Phaeces Junior High School pupils demand construction of new school building with music video clip!
CORFU. Pupils, teachers, and parents exchanged ideas, collaborated, and supported the idea of creating a video clip that successfully complemented the song and its lyrics!
A Special Initiative by Phaeces Junior High School
Phaeces Junior High School undertook a remarkable initiative by creating a song aimed at demanding the construction of a new building to house the school. Pupils, teachers, and parents exchanged ideas, collaborated, and supported the creation of a video clip that successfully complemented the song and its lyrics!
The teacher, Ivana Salvanou, inspired by the Odyssey and the very name of the school—“Phaeces Junior High School”—wrote the lyrics and envisioned them as a slogan for the students to use in advocating for a new school building.
The music was generously provided by Vassilis Fagogenis, a mathematics teacher who, although teaching at another school, passionately and willingly contributed his musical knowledge to help bring this initiative to life.
Talented 2nd Year pupil Eleftheria Avloniti performed part of the song with her sweet voice, alongside her teacher.
The initiative and its activities, in addition to receiving full support and approval from the Parent and Guardian Association, were also shared with and received very positively by the Deputy Mayor for Education, Mr. Giannoulis. As the school notes in its introduction: “We believe that this action benefited the pupils, as it actively engaged them in reflecting on how to advocate for something through positive action. They realised that art and creative expression are fundamentally different from protests and slogans filled with aggression!”
Together with their teachers, pupils organised the activity, collaborated with one another, and expressed new skills through sports, traditional dance, and interpersonal interaction—skills they put into practice while filming the video clip. Even pupils who are typically more introverted in the classroom found their “voice” and took on a role!
Pupils also learned the value of cooperation with the local community and with the municipal representatives responsible for the school. They came to understand that they can advocate for a better educational environment without devaluing the current one—continuing to express gratitude for the generations that came before them. Yet, they preserved their right to dream and to pursue, with dignity, a modern and more suitable space for their academic aspirations, through a youthful song.
They demonstrated the power of new technologies, the internet, and journalism—which served as allies in making their song public and helping their voice and request be heard and taken seriously by the relevant authorities.
Congratulations are due to the school administration, to the faculty who supported the colleague who took the initiative to write and perform the lyrics, and to the Parent and Guardian Association of the school, consisting of an active president and dedicated members.
Congratulations to the wonderful pupils who, through artistic expression, are advocating for a new school—with dignity, without aggression, and showing love and gratitude for their current school!
Finally, congratulations to the exceptional Nikos Vlachos, who undertook the production of the video with the professionalism he is known for, taking into account the unique aspects of the school environment and showcasing the pupils’ potential through their activities, with respect and care.
May King Alcinous, the first of the Phaeacians, hear the pupils’ plea and build the new school!
Ivana Salvanou, educator
Watch the video clip
Photo/ Video: Ιvana Σalvanou
