“Πριν πλημμυρίσει ο Έβρος δοκιμάζουν
την αθωότητά μου οι ήχοι του”
“Before Evros floods, my innocence is tested by its sounds”
by Thanasis Tzoulis, an Epirote surrealist poet and psychologist who chose Evros as his place of residence.

Thursday, April 11

It’s an exciting, long trip to Alexandroupoli, crossing Eastern Macedonia and the plains of Thrace. Half way through, we stopped at Porto Lagos on Lake Vistonida, a unique Mediterranean type ecosystem that hosts a variety of fauna: several types of fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds as well as flora. In the middle of Vistonida Lake, the Athonite Monastery of Vatopedi has a small but beautiful Dependacy dedicated to St Nicolaos. We were greeted by Father Andreas who welcomed us with sweets in a very typical Orthodox monastic style and talked to us about his monastery. Inspired by the beauty of Porto Lagos our students started writing a special project for their English Classes.

Friday, April 12

Friday morning was sunny and bright, a perfect day for a long trip on the banks of River Evros. First stop the Silk Museum in Soufli, where all the phases and the stages of the pre-industrial process of rearing silkworms (sericulture) and of silk processing (silk manufacturing) were presented in a noteworthy way within the wall of a small, but beautifully restored 19^th century local mansion.

Then, we visited the forest of Dadia. Located along one of the most important migration routes for birds of the western ecozone, Dadia is one of the few regions in Europe cohabitated by so many and different species of birds of prey and where three of the four European species of vultures can be simultaneously found, the Eurasian Black Vulture, the Egyptian Vulture and the Eurasian Griffon Vulture. Guided by the local scientists of the Documentation Centre of Natural Environment our students learnt how to best appreciate the great beauty of Dadia forest and the rich riparian flora that offers suitable biotopes for the nesting and the finding of food for many different species.

Our last stop on Friday afternoon was the Ethnological Museum of Thrace in Alexandroupoli, where Ms Valentina, the Museum’s educator introduced our students to local Traditional Professions through a fun, interactive educational program.

Saturday, April 13

It was time to return back to Thessaloniki, but the Delta of river Evros, an important wetland on a national, European and international level, waited our exploration. By bus, on foot and by boat we explored an area of unique beauty where hundreds of thousands of birds find shelter and food all year round, and the local community flourishes on its important natural resources.

Last stop the great 12^th century Byzantine church of Panagia Kosmosotira, a unique architectural building with an iconographic decoration of the highest quality representing the best of the Constantinopolitan School.

Please visit our Image Gallery to see highlights of our wonderful trip!

Amalia Spiliakou

Host Country Studies Coordinator

On Monday 8 April the IB1 Biology students conducted a plant population exercise at Thermi Dam in order to consolidate classwork including the study of ecosystems and factors affecting population size.  Students collected and manipulated data in situ in order to ensure that a reliable amount of data was collected.  They then went on to process their data using statistical analysis in order to make their conclusions.  Students also investigated a stream habitat and brought water samples back to school for further study.  Everyone worked enthusiastically and demonstrated excellent team work skills throughout the morning.  We now look forward to the Group 4 science project trip this weekend to the Evros delta and Dadia forest!

Dr. Clare Squires

IB Biology Instructor

Visiting the Folklife and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia-Thrace in Thessaloniki is always a cultural experience, particularly with Kindergarten students. Their innocent points of view help us better understand what D. Loukopoulos said back in 1938, «Just as it is true that the right to develop is identical with the right to eternal youth, so it is true that tomorrow is always shaped using the materials of yesterday. [...] Only then can a civilization have sturdy foundations, when it is rooted in a profound awareness of its past, of its immediate past».

On the 26^th of March we visited the two permanent Museum exhibitions focusing on food, shelter and clothing in traditional society.
The first of these exhibitions, 'At the Watermills of Macedonia and Thrace: Gristmills, Sawmills, Fulling Mills, Cloth-finishing Waterfalls in Traditional Society', presents pre-industrial technology and the exploitation of water as source of energy for the grinding of grain, the ripping of logs and the pounding of woolen clothes.

The second permanent exhibition 'Macedonia-Thrace: Traditional Costumes, 1860-1960', includes 55 costumes from Macedonia and Thrace.

Our Kindergarteners were greatly impressed by both exhibitions. They admired the various reconstructions of Watermills, but they really loved the Greek Traditional Costumes. So, our tour focused on Costumes, and our students were taught to distinguish the differences between city and rural costumes, woolen or silk materials, forms and shapes, colours and embroideries, jewelry and symbols. Back to school they were able to put into practice what they learnt in the Museum creating their own paper rural aprons.

01/12 

   

Amalia Spiliakou

Host Country Studies Coordinator

This week, we welcomed the Arsenal Gap Program Coach, Mr. Fahad Al Shamsan, to Pinewood in order to practice with our Boys’ Soccer team. The purpose of Coach Al Shamsan’s visit was to identify talented and skillful players among our Pinewood student body. Mr Fahad Al Shamsan is a graduate of Clark University, Massachusetts, USA, where he played on the Soccer team and founded and coached their Soccer Club. Since 2012, he has been a member of the Arsenal Gap Program where coaches are trained in the Arsenal Soccer Schools and other international projects. Coaches in the program also receive their UEFA Coaching License. Coach Al Shamsan coaches and scouts youth players aged 7-16 in London.

Our students had a great time playing with the coach and showing off their talents. This is the beginning of many activities that we have planned for our cooperation with the Arsenal Football Club.

Be sure to  visit our Image Gallery for a slide show of the event.