Upper School Newsletter April 2021

Message from the Head of Upper School Monday 5th April 2021 Dear Upper School Community Welcome to another newsletter and let us hope it is our final one with only virtual school described – we would love to see our students face to face sometime soon! For Year 13 any re-opening will now come too late to come in since they have now finished their lessons and are handing in the last drafts of their all important coursework. With their examinations cancelled, the completion of coursework is their last obligation as St Catherine’s students – except for celebrating their graduation in the summer of course!!

It is so sad to think that we last saw them in a classroom in early November and that was the last of their conventional school days. I am glad none of us knew that to be the case at the time.

Please enjoy the newsletter with its reports on student achievement. I would like to extend a special mention to the students and staff who represented us in the online Panhellenic Forensics Tournament this past weekend. Well done to you all!

With kind regards, Dr Bond Head of Upper School

St Catherine’s takes part in the PanHellenic Forensics Competition 2021 This weekend saw 25 St. Cats students represent the school in the first ever online PanHellenic Forensics Competition. The long hours of practice paid off with many excellent performances from our mainly KS3 team.

A special congratulations to Theoni V of year 8 who not only made the final in the category of dramatic oral interpretation of literature but was also the overall winner, and to Zoe S of year 12 who had a well-deserved honourable mention for her dramatic monologue.

Our team of young debaters narrowly missed qualifying for the quarter finals on speaker points, and we are looking forward to seeing them truly shine in years to come.

We also look forward to being entertained by some of our readers and actors at the upcoming online Easter concert.

Congratulations once again! Well done everyone!

A very special thanks to: Mrs Peters, Mrs Raikopoulos and Miss Marilena Kalyva and all our young competitors!

CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK DAY

Michaela Yulika Melissa in 7C

Sophia F in 9D

CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK DAY

By Areti E & Despina S

By Iria C

CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK DAY

By Molly and Sofia in 8D

By Luciana and Julika

CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK DAY

By Nicholas S in 8D

By Anson in 7D

WORLD POETRY DAY and SHAKESPEARE’S DAY

Many thanks to Mrs Georgiou and her students for their contribution.

By Molly in 8D

CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK DAY Journeys on books Books. An escape from reality, They change our mentality.

Books. They make us who we are They take us on journeys long and far.

A boy who cried wolf was my favourite of all No matter what age I was, big or small.

The moral of the story taught me a lesson One should never lie, Or all their friends will say goodbye.

Noughts and Crosses shows the truth about society, The World is not a peaceful place with so much inequality.

The moral of the story taught me a lesson, Everyone should have the same rights We do not need to start any fights.

An old man and the sea Was a very hard read.

Its meaning was hard to understand, All I could see was sea and the sand.

The moral of the story taught me a lesson, When you earn something special, To keep it safe you may even need to wrestle.

The Folk of the Faraway Tree, Made me feel like I was free.

In a world filled with smiles I travelled in the book for miles and miles.

The moral of the story taught me a lesson.

Friendship is essential, And it always has potential.

Books. They sure teach us a lot, They can be read anywhere even in a parking lot.

Books. They shape us, Next time read one on the bus!

By Valeria L and Arrieta T—both in 8A

CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK DAY Ode to Hermione From Harry My Hermione, that you care You are sweeter than sugar, smarter And fair With what shall I compare You to? You are compassionate And glorious You are kinder and more passionate Than a princess I think of you daily my sweetheart I admire your reading skills How smart Are you?

Now I must away with a surreal heart Remember my square words while we are apart.

By Athena V - in 8C

Year 8 PSHCE classes are learning about Body Image Tadas V wrote this powerful poem during the Positive Image Project.

Some great advice for all!

Bravo Tadas

you’re

Many thanks to Mrs Voutsadakis and her students for their contribution.

French 10 celebrates the Greek Revolution

Many thanks to Mrs Sklavenitis and her students for their contribution.

French 10 celebrates the Greek Revolution

Year 10 French class celebrates the Greek Revolution Delacroix présente au Salon de 1824 un grand tableau, inspiré des événements de la guerre d’Indépendance de la Grèce, Scène des Massacres de Scio (musée du Louvre).

En 1827, Delacroix expose, avec plusieurs autres toiles, une magistrale Mort de Sardanapale (musée du Louvre).

Liée à une pièce du poète anglais Lord Byron, l’œuvre montre le souverain oriental assis en haut d’un bûcher, entouré de ses chevaux, de ses richesses, de ses femmes, dont il a souhaité qu’ils disparaissent avec lui, condamné pour trahison. Le tableau séduit Victor Hugo et Dumas autant qu’il agace la critique académique par sa composition tournoyante, le primat de la couleur, la violence des tons. Delacroix apparaît, définitivement, comme un peintre remarquable, mais dont la manière bouleverse les habitudes et les règles académiques.

Translation: At the Salon of 1824, he presented a large painting, inspired by the events of the Greek War of Independence, Scene of the Massacres of Scio (Louvre Museum). In 1827, Delacroix exhibited, along with several other paintings, a masterful Mort de Sardanapale (Louvre Museum). Linked to a play by the English poet Lord Byron, the work shows the Eastern ruler sitting at the top of a pyre, surrounded by his horses, his riches, his wives, whom he wished they would disappear with him, condemned for treason. The painting seduces Victor Hugo and Dumas as much as it annoys academic criticism with its swirling composition, the primacy of colour, the violence of tones.

Delacroix appears, definitively, as a remarkable painter, but whose manner upsets academic habits and rules.

La Grèce est représentée comme une femme en costume grec traditionnel, mais sa poitrine évoque la figure républicaine de Marianne, symbole de la liberté.

In this painting Delacroix clearly shows that like English poet Lord Byron, his sympathies were on the side of the Greek people, attempting to claim their liberty from their Turkish overlords.

As the besieged Greeks of Missolonghi began to suffer from famine and epidemics broke out, they planned an escape; but they were betrayed, and the Turks massacred many, enslaved others, and took the city.

Greece is shown as a woman in traditional Greek costume, but her bared breast reflects the French Republican figure of Marianne, the symbol of liberty. http://www.musee-delacroix.fr/