View video of Hawthorne and Socrates Academy students discussing Greek culture and history.

Hawthorne High and Socrates Academy students came together on Oct. 28 for a study session to learn more about Greek culture and history.  Over the past few weeks, Hawthorne’s ninth-graders have been studying Ancient Greece.  The students learned about art and architecture, society and wars.  To help make a real-life connection to the textbook, Tony Jenkins, a history teacher at Hawthorne and his class invited students, staff and members from the Greek community to the school to talk to students about Greek life.

“This session was helpful because we heard from people who actually lived in Greece and experienced what we read about in the book,” said ninth-grader Kamari Johnson.

Larry Peroulas, co-founder of Socrates Academy and George Couchell, owner and president of Showmars Restaurant, also attended the session to discuss growing up in Greece and the importance of getting an education.

“I watched my house burn down at five years old,” Peroulas said.  “It was rough, but I got an education and that was important.”

Socrates students dressed up in traditional Greek clothing and talked to students about social structure and customs.

The two schools plan to strengthen its partnership through ongoing student projects.