ASTORIA, NY – GNUSA
Saint Demetrios Cathedral served as the place of honor for the 6th Grade students of Saint Demetrios Parochial School, who celebrated a milestone on Thursday, June 5.
The Pinning Ceremony marks the end of Elementary School studies and the formal beginning of secondary studies at Saint Demetrios MS/HS. Students recited poetry in English and Greek, read personal essays about their experiences at the school, sang a medley of songs to the applause of the audience which included parents, friends, teachers, and members of the Greek-American community, and took a Middle School pledge promising that “they will do their best to excel and be good citizens with positive discipline”.
Antonia and Maria Kouridakis, alumni of the Senior Class of 2023 and currently nursing students at Saint John’s University were the guest speakers reflecting about their time at Saint Demetrios beginning in pre-Kindergarten and ending in the 12th Grade; the girls reiterated to the 6th Grade students that their time at the school set them forth on a path of success academically and socially. Antonia and Maria are still active in the Greek-American community and hold their faith close to their hearts- something they learned at Saint Demetrios.
Konstantinos Soukeras, School Board Chairman, and Helen Karagiorgos, Assistant Principal, congratulated the students and their parents; they both acknowledged the efforts of the teaching staff who are constantly guiding, directing, and motivating the students.
The evening concluded with the heartfelt wishes and blessing of Father Anargyros Stavropoulos, the Dean of St. Demetrios Cathedral, who presented each student with a pin and a commemorative gift by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Saint Demetrios School is the only private Greek-American parochial pre-school to 12 grade school in the United States.
