On Wednesday 20th September we welcomed back our academic staff after the summer holidays. After a short prayer, the Superior General shared his message with all the staff. He quoted the Greek philosopher Plutarch – “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled” and “The city before self”. The school first and foremost, the student, colleagues before oneself…
Soon after the school Director introduced the new staff members. The Headmaster reminded what Pope Francis said to the teachers – “I urge you to love the most ‘difficult’ students, those who do not want to study, those who find themselves in difficult situations, the disabled persons, and foreigners. In a society which strives to find a point of reference, it is a must for youths to find this reference at school. Your aim is to build an educational relation with each student, so that he may feel welcomed and loved”. The headmaster also quoted, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle…Be kind. Always”.
After lunch break, Mr Camilleri gave out information about new students with different conditions. Mr Aquilina spoke about the Assessment Policy and Mr Tabone about the work planned by the Pastoral Team for this scholastic year. He also shared some points about the Erasmus and e-Twinning projects.
We thank all the staff members for their dedication towards the school and we wish them a fruitful year full of positive experiences.
This was another busy summer at school. Besides the normal day to day preparation for the new scholastic year, extensive work has been done in the Science Laboratories and Art Room. The Art Room was transferred to ground floor level and instead of the Art Room we now have a new Laboratory so as to have all Laboratories close to each other. We installed new gas, electricity and water systems and we ordered new furniture for the Chemistry Lab. Repairs were made to the ceiling of the gym galleries which was damaged by water coming in from the shaft of the Dressing Rooms and extensive repairs were made to the ground fence. Our intention was to advance in the work of the Multisensory Room but due to unforseen circumstances this was not possible.
All this work can be carried out only with the help of your generous donations. We are committed to give the best education to our students and it is a pleasure to work with you parents to achieve this goal together.
We thank all our non academic staff for their work during this summer.
During the summer holidays every Tuesday, a group of students came to school to help out. They moved furniture from one floor to the other, painted chairs and tables, cleaned the gardens and lot of other work.
Wednesday 13 September, this group met for the last time, so we thought that apart from two hours of work we organized a few games for them and at the end we ate and drank together.
We would like to thank these students who took time from their holidays to carry out this work at school. We also thank Mr. Aquilina who coordinated this group.
On Saturday, 5th August we spent a day in Sicily together with Year 9, 10 and 11 students who obtained the most positive reports during the last scholastic year.
At 4am we met at the Malta International Airport for our flight to Catania at 6am. When we arrived we had breakfast in Catania at Piazza Duomo and visited the Cathedral dedicated to Saint Agatha. Soon after we headed to Mount Etna where we had time to explore the area and enjoy the spectacular views of the surroundings. Later we left for lunch at Giardini Naxos and then we visited the much awaited valley of Gole Alcantara. This botanic park is a valley surrounded by geological cliffs. Our students had time to enjoy a dip in the freezing water coming from the Alcantara valley. We then spent the rest of the day at Acrireale and had time to enjoy a delicious ice-cream at Villa Belvedere. After we left for the airport and arrived in Malta at around 1am. Our students were tired but happy to have spent a lovey day together.
We would like to thank Mr Tabone and Mr Aquilina, our Year 9, 10 and 11 assistant heads who organised this visit, the staff members who accompanied the group and the parents who give their consent to these students to participate in the activities organised by the school.
Jerome Carabott, has lately terminated Year 10 at our school. He was recently awarded the title of “Fjamma Żagħżugħa” (Young Flame) during a social evening in Żejtun “Ġieħ iż-Żejtun”.
Jerome excels at school. He also plays the coronet in the Beland Band, plays and coaches field hockey with Marsascala Heat Hockey Club and actively participates in all school subjects. At school he actively participates in co-curriculum activities, especially in Eco-School. Seven weeks ago, together with two other students he represented Malta and the school in a GLOBE conference at the Faculty of Science in the University of Prague in Czech Republic. Jerome is a humble youth, and he is always willing to share his talents with others.
After the celebration “Mewweġ mewweġ” which was held last May those students involved in the play were treated to an enjoyable day at Għajnsielem, Gozo. At 730 they left school to Ċirkewwa to catch the Gozo ferry. They walked till the beach of Xatt l-Aħmar were they spent time swimming and diving. Afterwards they set off to Dar Lourdes for lunch and a swim in the pool. They had a lovely time singing some of the Maltese songs they learnt for the May Celebration. Later they went to the Għajnsielem Museum to play football and other games. Before leaving to catch the 630 ferry to Malta they ended this lovely day with a spiritual thought.
We would like to thank Mr Aloisio for organising this day and the other teachers who helped him, especially Mr Miguel Formosa who directed the play in May. It was not an easy task to manage 52 students! We would like to thank these students who took part in the play and those who formed part of the band.
On Tuesday, 4th July the school invited the parents for a social gathering to celebrate the end of this scholastic year. It is always a pleasure for us to welcome the parents at school for an entertaining evening in the school hall. The Headmaster updated those present about the work planned at school during the summer holidays. He urged the students to enjoy their holidays and make good use of this time.
After everyone was invited to gather in the school ground for a piece of baked pasta.
On Wednesday 28th June 2023 the last phase of the eTwinning Project got underway. Ms Abdilla has worked on this project together with Year 8 students studying Italian during these last two years. The students began with their online contacts on the eTwinning platform with St Clare College Pembroke, Maria Regina College Middle School Naxxar, Istituto Comprensivo Salvo D’Acquisto Messina, Sicily, Marina Morales Bailén Carretera de Madrid, Spain and OS Vladimir Nazor Zagrebacka Pisarovina, Croatia.
On Wednesday, 25 students woke up early for their trip to Sicily. Upon arrival at Pozzallo, they visited Donnafugata castle. Afterwards they visited Scicli where they were entertained with a good meal and visited the village centre. In the evening they took a swim in the beautiful bay of Noto.
The second day: The students commenced the day with a visit at Salvo D’Acquisto school in Messina. There they had time to meet with this school’s students with whom they had worked on this project since 2021. Later they visited the city of Messina, with its renowned cathedral and its famous clock. After a good meal they had the opportunity to visit Centro Sicilia. The day ended with a good swim together.
The third day: After a good breakfast, they visited the city of Noto, Palazzo Nicolaci, a historical house which dates back till the year 1737. In the afternoon they visited also the village of Marzamemi better known as the village of fishermen. Here the students took part in a ‘photo hunt’that helped them familiarize themselves better and learn other words in Italian.
The fourth day: This morning the students visited Ortigia. They went for a play in the “Teatro dei Pupi” and also visited the city centre. After lunch they left for the much awaited outing – a half day at “Parco Aretusa”, a waterpark in Melilli.
The fifth and final day: On Sunday, the students and the teachers attended Holy Mass in the city of Modica. Modica is renowned for chocolate and rightly so, our group could not miss a visit to the chocolate museum and taste also the local food!
Afterwards they had an activity where they listened to typical Sicilian songs. Later the students returned to Pozzallo to boarded the catamaran back to Malta.
We would like to thank Ms Sharon Abdilla who in the last two years worked with these students on this project, and for her commitment to organise this visit. Thanks also to Mr Simon Camilleri and Mr Luke Borg who accompanied Ms Abdilla during this visit.
