History of the School
The school was initially built in 1932.
As Patroklos Karantinos, one of the most representative architects of the 20th century Greek Architecture, stated: “It was the largest in terms of dimensions of its construction within the ministerial programme. It included an eight yearlong middle school, two six yearlong primary schools in a single building, in the shape of the Greek letter – Γ – and a third part which included a Physical Education shelter that provided locker rooms and restrooms, as well as a ceremony room. The typology of the complex was quite conventional: the 3 buildings were located on 3 sides of a central area with sports facilities.”
According to oral testimonies, during the occupation the school complex of Amarousion (as Maroussi was called) was occupied by the Germans and the Italians and was turned into two hospitals for the men of their forces. The middle school -today’s Senior High School for the Germans, while the Primary School for the Italians. However, the school continued to work as an institution at the time of the occupation as shown by rescued archives, having transferred all its functions where it had been before, at the Old City Hall and at an adjacent building, at the Heroes’ Square.
The gym was demolished in the 70s and in its place the 1st Junior High School of Maroussi was erected. Additions were made at the north part of the block, at the building that shelters today the 1st Senior High School of Maroussi.
Since the summer of 2022 the 1st Junior High School of Maroussi functions as an experimental school named the 1st Experimental Junior High School of Maroussi.
The School today
The 1st Experimental Junior High School, with around 200 students aged 12 to 15, is located in Maroussi, a northeastern suburb of Athens. Just across from our school lies the biggest forest in urban Athens, the Syggrou Grove, and in a close distance there is the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, the largest sports complex in Greece built for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Overall, the school is conveniently situated near public transport stations and shops, on Kifisias Avenue which connects Maroussi with the centre of Athens.
As it is an Erasmus accredited school, our school constantly promotes the European dimension of education by participating in eTwinning, Erasmus+KA1, KA2 and Twinning programmes. Being also an experimental school, it is committed to the implementation and dissemination of innovative educational practices and runs several after school Clubs on Sciences and Humanities as put forward by the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. Moreover, it provides practical training field for University students who intend to follow educational career and organises or joins innovative actions through optional educational programmes initiated by teachers. Every year it hosts several student events (e.g. theatre performances, national school competitions, photography exhibitions, charity work to support vulnerable groups), and maintains strong ties with public benefactors and local community organisations in an effort to engage and empower both educators and students.
School Infrastructure
In the 1st Experimental Junior High School of Maroussi there are:
9 classrooms with computers and projectors
A Computer Lab
A Science Lab
A Biology Lab
An Arts/Technology Room
Α Music Room
A Head Teacher’s Office and a Deputy Head Teacher’s Office
A Teachers’ Office
Α small multipurpose room
Α spacious multipurpose room (Gymnasium and Event Hall)
Translated by: Nefeli Antoniou, Lydia Valsami & Elpida Asprogianni, C’ class students
(members of the Young Translators Group of the School,
coordinated and supervised by T. Bougioukou, ΕFL teacher, academic year:2022-23)
