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Hellenic Classical Charter School Celebrates 20 Years of Academic Excellence

By Athena Efter on April 23, 2025

The Hellenic Classical Charter School (HCCS), a National Blue Ribbon School, will celebrate 20 years this fall of providing students with a high performing, rigorous, standards-based curriculum rooted in the classics. What started back in 2005 as a vision has come to fruition. After its first location opened in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn, NY, HCCS has, in recent years, replicated its model into a second campus on Staten Island.

From left to right, Charles Capetanakis, Esq, Dena Capetanakis, Christina Tettonis, Joy Petrakos, Natasha Caban

NEO magazine caught up with Superintendent Christina Tettonis and Chief of Operations Joy Petrakos whose enthusiasm, commitment, and shared passion for their school continues to be a driving force of unstoppable progress. What makes these two charter schools unique is their mission to provide students with the linguistic foundations of Latin and Greek languages, a curriculum immersed in the classics with courses in Greek mythology, history and culture, as well as an education system of paideia, based on the Socratic method of engaging students in critical thinking, questioning, and dialogue that fosters debate and respect of different viewpoints. Joy Petrakos added that “the student voice matters. Through the paideia model of Socratic seminars, we engage students in student led instruction, facilitated with teachers, starting as early as kindergarten.”

Natasha Caban, Erik Joerss, Joy Petrakos, Father Damaskinos Ganas, Kamilah O’Brien, Karen Daniels, Christina Tettonis, Dena Capetanakis

The study of Ancient Greek Theater also plays a role in the curriculum, where students study Ancient Greek literature and perform Ancient Greek plays annually. This year’s theater highlight will be Euripides’ Iphigenia, which will be performed in May. Students are further acquainted in Greek culture and history by taking an annual trip to Greece where they research various topics. Students also participate in the annual NYC History Day Fair, and compete on city, state, and national levels. Visual arts, like music, dance, theater, and art, as well as sports, also play a role in student enrichment. Sports include soccer, basketball, and a running club. Science, math, and technology also figure prominently in the curriculum, with students learning how to build a car through the STEM based program Soap Box Derby. In fact, students as early as pre-k are introduced to computer science and programming by learning all about coding. Chess is also included as a supplemental enrichment program.

Cathy Kakleas, HCCS-SI Principal, Christina Tettonis, Superintendent of Schools, Joy Petrakos, COO of Schools, Natasha Caban, HCCS-PS Principal

This year, the HCCS marching band participated at the Flag Raising Ceremony at Bowling Green in Manhattan, and students marched in the annual Greek Independence Day Parade on March 30^th.

Spiros Moustakas, Esq., Bianca Rajpersaud, Anastasia Etimos, Joy Petrakos, Christina Tettonis, 8th grade graduate, Charles Capetanakis, Esq., Natasha Caban

HCCS has an ongoing relationship with the Greek government, which was very instrumental in helping with the founding of the school, as well officials coming to visit the school. Apart from being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, as one of 19 schools selected for this honor from NY state and one 362 schools nationally, HCCS has earned the NY state distinction of a Recognition School for its high academic achievement, student performance, and graduation rate. When it comes to the Greek regents, students receive a 100% passing rate. And, as a true testament to the school’s educational excellence, school leaders from Dubai were referred to HCCS for observation and learning.

Anastasia Etimos, Natasha Caban, Christina Tettonis, 8th grade Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honorable Mentions, Joy Petrakos, Charles Capetanakis, Esq.

With a combined enrollment of 1000 students and a diverse student body, starting with pre-k through grade 8, the Staten Island School has recently built a new building for its current grades 2-6. The school will add a grade each year, based on the charter, to eventually enroll students through eighth grade, like its sister school in Brooklyn.

Joy Petrakos, Christina Tettonis, Cathy Kakleas, Katerina Petrakou (Greek Teacher), Kindergarten Student, Nura Yasin (Kindergarten Teacher)

According to Superintendent Christine Tettonis “the focus is on strong, effective teaching, collaboration, and shared vision. We want students to come to school and love learning.” The school has an open door policy, where parents are very involved and viewed as partners, which creates a collaborative atmosphere and feeling of unity among teachers, students, and families. Joy Petrakos calls it “joyful learning”, and to celebrate student learning, student work is displayed throughout the school. Teachers also experience this sentiment of “joyful learning” by being strongly supported in professional development that helps them achieve their teaching goals.

Natasha Caban, Cathy Kakleas, Christina Tettonis, Charles Capetanakis, Esq., Spiros Moustakas, Esq., Nick Leonardos, Dena Capetanakis, Joy Petrakos

HCCS, with its emphasis on the development of critical thinking skills, has prepared students well through its motto of “wisdom, knowledge, truth”. Students consistently receive acceptance into top tier public, private, and specialized high schools throughout the city.

Joy Petrakos, Valentina Vargas (Natasha’s daughter), Christina Tettonis

While we did not get to speak to the principals of each school, we wanted to mention Natasha Caban, principal of HCCS Park Slope, and Cathy Kakleas, principal of HCCS Staten Island. They, along with Christina Tettonis and Joy Petrakos, form a dynamic team of women overseeing both schools.