Extracurricular activities at San Andrea School

San Andrea School at L-Imselliet (l/o Mgarr) has a wide range of extracurricular activities (ECA), including sports, crafts and languages. The aim behind the ECA programme is to enhance the children's ability in the various areas while providing an enjoyable hour after school in a familiar environment.

ECA also seek to support and motivate children who tend to shy away from any initiative. Teachers of ECA are usually teachers at school, so children have the added advantage of knowing the teacher.

This year we have reached a record in attendance. The completion of the sports facilities has definitely contributed to encourage more students to participate. The largest groups are the Early School Football Group made up of both boys and girls and our Athletics Club group, which is made up from Middle and Senior School children.

Extracurricular activities at San Andrea are held once a week and the one-hour sessions run for 20 weeks. However, for some activities like athletics and karate, sessions are sometimes held during weekends, in particular when children have competitions against other schools.

In the MAAA (Malta Amateur Athletics Association) national championships held on May 24 and 25 at the Marsa Sports Track, Ben Camilleri placed first as the national champion in the 200 metres youths breaking the national youths record with a time of 23.90 seconds. Ben is also the youth national champion for the 400 metres and placed second in the 100 metres and long jump national championships. He has also been selected to participate in the 200 metre and 4 x 100 metre relay in the FISEC games which will be held in Spain in July.

Andrew Cassar Torregiani is the cadets national champion in the 60 metres while Antonia Zammit is the champion for the cadets long jump. Antonia also placed second in the 75 metres hurdles race and first in the 150 metres cadets girls' national champions.

San Andrea children from the athletics team have won 16 medals for participation in the series of road running league races, consisting of six races held between October and February. The races, held at different venues, are organised by the MAAA. Jeremy Gingell and Edward Bonello of Grade 11 placed third and fourth respectively in the overall cross country races.

Karate students from San Andrea qualified for the grading sessions held in February. Five of our students from Early and Middle School obtained the Red Belt while Luca Vassallo of Grade 7 obtained the Orange Belt. Also Connor Bonnet and Leo Grima placed second and third respectively in the overall Red Belt category while Luca Vassallo was awarded the Best Effort at the Coca Cola Kata Competition held at St Martin's College where 85 students from various schools took part.

Next year's extracurricular programme will include the San Andrea Sailing Club. Such activities should help children make full use of their potential.