Building a healthy school environment towards positive learning

Three years ago the Ave Marija Primary School of Xghajra teamed up with a school from Bristol, UK, one from Zaragosa, Spain, and another from Lucca, Italy, to work together on a Comenius partnership project focusing on building a healthy school environment.

The schools have been working together for the past three years, providing an opportunity for their pupils to learn about each other's culture, traditions and educational systems. Together they planned various activities in which both staff and pupils were involved.

Last May, the schools' representatives held a meeting in Malta to review their work. It was noted that the Xghajra school had already hosted another meeting in which partners were provided with an opportunity to forge relationships and share teaching experiences. During the meeting, partners were impressed by the fact that the Xghajra school received the support of the school council, the local council and the community.

During the first week of July, a final meeting was hosted at Knowle Park Junior School, Bristol, so that the final report on the project would be drawn up. This activity was attended by Xghajra Primary School head Gemma Galea Scannura. The activity, which was co-ordinated by Steve Draper, enabled Ms Galea Scannura to meet the head of the Bristol school, Mr Cruikshank, who explained how the school is managed. A meeting with the staff focused on methods of teaching basic subjects and the incorporation of the project in the school curriculum. Apart from meeting pupils and observing various activities with a multicultural aspect, visits were also to some places of historical interest.

But perhaps the most important item was the setting up of an exhibition of works produced by the Xghajra pupils. This included charts, booklets on traditional Maltese games, information about Maltese recipes and traditions, festivals, nursery rhymes, photos of school activities and a video reviewing the various aspects of school life.

The Comenius project has been enthusiastically appreciated by both pupils and parents, who gave their support through the school council and the local council. Apart from providing the staff with an opportunity to exchange ideas, it also led to a wider understanding of the various educational systems.

Pupils' participation and involvement was very active: besides communicating in English with pupils from partner schools through letters and e-mails, they produced various works under the guidance of their teachers. They learnt new games and at the same time learned how to ensure a healthy and safe environment.

The idea of "Guardian Angels" was taken up so that pupils learned how to socialise, help each other, and combat behaviour problems in the playground and during the school day. Moreover a pupils' school council was set up to encourage pupils to get involved in discussions, understand responsibility and co-operation, how to play and make rules, use space wisely and thereby develop various skills. The project has been seen as an activity that has enhanced the school learning environment and the school ethos.