The 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held this year with the participation of 630 of the world’s brightest young mathematicians from 110 countries, once again showcased extraordinary talent — and a stark global gender gap. Among the contestants, only 69 were girls. Yet Cyprus stood out as a beacon of progress, being one of only three countries whose team featured equal representation of girls and boys.

Cyprus has proudly participated in the IMO for 41 consecutive years, earning a total of eight silver medals — three of which were awarded to the same exceptional student, Ara Mahdessian. This year, Ara achieved an astounding 33 points, marking the highest score ever recorded by a Cypriot participant, falling just two points short of the gold medal threshold. His 2023 score of 26 points remains the second-highest in Cyprus’s IMO history, a feat matched only once before.

Another standout this year was Philippos Rouvas, who earned 23 points, securing the fifth-highest score ever achieved by a Cypriot contestant.

Notably, three out of the six students representing Cyprus in 2025 came from The English School, Nicosia, reflecting the school’s enduring commitment to nurturing mathematical excellence and academic ambition.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the students, mentors, and educators who contributed to these outstanding results. Their dedication not only raises the bar for mathematical achievement in Cyprus but also reflects a positive shift towards greater inclusivity and gender balance in competitive mathematics.

The tournament kicked off in thrilling fashion with our first ever international match against the Beirut Football Academy, where the team showcased both skill and determination. Goals from Kyveli Matsi and Nayia Stephanou, both brilliantly assisted by Maria Leandrou, secured a 2-1 victory and a confident start to the competition.

Advancing through the group stage, the team faced a formidable AEK Larnaca side in the quarter-finals on Monday evening. Rising to the occasion with an exhilarating performance full of attacking flair, intensity, and passion, the girls earned a stunning 2-0 win. A precise header by Kyveli Matsi (again assisted by Maria Leandrou) and a spectacular long-range strike from Marina Loizou sealed the win and a place in the semi-finals.

On Tuesday morning, spirits were high as the team faced Olympiacos Nicosia WFC—the eventual winners—in the semi-finals. Despite a valiant effort and tremendous resilience, the girls were defeated 2-0. Nonetheless, reaching the final four in a tournament featuring top-level and international competition is a remarkable accomplishment and a proud moment for our school.

It was particularly rewarding to witness the growth and development of the team throughout the tournament, including the impressive debut of our Year 1 newcomers in their first competitive experience. The team made a strong and positive impression on the organisers, opposing teams, and match officials alike.

For the third consecutive year, The English School was honoured with the Fair Play Award, a powerful testament to the team’s outstanding sportsmanship, respectful conduct, and integrity—both on and off the pitch.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the parents for their unwavering support throughout the three-day tournament, and offer our warmest congratulations to all the girls for their individual contributions, exemplary teamwork, and the spirit that led to both sporting success and recognition for fair play.

Following the successful professional development course held in February, students in Year 2 (age 13) and Year 3 (age 14) have now embarked on their interdisciplinary learning journeys, applying data science skills to real-world challenges through engaging STEAM-based activities.

Year 2 Project:

“What is the true cost of your clothes?”
This project explores the environmental and social impact of fast fashion. Students investigate issues such as production waste, labour practices, and consumer habits—using data to understand and evaluate the global fashion industry’s footprint.

Year 3 Project:

“Does every bite count? Tackling food waste together.”
This project focuses on the growing problem of food waste. Through data collection and analysis, students identify local patterns and propose informed, practical solutions to reduce waste in their own communities and beyond.
These pilot projects aim to:

• Foster critical thinking and civic awareness
• Equip students with foundational data science and digital literacy skills
• Encourage collaboration across subject areas

We look forward to sharing the students’ progress and the exciting outcomes of their investigations in the weeks to come.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue to bring data science to life in our classrooms!

What’s Inside This Edition?

• Milestone Achievement: Launch of the DataScEd4CiEn Conceptual Framework
• Professional Development Courses completed in Cyprus, Spain, Greece, and recently at The English School in Nicosia
• STEAM Scenarios tackling real-world issues like fast fashion, food waste, droughts, and poverty
• Online Platform Launch – our central hub for teacher training, collaboration, and STEAM resources
• Highlights from the 2nd Transnational Project Meeting and Joint Staff Training in Athens
• Events and presentations across Europe and beyond – including Australia, Sweden, and Greece!

This newsletter showcases the passion and dedication of our partner institutions, educators, and students who are leading innovation in classrooms through data-driven, problem-solving learning.

We invite you to explore the stories, successes, and upcoming milestones—and help us spread the word by sharing the newsletter within your networks.

Let’s continue shaping the future of education together!

Download a copy of the newsletter here

The STEAM coordinators from Science, ICT, Design & Technology, Geography, PSHCE, and Mathematics participated in the 12-hour training, led by Dr. Maria Meletiou-Mavrotheris (EUC), Mr. Michalis Gavrielides (The English School), and Mrs. Leoni Hadjithoma (The English School).

The training covered all five course modules:

• Module 1: DataScEd4CiEn Scientific Framework
• Module 2: Data-Centered STEAM Education
• Module 3: A Toolkit for Implementing the DataScEd4CiEn Approach
• Module 4: Foundations of Machine Learning and AI for Data Science Literacy
• Module 5: Applying DataScEd4CiEn in the Classroom Beyond covering these modules, the sessions provided opportunities for brainstorming and planning.

Coordinators worked together to design pilot learning scenarios, which will be implemented in March and April 2025 with two Year 2 (13-year-old) and two Year 3 (14-year-old) classes.

Pilot Project Topics:

• Year 2: “What is the true cost of your clothes?” – Exploring the environmental and social impact of fast fashion.
• Year 3: “Does every bite count? Tackling food waste together.” – Investigating data-driven solutions to food waste.

This collaborative training laid the groundwork for bringing data science into interdisciplinary learning, equipping educators with tools to help students engage with real-world challenges through data analysis and critical thinking. Stay tuned for updates on the pilot projects and their impact in the classroom!

The workshop was attended forty-five members of staff from Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, ICT, Design & Technology, English, Art, Music, and PSHCE departments.

A special thanks to Dr. Maria Meletiou-Mavrotheri (EUC), Dr. Yianna Danidou (EUC), Dr. Georgia Solomonidou (EUC), and Dr. Efi Paparistodemou (EUC), Ms. Leoni Hadjithoma and Mr. Michalis Gavrielides (The English School) for their presentations.

The session covered an overview of the Erasmus+ DataScEd4CiEn Project, its scientific framework, and methodology. Teachers explored how data science can be integrated across different subjects and engaged in hands-on activities, including an introduction to the CODAP tool through real-world applications.
This workshop provided a valuable foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration and future training sessions.

Representing our school were Ms. Leoni Hadjithoma (Erasmus+ Coordinator) and Mr. Michalis Gavrielides (Head of Maths), who joined international partners to discuss the progress and next steps of this impactful EU-funded initiative.
The meeting focused on project management, the development of educational frameworks, and the evaluation of learning outcomes. Key sessions included:

•  Project Management & Administration – Led by the EUC team, this session reviewed administrative updates and interim reporting procedures.
•  Scientific Framework for Data Science Education – MIC presented a structured approach to integrating data science into school curricula.
•  Teacher Professional Development Course – WWU introduced a training program aimed at enhancing data literacy among educators.
•  STEAM Scenarios – LSBC and ES shared student-focused activities linking data science with civic and social justice themes.
•  Digital Platform & Toolkits – EUC showcased digital resources designed to support classroom implementation.
•  Research & Evaluation – NKUA presented methodologies for assessing the impact of the project on teaching and learning.
•  Quality Assurance & Evaluation Strategy – Ongoing strategies to ensure the project's success and sustainability were discussed.
•  Dissemination & Communication – ES highlighted plans to share the project’s progress and outcomes with the wider community.
•  Open Discussion & Review – All partners reflected on key insights and set clear objectives for the next phase.

This transnational meeting was instrumental in strengthening collaboration, aligning project goals, and further developing tools to support data-driven learning within STEAM education.

We are proud to contribute to this important educational initiative and look forward to the continued impact it will have in our school and beyond.

Day 1: Theoretical Foundations & Digital Tools

The first day covered key theoretical aspects, including:

The first day covered key theoretical aspects, including:

• Civic Engagement for Social Justice – Understanding how to identify societal problems and formulate relevant statistical questions (Limerick & EUC).
• Pedagogical Aspects of STEAM – Exploring design thinking, project-based learning, and STEAM-based approaches to enhance classroom engagement (Limerick & EUC).
• Introduction to Data Science – Learning data management and cleaning techniques, as well as methods for identifying relevant datasets (Münster & Limerick).
• Digital Data Exploration – Hands-on training with CODAP for data visualization and analysis (Münster & Limerick).
• STEAM Scenario 1: Poverty – Participants worked in small groups to explore the first STEAM scenario, applying data analysis to understand poverty-related issues (LSBC & ES).

Day 2: STEAM Scenarios & Classroom Adaptation

The second day focused on practical application and classroom integration:

• STEAM Scenario 2: Climate Change & Drought – Exploring an interactive learning experience related to environmental challenges (LSBC & ES).
• Adapting Scenarios for the Classroom – A collaborative session to refine and implement the STEAM scenarios in educational settings.
• Reflection & Next Steps – Concluding discussions on future applications and project goals (All partners).

This training fostered a deeper understanding of data science in STEAM education and provided valuable tools for integrating data-driven, problem-based learning into classrooms.
 

This inaugural edition highlights key moments from the project’s kick-off meeting, which took place in Münster, Germany, and brought together partner institutions from across Europe. The newsletter outlines the project’s vision, goals, and planned activities, offering a clear picture of how data science can become a powerful educational tool from the early years.
In this issue, you’ll find:

• An overview of the project’s objectives
• Insights into the kick-off meeting and partner contributions
• A summary of upcoming work packages and goals
• Details on how the project will support teachers and students alike

We’re proud to be part of this innovative initiative and look forward to seeing its impact in the classroom.

Download newsletter here