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7 THE SHEPHERD • OCTOBER 2025 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΓΛΩΣΣΑΣ Dear families, students, and friends of our beloved community, Greek School began the first week of Sep- tember, and the energy has been nothing short of inspiring. From the moment our doors opened, students and families brought a sense of joy, curiosity, and connection that reminds us why this work matters so deeply. Registrations are still open and we’d love to welcome you into our growing community. A few highlights from the beginning of this year: Our 1st “Meet and Greek” Open Day Brunch was a beautiful celebration of togetherness. Over 50 people attended, filling the space with warmth, conversation, and games. This has definitely become now a new Greek school tradition! We were especially hon- ored to have Father Andrew join us and offer a few thoughtful words that grounded the day in purpose and tradition. His presence reminded us that Greek School is more than just a place of learning—it’s a living thread that connects generations, rooted not only in language and culture but also in the val- ues of our Greek Orthodox faith. That faith continues to guide our mission, reminding us to lead with compassion, humility, and reverence for the past as we build toward the future. Behind the scenes, an extraordinary amount of work has gone into preparing for this year. One of the most exciting updates is that we’ve completely redesigned the curriculum from the ground up . Every lesson, activity, and re- source has been re-imagined to reflect mod- ern educational standards while staying true to our cultural roots. This new curriculum is more immersive, more engaging, and better suited to the diverse needs of our students. A key feature of this redesign is that the second half of every class is now dedicated to speak- ing practice —giving both children and adult learners the opportunity to build confidence in using the Greek language in real conversa- tions. Whether through role-play, dialogue, or everyday expressions, we’re helping our students not just learn Greek, but live it. It’s a bold step forward—and one we’re proud to share with the community. On Saturday, August 30th at 9am, we held our first Teacher Training of the year, and it was a powerful moment of growth. Led by Dr. Charikleia Theodoraki, a distinguished expert in Greek education, the two hour ses- sion introduced our teachers to immersive teaching methodologies designed to make learning Greek more intuitive, engaging, and focused on speaking. From interactive sto- rytelling to experiential learning, we’re em- bracing approaches that bring language to life and meet students where they are. This year, Greek School is evolving. We are not just continuing tradition — we are re-imagining it. As we say in Greek, «Κάθε αρχή και δύσκολη, αλλά γεμάτη ελπίδα.» [“Every beginning is difficult, but full of hope]. With renewed vision, updated teach- ing practices, and a commitment to trans- parency and excellence, we’re building some- thing truly special. Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey. Your belief in the power of education, community, and faith is what makes this transformation pos- sible. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings. Με εκτίμηση (with appreciation and warm regards), Dr. Eleni Sinopoulou San Diego Greek Language School Director