This document provides information about Greece, the region of Macedonia, and the city of Katerini. It discusses that Greece is located in southern Europe, borders several countries, and was the birthplace of democracy and the Olympics. It then describes Macedonia as the largest region in Greece, bordering several countries, and notes its main rivers and cities. Finally, it focuses on Katerini as the capital of Pieria regional unit, providing details about its location, population, and landmarks like the municipal square.

1. Platon Schools

2. Our Country
 It is a country in southern Europe and the southern most country in the
Balkan Peninsula.
 The capital of Greece is Athens.
 Greece borders Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey and F.Y.R.O.M.
 Democracy and philosophy were born in Greece.
 Its population is 10.816.286 (2011).
 It is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, drama, tragedy and comedy.
 It is surrounded in the east by the Aegean Sea, in the west by the Ionian Sea
and in the south by the Mediterranean Sea.
 The biggest mountain in Greece is Mt Olympus and the largest river is
Aliakmonas.
 The biggest island is Crete.
 The climate is temperate, mediterranean, because of its equal distance to the
Equator and the North Pole.

3. Our Country
1. Aegean Islands
2. Central Greece
3. Crete
4. Epirus
5. Ionian Islands
6. Macedonia
7. Peloponnese
8. Thessaly
9. Thrace

4. Our Region
Macedonia is a historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southern
Europe.
It is the largest geographical department of Greece.
It borders F.Y.R.O.M, Albania and Bulgaria.
Its name has been given from Herodotus in ancient times.
Thessaloniki, the largest city in Macedonia, is near Katerini.
The main rivers of Macedonia are: Axios, Aliakmon, Strymon, Galikos,
Loudias and Nestos
Philip II was the king who made Macedonia a powerful state.
Alexander the Great, one of the most famous emperors all over the
world was born in Macedonia and followed the dream of his father to
conquer the world

5. Our Region
 Pieria is one of the Regional Units of Central
Macedonia.
 It is located in the southern part of Central
Macedonia.
 Its capital is Katerini.
 Its townships are: Aeginio, East Olympus, Dion,
Elafina, Katerini, Kolindros, Korinos, Litochoro,
Methoni, Paralia, Petra, Pierioi, Pydna.
 In Pieria there are many archeological locations:
Dion, Pydna, Kolindros’ Paliampela and Platamonas.
Pieria is also home to Orpheus and the nine Muses.
 Mt Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and
is located in the south of Pieria.
 The length of the coasts of Pieria exceeds 100 km

6. Our Region
The Castle of Platamon
Build By Crusaders at 1204
The mythical Mt Olympus
Altitude 2918 m

7. Our City
Katerini is a city located in Central Macedonia
It is the sixth largest city in Macedonia
It is the capital of Pieria Regional Unit.
Its population is 85,851.
The population is ever increasing, while emigration is limited.
It is situated between the Pierian Mountains and The Thermaic Bay.
Katerini is very close to the sea (6km), to Olympus and to many
ancient locations, like: Dion, the Castle of Platamonas.
There are, also, many beaches, like the beach of: Korinos, Paralia and
Olympic Beach.

8. Our City
The Municipal Square
Katerini’s central park

9. Organization type: Private school founded in 1997
Location: Katerini, Greece
Number of students: 620 (for the academic year
2014-2015)
Six-level operation:
 Nursery - Kindergarten (ages: 1-6)
 Primary School (ages: 7-12, grades 1-6)
 Gymnasium (ages: 13-15, grades 7-9)
 Lyceum (ages: 16-18, grades 10-12)
 Lifelong Learning Center (ages 18+)
 π-Technologies
NURSERY - KINDERGARTEN – PRIMARY – SECONDARY – LIFELONG
LEARNING CENTER
Ganochora - Katerini – 60100 – Greece
Tel.: +30 23510-31111 – Fax: +30 23510-31993
mail@platon.edu.gr – platon.edu.gr

10. EU Projects
 Comenius 1: “Local History” (1997 – 2000).
 Comenius 1: “Young Europeans sharing work and joy” (1999 – 2001).
 Comenius 1: “Migration, Minorities and Prejudices in Europe” (2000 – 2002).
 Lingua_e: “Katerini – Krefeld” (1999).
 Lingua_e: “Forty years ago …Ten years after” (2000).
 ETwinning: “LiveGuide - Cultural Walks in Europe” (2006).
 ETwinning: “School management strategies to improve school organization and working
environment” (2007).
 Youth: “ Traditions and habits in Europe” (2003).
 Youth: “Miguel Thervantes born in Greece, El Greco painted in Spain” (2004).
 Minerva: “ePhys, Towards an effective use of ICT in Science education” (2001-2004).
 Minerva: “EduconLinux, Free and Open Source Server Based on Linux for Multi-Media-
Classrooms in Schools and Universities” (2006-2009).
 Comenius multilateral: “Speak, a school that speaks the language of its kids” (2008-2010)
 Science and Society: “Materials Science, University-school partnerships for the design and
implementation of research-based ICT-enhanced modules on Material Properties.” (2007-2009)

11.  DG Energy: “Intelligent Use of Energy at School”. (2008-2011)
 Comenius in service training course: “Moodle as teaching and learning tool” (2009-2011)
 Environmental network «MED S.O.S.» (2001-2013)
 ENO: “Environmental Network Online” www.enoprogramme.org (1999-2010)
 Comenius multilateral: “FIESTA” (2011-2014)
 Comenius multilateral: “CAREM” (2012-2014)
 Comenius multilateral: “KAREL” (2013-2015)
 Erasmus+ : “EL2LE” (2014-2016)
 Erasmus+ : “Storytelling-Sinbad” (2014-2016)
 Erasmus+ : “Water”(2014-2016)
 Erasmus+ : “A healthy mind in a healthy body”(2014-2016)
 Erasmus+ : “Super scientists” (2014-2016)
 Erasmus+ : “Early school leaving” (2014-2016)
 Erasmus+ : “Bilingual education-a step ahead” (2014-2016)
 Erasmus+ : “We are the world we are the children” (2014-2016)
EU Projects

12. Technology and Innovation in education
 ICT in education was firstly applied by “Platon” school 12 years ago on the basis of internet use as a
source of information and communication.
 After year 2000, started the development of teaching material through the use of ICT, such as the
development of Physlets (Java applets in Physical sciences), with excellent results in visualization
and interactivity. Lego Robotics were also used for the programming and study of various
phenomena.
 Lately, ICT tools, such as interactive whiteboard and LCMS (as moodle), were used extensively by a
large number of educators. The moodle server developed, https://moodle.educonlinux.eu/ , was
used for:
a. The creation of educating and teaching material
b. Courses
c. Cooperative project work between “Platon” school pupils and partner schools pupils.
 Participation in various European Schoolnet educational projects such as GreenWeek,
Futurenergia, Xperimania
 Member of School Innovation Net, http://schoolnet.protovoulia.org/, which supports the
development of educators’ initiatives and promotes education innovations in school.
 The new model that was created and applied for the current school year is presented below and
includes various components with pilot applications over the last years.

13. New buildings – Febr. 2013

14. ConsultationA significant aspect of “Platon” school initiative has been the parallel involvement of parents, families,
communities and teaching staff in a coordinated way.

15. Counseling
Each mentor/
teacher is
responsible for
seven pupils,
with the
following duties :
 Beginning of school year:
 Overall pupil and parent
briefing according to teaching
and behavior objectives
 During the school year:
 15-minutes Friday meetings for
pupil progress evaluation
 Principal and parents briefing
about pupils progress
 End of school year:
 Annual evaluation and next year
suggestions

16. Humanistic
approach (four
dimensions)
The “Spirit” dimension components form the basis of the school’s didactical aims structure.
In order to complete the educational process, the remaining Human dimension components (Soul,
Body, Environment) were taken into account in the creation of the thematic units of individual or
team work assessments , the counseling sessions and the outdoor activities.

17. Application (modes)
Didactical aims per
month
Month Didactical Aim Details
October Comprehension Attention
Recognition of information
Understanding of information
November Memory Storage of information
Conservation
Recall
December Critical thinking
(Convergent)
Ability to analyze
Comparison
Classification of information
Interconnection of information

18. Application (modes)
Didactical aims per
month
Month Didactical Aim Details
February Creative thinking
(Divergent)
Search and create alternative solutions
Synthesis of information
Transformation of information (change
of use)
Redefinition of information
(elaboration to be more functional,
attractive)
March Appraisal Problem solving , decision taking
April Creativity and
personality
Desire for new experiences
Curiosity
Independent judgment
Preference on challenges and complex
cases
Self esteem
Self-defined regulation of behavior
through inner or inward motives

19. Individual or team
work assessments
Thematic units per grade 7th
grade 8th
grade
1st
semester 2nd
semester 1st
semester 2nd
semester
Arts Household life Ethical values History
(alternative)
Healthy
nutrition
Road safety
and behavior
Biographies of
important people
Athletics
First aid Safe internet Knowledge of
environment
Music
Learn my body Evaluation of
TV programs
Functionality and
aesthetics of
places, persons
Volunteering
All year
Creativity and emotions Creativity and emotions
Sexual edification

20. Individual or team
work assessments
Thematic units per grade 9th
grade 10th
grade
1st
semester 2nd
semester 1st
semester 2nd
semester
History
(alternative)
Emergence and
solution of a
regional
important issue
Science and daily
life
History (alter)
Biographies of
important
people
Cinema Global
environmental
issue
Abuse
Regional
environmental
issue
Europe Design of
educational
computer game
All year
Creativity and emotions Creativity and emotions
Career planning Career planning
Entrepreneurship

21. Embedded innovative learning
Increased application on new knowledge
Open and distance learning technologies
facilitating learners and staff competence
Transformation of traditional teaching role to
mentoring, guiding and facilitation
Development of network of innovative best
practice at European level