january-march · 4/3/2012 · were proud to be able to host a graduates’ presentation ceremony...
TRANSCRIPT
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St. Catherine’s High School
January, February and March…springtime is here!
…of tots, tweens & teens!
January-March
2012 Newsletter
The Easter season is with us bringing the second term of
school to its close. And after so many gloomy days of
cold, wet weather, spring time is here at last, making our
days brighter, longer and hotter. Nature is blooming,
dressing up in colours, sprouts, buds, bulbs and off-
springs. And as death bears life, we are also invited to
enter a spiritual journey and rekindle our hope. Albert
Laighton writes, ’Where man sees but withered leaves,
God sees sweet flowers growing.’
This second term was a busy one with. It started off
with The University of Sheffield study
weekend, the highlight of which was
the Presentation Ceremony and Din-
ner in celebration of the first cohort
of MA in Early Childhood graduates -
17 students in all - who graduated on
the 12th January in Sheffield. The end
of January, beginning of February is
usually assessment time on our
school Calendar, and our students sit
for their half-yearly exams and/or
assessments. February is also the
time for Carnival, a time of exuberance to precede the
Lenten period which calls us to look more inward.
In March we had our Parents’ Days...a time for parents
and teachers to discuss the children’s overall perform-
ance in general. In March we had the Senior School Trip
to Rome for some of our Senior students. Our upper
Junior and Senior students had a day of reflection in
preparation for the Easter celebrations. The Flutterby
Child Care Centre organized its annual Easter Concert for
the youngest tots, where our Assembly Hall was turned
into a circus, and our little ones performed to circus mu-
sic. We had clowns, magicians, acrobats, muscle men,
cheerleaders, ringmasters and ringmistresses, circus ani-
mals, and more! The end of March will be marked by
the Boot Camp for the Junior students…and then it is
Easter holidays! Yess!
As we approach Holy Week, we feel called for
spiritual recollection, revisioning and recom-
mitment, and to shed parts of the old self in
birthing the new self. Alan Jones says, ’There
is a self within each one of us aching to be
born.’ This is a slow and, at times, painful
process which requires waiting, stillness and
staying with...a tough call in a fast-moving
world dominated with instantaneity and se-
duced by easy and quick fixes. But as winter
lumbers slowly, slowly towards spring, and
nature births life out of death, let us partici-
pate in its rebirth in the hope that our little deaths will
bring life and growth of the self that each and every one
of us is meant to be.
Finally, we take this opportunity to wish Happy Easter to
all our School community and happy holidays to all our
students and staff!
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The University of Sheffield
STUDY WEEKEND IN JANUARY...
The 20th – 22nd January weekend welcomed again the
different cohorts of post-graduate students following
the Masters and Doctoral programmes with The Univer-
sity of Sheffield. We are very proud to say that our com-
munity of post-graduate learners is increasing rapidly
and it consists of three cohorts. We will soon start pre-
paring to welcome the fourth cohort come October 2012
and exploring the possibility to introduce new pro-
grammes to better meet the educational yearning there
is in Malta.
Apart from the Mas-
ters in Early Education
and the PhD in special-
ised areas, which have
been running since
2009, last October we
birthed yet another
option - a Masters in
Educational Studies for
those interested in
studying aspects of literacy, digital literacies, inclusion,
curriculum, educational psychology, parental involve-
ment and classroom research.
It is of great satisfaction for St. Catherine’s to see that
the post-graduate programmes offered here in Malta
have caught the interest of many from amongst its com-
munity and given them the opportunity to study while
continuing with their many other commitments, such as
family and work. Today we have a good number of staff
and parents who have enrolled themselves in one of
these programmes.
GRADUATION OF THE FIRST MA COHORT...
It is with great pride that during the month of January St.
Catherine’s has seen its first cohort of 17 MA in Early
Childhood students, 4 of whom are members of its staff,
receive their graduation degree certificate. The gradua-
tion was held in Sheffield on 12th January and The Uni-
versity of Sheffield has never seen so big a group of Mal-
tese people cheering and waving small flags as our Mal-
tese graduates went up, one by one, to collect their well
deserved degree certificate. That was not all though, as
celebrations had to continue here in Malta too!
PRESENTATION CEREMONY & DINNER...
In fact St. Catherine’s and The University of Sheffield
were proud to be able to host a Graduates’ Presentation
Ceremony and Dinner at the Westin Dragonara Resort
on Saturday 21st January. On this occasion, the first co-
hort of Maltese graduates (following the Malta pro-
gramme) celebrated their graduation with a memorable
ceremony and a dinner with their families and friends.
The University of Sheffield’s Head of the School of Edu-
cation, Prof. Jackie Marsh, addressed the audience
speaking of the high calibre of the Malta based students,
whilst the Director of the MA ECE Malta
Programme, Prof. Cathy Nutbrown
hailed the richness and diversity of the
studies undertaken by students and
their desire to understand children and
their work with them in a deeper way.
LAUNCHING OF EBOOK...
Following the graduation of our first
cohort of MA in Early Childhood stu-
dents, The University of Sheffield has worked closely
with a group of them to publish an e-book called “Voices
from Malta” which will consist of a synoptical article de-
scribing the students’ dissertation research study. This e
-book will then serve as a key text in the curriculum of
the MA in Early Childhood programme both here in
Malta and in the UK, and we are very proud of this feat!
NEW COHORT 2012...
The University of Sheffield is currently also inviting appli-
cations for the MA in Early Childhood Education, MA in
Educational Studies and the PhD for the next cohort due
to start in October 2012. As already mentioned before,
we have a track record of a number of parents, friends
and staff who have joined the previous cohorts, and so
we welcome any applications from parents, relatives and
friends who are suitably qualified and interested to fur-
ther their studies in the educational field. An informal
meeting will be held with the University of Sheffield lec-
turers on Thursday 3rd May in the evening for interested
candidates. For more information or to attend this ses-
sion, kindly email Ms. Sue Mifsud Midolo on
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Easter Figolli
We thank and congratulate our group of Mummy Chefs
for whetting our appetite with the nice smell of their
school-baked Easter Figolli. We hope that you managed
to purchase a pure almond or a date figolla, because
they are simply delicious and making you want more!
Well done to Ms. Juanita and Ms. Jennifer and the
group of mothers and grand-mothers who fulfilled this
mission with great generosity.
Uniform Change
Parents are to note that from Mon-
day 16th April, students from the Jun-
ior 3 upwards should come to school
wearing the normal Winter Uniform
(with the skirt, blouse, tie and rust
cardigan, blazer and brown/black
shoes for the girls, whilst the boys
wear the shirt, tie, grey V-neck, grey trousers, blazer and
black shoes). Students from Flutterby to the Junior 2
should come to school wearing their orange polo shirt
(with short sleeves) and the cardigan and the blue trou-
sers of the jogging suit, blue socks and blue shoes and
the blue jacket, if needs be. We will then advise on the
shift to the Summer Uniform – however, we recommend
to parents that if your son/daughter needs some new
Summer Uniform items, these should be purchased dur-
ing the Easter Holidays.
Volunteers Needed
We are currently in the process of re-doing our school
grounds (what was previously the small turf ground) and
installing a rubber surface instead which will host a bas-
ketball/handball court as well as a Checkers and a Hop
Scotch grid for the use of both the Junior and the Senior
School.s
We are also going to be designing child friendly games
on the tarmac stretch and we are currently looking for
volunteers who would be willing to help us in the paint-
ing (the design will be set up by our teachers) to create a
nice space which will also be educational for our kids.
We would appreciate your support, even if for an hour
or two!!! Kindly send an email to Ms. Sue if you are will-
ing to give a helping hand!
After-School Programme
St. Catherine's High School has announced its After-
School Programme for the 3rd term (kindly refer to mail-
shots of 16th and 23rd March). Kindly note that the After
-School Programme will commence as of week starting
23rd April. Session dates will be announced in the ac-
knowledgement letter that is given upon registration
and payment.
Kindly note that when the School (Pre-Junior, Jun-
ior and Senior) shifts to shorter mornings, the
After-School Programme will be held from
11.15am till 12.15pm. Since Flutterby does not
have shorter mornings and continues with the
usual hours (basic or extended), those Flutterby
children taking any of the after-school activities
will be taken for the after-school activity at
11.15am and then taken back to Flutterby at
12.15pm.
Science Challenge Day (Junior 4 to 6)
The Junior 4s, 5s, and 6s will test their scientific skills
during a Science Challenge Day which will take place on
Friday 27th April (during school hours). This will be a
whole morning event and students will be grouped in
teams and will have to rack their brains as they work
their way through different challenges on the day. Ms.
Michelle Drago, their Science teacher, will be posting
more information on the event shortly.
Open Day
Parents are to note that this year’s Open Day will take
place on Sunday 20th May from 10.00am to 5.00pm. As
is customary, the classes will be involved in presenting
items to the parents touring the classes, and we will use
the day to inaugurate our new rubber ground! So make
it a point to book the day and attend – relatives and
friends are welcome too!
As part of the Open Day, we will be creating the oppor-
tunities for a Tile Mural with children’s hands imprinted
on with paint. We are thus asking any parents who have
Blank Square White Tiles (bathroom ones) and can do-
nate them to the School to get in touch with Ms. Sue.
We thank you in anticipation for your collaboration!
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Prize Day and Graduation Ceremonies
The Prize Day will be held on Saturday 26th May
(evening) at the Catholic Institute in Floriana – a list of
the Prize Winners will be issued in the beginning of May
(and this caters from the current Junior 3 upwards).
Graduation Ceremo-
nies for the Pre-
Junior, Junior 1 and
Junior 2 will take
place at school on
the 25th June (Junior
2), 26th June (Pre-
Junior) and the 27th
June (Junior 1) at
11.00am.
Sports’ Days
Sports’ Days will be held as follows:
Juniors 6 to Senior 4 – Thursday 26th April
(morning), at Marsa
Pre-Juniors – Friday 11th May (morning), at school
Junior 1 and 2 – Friday 8th June (evening), at Luxol
Grounds
Juniors 3, 4 and 5 – Friday 1st June (morning), at
Luxol Grounds
More details will be given to the individual classes closer
to the dates via the blogs or notes.
Shorter Mornings
Kindly note that as of 8th June, St. Catherine’s will shift to
shorter mornings and school for the Pre-Junior, Junior
and Senior levels will finish at 11.15am. The Flutterby
Child Care Centre, however, will continue to operate on
normal hours (basic or extended).
Since the School transport will operate at 11.15am,
those Flutterby children using the School transport have
the option of either leaving school at 11.15am or else
stay at Flutterby and then be picked up by their parents.
Closer to the date, these parents are kindly required to
inform the School Administration of their intention.
Holy Communion Commemoration Mass
Parents of the Junior 2 are to note that the Holy Com-
munion Commemoration Mass for all the students who
will have done their Holy Communion in June (or who will
be doing it on the day during the Commemoration) will
take place in the School Assembly Hall on Friday 29th June
at 5.00pm. Two seats (for the parents) will
be reserved per family (except for the stu-
dents who will be actually doing their Holy
Communion on the day - that is, our Cate-
chism Group - and in this case, we will
probably be reserving 4 seats per family).
It is essential that parents notify Ms. Sue if
they will be attending.
Parents who are interested in participating
in the Party being organised on the 29th June
itself (after the Mass) at the Westin Drago-
nara Resort are to contact the Parents’ Committee to
advise them of their intention to participate via an email
sent to Ms. Sue. Details on the Party and the costs will
be issued shortly to parents who are interested.
Rome Trip
Following the success of the previous years, the Senior
School embarked on yet another trip; destination Rome.
This cultural trip, from the 16th - 19th March had our
group of 25 students from the Senior 2, 3 and 4 visit the
main sites in Rome, such as Villa d’Este in Tivoli, Castel
Gandolfo, Nemi, Lago Albano and the Natural Park of
Castelli Romani, among others. Thumbs up to the Senior
School for organizing another successful trip.
Boot Camp
St. Catherine’s High School’s is venturing in yet another
adventure...a Boot Camp!! The Boot Camp will be held in
conjunction with Kamaja Outdoor Activities and will take
place between Friday 30th March (10:00am) and Saturday
31st March (10:00am) with one-night sleepover, in the
historical Madalena Fortess in Madliena. We have a
group of 26 students who will be accompanied by Ms.
Sue , Ms. Lorraine , Ms. Josepha and Mr. Brian. We wish
you all a fun-filled, yet learning-full, venture!
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Book your Diaries!
Please take note of the following dates:
16th April (Monday) - First Day of Term 3.
20h April (Friday, morning) - Senior 5 School Leaving
Ceremony.
23rd April (Monday) - After-School Programme com-
mences.
26th April (Thursday, morning) - Junior 6 to Senior 4
Sports Day.
27th April (Friday) - Science Challenge Day.
2nd May (Wednesday) - Staff Development Evening
(Flutterby, Pre-Junior and Junior School).
3rd May (Thursday, evening) - Meeting for prospec-
tive students of the post-graduate programmes of
The University of Sheffield.
4th to 6th May (Friday to Sunday) - University of Shef-
field Study Weekend.
11th May (Friday, morning) - Pre-Junior Sports Day.
20th May (Sunday) - Open Day.
22nd May (Tuesday, morning) - Dress Rehearsal for
Prize Day students.
26th May (Saturday, evening) - Prize-Giving Cere-
mony.
1st June (Friday, morning) - Junior 3 to 5 Sports Day.
8th June (Friday) - Senior 3 to 4 Exams start.
8th June (Friday) - Start of Shorter Mornings for Pre-
Junior to Senior 4; school finishes at 11:15am and
transport leaves at this time too;
8th June (Friday, evening) - Junior 1 & 2 Sports Day.
14th June (Thursday) - Senior 1 & 2 Exams start.
20th June (Wednesday) - Junior 4 to 6 Exams start.
22nd June (Friday, evening) - Flutterby Sports Day.
25th June (Monday, morning) - Junior 2 Graduation
Ceremony and Party.
26th June (Tuesday, morning) - Pre-Junior Graduation
Ceremony and Party.
26th June (Tuesday) - last day of Term 3 for Pre-
Junior and Flutterby.
27th June (Wednesday) - Junior 1 Graduation Cere-
mony and Party.
27th June (Wednesday) - Last Day of Term 3 for Jun-
ior 1 to Senior 4.
29th June (Friday, evening) - Holy Communion Com-
memoration Mass.
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream;
not only plan, but also believe.”
Anatole France
Saying our goodbyes to Mr. Brian
It is with much regret that we would like to inform you
that Mr. Brian Gauci will be leaving us at the end of
March 2012. He will be taking up a position of great re-
sponsibility within the disability field in Malta and we
wish him well on his
new journey.
He has been a great
asset to the School and
has contributed greatly
to the new projects cre-
ated at school and to
the upkeep of our
school ethos. He will
be sorely missed by the
School Administration,
staff, parents and children alike but we are sure that his
presence in the new position will be of benefit to the
country.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank him for
the sterling service offered to the School, his commit-
ment to excellence, and his dedication to the administra-
tion, staff, parents and students! Good luck, Mr. Brian!
Our Heartfelt Wishes!
On behalf of the School, we would like to wish all our
staff, students and their families a Happy Easter. As Floyd
W. Tomkins puts it, ‘Let the resurrection joy lift us from
loneliness and weakness and despair, to strength and
beauty and happiness.’