It is with immense sadness that we inform our school community of the sudden passing of our ex-pupil Despina Karvouni, aged 24.

Despina, who graduated from St. Lawrence College in 2014, contributed enormously to our school community while also sustaining an extraordinary standard of dedication and consistency towards her own learning. Her record of achievement is unsurpassed. In addition to being a leading debater for our school, Despina was the captain of our debate team, an active member for our school’s Model United Nations delegation and a fine performer in our Forensics group. Despina approached all such activities with wholehearted commitment and an infectious enthusiasm, and was always keen to support other, younger pupils she was participating alongside.

Her achievements in debate, for school and country, were outstanding. While in Year 9 Despina was a finalist at the 2010 International Competition for Young Debaters and her team finished among the top 15 teams in the world. In the 2014 Panhellenic debate tournament, with over thirty schools represented and hundreds of young men and women taking part, she was ranked the number one best speaker at the entire event. Despina represented Greece as a member of the Greek national debate team in the World Schools Debating Championship in 2013, and then again in 2014, this time as captain of the Greek team.

Academically, Despina was brilliant and a role model for all pupils. Her stunning results of ten IGCSEs (9A*1A), five AS-Levels (AAAAA) and four A-Levels (A*AAA) were the consequence of her unwavering dedication to study, as much as her raw intelligence. It was richly deserved that she should be the winner of the History Prize, the Mathematics Prize, and the Headmaster’s Prize for Academic Excellence at her graduating Annual Award Ceremony in June 2014. Above all, Despina was a modest, polite, caring young woman with a wonderful smile, a love for her school community and a desire to support others. She was a natural choice for school prefect and she was an excellent Head Girl in her final school year.

After leaving our school Despina studied Law at Durham University in the UK, where she was awarded a first class degree. After further training and a specialism in Corporate Law, Despina had recently qualified as a solicitor, ready to practise in the UK legal system.

Despina’s sudden passing has brought terrible and profound shock and grief to all who knew her. At this time we remember her wonderful contribution to so many aspects of our school life and the example she set. We think of her many friends from her class of 2014, still a very connected and close-knit group. And, most of all, we give our thoughts, support and deep condolences to Despina’s family and closest friends who are suffering overwhelming grief and bewildering loss at this very difficult time.

In the past month, St. Lawrence debaters have taken part in two online competitions. Two weeks ago, some of our senior debaters pitted their wits against the best in Greece at the Cambridge University Athens Schools Competition, and last weekend, 12 of our younger orators entered the International Competition for Young Debaters (ICYD), which was also organised this year by Cambridge University. All of them performed well in tough debates and received some valuable feedback from some experienced judges. Special mention to Kristian Narcessian who finished amongst the top 10 individual speakers in the ICYD competition. Also, many thanks to the teachers and ex-pupils who gave up time on the weekends to help judge.

Year 6 at St Lawrence College has been feeling very creative in recent weeks with a definite theme going on - Harry Potter no less! During the Spring term, Year 6 studies the world of Harry Potter, learning so much about writing, story telling, plot and character. Of course, you cannot keep creativity out of it when talking about Hogwarts adventures, so it's only natural the children were asked to redesign book covers for the most well-known of the novels - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Look at what a wonderful job our children did at home in online lessons. Marvellous, don't you think?

On Friday 29th January, 'Book Character Day' was held here in our Early Years section of the Junior School. Our littlest pupils looked their cutest as they dressed up in some imaginative costumes for a fun Friday at school! They chose a range of their favourite story characters to represent including Little Red Riding Hood and even the Big bad Wolf! By bringing their favourite story to school, they were able to share the enjoyment with their classmates and teachers. What a lovely day!

In St Lawrence College Junior School we are currently supporting the Make a Wish charity with our very own tree of wishes hanging for all to see and appreciate. A donation of €2 contributes to a wonderful cause that brings joy to children in need. Our families are always more than willing to lend a helping hand to a worthy cause and our children learn about the benefit of giving to those less fortunate. 

The Make a Wish charity began in Greece in 1997 and is a renowned organisation which supports children in serious health crises. They say:

'Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
It’s more than a wish. It is about empowering the impact.
It is about the strength, the hope, the joy and the believing in life again.
Help us grant wishes to empower children with critical illnesses.'

https://makeawish.gr/

Despite this year's changes, selection of the 2020-2021 the St Lawrence College House Captains is complete and we're delighted to have some extremely hardworking, determined and mature young people representing the PE department. Being a House Captain is an extremely important role in our community and once again our pupils will be working diligently to organise events, support charities and take part in some of our extremely succesful sports teams. Take a look at the pictures below to meet our new House Captains, find out what they'll be up to, and see what you'll need to take on the role in the future. 

We are proud to unfold our adventurous, creative and magical journey which brought us to this impressive Koropi Campus where we celebrate our 40 years of operation

NORTHERN JOURNEY: The School did not pop up in 1980, the year of our foundation, looking as we do today. We started in Paleo Psychico, Filothei, Halandri,
occupying five different buildings that were necessary to house our constantly increasing pupil body, as our growth rate was phenomenal. To accommodate a number of non Athens resident pupils, we also ran a boarding house at Hotel Frini in Kifissia.

September 1984 finds the School in Gargitos in a purpose–built school building. We have left Paleo Psychiko and Halandri, but we still keep Filothei.

SOUTHERN JOURNEY: In September 1981, the School opened a branch in Hellinikon, naming it “L1” i.e. Lawrence One. The success was instant and in the years that followed new buildings were added, one after the other, in the area to accommodate the pupil body -three of which were built by us. Again the need to accommodate a number of boarders was covered by running a small villa in the area as a boarding house.

As time went on, the Board of Governors realized the   need to bring together the North and the South and
so the three component schools, Filothei, Gargitos, Hellinikon, merged in Hellinikon in September 1987.

A new beginning was made in Hellinikon. An impressive success story both in numbers and particularly in academic achievements follows bringing the buildings to the staggering number of eleven, “L11” i.e. Lawrence Eleven.

In the summer of 2004 the time had come to move again.

So “Farewell Hellinikon”, “Good Morning Koropi” and the gate of our impressive Koropi Campus opens in September 2004.

To sum up this building/geographical journey, we have worked out of 17 buildings, two boarding houses, in six suburbs before reaching our present beautiful home – the Koropi Campus.

Summer SCHOOL: The St. Lawrence College Summer School has been taking place as follows:

-Alexander Beach Hotel, Arachovitika, Peloponnese, 

  Summer 1982

- Tolo Camping, Nafplio, Peloponnese, Summer 1983-1989

- Hellinikon Campus, Summer 1994-2004

- Koropi Campus, Summer 2005 – Present  

Our School has come such a long way and it is in the hands of people, teachers and administrative staff, who will continue to nurture it as the safe educational oasis that it is.

Last Saturday, nearly 40 of our pupils were joined two ex-pupils for their first online debate club meeting. Rosie Vorri (Durham) and Achilleas Papadimitriou (Cambridge) headed the debate societies at their universities and were very successful debaters during their time at St. Lawrence, so they brought a wealth of experience, which the young debaters can tap into. This meeting was just the start of the club's activities as the online format should allow for us to take part in competitions all over the world over the course of the year.

During the weekend Friday 11th to Sunday 13th December, fourteen pupils from St. Lawrence College participated in the Costeas-Geitonas MUN Conference, following a long tradition of pupils from our school taking part in this event which is held every December. This year’s Conference was held online and, despite the challenges, our pupils were as excited as ever and participated with enthusiasm, dedication and commitment. Everyone is very proud of them, especially their teachers and their parents, as they sacrificed much free time preparing for the event as well as participating for long hours over the weekend, discussing important international issues with their fellow delegates from other schools. And they are already discussing their participation to the next MUN Conference! A special mention needs to be made of Eleni Kalendi, Joanna Sakkadas and Christina Beykou who held Chairing positions in the Legal Committee, the Environmental Commission and the International Court of Justice; positions of great responsibility and ones that required extra work from them even during the summer. And they held those positions like true ladies! This event seemed to prove once again that young people are the only hope we have for a better future!

At St. Lawrence College we recognise that the positive relationship between young people, their parents, their friends, and the school is fundamental for our pupils to grow and flourish into well-rounded individuals. Children and teenagers today, in all walks of life, face real concerns; they are exposed to some overwhelming external and internal struggles. It is important that pupils and parents have access to accurate and appropriate information about social, emotional and physical well-being. This page shares highly relevant guidance from many well-regarded external agencies and services, both in the U.K. and here in Greece, that will help to support the needs of our pupils and their families. Click the links to access up-to-date documents about a range of pastoral care issues.

Mental health and well-being

You’re never too young to talk mental health Tips for parents and carers on talking to young children. (Anna Freud)

Talking to an 11-18 year old about their mental health A guide for parents, carers, family members and guardians on how to talk to young people about their mental health and wellbeing. (Mind)

Starting the mental health conversation How to talk to your children about mental health. (SAMH)

Understanding Mental Health Problems Information for anyone who experiences problems with their mental health. (SAMH)

Am I ok? Thinking about your mental health. (SAMH)

Asking for help: A guide for young people Tips for when it’s time to talk about your mental health, or if you want to help a friend. (CWMT)

I am worried about my child A guide for parents and carers worried about their child’s mental health. (SAMH)

How to help a friend A guide to helping your friend with their mental health. (SAMH)

Helping someone else  How to support a friend with their mental health. (Anna Freud)

5 ways for better well-being How pupils can look after their mental health and well-being. (SAMH)

5 ways for better well-being for families How to look after your family’s mental health and well-being. (SAMH)

Self-Care for Children and Young People  What children and young people can do to look after their mental health. (Anna Freud)

Self-care for parents and carers Self-care for parents and carers

Low mood and depression

Supporting children and young people with depression Information for parents and carers to support children and young people with depression. (Anna Freud)

Depression the warning signs What are the warning signs that you or someone you know may be depressed? (CWMT)

Depression Facts and advice about the ‘common cold of psychiatry’. (CWMT)

A parent’s guide to depression Supporting your child with depression. (CWMT)

Depression self-help guide A self help guide for anyone experiencing depression and low mood. (NHS)

Self-care for depression Find tips on caring for yourself (Mind)

Stress & Anxiety

What is stress?  A guide to understand stress, how you can help yourself and get support. (Mind)

Exam stress and pressure Useful tips for those sitting exams. (Childline)

Coping with anxiety Understanding and coping with anxiety (Childline)

Anxiety and panic attacks  Understanding and coping with anxiety and panic attacks (Mind) 

Supporting children and young people with anxiety Information for parents and carers to support children and young people with anxiety. (Anna Freud)

Supporting children and young people with social anxiety disorder Information for parents and carers to support children and young people with social anxiety disorder. (Anna Freud)

Supporting children and young people with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Information for parents and carers to support children and young people with post traumatic stress disorder. (Anna Freud)

Self-esteem

Working on your self-esteem  A self-help book to help you cope better with low self-esteem. (NHS)

Building confidence and self-esteem Tips to boost your self-esteem. (Childline)

Perfectionism

Perfectionism When striving for excellence becomes unhealthy. (CWMT)

Anger

Anger Explaining anger, practical suggestions for what you can do to deal with anger and where you can go for support. (SAMH)

Anger Issues A self-help book to help you cope better with irritability and anger. (Wellbeing Glasgow)

Tips for 11-18 year olds on dealing with anger Tips and ideas for young people on how to cope when you feel angry. (Mind)

Sleep

Information for 11-18 year olds on sleep and mental health A guide for young people on sleep and mental health, what causes poor sleep and how it might affect you. (Mind)

Tips on improving your sleep Tips and ideas for young people on how to improve your sleep now and in the future. (Mind)

Problems sleeping Tips for better sleep (Childline)

Friendships

Friendship problems Advice and tips to manage friendship issues. (Childline)

Peer pressure  Ways to manage peer pressure. (Childline)

Making friends Top tips to making friends. (Childline)

The social connection planner How to better meet your social needs. (The Wellness Society)

Sex & Relationships

Sex and consent Information about sex and consent for teens (Childline)

Relationships Advice on what to do if you’re not sure about a relationship. (Childline)

ContraceptionInformation about contraception and safe sex. (Childline)

SextingAdvice to help teens about sexting and sending nudes. (Childline)

Pregnancy Advice on what to do if you worry about being pregnant. (Childline)

Puberty & Body Image

Teenage body Advice for help and support dealing with changes and looking after your body. (Childline)

PubertyInformation about puberty

Sexual and Gender Identity

SexualityTrying to understand your sexuality can be confusing sometimes. If you’re struggling to cope or you’re not sure what to do next, we’ve got advice to help. (Childline)

Gender identity Information and advice about gender identity. (Childline)

LGBTQI+ mental health Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex young people. (Anna Freud)

Coming out Answers to some questions you may have. (The Proud Trust)

Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children

Self-harm

Self-harm coping techniques Information about self-harm and safer ways to cope. (Childline)

A parent’s guide to self-harm The nature and causes of self-harm and how to support a young person that is facing this problem. (CWMT)

Supporting children and young people who self-harm Information for parents and carers to support children and young people who self-harm. (Anna Freud)

Suicidal thoughts

Suicidal feelings A booklet explaining why you may have suicidal feelings and providing some options to help you look forward and break the cycle of negative thoughts. (Mind UK)

How to support someone who feels suicidal Practical suggestions for what you can do to support someone who is suicidal and where you can go for support. (Mind UK)

Eating Disorders

I'm worried about someone with an eating disorder  Advice if you are worried that someone has an eating disorder. (Beat UK)

Distraction techniques Ways to distract yourself from the urge to use eating disorder behaviours (Beat UK)

Learning Difficulties

Supporting children and young people with ADHD Information for parents and carers to support children and young people with ADHD. (Anna Freud)

Dyslexia and learning disability Ways to cope with dyslexia and learning difficulties. (Childline)

Alcohol & Drugs

Supporting children and young people with alcohol and substance use disorder Information for parents and carers to support children and young people with alcohol and substance use disorder. (Anna Freud)

A parent’s guide to alcohol What is the harm of alcohol before 18 years of age? (What’s the harm, UK)

The Truth about Drugs An A-Z booklet giving the low down on lots of legal and illegal drugs. (Talk to Frank)

Drugs – Does your child know more than you? Detailed drugs advice for parents and carers. (Talk to Frank)

Bullying

A parent’s guide to bullying Information and advice to support you and your child if they are being bullied. (Family Lives)

Cyberbullying 10 things you need to know to support your child. (Internet Matters)

Anti-bullyingA tool for parents and carers. (Anti-Bullying Alliance)

Bullying and cyberbullying Tips to deal with bullying or to help a friend

Family Problems

Family problems Advice for teens when you’re not getting on with your family. (Childline)

Divorce or separation of parents

Divorce and separation Ways to cope with divorce and separation. (Childline)

My family’s changing Coping with your feelings when your parents separate or divorce. (CAFCASS)

Divorce & Separation A Parents Guide Information and advice to support your family while you're going through divorce or separation (Young Minds)

Parents and carers in conflict or separating Tips for parents and carers experiencing conflict, and advice on reducing the impact of conflict between parents and carers on children. (Anna Freud)

Step-families

A parent’s guide to successful step-families Advice and guidance for step-families. (Family Lives)

Bereavement

After a loved one dies – how children grieve How parents and adults can support bereaved children and young people. (New York Life Foundation)

Coping with the loss of a loved one Some guidance on grief and bereavement. (Cancer.org)

Social Media

Building a good online reputation Tips to help children create a good digital footprint. (Internet Matters)

Instagram Checklist to make sure that your Instagram account is safe. (Internet Matters)

Instagram  Advice to young people on social media. (SWGFL)

Parental control - Instagram Parental advice for safety and privacy. (Internet Matters)

Snapchat  Advice to young people on social media. (SWGFL)

Parental control - Snapchat Parental advice for safety and privacy. (Internet Matters)

Tik Tok Advice to young people on social media. (SWGFL)

Parental control – Tik Tok Parental advice for safety and privacy. (Internet Matters)

Facebook Advice to young people on social media. (SWGFL)

Parental control – Facebook Parental advice for safety and privacy. (Internet Matters)

Whatsapp Advice to young people on social media. (Internet matters)

Parental control – Whatsapp Parental advice for safety and privacy. (Internet Matters)

Parental control – Youtube Parental advice for safety and privacy. (Internet Matters)

Cyberbullying 10 things you need to know to support your child. (Internet Matters)

Internet safety

Online safety for parents of children 0-5 years Offers advice on how to ensure that very young children remain safe when online. (Internet Matters)

Online safety for parents of children 6-10 years Offers advice on how to ensure that young children remain safe when online. (Internet Matters)

Online safety for parents of children 11-13 years Offers advice on how to ensure that young people remain safe when online. (Internet Matters)

Online safety for parents of children 14+ years Offers advice on how to ensure that young people remain safe when online. (Internet Matters)

Moving to secondary school guide Offers advice on how to ensure that children transitioning between junior and senior school remain safe when online. (Internet Matters)

A parent’s secondary school guide Information about how to support your child so they are safe online. (Internet Matters)

Set up safe checklist A simple checklist for your child’s safety on the internet. (Internet Matters)

Digital resilience 11-13 years Advice for parents of children 11-13 to help them become more digitally savvy. (Internet Matters)

Digital resilience 14+ years Advice for parents of teens to help children become more digitally savvy. (Internet Matters)

Online Gaming

Gaming advice to support teens Parental advice for when teenagers play computer games. (Internet Matters)

Balancing Screen Time

Balancing screen time Key Stage 3 Advice for parents on helping children in Years 7-9 find a balance between life on and offline. (Internet Matters)

Balancing screen time Key Stage 4 and 5 Advice for parents on helping young people in Years 10-13 find a balance between life on and offline. (Internet Matters)

In these unprecedented times our school's Services Society managed to complete two projects during the first part of the Autumn term. All of us together, pupils, parents and teachers, continued our support for the Soup Kitchen in Anavyssos, a philanthropic organisation with whom we, as a school, have longstanding strong links, by providing them with much needed food items for their everyday operations. 

We have been supporting the unaccompanied refugee young teenage boys of FAROS for a few years now. Currently there are 22 young boys who have very little to occupy them in their spare time. The Services Society, assembled 22 back-pack bags for them, packed with items as varied as notebooks, pens, pencils and other school supplies, drawing items, small puzzles, cereal bars, toothpaste and toothbrushes, Dettol soaps and disinfectant gels. We also donated to the organisation that takes care of them books that both the English and the Greek Departments kindly offered. It is certainly with great pleasure that we gave these bags to the 22 boys, who have experienced tremendous struggles in their lives so far, something constructive to do in their free time.

Many thanks are offered to all of those involved in these projects from precious young volunteer helpers of the Services Society from the Junior School through to the oldest Year 13 pupils who have never refused to contribute and help.

On Tuesday 27th October, St Lawrence College exhibited a celebratory air with lots of Hallowe’en fun!  The children and teachers came to school dressed for the occasion  and had a day of active learning with an autumn theme! The family efforts with classic pumpkin carving were outstanding again with some breath-taking designs!  

The Greek National Holiday to commemorate 28th October 1940 was celebrated before the half term break at St Lawrence College Junior School in a socially distanced manner for the first time. The classes of Year 6, which usually head up our performances, took part in a History Quiz based on all their learning about OXI Day and the significance of the Greek resistance. Through the quiz, the pupils learned about the main events of World War II in Greece and the battle of Democracy against Fascism. Despite the masks and the absence of a parental audience, the children enjoyed the experience.  

A different kind of autumn term is well underway at St. Lawrence as we navigate our way through the end of 2020. Every day brings a new challenge to deal with. This term sees a masked school population, social distancing as the new norm in our playgrounds and classrooms, but we have come to terms with the alternative ways we are obliged to operate. This week, we held our first round of virtual parent teacher conferences successfully and realised that effective contact can be meaningfully maintained with the help of our devices. All in all, we are doing very well under the circumstances and would like to say a heartfelt thank you to our pupils, small and big, who are coping admirably, and to our teaching faculty too.

During the weekend of Saturday 3^rd and Sunday 4^th of October 2020, 13 pupils of our school, from Year 8 to Year 13, took part in a “different” online MUN Conference organised by Campion School under the guidance of Ms Kladouchou and Ms Tsirigoti.

It was their first experience of an online public speaking event and for some even their first experience of an MUN Conference. Yet, both the old and the new members of our school’s MUN Club enjoyed the experience enormously. Two of our oldest pupils were Presidents of WHO (World Health Organisation) and ICC (International Criminal Court) respectively and made themselves and the school very proud with the calm and effective guidance they provided to all delegates of their committees. Three of our younger pupils, two of whom took part for their very first time, were voted ‘Best Delegate’ or were awarded an ‘honourable mention’ for their successful preparation and impressive presence in their committees, the ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council), the WHO and the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee respectively.

We all feel very proud of them, not only because they sacrificed their whole weekend for this participation but also because they did show that extracurricular activities can be performed and enjoyed even during these unprecedented times. Well done to all participants and good luck with their preparation for the next MUN Conference, the DSAMUN!