“Paidiki Gonia” literally translates to “Children’s Corner” – the name that the founder Mrs. Nitsa Miltiadou had chosen for the kindergarten she decided to establish back in 1967. “Paidiki Gonia” was to become Larnaca’s first official kindergarten and was to leave an indelible mark on the town’s history, synonymous to joy, love and nostalgia.
What sets our school apart from all the other schools is the fact that all its former graduates always remember it with fond, loving memories. When they reminisce their kindergarten days, they are overwhelmed with feelings of deep longing and profound love for the school, its teachers and its big yard lined with pine and cypress trees. These trees were planted in the 1940s by Mr. Nicos Miltiades, husband of Mrs. Nitsa. He created this beautiful, unique green haven which was to become the heart of “Paidiki Gonia”, a refuge to all children, their parents and grand-parents. It was a daily phenomenon to watch parents and grand-parents sitting on the benches of the great big yard, underneath the big pine trees and not wanting to leave. They would start appearing around noon, in order to collect their children, but instead, they would sit for hours under the green canopy, chatting away, while their children would steal a few more minutes of swing time. It was a happy time for them all, and our school was more alive than any living being.
In 1969, Mrs. Katia Miltiadou, elder daughter of Mrs. Nitsa, joined the Paidiki Gonia staff. Among her many duties was the collection of children in the morning and their return at their individual homes at noon. Mrs. Katia used a small mini-van for this, accompanied by a second adult in the back seat who would help the children in and out of the vehicle. The collection and drop-off of the students continued for more than 20 years into the school’s history and was an important part of the school at a time when more and more mothers would join the workforce. Moreover, during these first 20 years, the kindergarten operated both in the mornings and afternoons. As time passed, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Nitsa, Mrs. Lia Kasiou who had just finished her studies in Early Childhood education joined the team. She not only taught, but she enhanced the teaching of music and dance. In fact, our school pioneered in the teaching of music being one of only a handful of kindergartens around the island that on a daily basis gathered the children around the piano to sing.
The school year was based on a well-organized system that touched upon the highlights and main events of the Cypriot calendar year. The first large-scale event of every school year was the 28th October National holiday where the children paraded with their Greek flags around the round-about in front of the school. Parents and friends of the school would gather to watch the parade of blue and white and cheered their children who recited poems in this mini-show that was always organized in the school yard. Following this, during the third week of December, was the big Christmas show that always took place at one of the town’s big theater venues. It was always a big production and the theaters were always filled to the brim with the families and friends of our students who came to watch the nativity play, the songs, the dances, the poems and the magical sceneries and images before their eyes. The show always ended with the arrival of Santa Claus who brought presents to all the children and ended the celebration with a joyous note. Further down the school year, Paidiki Gonia always celebrated Carnival with a big in-house party. The school would be decorated accordingly and the children would come to school in their individual costumes and enjoyed a day filled with fun, games, food, music and dancing!
The next big event was the Easter celebration which always prompted the creation of extra elaborate and festive artistic crafts conducive to the spirit. Mother’s Day was always celebrated in May with a day filled with song, dance and flowers, specially dedicated to the mothers of our students who always looked forward to their special day at the school. The finale of the school year was our big end-of-year celebration that took place around the month of June. This was the biggest event of the year and was also held at a large theater stage around town. It was during this show that the students celebrated the coming of summer and the school bid farewell to its graduating class. Our graduates would receive their first diploma and would leave for primary school equipped with the necessary academic knowledge and memories of their happiest years that would accompany them for the rest of their lives.
The years went by and no-matter how many new kindergartens opened up in town, Paidiki Gonia had a steady and loyal following since its former graduates went on to become parents who brought their own children to the same school. This was the second generation of students, and a few years later, it was followed by the third generation. Thus many of the children of the school were viewed almost like grandchildren to the staff. The staff itself changed very little across the years since our school was truly a magical place to work at. Many of the school’s former kindergarten teachers also brought their own children to the school. These were all lovely, cheerful ladies who poured their heart and soul to the school and each left their own special mark to the history and development of Paidiki Gonia.
In the summer of 2014 was the final end-of-year show that took place in the school’s own yard.
It was an unforgettable day!
It was a surprise to see most of the school alumni attend the show. They all showed up with flowers and the big school yard was too small to fit them all. Since that amazing finale to an awesome 50-year history, the school has seized working, the building has fallen into neglect and the green yard has been overcome with weeds and shrubs….
…Now, it is with great pleasure to see the school come back to life with new people full of ambition and appetite to work. There is currently a fantastic “renaissance” taking place. During the seven years that the school was “dormant”, its heart was still beating in the minds of all its alumni, its teachers and the town of Larnaca itself. Now, finally, the school itself is beginning to breathe again and is ready to continue serving and molding the new generations of the town.
Let’s embrace this revival and let’s continue the legacy of Nitsa Miltiades with new and amazing wonders!
