Spring Day at Maria Regina GJL

Over the past couple of months, under the guidance of a dynamic group of 11 teachers, hundreds of students at Maria Regina Girls' Junior Lyceum participated in Spring Day in Europe 2006 activities. This helped them understand better the EU and, in turn, brought it closer to them.

Some of our students reflected on the meaning of peace and then wrote delightful rhyming verses about it in English, German, French and Italian. Others sought the presence of the EU in their neighbourhood by interviewing local authorities to find out how their village or town is benefiting from EU structural funds, members of NGOs to find out about hunting regulations, people who have benefited from the EU's educational and cultural projects, such as Comenius and Leonardo da Vinci.

Other students sought and collected information about the EU's Millennium Development Goals and then reflected on how they can help Third World countries. A very popular activity among our students was that of identifying a local hero, someone who, in their eyes, respects, upholds and is a model of EU values of solidarity, democracy, the rule of law and peace.

Older students expressed concern about job availability in Malta in the future, the introduction of the euro, a better environment in our school, pollution and illegal immigration.

On two separate occasions, on March 24 and April 11, our students attended meetings with the head of the EU Commission representation in Ta' Xbiex and with the acting head of the European Parliament Information Office in Valletta.

A school-based activity which included a PowerPoint presentation and a discussion regarding the EU Constitution and the values in it was held on May 4. Dr Joanna Drake, head of the EU representation in Malta, attended and answered our students' questions.

Also present was Ms Louise Cutajar Davis, our Educational Officer (International Relations) who had originally invited our school to take part in the Spring Day in Europe 2006 activities.

During this activity, the work of some of our students was read aloud while that of others was exhibited on a board in the hall. On May 9, our students participated in the events that took place in Valletta to celebrate Europe Day.

During the National Forum organised at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, they put forward their proposals for a better future in Europe, in the presence of EU officials, who will then forward them to the EU Commission in Brussels. The proposals included:

¤ We want the EU to send professionals to help illegal immigrants in Malta regain their liberty as soon as possible.

¤ We want the EU to set up a European employment agency in Malta.

After the forum, students proceeded to the celebration of Europe Day, that is, to the reading of the Schuman Declaration and the flag-raising ceremony on St George's Square, Valletta.

Congratulations to all the students who took part and the teachers concerned - Ms Y. Bugeja, Ms L. De Marco, Ms Y. Dimech, Ms J. Farrugia, Ms D. Ferrante, Ms A. Micallef, Ms M. Mizzi, Ms C. Pace, Ms M. Schembri, Ms T. Scopazzi and Ms A.M. Camilleri, who co-ordinated all activities and uploaded all the students' work on www.springday2006.org In Dr Drake's words, their "effort shone through like the brightest star on the EU flag!"