On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the inauguration of the new building housing the “Charalambos D. Vellis” Amphitheater at the “John M. Carras” Kindergarten of Athens College took place in a joyful and emotional atmosphere. Members of the School’s administration and management, teachers, donors, and parents attended the inauguration of the building, marking a new chapter for the Kindergarten and reinforcing its already high educational standards.

The event was honored by the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion, and Chalkidona, and the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias.

Brief addresses were delivered by Alexis Phylactopoulos ’65, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic American Educational Foundation (HAEF); Vasilis Salapatas ’55, member of the Board of Trustees of Athens College in Greece; Professor Spiros N. Pollalis, President of Athens College; Tatiana Gouskou, Director of the Kindergarten; and Alexandros Samaras ’67, member of the HAEF, former Chairman of the Board of Directors, and architect of the building.

Alexis Phylactopoulos emphasized that Athens College owes its existence to the donors and benefactors who have supported and believed in it, and noted that the new Amphitheater and the Kindergarten building were made possible through the generosity and invaluable support of Fotini Livanos. He also referred to her father, John M. Carras x36, an alumnus of Athens College, in whose memory the two Kindergarten buildings were donated. As Mr. Phylactopoulos noted, John M. Carras, a prominent figure in the Greek-owned shipping industry, was also a great benefactor of the School, having donated funds for the creation of the College’s first Indoor Gymnasium, the first floor of the west wing of Benaki Hall, as well as the Church of the Holy Archangels.

On behalf of George Antoniadis, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Athens College in Greece, Vasilis Salapatas delivered a brief address, thanking the donors and reaffirming the Trustees' ongoing support for the School.

The President of Athens College, Professor Spiros N. Pollalis, thanked all those who contributed to the completion of the new building project, with special recognition for Fotini Livanos, who, as he noted, stands by the School with integrity, dedication, and a deep love for children. He congratulated the entire Kindergarten team and personally commended the Director, Ms. Gouskou, for the School's exemplary operation. He added that, in addition to donating the buildings, Ms. Livanos established an endowment to support the Kindergarten’s teaching and administrative staff in perpetuity.

The Kindergarten Director, Tatiana Gouskou, expressed her deep gratitude to her team and the School administration for their cooperation and support. She noted that the new building marks an important milestone for the model “J.M. Carras” Kindergarten, providing young students with a new space for learning, creativity, and inspiration, where they can develop life skills through art.

In recognition of her valuable contribution, Mr. Pollalis, together with Ms. Gouskou, presented Ms. Livanos with an honorary plaque, crafted from a clay artwork created by the Kindergarten students.

Alexandros Samaras referred to the late Charalambos Vellis, his predecessor on the Board of Directors, who had proposed expanding the College’s presence in early childhood education through the establishment of the Kindergarten. Mr. Samaras noted that he had wholeheartedly supported this initiative, voluntarily undertaking the architectural design, supervision, and coordination of the project, guided by principles of innovation and environmental responsibility. He added that, more than ten years after the Kindergarten’s inauguration, the new building once again honors Charalambos Vellis, complementing the original structure and completing the vision of its distinctive elliptical, fish-shaped design.

The ribbon at the entrance to the “Charalambos D. Vellis” Amphitheater was cut by Ms. Fotini Livanos and Ms. Lela Velli.

This was followed by a blessing by H.E. Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion, and Chalkidona, who spoke with particular affection for the College, where he had previously served as a teacher. He also mentioned that he had performed the blessing at the 2013 groundbreaking ceremony for the “J.M. Carras” Kindergarten.

At the close of the event, the Κindergarten students added their own touch by singing in the new amphitheater, while an exhibition of their artwork—curated by art teacher Ms. Magda Petmeza—was displayed across both indoor and outdoor spaces.