St Monica School Prize Day

St Monica School in Gzira recently celebrated students' efforts and achievements during two equally important Prize Days, one for secondary schoolchildren and another for primary schoolchildren.

American Ambassador Molly Bordonaro presided over the secondary school prize-giving ceremony. The students were given prizes not only for placing first in a subject but, for the first time, also for coming second and third.

In addition to this, the usual prize for obtaining over 75 per cent, for Forms 1 and 2, and over 70 per cent in Forms 3 and 4, in five or more subjects, including Maths, Maltese and English, were given.

This ensured that more students were rewarded for their efforts. Equally important as academic prizes, sometimes even more so, prizes were also given for good overall achievement and for other desirable traits and characteristics.

Dr Mary Darmanin, lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Malta, presided over the primary school Prize Day.

All our primary students were rewarded for one achievement or another, academic or otherwise. The children's faces as they step on stage to get their certificates show how important it is for them all to be rewarded!

Ms Bordonaro and Dr Darmanin had fine words for the school's achievements; both were glad to see that the school sees to the holistic development of students. Sr Johanna Gatt, head of school, talked about all the changes taking place to improve the service given to all stake-holders, especially the students.

She explained how the school keeps abreast of changes in education, culture and the work environment in order to prepare its students to make the utmost of the countless opportunities available today and in the immediate future.

Sr Johanna emphasised the need to instil a culture of flexibility and dynamism in our students as life today is not static and one had to keep up with the pace to exploit circumstances that would promote a greater degree of self-fulfilment.

This year's musical was The Wiz, the supersoul musical by Charlie Smalls, based on The Wizard of Oz. The main characters are Dorothy, a scarecrow, a tin man and a lion. They are all looking for something or other, they all want something in particular - home, brains, a heart and courage.

The odd thing is that they all want what they already have, if only they would bother to think about it. Isn't that what we all do? We forget to look around us and inside us to see what there is - there is so much goodness and so many blessings to be counted!

The musical was directed by Mrs Emily Chircop. Mrs Carmen Xuereb produced the countless scenes that effortlessly transported us from one place to another. Ms Christina Chircop was dance choreographer, while Mrs Carmen Borg was the wardrobe mistress.

Mrs Lydia Grech directed the supporting choir and the school choir. In the control room were Ing. Cecil Chircop, Mr Brian Vella and Mr Carmelo Mamo. And of course there were the great effort and performance of about 70 of our students, of all ages, grade 1 to Form 4. It was a challenging musical but students were directed professionally and indeed gave a professional performance!

As always one cannot but link the essence of this occasion to the wishes of our Mother Foundress, Teresa Spinelli, the holistic development of every girl in the school. Every student must leave school with 'brains', yes, because these will help her on her way, but also with a loving 'heart' that mellows ambition and takes the edge off competition, and with 'courage' to take up a challenge and succeed. Above all we want our students to feel the school is a 'home' they can return to any time they wish to do so.