Book launching marks opening of school year at Mosta Primary

The pupils attending the Carmela Sammut Primary School, Mosta, and their teachers, ushered in the new scholastic year in an unusual way.

On the first day of school, all the children, accompanied by their teachers, and a good number of parents, assembled in the local community hall to mark the beginning of the school year by launching a publication of the children's own making, a book aptly entitled Ghidli Storja, Nann.

The idea was conceived while preparing for the Library Week held during the previous scholastic year. The pupils then attending Year 3 were asked to approach their grandparents, and invite them to go back in time and try to recall an anecdote from the past. The children were then required to present these recollections in the form of a short story.

The narratives the children came up with evoked many nostalgic memories that were greatly appreciated by the school authorities. As a result, it was decided that these poignant short stories amply deserved to be published in book form.

Thanks, among other things, to the local council's financial assistance, the school was able to embark upon this worthy initiative. The 70-page publication, which comprises some 80 reminiscences, saw the light of day just in time to be the centrepiece of the ceremony to herald the beginning of the new scholastic year.

The head of school, Ms Lina Deguara, took the opportunity to thank all those who gave their assistance and were instrumental in bringing this unique project to fruition. The Commissioner for Children, Ms Sonia Camilleri, likewise expressed her sincere appreciation for the fantastic effort made by the children. Mayor Joe Demartino also had words of praise for the school's initiatives aimed at enhancing the children's socio-cultural awareness, as well as stimulating their innate creativity.

Two children then took the stage to read their own stories.

To conclude the celebration, a copy of the book was presented to all the schoolchildren.