A year at San Andrea School

Early School - what a difference a year makes!

San Andrea Early School successfully completed its 11th scholastic year. This year was a happy and busy one for the three-year-olds. They were challenged physically by an inspired PE programme, socially by a programme of events, both within the school and out in the community and, of course, academically through child-centred and holistic curriculum.

The first term saw the very young children get to grips with being back in the routine of school and preparing for the Christmas Carolling Celebration, held in collaboration with the Middle School at the new University gym. The youngsters also went carolling in the community and visited several homes and clubs for the elderly sharing the joy of Christmas with the 'not so young'.

During the second term, which this year was a very long one, the children really got down to work and covered a great deal of the planned academic syllabi in the core subjects of English, Maltese, Maths and Science. Many outings relating to the themes chosen by each of the grades were enjoyed. The outings gave them the opportunity to experience the themes in a tangible, hands-on way which is so important for young children.

The climax of the second term was the Early School Exhibition held on March 30. The children and their families went to school and viewed the wonderful work completed by each grade in the Early School, together with the PE and Music elements. The exhibition included themes such as Habitats, Fairy Tales and Movement. The Early School block was awash with colour and rang out with the conversation and laughter of our families.

Term 3 was a very busy one with the Walkathon dominating the first week back at school after the Easter break. This year this event also focused on the environment and during the walk the children picked up 20 sacks of paper and plastic litter from the valley that borders the school.

Health Week and the Early School Field Day followed in May. Children and parents who attended were surprised to see Ira Losco opening this event and singing the Small Nations Games theme Reaching Higher.

The summer concerts took place in early June. Nursery, Grades 1 and 2 gave performances based on cartoon characters, the Days of Nanna and Nannu and the Beatles respectively. Grade 3 centred their concert performance around the life of Mother Teresa and they were honoured to have as guests, sisters from the order of Mother Teresa, together with a group of children in their care. Fourth graders gave their version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, which was a sight to behold.

First Holy Communion Mass and celebration took place during the last week of June and then finally, the event that all the children looked forward to, Grade 4 Fun Weekend, was held on the very last weekend in June.

The children attending enjoyed an over-night stay at school with a barbecue and outings specially organised for them. The highlight of the weekend still remains the famous "water-fight" with children and staff hurling as much as water at each other as is humanly possible in the space of 30 minutes. So many events, so much learning gained, so many memories.

A year in the life of Middle School

Another full year of events and activities, specially designed to foster the holistic development of San Andrea Middle School children, ended in June. The programme ran parallel with the challenging academic syllabi. At San Andrea they believe that academic achievement is the enabling of the child to realise his/her full potential. With this aim in mind, frequent formative assessment tests and portfolios, both proving to be beneficial to pupils and teachers alike, are held.

The more frequent opportunities for assessment give the children scope for frequent revision and reduce the burden, stress and cramming, generally ushered in with half-yearly and yearly examinations. Teachers obtained a clearer insight into the children's strengths and areas to work on. Pupils are also given the opportunity to comment on their own progress and areas for improvement during 15-minute conferencing sessions with their class teachers.

The outcomes of these conferences are recorded in the form of a questionnaire, duly placed in the children's portfolios together with those pieces of work chosen to represent their various achievements throughout the scholastic year.

Academic achievement, is complemented by a rich programme of activities that target the children's all-round development, highlighting the importance of their self-motivation and the stimulation of their special talents. The following is a brief run-through of the activities that were held in the Middle School throughout their past scholastic year.

During the first term a bring-and-buy sale was organised by each class and the money collected was the children's contribution to those less fortunate than themselves. A Christmas carol and dance evening was also held in collaboration with San Andrea Early School. The children sang Christmas carols learnt during their music lessons and performed some outstanding dances choreographed by themselves on their own initiative and rehearsed during their longer midday break.

The second very long term was packed with events and activities starting with Health Week during which the children learnt how important self-preservation and fortification are in order to live a healthy life. On March 6 several activities to mark World Book Day were organised and on Sunday, March 30, the school opened its doors to children, parents and relatives. The beautiful exhibitions specially mounted for Open Day clearly demonstrated the great amount of effort and dedication put in by the teachers and children alike.

The third term was a flurry of activity: weekend camps for each year group, drama performances for the parents, sports festivals for Grades 5 and 6 and an enjoyable swimming gala for the seventh graders at the National Swimming Pool - a truly fitting end to their Middle School years.

Senior School - first students become school leavers

Studies tend to get harder as the children move up the grades. At senior school, they are committed to the children's individual improvement so that they can achieve their full potential. At senior school they give students a wide a spectrum of knowledge as possible.

The students are presented with a vast choice that includes the three sciences, accounts and economics, history and geography, art, drama, physical education, home economics, technical design, computer studies and information technology beside the traditional languages and a protected core of subjects which every student does.

Their resources are directed at preventing barriers to learning and participation and minimising student categorisation. Even though they believe that the parents' involvement in a student's life is of paramount importance, students take on more and more responsibility for their own success and learn to communicate directly with their highly qualified teachers without necessarily relying on parent intervention. At San Andrea they not only educate students but also cater for parental education by organising seminars, work shops and courses.

As San Andrea continues to grow, it continues to consolidate itself. This year, they saw the first San Andrea students become the first school leavers. They are pleased with their successful results obtained in their SEC examinations. They will now enter a new phase of their life to further their education or join the work force.

The school believes that the students should be active learners and participants in their learning process. Therefore the curriculum is enhanced with educational visits and fieldwork all related to the different topics and themes covered. These are held in different sites around Malta and Gozo, and abroad through student exchanges and other trips.

Some students taking up geography as an option were also given the opportunity to go to Wales to cover their course work about rivers. A large number of students also took part in an excavation in the Punic tombs situated in the school's own car park. This was done in conjunction with Din l-Art Helwa.

The development of the physical dimension is another very important aspect of their curriculum. The brand new sports facilities include a synthetic turf pitch, athletic track, sand pit, and shot put area, in conjunction with the multi purpose court, that is, a volley ball, netball, basketball, tennis court, are all used daily by the students during break as well as during PE lessons (option up to O-level), games sessions, and House tournaments. Sports Days are also organised at the school. These facilities have made a difference in the training of the students and today the sports department boasts of winning many trophies in various competitions where they also broke national records.

Among many other projects, the school gives students the opportunity to instill into their hearts and minds a sense of love and care for others. Humanitarian projects included visits to special homes, where the students help out children with their studies. The school has hosted students from St Rita's Home for a fun day organised at the sports facilities.

The drama option group (up to O-level) in conjunction with the expressive arts department organised presentations that aim at enhancing many skills like voice projection, overcoming fear of an audience, love for music, movement and dance, preparation of props, through the design and technology programme and many other skills, all tackled through an inter-disciplinary approach.

The Science department also organised projects where the students interact and participate in different experiments, encouraging a hands-on approach, through the Stephen Hawking Physics Project and the Science and Technology week organised every year.

During the year, residential camps were organised. Through the camps students enhance their social skills and get to know their teachers in an informal setting. The objective of these camps is to provide learning experiences outside the boundaries of a formal curriculum.

In a spirit of collaboration between teachers, parents, children and our educational consultants at San Andrea they continue in their mission to provide the children with the quality education they deserve.