User:Lomaine/sandbox

Lomaine/sandbox Λανίτειο Γυμνάσιο
West entrance
Location
Limassol , Cyprus
Coordinates	34°41′24″N 33°2′29″E
Information
Type	Public Gymnasium
Founded	1819 (1819)
School district	Limassol
Principal	Maria Irodotou (current)
Secondary years taught	7th through 10th grades
Enrollment	653 (2024-2025)

The Laniteio Gymnasium (/lə.ˈnɪ.tɪ.oʊ/; Greek: Λανίτειο Γυμνάσιο, romanized: Laníteio Gumnásio), founded in 1819 as the Greek School, and established c.1984 as the Laniteio Gymnasium, is the oldest secondary-school in Limassol, and the second oldest in Cyprus, after the Pancyprian Gymnasium, in Nicosia.

History

Laniteio Gymnasium's history is tied to that of the Laniteio Lyceum, which both emerged from the split of the Laniteio Greek Gymnasium during Cyprus' 1980s education reform, which divided the school cycle into the Gymnasium and Lyceum cycles.

19th century

In 1819, a group of Limassol residents established the city's first one-year Greek School, with Demetrios Themistokleous (Greek: Δημήτρης Θεμιστοκλέους) as the inaugural principal. The school paused operations in 1821 due to the Greek War of Independence, resuming in 1834 as a three-year institution. From 1870 to 1913, Andreas Themistokleous (Greek: Ανδρέας Θεμιστοκλέους), son of Demetrios, served as principal, pioneering physical education in Limassol's schools.

In 1896, an earthquake rendered the school building uninhabitable, prompting the construction of a new facility with help from the Greek Government.

20th century

By 1906, the school was recognized as a five-year institution, largely due to Andreas's efforts, and in 1915, it expanded to a six-year school, attaining the same status as schools in Greece.

In the early 1940s, a school-housing crisis arose due to increasing student numbers. In 1945, Nicolas P. Lanitis (Greek: Νικόλαος Π. Λανίτης) significantly contributed to constructing a new school building, now housing the Laniteio Lyceum. Completed in 1952, the school was renamed Laniteion Greek Gymnasium (Greek: Λανίτειον Ελληνικόν Γυμνάσιον) in honor of Lanitis' contributions.

In 1960, the Greek All-Girl Gymnasium of Limassol began operating in the Laniteio School Area, later renamed to 1st All-Girls Gymnasium of Limassol, and finally 5th Gymnasium of Limassol in 1973 after becoming a mixed-sex school.

Following the events of 1974, and the sudden influx of refugee students, the 8th Gymnasium of Limassol started operating there. Laniteio, along with the 5th Gymnasium, managed morning and evening schedules.

During the 1980s education reform, the school cycle split into Gymnasium and Lyceum. Laniteio Gymnasium was established, and in 1985, Laniteion Greek Gymnasium was renamed Laniteio Lyceum A', while the 5th Gymnasium became Laniteio Lyceum B'.

21st century

Laniteio Gymnasium was relocated to the building previously used by the Laniteio Lyceum B', after the latter merged with the Laniteio Lyceum A' to form the current Laniteio Lycem.

In December 2018, the south expansion of the Laniteio Gymnasium was completed, more than doubling the school's size.