Prize Day at St Monica School, Birkirkara

It has become a tradition for Prize Day at St Monica School, Birkirkara to be organised around a theme or concept. This year's had as its theme "Let us give our children more" an idea born out of the most famous single line in Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist - "Please, Sir, can I have some more?"

The evening began with the school hymn "To Mother Teresa Spinelli", followed by the headgirl's welcome speech in which she expressed the students' appreciation for the continuous efforts of the school administration and staff to follow the school motto "Every day better" in all aspects of school life.

The school choir and orchestra then entertained the audience with some numbers which, in the words of headmistress Sr Grace DeBattista, "exemplified our children's talents and efforts and keep on encouraging us all to develop their potential to the fullest".

Sr Grace highlighted the important events and developments of the previous scholastic year and thanked all the staff and parents for their unstinting co-operation and efforts to offer more to the students. She then outlined plans for the current scholastic year, ranging from the introduction to Grade One of a new Literacy Scheme using a computer, to an updated assessment system and participation in various projects, including Comenius.

The 150-strong St Monica Drama Group under Ms Rita Vassallo, the school drama teacher, then performed Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!

It is to the credit of the young actresses, singers and stage-hands that the performance was such a resounding success. From the littlest girl watching the Punch and Judy show to Nancy, the criminal's lover with the heart of gold; from the bombastic Mr Bumble to the benevolent Mr Browlow; from the innocent Oliver to the slyly comic Fagin, the girls gave an unforgettable performance of song, drama and dance.

The costumes and the set design and construction were well-researched and highly effective. The applause that the musical received from the audience, which included parents and guests, among them members of the Curia Directorate for Catholic Education and officials from the Education Division, was really well-deserved.

The prizes for academic achievement and efforts, as well as for outstanding qualities and commitment shown throughout the year were distributed by Mrs Sonia Camilleri, Commissioner for Children, who expressed her appreciation of the work done by the school to give more to its students and heartily congratulated all the girls, teachers and helpers who had helped make the occasion such an unforgettable one. As a memento of Prize Day at St Monica School, Mrs Camilleri was presented with a painting by a Fifth Form Art student.