STATEN ISLAND – With enthusiasm and best wishes for a good and creative year, classes at the Hellenic Classical Charter School in Staten Island began on September 8.

Principal Cathy Kakleas spoke to The National Herald as she welcomed students, teachers, and parents and expressed everyone’s satisfaction with the progress of the school.

She told TNH that “this year we have more students than last year, with classes from pre-kindergarten to 4th grade. Every year our new school grows a grade until we reach 8th grade.”

Kalkeas continued: “This is a recognition of the excellent educational work and learning provided by the Hellenic Classical Charter, and gives us special pride and strength to constantly give our best. Throughout the summer, management and staff worked methodically and intensively to ensure the best conditions for the children.”

“We have hired an additional Greek teacher, a philologist from Greece, and together with the three teachers we already have, they will teach the Greek language on a daily basis to the students in all grades,” she told TNH. “This year, after a long time, due to the restrictive measures of the pandemic, all our religious and national holidays will be celebrated at the Katsoris Hellenic Center with the participation of parents. May all our Greek schools have a good and successful year.”

Superintendent of the Hellenic Classical Charter Schools, Christina Tettonis, welcomed the students, wished them good progress and diligence, urged the teachers to give their best and care for the students, and thanked the parents for their trust and cooperation.

Joy Petrakos, Chief of Operations, wished a good, creative and efficient year and referred to everyone’s assistance for the further improvement and upgrading of the school. “It is with great joy that we welcome our students back to the classroom again, with more love and strength,” she said. “Both our schools provide a safe and healthy environment, giving students the opportunity to get the best possible education.”

“I would like to mention that the construction of our new state-of-the-art building in the courtyard of the community continues intensively, a project which, if all goes well, will be completed in January and the inauguration will take place in February,” Petrakos said. “A very big thank you to the entire parish for their love and support.”

The teachers of the Greek Department, Katerina Petrakou, Angeliki Anastopoulou and Maria Gonakis, wished the students a good, safe, creative school year, with health and progress, and to all teachers and parents strength and endurance to cope with their work.