Faculty featured in CANYONING article

Ms. Kiki Spiliot a 2nd Grade teacher at ACS Athens is featured in a Canyoning article in in.gr. (article in greek, many photos).

Canyoning is the ideal activity to experience nature "first-hand" and "off-the-beaten-path" and it usually combines long hikes, waterfall diving and river crossing, climbing, spelunking (cave exploring), etc.

Some specialty gear may be needed, but they can always be rented on location, at the companies that organize these events.

Even though Greece is primarily known for its beaches and its islands, one can find world-class canyons (some of them in islands), pristine rivers and waterfalls, alpine forests, some only a few hours away from a major city.

One of Ms. Spiliot's favorites is "...the Xa Canyon in Crete, Ierapetra region,  with 27 agressive but alluring waterfalls... the word Xa derives from the Greek word "Xasma" (Chasm) which means a large and deep opening in the surface of the earth... This is canyoning!  We do not only walk.. we dive into lakes... we climb down 90 meters under waterfalls.. it is lots of things - and not just trekking - it is much more than that..."

If you wish to find more about canyoning please contact Ms. Spiliot at spiliotk@acs.gr

You can also check out:

• canyon.gr
• pezoporia.gr  as well as
• The European Rambler's Association

Education is the Foundation for the Creation of High-Quality Human Capital (article in Greek)

Interview of Ms. Julia Tokatlidou, Scientific Marketing magazine, Sep. 2011

Middle School Teacher chosen for Spring NESA Conference & Middle School Student Awarded

Mr. Kalas, Eleni, Mr. Nelson

Dear ACS faculty and staff,

It is my pleasure to announce some great news for the New Year coming from NESA:

1-       Vicky Akrivou to present at the NESA Spring Conference

Vicky Akrivou was chosen to present her teacher workshop entitled “The ‘Forum will not Borem’- Student led participatory learning in the Social Studies classroom” at the 2011 Spring Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.  This year’s ACS min-NESA featured seven impressive workshops and we are proud that Vicky was chosen to represent our school.  Congratulations to Vicky!

2-        ACS Middle School student Eleni S. wins NESA Haas/Hansen Student Award $500 and a trip for two to Bangkok where she will deliver a speech about Civic Responsibility to the NESA conference of teachers and administrators.

The NESA Haas/Hansen Student Award is an award that recognizes middle school students (grades 6-8) at Near East South Asia (NESA) member schools who model the character traits we value most in our students: consistency, persistence, a willingness to take risks, acceptance of other cultures/points of view and a genuine interest in and commitment to the welfare of others.  Eleni received the top award recognition from among the 100+ NESA member schools this year!

Eleni S., a 7^th grade student at ACS Athens, stands out with her compassion for other people and animals.  For the NESA application process, Eleni created a portfolio highlighting her involvement in the following:

• ·         Conservation efforts to help the environment
• ·         Commitment to animal welfare
• ·         Personal campaign to stop puppy mills
• ·         Dedication to assisting the less fortunate as a member of a Girl Scout troop
• ·         Sponsoring a child in Uganda
• ·         Extensive volunteerism in food banks, nursing homes and animal shelters

As the NESA representative I would also like to thank and congratulate Jeff Kalas, our middle school counselor, for his effort in making the award possible for Eleni.  Mr. Kalas devised ways to elicit more student involvement in the process, he guided our finalists in creating more impressive portfolios, and he helped to make the process very efficient for the teachers.  Thank you Mr. Kalas for your efforts and for making it possible for Eleni to showcase student service from the ACS Middle School.  

Additionally, I would like to thank Mary-Ann Augoustatos and the teachers who served on the selection committee and who completed letters of recommendation.  Your commitment to the students and to promoting Civic Responsibility is once again demonstrated through Eleni’s award.

Please share this news with your students as it presents another teachable moment of the importance of Civic Responsibility.

Welcome to 2011!

Dave Nelson, ACS Representative to NESA



ACS Athens Faculty Featured in Area Biking Article

ACS Athens faculty member, Ms. Kiki Spiliot

ACS Athens faculty member, Ms. Kiki Spiliot, was recently featured in an article about the growing biking population in Athens. She belongs to a biking team that meets every Friday evening (9:30PM) at Theision. The group rides from 50 - 90 Kilometers each Friday. Some members complete their participation around 2AM and others, not until sunrise at 6AM.

Ms. Spiliot says she has been riding with the group for a little under four months, "I have been riding since September of this year [2010]. The ages of the participants range from 5 years old to 95. We have police escorts and we block off the intersections for safe passing. It is a wonderful time!"

Spiliot's initial biking group meets at the Umbrella Monument in Psixiko around 9PM before going on to meet the main group in Theision. If you would like to join one of the biking groups, read more of the Greek article here: ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑonline or contact Ms. Spiliot at spiliotk@acs.gr