17th Pancyprian Physics Olympiad Α’ Gymnasium 
Lambros Skourides: Bronze

17th Pancyprian Physics Olympiad Γ’ Gymnasium 
Evangelos Lioudakis: Gold
 
36th Pancyprian Physics Olympiad Γ’ Lyceum
Christos Falas: Silver

10th Pancyprian Astronomy and Astrophysics Lyceum
Ara Mahdessian: Gold
Andreas Nicolaou: Silver

Ara Mahdessian and Andreas Nicolaou will be representing Cyprus in the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in Kutaisi in Georgia from 14th to 22nd July. 

Nicosia, 30 June 2022
The English School Leavers of 2022 will be moving onward in their academic journeys, having graduated from the institution that has been their home for the past seven years. At the ceremony held on Saturday, 25 June, the new graduates were addressed by their Headmaster, David Lambon, the Chairman of the Board of Management, Charalambos Iosephides, the Minister of Finance, Constantinos Petrides, and Guest Speaker Dr. Kypros Nicolaides, a graduate of the English School. A number of officials were in attendance, including the Mayor of Strovolos, Andreas Papacharalambous, and the Acting Director of Secondary Education, Mr. Nicholas Yiasoumi.

The students were congratulated on reaching this major milestone in their lives, having distinguished themselves along the way for their commitment, compassion, and leadership, which were nurtured and expanded during their time at the school, and will now serve as points of reference in their next steps. 

A total of 154 students graduated from the English School this year, during the inspiring ceremony attended by their proud parents and guardians. Along with their diplomas, a number of graduates received academic excellence awards for achievements across a range of subjects, as well as awards for their outstanding contribution to debating and public speaking, music and orchestra, and sporting.

In his Welcome Address, the Chairman of the Board of Management, Mr. Charalambos Iosephides, thanked the teaching and support staff, crediting them with enabling the students to realise their full potential, as well as the parents, for always championing the school and standing by their children and the Board in every step. Addressing the Class of 2022, Chairman Iosephides remarked: “To our graduates, on behalf of the Board of Management, I wish you the very best of success and happiness in your futures, whether your next immediate step is your university education, or your National Service. I am confident that the lessons you were taught at the English School, both academic and non-academic, have given you the tools to become respectful, respectable, and free-thinking citizens, and given you the confidence to hold your own in the new world into which you are now venturing”.

For his part, Headmaster David Lambon said: “For all of us, graduation is both a time of reflection and of eager anticipation for the exciting opportunities that our graduates will embrace in the coming years”. Welcoming Dr. Kypros Nicolaides “home”, Headmaster Lambon then touched upon the distinguished alumnus’ journey from being a boarder at the English School to professor of foetal medicine at King’s College Hospital in London. “His personal journey […] is one of commitment, compassion, and leadership”, he noted, underscoring that these qualities lie at the heart of the skills and values the graduates had developed at the school over their seven-year tenure. “I hope the commitment, compassion, and leadership you have developed at school will guide you in your future lives at university and beyond”, added Headmaster Lambon.  

Addressing the graduating class of 2022, Guest Speaker and alumnus, Dr. Kypros Nicolaides, applauded their resilience and dedication: “I congratulate you for reaching this wonderful milestone in your life, especially so during the COVID pandemic, which may well have been one of the most difficult periods in a lifetime”. Moreover, speaking as a proud alumnus, he emphasised the enduring bond one carries with them post-graduation: “However many years pass, wherever you happen to be, you will always be proud to have studied at the English School”.
Dr. Kypros, as he is known, was visibly touched while delivering his speech, having returned to his alma mater fifty-one years after his own graduation in 1970. He spoke warmly about his time at the English School, touching upon the many things he had learned “at one of the best schools in the world”; including how to share and work with others, how to participate in debates, and how to develop an inquiring mind. Importantly, the School served as the vehicle through which he carried out experiments in physics, chemistry, and biology for the first time, the first traces of what would flourish into a dedicated and pioneering career in medicine.

Earlier in the day, the School’s Science Building was officially named in honour of the revered English School graduate, during a brief ceremony in which he was warmly applauded by the School’s science teachers and the Board of Management to Coldplay’s “The Scientist”. This is the first time that a building has been named in honour of a former student, with that distinction having previously been bestowed on the School’s founder and teacher.  
Echoing the Guest Speaker, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides noted how the English School stands apart in terms of the skills and resources it offers, enabling its students to utilise their full potential. “You should be proud of being part of this family, the English School Family”, underlined the Minister.   

The English School, founded in 1900, stands as the oldest school of its kind outside the United Kingdom. The School began with 13 pupils but rapidly grew to become the premier English medium school in Cyprus, drawing its students from a range of cultural communities both locally and abroad.
 

Over 12,566 students participated from 608 schools worldwide.

The results from our students are shown below:
Gold (awarded to the top 5%)
Fu Xiaodi – Gold

Silver (awarded to only 10% of the participating students)

• Kouyialis Theoklis 
• Petasis Antonis 
• Tserkezou Zoe 
• Wang Ruijin 

Highly Commended
Gialeli Andreas

Commended
Xie Yuanhong 

Well done to our students. We are very proud of you!

Andrea Georgiou won 2^nd Place in the 200m with a NPB of 26”.26 and 2^nd Place in the 400m, again with a NPB of 59”.71.  She was also a member of the 4X400m Relay Team for GSP, which won 1^st Place.
 
Evangelos Petasis won 3^rd Place in the 100m with a NPB of 11”.25 and 2^nd Place in the 200m with a NPB of 22”.72.
 
Christos Economides won 1^st Place in the 110m Hurdles with a NPB of 13”.72, setting a New Competition Record.
 
Congratulations to Andrea, Evangelos and Christos!

On Saturday at 12.00 noon, students will have a rare chance to listen to Dr Nicolaides tracing key moments in his pioneering career and answer students’ questions. The talk will be preceded by the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the naming of the Science Building in honour of Dr Kypros Nicolaides.

On Saturday evening, Dr Nicolaides will attend the ELS22 Graduation Ceremony as Guest of Honour and will address graduates, parents/guardians, staff and management in what is expected to be a night full of emotion!

It was a great opportunity for our students to bond and have a great time in nature. Loads of activities took place including hiking, archery, a farm visit, and many other fun games. What an amazing way to start their summer break!

Nicosia, 21 June 2022
The English School students and faculty warmly welcomed HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, to their premises on Tuesday, 21 June 2022, as part of the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II‘s Platinum Jubilee across the Commonwealth of Nations. The Earl was received by Headmaster David Lambon and the Board of Management.

The English School, founded in 1900, stands as the oldest school of its kind outside the United Kingdom. This unique status was on full display during the Earl’s visit, also reflecting the school’s long-standing tradition of royal visits and its broader linkage to the United Kingdom, dating back to Princess Mary’s visit in 1936.

Among the historic milestones in the school’s illustrious history was Prince Philip’s visit, in 1993, who also awarded that year’s prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to students. The English School has a long and distinguished history with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, dating back to 1968, which seeks to equip young people for life and work, as the world’s leading youth achievement award. Indeed, the school is the oldest Independent Award Centre in the world, counting an astonishing 700 student participants this current academic year alone.
In regards to the Earl’s visit, Headmaster David Lambon underscored the school’s established and multifaceted connection to the UK, alongside its excellent relations with the British High Commission. “We were delighted to welcome Prince Edward to our school, further expanding our longstanding relations. Since our founding in 1900, we have enjoyed close links with the UK, both through the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Scheme and many generations of students attending UK universities. There are many changes in the world at present, however, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Scheme remains a constant avenue for student development, and we were delighted to welcome the Earl of Wessex to meet recipients today”.

Headmaster Lambon had the opportunity to share the school’s newly-launched Students First initiative, through which the school is taking the next step in the future of education and pastoral care. The flagship programme aims to reinforce the school’s educational mission through comprehensive improvements across all sectors, in continuing to prepare students to access the highest quality tertiary education and to become global and democratic citizens, empowered to aspire to key leadership roles in their adult lives.

During his visit, the Earl of Wessex also toured the institution’s grounds and was presented with a commemorative photo album, replete with archival highlights of the school’s rich 120-year history, including photos from previous royal visits by Princess Mary (in 1936) and Prince Philip (in 1993).

Year 3, congratulations on graduating Lower school! May you achieve many more goals in your life and inspire others around you! You are stars shining bright with achievements and making us all proud!

Many thanks to Year 3 Form Tutors who attended the event (Christos Kilaniotis, Michalis Gavrielides, Chryso Konstantinou, Stalo Achilleos, and Ioanna Koronaki), the Head of Year 3, Leonie Hadjithoma, Ms Katie Demetriou (Head of Year 1), Ms Elena Ignatiou (SMT)Ms Anne Marie Tellalis (SMT). It was a memorable night for the students and their teachers.

A special thank you to Chryso Konstantinou and Stalo Achilleos for the organisation of the event, and to Marios Hadjizorzis for his invaluable help and his amazing zeimbekiko!

At 6.30am we caught the bus to the historic city Gdansk and learnt about its special culture and importance in European history. Gdansk was simply stunning, after WW2 it was lying in ruins, and it was restored to regal glory later.  We saw giant golden clock towers, one of the tallest Cathedrals around, canals, ships, bridges and rivers and lots and lots of shops selling amber.  In the evening we ate Polish local food in a traditional Polish tavern, in a traditional wooden building with a thatched roof, and its own unique decorations. 
 
 Our project is geared to help us re-think our nutrition, eating habits and products we buy, leading to a healthier more sustainable future. 
 
More updates tomorrow!