2014-2015 Parent Handbook

2014-15

Annunciation

Greek Orthodox Church

Greek Language and Culture

Afternoon School

Pre-K through Eighth Grade

: - 8

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SCHOOL VISION
Our goal is to of f er our students the skills to understand, converse, read, and write in Greek, as well as to
f amiliarize them with the most representative elements of our Greek heritage. Upon completion of their
Hellenic studies, the students will have acquired an extremely important base onto which they can build in their
later academic years. Our students develop a strong desire to connect with their roots, be part of their Hellenic
heritage, and show a vital interest in continuing their study of Greek language, history and culture.

MESSAGE FROM FATHER

On behalf of our Parish Council, School Committee and PTA, we welcome you and your children to
the Greek Language and Culture School of the Annunciation Church. For over a century , this community
has met the challenge of of f ering our children the very best Greek language and culture education not only
within the Stamf ord area but also across Westchester and Fairf ield Counties.
We thank you f or bringing your children to our Greek School and f or sharing in our belief that our
Hellenic heritage is a priceless treasure whose f ive thousand year history def ines us as a people and obligates
us to pass down this rich legacy to our children. It is our commitment to instill in them a deep a ppreciation and
love of their Hellenic Heritage. Our goal is to of f er our children a strong f oundational knowledge and
understanding of Greek language, culture, history and music - all with the hope and prayer - that they will
become better connected to their rich Hellenic identity and heritage.
We believe that this Paideia, or way of learning, contributes positively to preparing our children f or
citizenship and f or life. Our Greek School strives to make this possible by f ostering a community spirit between
teachers, parents and children. Thank you f or joining us in this important mission and f or being a part of our
community.
I wish you and your children a wonderf ul and blessed school year.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Evan Evangelidis
Presbyter

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
On behalf of the Annunciation Greek school teaching team, I thank you f or entrusting us with your
childrens Hellenic education. Like you, we think it is very important that our children learn the Greek langua ge
and engage in Greek culture, both past and present. By enrolling your child in our Greek school you have
made an honorable commitment to this goal.
Parents have always played an important role in the longevity of Greek language and culture. W ith each
generation, parents in and out of Greece considered it their duty to convey the language and culture that their
parents had given to them regardless of place, time, and socio -economic status.
In recent years, experts have f ound that the benef its and rewards of learning Greek go beyond simply
preserving our cultural language and heritage. Studying and knowing Greek, the language with the longest
documented history of all Indo-European languages, and with almost 50 centuries of written records, opens
new horizons in students academic advancement and in their analytical thinking and complex problem -solving
abilities.
Studying Greek:

Provides a strong sense of English grammar and vocabulary and hence increasing standardized test
scores

Improves the students progress in reading, writing, mathematics and other subjects

Enhances cognitive development, abstract and creative thinking, listening skills and memory and of f ers a
solid background f or learning other languages

Improves chances of college acceptance and achievement and enhances career opportunities
The teachers at the Annunciation Greek School are inspired by both the cultural and academic benef its

of teaching your children the Greek language. The teaching process we envision is m ulti-dimensional and
engages your children with Greek through language, music and dance. We also involve the community in the
learning process when we come together to celebrate Greek holidays and enjoy student perf ormances.
Thank you f or your support, cooperation, and partnership as we work together towards the common goal of
enriching our childrens lives with a Hellenic education.
Sincerely,
Penelope Venetsanos

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CU RRICULUM
Language: Each class f ollows a detailed curriculum aimed at the development of the f our basic language
f unctions: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Culture: Our students are introduced to the rich Hellenic culture by exploring dif f erent cultural and historical
topics tailored f or each age group.
Dance and Music: Students learn the traditional Greek dances and songs taught by prof essionals.
Books: We use vibrant and vocabulary-rich books published by the Greek Ministry of Education and a series
published by Papaloizos Publications. Teachers pro vide educational supplements in the f orm of ref erence
books, printed material, worksheets and audiovisual media.
Homework: Students are assigned homework on a weekly basis at the discretion of their teacher. Parental
monitoring of homework completion is essential to ensure that the student reinf orces the skills learned in class.
Report Cards: Report cards are issued three times per year at the end of each trimester.

Grading: Letter grades are assigned based upon teacher assessment of student pro gress towards
meeting the learning goals of the relevant grade level. Our program recognizes that students have
dif f erent learning styles and dif f erent levels of Greek language competency. Our small class sizes
allow teachers to address students individ ual challenges. Teachers work with students and parents to
ensure that students meet the grade level standards.

Promotion and Retention: Teachers, in coordination with the Director, determine whether students
are promoted to the next grade level based on a combination of f actors, including attendance and skill
acquisition in language.

Regents Testing:

Upon graduating the eighth grade, our students qualif y f or the Comprehensive

Examination in Modern Greek of f ered annually in June by the Department o f Education of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In order to prepare our 8 th grade students f or the examination, we include
test prep and practice during their regular class time. Since 1980, our students have had a near perf ect
success rate (98%) on the Regents exam. For more inf ormation about the Greek Language Exam, please see
the Director, Mrs. Penelope Venetsanos.

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CELEBRATIONS
On certain religious and ethnic holidays, all Greek School students participate in special perf ormances that
display their accomplishments in Greek language, dance and music. Students may recite poems, give speeches,
or play a role in a short play. Students also sing Greek songs and dance traditional Greek dances.
Celebrations typically occur on Sundays af ter Divine Liturgy, but occasionally occur during the week. The
Director will communicate appropriate dress attire f or each event. In most cases, it is traditional ethnic
costumes or blue pants/skirts and white shirts. See attached list of PTA - sponsored events.

GREEK SCHOOL COMMITTEE

The purpose of the Committee is to guide the general direction of the school with regard to academic
standards, personnel, finances, reputation and publicity. The Committee generally has 6 members appointed
by the Parish Council President, in consultation with the Parish Priest. The Committee members elect the
president, vice-president and secretary. The Committee meets monthly and on an as needed basis. The
PTA president and Greek School Director also attend the Committee meetings. The teachers are invited to
attend the Committee meetings at least twice during the school year .
School Committee Mission Statement:
The Greek School of the Annunciation Church is committed to employing the best instructional methods and
teachers to:
1.

develop an understanding of the written and spoken f orms of the Greek language f or all our students ;

2.

increase our students f amiliarity and appreciation of Greek culture and history and instill in them the
desire to continue their Hellenic studies;

3.

provide an environment that will increase Greek-American identity and f ellowship among our students.

PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)

The purpose of the PTA is to assist the director with the planning, implementation, and f unding of school
events. The PTA is also responsible f or fundraising to help meet the material and supply needs of the school,
sponsor educational and cultural f ield trips and help close the gap between tuition revenues and school
expenses. All parents are members of the PTA. Each year the PTA f orms an Executive Committee
comprised of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and three additional members. This group
coordinates and delegates tasks among the parents. The President or an appointed representative rep orts on
the activities of the PTA to the Greek School Committee at its regularly scheduled monthly meetings.
All parents are strongly encouraged to participate in PTA activities and on PTA committees.

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DROP-OFF/PICK-UP
The Annunciation Greek Language and Cultural School of f ers a nurturing, protective environment f or our
students during classroom hours. However, the transition at the beginning and end of classes is challenging and
we must strictly f ollow our established drop-of f and pick-up procedures to ensure the saf ety of all students.
Drop-Of f : Parents should walk their children to the upstairs classroom area and sign them in upon arrival.
Cars should be parked in the main parking lot to avoid blocking the f ire lane in f ront of the building.
Pick-Up: Children should be picked up in the classroom area upon dismissal and signed out by a parent or
other designated adult. Notif ication to the teacher or Director by phone, email or written note is required if
your child is to be picked up by someone other than a parent or previously designated adult.

STU DENT HEALTH AND SAFETY

First Aid: The school endeavors to provide immediate and temporary care given to a student whose illness or
injury occurs at school during school hours or school -sponsored activities.
Medical Emergency: 911 will be called in the case of necessary care beyond f irst aid.
Health Forms: It is critical f or the saf ety of your child that all emergency health f orms are completed accurately
and returned to the director during the f irst week of school. Emergency f orms should be kept updated with
current phone numbers throughout the school year.
Allergies: All allergies must be reported on the student medical f orm and reported to the Director. Existing
allergies in the student population require that the classroom area be kept f ree of all f ood. All snacks should be
eaten bef ore children enter the classroom area.
Illnesses: Parents are urged to immediately report to the Director any communicable illness developed by a
student. Students should be kept home f rom school while they are contagious. If a student has been diagnosed
with a viral illness, the student should remain at home f or at least 24 hours af ter the symptoms have subsided.

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STU DENT CONDUCT
We want to provide a saf e environment f or our students, enabling them to make responsible choices and respect
others. The f ollowing are basic guidelines f or behavior at school:

Treat others as you wish to be treated

Follow directions the f irst time they are given

No name calling, teasing, bullying or bad language*

No f ighting

Be respectf ul

Be responsible

Be saf e

Try your best

Respect school property

No cell phones or other electronic devices allowed in the classroom

*Bullying ref ers to overt acts by a student or a group of students directed against another student with the
intent to ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate the other student while on school grounds or at a school -sponsored
activity. Bullying behavior is strictly prohibited.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE

When needed, the classroom teacher will issue conduct reminders to a student, review appropriate behavior, and
assist the student with the skills to acquire the desired behavior. In most instances, no f urther action will be
required.

If a student repeatedly prevents a teacher f rom teaching or other students f rom learning, the

f ollowing sequence of actions will occur:

The teacher will inf orm the Director and request her assistance with the student exhibiting
inappropriate behavior.

If the student continues to exhibit inappropriate behavior, the Director will call the students parents to
discuss the students behavior.

If the students behavior does not improve, the Director will meet with the parents and Father Evan.

If the f oregoing steps are taken but the child continues to exhibit inappropriate behavior , the Director
will bring the issue to the School Committee, which has the ultimate decision on the suspension of the
childs registration f rom the School.

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SCHOOL SCHEDULE AND ATTENDANCE
School Calendar: (see attached)
Hours: Weekday af ternoon classes begin at 4:00 pm and end at 6:00 pm. Saturday classes begin at 10:00 am
and end at 12:00 noon.
Attendance: Regular attendance is necessary f or academic growth in Greek. Parents shou ld contact the
teacher when their child will not be in attendance. Teachers will contact the parents of students missing more
than 2 consecutive classes.
Weather and Emergency related Closings: The school will f ollow the Stamf ord Public Schools f or wea ther
related closings. All closures will be posted on Cablevision 12 and the Annunciation website.

TU ITION AND REGISTRATION

See website for current copies of registration and health forms.
http://www.annunciationofstamford.org/greekschool/reg_med.html

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CONTACT INFORMATION
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Greek Language and Culture Af ternoon School
1230 Newf ield Avenue
Stamf ord, CT 06905
Tel: 203-322-2093, Fax: 203-968-6632
Email: greekschool@annunciationof stamford.org
www.annunciationof stamford.org/greekschool/greek_school.html

PARISH PRIEST
Reverend Father Evan Evangelidis

Tel: 203-322-2093

PARISH SECRETARY

Email: f ather_evan@yahoo.com

Email secretary@annunciationofstamford.org

GREEK SCHOOL STAFF

Penelope Venetsanos
Director and Language/Culture Teacher Tel: 203-276-8781

Email: kladielias@yahoo.com

I oanna Kreatsoulas
Language & Culture Teacher

Tel: 914-471-1634

Email: Kr_ioanna@hotmail.com

Tel: 914-471-5343

Email: despKreatsoulas@aol.com

Tel: 203-945-6119

Email: agapieros@gmail.com

Despina Kreatsoulas
Dance, Language & Culture Teacher

Agapi Theodoridou
Language & Culture Teacher

SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Vicky Seremetis, President
Stacey Karapides, Vice-President
Vivi Douf ekis-Radis, Secretary
Georgia Poulos, Member
Christina Ramoglou, Member
Kirsten Ziotas, Member
Nikif oros Mathews, Member & Parish Council liaison

PTA BOARD
Helen Vlahakis, Co-President
Nia Thomas, Co-President
Gina Christakos, Secretary
Irene Diamantides, Treasurer
Vicky Sakellson, Assistant Treasurer
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Greek School Parent Handbook

2014-2015