posted Aug 19, 2012, 1:25 PM by Fanari Academy Of Greek Education
Fanari Academy is proud to announce the expansion of the popular Greek Mythology class series. In addition to Oster Elementary and Union Middle schools in San Jose, we now offer after school classes at Nixon Elementary in Palo Alto. For more information, please visit the Greek Mythology page . On-line registration is now open.
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posted Apr 3, 2012, 12:24 AM by Vangelis Kokkevis
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updated Apr 3, 2012, 12:40 AM
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March 24th was Fanari’s 6th Independence day celebration and our first ever Easter Bazaar! The celebration was full of strong narrative, song, and dance to celebrate the great country we’re learning about, Hellas. Students learned about the great heroes of 1821, the Krifo Sholio, sang the songs of revolutionaries from the mountains of Greece, and danced the hasaposerviko and the tsakoniko. Parents were touched, students were strong, and parents were proud.
Our first annual bazaar was a great success with tons of home baked goodies, handmade crafts, and lots of activities for the kids. Teachers and parents made koulourakia, kourabiethes, kalitsounia, easter cookies, lambathes, and many more. Everybody had a great time and we’re already looking forward to the next one!
This proves once again what a close community we are at Fanari. The warmth of the day, the happy spirits, and all the kids’ laughter made it all very memorable.
Christine Antonakopoulos
Fanari Teacher, Artemis 2nd Grade
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posted Mar 29, 2012, 9:52 AM by Vangelis Kokkevis
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updated Apr 3, 2012, 12:42 AM
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A mom's perspective on Fanari's celebration of Greece's Independence Day by Nicole Nguyen My children's Greek school had a celebration this weekend, commemorating Greece’s Independence Day, March 25th, 1821.
It was brief, simple, and absolutely beautiful.
The students proudly marched into the auditorium with the Greek flag flying in front of them, wore blue and white, and sang with their hearts as a tribute to our home.
It was a very moving event, and I am sure that has largely to do with the sadness centered all around Greece and its financial situation.
I felt it, since my heart lies in Greece because I lived there, I went to school there, I wore blue and white daily, I have grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins there. I love living in California largely because it reminds me so much of being in Greece. My country has been in the news and will continue to be in the headlines for a long time. I admit that I get tired of reading about Greece, because much of this ugliness is a result of the Greeks’ past decisions, policies, etc., so I can’t exactly completely defend them. Many declare what Greece should have done, didn’t do, shouldn’t do, and it’s all true and indicative of the predicament they are in.
Many Greek people think about this.
Mostly though, I think of my relatives, who are living through this difficult time, and it makes me sad. Yet in all of this, there is still happiness and beauty that I must remember, and a nation who created a force of people that sticks together through thick and thin. Maybe, by some grace of God and the real world, Greece will stand as they did in 1821, and overcome this situation too (I know it is naïve to ponder this, but I can pray.) And I think, like me, there is a group of Greeks here, there, and everywhere outside of Greece, who remembers where they came from and wants to instill that in their children. That’s what I want, for my children.
Amidst so much turmoil and heartache in Greece, in a little town in California, there was only pride and happiness this past weekend. This weekend, our small family at Greek school celebrated what Greece is and always will be…a strong nation of PEOPLE who through self-sacrifice, binds together to overcome tragedy, adversity and persevere when the world thinks they will be taken down. During the Independence Day declarations of 1821, the Greek nation stood united and said “H Ellada pote den pethenei!” … “Greece will never die.” And regardless of what happens to Greece today - financially, nationally, within the European Community, the world and otherwise - the love and pride will never die.
I felt very emotional during the event this weekend, and eventually, I cried. (Reminding me of my father’s tears at each March 25th event he attended when I was in school.) Telling though was when a charming four-year-old went to sit with a group of young preschoolers sitting together as a class, he was told by a girl that he couldn’t sit there because “you have to sit over there with the other people because you don’t go to my class.” I heard that and ignored it. And the little palikaraki, simply smiled and declared, “I can sit here too because I am Greek.”
Apart from chuckling at how preschoolers converse so very honestly and innocently, I cried and thought, “wow, what a powerful little statement.” A little boy is proud to be Greek and that’s all that matters.
~NAN
Reposted with permission from Nicole Nguyen's blog: http://realhoneybees.blogspot.com/ . Nicole is a Fanari mother and on Saturdays teaches greek dancing at Fanari to an enthusiastic group of young students. They had their first public performance at the closing of the March 25th celebration event. |
posted Feb 28, 2012, 8:46 PM by Vangelis Kokkevis
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updated Feb 28, 2012, 9:21 PM
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It all started when we first named our classroom Ikaria, after the Greek Island’s name. No one in our class had initially any connection with this Greek remote island. As the teacher of this class I got inspired by what this unique island embodies.
Ikaria is a rather remote island in the Aegean Sea, yet very rich in terms of culture and traditions. Ikaria is known for various things like the traditional Ikariotikos dance, the numerous feasts – panighyria, and for ranking No 3 in the world’s longest living people!
As a non typical touristic Greek island, Ikaria represents some of the ancient Greek ideals and characteristics. The residents of Ikaria, the “Ikariotes”, who aspire that a great view is worth ten times a big house tend to built smaller homes on scenic points. They also like to grow their own vegetables, farm their own animals, and follow the natural time as much as possible. There are actual villages in Ikaria where people don’t go to work the regular business hours, but operate on their convenience. That way they can enjoy the warm summer nights dancing away to the music of Ikariotikos dance and becoming friends with the locals and the island’s visitors. Because in Ikaria a stranger would feel as a visitor rather than a tourist to the island.
The Apollonas program students not only became familiar with Ikaria, but also conducted a small research about all of the above. With the opportunity of the school’s Christmas Celebration, they worked on a project about Christmas traditions in Ikaria. They decided to research and sing the carols of Protohronia (New Year’s day). According to their findings, it appears that there is a whole ritual where the men of the island go around the local homes in groups and sing the carols. In exchange the hosts offer them wine and food and they all celebrate the New Year together!
Using the internet, the students came closer to the Greek culture. However, what brought them even closer was their correspondence with the actual people living in this island. The students were supposed to present their research and sing the carols from Ikaria during our celebration. We thought that having the music of the carols on the background without the lyrics would sound a lot better. Due to the lack of such music on the web, we decided to e-mail the radio station of Ikaria “Radio Ikaria” and ask them if they have that music track on their records. The students were so thrilled when we first got our response from Mr. Yiorgo Melesanaki!
He informed us that they didn’t have that track but they would record one from scratch just for us! And this is what happened. Mr. Melesanakis recorded the local musician Sideris Liaris from the village Glaredo of St Kirikos, in the studio of Radio Ikaria! We all felt not just extremely grateful for their generosity but also amazed. The students could not believe that someone from Ikaria responded to their call. Moreover, the place that they had researched about from so far, was not something fictional, but an actual place where Greeks even at these time send so generously their help to young students at the other end of the world.
And that was a lot more than just a helping hand for our celebration. This was a verification of all that I have taught to my students about the Greek idiosyncrasy and what they found themselves through their research. A few people in the other end of the world coordinated in order to respond to a small group of students who are interested in their traditions. AlileghyiThe Greek word for Solidarity. That is just a small example of how many values the Greek culture still has to offer to the modern western societies.
Lora Mousa
Teacher at the Apollonas program
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posted Oct 25, 2011, 9:43 PM by Fanari Academy Of Greek Education
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updated Oct 25, 2011, 10:11 PM
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FANARI GREEK NIGHT
Join Us for an Evening of Greek
Food, Movie, Music and Dance
Featuring
Music by Mythos
Location
Flames Eatery, 88 South Fourth Street and East San Fernando Street
San Jose Downtown – Tel: 408-971-1960
(Downstairs of the parking structure - free parking)
Date: Sunday, November 13th 2011, 3:00pm to 9:00pm
$50 per adult, $15 per child (children under 3 free)
Includes wine, appetizers, variety of Greek dishes
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posted Feb 14, 2011, 12:19 AM by Fanari Academy Of Greek Education
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updated Oct 25, 2011, 9:35 PM
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As some of you may already know, the Fanari Academy in collaboration with the San Jose Unified school district now offers a class in greek history and mythology. Classes are held on weekday afternoons at the Oster Elementary and Union Middle schools and are designed for kids from 3rd to 9th grade. The classes are open to everyone.
More information can be found here. |
posted Feb 14, 2011, 12:09 AM by Fanari Academy Of Greek Education
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updated Feb 24, 2011, 11:33 PM by vangelis.kokkevis%fanariacademy.org@gtempaccount.com
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On the heels of our very successful and fun fundraising event last November, we're happy to announce the second Fanari Greek Night. We have once again reserved the outstanding Mythos band and the Agape Grill restaurant. The event will take place on Saturday March 12, 2011.
This event is open to the entire community so tell your friends too.
Please take a moment to RSVP here so that we can have an accurate head count. You can pay at the door by check or cash.
We'd like to accommodate our guests who are fasting for Easter or simply prefer vegetarian food. Please make sure to indicate your food preference in the RSVP form.
The ticket prices are: $50/person for adults, $15 for kids over 3 years old. Kids under three are free. The ticket proceeds will go directly to fund our school.
Hope to see you there!
Opa!
Where: Agape Grill, 845 Stewart Dr. Suite A, Sunnyvale CA 94085 When: Saturday March 12, starting at 6pm Who: Everyone is welcome, kids included
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posted Nov 14, 2010, 11:13 AM by vangelis.kokkevis%fanariacademy.org@gtempaccount.com
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updated Nov 14, 2010, 11:38 AM
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The Fanari Academy's first Greek Night event is taking place on November 20th starting at 6pm, at Agape Grill, in Sunnyvale.
Please join us for good greek food and company and dance to the sounds of Mythos, the best greek group in the area.
The ticket prices are $50/person for adults, and $15 for kids over three. Kids under three are free Wine will be donated by board members and friends of Fanari and a large portion of the ticket proceeds will go directly to the Fanari Academy.
This event is open to the entire community so tell your friends too.
Please take a moment to RSVP here so that we can have an accurate head count. You can pay at the door by check or cash.
Hope to see you on Saturday
Opa!
Where: Agape Grill, 845 Stewart Dr. Suite A, Sunnyvale CA 94085 When: Saturday November 20th, starting at 6pm Who: Everyone is welcome, kids included
Agape Grill845 Stewart Dr
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posted Sep 8, 2010, 10:04 PM by Fanari Academy Of Greek Education
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updated Sep 8, 2010, 10:19 PM
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Hope you all had a fun and restful summer and are excited about the new school year. We know we are. Most of our scheduled classes are starting this week. If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to fill out our online registration form and we'll be contacting you right away with important information about your class.
Our updated class schedule can be found here. Our Programs page has details on the various learning tracks offered at Fanari. As always, please feel free to contact us via email or phone if you have questions or would like more information.
Thank you and looking forward to seeing you in school this fall!
The Fanari Academy Administration |
posted May 24, 2010, 11:13 PM by Fanari Academy Of Greek Education
Our graduation celebration will be held on June 5th at 11:30am at the amphitheater of our school. The kids and their teachers have been working hard to prepare a spectacular program this year. The theme is "Songs of the Sea" !
Refreshments will be served after the celebration.
Click here to see the invitation
Hope to see you all there!
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