TSN0924

7 THE SHEPHERD • SEPTEMBER 2024 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO Welcome back, students and parents! As we embark on this exciting new school year, we are thrilled to greet you with renewed ener- gy and enthusiasm. This year promises to be filled with opportunities for growth, learn- ing, and achievement. Our dedicated team of educators is eager to support each student in reaching their full potential, and we look forward to collaborating with families to make this year a memorable and successful journey. Together, let’s embrace the challeng- es and celebrate the triumphs as we work towards creating a positive and enriching school experience for everyone. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead! Learning one’s culture and heritage language offers profound benefits for both children and adults, extending across personal, so- cial, and cognitive dimensions. For children, engaging with their cultural and heritage language fosters a strong sense of identity and belonging. It helps them connect with their family’s traditions, values, and histo- ry, enhancing their self-esteem and cultur- al pride. This deepened connection to their heritage can also improve their academic performance, as bilingual children often de- velop advanced cognitive skills such as better problem-solving and multitasking abilities. For adults, maintaining or learning a heri- tage language provides a meaningful way to preserve cultural traditions and pass them on to future generations. It facilitates deep- er, more authentic connections with family members and community elders, strength- ening familial bonds and enhancing cultural continuity. Additionally, adults who embrace their heritage language often experience a re- newed appreciation for their cultural roots, leading to greater personal fulfillment and a richer understanding of their own cultural identity. This cultural engagement can also offer practical advantages, such as improved communication skills and increased oppor- tunities for professional and social network- ing within culturally diverse contexts. Over- all, learning and using a heritage language enriches both the individual’s personal life and their broader cultural community. Enroll in Greek school to unlock the trea- sures of your heritage language and culture, and experience the joy of connecting deep- ly with your roots while enriching your fu- ture. Enrollment for students will continue to take place this month. You can find more information and easy to fill out registration forms and pay for tuition on our School web- site at www.sdgreekschool.org. CHILDREN CLASS SCHEDULE 2 hours per week classes begin Sept. 5th Tuition per semester is $295 per child, $245 for each sibling. Books and materials are in- cluded. Pre-K and K Thursday or Friday 5:00-7:00 pm Beginning Level Thursday or Friday 5:00-7:00 pm Intermediate Level Thursday or Friday 5:00-7:00 pm Advanced Level Thursday or Friday 5:00-7:00 pm ADULT CLASS SCHEDULE 2 hours per week classes begin Sept. 3rd Tuition per semester is $320 (18 classes). Books are not included. Classes will be pro- vided in-person only. We offer lessons for the following levels: Beginning (first year) Monday 6:30-8:30pm Intermediate I (second year) Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm Intermediate II (third year) Thursday 6:30-8:30pm Proficient (a variety course for experienced speakers with conversational skills) Tuesday at 6:30-8:30 pm. LOOKING FOR TEACHERS! We invite the members of the community to share our mission by considering joining our teaching staff. If you are fluent in the Greek language and you are considering a career path that will enhance our students’ linguis- tic repertoire, please contact Nancy Prova- taris at (858) 616-7520 or nancyprovataris@ gmail.com. We currently have openings for youth and adult classes and would appreciate your support! Nancy Provataris, PhD Greek Language School Director GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL DANCE & CHORAL Classes resume for Saint Spyridon’s Greek Dance and Choral School on September 8th . Registration opened on August 18th and closes on October 1st. If you are interested in dancing this year, we have lots of classes available. In addition to our youth classes which are open to new and returning danc- ers from the ages of 5 to 18, we have a young adult group for high school graduates up to 40 years of age, and we are also going to be organizing a beginner’s intro to Greek dance class in the fall. This class will run approxi- mately 6 to 8 weeks and it’s an opportunity for those who are adults who never learned how to dance to learn in a non-competitive environment. To register for classes and pay for tuition simply follow the links below. Tuition: tuition-dance-and-choral-school.square.site Registration: https://forms.gle/mqH8xKeVTobXG9Ca8