This edition of Flowerdale looks at change over time and 鈥淎cross Generations鈥�, with some wonderful contributions from various generations within our school community.

This edition also looks at the leadership opportunities and aspirations of our current school captains across both Primary and Secondary Years: Aristea Papax, Rudra Sekhri, Keppel Gordon, Sia Kerasiotis, and Jonathan Karambelas.

We share five truly unique stories from alumni and staff; Elena Tsioukis nee Groutas (Class of 2006) and Evan Tsioukis (Class of 2001), Maria Koutrouzas (Class of 2001), Nicole Kitsakis (Class of 1997), and Stephanie Atwa (Class of 2015). The journeys of these alumni began here at Alphington Grammar, and The School has played a key role in their lives ever since. Some of these alumni are just now bringing through the next generation of Alphington Grammar students to join our community, while others have since returned to join us as staff.

We are also very proud to be able to share the stories of two families brought together within Alphington Grammar鈥檚 walls, Amy Papamarkou nee Tsaboukas and Alex Papamarkou (Class of 2012), as well as John Savopoulos and Helen Theodoropoulos, better known as Mr Sav and Ms T.

This edition also features many happy events in our growing community, with Engagements, Weddings, and the arrival of new babies to celebrate. This happy news can all be found in our Community News segment.

I hope you enjoy reading this autumn edition of Flowerdale

Dr Vivianne Nikou

Principal

Those of us who have lived and breathed education our entire careers know all too well what a resilient bunch we educators are! However, throw in a global pandemic, multiple lockdowns and a plethora of social, emotional, and mental wellbeing issues, and both our profession and one鈥檚 parenting style has truly been tested. Significantly though, we have worked closely with our parent community and together, risen to the challenge.

Following another year riddled with lockdowns and restrictions in every regard in 2021, it has been wonderful to come through the first six months of this academic year with a semblance of normality. It is amazing to see how our students are bouncing back from such hardship, returning to campus and lapping up the opportunities and benefits that our school offers. Witnessing the resilience that these young people are have and are continuing to show is a delight. They are experiencing being part of a rich and vibrant community once more.

Our challenge now is to help shape young men and women of character, who know themselves and understand the power they hold, into the best versions of themselves. To empower them to make a positive difference not only in their own lives, but in the lives of others beyond them as they make their way through their school years to what lies beyond the school gates.

This edition of Flowerdale brings forward the diversity of our community and their contributions across all walks of life.

Dr Vivianne Nikou

Principal

As we learn to live between repeated lockdowns, the Olympic Games being held in Japan this year have given us all a sense of hope and national pride as we watch our Australian athletes pursue their dreams and strive for Excellence in their fields of endeavour. While reflecting on this, I explored the concept of 鈥榠kigai鈥�. Ikigai is the Japanese concept of finding purpose in life, which is also similar to the French term 鈥楻aison d鈥檈tre鈥�, a reason for being. Yet, to understand where one is going requires us to look at where we have come from, and that is what is at the heart of our Flowerdale publication this term.

Finding meaning and developing one鈥檚 strengths takes time, and the journey to self-discovery will be different for us all. This edition of Flowerdale journeys into the past not only to understand our School鈥檚 humble beginnings but also to see how far we have come. To this end, we follow alumnae Khoi Cao-Lam (Class of 1997), Sofia Cojocaru (Class of 2000), Antigone Koutoulas (Class of 2009), and Nicky Serafim (Class of 2012) on their personal journeys from their school days to where they are now.

The self-reflections of current students Constandina Chasomeris and Alannah Halabi, who will graduate later this year, demonstrate their journeys of self-discovery and developing their strengths and talents to lead lives of service and purpose at 铁算盘六合彩特码.

Equally, we celebrate 25 years of service by Assistant Principal, Head of Primary, Mrs Tracey Nicholson. Mrs Nicholson has not only seen The School evolve from its portable buildings and outhouses to the modern structures and facilities we all now enjoy, but she has also undergone her own journey of becoming a passionate and deeply committed educator leading her part of The School. A look at our Year of Achievement and events so far rounds off this edition as we move cautiously into the remainder of the academic year.

Although our year may have a different ending to the one we hoped and planned for, I am so proud to share the staggering beginnings and vision of some of those who walked before us. I hope you find joy in reading this edition of Flowerdale that our Alumni Coordinator: Ms Adelle Greenbury has compiled.

Dr Vivianne Nikou

School Principal

This edition of Flowerdale is a chance to recognise and acknowledge the leadership qualities of many in our school community. We find leadership within both the students still learning here with us as well as those who have since graduated. Many of our alumni are leaders in their own right, and are now carving out paths of distinction for themselves through their diligence, perseverance and empathy. We also take this time to profile our current School Captains Yasmin Zeineh, Natalia Hanna, and Haozhi Ji who, through their own endeavours and passion, have been recognised by their peers as worthy leaders of the student population.

In what was, understandably, a difficult year spent mostly in lockdown, I acknowledge the tremendous effort by the Class of 2020 and congratulate them on their ability to pursue post-secondary courses across a myriad of institutions. I commend to you the heartfelt reflections of our 2020 Dux, Dimitra Kritsidimas, who has demonstrated in a warm and open manner her highly developed sense of self. This sense of self enabled her to reach out to others when she needed it, which helped her navigate the emotionally charged years of growing up without her mum. Dimitra is a self-made young woman who has truly demonstrated our school values, particularly through her sense of empathy, a much sought after leadership trait by employers.

We also feature a range of other leaders in the pages of this edition of Flowerdale. The successful placement of Rohan Panjwani in the Top Arts exhibition has showcased his creative leadership qualities cultivated over many years, as well as his commitment to pursue his passion for his craft. The interview with Grammarian Mr Enver Erdogan (2002), who is now leading the way as a member of the Victorian parliament, is another opportunity to celebrate the diverse undertakings by our now growing Alumni community. We also recognise International Women鈥檚 Day with an interview with our own Ms Deirdre Grealish, recently appointed to the new position of Deputy Head of Secondary.

Our first term was filled with events and special occasions. We recognise these in our Events Snapshot, and take the time to acknowledge the leadership qualities of our Primary Leaders during their management of the Harmony Day event. The recent Alphington Grammarian鈥檚 alumni reunion was indeed a special occasion to share stories amongst us all and to be able to tour the new facilities our students are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of.

There is much to read and enjoy in this edition of Flowerdale as we honour leadership in all its forms across our school community. I look forward to students and staff returning rested and refreshed for Term 2.

Dr Vivianne Nikou

School Principal

This year has been an extraordinary year for everyone. At Alphington, we committed ourselves to ensuring excellence in the continuity of learning, care and connection between all students and our school.聽 I thank all for contributing to this commitment and supporting the community in ensuring a positive and productive year was experienced by everyone.

The great strength of our community has been evident in the people and culture of 铁算盘六合彩特码. Alphington is indeed a thriving dynamic community; living firmly in our school values.

We finish the year off by sending through the latest edition of Flowerdale, our school quarterly magazine. Please note, this years Grammarian will be distributed in the new academic year.

Wishing you all abundant peace, joy and good health聽this Christmas.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Vivianne Nikou
Principal

2020 Is a year that has been described many times as ;’unprecedented’ but having come this far into 2020 it’s probably more accurately going to be remembered as a year of our community ‘working together as one’ to get through these immense challenges. As educators we all understand the need for strong positive teacher鈥� student bonds, meaningful peer to peer relationships and parent involvement in the education process especially during times of uncertainty where routines are disrupted and the roadmap ahead is not clear.While remote learning has made it harder for teachers to have the usual one on one conversations with students there is a shared sense that”we’re going through this together”.

Parents have during this pandemic been more closely aware of what is happening in the classroom and friendship groups have moved to a new platform which in many ways has helped to forge stronger connections between students without the usual judgements which might take place at school. We are acutely aware that we all need human connections, and that when the human connections are loose theu the form of engagement also weakens. The staff and pastoral teachers across the school have worked on a range of activities and touch points to keep the bonds between us all closer, not only to ensure academic outcomes but also to look at what learning is important and to look at how motivation, student engagement and achievement can dovetail together. Building relationships between home and schools has underpinned the success and positive feedback we have received during this phase of remote learning.

I thank the Staff, Student Leaders and families for working with us to keep our students connected to the learning process and engaged with a variety of activities both in and out of the classroom.Focusing on cultivating adaptability and positive aspirations will certainly help our students return to school with new levels of resilience, self reliance and independence in cognitive, attitudinal, behavioural and emotional adaptability.We all look forward to having the students back with us shortly.

Dr. Vivianne Nikou
Principal

Successful education in the 21st century is about more than just teaching content. It’s about developing a moral compass in our students and having the skill to find meaning in an increasingly ambiguous uncertain and volatile world. It’s about using what we know and applying that knowledge and experience in creative and critical ways, collaborating and building a suitable world we can all live and work in.

We have embraced the challenges which have earmarked 2020 and accepted vulnerability together. We have chosen courage and compassion despite our fears. As we move through this challenging and uncertain time of this pandemic, the stories of Alphington students and staff continuing to strive for excellence are inspiring and unite us as a community. I have been tremendously proud of the way our students, staff and families have embraced the off-campus experience adapting swiftly to learning from home and equally transitioning back to on campus learning when it became safe to do so.

Together, the 铁算盘六合彩特码 community has remained focused and cared for each other, even against the backdrop of the Bushfires, Floods and recent health challenges of Coronavirus.

I trust this edition of Flowerdale demonstrates the values and culture of our School and the ability to adapt to the new environment and adopt a new way of learning in the face of adversity.

Dr. Vivianne Nikou
Principal

Claire was a student at Alphington from 2014 – 2016 before undertaking a Bachelor of Media and Communication at Swinburne University of Technology. Claire has joined the staff at AGS as the Marketing, Alumni and Development Officer.

The School is of an age now that we are able to draw on our own rich history that we are creating, and engage our Alumni. We are now able to keep our community updated of new initiatives and progress taking place in our School Community.

Our first edition of Flowerdale has a theme of International Womens Day, and the importance this holds to our community, Please enjoy our celebration of the Women of Alphington.

Dr. Vivianne Nikou
Principal