Blakehurst High School honoured a very special colleague and teacher at their annual presentation day on Tuesday.
Toula Loizos passed away on May 28, 2016, having joined the school’s languages faculty in 2005.
Mrs Loizos’s had a broad range of teaching experiences in several public schools but her passion was teaching the Greek language.
She introduced a scholarship for excellence in the Modern Greek language, establishing a partnership with the Pan- Arcadian Association, who annually offer a generous donation to the school’s Junior and Senior Modern Greek students.
This year the Pan-Arcadian Association was represented at the presentation day by Christina Totsis, who presented the school’s award winners with their monetary prizes.
In honour of Mrs Loizos’ memory, two students in particular who were recognised for their outstanding effort in Modern Greek, are not of a Greek background, which speaks volumes for Mrs Loizos’s legacy.
Mrs Loizos’ son, Yianni Loizos, was in attendance, to present the Toula Loizos Memorial Awards in commemoration of his mother, whose impact at Blakehurst High continues to flourish.
Roula Evangelinos, the schools Open High School Co-ordinator, said Mrs Loizos was the driving force behind the school’s consistently excellent results our students achieved in Modern Greek.
“Her commitment, professionalism and passion, to both promote and instil a love for the learning of the Greek language and culture, is a legacy that will continue to be nurtured at our school,” Ms Evangelinos said.
“Mrs Loizos touched the lives of many people, and continues to do so through the foundations she built within the Language faculty and Modern Greek in particular.
“She was an extraordinary teacher, colleague and friend. Her warm and infectious smile is missed by all her knew her. She will never be forgotten.”