The Association of Parents of Children in Church Schools (APCCS), in collaboration with nine Church schools, recently held its annual ‘Talent Show’ to welcome new students and their parents.

During the event, held at Stella Maris College, Gżira, students from Church primaries and secondaries entertained families of new students.

Young students from Teresa Nuzzo school, Marsa, and St Joan Antide school, Gudja, sang lively and animated songs to put everyone in high spirits.

The Double Glazed Band from the Archbishop’s Seminary Boys Secondary School, Rabat, entertained the audience with various songs, ending with Paint it Black from the Rolling Stones.

Francesca Gauci from St Joseph Senior School, Sliema, gave a performance of jazz dancing. Two other solo singers from St Dorothy’s Senior School, Żebbuġ, also contributed to the event.

Annalisa Ebejer from St Joseph school, Paola, and Louisa Camilleri from St Dorothy’s school, Sliema, were the presenters for the show.

Association president Doreen Camilleri welcomed the new students and their families and briefly outlined the work carried out in the past year by the APCCS.

The National Curriculum Framework, the preliminary report on the supply of school uniforms recently published by the Department of Fair Competition, and the sexuality and relationship policy being drafted by the health authorities are among the various matters currently being dealt with by the APCCS council.

Mrs Camilleri said the association is now being consulted on various issues rather than being informed, adding that this augurs well as it indicates that parents are being considered as main stakeholders by policy makers and school management.

Earlier this year, the asso­ciation held a national conference for parents entitled ‘Parents are the primary educators of their children’ during which the bench marking exercise undertaken by primary schools, the sexuality and relationship policy, and various other issues were addressed.

The main presentation, delivered by Johannes Theiner, president of the European Parents Association (EPA), dealt with ‘Parental involve­ment for a new culture of evaluation in Europe – assessment and evaluation in schools.

Mrs Camilleri is an executive member of the EPA board. Another national conference with foreign participation is planned for early next year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of APCCS.

For further information visit the association’s website at www.apccsmalta.eu.