A Newspaper, A Voice, A Community: The Story of Promitheas Schools

Since November 2020, Mrs Evangelia Pourgianou has been creating a school newspaper with her secondary school students. The idea was born during a Greek Language lesson, and the newspaper soon became an important part of the school community. What started as a simple classroom idea has grown into a long-term educational project that continues to evolve.

The newspaper is based on interdisciplinary and inquiry-based learning. The students work as a real editorial team. They choose and research topics, exchange ideas, make decisions, divide responsibilities and work together to produce each issue. They write articles, conduct interviews, collect and evaluate information, edit and design the pages, and finally share and promote their work both inside and outside the school.

Over the years, the newspaper has covered a wide range of topics. Previous issues have explored artificial intelligence and robotics, the Sustainable Development Goals, education, culture, the environment and important issues of modern society. In this way, Mrs Pourgianou uses the newspaper to connect what students learn at school with the world around them and with the challenges of the 21st century.

The 6th issue is a particularly creative and meaningful example of this journey. One of its main features is the collaboration with the Greek School of Archangels in Montreal. Through this collaboration, students from the two schools had the opportunity to get to know each other, exchange experiences and learn about each other's school and everyday life. The issue explores the effort to preserve the Greek language and culture within the Greek community in Canada, as well as traditions, celebrations, traditional dances, church life, the education system and the lives of Greek children in Canada.

The issue also includes special features about Volos and Mount Pelion, the students' local area in Greece, with stories about art, music, food, mythology, history and nature. Through these topics, students explore their cultural identity and discover the value of their local heritage.

Interviews are another important part of the newspaper. The Principal of the Greek School of Archangels in Montreal, Mrs Miranda Athanasiou, and teacher Mrs Eleftheria Bamiatzoglou talk about language and cultural identity, the challenges of education in the Greek diaspora and the importance of communication and cooperation between the two schools. Mrs Panagiota Diamanti shares her experiences of life in the Greek countryside and speaks about children's connection with nature, community and tradition. Mrs Nikoleta Charalamboglou presents everyday life in a small island school and highlights the importance of equal opportunities, cooperation and the role of the school within the local community. Finally, Mrs Machi Christoforidou speaks about the power of small human stories, the importance of observation and memory, and the value of cooperation.

For Mrs Pourgianou, however, the greatest value of the newspaper is not the final printed issue, but the process of creating it. Through this experience, students develop their creativity, self-confidence, self-discipline and sense of responsibility. They learn to organise their work, meet deadlines, take initiative and contribute to a common goal. At the same time, they develop a strong sense of belonging, because every student has a role to play and every contribution matters.

The newspaper also becomes a small democratic community within the classroom. Students learn to listen to different opinions, discuss, make decisions together, share responsibilities and respect one another. They are not simply students completing school assignments; they become writers, researchers, interviewers, editors and creators.

Most importantly, the newspaper gives students a real voice and a real audience. It shows them that their ideas matter and that they can actively participate in their school and their wider community. It also creates bridges between people and places. The collaboration with the Greek School in Montreal is a beautiful example of this: although the two schools are thousands of kilometres apart, the Greek language and culture can bring them together.

After six issues and almost six years, the “Promitheas” newspaper continues to remind the school community that learning can happen through curiosity, creativity, cooperation and communication.

And if you would like to have a small taste of the Greek language and discover the students' work, simply click on the link here to read the newspaper. It is a small window into their school, their ideas and their Greek culture, and they would be delighted to share it with you!