1

Table of Contents
I. Note from the editors

II. NSI Roster

1. Your first week of school: Laith Kalai

2. Prioritizing @ACS: Gaith Kalai

3. Settling in: Nikiforos Peterson

4. Academic Success: Nikitias G, Sophia Zachares,

Nassos Abuel, Gaith Kalai

5. ACS Resources: Laith Kalai, Kelly Dodou, May

Chai

6. Athletics @ ACS: Mahmoud Hmaidi, Alex Stelea,

Isabel Ahoarian

7. Extracurriculars @ ACS: Nasos Abuel, Natalie Kou-

rambenas, Ileana Kotini, Alex Klingert, Sara Sa-
mad, Lydia Spassof, Theo Sareferas

8. Student Services

9. Conclusion

2
 Note from the editors

The idea behind this handbook is that it is written by

students for students in a way that you can relate to. Our
aim is to help you get through your first year at ACS as
smoothly as possible.
Throughout our student-written handbook you will find
a number of articles related to issues that you might face
as you become part of our ACS community. As this hand-
book is written from a student perspective, we think that
you will enjoy it more than an official school document.
We (the editors) were new to ACS not so long ago, and
therefore we are familiar with what you are going
through as a new student. By helping your transition in-
to our community, we hope that you will become a valu-
able asset to ACS.
Without further ado, we present to you The Student Sur-
vival Kit
—Gaith and Laith Kalai

3
New Student Initiative Roster 2009-10

4
 Foreword

After publishing this booklet, we will

be hosting sessions during the first couple weeks of
school for new students. Unlike official school orienta-
tions, our sessions will be in a casual student-led atmos-
phere and will give you the freedom and opportunity to
get to know us and the school while having a good time.
As students and authors of this booklet, we welcome you
to ACS and encourage you to talk to us when you see us
around campus. We are willing to answer any of your
questions or show you around campus if you need any
help.

Best of luck,
—New Student Initiative Group

5
 Your First Week of School
Laith Kalai
Let‘s face it. It won‘t be easy. You will need to adapt to a
new campus, new studies, new teachers, new friends,
and much more. I
was new to ACS two
years ago; I know
how you feel.
Starting at a new
school can be pretty
nerve-wracking, es-
pecially if you‘re en-
tirely foreign to the
country as well...and the first day or two are usually the
worst. However, there are ways to ensure you make the
best of it.
In ACS‘s case, it‘s the first two days, because it takes two
school days to make a full rotation in the schedule. On
the first day of school, all students will attend all eight
blocks in order to receive textbooks and other materials.
Here‘s a small list of tips that you should follow in order
to survive your first week – or so, at ACS Athens.
Get to know your teachers: The most important
thing you must do is inform your teachers that

6
you‘re new to this environment. Introduce yourself
politely and confidently. Your teachers can be your
source of orientation or guidance, if you ask.
Take a little while to look around the school
prior to the first day if possible; Make sure
that you know your way to all of your classes. Get to
know the campus prior to your first day to mini-
mize the stress and anxiety. Walk around, explore
the buildings, ask a student/counselor for any clari-
fications. This will surely minimize the pressure
and the confusion that you might stumble upon as
you delve into our community.
Next, get to know your classmates; This might
be a rather difficult task, given that you might have
a different set of classmates for all 8 blocks. Don‘t
be too shy nor too pushy; just relax and act confi-
dent (or pretend to be). You can start by getting to
know the person who sits next to you. Introduce
yourself casually and be confident in class. As you
―test the waters‖ with your classmates, you will end
up building friendships according to whom you feel
the most comfortable with.

If you ask me about introductions, I say confidence

says it all.

7
Get to know other new kids. This wasn‘t very
helpful for me because I came half way through the
year, but it is a great tip that can help you and your
fellow new classmates. Find other new students;
you probably share mutual feelings and positions
for the meantime. Stick together as you get to know
more people.
Talk to as many people as you can. Ask for
help finding classes (even if you know where they
are).
Get to know your counselor. Each grade has a
different counselor. The counselor‘s job is to help
students, so don‘t think twice about introducing
yourself. Our high school counselors provide social,
educational, career and personal assistance to ACS
students.

8
Priorities
Gaith Kalai
As part of transitioning to a new school, you would
want to have your pri-
orities and expectations
straightened out before
-hand. This way, you
would have a plan to
guide your efforts, and
at the same time you
would know at which
levels different aspects
of your new life stand
on.
In your new envi-
ronment, you may not
know exactly how to
deal with the tons of
homework you have
from your classes, the
pressure about college in the coming years, and your
need for a social life.

9
 This is why it is helpful to set some short-term and
long-term goals for yourself, which will help you stay fo-
cused on what's important to you and will help you suc-
ceed in achieving your goals.

First of all, decide what's

most important to you and
commit to achieving it:
To start off, a priority is
something that has a cer-
tain level of importance
to you at the moment. A
high priority means something that means a lot to
you and is important. Setting priorities means de-
ciding which obligations you should fulfill first. For
example, your priority could be to get your essay
written rather than go to the movies.
As the year progresses, your priorities become
short-term goals. One person‘s goal might be to
get all A‘s and another‘s might be to make a certain
sports team. You try to reach those goals by accom-
plishing your priorities, which can be done in nu-
merous ways.
Commit to your schoolwork ahead of time; know
10 and make sure that you
what is expected of you
 are doing well in your academics before taking up
demanding Extracurriculars.
There‘s an old saying that goes like ―anything is
possible as long as you are willing to sacrifice eve-
rything for it.‖ This also applies to meeting your
goals; if a goal means a lot to you, then you might
have to make some sacrifices to meet that goal.
For example, I really wanted to make the track
team so I spent extra hours on the field running
and doing drills, thus sacrificing my time and ef-
fort.
A short-term goal might be to get all A's and B's
on your report card. How do you do that? You
meet or accomplish your priorities: But what if
you're involved in the school play or on a sports
team with mandatory practice?
A long-term goal might be to get into a top-tier
college or embark on a satisfying career with a job
that pays well. Exceptional grades, career-focused
extracurricular activities, and plenty of self-
discipline can help you achieve these long-term
goals.
Remember these are general guidelines written to guide
you while you plan what you want to focus on—change
11
them up a bit, make them your own to fit your needs,
priorities and goals.

Settling In
Nikiforos Peterson/ Alexander Kostas

“What are you

doing after
school?”
This may be a
question that new
students may have.
As I have experi-
ence living in Greece and I‘ve been at ACS for some
years, I have learned about more places to go and have
an enjoyable time after school. The easiest place for new
students to hang out and feel safe is our very lively and
active campus. You can stay after school with your
friends, play a sport, go to the gym, relax somewhere, or
just hang out on the comfortable couches in the library.

12
If you get hungry you have some options for food within
walking distance of our campus near the school en-
trance: there is a Greek ―souvlaki‖ place; an Italian res-
taurant; and a shop like a kiosk that has snacks, drinks
and sandwiches. When you want to go home you can ei-
ther take the ACS late bus at 5:30, or take the metro back
home.

Another easy thing you could do is take the metro and go

to ―The Mall‖. On the green line metro, it is located at a
stop called Neratziotissa. The Mall is huge and it has lit-
erally almost anything you and your family might need.
There‘s food, cinemas, shops, supermarkets, mega-
stores, an arcade, a library/bookstore, a beauty salon,
and more!

If you happen to live near the ACS campus, you can go to

the Aghia Paraskevi square, where you can also eat,
shop, or hang out somewhere etc…

13
As you adapt to the country more and more, you will get
to know these places and many more!

Academic Success @ ACS

Nassos Abuel
Academic success
at ACS may be very
different from
those at other
schools. A new stu-
dent will quickly
learn that at ACS,
he/she is expected
to put a lot of effort
into his/her work. This means always trying hard, even
if the work is intimidating. (This will happen, but it must
be dealt with.) It does not matter if you cannot get the
right answer: all you have to do is show some effort and
exhibit your dedication and will to learn. You will find
very quickly that if you try hard and devote time to your

14
work, it will eventually pay-off
and you will soon earn a good
grade.
On this basis, it is good for
you to be attentive and rather ac-
tive in class. It is unwise and unreasonable for you to
simply sit in a corner and not participate at all in class
discussions and procedures. Of course, in the beginning
it may be hard to raise your hand and speak. But you
must remember that the only way for you to acquaint
yourself with others and for others to become acquainted
with you is for you talk to people. And if you make a
mistake, rest assured that it is no big deal: we all make
mistakes. As a final word, if you have something con-
structive to say, even if you are not sure whether it is val-
id or not, just say it. As was previously mentioned, at
ACS, effort is sometimes more important than the cor-
rect answer.
Besides participating, you should also seek to make
as much out of your class sessions as possible. This
means asking questions about topics and subjects that
you may have not entirely understood. Again do not be
timid or shy. You are a learner and being an enquirer is
more important than anything. In addition, consider
that if you do not seek answers to your questions in
15
school, then homework will be very stressful, since you
will not have adequately comprehended the material. If
for some reason you do not feel comfortable in the be-
ginning about asking questions during class, you should
consult your teacher after class is over. This will not on-
ly give you the response that you are seeking; it will also
allow you to develop a better relation with your teach-
er. So get to know your teacher, within the context of
your subject, and show your concern for the lesson.
Briefly, in order to ensure academic success, try to
find some interest in all of your classes. Taking a class
that you do not particularly like or understand will inevi-
tably make you bored and impatient. The best way to
combat this is to find something that will stimulate your
imagination and your critical thinking. Be positive and
prudent and success will come.

16
 IB Program Prespective
Nikitas Georgeakopoulos

Entering the IB program was a relatively easy decision to

make. I knew that I wanted to follow a more advanced
academic program, and also
knew that the program would
be rigorous, but with all hones-
ty, no teacher could have de-
scribed to me what the IB pro-
gram would be like for a student. So take it from a per-
son who knows a thing or two.

The IB is rather challenging and takes up a lot of

your time, which may include personal time. Time-
management is an essential skill you have to master as
you enter the IB Program. Now don‘t let that scare you
off, but it may mean giving up that Friday night you‘d
planned to go out to that movie with your friends or

17
staying up till 2 am on the occasional school night. Those
are things that will happen, but at least you can go to
school the next morning and brag to your friends about
how you were such a b.a. for staying up that late. The
main thing is time-management. Set a balanced program
each week of what you need
to do and I promise you will
have time for things outside
of school. (That is one thing
that teachers are right about.)
And during those times come
when the stress levels rise, take a break and do some-
thing you enjoy.

Being new to this school and to this program, a good

way that helped me relieve some stress was either playing or
listening to some music or just complaining to my friends.
That‘s the good thing about IB; no matter the lateness of the
hour, you‘ll always find a friend to talk to. The IB unites stu-
dents, as we all have mutual complaints; it‘s like having a
common enemy that you‘re fighting against. And yeah,

18
sometimes the program will seem like a battle, but the re-
sults of the ―win‖ are undoubtedly, unimaginable.

Advice for All IB students

Sophia Zachares

First of all anyone doing IB should not do it just be-

cause their parents forced them to, or because they think
it will look good on their college application. The IB pro-
gram is honestly a grueling program. Only the most or-
ganized, ambitious, and well-rounded students get excel-
lent grades. The IB expects you to be active academical-
ly, athletically, and communally. You must participate in
sports, do community service, and carefully manage your
school work. It seems as if there isn‘t room for anything
else, so time management is essential.
Being an IB student myself, I did not realize till this
year what you go through. In the beginning it seems
manageable, but the minute you miss a deadline, things
start to become hectic. That is why it is extremely im-
portant to manage your time, and know when you have
tests and assignments due. The work that the teachers

19
give you takes time, not one afternoon, and that is why
they often give you one to two weeks to work on it. Just
by doing a little each day is good enough.
Also, different teachers will often load you with
tests and projects all due on the same day, or in the same
week. It can be chaotic, but you eventually realize that
everything can‘t be perfect, and if you focus intently on
what you have to do you can produce excellent pieces of
work in small amounts of time.

My advice to any IB student is:

1. Be aware of what your teachers expect from you,

and read the mark band descriptors for all your projects
to make sure you have covered what you must do.
2. Do not try to be superhuman and have a billion
extracurricular activities – because you will die
3. Organize all your notes once you make them, so
when it comes to mid-terms and fi-
nals you haven‘t lost any and you are
ready to study
4. Try to be involved in as many
community service programs as possi-
ble in your first year
5. And make sure that AT LEAST
one day a week you are not working at all or you go out –
20
THIS IS VITAL!
Oh, and do not take Higher Physics or Math unless you
need to. And if you have to, don‘t be afraid to ask ques-
tions – even if Mr. Tsokos seems scary!

International Baccalaureate Program

Akhmed Ramadan Fatah
Because the IB program had been previously described,
this section will focus
on IB students’ per-
spective regarding
the program.
International Bacca-
laureate, or IB, is a
rigorous, college-level
curriculum similar to
Advanced Placement.
Within the program, students have a choice between one
of two options: Full Diploma IB and Candidate IB.
Contrary to popular belief, the IB won’t kill you or
drain your social life. You shouldn’t be intimidated by
the IB program; it is indeed very rigorous, but its out-

21
come is highly satisfying. Here are some tips from a
student who was new to ACS when he entered the IB
Program.

Tips for “Surviving” IB:

1. Prioritize homework. Teachers usually give loads of
homework starting in the second semester. You
should always try to give homework in on time be-
cause usually teachers have closed deadlines and do
not accept late assignments.
2. Time management is essential. If you know how to
balance your studies with Facebook, then you have
automatically won ¼ of the challenge.
3. Stay healthy! Yes, it counts. Speaking from experi-
ence, missing one day can make you freak out and
not understand the lesson next class. If you‘re the
constantly-ill-type, make sure you arrange a meet-
ing with your teacher to go over what you missed!
It‘s absolutely necessary.
4. Ask questions directly after class or as soon as pos-
sible if you don‘t understand. Don‘t let confusion
pile up. The classes are like puzzles sometimes, for
example Biology. The syllabus starts from the basic
to advanced. If students don‘t know the basic, it is

22
 logically impossible for them to know the advance.
―Even Einstein asked questions.‖
5. Use the first semester of junior year wisely. Stu-
dents in the first semester don‘t have as much work
as they have during the second semester. So it is
very useful for you to perfect your study habits and
jump right into curriculum. Otherwise, during the
second semester, you will panic and it will lead to
catastrophe.
6. Be organized. Always organize papers, homework,
test, handouts, etc… because not only will it help for
studying but also they might come handy later on
as a teacher might ask for a portfolio.
7. You are responsible for CAS: ―Creativity Action Ser-
vice.‖ Start completing CAS hours. For full IB students,
it is good to complete CAS hours, which are one of the
requirements for IB, by the first year because the se-
cond year will be a busy year and doing things like
community service takes time. There are many oppor-
tunities at ACS for CAS hours. Just ask your teachers
or the IB Office. If none of the offered options interest
you, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO START YOUR
OWN.
8. Use the facilities available. Facilities such as the Writ-
ing Center and the Math Center are extremely helpful

23
 for IB students. The Writing Center is beneficial for
students who have trouble writing essays or anything
else. For most of the IB classes, you will come across
some writing assignment at one point of the year. The
Math Center is also a new center opened for students
who need extra help with any math topic.

If not IB…Then What?

Gaith Kalai

For students looking to

challenge themselves in
high school, enrolling in IB and/or AP classes is criti-
cal to prepare students for college-level courses.

AP is the acronym for Advanced Placement. AP coursework

and exams are developed and administered by College Board
(the same organization that does the SAT) and include 35
courses and exams in 20 subjects. At ACS, the AP Program
covers AP English, Calculus, Chemistry and Art History.

AP courses, much like IB, offer a unique learning ex-

perience that will help students succeed in college.
24
Through AP's college-level courses and exams, you
can earn college credit and advanced placement, dis-
tinguish yourself in the admission process, and learn
from some of the most skilled and motivated teachers
ACS has to offer.

If you work hard enough in your AP classes and earn

top-grades, it is possible to receive college credit for
your work. Many U.S universities offer credits for AP
candidates and some even allow distinguished stu-
dents to skip freshman year.

To receive credit for the AP class that you took and

skip a freshman level course, most schools require
that students score a 4 or 5 (over 5) on the AP exam.

One of the byproducts of taking an AP course is devel-

oping effective study habits. Typically the workload in
AP courses is fairly heavy. Students often find them-
selves behind on their work because of poor time-
management and therefore strive to develop efficient
study habits. If other High school courses haven't

25
forced students to develop a study routine, the AP
program certainly will.

For students involved in a lot of after-school activities,

AP may not be the best option. Before committing to
an AP course, students should ensure that their sched-
ule allows enough time and flexibility to make the
most of the class.

But the bottom line is this: If you are looking for a

challenging high school experience that will also
“The program
“look hasyour
good” on been quite beneficial
college to me because
transcript, of its can’t
then you
heavy workload. I have learned to manage my time more ef-
go wrong
fectively andwith
to useeither
it moreAP or IB. IB, although an enor-
efficiently.
mous amount of work, is quite useful in making positive work
habits for the future.”

—Chris Monopolis—IB Candidate

“What I like about the AP program is FLEXIBILITY, as it allows

anyone to come into the testing room, homeschoolers, self-
studiers, and high school students who have taken an AP course
and those who have not. ”

—Anonymous AP Student

26
27
 ACS Resources

ACS Resources: Library

Laith Kalai
Our library is remarkable. It‘s not the library you‘d get
lost in, but definitely the library you‘d want to be in all
day. It is a jungle of resources; we have thousands of
books, numerous encyclopedias, several computers,
helpful people, learning centers, comfortable couches
and much more!
The library at ACS is divided into three floors. The first
floor, or ground floor, holds the reception where our li-
brarian is usually located. You can ask her anything
about the library; she is always happy to answer ques-
tions. The ground floor also has a lounge area with
couches, around 10 stands of books on display and a
magazine stand. The bathroom or WC is also on this
floor. It is next to the librarian‘s desk.
As you climb up the stairs to the second floor, you will
see several tables aligned with nice red chairs. You will
find most students sitting around those tables doing

28
work or working on their laptops. On this floor, we have
the following:
A wide variety of books and novels that you can
check out
Around 15 computers with a relatively fast internet
connection
Wireless internet connection throughout the li-
brary. Ask the librarian for the password.
The Middle School Computer Lab is to the back and
left of the open table area
Writing Center: This center is dedicated to helping

students with their writing. It is run by Mrs. Jason-

ides. If you need someone to proofread your essays
with you, help you write something up or guide you
with the writing process, then you may want to
check out the Writing Center.

29
 Mrs. Spilliot‘s Computer Lab: This is a friendly and
supportive environment in which students can
work and learn. If you are nice to her, you just may
gain her hospitality.
She has around 25-30 computers in her room and a
printer. If you want to work in a more silent atmos-
phere than the open area of the library, ask her if
you may use one of her computers.
IIC** office and IB Counseling Area: Located on the
third and final floor of the library are several round ta-
bles where students can go to work. There are additional
computers there. You will also find the IIC Office of Mr.
Medeiros and two classrooms along with a nice round
lounge area where students usually gather to read books
or quietly discuss schoolwork. Finally,
you can find Ms. Mandy there. If you
are in the IB program, she can guide
you with your IB and college ques-
tions.
Finding books:
If you‘re looking for a specific book at
our library, you should use the OPAC
program found on all computers in school. It is a very
simple program where you can search the title of the
book or an author‘s name, and it gives you a code that

30
looks something like this: ―FIC 353.65‖ which means
that the book is located in the FICTION (FIC) section
under the number 353.65. These numbers are found on
the spine of the books. If you have any questions or need
assistance finding books in the library, you can either
ask a student around you or the librarian.
So there you have it. The ACS Library has the right peo-
ple, the right technology and the right environment for
you to conduct research, read a book, surf the web (NO
FACEBOOK), or just simply relax on our comfy red
couches.
For any further information, please find me or contact
me at laith23@gmail.com! I‘d be happy to clarify
any confusion or answer any of your questions.
**Institute for Innovation and Creativity

31
 ACS Resources: Gym
May En Chai & Markelli Dodou

We know that many of you enjoy playing sports in

your free time during the school day, which is why we
have provided you with a section just for this!

The school of-

fers you many op-
portunities to en-
joy being an ath-
lete and also hav-
ing fun with your
friends. It offers
an indoor gym where you can play two of the most
popular sports, basketball and volleyball, during the
school passing time, when it isn‘t used by a class, of
course. We also recently built a climbing wall, but sad-
ly, it can only be used during P.E class. Things can get
dangerous up there.

32
 In the gym you will also be able to find equipment
rooms, the Athletic Director‘s office, and of course,
you can at any time use the locker rooms. However if
you ever need to ask a question and find out more
about the gym you are always free (and encouraged)
to find Mr. Dimitropoulos, our High School Physical
Education coordinator, as he will be happy to help you
out with almost anything you need related to Athlet-
ics!
Of course that isn‘t just it! Next to the gym you will
find an aerobic room
together with an in-
door pool! Yeah you
heard, indoor pool.
The aerobic room is
open anytime, but of
course under teacher
supervision, and you also need to inform a supervisor
about the times you would like to use it. There might
be people in there due to the after school aerobic clas-

33
ses that take place. The pool, on the other hand, is on-
ly open to students during their Physical Education
classes and after school programs or at supervised
sessions, which cost 90 Euros for a total of two
months.
Now, where are all the machos? There is another
room that is open to students who want to lift weight
under supervision of a professional. This is free of
charge, of course, and is open only after school from
3:45 to 5:00 p.m. The weight room is located next to
the tennis courts, and is underground. Here‘s a great
chance to either gain muscular strength, lose weight
or simply get in shape. Just make sure you talk to Mr.
Dimitropoulos and inform him of your interest.

What else do you want? No wait, rephrase. What else

can you ask for?

34
 Athletics @ ACS:
Trying out for Varsity Sports!
Isabelle Ahoarian

Participating in sports is an
opportunity for you to make new
friends and to devote yourself to a
physical activity that you enjoy.
Joining a sport, especially if it‘s
on Varsity level, isn‘t always
easy, as sports involve a lot of
competition and a great deal of
challenge both with yourself and
with your teammates. On the
first day you might see no confi-
dence in yourself as you hear
from others about the starts and
the chances of making it, but the
truth is that at ACS, there is a chance for everyone. You,
on the other hand, will never experience this moment if

35
you don‘t try out. Picking yourself up and trying out for
a team is difficult, yes, but you will never have a chance
if you don‘t come on tryout day. The athletes are all
very encouraging and welcoming, as they are very open
to new players.

The first day of tryouts are usually based on physi-

cal capabilities with regards to a specific sport, and you
as a character. Your character plays a big role in the se-
lection process. The coaches want a player who could
spread a positive vibe, contribute positively, add some-
thing to the team and have a good sense of sportsman-
ship.

Everyone has an equal chance of making it and

you shouldn‘t let the stars of the teams fool you because
in the end we are a community, a team of athletes, not a
community of individuals. Remember the hardest part
of the process is showing up on the first day. ACS holds
a place for every type of athlete. The JV teams hold no
less importance than the Varsity teams. So come try
out!

36
 “ Try out. It’s going to be an experience you have
never had in life. Even if you don’t make it! You never
know, you might be the talent the coach is looking for!”
—Coach Mikros: Boys Varsity Soccer

37
 Track and Field
Mahmoud Hmaidi
Track and field is one of the most rigorous and

competitive sports in the school. Even though it has the

shortest season, during

the three weeks that it

lasts, the coaches are

very demanding. Prac-

tice is required four

times a school week, and you may come all five. Many try

out, but only a few make the team because the coaches,

Mr. Angelo, Ms. McCoy, and Mr. Mikros, can only han-

dle a small group of students when travelling abroad. Pre

-season exists, as it begins a month earlier for those who

want to have more time to train; however pre-season is

not mandatory. Track and Field is the only athletic trip

38
where you are not housed by a family; you stay in a com-

fortable five-star hotel. The hosting school is Cairo

American College and

last year it hosted the

second largest interna-

tional gathering in all

of Africa, the world cup

being the first. The

competition is extremely tough and seldom does the

school achieve a high ranking among its competitors. If

you plan to join the track and field team, train hard, al-

ways be at practice on time, and never give up.

“ Do not be afraid to fail. You can only learn from failure.

You do not learn if you do not make mistakes.”

—Coach Dimitropoulos, PE Teacher

39
 Tennis
Alex Stelea
Tennis at ACS is on the rise and our team has gradually

gotten better results in the ISST tournaments. The ACS

Athens Tennis Team is currently the only school team that

has a website and it is located at

www.acsathenstennis.com; a link can also be found

under the athletics tab on the

ACS website. Exact dates and

schedules are found on the

website. Tryouts take place

sometime in April; more ex-

act dates will be given on the

tennis website and through

flyers located on campus.

Competition varies greatly; the boys tend to have a much

40
stronger team than the girls. For boys‘ singles, competition

is very strong, while doubles and mixed doubles also offer

strong competition. The girls‘ team is constantly shifting,

and it is generally much easier to make the girl's team. The

tennis team travelled two years ago to Vienna and last year

they played in Athens at the Olympic Stadium. It is strong-

ly recommended that any players wanting to try out for

tennis join the school's tennis academy. In 2009, the boys‘

team got second place, the girls fifth place, and overall we

got third place. The best way to become informed about

the ACS Athens Tennis Team is to check out our website

listed above.

“Trying out is fun and even if you don’t make the team, it
doesn’t mean that you aren’t good enough. Take Michael
Jordan who tried out for his high school basketball team
in 9th and 10th grade. His coach said that he wasn’t good
enough. Trying out is fun, you get to meet new people
and if you make it, you get to travel!”

—Coach Chris
41
 Extracurriculars @ ACS

Overview: Clubs @ ACS

Sara Samad and Lydia Spassof

ACS offers a wide variety of clubs for students of ALL in-

terests. Whether your interests are of artistic, literary,
cultural, or anything else; we have it.

―It is hard for you not to be able to find something you

enjoy doing at ACS.‖ - Anonymous ACS Student

In October of every year, a ―club-fair‖ is organized for

the lunch period, where students go around to tables and
sign up for the clubs they think they‘d be interested in.
Students are encouraged to start their own clubs, if none
of those offered interest them, but of course they must
get approval, and a teacher supervisor.

Spanish Club:
In the Spanish club, which is run by the Spanish teacher
Ms. Rocha, students learn about
42 Spanish and Mexican
culture. Holidays such as Cinco de Mayo, Día de Todos
los Santos, and Dia de los Santos
Inocentes are a few which are
commemorated. The Spanish
club also takes part in school ac-
tivities and conducts bake sales
in order to raise money for an an-
nual Spanish Club Trip. The
Spanish club meets at least three
to four times a month.

Arabic Club:

The Arabic club, led by the Arabic teacher Mr. Samad, is

a club in which students from
all around the world come to-
gether to celebrate the Arabic
culture. The Arabic advisor
makes learning about the dif-
ferent traditions and customs
of the numerous Arab countries entertaining and excit-
ing with his vivid portrayal of the topic. The Arabic club
also takes part in several school
43 festivals in order to raise
money for the biannual Arabic Club party and the trip to
an Arabic restaurant. The Arabic club meets at least one
or two times a month.

Yearbook Club:

The Yearbook Club, run by Mrs. Argitakou and Ms. Bas-

il, is a club in which countless students interested in
graphic design, photography, and
journalism come together to create a
significant lifelong document which
will remain valued by hundreds of
ACS graduates. Creating the ACS year-
book is a vital job, and this club man-
ages to make such an important job
fun! The Yearbook Club meets weekly.

Chess Club:

The chess club, led by Physics teacher Dr. Hristakos, is

open to all students who have a passion for chess. In the
club, Dr. Hristakos teaches numerous tricks and strate-
gies to make sure you win. However, Dr. Hristakos him-

44
self is said to be unbeatable, so if you
think you have the skills to defeat him,
join the chess club and have a go at it!

Ethos:

The Ethos, whose editor-in-chief is Ms.

Desiree Michaels, is the school‘s magazine. The maga-
zine, which is read by virtually every student in ACS
along with most ACS Alumni, covers everything from
school events and sports
tournaments to student
achievements and alumni
news. The purpose of the
magazine is to ―convey the essence of our beliefs and val-
ues as educators; to reflect the excellent teaching and
learning taking place on our campus‖.

45
 Additional Clubs @ ACS
Laith Kalai

National Honor Society (NHS):

The ACS chapter of NHS has been running for a long time
now. Ever since its establishment, students from grades eleven
and twelve have been showing signs of great leadership and
commitment by conducting various activities and events both
on ACS grounds and off, under the NHS chapter.
NHS is for students who meet and maintain high standards in
areas of academics (at least a 3.5 GPA unweighted), leader-
ship, service and character. A faculty council reviews student
candidates for membership on a yearly basis.
Some NHS goals are:
To create awareness amongst the student body as well as
the entire community
Be involved in several charities rather than focusing on
one
Raise money and awareness to reach out to more people in
the community and improve living conditions
The NHS sponsors several drives annually including a food
drive, clothes drive and other fundraisers for specific causes.
For further information regarding NHS in general, the selec-
tion process or anything else, please see Mrs. Karvouniaris in
the high school building.

46
Greek Club:
Although similar to the other cultural clubs at
ACS, the Greek club usually attracts the most
students. It is made up of either native Greek
students or dual nationality Greek students.
The Greek club celebrates Greek holidays and
sponsors events around the year for specific causes or occa-
sions. One memorable event the Greek club usually hosts is
the Souvlaki selling day, where members of the club prepare
the famous Greek food Souvlaki and sell it to raise money for
a specific cause. For further information regarding this club,
please see Mrs. Pisanias in the Annex building.
Chinese Club:
Unlike the other cultural clubs, the Chi-
nese club rose to prominence not so long
ago. You don‘t have to be Chinese to join.
Students learning the language or stu-
dents interested in the Chinese culture are
highly encouraged to join this club and
take part in several bake sales and other events. Please see
Mrs. Wang in the Annex for further reference.

47
Environmental Club:
This is a brand new ACS club that al-
so attracted a number of students
last year. This club‘s job is to look af-
ter the environment, make sure stu-
dents are taking good care of their
surroundings and make the ACS
community as environmentally
aware as possible.
The group has shown clear signs of leadership, placing
organized recycling cans all over our campus for stu-
dents to use. This was completely student-led, as the stu-
dents, not ACS staff, were the ones responsible for pick-
ing up the garbage bags, replacing them with new ones
and dropping off the full ones in the blue recycling con-
tainers for the company to pick up.

48
Model United Nations (MUN):
Laith Kalai
Model United Nations is an activity which aims to give stu-
dents an experience near to that of being in the real United
Nations. Students are assigned countries to represent and
current international issues to try to resolve. The students
write resolutions in an attempt to come up with solutions.

49
ACS Talent Show Rami Mehio
The annual ACS talent show is a great opportunity for
students to showcase their talents in front of the ACS
community. It
doesn‘t take much to
qualify; you could
do anything! You
could show your
skills at playing an
instrument, danc-
ing, juggling, singing, or anything you feel you‘re really
good at. There‘s no need to feel worried about competi-
tion: the talent show is just meant to be a fun way for
students to express themselves through their talents.
There are awards, however, but this is a friendly way of
acknowledging students who really excel in what they
do. Winners are selected by the participants of the show,
AKA, you! The show is also hosted by students, so if you
feel that‘s the right job for you, go for it!
*Caption: Chris Kalleris (right) and George Seremetis
(left) performed a humorous dance as they were the
hosts of the 2010 show.

50
 Forensics @ ACS
Natalie Kourambenas
For those who are better at expressing themselves
through words then through sports, the Forensics Club is
the right club for you. Forensics is an umbrella that com-
prises a choice of literary, analytical, and oral activities.
We have:
Debate Team is where you debate and discuss different
topics and try to convince your audience why your side
of the argument is more valid and accurate than the op-
posing side. Our
diligent debate
team in 2009-
2010 worked re-
ally hard and got
first place in the
tournament.
Duet Acting is
where you and
your partner team up and perform a 6-8 minute perfor-
mance (skit) that is either dramatic or comedic.
Oral Interpretation of Literature is where you read a
chosen text that is 8 minutes long, either comedic or dra-

51
matic, and you interpret the story through creative use of
voice gesture and movement, which allow you to bring the
story to life. It‘s like acting, but you‘re sitting on a stool read-
ing. Thus, it is the art of dramatic reading.
Impromptu Speaking is where you are given a list of topics on
the spot and you have to talk about one topic to the best of your
abilities in a time span of three minutes.

Oratory is where you write and memorize your own speech

about any topic and present it to an audience.
Group Discussion gives a group of 6-8 participants a problem
to solve. Using polite conversational skills, the participants ex-
press their ideas on the problem at hand, and attempt to solve
the problem.

There are meetings for these clubs individually with differ-

ent coaches who are responsible for the specific events.
Throughout the year the purpose of the coach and the meet-
ings is to prepare participants for the Pan-Hellenic Forensics
Association Tournament which is held by different partici-
pating schools every year. This tournament includes schools
from all over Greece as they all come together and compete
in each of the categories mentioned above. There are hun-
dreds of students that participate in it and it is a wonderful
experience every year to meet new people and to learn more
about what this tournament is, by watching some of the
most talented, brilliant and creative students from all over
Greece.

52
 Debate Nassos Abuel
Debate is one of the most prestigious Forensics
events. It combines great oratory skills with critical
thinking and rationality. Debaters are expected to devel-
op a coherent argumentation on an issue and cogently
present it to a group of judges. Debate is conducted in
teams, with each team consisting of three speakers.
Of course debate requires a rather apt and proficient
knowledge of the English language and a general aware-
ness of world issues and matters. Our school competes in
three debate competitions: two
tournaments at Deree and the Pan-
hellenic Tournament, which is
hosted by a different school each
year. Try-outs are in late October
and the topic is announced a few
days earlier. For more infor-
mation check with the coaches,
Mr. Confer and Mr. Pupovac.
Last year, our school won the Panhellenic Forensics
Tournament for the Debate category. This year we wish
to defend our title and will require precocious and tena-
cious debaters. Come out and try out!

53
 Model United Nations
Iliana Kotini

If you love arguing, would like to work for a better world,

or even feel like a leader this is
the club for you. Don‘t let the of-
ficial name scare you. Deep in-
side the doors of this club a
great, fun, and inspiring experi-
ence awaits…

Think of MUN as a very diplo-

matic ―dance.‖ In the club we attend conferences where
we simulate the proceedings of a real United Nations
summit. It‘s a lovely, carefully planned game of rules and
formalities that within them hide limitless bounds of cre-
ativity. Personally, I love the activity because it gives me
hope that young people, students with fresh perspec-
tives, can take a stand on pressing global issues. Not only
can we influence the world by sharing our ideas in MUN,

54
but we can also better our generation, so that when we
begin our life as responsible adults we will have more
knowledge and can deal with the hardships of life in a
more open-minded way.

As a newcomer, I was very enthusiastic when I heard

about the club… but the enthusiasm jumped out the win-
dow when I heard about the tryouts! HORROR! I was
given a country to represent, and was asked to make an
opening speech at a mock ―conference‖ stating my coun-
try‘s policy on the topic we were given. (This could be
anything from nuclear warfare, to ‗green‘ economy). The
tryouts are really more fun than they sound- and the re-
ward of becoming a member of the club makes it worth
it.

In MUN club, we learn about how a conference, and spe-

cifically a committee, functions, and how to act as diplo-
mats of our assigned countries. There are a couple of
things to get accustomed to, such as writing a resolution
and debating in an MUN setting, but do not let these
stop you! What the MUN conferences really come down

55
are meeting a lot of people, gathering valuable experi-
ences and most of all changing your perspective.

The MUN club attends various conferences throughout

the year, including DIAMUN and AMUN (in Athens), as
well as QMUN (Qatar) and THIMUN (The Hague). The
THIMUN conference is one of the largest MUN confer-
ences in the world- averaging 4000 participants- and
takes place in the Hague, Netherlands. The city itself is a
perfect venue for this event, as it is the ―home‖ of the In-
ternational Court of Justice. I was amazed by how the
city is overtaken by waves of students from all over the
world, dressed in suits and ready to provide solutions to
important problems.

The Hague did wonders for me. It increased my confi-

dence in my MUN abilities and exposed me to countless
different perspectives of diplomacy. What‘s more, it
made my dream of working for the UN all the more at-
tainable.

56
 Qatar Georgetown 2010

In early February of last year, five of my school-

mates and I, along with two supervisors, Miss Gournaris
and Dr. Gialamas, left for an unforgettable trip to Doha,
Qatar, to participate in the 2010 Georgetown Qatar
Model United Nations. It was a very enriching experi-
ence, as well as a lot
of fun. To start off
with, we got to visit
sites that were new
for us, while also
meeting people
from ALL around
the world! The friendships that we created during those
four incredible days in Doha allowed us to learn more
about other cultures and countries. The event was ex-
tremely well organized, and the organizers of the event
spared no detail.

57
 As a school delegation, ACS Athens was clearly
among the best, receiving three awards for best dele-
gates. The conference provided us with the opportunity
to discuss social issues, debate and offer solutions to
problems that affect our world today, as well as discuss
past and possible future matters. The trip was without
question an amazing experience, and I personally would
encourage everyone to try out for it next year and for the
years to come, as it is a trip that is truly memorable.

Kotinis, Dimitrios

58
Humanities Online Mini-Courses and Field
Study in France and Italy
Thorbern Alexander P. Klingert and Theo Saraferas
The Humanities online mini-courses provide an op-
portunity for students to research and study firsthand
the influence of Greek civilization on European art and
thought.

Last year‘s course focused on Classicism and Ro-

manticism in French art and thought in the 18th and
19th centuries. Students spent eight days in Paris visit-
ing important sites and museums and made day trips to
Versailles, Chartres as well. There also was time for
sight seeing, and part of a day was dedicated to going to
see the famous Eiffel tower.

This year‘s course will focus on the influence of

Greek Humanism on the art and thought of the Italian
Renaissance. Students will visit important sites in Flor-
ence, Siena, Arezzo, and Rome.

59
 Each day of both trips is carefully planned to pro-
vide students with maximum exposure to the art treas-
ures and historical artifacts that these cities have to of-
fer. These online courses are optional, and so they are
pass or fail classes, but students who
choose to take them will receive an
extra 0.5 credit for their graduation,
which is equivalent to taking a se-
mester of a regular class. For these
online courses you will have to keep
a field notebook in which you write
all your detailed observations and
notes about the places you visit.
You will also have to finish a few
homework assignments while read-
ing books such as Story of Art by
Gombrich and Learning to Look by
J.P. Taylor. By the end of the course
you should have done the following:

60
 1. Created The Portfolio. This will be a record of
your thinking throughout the course. It should in-
clude observations, notes, questions and/or re-
sponses to each assignment.

2. Done the Field Study Notebook which will be a

record of your on-site experiences in France or Italy
(as they both rotate each year.) This will include
notes, pictures, sketches

3. Finished The Creative Project. This project

must be based on your field study experience in
France or Italy and may take a variety of forms, but
it cannot be a research paper. Before beginning the
project you must submit a proposal to the instruc-
tors for their approval.

This course can be demanding, however, if you are a se-

rious student who can spare time and effort, and has a
strong interest in history and art, then this course can
be rewarding and very fun at the same time.

61
 Conclusion

Throughout this booklet, we have tried to offer

you a unique foray into our school, community
and lives from Our perspective as ACS students.
If this booklet has been helpful to you, pass it on
to your friends who might need it.
Also, if you‘d like to be part of the 2010-11 edition
of the booklet and our group: the New Student In-
itiative, find us at the Activity kick-off day or talk
to Gaith or Laith Kalai.
We would like to thank all our contributors who
made this project possible and our administration
advisors, Mr. John Papadakis and Ms. Peggy Pelo-
nis for all their help and guidance throughout the
year.

62
 Contact Us:
129 Aghias Paraskevis Street & Kazantzakis
GR Halandri 152 34
Athens
Phone: + 30 (210) 639 3200
Fax: +30 (210) 639 0051
Web: www.acs.gr
E-mail: acs@acs.gr

63