This issue covers stories from Semester 2 2024 and Semester 1 2025.

We hope you enjoy this issue, you can pick up a printed copy on your next visit to our School.

We love to hear from our community for future issues. Please email us with your news.

This edition of Flowerdale looks at change over time and “Across Generations”, with some wonderful contributions from various generations within our school community.

This edition also looks at the leadership opportunities and aspirations of our current school captains across both Primary and Secondary Years: Aristea Papax, Rudra Sekhri, Keppel Gordon, Sia Kerasiotis, and Jonathan Karambelas.

We share five truly unique stories from alumni and staff; Elena Tsioukis nee Groutas (Class of 2006) and Evan Tsioukis (Class of 2001), Maria Koutrouzas (Class of 2001), Nicole Kitsakis (Class of 1997), and Stephanie Atwa (Class of 2015). The journeys of these alumni began here at Alphington Grammar, and The School has played a key role in their lives ever since. Some of these alumni are just now bringing through the next generation of Alphington Grammar students to join our community, while others have since returned to join us as staff.

We are also very proud to be able to share the stories of two families brought together within Alphington Grammar’s walls, Amy Papamarkou nee Tsaboukas and Alex Papamarkou (Class of 2012), as well as John Savopoulos and Helen Theodoropoulos, better known as Mr Sav and Ms T.

This edition also features many happy events in our growing community, with Engagements, Weddings, and the arrival of new babies to celebrate. This happy news can all be found in our Community News segment.

I hope you enjoy reading this autumn edition of Flowerdale

Dr Vivianne Nikou

Principal

Those of us who have lived and breathed education our entire careers know all too well what a resilient bunch we educators are! However, throw in a global pandemic, multiple lockdowns and a plethora of social, emotional, and mental wellbeing issues, and both our profession and one’s parenting style has truly been tested. Significantly though, we have worked closely with our parent community and together, risen to the challenge.

Following another year riddled with lockdowns and restrictions in every regard in 2021, it has been wonderful to come through the first six months of this academic year with a semblance of normality. It is amazing to see how our students are bouncing back from such hardship, returning to campus and lapping up the opportunities and benefits that our school offers. Witnessing the resilience that these young people are have and are continuing to show is a delight. They are experiencing being part of a rich and vibrant community once more.

Our challenge now is to help shape young men and women of character, who know themselves and understand the power they hold, into the best versions of themselves. To empower them to make a positive difference not only in their own lives, but in the lives of others beyond them as they make their way through their school years to what lies beyond the school gates.

This edition of Flowerdale brings forward the diversity of our community and their contributions across all walks of life.

Dr Vivianne Nikou

Principal

As we learn to live between repeated lockdowns, the Olympic Games being held in Japan this year have given us all a sense of hope and national pride as we watch our Australian athletes pursue their dreams and strive for Excellence in their fields of endeavour. While reflecting on this, I explored the concept of ‘ikigai’. Ikigai is the Japanese concept of finding purpose in life, which is also similar to the French term ‘Raison d’etre’, a reason for being. Yet, to understand where one is going requires us to look at where we have come from, and that is what is at the heart of our Flowerdale publication this term.

Finding meaning and developing one’s strengths takes time, and the journey to self-discovery will be different for us all. This edition of Flowerdale journeys into the past not only to understand our School’s humble beginnings but also to see how far we have come. To this end, we follow alumnae Khoi Cao-Lam (Class of 1997), Sofia Cojocaru (Class of 2000), Antigone Koutoulas (Class of 2009), and Nicky Serafim (Class of 2012) on their personal journeys from their school days to where they are now.

The self-reflections of current students Constandina Chasomeris and Alannah Halabi, who will graduate later this year, demonstrate their journeys of self-discovery and developing their strengths and talents to lead lives of service and purpose at Alphington Grammar School.

Equally, we celebrate 25 years of service by Assistant Principal, Head of Primary, Mrs Tracey Nicholson. Mrs Nicholson has not only seen The School evolve from its portable buildings and outhouses to the modern structures and facilities we all now enjoy, but she has also undergone her own journey of becoming a passionate and deeply committed educator leading her part of The School. A look at our Year of Achievement and events so far rounds off this edition as we move cautiously into the remainder of the academic year.

Although our year may have a different ending to the one we hoped and planned for, I am so proud to share the staggering beginnings and vision of some of those who walked before us. I hope you find joy in reading this edition of Flowerdale that our Alumni Coordinator: Ms Adelle Greenbury has compiled.

Dr Vivianne Nikou

School Principal

This edition of Flowerdale is a chance to recognise and acknowledge the leadership qualities of many in our school community. We find leadership within both the students still learning here with us as well as those who have since graduated. Many of our alumni are leaders in their own right, and are now carving out paths of distinction for themselves through their diligence, perseverance and empathy. We also take this time to profile our current School Captains Yasmin Zeineh, Natalia Hanna, and Haozhi Ji who, through their own endeavours and passion, have been recognised by their peers as worthy leaders of the student population.

In what was, understandably, a difficult year spent mostly in lockdown, I acknowledge the tremendous effort by the Class of 2020 and congratulate them on their ability to pursue post-secondary courses across a myriad of institutions. I commend to you the heartfelt reflections of our 2020 Dux, Dimitra Kritsidimas, who has demonstrated in a warm and open manner her highly developed sense of self. This sense of self enabled her to reach out to others when she needed it, which helped her navigate the emotionally charged years of growing up without her mum. Dimitra is a self-made young woman who has truly demonstrated our school values, particularly through her sense of empathy, a much sought after leadership trait by employers.

We also feature a range of other leaders in the pages of this edition of Flowerdale. The successful placement of Rohan Panjwani in the Top Arts exhibition has showcased his creative leadership qualities cultivated over many years, as well as his commitment to pursue his passion for his craft. The interview with Grammarian Mr Enver Erdogan (2002), who is now leading the way as a member of the Victorian parliament, is another opportunity to celebrate the diverse undertakings by our now growing Alumni community. We also recognise International Women’s Day with an interview with our own Ms Deirdre Grealish, recently appointed to the new position of Deputy Head of Secondary.

Our first term was filled with events and special occasions. We recognise these in our Events Snapshot, and take the time to acknowledge the leadership qualities of our Primary Leaders during their management of the Harmony Day event. The recent Alphington Grammarian’s alumni reunion was indeed a special occasion to share stories amongst us all and to be able to tour the new facilities our students are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of.

There is much to read and enjoy in this edition of Flowerdale as we honour leadership in all its forms across our school community. I look forward to students and staff returning rested and refreshed for Term 2.

Dr Vivianne Nikou

School Principal

This year has been an extraordinary year for everyone. At Alphington, we committed ourselves to ensuring excellence in the continuity of learning, care and connection between all students and our school.  I thank all for contributing to this commitment and supporting the community in ensuring a positive and productive year was experienced by everyone.

The great strength of our community has been evident in the people and culture of Alphington Grammar School. Alphington is indeed a thriving dynamic community; living firmly in our school values.

We finish the year off by sending through the latest edition of Flowerdale, our school quarterly magazine. Please note, this years Grammarian will be distributed in the new academic year.

Wishing you all abundant peace, joy and good health this Christmas.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Vivianne Nikou
Principal