In this episode of the Owlcast, we are joined by an inspired and motivated group of educators who operate in the heart of emerging dynamics and shifting paradigms, guided by the Institute's North Star: preparing students today for the needs of the world tomorrow. In a world increasingly affected by robots and AI, it's easy to lose sight of the real question: it's not the tool, but the user, that matters most. Dive into the ethical questions surrounding AI and robots, as we strive to raise...

On this second episode of the Owlcast President’s edition with ACS Athens President Dr. Peggy Pelonis, we have a very special guest: A distinguished American diplomat who has lived in Greece for many years, serving the U.S. diplomatic corps but also education from top leadership positions. Today, we dive into the intricacies of diplomatic relations between the United States and Greece, spanning from the tumultuous years of the 1940s to the dynamic landscape of the 2020s. Our guest today is...

It’s one thing to visit and enjoy an art exhibition, seeing the artwork and the installations, and it’s quite another to listen to it. The artists sometimes are apprehensive about describing their art to an audience rather than a viewer, but when they start, a whole different world comes alive. The inner artist craves to speak out, on top of the visual representation of the art, explaining and exploring their own creative process. Today, we’re visiting the 2024 IB Art Exhibit, which took...

This week is the ACS Athens Open edition, where student entrepreneurs and dreamers of new ideas come together to think out of the box and shape the future! Joining us are the brilliant minds behind some truly innovative concepts that emerged from last year's ACS Athens Open. From the hydroponic green wall to gamified learning platforms, these students are redefining what it means to think creatively and boldly. Their journey in the Owlcast today navigates them through the challenge of finding...

Today’s episode is about belonging to the NHS, the National Honor Society and the merits of being inducted into this prestigious organization. We are joined by two faculty advisors who have dedicated their energy and time to guiding students in joining and being active in NHS, as well as a remarkable high school senior who not only exemplifies the pillars of quality of an NHS member but also serves on the council for the second consecutive year. Together, we will explore the significance of...

Welcome to the first episode of the Owlcast, President’s Edition, with Dr. Peggy Pelonis, President of ACS Athens. In this episode, we unbundle and explore the vital role of K-12 counselors and advisors in our education system. We are exploring the multifaceted importance of these professionals in ensuring our children's safety, well-being, and holistic development. Joining Dr. Pelonis, are Cheryl Brown, Founder and Executive Director of the International School Counselor Association, and...

Today's Owlcast is an audio journey through the celebration of Black History Month in ACS Athens. A group of students and their club advisors talk about the essence of humanity, as they explore the rich tapestry of perspectives, experiences, and cultures that make up our world over a series of activities and creating artifacts through the Month of February. Students read poems expressing the anxiety and the pride, the misgivings and the hope, the trauma and the promise. They talk about...

This is the last part of our two-episode series on Model United Nations, and specifically the THIMUN team 2024. The second group of this year's team, discuss and reflect on their experience and the global issues as young international students. In our conversation, we explore the diverse benefits that students derive from participating in THIMUN. Our guests highlight the invaluable experiences gained through engaging in intensive research, passionate debates, and collaborative...

There is no such thing as white background. Today the Owlcast is all about Art, the most interesting and creative and original art there is! The artists are 3rd, 4th and 5th-grade students, who are now exploring the elements of Art and their imagination is as pure as the primary colors and their creativity is still boundless. Sir Ken Robinson, a world renowned visionary on children’s education, was fond of saying creativity is as important in education as literacy. Art classes, especially in...

The road to the world of international education passes through the school’s admissions office, whose primary mission is to inspire and guide families in making the right choice for their children. It’s not an easy decision, as there are so many options, depending on the family's educational goal. Since 1945, ACS Athens has served tens of thousands of families seeking the American education experience, and since 1975, the International Diploma option. It’s not just its location in Athens,...

As ACS Athens fosters the UN Sustainable Development Goals mindset, it’s always exciting and refreshing to see global issues through the eyes of young international students. In our conversation, we explore the diverse benefits that students derive from participating in THIMUN. Our guests will highlight the invaluable experiences gained through engaging in intensive research, passionate debates, and collaborative problem-solving, all within the dynamic environment of international...

In today's episode, we have invited two remarkable colleagues who have dedicated their careers to education, supporting the school's operation, character, and spirit, and are now spearheading the improvement and development efforts of ACS Athens. Joining us are Chris Perakis, a retired educator with decades of experience within the school community as a teacher, special education specialist, and program leader, and Lydia Skampavia, an alumna and member of the executive team of our ACS Athens...

Today's Owlcast is an account of the dedication ceremony on January 19, when the ACS Athens community came together to commemorate the posthumous contribution of the late Steve Medeiros, an esteemed educator and administrator whose literary fervor shaped the academic tapestry of our institution. The ceremony marked the formal dedication of the Steve Medeiros Book Collection, a valuable literary repository generously donated by the family of Steve Medeiros. Attendees, including retiree...

Our guest is Dr. Konstantinos Kanellopoulos, Class of 2010, who visited our studio recently to share with us his story before, during and after ACS Athens. An educator himself, Konstantinos has traveled extensively following his passion for education and declares his dedication to continue working with the Youth. With studies in Political Science, Economics and Philosophy, he just finished his PhD dissertation titled “Why does Greece Fail” a perennial question which he tries to answer by...

Every year, we look forward to the graduating class college placement, as if to peer through our community achievements that validate the very existence of the high school, academic, athletic, extracurricular and other programs. Every year, we try to define and evaluate the community's level of effort, and one metric, of course, is the success of our students being admitted to their college of choice. In today’s Students and College edition of the Owlcast, we are happy to have a talented...

••••••••••••• This episode contains accounts of violence against minors and women, trafficking and human suffering. Parental discretion is advised. ••••••••••••• Our guest today is a parent of our school, an attorney who handles cases of domestic violence against minors, persons with special needs, victims of trafficking, refugees, and abused and neglected women and children. Elena Glegle is working with children sheltered in several governmental and non-governmental organizations,...

The Inclusivity in Education project, as it was recently initiated by Deree - The American College of Greece, ACS Athens and George Mason University, will be calling on experts to be actively involved as practitioners and researchers, as they attempt to address the challenges of inclusion, highlighting the importance of a mindset shift. Our guests in the Owlcast today, will be involved directly with this project and stopped by our studio to discuss more details under their individual...

In today's episode, we are thrilled to have Kentrell Martin, an advocate for accessible education and communication, join us. Kentrell recently profoundly impacted the learning community at ACS Athens through his engaging sessions with Early Childhood students and teachers, focusing on the transformative power of sign language. As an expert in the field, Kentrell shared his expertise on learning differences and emphasized the importance of embracing diverse communication channels to foster a...

Today’s guest in the Owlcast is metaverse expert and futurist Costantino Roselli, who pokes us with quite provocative topics as what is reality and what is imagined. He combines elements nobody sees, and raises brand identities you had never thought were there. He is the founder & CEO of the Branding & Digital Agency, Weird Authentic People, co-founder and CVO of NTZNS, Digital Fashion Studio & Multi-brand eCommerce, and a member of “The Infinite Club”, a club that studies the...

Today’s guest was one of the keynote speakers at the recent EduTech Europe conference in Amsterdam. Her speech was titled “The limits of knowing: uncertain futures for education,” and those of us who expected one more presentation with slides were pleasantly surprised, as she did not need a slide deck to pass her message through. Our guest today is Kathleen Naglee, an award-winning global leader in education for innovative and inclusive practices. She’s the Head of the International School of...

Welcome to the 2023 Gala Edition of the Owlcast! If you missed the 2023 Gala and Alumni Awards event last Saturday,  this is your chance to listen to what transpired. Hosted at the iconic Grande Bretagne Hotel located at the center of Athens, this year’s Gala marked the 78th anniversary of the founding of ACS Athens. A celebration of the spirit of the school, the coming together of its entire body, students, parents, teachers and administrators, joined by ACS Alumni, reminded everyone what a...

Celebrating different cultures in an international school setting, especially during dedicated Heritage Months, is a powerful way to foster inclusivity and appreciation for the rich tapestry of backgrounds that make up the student body. During Hispanic Heritage Month, which typically spans from September 15th to October 15th, students have the opportunity to delve into the diverse and vibrant cultures of the Hispanic world. From the colorful traditions of Mexico's Dia de los Muertos to the...

Today's episode is a student edition Owlcast on AI and Machine Learning. Academy student Adrianos Botsios discusses artificial intelligence and machine learning with a world expert and pioneer of the field, Michalis Bletsas of the MIT media lab. A truly remarkable conversation  that attempts to unbundle some common and not so common perceptions about AI and its role in our lives.  Here's what they discuss: Machine Learning and the limitations of Transferability of Knowledge How far are we...

The new Middle School Principal this year, Mike Embrock, talks to us about his transition from a rural U.S. middle school to an American International school in Europe. With Mr. Embrock, today we discuss:  All about bad dad jokes, liquorice, and Starburst…; Preparing for the trip overseas - opportunities and challenges for a Middle School principal; The value of authenticity in the leadership style; The process of empowering student learning through authentic teaching...