The Day and Saturday-Evening Greek Orthodox Schools in Canada are Progressing Well

There are more than eighty (80) Saturday-evening and six (6) Day Greek Orthodox Schools in operation in Canada.

The Metamorphosis Greek Orthodox Day School of our Holy Metropolis began with sixteen (16) children. It now has more than three hundred and sixty (360) children and sixty (60) are on a waiting list. For this reason, the Metropolis will expand the school’s facilities. Construction will begin this Spring and the cost of the expansion will be roughly $2,000,000.

The Metamorphosis Greek Orthodox Day School produces such excellent results that the children do not want to leave the school. Recently they put on a theatrical production of the play “My Aunt from Chicago” entirely in Greek and amazed everyone. Among the attendees at the performance was Bishop Christoforos, who was representing Metropolitan Sotirios, and who was accompanied by V. Rev. Fr. I. Delis.

We congratulate the Principal of the School, Mrs. Anna Saradidis, the teaching staff and the parents of the children.

The Saturday-evening school of the Community of London, Ontario celebrated its 70th anniversary. More than 500 people attended the anniversary dinner. The four dance groups of the school, with a total number of 139 dancers, performed dances from Macedonia, Kerkyra, Central Greece and the Greek Islands. The children danced beautifully and it was a sight for sore eyes to see the children dancing in their national costumes.

Scenes of historical events from the 70 years of the school’s operation were projected on a big screen throughout the evening.

Many dignitaries participated at the dinner. The teachers of the school, especially the ever-memorable T. Manetas, were honoured. Mr. Aroutzidis, President of the Community; Mr. Fragiskatos, MP for London North Centre; Mr. Deslippe; Mr. Volonakis, Director of Greek Education for our Metropolis; Mr. S. Eleftheroglou, Principal of the School and Metropolitan Sotirios were among those present. All the invited dignitaries gave speeches.

Metropolitan Sotirios spoke last. He congratulated the Greek Community, the school, the students and the parents and said that the Community of London is one of the best in Canada and serves as an example for many others to follow. He emphasized that the future of Hellenism in Canada will not be a good one without Greek Orthodox Education because Greek Orthodox Education is the oxygen and sap of the Greek diaspora tree.

The Metropolitan, together with Mr. Volonakis, presented the school with a commemorative plaque on behalf of our Holy Metropolis and the Department of Greek Education with the following words engraved on it:

“We offer heart-felt Congratulations for 70 years of contribution to the teaching of the Greek Language and Culture at the Greek School of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Community in London, Ontario.” “Education makes a country happy, and brings with it everything that is good.” – Socrates, 469-399 B.C.

The evening ended with everyone participating in singing and dancing. It was a true feast.