Page 30 - I have a dream

THE ENGLISH SCHOOL MA GA ZINE 2022

Celebrating student-led journalism and writing

FROM ‘THE BROKEN MIRROR’

TO ‘THE PHOENIX’

THE TEAM
Eleni Anayiotou
Feidias Psaras
Maria Eirini Liodi
Elina Zavitsanaki
Daphne Stavrides
Maria Thanassa
Varvara Lois
Irene Neophytou
Maya Vasiloudes Bayada

Rising From the Ashes of ‘The
Broken Mirror”, in 2015 the student
magazine transformed into "The
Phoenix". We feature a few select
editorials from “The Phoenix”,
introduced by one of the current
editors, Fideias Psaras 7R.

As my third and final year as editor of the school’s student-led
magazine, the Phoenix, comes to an end, I can say that the post has
taught me a lot. I’ve worked on five different issues, and played a
role in more or less every aspect that goes into putting out a project
with so many moving parts: the communication with writers and art
team members, as well as senior management and responsible
staff, the article selection process, proofreading, acquiring of funds,
its promotion and sales— all within a timeframe of two to three
Stavros Stavrou ESL07 months, two times a year.
The process requires a lot of organisation, and with the
It’s hard to believe that more than 15 years have passed since admittedly more lax attitude that comes with running a project
that hot, summer day that Stratos Hadjichristofis offered me the that’s independently led, can sometimes get to be bit
editorship of the “Broken Mirror”, the ES students’ newspaper at overwhelming as well. But that’s why it’s also never boring;
the time. The newspaper had started two years before, with Stelios whatever has to be done has to be done by you, and just as you’re
Pittas as its first editor. My year as editor was a special and fully liable for any messes along the way, you’ve also got full agency
rewarding one; a year which gave me the opportunity to get to over the process. Every time we retrieve the boxes full of printed
know the school better and appreciate its rich past and present. copies of the newest issue from the printshops, there’s a special
feeling of accomplishment that comes with knowing that you’ve
the phoenix new ideas and concepts. In June 2007, a few days before my ultimately you and your team have put together.
Despite the limited resources, economic and other, we succeeded
contributed to maintaining a platform for students to express
in improving the image of the newspaper, by introducing several
themselves about virtually anything, and that this is something that
graduation, it was my turn to choose the paper’s editor for the
The past few years, I’ve seen the Phoenix grow: in June of 2020,
following school year. I decided to pass the torch over to
we launched a website to make the magazine accessible in online
Dominique Pelides, the newspaper’s first female editor. A decade
form during periods of stay-at-home, which now features a shop for
and a half later I work with words daily, being a professional lyrics
newest issues and some tote bags designed by students, an archive
writer. I am certain that my year as editor of “The Broken Mirror”
helped me prepare for all the beauty and hardship that writing
Someone who’s read past issues—which are readily available now in
carries with it. And of course… deadlines!
the library of our school—must have also seen a noticeable
As far as the school is concerned, I always see it as a mirror in of pdf versions of past issues, and a calendar for future events.
improvement in the visuals that accompany the articles as a result
which I can see my younger -and more immature- self. And it is
28 certainly an unbroken one! of editorial positions dedicated to overseeing the organization of an
art team. Addition of more pages to each magazine has allowed for
successive issue of the Phoenix grows.
Stavros Stavrou more writers to be featured as the community involved in each
studied Modern Greek In the end, though, the pleasure comes from the Phoenix being
and Byzantine Studies something that’ll outlast you and your memory in the school; that
as well as Cultural and it’s a living, breathing thing that changes shape with each
Creative Industries at generation of editors, section leaders, proofreader, artists, and
King’s College, London. writers that it’s passed onto. It’s has been a sizeable part of my life
He now works as a lyricist for the past few years, and I hope that I’ve played my role in
in the music and theatre building it up closer to being something that’s definitively for
industries in Greece students and by students, and encompasses as much of the
and Cyprus. community as possible.
Fideias Psaras 7R, Phoenix editorial team 2019 - 2022