Last curtain call on St Elizabeth's Primary School

A tense atmosphere had been permeating St Elizabeth's Primary School, Sliema, during preparations for Prize Day, held recently at the St Dominic Savio Oratory, Birkirkara. The 60 pupils involved were the very last to have formed part of St Elizabeth's, which has seen its last year of phasing out.

As from next year, St Elizabeth's, which was founded in 1939, will cease to exist; instead there will only be St Francis Girls' Secondary School.

The traditional family feast Mass, lately conducted by Fr Richard Grech, OFM, has been established as an enjoyable experience in its own right. The way he animates the Eucharistic Sacrifice and the subtlety with which he strings his sermons has caused many a heart to miss a beat.

No one's contribution was untapped this year, even Fr Richard himself was called to play a very important part with the musical scores. All the students taking part in the play had been going through their scripts and song tapes since last summer.

Compered by a sparkling Mrs Frida Xuereb, the prize-day ceremony took off with the pupils singing the school anthem for the last time.

The fleeting expressions on the faces of music teacher Monica Calleja and the school principal Sr Edmondina Camilleri, betrayed their thoughts of nostalgia of many bygone years.

Sr Camilleri started her speech by thanking all those who had imparted information and extended an formative attitude towards all the students throughout the decades of St Elizabeth's history. She dwelt on the concept expounded in the Gospel, about the biblical seed. The 'death' of St Elizabeth's Primary had given 'birth' to St Francis Secondary, with all its new targets, exigencies and constraints.

Emphasis was made on the need for parents to provide their children with the best possible learning experiences, whether academic or character-forming, especially during the transition from primary to secondary school. She said that it is imperative, even from such a tender age, to inculcate the fact that everyone has an important role in a social context and has to bear their responsibilities early in life.

The actual prize giving ceremony was presided over by the Provincial of the Franciscan Sisters' congregation, Mother M. Bertilla Bartolo.

Besides awards in academic subjects, many pupils were also rewarded for various values and efforts. This was character development in its widest sense and in perfect cohesion with the charisma of the co-founder, Mother Margherita Debrincat.

During a modern version of Cinderella, entitled Cinders, backstage there was a hive of activity with helpers guiding the actors to their posts while the stage manager, Mrs Joan Pace co-ordinated every item.

Properly suited in court attire Buttons, Franco Tabone, was both actor and commentator for the entire panto. The Ugly Sisters, Ella and Bella, played by Yasmine Bonanno and Mariana Caruana (both of them as thin as barren winter twigs), brought the house down with laughter as they wriggled through one of their routines, with Buttons commenting about them as resembling "two tubs of lard".

The choreography was in the hands of PE and Drama teacher Mrs Erika Ferrito, while Fr Richard took care of the musical arrangements. Mrs Calleja was responsible for the direction/production and Mr Paul Ciantar for props.

Mrs Frida Xuereb designed the costumes, with the assistance of Marica Ciantar, Trust Dresswear Hire Service and parents.

The fairy godmother, Maria Bonanno, enthralled the audience with her sweet voice.

To give the show originality, the golden shoe was made to fit Bella's foot - she got the prince (Jean-Pierre Cassar), while the pretty, yet shy Cinders, acted by Angie Chircop Coleiro, gladly opted for Buttons. The girls' father (Matthew Grech) appeared more than happy to have managed to wed two of his daughters to court nobles, though the king (Isaac Xuereb) had nothing to be happy about.

This was the lovely scene that brought an end to the very last prize day play at St Elizabeth's. The curtain call brought tremendous applause for all participants.

The performance then ended with the national anthem.

This was followed by a dinner for the guests and the children in the oratory ground, with modern hits and popular songs enlivening the atmosphere.

Thus ended the 64-year saga of St Elizabeth's Primary School. To all those who in one way or another helped to make this another successful and unforgettable afternoon, a very big thank you.