VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3 MARCH 2019 NEWSLETTER Byron College World Scholar’s Cup Champions Byron College Volume 2, Issue 3 — March 2019 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN OXFORD GLOBAL SUMMIT FOR YOUNG LEADERS 2019 at Byron College 1-5th July Byron College has taken the initiative to bring to Greece a core group of world class Oxford University post-doctoral research fellows and professors to create a unique educational opportunity for ambitious pupils aged 15-18. The Oxford Global Summit for Young Leaders is aimed at teaching the skills, and providing the mentors and guidance, to challenge and teach design thinking for creative and practical real-world problem solving. OGSYL summer summit will bring together some of the brightest young minds in Greece, and from around the globe, to participate in a challenging life-changing experience. Participants will be assigned to one of four ‘colleges’ intended to represent the college system at the University of Oxford itself. During the summit, students will collaborate and compete on projects and activities that complement seminars and lectures. All course material is original material that has been created for the Summit. Pupils will be inspired and motivated to become the leaders of tomorrow through their interactions with some of the greatest mentors of today. Throughout the summit pupils will be applying their intellect to the most salient issues in our society resulting in the transformation from a group of bright, talented individuals into a team of critical thinking analytical problem-solvers. The Eureka Moment: Can we create it on purpose? The Experience • Group work to identify solutions to a major global challenge that society faces today. • Participation in interactive classes and seminars that will enable participants to tackle these challenges. • Lectures by university professors on relevant topics such as Al, big data, social enterprise and innovation. • Networking with ambitious and high-achieving peers from across the globe. • Attainment of certificates of completion of their courses. • Mentorship from leaders with a variety of backgrounds, including doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, business executives, and University of Oxford professors. Continued support and mentorship • All participants will be offered free mentoring for a full academic year after the summit by an Oxford research fellow or current student in a related field; • The 10% of students will be offered a recommendation letter from an Oxford University research fellow for their university application, as well as further mentoring on a promising project initiated at the summit; • High achieving students showing exceptional skills will be invited to Oxford the following year to take further seminars with Oxford Global and engage with an even network of mentors and professors. Applications are open now www.byroncollege.gr/oxfordglobal Byron College 2 Volume 2, Issue 2—December 2018 Years 9-13 History Trip to Krakow, Poland ‘The camp had a very eerie atmosphere and it was an eye opener on how cruel and inhumane people can be. It made me feel awful ‘ Baran M, Year 9 The History trip to Poland was a real eye opener for both pupils and teachers. One of the highlights of our trip was our meeting with a Jewish I was horrified by the idea that so much survivor, whose capacity for money was invested just to kill or torture remembering was inexhaustible, her people. I felt really bad that ordinary humanity intoxicating and her people like us were transformed into test willingness to see the good in the subjects. We shouldn’t forget moments world unshakeable. like this and we should always respect everyone! George A, Year 10 Our visit to Schindler's factory was a reminder for us all of those who have responded to the most unthinkable hatred with an The visit to the camp unwavering love of life. was inordinately As for Auschwitz, it felt like walking informative and truly through a death path which seemed provided an unreal and made us feel uncomfortable and upset. Our minds understanding of the filled with a million thoughts and atrocities of the Nazis questions that will never find a rational Ikra R. Year 12 answer. Overall, pictures hardly do justice to the beauty of Kraków. From magnificent salt mines to majestic castles and dreadful dragons - all of which lie at the foot of Wawel Hill on the bank of the Vistula River- Krakow I loved the Museum and the camp has it all and has certainly made our but I was devastated by all the experience an unforgettable one! things we saw and heard. Dinos K, Year 9 The Museum was very informative but the emotions were so intense that I didn’t say a word throughout the tour and just tried to comprehend what the Nazis did. Aris T, Year 9 After learning about the history of Nazi occupation it was very touching to see it in reality. The museums were so realistic that I felt emotional. Rabbil A, Year 12 Byron College Volume 2, Issue 3 — March 2019 3 Lord Byron Unveiling Ceremony A bust of Lord Byron now graces the entrance to Byron College. This was a very generous donation by the Papas family and the unveiling ceremony took place on 22nd January, the anniversary of Lord Byron’s birthday. The ceremony attended by the Board, pupil leaders, representatives of the Parents Association, school leaders and teachers began with Hussein’s biography of Lord Byron. During the ceremony Al Hussein Ammar (Year 11) gave a short speech on the life of Lord Byron: “They never fail who die in a great cause.” These were the words of one of the most flamboyant and notorious of the major Romantics and poets, Lord Byron. He was a freethinker and a romantic paradox. He led his era’s poetic revolution and dedicated his money, time, and energy to liberty and finally his own life in the Greek war of independence. Ladies and gentlemen, today, the 22nd of January, marks the birthday of George Gordon Byron, who captivated the west with his wit and heroic lines. He was born in 1788, and he was the son of Catherine Gordon of Gight and Captain Jack. In the summer of 1789, he moved with his mother to Aberdeen. Due to his Presbyterian nurse, Byron was fascinated by the idea of predestination and fell in love with the bible. When he went to school, he was extremely interested in reading and developed a great passion for history and art, which in return influenced many of his works. Subsequently, Byron attended Trinity College, Cambridge from October 1805 until July 1808, where he received an M.A. degree. During those times he published his first poetry book fugitive pieces and there he showed interest in politics. One of Lord Byron’s greatest dreams was to sail and travel abroad. On the 2nd of July, 1809 he was able to achieve this dream by traveling to Lisbon. From Lisbon, he travelled to Spain during the partisan’s resistance to the French invasion. Directly after that, he came to Greece. Byron began an autobiographical poem in Ioannina on 31st October 1809, wherein he recorded the adventures and reflections of Childe Burun. Byron completed the first canto in Athens at the end of the year. When the Elgin marbles were seized from the Parthenon and other ruins of Greece’s golden age Byron filled with sorrow, while the plundering of the country’s treasures and its people’s enslavement by the Turks fueled his anger. He spoke about these scenes in one of his famous poems “The isles of Greece”. In March 1821, Lord Byron devoted himself to the Greek War of independence from the Turks. He helped collect a considerable amount of money and medical supplies for the Greeks, and packed uniforms and heroic helmets for their landing on Greek shores. When Lord Byron reached the island of Kephalonia, he waited until there were signs of unity in the Greek effort. In November, Byron agreed to loan four thousand pounds to the Greek fleet for its activation. In January the next year, he joined the moderate leader Alexander Mavrokordatos in Messolonghi. Enthusiastically welcomed, Lord Byron was received with cheers and salutes. On the eve of his birthday, he turned once more to poetry (after a long break) to express his feelings regarding his life and the principles of freedom. He wrote the poem “On this day I complete my thirty sixth year”. On the 9th of April, having been soaked by a heavy rain while out riding, Byron suffered fever and rheumatic pains. By the twelfth he was seriously ill. On Easter Sunday, he entered a comatose state. At six o’clock on the evening of Easter Monday, 19 April 1824, during a violent storm, Lord Byron passed away. Lord Byron’s birthday is celebrated in Greece due to his brave intervention in the Greek resistance against the Turks and his deep beliefs to democratic values. I would like to finalise my speech with a last quote. "If I am a poet," he mused, "... the air of Greece has made me one”. Byron College 4 Volume 2, Issue 2—December 2018 Winning Teams at the World Scholar’s Cup 2019 After their exceptional performance at the World Scholar’s Cup this weekend all four of our participating teams have made it through to the Global Rounds! Returning to school with nine cups and numerous medals, we are so proud of their hard work, dedication and outstanding achievements. The WSC, organized by Yale University, tests team work and individual performances in three events; debating, writing and general knowledge (Science, History, Social sciences, Music, Art and Literature) over two strenuous days of competition.