Plato Academy Schools Newsletter

Plato Academy proudly hosted our annual Great American Teach-In, a day dedicated to inspiring and educating students through real-world experiences shared by community members and professionals. We had the pleasure of welcoming a diverse group of speakers who shared their expertise, insights, and personal journeys with our students, sparking curiosity and broadening horizons.

A heartfelt thank you to all our guest speakers and volunteers who made the event memorable. Your contributions are invaluable in helping our students see the vast possibilities their futures hold. We look forward to continuing this tradition and fostering these meaningful community connections.

Hello everyone! As we continue to move through the school year, updates about sports will come out regularly. In case you have not received them, please see the links below for additional newsletters with previously sent information. Just a reminder, if your child intends to try out for ANY sport the rest of the year, you MUST have the registration AND the sports physical completed and submitted through Avela. You only need to fill out the form one time, but please check all boxes for the sports your child would like to participate in this year. If the registration is not complete and the sports physical is not on record, your child will not be permitted to try out. This helps the administration check for behavior and grades while providing the coach with a list of students prior to trying out. As always, if you have any questions, please email them to: athletics@platoacademy.net.

Ms. Lucchelli’s Computer Science students at Plato Collegiate Academy of Tampa, worked on a programming project that required them to create a random object, then create instructions for building it. Another group had to try and rebuild their design using those instructions.

Middle school students during science class learning about genetics and heredity:

Ms. Zervas’ class reviewing their phases of the moon unit:

Mrs. Kalligas' 8th-grade students at Plato Academy St. Petersburg, had an incredible virtual meet-up during Greek class at PASP with the talented students from the Sofia Andriola Language School in Limni, Evias, Greece.

The session was an amazing opportunity for authentic language practice. We started with our peers asking us questions in Greek, which gave us a fun challenge to respond and engage in their beautiful language. Then, we switched to English, allowing them to practice with us. It was a wonderful exchange of culture and language that opened our eyes to new perspectives.

This is just the beginning of our monthly meetings with these fantastic students. We can't wait to learn more, share more, and hopefully build some lifelong friendships across the Atlantic.

On Friday, November 8, 2024, Plato Academy Largo’s 6th-grade students participated in an educational journey to one of Florida’s most iconic cities: St. Augustine. Accompanied by two of their teachers, Ms. Kendrick (History) and Mr. Giavaras (Greek), along with five supportive parent chaperones, these young explorers set out to uncover the stories of Colonial Florida...

Plato Academy Clearwater 6th Grade students spent a meaningful day volunteering at Feeding Tampa Bay, sorting and packing food for those in need. They helped prepare boxes of essentials that will be sent to local food banks, making a real impact in our community. We're proud of their hard work and dedication to giving back. Learn more about Feeding Tampa Bay’s mission at feedingtampabay.org

On Veterans Day, Plato Academy Clearwater students paid tribute to our veterans and celebrated the unwavering resilience of the Greek people during WWII. This heartfelt event, featuring both Greek and American songs, was beautifully organized by our talented team: music teacher Ali Thorsen, Greek department teachers Konstantinos Aretis, Foteini Angelakopoulou, Dimitrios Psoras, Maria-Ioanna Verras, Giorgos Benakis, and PE dance teacher Afroditi Voutsela. Together, they created a meaningful celebration of courage, unity, and heritage.

A beautiful moment from the Plato Academy Clearwater Veterans and Greek "OXI" Day celebration: Fr. Theofanis, a devoted Plato parent and supporter of our mission, joins his remarkable singing and chanting talents with Konstantinos Aretis, the director of our Greek department. Together, they honored history, heritage, and the brave sacrifices of our heroes through the power of music and tradition.

Fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Kiernan joined the students in a Greek dance and did an outstanding job, adding to the energy and joy of the performance!

From left to right: Greek teachers Kathy Kosmakos, Christina Vitous, Principal Nichole Johnes, Plato Board member and Plato parent George Antonaklas, Greek teacher Angela Bournous, and Music teacher Thomas Piggott after the Veterans and Greek "OXI" day ceremony.

Greek by birth and a proud Veteran C.P.O. of US Navy John Pournarakis delivered an inspiring speech, highlighting the significance of both commemorations.

Students and veterans from all military branches, connected to our school community, gathered during the Veterans and Greek "OXI" ("No") Day ceremony to honor courage and resilience.

Principal of Plato Academy Trinity, Joe Musselman.

Plato Academy Clearwater Middle School students, led by the PE teacher, Afroditi Voutsela, showcase their passion and pride as they perform the Hasaposerviko Dance, a traditional Greek dance filled with energy and community spirit:

Typical device damage costs:

Click the links below, find your school & leave a review on any of the platforms below then send your rating to your principal to receive a volunteer hour!

You can easily access the website through the top menu on our main school website ( https://platoacademy.net/ ) by navigating to: Why Plato > Programs > Battle of the Books.

Deadlines are strict: Applications will be accepted until December 1st and first deposit until December 12th.

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, our incredible staff and families came together to help clean up our schools, ensuring they’re ready to welcome students back. Their hard work and dedication to our school community show the true strength of our spirit. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and energy to support our schools and each other.

This is an anonymous form (unless you choose to leave your information) for anyone: staff, parents, guardians, or students to share any suggestions, concerns, ideas, or comments on how you think any aspect of our schools could be improved with the Plato Academy Home Office. This will always be available to you and will be reviewed regularly.

If you have a safety-related concern, you may also use the School Safety Survey.

Thank you for your support and dedication to helping Plato Academy get even better!

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Events Coordinator, Savella Carosa, for her tireless dedication and boundless creativity in making every event a success. Her fresh ideas, unwavering enthusiasm, and unstoppable momentum bring our community together in meaningful and memorable ways. From start to finish, her passion and hard work shine through in every detail. We are so grateful for all that she does to keep Plato Education Foundation events vibrant and impactful!

What an amazing day at the Fall Festival 2024! With sunny skies and a refreshing breeze, it was the perfect setting for families and friends to gather. The event was packed with smiling faces, delicious food, and plenty of seating areas to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. It was wonderful to see so many people come out and make the most of the day. Thank you to everyone who attended—looking forward to even more fun next year! We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the generous donations. We are now sorting through them and will be delivering them to families in need very soon.