Platon Schools

Our Country It is a country in southern Europe and the southern most country in

the Balkan Peninsula. The capital of Greece is Athens. Greece borders Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey and F.Y.R.O.M. Democracy and philosophy were born in Greece. Its population is 10.816.286 (2011). It is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, drama, tragedy and

comedy. It is surrounded in the east by the Aegean Sea, in the west by the

Ionian Sea and in the south by the Mediterranean Sea. The biggest mountain in Greece is Mt Olympus and the largest river

is Aliakmonas. The biggest island is Crete. The climate is temperate, mediterranean, because of its equal

distance to the Equator and the North Pole.

Our Country1. Aegean Islands2. Central Greece 3. Crete4. Epirus5. Ionian Islands6. Macedonia7. Peloponnese8. Thessaly9. Thrace

Our RegionMacedonia is a historical region of the Balkan peninsula in

southern Europe. It is the largest geographical department of Greece. It borders F.Y.R.O.M, Albania and Bulgaria. Its name has been given from Herodotus in ancient times.  Thessaloniki, the largest city in Macedonia, is near

Katerini. The main rivers of Macedonia are: Axios, Aliakmon,

Strymon, Galikos, Loudias and NestosPhilip II was the king who made Macedonia a powerful

state. Alexander the Great, one of the most famous emperors all over the world was born in Macedonia and followed the dream of his father to conquer the world

Our Region Pieria is one of the Regional Units of Central

Macedonia. It is located in the southern part of Central

Macedonia. Its capital is Katerini. Its townships are: Aeginio, East Olympus, Dion,

Elafina, Katerini, Kolindros, Korinos, Litochoro, Methoni, Paralia, Petra, Pierioi, Pydna.

In Pieria there are many archeological locations: Dion, Pydna, Kolindros’ Paliampela and Platamonas. Pieria is also home to Orpheus and the nine Muses.

Mt Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and is located in the south of Pieria.

The length of the coasts of Pieria exceeds 100 km

Our Region

The Castle of PlatamonBuild By Crusaders at 1204

The mythical Mt OlympusAltitude 2918 m

Our CityKaterini is a city located in Central Macedonia It is the sixth largest city in Macedonia It is the capital of Pieria Regional Unit. Its population is 85,851. The population is ever increasing, while emigration is

limited. It is situated between the Pierian Mountains and The

Thermaic Bay. Katerini is very close to the sea (6km), to Olympus and to

many ancient locations, like: Dion, the Castle of Platamonas.

There are, also, many beaches, like the beach of: Korinos, Paralia and Olympic Beach.

Our City

The Municipal Square

Katerini’s central park

Organization type: Private school founded in 1997

Location: Katerini, GreeceNumber of students: 620 (for the academic

year 2014-2015)Six-level operation:

Nursery - Kindergarten (ages: 1-6) Primary School (ages: 7-12, grades 1-6) Gymnasium (ages: 13-15, grades 7-9) Lyceum (ages: 16-18, grades 10-12) Lifelong Learning Center (ages 18+) π-Technologies

NURSERY - KINDERGARTEN – PRIMARY – SECONDARY – LIFELONG LEARNING CENTER

Ganochora - Katerini – 60100 – Greece Tel.: +30 23510-31111 – Fax: +30 23510-31993

mail@platon.edu.gr – platon.edu.gr

EU Projects Comenius 1: “Local History” (1997 – 2000). Comenius 1: “Young Europeans sharing work and joy” (1999 – 2001). Comenius 1: “Migration, Minorities and Prejudices in Europe” (2000 – 2002). Lingua_e: “Katerini – Krefeld” (1999). Lingua_e: “Forty years ago …Ten years after” (2000). ETwinning: “LiveGuide - Cultural Walks in Europe” (2006). ETwinning: “School management strategies to improve school organization and

working environment” (2007). Youth: “ Traditions and habits in Europe” (2003). Youth: “Miguel Thervantes born in Greece, El Greco painted in Spain” (2004). Minerva: “ePhys, Towards an effective use of ICT in Science education” (2001-

2004). Minerva: “EduconLinux, Free and Open Source Server Based on Linux for Multi-

Media-Classrooms in Schools and Universities” (2006-2009). Comenius multilateral: “Speak, a school that speaks the language of its kids”

(2008-2010) Science and Society: “Materials Science, University-school partnerships for the

design and implementation of research-based ICT-enhanced modules on Material Properties.” (2007-2009)

DG Energy: “Intelligent Use of Energy at School”. (2008-2011) Comenius in service training course: “Moodle as teaching and learning tool” (2009-

2011) Environmental network «MED S.O.S.» (2001-2013) ENO: “Environmental Network Online” www.enoprogramme.org (1999-2010) Comenius multilateral: “FIESTA” (2011-2014) Comenius multilateral: “CAREM” (2012-2014) Comenius multilateral: “KAREL” (2013-2015) Erasmus+ : “EL2LE” (2014-2016) Erasmus+ : “Storytelling-Sinbad” (2014-2016) Erasmus+ : “Water”(2014-2016) Erasmus+ : “A healthy mind in a healthy body”(2014-2016) Erasmus+ : “Super scientists” (2014-2016) Erasmus+ : “Early school leaving” (2014-2016) Erasmus+ : “Bilingual education-a step ahead” (2014-2016) Erasmus+ : “We are the world we are the children” (2014-2016)

EU Projects

Technology and Innovation in education ICT in education was firstly applied by “Platon” school 12 years ago on the basis of

internet use as a source of information and communication. After year 2000, started the development of teaching material through the use of ICT,

such as the development of Physlets (Java applets in Physical sciences), with excellent results in visualization and interactivity. Lego Robotics were also used for the programming and study of various phenomena.

Lately, ICT tools, such as interactive whiteboard and LCMS (as moodle), were used extensively by a large number of educators. The moodle server developed, https://moodle.educonlinux.eu/ , was used for:

a. The creation of educating and teaching material

b. Courses

c. Cooperative project work between “Platon” school pupils and partner schools pupils.

Participation in various European Schoolnet educational projects such as GreenWeek, Futurenergia, Xperimania

Member of School Innovation Net, http://schoolnet.protovoulia.org/ , which supports the development of educators’ initiatives and promotes education innovations in school.

The new model that was created and applied for the current school year is presented below and includes various components with pilot applications over the last years.

New buildings – Febr. 2013

ConsultationA significant aspect of “Platon” school initiative has been the parallel involvement of

parents, families, communities and teaching staff in a coordinated way.

CounselingEach mentor/ teacher is responsible for seven pupils, with the following duties :

Beginning of school year: Overall pupil and parent

briefing according to teaching and behavior objectives

During the school year: 15-minutes Friday meetings

for pupil progress evaluation Principal and parents briefing

about pupils progress End of school year:

Annual evaluation and next year suggestions

Humanistic approach (four dimensions)

The “Spirit” dimension components form the basis of the school’s didactical aims structure.In order to complete the educational process, the remaining Human dimension components (Soul, Body, Environment) were taken into account in the creation of the thematic units of individual or team work assessments , the counseling sessions and the outdoor activities.

Application (modes)Didactical aims per month

Month Didactical Aim Details

October Comprehension AttentionRecognition of informationUnderstanding of information

November Memory Storage of informationConservationRecall

December Critical thinking (Convergent)

Ability to analyzeComparisonClassification of informationInterconnection of information

Application (modes)Didactical aims per month

Month Didactical Aim Details

February Creative thinking (Divergent)

Search and create alternative solutionsSynthesis of informationTransformation of information (change of use)Redefinition of information (elaboration to be more functional, attractive)

March Appraisal Problem solving , decision taking

April Creativity and personality

Desire for new experiences Curiosity Independent judgmentPreference on challenges and complex casesSelf esteem Self-defined regulation of behavior through inner or inward motives

Individual or team work assessments

Thematic units per grade 7th grade 8th grade

1st semester 2nd semester

1st semester 2nd semester

Arts Household life

Ethical values History (alternative)

Healthy nutrition

Road safety and

behavior

Biographies of important

people

Athletics

First aid Safe internet

Knowledge of environment

Music

Learn my body

Evaluation of TV

programs

Functionality and aesthetics

of places, persons

Volunteering

All year

Creativity and emotions Creativity and emotions

Sexual edification

Individual or team work assessments

Thematic units per grade 9th grade 10th grade

1st semester 2nd semester 1st semester 2nd semester

History (alternative)

Emergence and solution of a regional

important issue

Science and daily life

History (alter)

Biographies of important

people

Cinema Global environmental

issue

Abuse

Regional environmental

issue

Europe Design of educational computer

game

All year

Creativity and emotions Creativity and emotions

Career planning Career planning

Entrepreneurship

Embedded innovative learningIncreased application on new knowledgeOpen and distance learning technologies

facilitating learners and staff competenceTransformation of traditional teaching role

to mentoring, guiding and facilitationDevelopment of network of innovative best

practice at European level