XpatAthens
Monday, 24 February 2020 05:00
Education Meets Innovation As Students Showcase Their Ideas
Students shared their passions and intellectual curiosities at the 3rd Annual Innovation Summit - February 18-19, 2020
On February 18-19, 2020, American Community Schools - ACS Athens hosted the 3rd Annual Innovation Summit in the Learning Commons, managed by the school’s Incubator of Student's Creative Ideas (ISCI).
For 2 days, the Innovation Summit featured a wide range of workshops including the areas of Mathematics, Technology (Fusion 360, Scratch and Makey Makey, Python with Micro:Bit), Health, Athletics, Optics, Energy, Recycling, Plastic Management, Sustainable Education and Entrepreneurship.
Students shared their intellectual passions by presenting their well-researched projects such as hydrogen cars, LED lightsabers, 3D and laser printed objects/labels. Piezoelectric drums and bio tanks used to generate energy were visible and the green city model displayed solar, electrical, wind, hydrogen, and oxygen energy used in everyday life.
According to Ms. MaryAnn Augoustatos, Director of Learning Commons at ACS Athens, the success of the Innovation Summit serves a greater purpose: “The innovation summit provides students with the highest level of student leadership that can exist in an educational institution. Students decide what topics will be taught for two school days. As educators, our responsibility is to channel students’ interests/passions/curiosities and research, to create positive changes, as responsible global citizens. The two days of the summit served this purpose. What an incredible celebration of learning!”
Finally, the President of ACS Athens Dr. Peggy Pelonis in her message remarked: “ Watching the students present with such enthusiasm and providing the platform for such projects to come to fruition was at the very least impressive. Hats off to each of the students (all three schools) and congratulations to you and your team for organizing such a meaningful event.”
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Wednesday, 04 March 2020 07:00
Tax Returns Platform To Open At The End Of March
The online tax declaration platform, for the incomes of 2019, is expected to open at the end of this month. Taxpayers and corporations will be able to submit their tax returns until June 30, and the first installment will be payable a month later.
Τhe higher ceiling for achieving the tax-free threshold through online payments will be applicable from the 2020 financial year. Consequently, the declarations submitted this spring will have the previous limits of 10% for all incomes up to 10,000 euros, 15% for incomes from 10,001 to 30,000 euros, and 20% for revenues of over 30,000 euros.
As of last year, couples receive separate tax clearance documents, concerning only their personal incomes and not the income of their spouses, regardless of whether they submitted a joint or separate tax declaration.
To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini
To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini
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Monday, 09 March 2020 07:00
When To Watch The Supermoon In Greece
The second out of the 4 supermoons of 2020 is expected tonight. Its elliptical orbit will bring the Moon closer to the Earth; tonight at 19:48, the full Moon will appear larger and brighter than it usually does. Compared to an average full Moon, supermoons are 7% larger and 15% brighter.
The next supermoon will be on April 8. Native Americans called the March full moon, 'worm moon,' because in March, the soil begins to soften causing earthworms to resurface.
The Moon follows an elliptical orbit, and so its distance from the Earth is not fixed. The average distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384.400 kilometers. However, this distance increases by approximately 5% at the apogee and decreases by around 5% at the perigee.
It is worth noting that the word supermoon is not a scientific term, but a name probably devised by astrologers.
Originally posted on newsbeast.gr.
Originally posted on newsbeast.gr.
Translated by XpatAthens.
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Saturday, 21 March 2020 19:57
Important Coronavirus Update - Schools Close Nationwide
School Closures in Greece - Updated on March 21, 2020
On March 10th, 2020, the Greek Ministry of Health announced the closure of all schools and universities as part of the preventative measures taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Greece. The measure applies to private and public schools, kindergartens, preschools, universities, and cram schools, and it aims to reduce the spreading of the virus.
The Greek Ministry of Education announced the extension of the closure of all educational institutions until April 10 as a measure to counteract the coronavirus pandemic. Niki Kerameos, the Minister of Education, has not ruled out an extension to the school and academic year so that students do not lose their year or semester.
To learn more about how to stay protected or if you believe you may have been infected please CLICK HERE.
Important Notice from XpatAthens
It is important to remind our readers that XpatAthens is not in any way a media source. While we do our best to keep our readers informed, we advise you to consult Greek media outlets such as ekathimerini.com, amna.gr, naftemporiki.gr, and protothema.gr and/or international news sites for up-to-the-hour updates on the coronavirus. Be wise and stay safe.
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Saturday, 14 March 2020 02:08
Important Coronavirus Update – Food Outlets And Malls Close Nationwide
The representative of the Greek Health Ministry, Sotiris Tsiodras, has announced new preventative measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The regulations aim to defeat viral infection by reducing the concentration of crowds.
So as of March 15, all malls, and department stores, cafes, bars, and food outlets–except delivery and take away restaurants–will remain closed.
So as of March 15, all malls, and department stores, cafes, bars, and food outlets–except delivery and take away restaurants–will remain closed.
Libraries, churches, museums, athletic centers, beauty parlors, and spas, hairdressing salons, tattoo and piercing studios will also remain closed for the next 14 days. Finally, the Greek Health Ministry has decided that lottery shops, casinos, amusement parks, and fairgrounds will also be affected by the above rules.
To learn more about how to stay protected or if you believe you may have been infected please CLICK HERE.
Important Notice from XpatAthens
It is important to remind our readers that XpatAthens is not in any way a media source. While we do our best to keep our readers informed, we advise you to consult Greek media outlets such as ekathimerini.com, amna.gr, naftemporiki.gr, and protothema.gr and/or international news sites for up-to-the-hour updates on the coronavirus. Be wise and stay safe.
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Monday, 23 March 2020 07:00
Tracking The Spread Of Covid-19 In Greece
In response to the need to quickly map the spread of the new coronavirus in Greece, post-graduate students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have created an application for the general public to quickly and easily report their symptoms.
If You Have Symptoms - Here's What To Do
Only complete this online survey if you have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms and allow your device to share your location. The process takes less than a minute and your responsible response can help map confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Greece.
The tracking system was developed as part of the MSc program "Environmental, Disaster, and Crisis Management Strategies."
If You Have Symptoms - Here's What To Do
Only complete this online survey if you have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms and allow your device to share your location. The process takes less than a minute and your responsible response can help map confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Greece.
The tracking system was developed as part of the MSc program "Environmental, Disaster, and Crisis Management Strategies."
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Wednesday, 25 March 2020 07:00
March 25th Amid Covid-19 - A Reason To Smile
Although it may feel like our days are all full of depressing events and statistics, that’s not the only picture. There are a lot of pretty amazing things happening in the world too and our friend and contributor Lynn Roulo has shared this list below to give us a wonderful reason to smile on today's special March 25th Greek holiday.
- The Goo Goo Dolls’ lead singer held a porch concert to help local small businesses impacted by the coronavirus.
- Formula 1 race car teams work with UK authorities to repurpose their expertise to build ventilators, which are required and in short supply for those with serious cases of COVID-19.
- Fashion designer Christian Siriano and Dov Charney repurpose their workshops to make face masks and medical gowns.
- 300 Chinese doctors and 31 tons of medical supplies arrived in Italy from China to help the Italians battle the coronavirus.
- Spanish police sing to families in lockdown in Mallorca.
- L’Oreal starts a solidarity initiative and is arming health care, pharmacy, and food distribution workers with hand sanitizer to help fight the coronavirus.
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk is gearing up to donate 250,000 N95 face masks for hospitals and to begin production of ventilators with the goal of having 1,000 ready by next week.
Lynn is an American Kundalini yoga and Enneagram instructor teaching a unique combination of the two systems, combining the physical benefits of Kundalini yoga with the psychological growth tools of the Enneagram.
Most of her adult life has been as a Certified Public Accountant (US CPA) working in the Silicon Valley/San Francisco technology start up and venture capital industries. In 2012, she decided to move to Athens, Greece for purely intuitive reasons. She's not Greek by heritage, she did not have a job here, she didn’t speak any Greek (at the time), and there wasn't a Greek man in the picture either! She simply had a really clear feeling that she should go to Greece. And so she did.
We're thrilled to collaborate with Lynn as an official XpatAthens Content Contributor! To learn more about her and all the great things she does in Athens please click here.
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Tuesday, 24 March 2020 17:56
How To Activate Civil Protection Alert Messages
Mobile phone owners in Greece were startled to hear multiple loud beeps on their mobile phones last week. It was a notification message from the Greek Civil Protection Service to warn citizens about the measures and precautions they should take against the virus. The SMS messages were written in Greek and English.
To date, the Greek Civil Protection Service has sent 3 alert messages prompting people to stay at home on the first sign of infection, to abide by the government regulations to avoid putting themselves and others at risk. However, the Civil Protection Service has confirmed that 10% of mobile phone owners did not receive the alerts. Here is how to activate this functionality and begin receiving these messages.
How To Activate Citizen Alert Messages On A Smartphone
If you haven't been receiving the alert messages on your smartphone, all you need to do is upgrade to the latest version of its operating system and make sure your device is set to receive CB alerts.
How To Activate Citizen Alert Messages On A Conventional Mobile Phone
If you don't have a smartphone, you can register here or by dialing 112 to receive alerts via one of the 3 following channels:
- Via Text Messages (SMS). If you don't have a smartphone, you can receive text messages. The message sender will be 112.
- Via Email. Receive an email that you can read on your cellphone, tablet, or computer. The email sender will be 112.
- Via Voice Messages. You will receive a phone call on your cellphone or landline number. The caller will be 112112. When you answer the call, you will hear a recorded or text-to-speech voice message
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Thursday, 26 March 2020 12:44
Free Housing For Medical Staff & COVID-19 Patients
In a period when Greece and many other countries in the world are in great distress, a Facebook group comes to offer a helping hand. Owners of empty Airbnb apartments around the country have been called to the rescue as there is a growing need for free housing.
Many members of the group willingly provide free housing to relocated medical staff and patients who need to self-isolate away from their families. If you own a vacant flat or house anywhere in Greece that you wish to offer for free during the coronavirus pandemic, please visit the "I offer my AIRBNB home for FREE during Covid-19 Crisis" Facebook group.
At the same time, the "Sino-Hellenic Investors' Confederation" is also calling apartment owners in Greece to contribute their vacant houses to front-line medical staff for free, during this challenging time. Offering accommodation to medics will allow them to rest near the hospitals, at the end of their shift. More importantly, this will significantly reduce the risk of infecting their family members. The "Sino-Hellenic Investors' Confederation" has already sourced 5 houses that have been granted to 5 medical staff members. However, there is still a need for at least 150 residences.
Please contribute to the cause by sharing this article. Let's protect the health of Covid-19 patients and their families; let's show our appreciation to doctors and medical staff by allowing them to rest safely without risking the health of their own families.
Please contribute to the cause by sharing this article. Let's protect the health of Covid-19 patients and their families; let's show our appreciation to doctors and medical staff by allowing them to rest safely without risking the health of their own families.
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Saturday, 28 March 2020 20:00
Clocks In Greece Go Forward An Hour On Sunday March 29
Daylight saving time 2020 in Greece will begin at 3:00 AM on Sunday March 29. At 3:00 AM local time, clocks will turn to 4:00 AM as daylight saving time goes into effect across the European Union.
Since 80% of Europeans said they were opposed to the clock changes, the EU has ruled to discard the time changing practice by April 2021. Consequently, each Member State will have to decide whether to remain permanently on 'summer time' or to change their clocks to permanent standard time.
This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab.
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