June has certainly been a very busy month! On the third of June, we celebrated the fifth grade Stepping Up ceremony. Our fifth graders are very excited about going into junior high school! We have no doubt that they are very ready and prepared for middle school. Our kindergarteners celebrated their Graduation Day on June 13th with songs in both Greek and English. Our littlest Spyropoulites have grown up so much this year and are looking forward to first grade! And finally, a big CONGRATULATIONS to our eighth graders who will be leaving our school and moving on to high school in just a few days! Earlier this month, they danced the night away at prom and were all recognized for their accomplishments at Awards Night. On Monday, June 7th the entire school cheered them on during a beautiful cap and gown procession. Together with their teachers, priests, administrators and families, the seniors celebrated Graduation Day on Friday, June 11th. This year’s valedictorian, Nikita Vlachos, and salutatorian, Christina Psarros, addressed their classmates and guests who gathered to celebrate. Congratulations eighth grade graduates! We are so proud of each and every one of you!

All of our beautiful Spyropoulites and their teachers celebrated 200 years of independence today. Our first and fourth graders sang songs and performed beautiful skits commemorating the special day. Our eighth graders paid a special tribute to the fallen heroes of 1821 and then danced traditional Greek dances. Congratulations to all of them and their teachers. This year, we did not march in the Greek Independence Day Parade on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, but that did not stop us! We brought the parade to Queens! The entire student body, our priests, teachers and staff had smiles on their faces as they proudly marched around the neighborhood. Ζήτω η Ελλάς!

Although we are only half-way through March, the month has already been full of fun and activities! To mark the beginning of spring, the students in Mrs. Stella’s Greek classes donned traditional Marti bracelets made of twisted white and red string.

SPIRIT WEEK was celebrated on the first week of March by the entire school. Throughout the week, students enjoyed a variety of theme days that promoted school spirit and a positive school climate. Movie Monday, Favorite Team Tuesday, Wacky Hat Wednesday, Comfy Thursday and Unity Friday were all very much enjoyed by students and staff.

Finally, Mrs. Tympanidis’s first grade class made beautiful lion and lamb masks reminding us all of the old English saying… March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. We all can’t wait for the warmer and sunnier days that lie ahead!