New Administrative Team for St Michael School

The new Administrative Team shall be led by the Headmaster, Mr Johann Tabone, together with Mr Christopher Aquilina, Mr Simon Camilleri, and Mr Karol De Bono as Assistant Heads.  Mr De Bono is an educator who shall start his experience with our school community from this scholastic year.  We congratulate them and we are sure that their dedicated commitment will be beneficial for our students and our school.

We would also like to thank Mr Raymond D’Amato, who for more than 40 years was part of the Administrative Team.  We thank him for his dedication towards the school during these years and we wish him peace and health.

The Board of Directors.

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Erasmus+ Project

Our school has officially begun work on an Erasmus+ Project, following a successful application process throughout the last scholastic year. The project, titled “Empowering Educators and Students: A Student-Centred Approach to Enhance Classroom Effectiveness and Reduce the Achievement Gap,” aims to transform the way we teach and learn.

Recognizing the need to increase inquiry-based learning and prioritize student agency, the project focuses on empowering both educators and students alike. This project will encourage students to take control of their learning paths and boost motivation in the classroom through a more student-centred approach. This project also aims to enhance students motivation, engagement, independence and critical thinking.

As part of this initiative, our educators will have the opportunity to travel to various European countries to enhance their teaching methodologies through varies courses and training opportunities. Additionally, groups of educators will be given the opportunity to conduct a job shadowing experience at schools in Ireland and Germany. Two groups of both educators and students will also visit these schools to collaborate further on the project.

We look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our school community, and we are eager to share our progress along the way.

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Rest in Peace, Dear Jake

STUDENT TAGĦNA MAR JILTAQA’ MAL-ĦALLIEQ – Illum waslitilna aħbar li kieku qatt ma xtaqna nisimgħu. Jake Vella, student tagħna, li f’Settembru li ġej kien se jibda l-aħħar sena tal-kors sekondarju, ħalla din id-dinja. Fis-snin li ilu fl-iskola tagħna, minħabba l-kundizzjoni tiegħu, qatt ma seta’ jiġi fiżikament fl-iskola. Tul dawn l-erba’ snin, kull meta kellu s-saħħa kien jidħol għal-lezzjonijiet online. Dejjem kien ikun assistit minn Dr Allison Mintoff Zammit, l-LSE li dejjem iffaċilitat, u assist lilu, u lill-ġenituri tiegħu b’dak kollu li kien jeħtieġ fl-istudju tiegħu. Għax kien determinat li bħall-istudenti l-oħra jagħmel l-eżamijiet tas-SEC, organizzajna laqgħa mal-MATSEC Examination Access Arrangements Board, biex nippreparaw dak kollu li jkun hemm bżonn biex f’Mejju jkun jista’ jagħmel l-eżamijiet bħall-istudenti kollha tamparu.
Żagħżugħ kuraġġuż, determinat li ma ħalla xejn jaqtagħlu qalbu. Mhux li kien iż-żgħażagħ kollha jkunu bħalu!
Il-Bord tad-Diretturi, it-Tim Amministrattiv u l-Istaff kollu tal-Iskola jesprimu l-kondoljanzi sinċiera tagħhom lill-ġenituri ta’ Jake li huma wkoll kellhom jagħmlu sagrifiċċji kbar biex jakkumpanjawh f’dak kollu li kellu bżonn. Il-fidi biss tista’ ssostnina f’dan il-mument iebes għal kulħadd. Agħtih O Mulej il-mistrieħ ta’ dejjem.
Dettalji dwar il-funeral tal-għażiż Jake jingħataw iżjed tard kif jaslulna.
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A Recreational Day in Gozo

On Tuesday, 30th July all the students who took part in the play Sitta u Sitta Tnax held at school last May together with all the students who took part in the Christmas play, went to spend a day in Gozo.  At 07:30 they left school to catch the ferry to Gozo.  They walked to Gorgun Beach to swim.  Soon after they went to Dar Lourdes to eat lunch and spent time swimming in the pool.  After they went to the Għajnsielem MUSEUM to play football and other games.

We would like to thank Mr Robert Aloisio, Mr Warren Busuttil and Mr Andrew Gafa who accompanied the students during this day.  Thank you also to all the students for participating in the school plays.

 

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Year 10 Live-In

Wednesday 24th July was the last day of the Year 10 live-in.  A total of 37 students together with 5 teachers spent 3 fun-packed days in Gozo.  They had mass celebration together, watched films, went swimming at the beach and in the pool, had barbeques and night hikes, played football and boardgames, had a pizza party and visited a convent and a farm!

It was indeed an enjoyable live-in spent simply and happily just as San Ġorġ Preca wished.  We would like to thank Mr Tabone who co-ordinated this live-in, Mr Aloisio, Mr Busuttil and Mr Frendo Cumbo who also accompanied the group during this live-in.  Mr Debono, the new Assistant Head also joined the group to start familiarizing himself with the students, before starting his new role at our school. Thanks to all for your commitment and time.

     

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Recreational and Social Evening

On Tuesday, 9th July a good number of parents together with their children welcomed our invitation and came to school to celebrate together the end of year activity.  Mr Aloisio prepared a quiz about the teams participating in the UEFA EURO 2024 and other games.  Mr D’Amato addressed the parents and students for the last time as Headmaster and congratulated Mr Johann Tabone who was appointed as the new headmaster.  Everyone was then invited to a piece of baked pasta (‘timpana’) and a piece of fresh watermelon.  Those interested could watch the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final game on a big screen in the ground.

It is such a warm feeling to spend a year working together and find time to re-create and socialise during these events.  We wish a happy and restful summer to everyone.

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Faith and Science: Lourdes Experience 2024 – 4th Day

Wednesday, 3rd July – After breakfast, the group gathered for mass at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto with a group of Irish people.  Soon after we had some free time.  Some opted for a walk by the lake, others went for the Via Crucis and others visited the castle or the grotto baths.

Before leaving the group took a group photo from the roof of the hotel with a view at the background.  Soon it was time to leave for Tarbes airport for the flight back to Malta.

It was indeed a fruitful experience full of knowledge and expression of faith.  We congratulate all those who were part of this trip and we thank the Headmaster and Mr Mario Muscat who co-ordinated this experience and Fr Daniel who accompanied the group as the spiritual director.

 

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A trip to Pic du Midi de Bigorre – Lourdes Experience

On Monday, 1st July the group had a trip to Pic du Midi de Bigorre scheduled on the tour programme.  After a one-hour coach trip and two cable cars the group found themselves at a height of 2877m on top of the Perinea Mountain. Although the weather was foggy and at times the breath-taking view was not clear, the group still enjoyed the panoramic views surrounding the mountain.  The group also had time to see various interactive exhibitions and participated in presentations in the Planetarium and Observation Dome.

Back at the hotel they had time to rest.  At 6.15pm they had mass celebration at the hotel and after dinner the group prepared for the Aux Flambeaux Procession.

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Visit to the Cité de l’Espace, Toulouse – Lourdes Experience 2024

Tuesday, 2nd July – The scientific aspect of this trip to Lourdes reached its climax when the group visited the Cité de l’Espace (https://en.cite-espace.com/) in Toulouse.  This cultural and scientific centre answers the questions one has about exploration and spatial technology.

After a two-hour trip to Toulouse, the group started exploring various interactive exhibitions found at the park.  They had also the opportunity to watch a show about the story of the universe in one of the largest planetariums found in Europe.  Later they watched the film Deep Sky on a big screen in an IMAX cinema.  The group had also time to go around the exhibitions and they had a tour to explore various real size space vehicles spread throughout the large garden found in this complex.

Later the group had time to visit the centre of Toulouse, the Capitol main square and went around shops to buy souvenirs.  Back at the hotel, they had dinner and mass celebration and later they also participated in the Aux Flambeaux procession.

We thank God for another full day of activities.

   

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Faith and Science: Lourdes Experience 2024 – 1st Day

During this week, a group of 40 persons including students and their relatives and members of staff are experiencing together a trip to Lourdes.  Upon arrival, on Saturday evening the group visited the cave were Our Lady appeared.  The following morning, soon after breakfast, the group had the opportunity to visit the three Sanctuaries and the house of St Bernardette.  After they took part in the International Mass which takes place every Sunday in the St Pius X Basilica.  In the afternoon, the group visited the Betharram Caves.

The religious aspect of this trip shall include the participation in the Aux Flambeaux procession, meditation of the Holy Rosary and moments of prayer in the Adoration Chapel. The scientific aspect shall include a visit to Pic du Midi de Bigorre, an astronomic centre and science centre with a height of 2877m on the tallest mountain of the Perinea Mountains and a day trip to Toulouse visiting the Cité de l’Espace, a museum and scientific park spread over 4000m2 and dedicated completely to space and astronomy.

We wish this group a fruitful and unforgettable experience.

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