution scheme has assisted every school in the country. However, today is our turn to express the profound appreciation of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia for making this dream come true. I ask Senator Thistlewaite to convey my personal thanks to the Prime Minister and my hope that recurrent funding will be guaranteed and maintained at present levels, to avoid further pressure on school fees.

Of course, at the same time, we acknowledge the enormous contribution of our own community. To the Benefactors and Donors, to the Parents, to our Clergy, to the Parish President Mr Elia Economou, to the Head of College – Mrs Efrosini Stefanou-Haag, to the Principals – Mrs Mary Hamer and Mrs Amelia Katsogiannis, to the Parish Executive Officer – Mrs Christina Tsaconas, to the architect - Mr Michael Avramidis, and to all who have made this Centre a reality, congratulations and thank you.

Finally to our beloved students of St Spyridon College, may the Risen Lord grant you wisdom and health at all times, not only to pursue excellence in your normal subjects, but also to take full advantage of this new facility to broaden your studies through sport, drama, music, fine arts and all the related subjects which are now available to all of you.

God bless you. Christ is Risen! Amen.

STYLUS Page 12

STYLUS Page 13

Speech by Senator Elect Matt Thistlethwaite Your Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, Former Premier Kristina Keneally, Mr. Economou President of St Spyridon Parish, Mrs StefanouHaag - Head of College.

Members of Parliament, Mr Daley, Mr Notley Smith, parents and friends, students of St Spyridon.

It is a tremendous pleasure and honour to join you today to celebrate the opening of this new Sports and Performing Arts Centre, and to witness first hand the impact the Building the Education Revolution has had on St Spyridon College and the local area.

you today is the next Nicole Kidman or Russell Crowe, or the next Harry Kewell or Samantha Stosur.

Make the most of the opportunity this facility provides for you to better yourself.

The second aspect of the Building the Education Revolution is to provide jobs in local communities to cushion the effects of the global financial crisis on our national economy.

One of the most pleasing aspects of this facility is the fact that it was delivered by local tradespeople working with the school community to build these facilities for you.

I am here today representing the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Ministers Peter Garrett and Chris Evans who give their apologies. They are attending a community cabinet meeting in South Australia. The Prime Minister has asked me to read to you the following message.

This is a great facility for a great school providing a first class education for the students of our local community.

I wish to congratulate Ms Stefanou-Haag, the Board of Governors of the School, the staff and parents who managed and guided this project and worked with the local tradespeople to build this faculty.

It stands as a legacy of your hard work for the benefit of this generation of students and many generations to come.

This project is part of the Gillard Governments Building the Education Revolution.

It has been delivered on time and on budget with the help of the NSW Government and I wish to recognise and thank the NSW Government for their contribution to this project.

Through the Building the Education Revolution program the Gillard Government is investing $16.2 billion in more than 9000 schools across Australia. This funding is delivering new libraries and school halls, computer and science facilities, language centres and of course cultural and sporting facilities like this one.

There are 2 major aims of this program.

Firstly, to build school infrastructure to grow the educational opportunities available to students across Australia and enrich your lives as students.

Education is the pathway to a better, more rewarding life.

But you cannot get an education without the opportunity to learn. This facility will provide you with the opportunity to learn, and to have a more rewarding experience at school.

I would like to think that because of this facility sitting amongst

Friends congratulations to the St Spyridon College community for delivering this fantastic new Sports and Performing Arts Centre and thank you for inviting me to celebrate with you this important milestone for your school today.

STYLUS Page 14

Past and Present Senior School Leaders Stamati Margelis Vice Captain 2011, Paul Karantonis School Captain 1995, Christopher Stasos School Captain 2009, Ashli Bergmann School Captain 2011, Elleni Mavrolefterou Senior Prefect 2011 STYLUS Page 15

St Spyridon College Security Enhancement Project

STYLUS STYLUSPage Page12 16

Learning To Know Focus on our Educators Ms. Marina Kalithrakas Year Adviser - Year 11 Subjects: • Mathematics Year 7 - 12

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Education (Secondary – Mathematics Education) – University of Sydney

Responsibilities: • Teaching Maths Curriculum Years 7 – 12

• Year Adviser – 2004 (Year 8)

• Year Adviser – 2010 (Year 10)

• ISA Basketball Coach (Grand Finalist: 2007, 2009)

• Musical Snapshots Assistant Director

• Mentor to new teachers to the College

• Planning and program writing to meet sullabus requirements

• Responsible for Pastoral Care of students

• Organising and implementing mathematical events for the whole school community (Maths World Day and Pi Day)

Despina Carpis, Year 11 Visual Arts, has been accepted into the National Art School, Sydney, to attend Preliminary HSC Intensive Studio Practice Workshops. This is a highly competitive course and Despina is the first from St Spyridon to be accepted.

Despina will be working in the Ceramics Workshop where she will be able to work with established

artists and learn new skills that can be applied to her HSC Body of Work. We are proud of Despina’s achievement and wish her well.

Ms M. Pringle Visual Arts Teacher

World Maths Day – Congratulations Panayioti COUNTRIES PARTICIPATED: 234 5, 556, 296 Students Registered In Australia: 3, 033 schools participated in Australia 94, 629 students in Australia participated 32, 468, 922 questions answered correctly in Australia

Australia came 2nd in the world.

Only 6 Students in Australia Received Medals and Panayioti Kapodistrias came 5th.

CONGRATULATIONS! STYLUS Page 17

Past Students and Present Role Models Where are they now?

Name: Associate Professor Katina Michael

Michael are the proud parents of George, Eleni and Jeremy.

St Spyridon College: HSC Class 1993, School Captain and College Dux.

Associate Professor Katina Michael graduated from St Spyridon College in 1993 as the Inaugural School Captain and School Dux. She received the second highest HSC score in 2 Unit Geography in NSW, and the following year she gained entrance into the competitive Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) at the University of Technology, Sydney. The BIT course offered an attractive cooperative scholarship and among the 400 applications received nationwide, Katina was chosen among a 24 student cohort.

In her final semester of undergraduate study Katina was hired by Canadian networking giant, Nortel Networks, as an engineer initially and then as a senior network and business planner.

It was in her role at Nortel that Katina travelled throughout Asia and North America, seconded abroad to aid in tender responses which were worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2001, the CEO of Nortel Networks recognised Katina as top talent in Asia, among a 90,000 strong workforce.

In 2002, Katina joined the University of Wollongong as a lecturer specialising in networking and e-business related research, and thereafter the social implications of emerging technologies. In 2003, Katina was awarded her Doctor of

Qualifications: BIT, MTransCrimePrev, PhD PhD: PhD in the School of Information Technology and Computer Science, Faculty of Informatics Thesis Short Title: The Automatic Identification Trajectory Year Awarded PhD: 2003 Current Role: Associate Professor in the School of Information Systems and Technology, Faculty of Informatics, University of Wollongong Current Research Interest: The Socio-ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies; The Technological Trajectory of Automatic Identification, Location-Based Services, Wearable Computing and Embedded Systems; National Security; Emergency Management Previous Employment: United Technologies, Andersen Consulting, Nortel Networks, University of Wollongong Year Begun Lecturing: 2002

Past students…present parents

Family Details: Married to Dr M.G. Michael. Katina and

Mrs Lisa Kalis (nee Georgoulas) (daughter Christie – KC)

Ms Marie Scoutas (daughter Yiota Cross – KC) Mrs Suzie Stamoulis (nee Kondos) (son Alex – 1T) STYLUS Page 18

Mrs Olga Gouveros (nee Grivas) (son Jamyson – 1E)

Philosophy on the topic of automatic identification. She studied the technological trajectory of five auto-ID technologies including bar code, magnetic-stripe cards, smart cards, biometrics and radio-frequency identification tags and transponder implants. In 2007 Katina was awarded a postgraduate scholarship from the University of Wollongong to study toward a Masters of Transnational Crime Prevention in the Faculty of Law. In 2009 she graduated from this degree with a high distinction average and was awarded the prize for the highest aggregate mark. In the same year, a term that MG Michael coined and Katina helped to define in concept, “uberveillance,” entered Australia’s official national dictionary, the Macquarie, and was voted technology word of the year in the online competition of 2008.

Australia being awarded an A+ by the external panel and 200,000 in research funds. She is a prolific writer having completed over 85 peer reviewed papers in a range of high impact journals, more recently in the 98 year old acclaimed Proceedings of the IEEE. She has also co-authored with MG Michael a 500 pp reference volume titled: Innovative Automatic Identification and Location Based Services: from Bar Codes to Chip Implants (2009), and will be following this up with a co-edited volume titled: Uberveillance: The Social Implications of Emerging Technologies (2011).

“Beyond the classroom, the College provided me with an opportunity to enhance skills that relate to the development of the whole person. My teachers were brilliant mentors and always showed by example. They encouraged me, showed me the Way, and imbued in me a love for life-long learning.”

In 2007 Katina was one of Australia’s youngest recipients ever to be honoured with senior membership of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. She is an editorial board member of the IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, the technical editor of the Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research (JTAER), and a board member of the Australian Privacy Foundation, among numerous other posts.

She is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant on the topic of Location Based Service Regulation in

Katina has been the guest editor of numerous special issue journals including: Proceedings of the IEEE, Computer Communications, Prometheus, IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, JTAER. She has numerous overseas collaborations going and is well-known for her five year workshop series on the Social Implications of National Security.

In 2010 she was the program chair of the IEEE Symposium on Technology and Society which she hosted at the University of Wollongong on the theme of Emerging Technologies, the first time the conference had ever been hosted in the southern hemisphere. Katina has had more than 25 honours, Masters by research and PhD student completions under her primary supervision in the last 9 years.

The Past, present and future of our College Mrs Katsogiannis Mrs Stefanou-Haag Mrs Kathy Pateras (nee Tsakirios) (son Antonio – Year 2A) Mrs Mersina Tsakirios (nee Stamoulis) (son Neofytos – Year 2C) Mrs Maria Miller (nee Venianakis) (son Michael – KC) His Grace Bishop Seraphim Mrs Lisa Kalis (nee Georgoulas) (daughter Christie – KC) Mrs Suzie Stamoulis (nee Kondos) (son Alex – 1T) Mrs Olga Gouveros (nee Grivas) (son Jamyson – 1E) Ms Marie Scoutas (daughter Yiota Cross – KC) Very Rev. Father Steven Mrs Hamer Photography by Mike Flokis STYLUS Page 19

Past Students and Present Role Models Where are they now?

Name: Sandra Stavrou St Spyridon College: HSC Class 1995, Year 12 Prefect.

Qualifications: UNSW Bachelor Commerce, Accounting & Information Systems 1999 I look back on my time at St Spyridon with fondness.

The school nurtured all facets of the schooling spectrum, offering spiritual, academic, sporting, dramatic and creative art pursuits.

At St Spyridon I was able to develop my sporting abilities.

Whilst at the school I was involved in many of the sporting activities and competitions that were on offer, such as netball, basketball, athletics and football (soccer). However it was in football that I went on to excel.

The encouragement and support from the school assisted me to go on to represent NSW in Football at the U16, U19

and Open level. As well as making great friends at school, I also made some wonderful friends in the teams I played with. I traveled all over Australia inlcuding Perth, Adelaide, Ballarat, Brisbane. Overseas I went to New Zealand and Greece to represent the Greek Australian team in the inaugural Pan Hellenic Games. I was also fortunate to be recognised by the University of NSW with a Sporting Blue Award for my on and off field contributions to football as well as the player of the year award from Football NSW for best player in the NSW Competition in 2004.

Sport helped me with many of life lessons, about winning and losing, how to deal with disappointments and set backs in life, how to be a leader, how to play fairly and with integrity.

Whilst I have spent a lot of time over the years participating in sport, I also realized the importance of finding balance and concentrating not only on sporting pursuits, but also finding time for academia, work, family, friends and my Greek Orthodox faith. I believe St Spyridon laid the foundations of life balance, by offering the wide variety of activities and encouraging excellence in the activities in which we were involved. While participating in football at a high level I also STYLUS Page 20

worked hard at school and university. I have worked over the past ten years in Accounting in the Corporate and Not for Profit sector.

These days I spend most of my working day as Finance Manager for the charity “Muscular Dystrophy NSW�. I also try and find time to keep fit and kick the football around, though it is at a social level these days. Muscular Dystrophy has grown by 50% in the last year, and as Finance Manager the growth is keeping me busy!

I am currently engaged to be married in November this year.

My advice to all students is: Embrace your schooling life, take part in the extra circular activities on offer that you enjoy, follow your passion, and shoot for the moon, even if you miss you will land among the stars.

Visit of President and First Lady of Cyprus

STYLUS Page 21

St Spyridon Sports Stars GOA National Sports Event Selective students from various Greek Orthodox colleges around Australia participated in the Annual Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event hosted by All Saints College in Sydney.

Congratulations to the following students who received the Most Valuable Player in their sports.

Ivana Bojanovic- Indoor Soccer Ivana Bojanovic- Table Tennis Cassandra Georgiou- Netball Nicole Kalofonos - Basketball Renee Hatzistergos- Volleyball Thank you to Ms Gambriell, Mr Zafiropoulos and especially Mr Meintanis for taking time from their families to assist in the week. Thank you to all parents who supported the students at the events, your presence was encouraging for all students.

Thank you to Kimberly Flaskas for coaching the Girls Basketball team and Angelina Flokis for her support. Furthermore, thank you to all parents for allowing their children to participate in such an event as it is a very memorable event in their school life and one that they will cherish.

The students most certainly delivered to expectations with their hard training and dedication, all students represented the school with pride and must be commended not only for their outstanding results but their behaviour.

GOA NATIONAL SPORTING EVENT Every year there is always one main sporting event that either every team or individual strives to compete in and certainly win. For our School the National Orthodox Sporting week is that tournament.

After a disappointing year in 2010, our students managed to exceed all expectations and subsequently win the Outdoor Boys Football.

When reflecting on this tournament, I can honestly profess that we were at a level that only the students could take themselves to.

Captivating, enthrawling and pleasing are words I use to describe our schools participation this year. Thank you to all the students who participated and the teachers who helped out with our boys sport.

Mr Kaldis – Boys Outdoor and Indoor Soccer Mr Zafiropoulos – Boys Table Tennis and Volleyball Mr Georgoulopoulos – Basketball.

STYLUS Page 22

Anthony Condous and Kelly O’Shea

stylus

NSW Schools 2011 Regional Championships

U19’s Boys Futsal

U19’s Boys Futsal

U16’s Boys Futsal

Peter Kringas, Chistopher Georgiades, Alexander Georgiou, Veniamin Papadopoulos, Peter Zinopoulos, Pete Theodosi, Phillip Fotiou, Theo Geortsis, Peter Theodosi

Peter Kolistasis, George Docos, Andrew Sigrimis, Michael Horafios, John Patis, George Janjetovic, George Matzavrakos

Alexander Coplin, Andrew Leonidas, James Andrew, Niko Fotopoulos, Christopher Kolistasis, Alexander Spiropoulos, Petros Stefadouros, Nicholas Stasos

Congratulations for making the Semi Finals.

Thank you to all the students who participated and to Mr Kaldis for coaching the U16’s to become Schools Champions.

Congratulations for being U16’s Schools Regional Champions – Finals 6-0

Mr A. Condous – Boys Sport

Congratulations ... to Cassandra Georgiou and Nansia Koukounaris who were selected to represent 15’s and Under ISA Netball Team to compete in the NSW CIS Championships later next term. Cassie was also selected for CIS to trial for the NSW ALL SCHOOLS team on Friday, we wish her all the best.

Martha Spilioti who competed for CIS in the NSW All Schools Carnival. Martha at 15 years of age finished 4th in the 15-16 yrs 200m Butterfly. All competitors who finished before her were 16 years old.

Ivana Bojanovic was selected in the NSW CIS Football team. This is her 4th year selected in this team which is an extraordinary achievement.

Ms K. O’Shea Girls Sport

U16B’s Boys Futsal Mathew Kambos, Dean Michos, Alexandros Moraitis, Dean Roussis, Valantis Toras, Michael Metros, Louis Alexandrou

Soccer Excellence Congratulations to Panos Armenakas and Ethan Tsiribas of Year 7 who will be travelling overseas soon to further enhance their soccer skills. Panos will be playing for AC Milan in the largest international junior football tournament, to be held in Florence, Italy. Ethan, will be travelling to both the United Kingdom and Greece on a football tour to expand his experiences in this area. We wish both boys well in their upcoming endeavors.

STYLUS Page 23

Learning To Do

Community Action & Awareness Global Care

Year 4 took part in Randwick Council’s ‘Community Street Tree Planting’ project. The project greens our streets, brings neighbours together, and ensures that street trees are planted and maintained by the community that most benefits from them.

The Year 4 students assisted in the planting of three trees on the footpath of Bruce Street and, will be responsible for their maintenance during their initial establishment period.

The Council project, coupled with classroom HSIE lessons, provided our Year 4 students with the opportunity to explore ways in which environments, social systems and structures meet people’s needs, influence the lifestyles of people and,

contribute to community identity. Furthermore, the students were provided with the opportunity to become responsible, cooperative community members.

The Year 4 students of 2011, look forward to the prospect of growing old together with the trees they helped plant, and bringing their future grandchildren to see the link to their past and the hope for their future.

Miss Bletsogiannis Year 4C Class Teacher

Earth Hour Update A number of our students reported on some of the activities they engaged in during this years EARTH HOUR. These included some interesting and novel ways of supporting this event:

• Turned off all lights at 8.30pm and went to sszzzzzzzzleep early.

• Switched off all electricity to the

house from the main switch for the whole night.

• Attached battery powered magnetic mini torches to metallic surfaces in the house …prevented accidents.

• Used candles and torches instead of electricity.

STYLUS Page 24

• Did not use the computer, or play Xbox games that night.

• Turned everything off except for the DVD player. Had a DVD marathon night.

• Cooked on the BBQ instead of in the kitchen and used kerosene lanterns to light the garden area.

• Switched everything off at home

and drove into the city. Clapped with the crowds having picnics under the Harbour Bridge as we all watched the city building lights go out.

stylus Respect, understanding and acceptance program Selected Year 9 students participated in a new program which aims to address the issues of cultural and religious ignorance associated with intolerance.

Students from a variety of cultural backgrounds from Moriah College (Jewish School), Kambala (Anglican School) and ourselves attended.

The program is made up of three whole day meetings throughout the year. On the first day participants listened to presentations from each school, engaged in discussions and Q & A sessions with experts on each one of the cultures/faiths represented.

Students found their Day 1 experience to be enjoyable and thought provoking.

Soup kitchen circumstances”. Michael Vlachos

The Year 9 students once again too up Soup Kitchen Duty as part of our Pastoral Care Programs’ Community Awareness and Responsibility focus “Giving Back”.

Some Comments:

“We are very lucky, compared to these people. We should all help those who do not have the luxuries we have. George Karapanayiotidis

“We need to be grateful that we are so lucky. The poor people we saw were so polite and well spoken, despite their

“Anyone can become homeless. Even respectful and knowledgeable people can wind up homeless” Nikolas Baratsas

Randwick council chambers host hot debate Year 4 went on an excursion to Randwick Council. Upon arrival we were welcomed by Mrs. Paras, the Randwick Council Events Co-coordinator. She told us about the council building.

Mrs. Paras led us into the Randwick Council Town Hall and talked to us about how much responsibility it takes to be a councilor.

Next we sat in the councilors’ chairs and took part in two debates. The first debate was, ‘Should St. Spyridon College build a pool?’ The against team won! They said that it was too expensive and the

funding should be spent on other resources. The other debate was, ‘Should the walkways along our community beaches be renovated?’ The against team won again!

Finally, when we were leaving, Mrs Paras gave us Randwick Council show bags. Inside there was a ruler, a pen, a pencil and leaflets about how to be a responsible community member.

It was a fun and educational excursion!

Year 4

STYLUS Page 25

It’s all about building young lives

1130 Anzac Parade, Maroubra NSW 2035, PO Box 462, Maroubra NSW 2035 Phone: 61 2 9311 3340 Fax: 61 2 9311 4532 Email: admin@stspyridon.nsw.edu.au Website: stspyridon.nsw.edu.au Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, St Spyridon Parish of South-East Sydney A.C.N. 000 410 891 A.B.N. 84 480 080 247 CRICOS Provider Numbers: Junior School ~ Years K-6 ~ 061558A Senior School ~ Years 7-12 ~ 02319E