2025 End of Summer Term Newsletter – Classics for All, Travel Updates, Films, Greek Blogs, Resources, End of Term Activities, Summer Reading and (as they say) much, much more

025 END OF SUMMER TERM 2025 Newsletter – Classics for All, Travel Updates, Films, Greek Blogs, Resources, End of Term Activities, Summer Reading and (as they say) much, much more…….. not least an especially brutal feedback by 9yr old James!

Photographs from recent trips to Crete, Provence and Greece – with thanks!

Χαίρετε! Salve! Greetings!

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Classics for All

The need to assist both the introduction and maintenance of Classical subjects remains an essential, and thus, we are highly chuffed to announce our sponsorship of the very valuable work carried out by Classics for All! We look forward to attending the Impact Awards Teaching Awards Ceremony later this month in recognition of outstanding achievements of schools, teachers, and network coordinators working with CfA.

Travel Updates – more changes afoot.

Some things are out of our control, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work hard towards a resolution! PLEASE keep up us updated with your feedback!

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GENERAL

i – Teachers need to ensure students without a UK passport can prove the following to avoid issues returning to the UK :

You do not need an ETA if:

you have a visa
you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled statusor right of abode)
you are transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through border control – check with your airline if you are not sure
you are a British or Irish citizen
you are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
you are travelling with a British National (Overseas) passport
you live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
you are a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form
you are exempt from immigration control or obtaining permission to enter

ii – BA have always been so good for our groups with a 4–5-week period of holding seats and a £150pp deposit. However, at the end of March they changed their T&Cs. No longer will it be possible to reserve seats for 4/5 weeks without deposits; the maximum time now is 10 days. Consequently, we will now have to add a £50.00 buffer to all quotes as we already do for other airlines.

iii – Both Italian and Greek Sites and Museums are now extremely stringent in checking pupil ages. Some sites are worse than others and some guardians are particularly enthusiastic in the execution of their remits! It’s best if all pupils have passport details on their ‘phones as well as GLs having them. Over 18yrs are subject to additional entry fees.

iv – One GL reports (thanks!) “Please don’t make the serious error of printing the boarding passes double-sided and then not pairing pupils up before check-in queue at Gatwick. The Easyjet staff could not have been nicer and more accommodating of the chaos which unfolded.”

v – There is a new airport scanner which negates/obviates the need for unpacking liquids and meds. Certainly, I had no request to remove medical sharps, but apparently not all airports have them and those that do, do not always use them! Just be prepared for a little confusion until they are installed nationwide.

GREECE

i – Pupils over 18yrs (in schools) will be charged full price for Site and Museum Entry. Yes – twice as much as Staff who have 50% discount in contrast to Uni students who have special arrangements. We are lobbying, but VI Form Tutors and Colleges PLEASE be aware!

ii – The Athens National Archaeological Museum has become tardy in updating online Seasonal Entrance Hours and the change over from Winter to Summer hours was not prompt. Possibly in advance retaliation of staff contract curtailment during proposed museum mega upgrade or simply human error and staff shortages, but it’s something we all need to keep an eye on. Huge apologies to the one school affected – the museum did confirm the timed entry slot!

iii – The new advanced ticketing system worked surprisingly well overall with only a few, manageable, glitches. The most problematic was Delphi Museum as the guardians understanding of entry hours differed from those online!

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ON LINE RESOURCES / CONTACTS

I – A digital map of ancient Greece and the known ancient world as traveled by ancient geographers has been created by researchers at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

II – Hellas Revival Educational Workshops. We can’t book for you (added fee, too expensive) but we have received good reports. Indeed, Teachers have recommended them to us!

III – The Diastello Project

IV – We often forget the basics, so here’s a reminder of some very practical ‘in the know’ contacts for general tips – Romewise, Napleswise and Florencewise

V – Similarly, whilst planning off the track personal recce trips or indeed planning school trips, almost everything you need to know about Roman and Greek Sites – Rob at Roamin’ the Empire is really the only stop off point you’ll ever need!

VI – On my first visit to Delphi I had just begun to learn Classical Greek. 24 years on and I’m still enjoying this inscription about the people of Chios. I love Greece and can’t wait to go back. In the meantime, I’ll read more Greek as I look forward to my next visit. While you wait for your visit to Greece or Rome, whether it’s this summer or far in the future, let’s read Greek and Latin together. It’s what Euripides and Cicero would have wanted. Join me online or in Belfast this July for some Greek and Latin. Info here helenmcveigh.co.uk/belfastsummerschool

VII – Maybe this isn’t the correct forum (and we’ve not used it) but we certainly would have welcomed this in our mad ‘let’s take off for six weeks but what do we do with the pets’ phase! “Who will take care of our kids?” – Trusted House Sitters

FILMS

I – John Malkovich Receives an Ancient Rome Death Sentence in Seneca Trailer

II – Greek director Yiannis Stravolaimos is helming a groundbreaking film, Nenikikamen (“We Have Won”), which recreates the 490 BCE Battle of Marathon entirely in Ancient Greek and Old Persian. This ambitious project aims to immerse audiences in classical antiquity with unparalleled linguistic and cultural authenticity.

OUT and ABOUT – Blogs and Suggestions

The H.M.Classics Academy ran their first overseas trip with us and have very graciously proffered three amazing Blogs. The first is brutally honest!

I – My blog with photos – James Sweatman (age 9yrs) Attachment A

James has offered his services for Power Point Presentations, but maybe check with his mum, Dr Lucy Sweatman first……….

II – What Zoe did in Greece – Attachment B.

A year ago, Zoe was in hospital with a spinal injury, and it left her with lasting damage. When she was discharged, one of the first things she did was book a place on the Greece trip. Was Zoe going to let the spinal injury stop her? Absolutely not! Thank you so much for letting us share this, Zoe.

III – The first H.M.Classics Academy trip – Helen McVeigh. Attachment C

IV – Athens Epidaurus Festival Celebrates 70 Years with Vibrant Global Program

The 2025 edition opens on May 28 at the iconic Lykavittos open-air theater atop Lycabettus Hill in Athens and concludes on August 30 at the atmospheric Little Theater of Ancient Epidaurus. International stars such as Juliette Binoche, Ulrich Rasche, Teodor Currentzis, Ariane Mnouchkine, Arca, Carolina Bianchi, Hilary Hahn with the Munich Philharmonic, Yuja Wang, and William Kentridge are set to headline.

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WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE CLASSICAL WORLD?

Lots, actually! The eventual opening of the North Side of the Akropolis, a new route beneath the Colosseum, the Forum/Palatine Magna Mater Exhibition (Parco archeologico del Colosseo), lots of new developments in Pompeii (despite recent earthquake damage) and Herculaneum PLUS UK Sites almost overtaking the Mediterranean with discoveries and exhibitions!

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GREECE – Attachment D

ITALY – Attachment E

UK – Attachment F

CROATIA, ALBANIA, SCANDANAVIA, BALKANS, POLAND, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, BLACK SEA – Attachment G

SWITZERLAND, GERMANY/AUSTRIA, FRANCE, SPAIN – Attachment H

TURKEY, EGYPT, ISRAEL, IRAN, IRAQ, LIBYA – Attachment I

A miscellaneous collection of diverse and eclectic articles on Greece and Rome for your whimsy – Attachment J

End of Term Activity Suggestions and other stress relieving activities………

I – Pompeii quiz: How much do you know about the Roman town destroyed by Mount Vesuvius?

II – Relieving stress with Pompeii building project by Givenni

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III – Dr. Ella Hawkins Reimagines Ancient Artifacts and Prized Objects as Edible Replicas

IV – After winning a few LEGO Ideas competitions, one fan designer has now graduated to the 10K Club with a fan-designed Roman Forum.

FINALLY – a lovely comment from a Teacher about to move schools………

“This is my third trip this year with Hellene and they have all been excellent. They have massively increased the profile of the Classics department at the school, and the students have loved them. I am already planning my upcoming trips, and discussion of trips formed a major part of the job interview there.”

Good Luck with the run down to End of Term and all it entails!

Hope to see you at the ARLT Habs Mon!

Very Best Wishes,
The Hellene Team

Sarah, John, Claudia, James, Kerry, Nidhi and Vishal