"THE PLANET DOES NOT NEED MORE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. THE PLANET DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE PEACEMAKERS, HEALERS, RESTORERS, STORYTELLERS, AND LOVERS OF ALL KINDS." The Dalai Lama has offered this call for peace and healing a few years ago, before the latest refugee crisis took hold of much of Europe but involves much of Asia, Africa, and Central America, the so-called developing world. In general, the Western developed world has been part of both the problem and the solution, in ways that are both frustrating but also hopeful. Hope is what the Home Project is investing in its effort to provide shelter, education, and integration opportunities to unaccompanied refugee minors, while at the same it is fighting intolerance, xenophobia, and racism. The HOME Project was founded in response to the call made by President Obama to the private sector to help in addressing the refugee crisis in 2016. Their mission is to help refugee children to safety and security, to overcome the trauma of violence and loss, to motivate reintegration and healing and empower new beginnings. ACS Athens, through its effort to assist in this cause, has started the Youth-to-Youth educational and integration program in 2017, in collaboration with the Home Project. The program fosters meaningful educational experiences and promotes social integration addressing the educational and social needs of unaccompanied minors in Athens through a student-to-student partnership learning model. Volunteer students and teachers of the school provide the necessary environment for the young refugees so that they re-engage in a social and educational way, in a setting that allows friendships to grow, knowledge to be cultivated and personalities to heal. With us today is Sofia Kouvelaki, Chief Executive Officer of The HOME Project. A young and ...

One of the staple characteristics of American schools is inclusion. Cultural inclusion, ethnic inclusion, and of course learning inclusion. It’s an attribute that defines the American educational philosophy, which is at the center of the ACS Athens mission. The values served by the school have been closely related to this inclusion for many many years. Since the early eighties, our guest today has offered her services to the cause of inclusion, the right to learn of every child, and assisting students with learning differences at a fundamental level. Christianna Perakis Evloyas or Ms. Perakis as everyone has called her all these years before she retired in 2019, has left her mark not only to her students, who left the school to become successful members of society, but also to the way of thinking of every teacher and the entire educational philosophy of ACS Athens. Chris Perakis continues to be involved through our Diagnostic Learning Center, advising those who assess and evaluate students, not whether they can learn, but how they can learn in a better, more meaningful, and impactful way for their lives. With Chris Perakis, we discuss: What is learning inclusion Learning Differences: What's in a term Developing lifetime friendships with your students The taboo of admitting a learning difference for your child How did 9 annual conferences change the way a community sees differentiation Can someone with learning differences be successful in life The role of the shadow teacher, and Teaching and life-long learning ...

International Schools attract families from their host country, but primarily and traditionally families that are on the move. Whether it is for business purposes or just repatriation, international traveling families are making their homes around the world. Their common denominator, most of the time, is the educational standard for their children. There’s of course the occasional student that has gone through changes in school systems and languages. Most of the time, however, International families choose a school system that meets their children’s needs, wherever they are located or re-located. Our guest today represents such a family, who arrived at ACS Athens through the diplomatic corps route and has also been part of our community of educators since. Ms. Valeria Laitinen is our Early Childhood Coordinator this year, while she’s served as the Elementary Vice-Principal and Elementary Teacher before that. With Ms. Laitinen we discuss: How does Following the diplomat's path through the countries develop a greater sense of empathy Making the world your home The portability of a career in education as a traveling family The Growth mindset, or learning through your mistakes Feeling uncomfortable is the feeling of learning Growing along with the students you're teaching Early Childhood Education as the foundation for learning The importance of Getting to know the school before applying as a way to develop the necessary trust The realization of becoming an international-minded student ...

Nicholas Karambelas is a graduate of ACS Athens in the 70's who left to become a successful law professional in the U.S., but has never really left the school. His current capacity as the Chairman of the US Board of Trustees of the school, along with his love for Greece and his Greek-American identity, put him in a unique position to serve the mission and vision of the school. A third-generation Greek American, he takes pride of his emotional attachment to Greece and the intellectual approach to the Greek national issues as a Greek American. With Nick Karambelas, today we discuss: The changing profile of ACS Athens from an almost exclusively American school to a totally international school Fond memories with dear friends The role of the houses as an American school tradition Intellectual curiosity as a key quality transitioning to colleges Having an analytical mindset as a law professional His passion for history and archeology The role of the Greek American Omogeneia in shaping the American nation The 1821 revolutionary war of independence through the eyes of Omogeneia His view of ACS Athens as a member of the Board of Trustees ...

Today with us is Ada Gianneskis, ACS Athens parent and elected member of the Board of Trustees of the school. Ms. Gianneskis is a marketing and communications executive with 20 years of experience and is currently the Communications Director of House Market SA (IKEA franchise for Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria). Ms. Gianneskis has an MBA degree from Southern New Hampshire University, with specialization in sports marketing. She is also a member of the Corporate Responsibility Committee of the American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce. With Ms. Gianneskis, we discuss: Having difficult conversations with your children while cultivating their empathy Trust as a family contract as children live through COVID Parents responsibility to Learn what their children already know Wearing two hats, when it comes to being involved in school governance Students not Hiding behind the musts, as they consider their future Following your true calling How to highlight your work ethic in an interview Taking a step back when deciding on graduate or post-grad studies; and What makes a good communicator ...

International Schools are known for the frequent rotation of their teaching and administrative personnel. ACS Athens recruits most of the times teachers and high-level administrators from the international school circuit, where the mentality of international education guides the expertise and training of the new hires. This year, a new Principal joined us from a pure American school, which gives her a unique perspective as a leader to a school that follows the American curriculum. Dr. Joleta Galozzi, our new Middle School Principal arrived this year from Aurora, Colorado, and shares with us some of the insight she has gained so far having joined the ACS Athens international community of educators. Today With Dr. Galozzi, we discuss: How can British literature inspire the desire to travel The learning curve of managing learning on a new school The job of a principal as a life calling Causing Shifts in culture and bringing positive impacts Teachable Moments Helping students help themselves ...