President inaugurates new premises

Some 400 guests - teachers, students, parents, grandparents and VIPs, including ministers, and guests of honour, the President and Mrs Eddie Fenech Adami - were invited to the official inauguration of St Michael Foundation for Education, the new senior school premises in Tal-Balal Road, San Gwann.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami were greeted on arrival by school principal Annemarie Carabot and her husband, director Alfred Carabot, and the School Scout Group playing the national anthem.

In a welcoming address, Mrs Carabot said that when she was little she had wanted to become a "teacher and a mummy", adding that in the first instance she had been able to achieve this thanks to the support of her family, her late father Dr Wilfrid Sultana, and her mother Connie who was present for the occasion.

As far as becoming a mummy, she added: "I have three lovely children and my husband Alfred has helped me achieve the dream I had 17 years ago." Looking at the two buildings behind her, she pointed to another block which still needed to be built, adding that her dream started with 38 students and today there were just over 1,000 pupils in kindergarten, junior and senior schools.

Following Mrs Carabot's address the school's headmaster, Mr Geoffrey Scerri, spoke of the high standards set in the curriculum where students are able to reach Fifth Form before leaving to sit for A-levels.

He also mentioned the importance of values and the way the school tried to instil these values in its students. He then introduced former students Martina Mizzi and Darryl Gauci, who spoke of their experience at St Michael School, from kindergarten to Fifth Form. They thanked everybody for the help and encouragement they had received throughout their life at school.

All present were then entertained by Form 4 girls to a polished dance which was appreciated by all present - showing just another aspect in the children's education at St Michael Foundation.

In his speech Mr Carabot, who opened with the words "It has been a long haul but we are finally here at Tal-Balal. Our Pembroke school was becoming too small to accommodate all our students", went on to say that there had been endless problems since the project first started, such as necessary permits before the foundations could be laid. Now, he said, it was time to build a future to guarantee the viability of the school and to ensure more facilities and equipment for the students.

Dr Fenech Adami then addressed the gathering and congratulated Mr and Mrs Carabot on their valuable contribution to education and their foresight in building such an establishment for the education of Maltese children.

He said he and Mrs Fenech Adami were particularly impressed with the standards set by the school. He added that he was speaking with first-hand knowledge since five of his grandchildren attended the school. He said he was also pleased to see the high standards now being set in Malta and congratulated the teachers and staff.

The President then unveiled a commemorative plaque outside the school's main entrance, with the school chaplain Fr Jesmond Grech blessing the premises.

President and Mrs Fenech Adami, accompanied by Mr and Mrs Carabot, toured the premises, all present being invited to do likewise. This was followed by a reception in the school grounds where parents, teachers, students and guests were able to enjoy the balmy weather in excellent company.