Prize Day at Zejtun Girls' Junior Lyceum

"Education is not just about academic success. Although this is important, our school is more concerned with providing our students with a holistic education whereby each and every student develops her full potential as a whole person and experiences education as a life-long process", said Ms Maria Ciappara, head of school, in the introduction to her speech during Prize Day at Carlo Diacono Girls' Junior Lyceum, Zejtun.

On May 8, over 220 students from Forms 2, 3 and 4 were rewarded for their performance during the last scholastic year. The prizes (over 400 books) were awarded for good performance in academic subjects as well as for values (drama, overall effort and service to the school library).

Other prizes included those donated by the director-general of Education and by the Minister of Education. For these last few years, to encourage each student to do her utmost in most subjects, prizes are not only awarded to those who perform best in each subject in their form, but to every student who performs best in her class (except for optional subjects). However, for a student to be awarded a prize, she must exceed 60 per cent of the final exam mark.

Education Minister Dr Louis Galea, in his speech, acknowledged the work being done at Zejtun junior lyceum. He stressed the positive aspect of working as a team and pointed out the need for schools to promote holistic education and not to be confined to the classroom.

The evening's programme included, besides the singing of the school anthem by the school choir, a presentation of the musical Anastasja, adapted into Maltese by a teacher at the school, well-known author Trevor Zahra.

Judging from the audience's enthusiastic applause, Anastasja was a success. The 60-strong student cast offered a spectacle of acting, dance and song. Such a performance is an example of what students can do if given the opportunity. Their commitment during the rehearsal period (starting in January) and their enthusiasm during the final weeks of production never wavered.

Starting from a group who barely knew each other, they came together in one big team effort, each contributing in her own way to the final result. The teachers, parents and other school staff who helped directly or indirectly in putting this musical on stage (over 150 people were involved in all) deserve special praise.

The school's Website is at http://schoolnet.gov/carlodiaconotindex.htm