News Greek School for the School Year 2021
The Greek School of the G.O.C. is of paramount importance in maintaining the Greek language in New Zealand and promoting the wealth of the Greek Culture and Heritage for the Greeks or New Zealanders of Greek descent.
The G.O.C has taken initiatives this year to rejuvenate the School, modernise its Curriculum and assign to dedicated and passionate individuals to become our new School Teachers. Below is a summary of the actions taken to form the structure of the Greek School for the school year 2021.
School Curriculum
This year we aim at creating a Curriculum that is adapted to the modern needs and interests of students, who study Greek as a second language. Adult classes will also be available. The Curriculum, will be interactive, engaging and aimed at immersing the students to the Greek language and Culture. This will be achieved by a combination of Greek Language classes and Cultural activities such as theatrical play inspired by the Greek history or literature and /or traditional dances.
Sessions will be 45 minutes and each enrolled student will be attending two sessions per week, one focused on language learning and one on a cultural activity. Language sessions will accommodate the different student language ability levels, while the cultural activity may be more mixed.
Adult classes will be primarily focused on Greek Language learning, however interest in Cultural activities will be gauged.
Teacher resourcing
Given that this year we will not be having the resource of a Teacher sent from Greece, the G.O.C. has assigned to three enthusiastic members of our Greek Community the roles of teaching in our School. Flora Stathopoulou, Haroula Malta and Theodora Malta will be sharing the language teaching and the cultural activity sessions. Our new School Teachers will also be undergoing training for their new role by attending focused online courses of “Teaching Greek as a second language (TGSOL)” from Greek Institutes such as the “Hellenic Culture Centre”.
Teaching hours and fees
The Greek School will operate on weekdays between 3:30pm to 6:00pm for school age children and 6:00pm – 7:00pm for adult classes and on Sunday 10:00am-13:00pm. Unfortunately, it was not possible to arrange for classes on Saturday this year.
The school attendance fees this year for children and adults will be $80pp per term (or $60pp per term if 2 siblings or more enrol). Four terms are planned to follow the official NZ public School terms.
Open School days/ Enrolment days/Classes start date
Two open days will be arranged, for the students and parents to meet the new Teachers and enrol in the Greek School. The first Open day will be on Monday 1st February 2021 at 17:30 and the second Open day will be on Monday 1st March 2021 at 16:00, when the Blessing of the School will also take place. You are all invited to either or our Open days. Enrolments can also be made via email, please enquire at school@greek.org.nz for an enrolment form. Classes will commence on Monday 8th March 2021.
Summary
The Greek School of the G.O.C. has been a lighthouse for the preservation of the Greek Language in New Zealand for many decades now. The rejuvenation of the School this year aims at laying the foundations for a Greek School with a modern and engaging Curriculum and skilled and passionate Teachers, for the benefit of the current and future generations of Greeks and New Zealanders of Greek heritage in Wellington, but also for anyone interested in the Greek Language and Culture.
