Get creative this summer

The Fun Factory summer school will be back again in Pembroke with a fun-packed programme designed to coax the creative best out of children.

The summer school for children aged three to 12 will be held on Monday and Wednesday mornings at Pembroke Primary C in July, with a repeat in September. It uses the internationally-acclaimed Helen O'Grady Academy teaching systems that merges arts and crafts with developmental drama to produce surprising results.

The creative arts - including music, movement, dramatic play, puppetry, painting, sculpture, and drawing - are a crucial part of early childhood. Not only do the arts allow children to express themselves, but creative activity can enhance development of children's skills in literacy, creative writing, history, social studies, and more.

Principal Alan Montanaro explained that the first half of the mornings would be spent building props, sets and accessories which would then be used during the second half during a high-energy dance and drama segment. "For instance, if a medieval period play is being worked on in the drama section, the children will create their own suits of armour, pointed hats and castle sets for use in the play at the end of each week," he said.

A different play will be produced each week to give all each and every child a chance to shine.

This year, the programme would also be adding improvised movement and dance into the mix for students up to the age of 12, and a programme has been specifically designed for three- to four-year-olds that would include arts and crafts, movement, educational sing-alongs, story-telling and drama.

Creative arts are acknowledged to be important to people's social health, "and what better way than to get them when they're young and at an age when creativity and make-believe is inherent?" says Katherine Brown, who will be running the kinder programme.

Registrations will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information and enrolments call Mr Montanaro on 2146 5928, 7964 7239 or e-mail alan@helenogradymalta.com.