By Julia Georgiopoulou

Penguins are a groupof aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Except for one species, the Galápagos penguin, who is found north of the Equator. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage and flippers for swimming. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of sea life which they catch with their bills and swallow it whole while swimming. A penguin has a spiny tongue and powerful jaws to grip slippery prey. They spend roughly half of their lives on land and the other half in the sea.

The largest living species is the emperor penguin on average, adults are about 1.1 m (3 ft 7 inches) tall. The smallest penguin species is the little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor), also known as the fairy penguin, which stands around 30–33 cm (12–13 inches). Today, larger penguins generally inhabit colder regions, and smaller penguins inhabit regions with temperate or tropical climates.

• The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is located to Antarctica. The male and female are similar in plumage and size, reaching 100 cm (39 inches) in length and weighing from 22 to 45 kg. Feathers of the head and back are black and sharply definedby the white belly, pale-yellow breast and bright orange ear patches. Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. Its diet consists primarily of fish, but also includes crustaceans, such as krill, and cephalopods, such as squid. While hunting, the species can remain submerged around 20 minutes, diving to a depth of 535 m. It has several adaptations to facilitate this, including an unusually structured haemoglobin, whichallows it to function well at low oxygen levels, solid bones help inreducing barotrauma, and the ability to reduce its metabolism and shut down non-essential organ f unctions. The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, emperor penguins travel 50–120 km over the ice to breeding colonies which can contain up to several thousand individuals. The female lays a single egg, which is incubated for just over two months by the male while the female returns to the sea to feed. The lifespan is typically 20 years in the wild, although observations suggest that some individuals may live to 50 years of age.

• The little penguin (Eudyptula minor) is a species of penguin from New Zealand. They are commonly known as littleblue penguins or blue penguins owing to their slate-blue plumage. Eudyptula minor breeds along most of the coastline of New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands. They typically grow to between 30 and 33 cm tall and average weigh 1.5 kg. Little penguins feed by hunting small clupeoid fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans, for which they travel and dive quite extensively including to the sea floor. Important little penguin prey items include arrow squid, slender sprat, Graham’s gudgeon, red cod, and ahuru. The average lifetime for the species are 6.5 years, but some studies show that they may live up to 25 years in captivity.

• Behavior
  Penguins most of the time breed in large colonies, except the yellow-eyed and Fiordland species. The colonies may range in size from as few as 100 pairs for gentoo penguins to several thousand in the case of king, macaroni and chinstrap penguins.  Living in colonies results in a high level of social interaction between birds, which has led to a large repertoire of visual as well as vocal displays in all penguin species.  Agonistic displays are those intended to confront or drive off, or alternately appease and avoid conflict with other individuals.

Penguins create monogamous pairs for a breeding season. Most penguins lay two eggs in a clutch, although the two largest species, the emperor and the king penguins, lay only one. With the exception of the emperor penguin, where the male does it all, all penguins share the incubation duties. These incubation shifts can last days and even weeks as one member of the pair is getting fed at sea. Penguins generally only lay one brood, expect for the little penguin, that can raise two or three broods in a season. Penguin eggs are smaller than any other bird species when compared to the weight of the parent birds, which weights at 52 g, the little penguin egg is 4.7% of its mothers” weight, and the 450 g emperor penguin egg is 2.3%. The relatively thick shell forms between 10 and 16% of the weight of a penguin egg, maybe to reduce the effects of dehydration and to decrease the risk of breakage in an adverse nesting environment.  The yolk, too, is large and consists 22–31% of the egg. Some yolk often remains when a chick is born, and is thought to help sustain the chick if the parents are delayed in returning with food.
When emperor penguin mothers lose a chick, they sometimes attempt to «steal» another mother’s chick, usually unsuccessfully as other females in the vicinity assist the defending mother in keeping her baby. In some species, such as emperor and king penguins, the chicks assemble in large groups called crèches.

• Penguins and humans
  Penguins have no special fear of humans and will often approach them. This is probably because penguins have no land predators in Antarctica or the nearby islands. They are preyed upon by other birds like skuas, petrels, sheathbills, and gulls especially in eggs and as fledglings. Dogs preyed upon penguins while they were allowed in Antarctica during the age of early human exploration as sled dogs, but dogs have been banned from A ntarctica a long tune ago.  Instead, adult penguins are at risk at sea from predators such as sharks, orcas, and leopard seals. Typically, penguins do not approach closer than around 9 feet (3 meters), at which point they appear to become nervous..

• Movies, video games, comics etc dedicated to and inspirated by penguins
  Penguins have been the subject of many books and films, such as Happy Feet, Surf’s Up and Penguins of Madagascar, March of the Penguins, a documentary based on the migration process of the emperor penguin and Mr. Popper’s Penguins, the children’s book written by Richard and Florence Atwate and a great movie of success later. Penguins have also appeared in a number of cartoons and television dramas, including Pingu.
  A video game called Pengo was released by Sega in 1982. Set in Antarctica, the player controls a penguin character who must navigate mazes of ice cubes. The player is rewarded with cut-scenes of animated penguins marching, dancing, saluting and playing peekaboo. Moreover, penguins are also sometimes even depicted in music.

In 1941, DC Comics introduced the avian-themed character of the Penguin as a supervillain adversary of the superhero Batman. He became one of the most enduring enemies in Batman’s rogues gallery. In the 60s Batman TV series,played by Burgess Meredith, he was one of the most popular character, and in Tim Burton’s reimagining of the character in the 1992 film Batman Returns, he employed an actual army of penguins.

Source of information: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

BY DOROTHEA PAPADOPOYLOY – VIVI TAXIARCHIOTI

Cats first appeared around in 7.200 BC. Throughout the years their appearance and their characteristics have changed significantly. Although some of their personality traits are still the same.

One of their personality traits that has stayed the same to date is their love for playing and hunting. Domestic cats are predatory species which means they’re need to play with toys it’s constant. They are engaged in play fighting with each other and especially with humans. Most cats prefer spending their playing time with their owners. Domestic cats follow a set sequence of behaviors when hunting pray. They usually capture their prey by stalking it. They make slow movements in order to speed up the closer they get to the prey. They often capture it but not always kill and consume it which can be a cause of frustration.

Overall domestic cats are attention seekers. It is essential that we provide our cats with the entertainment that is needed. If we aren’t careful about this issue the cat’s psychology can be affected negatively.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat

By Alexandra Kossioni and Antigoni Vassilopoulou

It is a fact that all students, during their school years are going to write many standardized tests. Some people believe that taking this kind of exam is a fair measure of student achievement whereas others are of the opinion that there could be better ways of evaluating the students. Thus, the question arises: what are the advantages and the disadvantages of these tests?

To begin with, many believe that standardized tests are fair for everyone. All pupils are being tested under the same circumstances that are not determined by their school. Another positive aspect of standardized tests is that the government and the schools are able to monitor whether the students have made any progress or not and modify the teaching method, so that it can be suitable for them.

On the other hand, there are also many disadvantages that need to be marked. It is a common held belief that due to these exams, students often have to deal with really difficult and overwhelming situations. There are multiple examples that can prove the above statement, nevertheless, in any case, anxiety and stress can easily be caused. As a result, students tend to be less efficient to their studies and to their daily routines in general.

In conclusion, we firmly belief that, although standardized tests are a very stressful experience for all students, it is the only fair way to evaluate the children performance each year.

By Dionisis Chiras

Student life is the most fundamental and happiest period of the human life. Children in this period learn countless new things and information about life and they prepare themselves for the future so as to join society. Every day, they go το school and there they learn first of all, to communicate with other people and secondly, to cooperate with them by doing school projects. All these skills and information that school provides students with will be the key to a bright future to fulfill their dreams and complete their goals that they set every day.

Except for this part of the student’s daily routine, most students do extra-curricular activities. Some of them might be English lessons or private tutoring and sports. Another important thing for students is to take a certificate in the English language. Why do students want to take such a certificate? The answer is simple, because in this day and age English has become a worldwide language and speaking English fluently can help people and especially students in several ways. For instance, many jobs require the applicant to have an English certificate, so if a person has it, s/he can easily take the job. Furthermore, school often organizes school trips and some of them give the chance to students to visit a foreign country. In this case, speaking English can help them communicate with the locals and as a result learn more things about the country’s culture.

As for the sports that children do as an extra-curricular activity, they join different sport teams to do their favorite sport. In this way, they take a break from their exhausting, but also interesting daily routine, to do something they like and simultaneously exercise their bodies and keep fit. Some do individual sports, but others love playing team sports with their friends.

On the other hand, even though student life is so interesting, it is also very tiring due to the busy schedule that students have to follow every day. The long school hours, the homework that they have to do and the daily extra-curricular activities exhaust them and consequently there is lack of spare time for the students to do whatever they like.

To conclude, student life is a unique experience that children will never forget. In this period they learn many new things and do a lot of activities that they will probably never again have the chance to do. So it is important for them to have some free time to do something new every day.

By Maritina Haritou, Alexandra Karveli & Menia Grammatika

1. Find someone to walk through with you.
   Literally and metaphorically. Find someone to accompany you through the corridors, but also support you at any given situation. Find that one person, who will cause you tears from laughter and who will wipe away your tears of sadness.
2. Don’t worry, be happy.
   Grades, exams, teachers… They might seem a lot, but they’re not. You’re strong enough to make it through. It’s just a challenge. Prove how smart and intelligent you are and enjoy it.
3. Have fun.
   Choose the right company and find joy in the boring classrooms. Discover the funny side of your school. Spend these nine months with the most enjoyable way.
4. Be yourself.
   Show that beautiful self of yours. Believe in yourself. Be ambitious, in a healthy way, and reach the top. Make sure to show your unique and extraordinary personality.

By Eva Silaidi, Anatoli Betsou & Elina Plali-Sorra (A Class)

Did you know that what is learned in school can directly affect students’ future career success? Nowadays schools not only educate children but they also develop their character as well as their interpersonal skills. The question is how and when schools and teachers manage to do that.

From a young age children at school are taught how to increase their team spirit by performing several tasks such as keeping their classrooms clean, or even getting involved in projects. This can be extremely helpful, especially later on with their professional lives, when they will have to cooperate and interact with their colleagues at work.

Schools in some countries choose to offer students the chance to try out different college or university courses by providing them with a “gap year” between the 11^th and 12^th grade.  By doing this, students will have the opportunity to realize what they want their future occupation to be like, to find out more about their personal interests and of course gain some independence. This way they will be well equipped for a bright academic future, but also set high career prospects.

To conclude, schools should prepare their students for their later work life in order to assist them to succeed in the career they have chosen. Pupils should be taught the basics of social skills and how to rely and trust themselves. Hopefully this will affect positively their imminent business success.

By George Livieratos, Pantelis Kondis &

Androutsopulos-Agiotatos Vasilis-George (A Class)

Deciding what to study is sometimes important and should not be hurried, as it can impact future success and career.  For a few people, choosing a course is simple: they have always wanted to be a surgeon or had always passion for geography and art. Others, however, are facing a lot of trouble deciding what exactly they want to do in their life.

A quick major decision may only lead to frustration and loss of time. People who choose the wrong course end up being unhappy and having a lot of issues studying. In order to make a major decision, time and information are needed. Young people have to consider all options and ask for advice or suggestions.

Identifying personal skills and strengths and choosing a course that reflects the person’s abilities is essential. Teachers and tutors can also help their students recognize their strengths and weaknesses. This process will help them decide which course fits them. If they find the right course at the right university they will be inspired to succeed.

Students of this generation are lucky that they have access to high-speed Internet and have information readily available at their finger-tips. The use of interactive tools will help them find a course based on their specific interests and requirements. People who have completed university courses can give an insight from a student’s perspective and inform younger people about the pros and cons.

Career opportunities are also vital. Students must take a look at the career prospects of the course before selecting one. They have to consider various factors, such as income, job, security, stress, responsibility and other benefits.

By Ifigenia Bakogianni and Christina Tsoupra (A Class)

Switzerland

Switzerland with a rather flexible and varied educational system is in 9^th place based on the Pearson Education Group. Both the government and a total of 26 regional cantons (subdivisions of a country established for political or administrative purposes) share responsibility for higher and tertiary learning. Not only this, but the Swiss Financial Institution and Swiss Banking School also provide advanced Ph.D. programmes for students, with an emphasis on teaching wealth management and private banking.

Canada

Canada, placing 10^th in the Pearson Group maintains a level of consistency and reliability. In fact, this level of consistency and reliability is also a significant feature of the Canadian economy, and this was most notable during the aftermath of the global recession. The Canadians follow compulsion in the education up to 16 or 18 years.

Finland

Finland is fairly enough in the first place with the single most innovative and unique educational system in the world. It has turned its back on the centralized and evaluation-driven model adopted by the majority of the western nations. It has been recorded that all students attend college and enter into a higher education in general. The most important is that most education is funded by the public, and Finnish citizens do not have to pay tuition fees at any level. Last but not least, Finnish teachers are more focused on learning rather than testing. Students undergo the national examination (matriculation) at the end of their general upper secondary education. They seek admission into institutions for higher education on the basis of their matriculation results and entrance test performance.

School children are primarily encouraged to develop their social skills. Most students rarely get homework until they are well into their teens. School days in the early years are short, and much of the time is spent on educational activities instead of academics. Teachers place a lot of emphasis on play, art, music, dramatics, and storytelling. However, at some point, Finland is not considered no#1 anymore: the premature child admission is said to be a big drawback in the system.

To cut a long story short, Education is one of those things that is considered pretty important throughout the world, but it still remains that not every country does it the same and indeed some countries are better at it than others.
 

By Panagiotis Dimitropoulos, Tassos Karakoulakis, Vasilis

Daoularis & Panagiotis Antonopoulos (A class)

Every parent knows that getting teenagers out of bed is no easy task, especially when they have to go to school, triggering depression and irritation, with themselves prone to shouts of  » I hate you » and everything is «so unfair!»

First of all, students get significantly less sleep when they are in school term – roughly one hour and 17 minutes less a night than when on holiday. They also have to wake up considerably earlier – about two hours and 30 minutes sooner. In contrast, the students – particularly boys – tended to adopt a later sleep/wake routine during the holidays. Recently, a research showed that students believe they need about eight hours and 45 minutes of sleep, although during the holidays they tend to get about nine hours and 12 minutes. During school term, they typically get less than eight hours of sleep. As a result adolescents are increasingly using stimulants to compensate for sleep loss, and caffeinated and/or sugary drinks are the usual choice. The half-life of caffeine is 5 to 9 hours. So a caffeinated drink late in the day delays sleep at night. Tiredness also increases the likelihood of taking up smoking. Collectively, a day of caffeine and nicotine consumption, the biological tendency for delayed sleep and the increased alertness promoted by computer or cellphone use generates what scientists call a “perfect storm” for delayed sleep in teenagers.

All in all, skipping sleep can be harmful. You can look bad, you may feel moody and you perform poorly. So, sleepiness surely has a big impact in teenagers” lives and should be avoided.

Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21829130-100-why-teenagers-really-do-need-an-extra-hour-in-bed/