Geographical Data A few things about where we are in Europe, in Greece (Hellas), in Attica. Presentation of our flag and of what it symbolizes. Some data about weather and population. Some information about Athens, our town, Helioupolis and our school.

Map of Europe (look for us in the east)

Map of Greece

Map of Attica Athens: city center, Helioupolis: southern suburb

Country Profile Capital:Athens Language: Greek 99%(official), English Weights and Measures:Metric Currency:EURO (EUR) Time ZoneGreece operates on Greenwich mean time (GMT) plus 2 hours (GMT + 3 during daylight saving time). (GMT + 3 during daylight saving time). (downloaded by the pupils)

The Greek Flag The stripes represent the number of the syllables in the phrase: Eleftheria i Thanatos (Liberty or Death). Liberty or Death was the motto during the years of the Hellenic Revolution against the Ottoman Empire in the 19nth century. The striped pattern was chosen because of its similarity with the wavy sea that surrounds the shores of Greece. The interchange of blue and white colours makes the Greek Flag on a windy day to look like the Aegean Pelagos (sea). Blue and White. These two colours symbolize the blue of the Hellenic Sea and the Whiteness of its restless waves! In addition, it reflects the blue of the Hellenic Sky and the White of the few clouds in it. The Hellenic Square Cross that rests on the upper left-side of the flag demonstrates the respect and the devotion the Hellenic people have for the Greek Orthodox Church. ( the text was downloaded and edited by the pupils)

What’s the weather like in Greece In spring the average temperature ranges from 16 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius. In summer the average temperature ranges from 28 degrees Celsius to 31 degrees Celsius. In autumn the average temperature ranges from 19 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius. In winter the average temperature ranges from 7 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius.

Population There aren’t many of us! Population of Greece: 10,964,020 people (5,431,816 men; 5,532,204 women) Population of Athens: 4,200,000 Population of Helioupolis, our town is 75,904 Three biggest population centers are: Athens, Salonica, Patras, Volos, Larissa and Hearaklio (in Crete) Age structure: 0-14 years 15% of the population (828,585 male, 779,902 female) years 67% of the population (3,580,079 male; 3,574,788 female) 65 years and over (815,247 male; 1,022,916 female)

Athens Modern Athens is a a very beautiful city. It is the capital of Greece. Many tourists visit Athens because it has many museums and historical sites. In Athens you can visit the Parthenon (on the left, above), the Academy (below), Lycabetos hill, Plaka, Zapeo.

Greek Parliament & Syntagma (Constitution) Square The Panathenean Stadium

History of Athens (in brief) Athens was named after Athena, the goddess of Wisdom and Peace in ancient Greek mythology. Ancient Athens was a powerful city-state and famous centre of learning. By the time of the Crusades, it was already reduced to a provincial town. In 1458 Athens fell to the Ottoman Empire. After the Greek War of Independence Athens was adopted as the capital of the newly established Greek State in 1833.

Helioupolis in 1925 a new suburb is planned Street plan, Zoning plan by the Hellenic Ministry of Transport

We live in Helioupolis. Helioupolis is a suburb of Athens. It is 6 kilometres away from the center of Athens. It is built at the feet of mountain Ymetos. Helioupolis was named after the sun(=helios in Greek) which rises behind the mountain Ymetos. Polis means city in Greek. Therefore, Helioupolis is “the City of the Sun”!

Brief history of our town At the beginning of the 20 th century Paul Dranakis came to Greece from Egypt. He built Helioupolis using the urban plan of ancient Helioupolis. In people lived in Helioupolis In February 1964 Helioupolis became a municipality.

Helioupolis: our town Helioupolis is a beautiful suburb of Athens. In Greek mythology one of the sons of Uranus(sky) and Gaia (earth) founded Helioupolis (Sun City). The residential streets are aligned to shape like an oval almost the same as Sun City, Arizona. Founder and ‘ Godfather ’ of Helioupolis was a Cretan Pavlos Dandrakis who named it after Helioupolis in Cairo, where he lived as a young man. Today Helioupolis has schools, banks, parks, a post office, a cycling center, a museum and an open theatre “ Dimitrios Kintis ” (named after a local hero).

Our School Our school is a nice building near a park with a playground. It is in Myconos Street, in Helioupolis. It has got three floors. There are twelve classrooms on the first and second floors. On the ground floor there are the teachers' office, the headmistress’s office, the library, the canteen, boys’ and girls’ restrooms, two storerooms for P.E. material, the dining room and the ‘Internet’ room. Near the entrance, there is a big hall where all school celebrations take place. There are 17 teachers for 209 students in our school. The fifth grade has got 41 students and there are 20 students in our class.