The International School of Paphos (ISOP) celebrated the Year 13 Graduation of the Class of 2023 on Friday, 2 June 2023, at the Markideio Theatre, in a time-honoured ceremony.
The graduates were congratulated, one by one, for their accomplishments in the presence of the Chairman, Μr Theodoros Aristodemou, members of The Board of Directors and shareholders, the President and members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), guests, parents and staff members of the school.
The Deputy Head, Mr Nikolas Artemis, welcomed the guests to this awe-inspiring annual ceremony by highlighting the role of ISOP in preparing the students to achieve their goals: “Graduation symbolises, for every school, the fulfilment of its mission – to prepare its students for the future and to shape their characters”. He shared his confidence that our students will make their families, friends and the school proud.
The 46 graduates entered the theatre dressed in their Graduation gowns and the Deputy Head, Mr Kyriakos Kashouli, presented the opening speech of the Graduation Ceremony. He described the graduation moments as “… the beginning of an extraordinary journey.” To conclude his inspirational speech, he reminded the students that “Success is not merely defined by the attainment of your goals, but also by the transformative journey you undertake to reach them.”
This special event continued with the Head Boy, Mario Arapaki, who thanked his teachers and parents for their support. He gave his own advice to his peers: “Wake up every morning with a smile and a positive attitude”. He concluded that “Together we can create a world that is not just successful, but filled with love, understanding and boundless possibilities.”
A series of prizes were awarded to the students, recognising their outstanding academic and personal achievements, with the generous contribution of the sponsors, organised by the PTA.
The PTA prizes included:
1. Arts Prize (Art & Design, Drama, Music) by Technopolis 20
2. Biology Prize by Evangelismos Hospital
3. Business Studies Prize by Cyprus Sotheby’s International Realty
4. Business Studies Prize by Polycarpos Philippou & Associates LLC
5. Chemistry Prize by Evangelismos Hospital
6. Economics Prize by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd)
7. Humanities Prize (Geography/History) by Aristo Developers
8. Humanities Prize (Geography/History) by RideNow Carsharing
9. IT Prize by Hugge Coworking
10. Mathematics Prize by Michael Kyprianou – Advocates & Legal Consultants
11. Mathematics Prize by Green Air
12. Modern Languages (English Literature/French/German) by Papantoniou Supermarkets
13. Modern Languages (English Literature/French/German) by Aristo Developers
14. Physics Prize by Green Air
Furthermore, the school announced The International Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the French Prize by the French Department in memory of Beverley Felson, the Papacleovoulou Scholarship for Greek Studies and the prestigious Zenon Trophy.
The Graduation Ceremony continued with the award of the leavers’ Apolytirion certificates that included a delightful description of each student separately, referring to their character and achievements.
This year’s Graduation Ceremony was a special one, due to the retirement of our Head of School, Dr Litsa Olympiou. A special farewell followed with moving speeches and a wonderful music programme, organised by the Music Department and our talented students.
The Managing Director, Mrs Aristi Andriotis, took the floor and made special reference to Dr Olympiou and the great influence she had on the school: “For almost 3 decades, under her watchful eye and with firm but fair ways, Litsa succeeded in elevating our school to one of the most prestigious educational establishments in our country with more than 1000 students on the roll today.” Mrs Andriotis ended her speech by offering a special gift from the school, as a token of gratitude for all that Dr Olympiou has contributed to The International School of Paphos.
Dr Litsa Olympiou shared her feelings and many memories she has collected through the years, expressing her gratitude to her colleagues, the Chairman and the Board of Directors and Shareholders. She concluded her speech with a piece of advice to our graduates and colleagues: “Always strive for excellence; never give up on your dreams and cherish every moment of your life. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. I hope that you will always remember the school as a place where you learned, grew and belonged.”
The ceremony ended with the tossing of graduation caps into the air and a special reception organised by the school’s chef and his team.
