Thank you for the music, thank you Maria Assumpta Girls

A germ of a thought, a rumination, a flash in the mind, and eureka, a bright idea!

A performance starting with the end credits, a 'How it was made' sort of thing, a simple unassuming set, a digital backdrop with virtual actors and comperes. Voilà, at Maria Assumpta Girls' Secondary School, Hamrun, we have come up with the essential features for this year's Prize Day, which was held on May 5.

Dominic Said, not new to theatre in Malta, and Phaedra Borg, a dance personality, teamed up to produce this innovative approach to school show-biz.

We are indeed lucky to find such talent both in our members of staff and the students who deliver the rendition to perfection. At Maria Assumpta the girls love to dance and are known to turn up in large numbers for prize day auditions. At the end of it all, each one in a cast of 103, takes to the stage like a prima donna.

The theme for this year's production was Thank you for the music - a dazzling spectacle of beautiful costumes, well-choreographed movements and the best we could could bring out of light and sound technology and stagecraft.

School theatre performances have been turned into art. The programme of five presentations is tight, one for our own students, another for other schools, Prize Day, another show for the general public, and another for the elderly, a sweet thought which came from the girls - on May 31 during school hours.

The school comes alive as the girls and staff get involved in make-up and other sundry preparations. Parents also drop in to give a helping hand with flower arranging and final touches.

The whole list is a tall order. But there is a strong crew in the light and sound control room for backstage continuation - creative stage designers and poster artwork, which was computer developed at the school's reception desk.

Textile studies teachers are now old hands at being wardrobe mistresses. The ceremonial and organisational preparations were under the supervision of Mr Adrian Casha, assistant head, aided by the librarians.

In my address, as the school's headmaster, I spoke about challenging behaviour and students at risk, the main thrust being the value of a good education and hence the importance of a positive teaching environment.

Prize Day evening was presided over by Helen D'Amato, Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care, who appealed to those present for the values of good parenthood and co-operation with the school for the welfare of their daughters.

Other distinguished guests included the Shadow Minister of Education, Carmelo Abela, the director -general of Education, Dr Cecilia Borg, the president of the school council, Bertie Muscat, many other heads of schools, education officers, head girl Ritianne Muscat, and past and retired staff.

Now what? First we treat the girls to an outing they deserve, organise this year's album and mementoes, then get them back to reality, hitting their books for their annuals, and finally, a post scriptum.

The homes for the elderly and other community care institutions are invited to e-mail us at assunta.gss@gov.mt for booking. We'd love to have you, so it's all on the house, save transport.