Week-At-Glance
Pre-Primary Primary Secondary

Diwali & UN/SDG Week

2025-10-24 15:18
This week's bulletin:

  • Diwali – Festival of Lights
  • Assemblies and Wellbeing Activities for Diwali
  • United Nations Day
  • Model UN Assembly on Global Issues
  • PYP Grade 3 Assembly: Caring for Our Planet
  • Primary Assembly on Collaboration
  • Montessori: Diwali and Harvest Activities
  • Guest Visit: Mecha Robots Presentation
  • Educational Visits: Paradox Museum and Kakopetria Case Study
  • Secondary Training: Online Safety Workshops
  • Primary Pumpkin Parade and Secondary Knights Tournament
  • Mid-Term Break and Closing Wishes
‘Your inner light is a powerful force; let it shine and guide you on the path of self-discovery.’
— Laila Gifty-Akita
Dear Parents and Students

This week’s theme has been Diwali or Deepawali, and we have enjoyed some wonderful Diwali music in the mornings and afternoons. This is a festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and commemorates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” Those celebrating this significant religious festival display candles or lights in their homes.
Light is a symbol of hope and goodness in many religions. In a couple of weeks, our Waldorf community will celebrate the festival of Martinmas, which marks the end of the harvest and the start of winter. In some Northern European countries, this festival is celebrated with lantern processions or bonfires. Light, therefore, remains a powerful symbol of hope, positivity, and transition into the winter season.
I would like to wish a Happy Diwali to all our Hindu and Sikh students, teachers, and families, and hope you have had some wonderful celebrations with your loved ones!

Assemblies and Wellbeing Activities for Diwali

We held several assemblies and wellbeing sessions to celebrate Diwali this week, and our Indian teachers invited team members to a traditional Diwali celebration in the team room.
In Wellbeing, students learned the story behind Diwali and explored its traditions. They also practised mindfulness by working in groups to colour mandala patterns.

United Nations Day

This week we also remembered UN Day on October 24th — a symbol of hope for global unity. UN Day commemorates the anniversary of the United Nations Charter coming into force in 1945, marking the birth of the organisation. It is a time to reflect on the UN’s goals and achievements in maintaining peace, promoting human rights, and fostering global cooperation.
The day also provides an opportunity to recommit to the principles of the UN Charter and consider how multilateral action can help solve global challenges.

Model UN Assembly on Global Issues

In the IB framework, teachers often use the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to frame their units of inquiry and help students examine real-world problems through conceptual and factual questions.
Our Model UN team of students led this week’s secondary assembly, guided by the Individuals and Societies teachers. They explored global issues from a local perspective, focusing on SDGs such as Quality Education, Climate Change, and Poverty.

PYP Grade 3 Assembly: Caring for Our Planet

IB PYP Grade 3 students presented an inspiring assembly entitled “Our Rights and Responsibilities – Caring for Our Planet”, focusing on SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Through their engaging performance, students highlighted the importance of caring for nature, reducing waste, and taking action for a cleaner, greener future. They also shared a message about celebrating a Green Diwali, encouraging everyone to make eco-friendly choices while enjoying the festive season.

Primary Assembly on Collaboration

In another Primary assembly, we explored the school value of collaboration and learned how the entire NASA team — from janitors to scientists — worked together to send Neil Armstrong to the moon. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Montessori: Diwali and Harvest Activities

All Montessori programmes began the week with beautiful Diwali presentations prepared by Ms Saba. The children learned the story behind Diwali and created colourful lanterns to celebrate the festival of lights.
The rest of the week continued our Harvest theme, with many fun pumpkin-related activities.

Guest Visit: Mecha Robots Presentation

On the last day of the term, we welcomed a guest from Nicosia University, who gave an exciting presentation about Mecha Robots. The children then created their own robots using recycled materials as part of our study on space and gravity — discovering that building a walking robot means understanding balance and gravity first!

Educational Visits: Paradox Museum and Kakopetria Case Study

Two different student groups visited the Paradox Museum this week — one from MYP and one from Primary Montessori. These visits encouraged creativity, innovation, and imagination.
Our DP2 EAL students also visited Kakopetria for a case study, taking their learning beyond classroom theory into real-life exploration of issues and concepts.

Secondary Training: Online Safety Workshops

On Thursday, secondary students received training from International Workshops, led by Paddy Fogarty and Victor Germanus, about staying safe online.
Teaching our students to navigate the digital world responsibly is crucial — helping them to enjoy its benefits while avoiding potential risks. Teachers were also offered a professional session on the same topic.

Primary Pumpkin Parade and Secondary Knights Tournament

We concluded our wonderful autumn celebration this week with the Pumpkin Parade and displays in Primary. Classes showcased their creative pumpkin designs on Wednesday for everyone to enjoy.
In Secondary, we held the Knights Tournament, a student-led initiative where students organised themed activities and lessons for their peers — even dressing up as medieval knights!

Mid-Term Break and Closing Wishes

Next week marks our mid-term break. I hope everyone takes the opportunity to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with family and friends before the second half of the term begins.
I wish you all a weekend filled with light and hope.

Best Regards
Deborah Economou
Head of School