Author: roleplay

Education ReDESigned – Excellence Recognised!

DES School Shines with 15 Medals at the International STEM Olympiad Grand Final 2025 in Barcelona, Spain!

A Phenomenal Achievement in Barcelona!

We are incredibly proud to announce that eight brilliant students from DES STEM ELITE CLUB represented Greece at the Grand Final of the STEM Olympiad in Barcelona — and returned home with a remarkable 15 medals!

Their success on the international stage is a testament to their dedication, intellect, and relentless pursuit of excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

This outstanding accomplishment reflects not only the individual brilliance of our students but also the strength of our academic community and the inspiring commitment of our school.

Join us in celebrating their hard-earned success — they have made us all proud and have truly put DES on the global map of academic excellence!

#STEMOlympiad #DESPride #GlobalExcellence #STEMChampions #BarcelonaFinals #AcademicAchievement #FutureInnovators

Accreditation Announcement – IB Middle Years Programme (MYP)

https://www.ibo.org/programmes/middle-years-programme/

We are proud to share a milestone achievement for our community: INTERACTIVE EUROPEAN SCHOOL ATHENS – DES has officially received accreditation for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) — and in just two years of dedicated preparation!

This accreditation is not only a recognition of our school’s commitment to excellence, but also a significant step in empowering our students. The IB MYP offers a rigorous, inquiry-based framework that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and international-mindedness. It encourages students to explore knowledge across disciplines while connecting their learning to real-world issues.

For our learners, this means:

• Developing a global perspective, preparing them to thrive in an interconnected world.
• Cultivating the values of responsibility, empathy, and global citizenship.
• Strengthening the skills and mindset needed for lifelong success in higher education and beyond.

Education must go beyond academics, shaping individuals who are curious, caring, and equipped to make a positive impact on society. With the IB MYP accreditation, we reaffirm our mission to offer transformative education at the heart of Europe, in Athens.

We warmly thank our dedicated staff, supportive parents, and most importantly, our students, who inspire us every day. Together, we celebrate this achievement — a promise of even greater horizons ahead.

INTERACTIVE EUROPEAN SCHOOL ATHENS – DES

Shaping global citizens. Inspiring future leaders.

✨ The heart of the Educational Organisation of the Year beats at the Interactive European School!

🏆 10 awards for innovation in education + the Grand Award 2025 at the Education Leaders Awards 2025!

In this year’s 10th anniversary edition, the Interactive European School was honoured with the top distinction “Educational Organisation of the Year”, along with 10 more awards for educational innovation.

For us at DES, this recognition is more than an honour – it is proof that our journey, built on imagination, passion, and dedication, makes a real impact. We do not follow trends. We create them. Moreover, through them, we build an education with values, substance, and a deeply human-centred vision.

💡 At DES, we believe in reimagining the learning experience around the child. With imagination, hard work, and constant renewal, we prove every day that the school of tomorrow is being built today.

🙏 Huge thanks to the committee and organisers of the Education Leaders Awards for this outstanding recognition.

However, above all, thank you to our students ❤️ – this award belongs to you. You are our inspiration, our strength, and the reason we continue to dream of an education that truly matters.

#EducationLeadersAwards #InnovationInEducation #InteractiveEuropeanSchool #EducationalOrganizationOfTheYear

Conclusion of the House League 2024–2025

The House League for the academic year 2024–2025 came to a celebratory close with an engaging final event and an uplifting Awards Ceremony. This year’s competition proved to be the most closely contested in DES history, with Team Thales emerging as the overall champions—securing their victory by only a narrow margin of points.

The atmosphere was one of unity and shared joy as Team Thales proudly lifted the trophy, then joined their peers from Teams Pythagoras and Democritus on the dance floor in a celebration that perfectly captured the spirit of our school:

Three Houses, One School.

We commend all students for their dedication, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm throughout the season. We now look forward to the following House League season, which promises to bring even more collaboration, excitement, and memorable moments.

Acknowledgement of Charitable Initiative and Fundraising Success

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Sotiris Chasapis, the parent of a Grade 1 student, for his outstanding initiative and leadership. In collaboration with some of the Grade 6 students, whose entrepreneurial enthusiasm and dedication were truly commendable, Mr. Chasapis organised a fundraising effort during the Spring Day Food Festival.

Through the sale of donated shoes and clothing, this initiative successfully raised an impressive total of €1,240 in support of the Child Protection Annexe “Mitera” – Adolescence Protection Unit “Agios Andreas“.

We are also grateful to the twenty-nine families who generously contributed to this cause. The proceeds will be allocated towards the purchase of Virtual Reality Headsets for the DES Primary School STEM Dome, enhancing the educational experience and technological engagement of our students.

1st Place for DES in the “Let’s Recycle in the Brown Bin” Program and recognition on the Followgreen Platform!

With great joy and pride, we announce that our school has achieved 1st place in the Primary Schools category of the “Let’s Recycle in the Brown Bin” program, collecting a total of 219 kilograms of food waste!

The award ceremony took place on Friday, May 23, 2025, as part of the environmental education event organised by the Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni. The event featured music, interactive activities for students, and greetings from municipal representatives, highlighting the importance of raising environmental awareness from an early age.

At the same time, our school actively participated through the Followgreen platform, strengthening our commitment to sustainable habits, recycling, and circular economy within the school community. Our contribution to the reward-based platform reflects our dedication to a greener daily life.

Warm congratulations to all DES students for their dedication, enthusiasm, and active participation, as well as to the educators and parents for their ongoing support and guidance.

Our achievement is an inspiration for even greater environmental successes in the future!

https://www.followgreen.gr/vvv/news/single/megali-symmetoxi-kai-enthoysiasmos-stin-ekdilosi-braveysis-gia-ti-sxoliki-drasi-anakyklosis-se-kafe-kado-kai-ti-dimioyrgiki-epanaxrisimopoiisi-royxon

📍 Learn more and explore the full progress of participating schools at Followgreen.gr/vvv

“Guess Who?!”: A Fun and Engaging Greek Language Workshop for DES International Students

“Guess Who?!”

A classic board game of logic has become today a valuable tool for learning Greek as a second foreign language. It served as an engaging framework for practising oral expression and communication as students exchanged information about the characters’ physical appearance.

Furthermore, the activity enhanced the students’ understanding of formulating questions (for instance, “Is he wearing glasses?”) and providing appropriate responses (e.g., “Yes, he has a moustache.”). This supported the functional use of language in a meaningful context.

Additionally, the repeated use of vocabulary related to describing personal appearance (such as hair colour, eye colour, and types of clothing) enriched the students’ lexicon.

Finally, the activity concluded with students describing their invented characters and illustrating them. This fostered collaborative learning and created a supportive environment — an ideal setting for boosting the confidence of non-native speakers in using the Greek language enjoyably and interactively.

DES’s International Food Festival on May 31st was a resounding success, showcasing the richness of our community’s diversity. The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) did an outstanding job organising this fantastic festival. It was a feast of different foods, each one telling a story about the unique cultures in our community. However, it was more than just a food festival. It showed how diversity can bring us together and make us feel like we all belong. By trying foods from different cultures, we not only got to enjoy new tastes but also learned to appreciate the stories behind them. Events like this help us respect each other, understand different cultures, and build stronger connections. We owe a huge thank you to all the parents who went above and beyond to make the day so special. They devoted their time and resources to creating an atmosphere where everyone could enjoy folk dances, traditional songs, and a sense of community. Thanks to their hard work, International Food Day was more than just a meal – it was a celebration of our cultures, our unity, and our place in the world. This event reminded us that we are all interconnected and that it is essential to create inclusive spaces that celebrate our differences. When we embrace what makes us unique, we make our community stronger, more vibrant, and better for everyone.

Education ReDESigned – Excellence Recognised: DES School Shines with 17 Medals at Hi-Lingua Grand Final 2025 in Paris, France!

The Interactive European School achieved remarkable success at the Hi-Lingua Grand Final, held from May 7 to 12, 2025, in Paris, France.

The Hi-Lingua Grand Final is a prestigious international competition that brings top-performing students worldwide to celebrate excellence in language proficiency, communication, and interdisciplinary skills. The event encourages creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange among participants.

Representing Greece, the DES team, composed of four outstanding students, travelled to Paris and competed against peers from over 17 countries across Europe and Asia, earning a place in the prestigious Grand Final.

Our students showcased extraordinary talent, confidence, and eloquence across multiple fields. With the support of DES’s innovative and holistic educational program, they stood out among hundreds of participants and returned to Greece with 17 medals, demonstrating that a well-rounded, enriched curriculum inspires excellence and achievement.

DES is a bilingual, international educational institution in the municipality of Vari–Voula–Vouliagmeni. With a strong emphasis on emotional education, multilingualism, STEM and Environmental Studies, DES fosters critical thinking, creativity, and global citizenship—empowering students with the knowledge and values they need to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

From Classroom to Fish Farm: DES Student Champions Aquaculture Innovation

 IB GLOBAL FUND Big news from DES!

We are thrilled to announce that Matthew Raftopoulos, one of our Middle School students, has been awarded a grant from the IB Global Youth Action Fund 2025 for his inspiring project: “We Teach Aquaculture”.

So, why aquaculture? As global seafood demand rises and our oceans face increasing pressure, Matthew and his team designed an educational program to promote sustainable aquaculture. They brought it directly into schools through workshops, expert-led sessions, and even a 360° video tour of a real fish farm (minus the wet shoes).

Their mission is to educate students, empower teachers and raise awareness about sustainable food systems!

We could not be prouder. Well done, Matthew!

Read more about the Global Youth Action Fund here:

https://www.ibo.org/news/news-about-the-ib/global-youth-action-fund/

#WeTeachAquaculture #DES #IBYouthAction #Sustainability