Culture

Oakleigh Grammar hosted the highly anticipated 2023 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event (GOAANSE) form the 2nd to the 5th of May. 400 students from All Saints Grammar, St Andrew’s Grammar, St Euphemia College St George College, St John’s College, St Spyridon College and Oakleigh Grammar took part to this exciting and spirited competition.

The event kicked off with a Blessing and Opening Ceremony at Sts Anargiri Church Oakleigh. Over three days, students competed in Boys and Girls Futsal, Boys and Girls Volleyball, Boy Football, Girls Netball, Boys and Girls Basketball, and Boys and Girls Table Tennis.

The highlight of the three days event was the Creative Arts Festival.  Students had the opportunity to express their artistic talents through song, dance, poetry, presentations, and plays.  This segment celebrated Greek culture and added a touch of creativity to the overall competition.  The festival was followed by a joyous dinner dance, where students and teachers came together to celebrate their accomplishments and fostered friendships.

The three-days event finished off with a closing ceremony. 

Another significant event was the commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Crete. On Saturday 20 May, selected students attended the Wreath Laying ceremony which was conducted at the Shrine of Remembrance. School Captains Duncan Bain and Chloe Sheer laid a wreath on behalf of Oakleigh Grammar. Students had also the opportunity to meet Lieutenant General Georgios Kyriakou, Deputy Chief of Defence and Chief of Staff, from the Hellenic Defence Forces.

On Sunday 21 May, Senior School students represented our School at a Doxology for the Battle of Crete at Sts Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church at South Yarra. After the church service students attended the wreath laying ceremony for the commemoration of the Pontian Greek Genocide at the Australian Hellenic Memorial.

Congratulation to students who had the privilege to represent our school with pride to these significant historical events for Australia and Greece.

Natasha Spanos

Hellenic Culture Coordinator

Our school has been a buzz of excitement over the last few weeks. Term 2 commenced with a whole school Divine Liturgy to celebrate the Great Feast of Pascha. It was wonderful to see our students so actively involved in the service, chanting, serving in the altar and even assisting with the candles. 

As part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese National Schools Event, and with the blessing of His Eminence our Archbishop Makarios, Oakleigh Grammar had the blessing to host the second meeting of Orthodox Christian Studies Teachers from around Australia. This initiative is chaired by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope, who addressed all those present. His Grace emphasised the centrality of Scripture to teaching our students. Quoting St Tikhon of Zadonsk, the bible is a personal letter addressed for us and to us here and now this emphasised the point that God does not force but convinces us. 

His Grace encouraged us to inspire and create joy in our classrooms to create a transformational experience for our students. It is an absolute blessing and pleasure to be able to work with and share so that we can enhance our students experience in Orthodox Christian Studies.

On Sunday May 7th our students of our Byzantine Choir – ‘The Melodists’, also chanted at the Divine Liturgy, presided by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios and at the opening of the P and N Nikolakakis Center for Academic Excellence. 

I would like to take this opportunity to encouraged each of you to nourish your children in the faith at home. Read the Bible, take part in the Liturgical Life of the Church. Here is a link to assist you with this https://www.goarch.org/-/reading-the-bible-as-a-family

Dean Damatopoulos

Orthodox Christian Studies Leader